Kenneth Joseph Povish

Kenneth Joseph Povish (April 19, 1924 – September 5, 2003) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Crookston (1970–75) and Bishop of Lansing (1975–95).

Early life and education

Kenneth Povish was born in Alpena, Michigan, the eldest child and only son of Joseph and Elizabeth (née Yachaik) Povish.^[1] He received his early education at the parochial school of St. Anne's Church, and graduated from Alpena High School in 1942.^[1] He studied for the priesthood at St. Joseph's Seminary in Grand Rapids and at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1946.^[2] He completed his studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.^[2]

Priesthood

Povish was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Saginaw on June 3, 1950.^[3] His first assignment was as a curate at St. Ignatius Church in Rogers City, where he remained for two years.^[2] He then served at St. Hyacinth's Church in Bay City (1952–1956).^[2] He received his first pastorate at St. Mary's Church in Port Sanilac in 1956.^[1]

He served as pastor of St. Norbert's Church in Munger (1957–1960) and a professor at St. Paul's Seminary in Saginaw (1960–66).^[1] From 1966 to 1970, he served as pastor of St. Stanislaus Church in Bay City.^[2] He was named a Prelate of Honor in October 1967.^[1] In addition to his pastoral duties, he served as diocesan director of Catholic Charities and of religious education.^[2] He wrote a weekly column entitled "The Question Box" in The Catholic Weekly from 1954 to 1970, and was active in the Mexican apostolate, League of Catholic Women, and St. Vincent de Paul Society.^[1]

Episcopacy

Crookston

On July 28, 1970, Povish was appointed the fifth Bishop of Crookston, Minnesota, by Pope Paul VI.^[3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following September 29 from Archbishop Luigi Raimondi, with Bishops Francis Frederick Reh and James Aloysius Hickey serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.^[3] He selected as his episcopal motto: "To Accomplish His Work" (John 4:34).^[1] During his five-year tenure, he implemented the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, establishing parish councils in each parish and a Pastoral Council for the diocese.^[4] He also supported liturgical reform and the ecumenical movement.^[4]

Lansing

Following the death of Bishop Alexander M. Zaleski, Povish was named the third Bishop of Lansing in Michigan on October 8, 1975.^[3] His installation took place on December 11 of that year.^[3] As a member of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, he was chairman of the Committee for Catholic Charismatic Renewal and of the Committee on Vocations.^[2] He was also a member of the NCCB Executive Board, the Committee for Laity, and the Committee for Communications.^[2]

Later life and death

After governing the diocese for twenty years, Povish retired as Bishop of Lansing due to poor health on November 7, 1995.^[3] He then served as Apostolic Administrator of the diocese until the installation of his successor, Bishop Carl Frederick Mengeling in January 1996.^[2]

He died from colon cancer in Lansing, at age 79.^[1]

Sources

"Short History of the Diocese of Crookston." Diocese of Crookston. <<http://www.crookston.org/Cathedra/cathedra_Page394.htm>>.