Emil Aloysius Wcela

Emil Aloysius Wcela (May 1, 1931 – May 21, 2022) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Wcela served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre in New York State from 1988 to 2007.

Biography

Early life Emil Wcela was born in Bohemia, New York, on May 1, 1931. He attended St. John Nepomucene School in Bohemia, then went to Seton Hall High School in Patchogue, New York. For his higher education, Wcela attended St. Francis College and Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, New York.

Retirement On April 3, 2007, Wcela sent his letter of resignation to Pope Benedict XVI. On October 1, 2012, Wcela wrote an opinion piece in America magazine in which he advocated the ordination of women as deacons in the Catholic Church.

Death Wcela died on May 21, 2022, at St Pius X Residence For Retired Priests, Ronkonkoma. Visitation was at St. John the Evangelist Church in Riverhead, while his funeral was May 27, 2022, at St. John Nepomucene in Bohemia. He was buried in the parish cemetery.