Bishop William H. Bullock

News release on the death of Bishop Bullock.

PowerPoint slideshow of Bishop Bullock's time in the Diocese of Des Moines.

    Bishop Bullock was born April 13, 1927 to Loren and Anne Bullock, of Maple Lake, Minn. He worshipped at St. Timothy Church in Maple Lake, the same church where his mother was baptized, where his parents were married.

    He was raised on a farm, and took a break from college to join the U.S. Navy in World War II. With the end of the war, he went to Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind. on a GI Bill and earned degrees in philosophy and English. He went home to St. Paul Seminary in Minnesota and was ordained a priest in 1952.
    He served a number of parishes before turning to education. He served St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, Minn. as an instructor and headmaster.
     Msgr. Larry Beeson, vicar general for Bishop Bullock, said the bishop liked explaining why the Church does what it does.
     He became an auxiliary bishop in the Twin Cities in 1980 and served there until becoming bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines in 1987. He served central and southwest Iowa until 1993, when he became bishop of the Diocese of Madison.
     Bishop Bullock retired 10 years later. In retirement, he continued serving people by presiding at confirmations, special parish and diocesan events. He celebrated Mass daily in his private chapel.
       Bishop Bullock returned to the Des Moines diocese twice recently. He was here for the 30th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Iowa and for the celebration of Msgr. Beeson’s 50th anniversary as a priest.
 

Bishop William H. Bullock
Third bishop of Madison
Seventh bishop of Des Moines
Bishop Emeritus

Born

April 13, 1927, Maple Lake, Minn.

Education
Grade School: Maple Lake Grade School, Maple Lake, Minn.
High School: Annandale High School, Annandale, Minn.
College: St. Thomas College, 1944-45, St. Paul, Minn.
U.S. Navy -- World War II, 1944-46
University of Notre Dame, 1946-48
St. Paul Seminary, 1948-52

Degrees
1948 -- B.A. University of Notre Dame, Philosophy
1962 -- M.A. University of Notre Dame, Liturgy and Religious Education
1969 -- ED.S. St. Thomas University, Education and Administration
1989 -- Honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa
2005 -- Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree, Honoris Causa, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn.

Ordained a priest: June 7, 1952, St. Paul Cathedral, St. Paul, Minn.

Assignments
1952-55 -- St. Stephen Parish, Minneapolis, Minn., associate pastor
1955-56 -- Our Lady of Grace Parish, Edina, Minn., associate pastor
1956-57 -- Incarnation Parish, Minneapolis, Minn., associate pastor
1957-71 -- St. Thomas Academy, St. Paul, Minn., instructor
1967-71 -- St. Thomas Academy, St. Paul, Minn., headmaster
1971-80 -- St. John the Baptist Parish, Excelsior, Minn., pastor
1980 -- Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Minneapolis, Minn., pastor

Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of St. Paul/Minneapolis by Pope John Paul II June 3, 1980

Ordained a Bishop Aug. 12, 1980 at St. Paul Cathedral, St. Paul, Minn.

Appointed Bishop of Des Moines, Iowa Feb. 10, 1987
Installed as Bishop of Des Moines, Iowa April 7, 1987

Appointed Bishop of Madison, Wis. April 13, 1993
Installed as Bishop of Madison, Wis. June 15, 1993

Pope John Paul II accepted his resignation May 23, 2003
Served as Diocesan Administrator until August 1, 2003

Membership and Activities
National Conference of Catholic Bishops (now the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
Member, Knights of Columbus, Fourth Degree
Member, Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, KGCHS
Member, St. Francis Seminary Board of Trustees, Milwaukee, Wis.

Past Offices and Committees
Member, Catholic Telecommunications Network of America, C.T.N.A.
Bishops' Committee on Liturgy
Religious Life and Ministry Committee
Tri-Conference Committee
USCC Communications Committee
Catholic Relief Services, Executive Committee, Subcommittee on Africa, and Committee on Overseas Programs and Operations
Advisory Council of the School of Theology and Seminary of St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minn.
NCCB/USCC Agenda Committee: Planning Committee for General Meetings and Assemblies
NCCB/USCC Evangelization Committee