Stanislaus Vincent Bona

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Stanislaus Vincent Bona
Bishop of Green Bay Titular Bishop of Mela
See	Diocese of Green Bay
Appointed	December 2, 1944
In office	1944-1967
Predecessor	Paul Peter Rhode
Successor	Aloysius John Wycislo
Previous posts	Bishop of Grand Island (1932–1944)
Orders
Ordination	November 1, 1912
Consecration	February 25, 1932 by George Mundelein, Paul Peter Rhode, and Francis Martin Kelly
Personal details
Born	Stanisław Wincenty Bona (1888-10-01)October 1, 1888 Chicago, Illinois, US
Died	December 1, 1967(1967-12-01) (aged 79) Green Bay, Wisconsin, US
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Parents	John and Catherine Bona
Education	St. Stanislaus College (Chicago) Pontifical North American College
Motto	Nomine tuo sit gloria (Glory be to Your name)

Styles of Stanislaus Vincent Bona
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Bishop

Stanislaus Vincent Bona (October 1, 1888 – December 1, 1967) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Grand Island in Nebraska (1932–1944) and bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay in Wisconsin (1945–1967).

Stanislaus Bona was born on October 1, 1888, in Chicago, Illinois, to John and Catherine (née Śmigiel) Bona, who had immigrated to the United States from Kingdom of Poland in 1881.[1][2] Stanislaus had five siblings.[3] His brother, Thomas P. Bona, was also a Roman Catholic priest and longtime pastor of St. Mary of Perpetual Help Parish in Chicago (1921–1950).[4]

Stanislaus Bona attended St. Stanislaus College in Chicago, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1905.[1] He continued his studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, there earning a Doctor of Divinity degree and Licentiate of Canon Law.[1]

Bona was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop James Edward Quigley for the Archdiocese of Chicago in Rome on November 1, 1912.[2][5] After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Bona as a curate at St. Barbara Parish in Chicago. In 1916, he was named as resident chaplain at the Chicago House of Corrections.[1][2] He later served as a professor at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary (1918–1922) and pastor of St. Casimir Parish, both in Chicago (1922–1931).[1] The Vatican named Bona as a monsignor in 1931. He also served on the board of Religious Communities of Women.[1]

On December 18, 1931, Bona was appointed the second bishop of Grand Island by Pope Pius XI.[5] He received his episcopal consecration on February 25, 1932, from Cardinal George Mundelein, with Bishops Paul Rhode and Francis Kelly serving as co-consecrators, at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.[5] During World War II, Bona ministered to German and Italian prisoners of war kept in camps in the diocese.[6]

On December 2, 1944, Bona was named coadjutor bishop of Green Bay and titular bishop of Mela by Pope Pius XII.[5] He succeeded Bishop Paul Rhode as the seventh bishop of Green Bay upon the latter's death on March 3, 1945.[5] During his tenure in Green Bay, Bona founded 67 grade schools, four high schools, Holy Family College in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and Sacred Heart Seminary.[7] He also established a diocesan newspaper and adjusted the social welfare program of Catholic Charities to meet new needs, including those of migrant workers.[7] Bona attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council in Rome between 1962 and 1965.[5]

Bona died at age 79 in Green Bay on December 1, 1967.[2][5] His cabin in Minong, Wisconsin, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.[8]

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Island
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay