Former archbishop Vlazny dies

Archbishop Emeritus John G. Vlazny (Photo courtesy of the Archdiocese of Portland)

Archbishop Emeritus John G. Vlazny died Friday, May 23, at his home in Beaverton, 

Oregon. He was 88.

Vlazny was born in Chicago on February 22,1937.  He attended Archbishop Quigley Seminary preparatory school in Chicago and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, the Pontifical North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University, both in Rome. He earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology in 1960 and a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in 1962.

Vlazny, ordained in 1961, was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of Chicago and Titular Bishop of Sternum in 1983 by Pope John Paul II. As an episcopal vicar for Lake County, and the northwestern part of Cook County, Illinois, he also worked closely with the Office of the Hispanic Apostolate. He will be remembered for his fluent and rapid-paced bi-lingual homilies, which endeared him to Spanish-speaking communities throughout western Oregon. 

On May 19, 1987, John Paul II appointed Vlazny as the sixth bishop of Winona, Minnesota. Then, on October 28, 1997, John Paul II, again, appointed Vlazny to succeed Archbishop Francis George as the tenth archbishop of Portland in Oregon.

Early in Vlazny’s tenure, he managed dozens of lawsuits by individuals who accused priests of sexual abuse. It was Vlazny’s decision in 2005 to file bankruptcy, the first among other dioceses to follow, in response to sex abuse cases.

“This great spiritual father led this local Church in the Archdiocese of Portland, through some of its most challenging days,” Archbishop Alexander Sample said Sunday. “He was truly one of the kindest and most thoughtful men that I have ever known. His love for the priesthood and his own episcopal ministry was evident at all times. He has left a lasting and remarkable legacy.” 

“I’m sure many of us appreciated his presence in our lives,” said Barbara Brown, who was friends with Vlazny as she served on the Catholic Charities board of directors and other Catholic outreach efforts.  “He was always approachable. He demonstrated sincere loving interest in his ‘flock.’" He was non-judgmental with a good sense of humor, she added. "He was one of the most positive, joyful people I’ve ever known.”

Those who knew Vlazny recognized his unmistakable Chicagoan laughter: “Ah-ha,ha,” he laughed, with his head thrown back and smile wide open.

-- Paulette Peynet