Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
The Italian American Labor Council of Greater Chicago will honor Archbishop Blase Joseph Cupich with its Man of the Year Award at the organization’s 2016 gala on Oct. 22 at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison.
“Archbishop Cupich is a man of deep humility and faith,” says IALC President Tony Guida. “It’s a true privilege to be able to celebrate his life and accomplishments.”
Blase Joseph Cupich was born on March 19, 1949, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Blase and Mary (Mayhan) Cupich. He is one of nine children, with five sisters and three brothers.
Archbishop Cupich was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Omaha on August 16, 1975. He was pastor of two parishes in Omaha. He was appointed Bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota, on July 7, 1998, and was ordained and installed on September 21, 1998. He was appointed the sixth Bishop of Spokane, Washington, on June 30, 2010, and officially installed on September 3, 2010.
Archbishop Cupich was appointed Archbishop of Chicago on September 20, 2014, and was installed as the ninth Archbishop of Chicago, Illinois, on Tuesday, November 18, 2014.
Archbishop Cupich obtained his B.A. in Philosophy from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1971. He attended seminary at the North American College and Gregorian University in Rome, where he received his Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology in 1974, and his M.A. in Theology in 1975. Archbishop Cupich is a graduate of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where, in 1979, he received his License of Sacred Theology degree in Sacramental Theology. He also holds a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree, also in Sacramental Theology, from the Catholic University of America, awarded in 1987, with his dissertation entitled: “Advent in the Roman Tradition: An Examination and Comparison of the Lectionary Readings as Hermeneutical Units in Three Periods.”
Additionally, Archbishop Cupich was the Secretary at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C. He also served as the Chair for the USCCB Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People from 2008 until 2011. He participated in the Synod of Bishops in Rome in October 2015.
Archbishop Cupich serves on many committees, including: The National Catholic Educational Association Board, Chair; The USCCB Subcommittee for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, Chair; The USCCB Ad Hoc Committee on Scripture Translation, Member; Catholic Extension Society, Chancellor, Member of the Board of Governors, and Chair of the Mission Committee; The Catholic Mutual Relief Society, Executive Member; and The Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation Board, Member. He is also Chancellor of the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein.
