Joseph Francis Busch
Joseph Francis Busch was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Lead in South Dakota from 1910 to 1915 and bishop of the Diocese of Saint Cloud in Minnesota from 1915 until his death in 1953.
Biography
Early life
Joseph Busch was born on April 18, 1866, in Red Wing, Minnesota, the eldest of twelve children of Frederick and Anna M. Busch. His parents were German immigrants; his father served for many years as president of the Goodhue County National Bank in Red Wing and was also president of the La Grange mills.Joseph Busch received his early education at the public and parochial schools of Red Wing, and afterwards attended parochial schools in Mankato. He then attended Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, before entering Campion College in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, where he completed his classical studies. Busch studied philosophy and theology at the University of Innsbruck in Austria.
Priesthood
Busch was ordained to the priesthood in Innsbruck for the Archdiocese of [Saint Paul and Minneapolis|Archdiocese of Saint Paul] on July 28, 1889, by Bishop Johann Nepomucenus Zobl. He furthered his studies at the The [Catholic University of America|Catholic University of America] in Washington, D.C., for one year. Busch then returned to Minnesota and served as secretary of Archbishop John Ireland for two years. He also served as a curate at St. Mary's Parish and Cathedral of Saint Paul, [National Shrine of the Apostle Paul|St. Paul's Cathedral Parish], both in St. Paul. He founded St. Augustine's Parish of St. Paul in 1896, serving as its first pastor. Busch later served at St. Lawrence Parish in Minneapolis and St. Anne Parish in Le Sueur, Minnesota. In 1902, he established the diocesan missionary band of the archdiocese, serving as its director until 1910.Bishop of Lead
On April 9, 1910, Busch was appointed the second bishop of Lead by Pope Pius X. He received his episcopal consecration at Saint Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, on May 19, 1910, from Archbishop Ireland, with Bishops James McGolrick and James Trobec serving as co-consecrators. During his tenure, Busch called for the abolition of work on Sundays. He subsequently received so much criticism that he was forced to relocate from Lead to Rapid City.Bishop of Saint Cloud
On January 19, 1915, Busch was appointed the fourth Bishop of Saint Cloud in Minnesota by Pope Benedict XV. In 1917, he became the first chairman of the Stearns County chapter of the American Red Cross. He was named an assistant at the pontifical throne in 1923.Joseph Busch died in St. Cloud on May 31, 1953, at age 87.