The Cathedral Parish of St. Raymond Nonnatus 1917-1992
Written by Robert R. Morris

Part 13: Changes in the Diocese
Daniel L. Ryan, chancellor of the Joliet Diocese, was later ordained auxillary Bishop of Joliet. In 1977, Benedictine priest Father Daniel W. Kucera, a former president of Illinois Benedictine College in Lisle, and a former Abbot of St. Procopius Abbey (also in Lisle) was consecrated as an auxillary Bishop for the Diocese of Joliet. He assisted Bishop Blanchette at a time of great personal need.

During 1978, Bishop Blanchette, normally energetic and foreful, experienced difficulties in carrying out his tasks. After medical examination, he was found to have "Lou Gehrig's Diseas," which eventually paralyzed his motor muscles and left him speechless and in considerable pain.

On January 30, 1979, Bishop Blanchette resigned as head of the Joliet Diocese, and Bishop Kucera was named Apostolic Administrator.

Bishop Blanchette suffered with his illness for three years, first at the infirmary in St. Francis Woods in Mokena, and later at St. Joseph Hostpial in Joliet. He never complained.

His death on January 10, 1982, closed an era of 30 years of dedicated service to the people of the diocese. He had been a central factor in the steady growth of the diocese, first as chancellor to Bishop McNamara, and then as Bishop in his own right. His simple tastes and unpretentious life endeared him to the people of the diocese and to the many parishioners of St. Raymond. He was buried from the Cathedral on January 14, 1982.

Bishop Blanchette was succeeded by Bishop Joseph Imesch, installed as the Third Bishop of Joliet on August 28, 1979. Bishhop Kucera, who had been administrator, was named Bishop of Salina, Kansas, and later became Archbishop of Dubuque.

Bishop Imesch, 48 years old at the time of his appointment, was a native of Detroit, Michigan. Ordained in Rome in 1956, he served as secretary to Detroit's Cardinal Dearden for 11 years, before being name a pastor, and eventually an auxillary bishop in the Detroit Archdiocese. When he assumed his post in Joliet, his new flock numbered 400,000 Catholics.

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