The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-12-24
Obsequies For Bishop Trobec


another nephew, and Rev. A. Ogulin.
Most Reverend Archbishop Bowling
spoke with great feeling and fervor
on the life of holy simplicity that
characterized Bishop Trobec through
out life. Pointing out that the Cath
olic Church aims primarily at the in
culcation of personal holiness, and
not at works of philanthropy or
the rewards of science, His Grace
painted a glowing and true picture of
the deep spirituality that marked the
actions and conduct of life OF the de-
parted prelate.
The absolutions over the remains
were performed by the five Bishops
present. Monday afternoon, the body
of the deceased was brought to the
little cemetery at st. Stephen, where
interment took place.
An Early Pioneer.
Bishop Trobec was one of the early
priests of Minnesota In 1864, the
venerable missionary, Rev. Franz
Pirec, who had labored long among
the Indians here, returned on trip
to his native Carniola, Austria Visit
ing the various seminaries, he invited
candidates for the priesthood to re-
turn with him to America, there to
dedicate themselves to the work of
evangelization Fifteen ecclesiastical
students and one priest decided to ac-
company the Jealous Father Pirec to
the foreign missions in America
Among these were men who after
wards made history in this part of
the country. The priest among them
was Father Buh, now Monsignor and
vicar general of the diocese of Du-
luth. Some others were: Katzer, aft
erwards Bishop of Green Bay and lat
er Archbishop of Milwaukee; Alois
Plut, later Monsignor and pastor at
Shakopee; Alexander Berghold, who
held various pastorates in the st.
Paul diocese, and the late Bishop Tro-
bee. Monsignor Buh is the last sur
vivor of that jealous band.
Bishop James Trobec was born in
Billichgraz, Carniola, Austria, July 10,
1888. His earlier education was ac-
quired at Laibach, the capital city of
his native province. On arriving here
with Father Pirec,y he was sent to st.
-Vincent's college, at Beatty, Pa, to
complete his studies. Having finish.
ed his course in theology, he came to
ST. Paul, for which diocese he was
destined, and on September 8, 1865,
he was ordained priest by Bishop
Grace in the same cathedral in which,
later on, he was consecrated Bishop
of St. Cloud
First Labors.
Father Trobec was first assigned to
the parish of Belle Prairie, where he
remained one year, when he was pro
NOTED to the larger charge of the Wa
basha parish. Here Father Trobec
displayed zeal and energy for twenty
one years, and during that time he
built up one of the most fiourishing
parishes i'll the diocese, that of St.
Felix His administration was wise
and priestly throughout, and he be-
came endeared to the people of Wa
basha, who one and all esteemed him
for his earnest Christianity, broad
benevolence and many personal vir-
tues.
In 1887, an important work, requir-
ing special administrative ability as
well as untiring energy and zeal, was
to be done in st. Paul. The newly
organized parish of st. Agnes was to
be built up, and into Bishop Trobec's S
hands this important charge was
committed by Bishop Ireland, who
had succeeded Bishop Grace on the
latter's retirement in 1884.
Here again Bishop Trobec demon
strated his fitness for the task i'm
posed upon him. He took up the
work with that cheerful readiness that
betokens the faithful servant of God,
labored earnestly and untiringly and
to such purpose that the decade of
years he spent in it witnessed mar
velous growth and material progress
of st. Agnes parish. 1t had gathered
together one of the largest congrega-
tions in the city. The jealous pastor
(Continued on page 81