06/06/2025
The Most Reverend John G. Vlazny, born on February 22, 1937, to John and Marie (nee Brezina) Vlazny, grew up in Chicago alongside his sisters, Marcella and Marion. He attended St. Gall’s parochial school and Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago. He then entered St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, IL, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1958. Continuing his formation, he attended the North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, earning a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree in 1960 and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology degree in 1962. He later earned a Master of Arts degree in the Classics from the University of Michigan in 1967, and a Master of Education degree in School Administration from Loyola University, Chicago, in 1972. Archbishop Vlazny was awarded several honorary degrees throughout his life, including an Honorary Doctor of Ministry degree from St. Mary's University, Winona, MN, in 1998, an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Portland, Portland, OR, 1999, and an Honorary Doctor of Theology degree from Mount Angel Seminary, St. Benedict, OR, in 2010.He was ordained a priest at St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, on December 20, 1961, by Archbishop Martin J. O’Connor. As a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Father Vlazny served in various capacities. He was an associate pastor in five parishes from 1962 to 1979 and a faculty member at Quigley Preparatory North from 1963 to 1979, where he also served as Dean of Studies from 1969 to 1979. He was President of the Presbyteral Senate for the Archdiocese of Chicago from 1976 to 1977. In 1979, he was appointed pastor of St. Aloysius Parish in Chicago, and then rector of Niles College Seminary, serving there from 1981 until 1983.
On October 18, 1983, Pope St. John Paul II appointed him to the episcopacy, and he was ordained an Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago and Titular Bishop of Stagnum at Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago, on December 13, 1983, by His Eminence Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, with Bishops Alfred Abramowicz and Nevin Hayes serving as co-consecrators. His episcopal motto was “Go and Make Disciples” (Mt. 28:19). As Auxiliary Bishop, he served as Episcopal Vicar for Lake County and Northwestern Suburban Cook County and worked closely with the Office of the Hispanic Apostolate. He was appointed Bishop of Winona, MN, by Pope St. John Paul II on May 19, 1987, and was installed as the sixth Bishop of Winona on July 29, 1987. On October 28, 1997, he was appointed by Pope St. John Paul II as the tenth Archbishop of Portland in Oregon. He was installed on December 19, 1997, and served until his resignation was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI on January 29, 2013. The Most Reverend Alexander K. Sample succeeded him, beginning his service on April 2, 2013. Archbishop Vlazny continued serving the Church as Archbishop Emeritus until his passing on May 23, 2025, at age 88.
Archbishop Vlazny chaired numerous committees within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), including National Collections, Vocations, Evangelization, University Presidents and Bishops, Women in Society and the Church, and Economic Concerns of the Holy See. He was also a member of the USCCB committees on Administration, Migration and Refugee Services, Priestly Formation, the Millenium, Consecrated Life, North American College, Hispanic Affairs, Relations between Eastern and Latin Catholic Churches, Catechesis, Diocesan Audits, Conciliation and Arbitration, Shrines, and the task force on Faith Formation and Sacramental Practice, and he served as a consultant to the USCCB committees on Divine Worship and African American Catholics. He served as chairman of the Region XII Bishops and the boards of Oregon Catholic Press and the Oregon Catholic Conference, and was on the boards of Catholic Charities, Sacred Heart School of Theology, Hales Corner, WI, the Catholic Communications Foundation, Mount Angel Seminary, and the Abbey Foundation of Oregon. He was also episcopal moderator of the Catholic Cemetery Conference, episcopal liaison to the National Council of Catholic Women, a trustee of the Catholic United Investment Trust of the Christian Brothers Investment Service, and was a member of the board of advisors for the Erasmus Institute at Notre Dame University.
Archbishop Vlazny’s family recalls how he cherished summer vacations with them and his friends across Wisconsin, Michigan, and the Oregon coast, and enjoyed watching football with his nieces and nephews during the holidays. He was a diehard Chicago White Sox fan and was overjoyed when his beloved team won the World Series in 2005. He also had a unique talent for playing both the accordion and piano, often leading the Christmas cheer at holiday gatherings with his accordion.
As a great spiritual father, Archbishop Vlazny led the local Church in the Archdiocese of Portland through some of its most challenging days. He was a man who always fully exhibited the joy of the Gospel and was widely renowned for his wonderful laugh, kindness and thoughtfulness. His love for the priesthood and his own episcopal ministry was evident at all times. In keeping with his episcopal motto, he was a passionate evangelizer, working tirelessly to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and was known for his outreach to the Hispanic and other cultural communities as well as those of other faiths. He has left a lasting and remarkable legacy in the Church in Western Oregon and will be deeply missed. We now commend him to the mercy of the Lord, whom he served so well, and ask the Lord to grant him the blessed reward of a good and faithful servant (cf. Mt. 25:21-23). May he rest in peace.
Archbishop Vlazny is survived by his sister, Marion Carroll, and his nephews, Michael, Matthew and Stephen Carroll and their spouses, Carol, Kelly and Jenny, and their children, Meghan, Ryan (Nicole), Braden, Chase and Claire.
https://archdpdx.org/passing-of-archbishop-vlazny
