Andrew Gregory Grutka (November 17, 1908 – November 11, 1993) was an American prelate of the
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
. He served as first bishop of the
Diocese of Gary in Indiana from 1956 to 1984.
Biography
Early life
Andrew Grutka was born on November 17, 1908, in
Joliet,
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...
, the son of
Slovak immigrants from
Spišská Stará Ves
Spišská Stará Ves (german: Alt(en)dorf; hu, Szepesófalu or hu, Ófalu; pl, (Stara) Spiska Wieś; la, Antiqua Villa; Goral: Golembarg) is a small town and urban municipality in Kežmarok District in the Prešov Region of north Slovakia.
P ...
. He studied for the priesthood at the
Pontifical North American College in Rome. Grutka was ordained a
priest
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in partic ...
on December 5, 1933, by Cardinal
Francesco Selvaggiani for the
Diocese of Fort Wayne. Grutka was serving as the
pastor
A pastor (abbreviated as "Pr" or "Ptr" , or "Ps" ) is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and ...
of Holy Trinity Parish in
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city has been historically dominated by major industrial activity and is home to U.S. Steel's Gary Works, the largest steel mill complex in North America. Gary is located along the sou ...
, on his final pastoral assignment.
Bishop of Gary
On December 29, 1956, Grutka was named bishop of the newly created Diocese of Gary by
Pope
The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
Pius XII
Pius ( , ) Latin for "pious", is a masculine given name. Its feminine form is Pia.
It may refer to:
People Popes
* Pope Pius (disambiguation)
* Antipope Pius XIII (1918-2009), who led the breakaway True Catholic Church sect
Given name
* Pius ...
. He was consecrated a bishop by Archbishop
Amleto Giovanni Cicognani
Amleto Giovanni Cicognani (24 February 1883 – 17 December 1973) was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Vatican Secretary of State from 1961 to 1969, and Dean of the College of Cardinals from 1972 until his death. C ...
Bishops
John Cody
John Patrick Cody (December 24, 1907 – April 25, 1982) was an American bishop and cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. A native of St. Louis, he served as Bishop of Kansas City–Saint Joseph (1956–1961), Archbishop of New Orleans (196 ...
and
Leo Pursley were the principal co-consecrators. From 1962 to 1965, Grutka attended all four sessions of the
Second Vatican Council
The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the , or , was the 21st ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church. The council met in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome for four periods (or sessions), each lasting between 8 and ...
in Rome and was responsible for implementing the council's reforms in the diocese. In 1959,
Andrean High School
Andrean High School is a co-educational, college preparatory secondary school in Merrillville, Indiana. It is located in the Diocese of Gary.
The school was founded in 1959, and named for St. Andrew, the patron saint of the first bishop of the di ...
in Merrillville, Indiana, was named for his patron,
Andrew the Apostle.
Retirement and legacy
Pope
John Paul II
Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...
accepted Grutka's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Gary on July 9, 1984.
After his resignation, Grutka remained active in the diocese, ministering to parishioners.
Andrew Grutka died at his home in
Valparaiso, Indiana
Valparaiso ( ), colloquially Valpo, is a city and the county seat of Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 34,151 at the 2020 census.
History
The site of present-day Valparaiso was included in the purchase of land from the ...
, on November 11, 1993, at age 85. He was entombed in the east transept of
Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grutka, Andrew Gregory
1908 births
1993 deaths
20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States
Participants in the Second Vatican Council
People from Joliet, Illinois
People from Gary, Indiana
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
Roman Catholic bishops of Gary
Catholics from Illinois
American people of Slovak descent