According to sources this reporter has seen, the Roman Catholic Church has approximately 430 Bishops, Arch-Bishops and retired Bishops in the United States. One hundred, seventy-six of them are Diocesan Bishops (meaning they are the leaders of a particular diocese). Of those 176, two can trace their roots to south central Nebraska. Both from the Lawrence area.

Bishop Golka is now Bishop of the Colorado Springs, Colorado diocese, being ordained in 2021. His roots are traced through the Ostdiek family line.

Bishop Pohlmeier is now Bishop of a diocese in northeast Florida, being ordained in 2022. His roots are traced through the Pohlmeier family line. His grandfather moved to the Nazareth, Texas area in 1907.

Bishop James Golka (left) and Bishop Erik Pohlmeier are shown during their first visit to Pope Francis this year. Both men have roots in the Lawrence area.