Most Rev. Daniel W. Kucera, O.S.B., Abbot, Archbishop, Builder and Educator, Dies
Born in Chicago on May 7, 1923, he learned at an early age about the Benedictines of St. Procopius Abbey, and in 1937 he followed an older brother in coming to the schools in Lisle. Deciding that God chose him for a monastic and priestly vocation, he professed vows in 1944, and, in 1949 was ordained a priest. Following those years, then Fr. Daniel steeped himself in education and fundraising, establishing programs and erecting buildings for St. Procopius College, now Benedictine University, and, the abbey itself.
In 1959, at the age of thirty-six, Father Daniel was named president of the college. Due to his leadership skills, the monks elected Father Daniel, then fortyone, as the fifth abbot of the community in 1964. Three months after his election Abbot Daniel announced his determination to move ahead with the building of a new church and monastery. Working closely with the architect, Edward Dart, Abbot Daniel in June 1970 saw his labors crowned with the blessing of a building that would win several architectural awards in the years ahead.
In June 1977, Pope Paul VI appointed Father Daniel titular Bishop of Natchez (Mississippi) and auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Joliet. On March 11, 1980, Pope John Paul II named Bishop Daniel the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Salina, Kansas. On December 20, 1983, Bishop Daniel was named the eighth Archbishop of Dubuque, Iowa. Though he retired from Dubuque in 1995, Archbishop Daniel continued his pastoral ministry and involvement in fund raising .
Fr. Julian von Duerbeck, O.S.B., who entered the abbey in 1969, stated that "As abbot, Archbishop Daniel took a truly personal approach to the monk, establishing a relationship with him, so that he acted over everyone as a true spiritual director and formulator of renewal of the abbey." Asked about the life of his predecessor, Abbot Austin Murphy, O.S.B., the tenth abbot, remarked, "After I became abbot, Archbishop Daniel showed interest in my role as abbot and offered his support and counsel. I remember, the day of my blessing as abbot, that he spoke of maintaining peace within myself. 'If the community is to be at peace,' he said, 'then it is important that its spiritual leader have peace within himself.'"
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St. Procopius Abbey is a Catholic community of Benedictine monks founded in 1885 by St. Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA, in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. In 1914, the abbey was transferred to Lisle, approximately 30 miles from Chicago. Composed of twenty-four monks, the abbey is dedicated to daily prayer and work. It sponsors Benedictine University and Benet Academy in Lisle.