John Linus Paschang
John Linus Paschang was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Grand Island in Nebraska from 1951 to 1972.
Biography
Early life
One of nine children, John Paschang was born on October 5, 1895, in Hemingford, Nebraska, to Casper and Gertrude Paschang. Drawn to the religious life from high school, he studied at Conception Seminary College in Conception, Missouri, and at College of [Saint Benedict and Saint John's University|St. John's Seminary] in Collegeville, Minnesota.Priesthood
Paschang was ordained to the priesthood at St. John's by Bishop Joseph Francis Busch for the Diocese of Omaha on June 12, 1921. After his ordination, the diocese assigned Paschang as pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Hooper, Nebraska. He went in 1923 to the The [Catholic University of America|Catholic University of America] in Washington, D.C., where he earned a doctorate in canon law. Paschang then served as pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Omaha, Nebraska, from 1927 to 1951.Bishop of Grand Island
On July 28, 1951, Paschang was appointed the fourth bishop of Grand Island by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration at Saint Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha on October 9, 1951, from Archbishop Gerald Bergan, with Bishops Louis Kucera and Edward Hunkeler serving as co-consecrators.During his tenure, Paschang ordained 55 priests and established 33 churches, 15 parish houses, 13 schools, 11 parish centers,six convents, several rectories, and four hospital additions. He attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council in Rome, but was privately opposed to some of the council's more liberal reforms. He also earned a stockbroker's license to better his knowledge of financial investments for the church.