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.[1][2] He had five siblings.[3] Bona's brother Thomas P. Bona was also a Roman Catholic priest and longtime pastor of St. Mary of Perpetual Help Parish in Chicago (1921-1950).[4]
Bona was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on November 1, 1912.[2][5] He then served as a curate at St. Barbara Parish in Chicago until 1916, when he became resident chaplain at the House of Correction.[1][2] He was later a professor at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary (1918–1922) and pastor of St. Casimir Parish in Chicago (1922–1931).[1] He was named a monsignor in 1931 and was a board member of Religious Communities of Women.[1]
On December 2, 1944, Bona was named coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay and Titular Bishop of Mela by Pope Pius XII.[5] He succeeded Bishop Paul Rhode as the seventh Bishop of Green Bay upon the latter's death on March 3, 1945.[5] During his tenure in Green Bay, Bona founded sixty-seven grade schools, four high schools, Holy Family College, and Sacred Heart Seminary.[7] He also established a diocesan newspaper and adjusted the social welfare program of Catholic Charities to meet new needs, including those of migrant workers.[7] He attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council in Rome between 1962 and 1965.
