Lambert Anthony Hoch (February 6, 1903—June 27, 1990) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Bismarck (1952-1956) and Bishop of Sioux Falls (1956-1978).
Lambert Hoch was born in Elkton, South Dakota, to George and Philomena (née Kniest) Hoch.[1] After graduating from Elkton High School, he entered Creighton University at Omaha, Nebraska in 1920.[2] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Creighton in 1924, and then studied theology at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.[1] He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Bernard Joseph Mahoney on May 30, 1928.[3]
Hoch then served as a professor of philosophy at Columbus College until 1929, when he became a curate at Immaculate Conception Church in Watertown.[1] In 1933 he was named chancellor of the Diocese of Sioux Falls.[1] In addition to his duties as chancellor, he served as chaplain of McKennan Hospital for eleven years.[2] He was raised to the rank of Domestic Prelate of His Holiness in 1943.[2]
On January 23, 1952, Hoch was appointed the third Bishop of Bismarck, North Dakota, by Pope Pius XII.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following March 25 from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, with Bishops William O. Brady and Francis Joseph Schenk serving as co-consecrators.[3] He was the first native South Dakotan to become a Catholic bishop.[2] Hoch was installed by Archbishop John Murray at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on April 2, 1952.[3] During his four-year-long tenure, he worked to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life; between 1952 and 1960, 29 priests were ordained for the diocese and 13 for Assumption Abbey in Richardton.[2]
Following the promotion of Bishop William O. Brady to Coadjutor Archbishop of St. Paul, Hoch was named the fifth Bishop of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on November 27, 1956.[3] He was installed on the following December 5.[3] He attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council between 1962 and 1965, and dedicated much of his administration to implementing the Council's reforms.[2] He fostered ecumenical relations with other faiths and helped establish the South Dakota Association of Christian Churches.[2] In 1963 he baptized and confirmed the Fischer quintuplets, who were the first known surviving set of American quintuplets.[4]
After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Hoch resigned as bishop on June 13, 1978.[3] He later died after a long illness at McKennan Hospital, aged 87.[2]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Vincent James Ryan |
Bishop of Bismarck 1952—1956 |
Succeeded by Hilary Baumann Hacker |
| Preceded by William O. Brady |
Bishop of Sioux Falls 1956—1978 |
Succeeded by Paul Vincent Dudley |