ZINKULA, Thomas R.

ZINKULA, Thomas R. (Mt. Vernon, IA-- ). On October 18, 2023 the installation of the Most Rev. Thomas R. ZINKULA as the archbishop of the ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBUQUE was held. The new archbishop replaced Archbishop Michael JACKELS who announced his retirement for health reasons in April, 2023.

Archbishop Zinkula was very familiar with eastern Iowa. In addition to being born in Mount Vernon, he had served as a priest in Dubuque, Rickardsville, Balltown, Sherrill, Holy Cross, Luxemburg, and Cedar Rapids. He had also served as rector for St. Pius Seminary in Dubuque. Between the installation and the retirement of Archbishop Kucera, the Most Reverend Richard Pates, bishop emeritus of Des Moines, had served as the apostolic administrator of the archdiocese.

Although the installation was not opened to the public, all priests from the archdiocese were in attendance and each parish was represented by two additional parishioners. Also in attendance were representatives from the KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, Archdioceesan Council of Catholic Women, Catholic Daughters of America, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Order of Malta.

Archbishop Zinkula became the 11th archbishop of Dubuque and uniquely the 13th bishop in the 186-year history of the archdiocese. The first two bishops, Mathias LORAS and Clement SMYTH served before the archdiocese for founded and were therefore referred to as bishops.

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Source:

1. Hogstrom, Erik and Kelsey, Elizabeth, "Archdioese Prepares for Installation of Archbishop," Telegraph Herald, October 15, 2023, p. 1A