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Retired Bishop Aloysius Wycislo dies

Bishop Aloysius J. Wycislo  June 17, 1908 - Oct. 11, 2005 • Coverage of Bishop Wycislo's death Past articles on Bp. Wycislo: • Bishop opens door on Vatican II using its hinges     Bp. Aloysius Wycislo, one of the few surviving council     fathers, says much still undone (October 7, 2005) • Retired bishop pens book on the first pope     While attending Vatican II, Bp. Wycislo became interested     in Peter (May 7, 2004) • Ground-breaking set for Green Bay cathedral addition     Ceremony will be Sunday (June 27, 2003) • Cathedral project to honor retired bishop     Diocese's Catholics invited to help 'parish church     of diocese' (December 13, 2002) • A bishop is always a bishop of a place, even if it's gone     Auxiliary bishops have a see -- but that see is not where     they live (October 18, 2002) • Going strong     Retired Green Bay bishop continues serving the church     (June 15, 2001) • Layman's bishop fosters changes of Vatican Council II     As bishop he sought to introduce the changes of Vatican II     in Green Bay (June 15, 2001) • CRS pioneer set stage for resettlement of refugees from wars     Work with Polish refugees after World War II led to later     resettlement efforts (June 15, 2001) • Retired bishop receives award     Mundelein Seminary honors Bp. Wycislo's 66 years     of priesthood (April 6, 2001) • Retired bishop to receive Bernardin award     Mundelein Seminary will honor a distinguished alumnus     (March 23, 2001) • Marking 40 years as a bishop (January 5, 2001)

After helping found Catholic Relief Services and attending Vatican II, he served Green Bay Diocese for nearly 40 years

Retired Green Bay Diocesan Bishop Aloysius J. Wycislo passed away Tuesday night, Oct. 11, according to Tony Kuick, Communications Director for the diocese.

Bp. Wycislo, 97, died at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay at about 8:45 p.m., said Kuick. He had been diagnosed with double pneumonia and intestinal blockage on Oct. 7, but "remained alert and in relatively good spirits" until near the end, according to a diocesan news release.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13, in the Resurrection Room of the Bishop Wycislo Center, adjacent to the Cathedral. Visitation will resume at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, in the Cathedral and continue until 9 p.m. with Evening Prayer at 7 p.m. There will also be visitation from 7 to 9:30 a.m. on Saturday in the Cathedral prior to the funeral.

Entombment will be at Allouez Catholic Mausoleum Chapel, Green Bay.

Bp. Wycislo was born in Chicago on June 17, 1908. Card. George Mundelein ordained him to the priesthood on April 7, 1934.

In 1943, Fr. Wycislo helped found Catholic Relief Services, and in 1960, he became an auxiliary bishop of the Chicago Archdiocese.

Bp. Wycislo, who took part in the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965, recently spoke of his experiences to employees of the Diocese of Green Bay.

From 1968 to 1983, Bp. Wycislo served as the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay. He was succeeded by Bp. Adam Maida on Jan. 25, 1984, and continued to live in the Green Bay area and serve the diocese during retirement until his death.