Gerald Frederick Kicanas
Encyclopedia
Gerald Frederick Kicanas (born August 18, 1941) is an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is the seventh and current Bishop of Tucson
.
, to Frederick and Eva Kicanas, his parents being of Lebanese
heritage. He attended Immaculate Heart Elementary School and Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary
in Chicago, and the University of St. Mary of the Lake
in Mundelein
, from where he obtained his licentiate in Sacred Theology
. He was ordained
to the priesthood
on April 27, 1967, and then earned a PhD
in Educational Psychology
and an MEd
in Guidance and Counseling
from Loyola University
in Chicago.
After working as an associate pastor
until 1978, Kicanas held various offices within the archdiocesan
seminary
for over twenty-five years. After serving as rector
, principal
, and Dean
of Formation at Quigley Preparatory Seminary South
, he was appointed rector of Mundelein Seminary
at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in 1984. Whilst rector, he concurrently served as a lecturer
in Community and Organization Development at Loyola University.
On January 24, 1995, Kicanas was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Chicago
and Titular Bishop
of Bela by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following March 20 from Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, with Bishops Alfred Abramowicz
and Timothy Lyne
serving as co-consecrators
. Kicanas selected as his episcopal motto
: "La Justicia Promueve La Paz", meaning "Justice begets peace" (Isaiah 32:17).
During his tenure as an auxiliary, he served as Episcopal Vicar
for Vicariate I in the archdiocese, which includes Lake
and Cook Counties
. He also became highly involved with vocations
, the permanent diaconate
, and encouragement of lay
ministry.
Kicanas was named Coadjutor Bishop
of Tucson
, Arizona
on October 30, 2001, being formally installed as such on January 15, 2002. He later succeeded Manuel Moreno as the seventh Bishop of Tucson
on March 7, 2003. Kicanas has been praised for his handling of the sexual abuse crisis
in his diocese, which had declared bankruptcy
due to settlement costs.
On November 13, 2007, he was elected Vice-President
of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
, beating Archbishop Timothy Dolan
by a margin of twenty-two votes. On February 28, 2008, Kicanas was chosen by the USCCB, and confirmed by Pope Benedict XVI
, to become a member of the American
delegation to the twelfth World Synod of Bishops, which is scheduled to be held in the Vatican
from October 5 to October 26 of this year. On November 16, 2010, he was defeated by Dolan to become USCCB President, the first time a sitting Vice President was not subsequently elected president when seeking that office. On November 17, 2010 Bishop Kicanas was appointed chairman of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Board of Directors by Cardinal Francis George, OMI, of Chicago, outgoing president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
In June 2009, Bishop Kicanas spoke at the annual meeting of the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management
at the Wharton School in Philadelphia. He delivered a talk addressing the need for effective communications in the Catholic Church.
on May 22, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He is the seventh and current Bishop of Tucson
Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southwestern region of the United States. It comprises nine counties of the state of Arizona, making it the fifth largest diocese in the continental United States in terms of area...
.
Biography
Gerald Kicanas was born in Chicago, IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, to Frederick and Eva Kicanas, his parents being of Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
heritage. He attended Immaculate Heart Elementary School and Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary
Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary
Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary was an American seminary preparatory school administered by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago for young men considering the priesthood...
in Chicago, and the University of St. Mary of the Lake
University of Saint Mary of the Lake
University of Saint Mary of the Lake, also called Mundelein Seminary, is the principal seminary and school of theology for the formation of priests in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, governed from Chicago, Illinois in the United States. It is recognized as the first institution of higher...
in Mundelein
Mundelein, Illinois
Mundelein is a village in Lake County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the village population was 31,064.-History:The community now known as Mundelein has been inhabited since at least 1650, when the Potowatami Indians were known to have been trading with French fur traders....
, from where he obtained his licentiate in Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology is the title of the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by a pontifical universities or ecclesiastical faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized,...
. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on April 27, 1967, and then earned a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Educational Psychology
Educational psychology
Educational psychology is the study of how humans learn in educational settings, the effectiveness of educational interventions, the psychology of teaching, and the social psychology of schools as organizations. Educational psychology is concerned with how students learn and develop, often focusing...
and an MEd
Master of Education
The Master of Education is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in...
in Guidance and Counseling
School counselor
A school counselor is a counselor and an educator who works in elementary, middle, and high schools to provide academic, career, college access, and personal/social competencies to K-12 students...
from Loyola University
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
in Chicago.
After working as an associate pastor
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
until 1978, Kicanas held various offices within the archdiocesan
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
for over twenty-five years. After serving as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
, principal
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
, and Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of Formation at Quigley Preparatory Seminary South
Quigley South
Quigley Preparatory Seminary South was a United States high school administered by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago from 1961 through 1990...
, he was appointed rector of Mundelein Seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in 1984. Whilst rector, he concurrently served as a lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
in Community and Organization Development at Loyola University.
On January 24, 1995, Kicanas was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Chicago
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
The Archdiocese of Chicago was established as a diocese in 1843 and as an Archdiocese in 1880. It serves more than 2.3 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in Northeastern Illinois, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries...
and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Bela by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following March 20 from Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, with Bishops Alfred Abramowicz
Alfred Leo Abramowicz
Alfred Leo Abramowicz was a Roman Catholic Chicago auxiliary bishop who served as Director of the Catholic League for Religious Assistance to Poland from 1960–1995, working as a principal US fund-raising and organizational contact for the Catholic Church in Poland and for the Polish Solidarity...
and Timothy Lyne
Timothy Joseph Lyne
Timothy Joseph Lyne is an American Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church.Lyne was born in Chicago, Illinois and was ordained a priest in Chicago, Illinois on May 1, 1943. He was appointed to the Archdiocese of Chicago as an Auxiliary bishop as well as Titular bishop of Vamalla on October 31, 1983...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. Kicanas selected as his episcopal motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
: "La Justicia Promueve La Paz", meaning "Justice begets peace" (Isaiah 32:17).
During his tenure as an auxiliary, he served as Episcopal Vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
for Vicariate I in the archdiocese, which includes Lake
Lake County, Illinois
Lake County is a county in the northeastern corner of the state of Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 703,462, which is an increase of 9.2% from 644,356 in 2000. Its county seat is Waukegan. The county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area...
and Cook Counties
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
. He also became highly involved with vocations
Vocational discernment in the Catholic Church
Vocational discernment is the process in which men or women in the Catholic Church discern, or determine, their vocation in the Church. Though one may also speak of discerning a vocation to marriage or to life as a single person, discerning a vocation most frequently refers to a special vocation...
, the permanent diaconate
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
, and encouragement of lay
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
ministry.
Kicanas was named Coadjutor Bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
on October 30, 2001, being formally installed as such on January 15, 2002. He later succeeded Manuel Moreno as the seventh Bishop of Tucson
Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southwestern region of the United States. It comprises nine counties of the state of Arizona, making it the fifth largest diocese in the continental United States in terms of area...
on March 7, 2003. Kicanas has been praised for his handling of the sexual abuse crisis
Roman Catholic sex abuse cases
The Catholic sex abuse cases are a series of convictions, trials and ongoing investigations into allegations of sex crimes committed by Catholic priests and members of religious orders. These cases began receiving public attention beginning in the mid-1980s...
in his diocese, which had declared bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
due to settlement costs.
On November 13, 2007, he was elected Vice-President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
, beating Archbishop Timothy Dolan
Timothy Dolan
Timothy Michael Dolan is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He is the tenth and current Archbishop of New York, having previously served as Archbishop of Milwaukee and Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis ....
by a margin of twenty-two votes. On February 28, 2008, Kicanas was chosen by the USCCB, and confirmed by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
, to become a member of the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
delegation to the twelfth World Synod of Bishops, which is scheduled to be held in the Vatican
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
from October 5 to October 26 of this year. On November 16, 2010, he was defeated by Dolan to become USCCB President, the first time a sitting Vice President was not subsequently elected president when seeking that office. On November 17, 2010 Bishop Kicanas was appointed chairman of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Board of Directors by Cardinal Francis George, OMI, of Chicago, outgoing president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
In June 2009, Bishop Kicanas spoke at the annual meeting of the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management
National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management
The National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management is a lay-led group born in the midst of the Catholic clergy's sex abuse scandal and dedicated to bringing better administrative practices to dioceses and parishes nationwide.The NLRCM, founded by its current leader, Geoffrey T...
at the Wharton School in Philadelphia. He delivered a talk addressing the need for effective communications in the Catholic Church.
Honors
Bishop Kicanas was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
on May 22, 2011.