James Trobec | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Saint Cloud | |
 | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Diocese of Saint Cloud |
| Appointed | July 5, 1897 |
| Term ended | April 15, 1914 |
| Predecessor | Martin Marty |
| Successor | Joseph Francis Busch |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | September 8, 1865 by Thomas Grace |
| Consecration | September 21, 1897 by John Ireland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1838-07-10)July 10, 1838 |
| Died | December 14, 1921(1921-12-14) (aged 83) |
| Nationality | Slovenian |
James Trobec (July 10, 1838 – December 14, 1921) was a Slovenian-born American prelate of theCatholic Church. He served as the thirdBishop of Saint Cloud from 1897 to 1914.
Trobec was baptized Jakob Trobez[1] on July 10, 1838, inLog pri Polhovem Gradcu, then part of theAustrian Empire. His parents were listed as Matthæus Trobez, a farmer, and Helena Pezhovnik.[1][2] Three of his nephews also became priests inMinnesota: John Trobec, Joseph Trobec, and John Seliškar.[3]
Trobec received his early education at the parochial school ofPolhov Gradec and continued his studies at theBežigrad Gymnasium inLjubljana.[4] He began his studies for the priesthood in Ljubljana, but in 1864 he and fifteen other seminarians were recruited by Rev.Francis Xavier Pierz to serve as missionaries in the United States.[4] After his arrival in the spring of 1864, he finished his theological studies atSaint Vincent Seminary inLatrobe,Pennsylvania.[2]
Trobec then went to Minnesota and was ordained a priest on September 8, 1865, by BishopThomas Grace inSaint Paul.[5] After his ordination, he served as an assistant pastor inBelle Prairie, MInnesota. In October 1866, he was appointed pastor of Saint Felix Parish inWabasha, Minnesota and the surrounding missions.[3] At Wabasha, he established a new parochial school that was staffed by theSchool Sisters of Notre Dame and completed construction on a new church in 1874.[6]
In October 1887, Trobec was assigned to organize and lead a new parish, theChurch of St. Agnes, for German-speaking immigrants in Saint Paul.[7] This required building a new church, school, convent, and rectory. Trobec laid the cornerstone for the church in November 1887 and it was dedicated by ArchbishopJohn Ireland in September 1888.[7] The parochial school also opened its doors in 1888, under the direction of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.[7] By 1897, the parish's continued growth required a larger church. Construction on a new building began in April 1897 but Trobec received a new appointment before he could see it completed.
On July 5, 1897, Trobec was named byPope Leo XIII to succeed the lateMartin Marty as bishop of the Diocese of Saint Cloud.[5] He received his episcopal consecration on September 21, 1897, from Archbishop Ireland, with ArchbishopFrederick Katzer and BishopJohn Vertin serving as co-consecrators, at theCathedral of Saint Paul.[5]
Trobec led the diocese through a time of growth, with a particular focus on priestly vocations and Catholic education.[8] By 1911, the Catholic population grew by 25,000, the number of priests and parishes both increased by 35, and there were two more hospitals.[3]
Due to ill health, Trobec submitted his resignation to the Vatican as bishop of Saint Cloud on April 15, 1914, and it was accepted byPope Pius X the following June.[5] He was then given thetitular see ofLycopolis.[5] Trobec spent his retirement living with his sisters at the rectory of theChurch of St. Stephen Parish in St. Stephen, Minnesota, where his nephew was pastor.[9] James Trobec died there on December 14, 1921, at age 83.
The James Trobec Arts Center (Slovene:Kulturni dom Jakoba Trobca) inPolhov Gradec, Slovenia is named for him.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Bishop of St. Cloud 1897–1914 | Succeeded by |
