Lambert Anthony Hoch

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).

Biography

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]

References