Dubuque archbishop hospitalized after heart attack

Dubuque, Iowa, May 7, 2019 / 12:20 pm

Archbishop Michael Jackels of Dubuque, Iowa was hospitalized on Friday due to a heart attack. The archbishop was taken to Mercy Hospital on the evening of May 3.

He had two stents installed in his heart, ABC affiliate KCRG-TV9 reported.

Father Nils Hernandez, pastor of Trinity Cluster, a grouping of parishes in Monona, Iowa, said the archbishop is doing well but called for prayers.

"The Archbishop is in good spirits and feeling better. He will be in the hospital for a few days," said Nils on Facebook, relaying an email from the diocese. "Please keep him in your prayers for a full recovery."

Fr. Noah Diehm, pastor of St. John Baptist de La Salle, also encouraged for prayers on social media.

"May the Lord give him the graces he needs to recover quickly and to continue to labor faithfully in His vineyard," said Diehm.

Jackels served as Bishop of Wichita for eight years prior to his appointment to the Archdiocese of Dubuque in 2013.