Biography
Early life
Stanislaus Bona was born on October 1, 1888, in Chicago, Illinois, to John and Catherine (née Śmigiel) Bona, who had immigrated to the United States from Poland in 1881. He had five siblings: Thomas (born 1882), John (born 1892), Adam (born 1896), Adolph (born 1898), and Casimir (born 1901). Bona's brother Thomas P. Bona was also a Catholic Church, Roman Catholic priest and longtime pastor of St. Mary of Perpetual Help Church (Chicago), St. Mary of Perpetual Help Parish in Chicago (1921-1950). Stanislaus Bona attended St. Stanislaus College (Chicago), St. Stanislaus College in Chicago, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1905. He continued his studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, there earning a Doctor of Divinity degree and Licentiate of Canon Law.Priesthood
Bona was Holy Orders, ordained to the Priesthood (Catholic Church), priesthood in Rome on November 1, 1912. He then served as a curate at St. Barbara Parish in Chicago until 1916, when he became resident chaplain at the House of Correction. He was later a professor at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary (1918–1922) and pastor of St. Casimir Parish in Chicago (1922–1931). He was named a monsignor in 1931 and was a board member of Religious Communities of Women.Bishop of Grand Island
On December 18, 1931, Bona was appointed the second bishop of Grand Island by Pope Pius XI. He received his Bishop (Catholic Church), episcopal consecration on February 25, 1932, from Cardinal George Mundelein, with Bishops Paul Peter Rhode, Paul Rhode and Francis Martin Kelly, Francis Kelly serving as Consecrator, co-consecrators, at Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago, Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. He guided the diocese through the Great Depression in the United States, Great Depression and World War II. During the war, he ministered to Nazi Germany, German and Italian Prisoner of war, prisoners of war kept in camps in the diocese.Coadjutor Bishop and Bishop of Green Bay
On December 2, 1944, Bona was named Coadjutor Bishop, coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay and Titular Bishop of Mela by Pope Pius XII. He succeeded Bishop Paul Rhode as the seventh Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, Bishop of Green Bay upon the latter's death on March 3, 1945. During his tenure in Green Bay, Bona founded sixty-seven grade schools, four high schools, Holy Family College (Wisconsin), Holy Family College, and Sacred Heart Seminary. He also established a diocesan newspaper and adjusted the social welfare program of Catholic Charities to meet new needs, including those of migrant workers. He attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council in Rome between 1962 and 1965.Death and legacy
Bona died at age 79 in Green Bay on December 1, 1967. His cabin in Minong, Wisconsin, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.See also
* Catholic Church hierarchy * Catholic Church in the United States * Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States * List of Catholic bishops of the United States * Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishopsReferences
External links
*