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Released to media on September 19, 2001
New Ulm – Bishop Raymond Alphonse Lucker, second bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm, died September 19, 2001, at the age of 74, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Home, St. Paul, MN. Bishop Lucker spent a lifetime devoted to renewal of the Church in religious education. Catechesis, evangelization, and theology have been his particular areas of ministry and training. He was a pioneer in the catechetical renewal movement nationwide and a leader in the development of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine and the National Conference of Diocesan Directors of Catechetics. Bishop Lucker was one of the founders of the Catechetical Forum, an association of catechetical writers, professors of catechetics, CCD directors, and other catechetical leaders. He was a delegate to the International Catechetical Congress in Rome in 1971. Bishop Lucker earned two doctoral degrees: one in sacred theology (S.T.D.); and the other in education (Ph.D.). He held active membership in the Catholic Theological Society of America, and served on the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Administrative Committee, and the committees on Latin America, Evangelization, Diaconate, Laity, Catechetical Directory, and Charismatic Renewal. The Bishops of the United States elected him in 1977 as a delegate to the Synod in Rome, and in 1987 as an alternate delegate. His devotion to the people of the Diocese of New Ulm led Bishop Lucker to establish a comprehensive parish planning effort to ensure that small parishes would not go without pastoral leadership during the decline of priests available to lead parishes. "I believe the strength of the diocese is in the small communities where faith is handed on from generation to generation." He was the first bishop in the United States to appoint pastoral administrators as leaders of parishes, March 1981. In 1976, upon his installation as Bishop of New Ulm, he committed himself to five goals as a pledge of his faithfulness to the diocese; "I pledge to give every encouragement to the spiritual renewal of every member of the church; I believe in parish life. I believe strongly that it is in the local parish community that the work of the church is accomplished. I believe that we must serve parishes; I pledge my support to Catholic education in all its dimensions; Catholic schools, religious education, evangelization. The purpose of our efforts is to lead people to faith. The center of Catholic education is that teachers, leaders, administrators, and parents are called to give witness to the faith they teach so that there is a continual call for holiness among us; I pledge myself to rural life, to supporting the family farm, to encouraging stewardship of the land and of resources, and to look upon the land as a gift of God; I am committed to continue the excellent work that has been begun and fostered by the diocese in the mission of San Lucas, Guatemala." Bishop Lucker was recognized nationally for his actions on behalf of social justice issues. Serving for 20 years as Episcopal Moderator of Pax Christi USA, a national Catholic peace movement, he embraced the belief that nonviolence is at the heart of Christian faith, and was recently presented Pax Christi USA's highest honor, the Ambassador of Peace Award. Bishop Lucker was sought out as a spokesperson on issues of social justice and was appreciated for his prophetic and pastoral leadership. Colleagues describe him as a role model who "speaks the truth in all clarity and at the same time accepts everyone, praises everyone, never excludes anyone from the community." In his final blessing to the people of the diocese, Bishop Lucker prayed, " May you be open to the spirit. May you be open to the spirit. May you all be open to the presence and the power of the spirit." On Sunday, September 23, 2001, at 3:30 p.m., there will be Reception of the Body at Guardian Angels Church, 8260 Hudson Boulevard North, Oakdale, MN. Visitation will follow and continue throughout the all-night Vigil. There will be a 7:30 p.m. Evening Prayer and a 10:30 p.m. Night Prayer on Sunday at Guardian Angels Church, Oakdale, MN. On Monday, September 24, 2001, there will be a 7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer at Guardian Angels Church, Oakdale, MN, followed by a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. On Monday, September 24, 2001 at 3:30 p.m., there will be Reception of the Body at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm, MN. Visitation will follow and continue throughout the all-night Vigil. There will be a 7:30 p.m. Evening Prayer and a 10:30 p.m. Night Prayer on Monday at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm, MN.
On Tuesday, September 25, 2001, there will be a 7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
followed by a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at the Cathedral of the
Holy Trinity, New Ulm, MN. Burial will follow at the New Ulm Catholic
Cemetery.
Obituary
Bishop Raymond Alphonse
Lucker S.T.D.
Second Bishop of New Ulm
February 24, 1927 - September 19, 2001
At the age of 74, Bishop Raymond Alphonse Lucker, S.T.D., died Wednesday, September 19, 2001, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Home, St. Paul, MN. The Holy Father granted Bishop Lucker an early retirement, November 17, 2000, upon learning that he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. During his early retirement, Bishop Lucker resided at the Leo C. Byrne Residence, St. Paul, MN until July 2001 when he sought full-time care at Our Lady of Good Counsel Home, St. Paul. Bishop Raymond Alphonse Lucker was born February 24, 1927, in St. Paul, MN. He was the son of Alphonse J. Lucker and Josephine Schiltgen Lucker Mayer and the third child in a family of six children. As a child he attended Sacred Heart Grade School and Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary, St. Paul, MN. As an adult, he studied philosophy and theology at the Saint Paul Seminary and was ordained to the priesthood June 7, 1952 at the Cathedral of St. Paul by Bishop James J. Byrne. Bishop Lucker's first assignment was as Assistant Director of the Office of the Confaternity of Christian Doctrine, from June 1952 to February, 1958 at which time he was named Director. He held this position until September 11, 1964 when he was sent to pursue graduate studies. He received a Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the University of St. Thomas in Rome. While studying in Rome he participated in the activities of the Second Vatican Council, an experience that inspired his pastoral ministry and leadership throughout his lifetime.
After completing his studies in Rome he returned to the Archdiocese and was named Assistant Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese. The following year he became Superintendent and remained in this position until January, 1969. During this time he completed a doctorate (PhD.) in education at the University of Minnesota. That year he became the Director of the Department of Christian Formation of the United States Catholic Conference in Washington, D.C. until June 1971. During this time Pope Paul VI named Raymond Lucker an Honorary Prelate (Monsignor). In July 1971 he was named Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and Titular Bishop of Meta. He was ordained a Bishop September 8, 1971 on the Feast of the Nativity of Mary. Along with his duties as Auxiliary Bishop he was named Pastor of the Church of St. Austin, Minneapolis, until July 1974. He was then named the Pastor of the Church of the Assumption of Mary, St. Paul until 1976. While Pastor at Assumption he also served as Director of the Liturgy Office of the Archdiocese. He was named Bishop of New Ulm on December 23, 1975, and this appointment was announced December 30, 1975. He was installed as Bishop of New Ulm, February 19, 1976 at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm, MN and served the diocese for 25 years. He was an active member of the Catholic Theological Society of America, and served on the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Administrative Committee and the committees on Latin America, Evangelization, Diaconate, Laity, Catechetical Directory, and Charismatic Renewal. The most valued recognition of his academic career was an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa from the College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN. He was recognized for his commitment to religious education, spiritual renewal, pastoral leadership, and his pioneering efforts in promoting equality for women in the church and society. In June 2001 the Catholic Theological Society of America paid special tribute to Bishop Lucker during their national convention, for his devoted leadership and service to the church. In July 2001, he was recognized for his leadership in the area of social justice, receiving Pax Christi USA's highest honor, the Ambassador of Peace Award. On Sunday, September 23, 2001 at 3:30 p.m., there will be Reception of the Body at Guardian Angels Church, 8260 Hudson Boulevard North, Oakdale, MN. Visitation will follow and continue throughout the all-night Vigil. There will be a 7:30 p.m. Evening Prayer and a 10:30 p.m. Night Prayer on Sunday at Guardian Angels Church, Oakdale, MN. On Monday, September 24, 2001, there will be a 7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer at Guardian Angels Church, Oakdale, MN, followed by a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. On Monday, September 24, 2001 at 3:30 p.m., there will be Reception of the Body at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm, MN. Visitation will follow and continue throughout the all-night Vigil. There will be a 7:30 p.m. Evening Prayer and a 10:30 p.m. Night Prayer on Monday at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm, MN. On Tuesday, September 25, 2001, there will be a 7:30 a.m. Morning Prayer followed by a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm, MN. Burial will follow at the New Ulm Catholic Cemetery. Bishop Lucker was preceded in death by his parents, Alphonse Lucker and Josephine Schiltgen Lucker Mayer, his stepfather, Joseph Mayer, and sister-in-law, Mary Lucker. He is survived by sisters: Rosemary and Greg Kern of Richfield, MN; Mary Jo and Frank Haggerty of Roseville, MN; and Margaret (Peggy) and Don Grobe of Millville, MN; brothers: Donald and Dianna Lee Lucker of Wayzata, MN; and Gerald Lucker of Pengilly, MN; many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Memorials are preferred to the Lay Ministry Scholarship Fund, Bishop Lucker Lecture Fund, Fr. Alexander Berghold Memorial, and Our Lady of Good Counsel Home, St. Paul, MN.
Arrangements handled by O'Halloran and Murphy, St. Paul, MN.
651-631-2727 More Information about Bishop Lucker
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Background information on education, pastoral experience, and publications.
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