Most Rev. Gerald Kicanas was born on August 18, 1941, in Chicago IL. He was ordained a priest on April 27, 1967, and served in the seminary system of the Archdiocese of Chicago for 25 years. In 1984 he was appointed Rector of Mundelein Seminary at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, Illinois. His previous experience in seminary positions includes Rector, Principal, and Dean of Formation at the former Quigley Seminary South.

Bishop Kicanas was appointed as the Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago on January 24, 1995 and served as the Episcopal Vicar of Vicariate I of the Archdiocese of Chicago. His ordination as a Bishop took place on March 20, 1995. He was appointed as Coadjutor Bishop of Tuscon on October 30, 2001and was installed as the Bishop of Tuscon on March 7, 2003 until his resignation in 2017.

Kicanas on September 28, 2018 was named temporary Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Las Cruces. His time as Apostolic Administrator ended on July 23, 2019.