Alfred Pichler
| The Most Reverend Alfred Pichler | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Banja Luka | |
| Diocese | Banja Luka |
| See | Banja Luka |
| Appointed | July 22, 1959 |
| In office | 1959 - 1989 |
| Predecessor | Dragutin Čelik |
| Successor | Franjo Komarica |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | March 13, 1937 |
| Consecration |
October 18, 1959 by Franjo Šeper |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
December 18, 1913 Oštrelj (near Bosanski Petrovac, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Died |
May 17, 1992 (aged 78) Banja Luka |
| Buried | Cathedral of Saint Bonaventure |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Parents | Anton Pichler and Matilda (née Helk) |
| Motto | Nec laudibus nec timore |
Alfred Pichler (December 18, 1913 - May 17, 1992) was Bishop of Banja Luka, first bishop of Banja Luka who was diocesan priest and first that was born on the territory of the Diocese of Banja Luka.[1]
Early life
Alfred Pichler was born in Oštrelj near Bosanski Petrovac, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to Anton and Matilda (née Helk) Pichler. He had finished elementary school in Šipovo and Prijedor where he also attended six years of gymnasium, then he went to the minor seminary in Travnik. He continued studying at the University of Catholic Theology in Sarajevo where he was ordanied deacon by Ivan Šarić on February 20, 1937.[1]
Priesthood
Pichler was ordained to the priesthood on March 13, 1937[2] in the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Sarajevo. He first served as a chaplain in Banja Luka, and then as a parish priest in Novi Martinac. During the war, he had to escape from Chetniks to Bosanski Aleksandrovac. After the war ended, from May 1945 to March in 1946, he was situated with other Germans in a camp in Bosanski Aleksandrovac. He was administrator of parishes in Nova Topola, Bosanski Aleksandrovac and Mahovljani from the autumn 1946 until spring 1952. Communist authorities accused him for alleged enemy propaganda and imprisoned him until April 1954. After his release until the appointment of the bishop, he served as parish priest of Prnjavor.[1]
Episcopal career
On July 22, 1959, Alfred was appointed Bishop of Banja Luka[2] by Pope John XXIII. He received his episcopal consecration from Franjo Šeper, with Smiljan Franjo Čekada and Matija Zvekanović serving as co-consecrators on October 18, 1959.[2] On May 15, 1989, he retired from the ministry and until his death remained bishop emeritus of Banja Luka. He died at the time of complete isolation from the world and the largest war destruction in Bosnia and Herzegovina, on May 17, 1992, and was buried two days later at the cathedral.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Alfred PICHLER, rezidencijalni biskup od 1959. do 1989." (in Croatian). biskupija-banjaluka.org. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Bishop Alfred Pichler". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Dragutin Čelik |
Bishop of Banja Luka 1959–1989 |
Succeeded by Franjo Komarica |
| ||||||||||||||||
