Francis Joseph Schenk

His Eminence, The Most Reverend Francis Joseph Schenk
Bishop of Duluth
Church	Roman Catholic Church
See	Diocese of Duluth
Predecessor	John Hubert Peschges
Successor	Lawrence Alexander Glenn
Other post(s)	Bishop of Crookston
Orders
Ordination	June 13, 1926
Consecration	May 24, 1945
Personal details
Born	(1901-04-01)April 1, 1901 Superior, Wisconsin, US
Died	October 28, 1969(1969-10-28) (aged 68)
Education	College of St. Thomas St. Paul Seminary Catholic University of America

Styles of Francis Joseph Schenk
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Monsignor
Posthumous style	none

Francis Joseph Schenk (April 1, 1901 – October 28, 1969) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Crookston in Minnesota (1945–1960) and bishop of the Diocese of Duluth in Minnesota (1960–1969).

Biography

Early life

Francis Schenk was born on April 1, 1901, in Superior, Wisconsin, to Nicholas and Frances Mary (née Fischer) Schenk.^[1] He attended St. Thomas Academy then in St. Paul, Minnesota, from 1915 to 1918, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul in St. Paul in 1922.^[1] He then studied for the priesthood at St. Paul Seminary, receiving a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree in 1926.^[1]

Priesthood

Schenk was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis on June 13, 1926.^[2] He continued his studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned a doctorate in canon law in 1928.^[1] Following his return to Minnesota, he served as secretary to Archbishop Austin Dowling from 1928 to 1930.^[1] Schenk then served as vice-chancellor of the archdiocese (1930–1934) and as a professor at St. Paul Seminary (1934–1942).^[1] From 1942 to 1945, he served as vicar general of the archdiocese and rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul.^[1]

Bishop of Crookston

On March 10, 1945, Schenk was appointed the third bishop of the Diocese of Crookston by Pope Pius XII.^[2] He received his episcopal consecration on May 24, 1945, from Archbishop John Murray, with Bishops Thomas Welch and Aloisius Muench serving as co-consecrators.^[2] During his tenure in Crookston, Schenk established over 30 new churches, founded Our Northland Diocese newspaper, and organized diocesan offices of the Catholic Social Service Agency and the Catholic Youth Organization.^[3] He also founded summer boarding schools for children of the thousands of Mexican migrant workers who worked in the diocese.^[3]

Bishop of Duluth

Following the death of Bishop Welch, Schenk was appointed the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Duluth by Pope John XXIII on January 27, 1960.^[2] Between 1962 and 1965, he attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council in Rome.^[2]

Retirement and legacy

On April 30, 1969, Pope Paul VI accepted Schenk's resignation as bishop of Duluth. Francis Schenk died on October 28, 1969, at age 68.^[2]

Notes

1. Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
2. "Bishop Francis Joseph Schenk". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.^{[self-published source]}
3. "History of the Diocese". Roman Catholic Diocese of Crookston.

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by John Hubert Peschges	Bishop of Crookston 1945–1960	Succeeded by Lawrence Alexander Glenn
Preceded by Thomas Anthony Welch	Bishop of Duluth 1960–1969	Succeeded by Paul Francis Anderson