Eldon Bernard Schuster

Eldon Bernard Schuster (March 10, 1911 – September 4, 1998) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Great Falls from 1961 until 1977.

Biography

Schuster was born in Calio, North Dakota, to John Francis and Leona Marie (née Osborn) Schuster.^[1] He attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.^[1] He was ordained to the priesthood on May 27, 1937.^[2]

He made his postgraduate studies at Oxford University in England (1938-39) and served as vice-chancellor of the Diocese of Great Falls (1941-43).^[1] He was rector of St. Ann's Cathedral (1943-46) before attending St. Louis University.^[1] He became superintendent of Catholic schools in the Great Falls Diocese in 1946, and was named a Domestic Prelate in 1949.^[1]

On October 30, 1961, Schuster was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Great Falls and Titular Bishop of Amblada by Pope John XXIII.^[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following December 21 from Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, with Bishops William Joseph Condon and Joseph Michael Gilmore serving as co-consecrators.^[2] Following the death of Bishop Condon, he was named the fourth Bishop of Great Falls on December 2, 1967.^[2] After ten years as bishop, he resigned on December 27, 1977.^[2]

He died at age 87.

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