Stanislaus Vincent Bona

Stanislaus Vincent Bona (October 1, 1888 – December 1, 1967) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Grand Island in Nebraska (1932–1944) and bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay in Wisconsin (1945–1967).

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 Kingdom of Poland in 1881. Stanislaus had five siblings. His brother, Thomas P. Bona, was also a Roman Catholic priest and longtime pastor of St. Mary of Perpetual Help Parish in Chicago (1921–1950).

Stanislaus Bona attended St. Stanislaus College in Chicago, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1905. After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Bona as a curate at St. Barbara Parish in Chicago. In 1916, he was named as resident chaplain at the Chicago House of Corrections.

Coadjutor Bishop and Bishop of Green Bay On December 2, 1944, Bona was named coadjutor bishop of Green Bay and titular bishop of Mela by Pope Pius XII. He also established a diocesan newspaper and adjusted the social welfare program of Catholic Charities to meet new needs, including those of migrant workers.