Province of ANCHORAGE

Pope Paul VI created the Province of Anchorage in 1966.  The Province consists of the Archdiocese of Anchorage and two dioceses in the State of Alaska.  The Province has 62,000 Catholics, 9 percent of the total population.  The Province has the fewest Catholics of any of the 32 U.S. provinces and is the fifth-smallest in terms of percent who are Catholic.  In 2000, there were 52,000 Alaska Catholics or about 9 percent of the total.

Map of the Province

Catholic History of Alaska

The first European to see Alaska was likely Vitus Bering, a Dane who led a Russian exploration team to Alaska in 1741.  Russian colonization began later in the 18^th Century at Sitka, the Russian capital of Alaska.  The first Catholics to visit Alaska were Spanish Franciscan missionaries who said the first Mass in 1779 on Prince of Wales Island.  However, the early Christian history of Alaska primarily involved the Russian Orthodox Church, which had some success in bringing Christianity to the native population starting in the 1790s.

Catholic activity in Alaska was largely non-existent until after the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867.  Canadian missionaries of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate came to Alaska in 1870 and established missions to the Ten’a and Eskimo peoples along the Yukon River from Fort Yukon to St. Michael.  Bishop Charles Seghers, Bishop of Vancouver Island (British Columbia), visited the missions in the Yukon River valley in 1877.  Seghars sent two of his priests, John Althoff and William Heynen, to Southeastern Alaska where they established churches in Wrangel in 1879 and in Juneau and Sitka in 1885.  Seghars, who served as Archbishop of Oregon City (now Portland) from 1880 to 1884, invited the Jesuits to begin missionary activity.  He accompanied two members of the order, Fathers Pascal Tosi and Aloysius Robaut, to Yukon River valley in 1886.  Archbishop Seghars was murdered by a guide during that trip.

Pope Leo XIII made the Alaskan territory a Prefecture Apostolic in 1894 under the care of the Jesuits.  Father Tosi was appointed as the first Prefect Apostolic and he established his headquarters in Juneau.  Pope Benedict XV made Alaska a Vicariate Apostolic in 1917—five years after Alaska became a Territory—and named Father Joseph R. Crimont, S.J., who was serving as the prefect apostolic, as its first Bishop.  Crimont died in 1945 and was succeeded by Walter J. Fitzgerald, S.J., who served as Vicar Apostolic until his death in 1947.  His successor was Bishop Francis Gleeson, S.J.

Pope Pius XII established the Diocese of Juneau in 1951—making Alaska the last State to have a diocese.  The new diocese consisted of the southern half of Alaska.  Bishop Gleeson took charge of a new Vicariate Apostolic in northern Alaska, headquartered at Fairbanks.  The Diocese of Fairbanks was created in 1962—three years after Alaska became a State—and Bishop Gleeson was named its first bishop.  Pope Paul VI created a new Province of Anchorage in 1966.  The Province was to consist of the Archdiocese of Anchorage and the dioceses of Juneau and Fairbanks.  The Archdiocese of Anchorage is one of only four U.S. archdioceses established without first being a diocese.

Please note that I had difficulty finding much information on Alaska’s bishops and cathedrals.

Archdiocese of Anchorage

The Archdiocese of Anchorage consists of the 7 boroughs and 3 census areas that make up the Third Judicial District in southcentral Alaska. The archdiocese has 44,000 Catholics (7 percent of the total population) in 23 parishes.  The archdiocese is the second largest Latin-rite diocese in the United States in terms of land area.

Archbishops of Anchorage

Joseph T. Ryan (1913-2000), first Archbishop of Anchorage (1966-1975).

Archbishop Ryan was born in New York and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Albany in 1939.  Ryan also served as national secretary of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (1960-1965), coadjutor military vicar of the U.S. Armed Forces (1975-1985), and first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of the Military Services (1985-1991).

When Ryan became Archbishop in 1966, there were 17,000 Catholics in the Archdiocese.  Ryan established a Diaconate program in 1970 especially aimed at serving Native Americans.  He also opened the Holy Spirit Center in 1971 for retreats and conferences. He left Anchorage in 1975 to become the coadjutor military vicar of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Francis T. Hurley (1927-2016), Archbishop of Anchorage (1976-2001).

Archbishop Hurley was born in San Francisco and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 1951.  He also served as auxiliary bishop of Juneau (1970-1971) and Bishop of Juneau (1971-1976).

Archbishop Hurley piloted his own airplane to minister to the Archdiocese’s Catholics.  Hurley established the Church of the Nativity in Magadan, Russia, to serve Catholics there, many of whom were survivors of Soviet labor camps.  He also established the Catholic Anchor newspaper in 1999.  He resigned as Archbishop in 2001.

Roger L. Schwietz, O.M.I. (1940-    ), Archbishop of Anchorage (2001-2016).

Archbishop Schwietz was born in Minnesota and was ordained a priest for the Oblates of Mary in 1967.  He also served as seminary director for the Oblates of Mary Immaculate at Creighton University, Bishop of Duluth, Minnesota (1989-2000), and coadjutor archbishop of Anchorage (2000-2001).

I was not able to find out anything about Archbishop Schwietz other than that he retired in 2016.

Current Archbishop

Paul D. Etienne was appointed Archbishop of Anchorage by Pope Francis in 2016.  He was born in Indiana in 1959 and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in 1992.  He previously served as Bishop of Cheyenne, Wyoming (2009-2016). 

The Cathedrals

Holy Family Cathedral

Fifth Avenue and H Street

Anchorage, Alaska  99501

The Holy Family—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph serve as a model for all families.  The feast of the Holy Family is celebrated on the Sunday after Christmas.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, bless us and grant us the grace to share in the defense and propagation of the Faith whether by word or by the sacrifice of our fortunes and our lives.

The Holy Family Cathedral parish dates to the early days of Anchorage.  Father John Vander Pol, S.J., came to Anchorage and built the first Holy Family Church on the northwest corner of 6^th and H Streets at a cost of $1,575—$1,400 for the building and $175 for the land.  The original wood and cement block church only occupied less than 1,200 square feet.  The first pastor, Father William Shepard, offered the first Mass at this first Catholic church in Anchorage on October 17, 1915.  The current Holy Family Cathedral was designed by Augustine Porreca, a Seattle architect.  Construction of the white cement Romanesque Revival building was completed in 1948.  When the Archdiocese of Anchorage was created in 1966, Holy Family became the Cathedral church for the Archdiocese.  Archbishop Ryan invited the Dominicans to staff the Cathedral in 1974.  Pope John Paul II visited the Cathedral in 1981.

Picture from Wikipedia

The Cathedral has a three manual, Allen digital organ.  Six windows in the nave were recently replaced with 100-year-old stained glass windows from a church in Philadelphia.  Five of the windows, depicting the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, were made in Munich, Germany.  The other window, depicting St. Therese of the Little Flower, was made by the Kase Studio of Pennsylvania.  The Cathedral website has pictures of these beautiful windows, which I was not able to copy to this blog.  The Cathedral’s website is holyfamilycathedral.org and the Archdiocesan website is archdioceseofanchorage.org.  The Cathedral is located in downtown Anchorage and has seven weekend masses—including one in Spanish and one in Latin.

From the Cathedral website

Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral

3900 Wisconsin St.

Anchorage, Alaska  99517

In December 1531, our Blessed Mother appeared to a Mexican peasant named Juan Diego and told him that she wanted a church built on that spot (Tepeyac hill).  Juan Diego went to the local bishop and delivered Our Lady’s message, but the bishop did not believe him and asked for a sign.  When Juan Diego told Our Lady of the bishop’s request, she told him to gather some nearby roses (which bloomed despite the rocky soil and the winter season) and wrap them in his cloak.  Our Lady rearranged the roses and told Juan Diego to take them to the bishop.  When he met with the bishop, he unfurled his cloak and a picture of our Blessed Mother appeared—as a pregnant teenaged Mexican girl.  The bishop and his aides were the first to venerate this miraculous picture, and millions continue to do so today at the basilica built on Tepeyac hill and around the world.  The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on December 12.

Holy Mary, who under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe are invoked as Mother by the men and women of Mexico and of Latin America, encouraged by the love that you inspire in us, we once again place our life in your motherly hands.  May you hold sway in the hearts of all the mothers of the world and in our own heart. With great hope, we turn to you and trust in you.

Our Lady of Guadalupe parish was established in 1970 and met in temporary buildings until the completion of the current church in 2005.  It was raised to the status co-cathedral in 2014.  The need for a co-Cathedral was based on the desire for a larger cathedral parish and better parking for special Archdiocesan events.

The Spanish-mission style building has two bell towers.  The Archbishop’s cathedra was used by St. John Paul II in 1981.  The co-Cathedral also has a metropolitan cross made from linden wood.

All are from the internet.

The Co-Cathedral’s website is olgakcocathedral.org.  The Cathedral is located four miles southwest of downtown Anchorage and has four weekend masses to serve a largely Filipino and Hispanic community.

Diocese of Juneau 

The Diocese of Juneau consists of the 5 boroughs and 3 census areas that make up the First Judicial District in southeastern Alaska. The diocese has 10,000 Catholics (13 percent of the total population) in 9 parishes.  The diocese has the second smallest Catholic population of any diocese in the United States. 

Vicar Apostolics of Alaska 

Joseph R. Crimont, S.J., (1858-1945), Vicar Apostolic of Alaska (1917-1945).   

Bishop Crimont was born in France and was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1888.  He also served as Prefect of Alaska (1904-1917). 

Bishop Crimont established several new parishes and sent missionaries to remote parts of Alaska.  He also established the Shrine of Saint Therese near Juneau.  He died in 1945.

Walter J. Fitzgerald, S.J., (1883-1947), Vicar Apostolic of Alaska (1945-1947). 

Bishop Fitzgerald was born in Peola, Washington, and ordained a Jesuit priest in 1918.  He also served as coadjutor vicar apostolic of Alaska (1938-1945). 

Bishop Fitzgerald served as Vicar for only two years before his death. 

Francis D. Gleeson, S.J. (1895-1983), Vicar Apostolic of Alaska—based in Juneau—(1948 -1951), Vicar Apostolic of Northern Alaska—based in Fairbanks—(1951-1962), and first Bishop of Fairbanks (1962-1968). 

Bishop Gleeson was born in Missouri, grew up in Yakima, Washington, and was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1926. 

Francis Gleeson became Vicar Apostolic of Alaska in 1948.  Gleeson focused his attention on upgrading parish and mission facilities, improving Catholic education, and emphasizing the need for more permanent deacons, which are especially important in Alaska.  He was name Vicar Apostolic of Northern Alaska in 1951. 

Bishops of Juneau 

Dermot O’Flanagan (1901-1973), first Bishop of Juneau (1951-1968). 

Bishop O’Flanagan was born in Ireland and ordained a priest for the Alaska vicariate apostolic in 1929. 

Bishop O’Flanagan attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council between 1962 and 1965.  In 1961, the Diocese 20,000 Catholics, 10 Diocesan priests, five Jesuit priests, 11 parishes, 15 missions, four schools, and four hospitals.  He resigned as bishop in 1968 due to poor health. 

The Diocese of Juneau was administered directly by the Archbishop of Anchorage from 1968 to 1971. 

Francis T. Hurley (1927-2016), Bishop of Juneau (1971-1976). 

Bishop Hurley was born in San Francisco and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 1951.  He also served as auxiliary bishop of Juneau (1970-1971) and Archbishop of Anchorage (1976-2001). 

Bishop Hurley expanded pastoral facilities in remote parts of the diocese aided by his ability to fly an airplane.  Hurley implemented the changes from the Second Vatican Council, including the encouragement of greater involvement by the laity in church affairs, especially in the more remote parishes and missions.  Hurley also established a second parish in Juneau.  Hurley was appointed Archbishop of Anchorage in 1976, but continued to administer the Diocese until 1979. 

Michael H. Kenny (1937-1995), Bishop of Juneau (1979-1995). 

Bishop Kenny was born in California and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Santa Rosa, California, in 1963.

Bishop Kenny sought to better serve Catholics and others in small communities by sending teams of priests and nuns from larger towns to serve them.  He also started efforts to develop lay ministry.  He was a strong advocate for peace and justice—he opposed nuclear weapons, the death penalty and abortion, but favored the ordination of women.  Kenny conducted a reconciliation service in 1991 to apologize for the church's past wrongs against Native Alaskans.  He died of a brain aneurism in 1995.

Michael W. Warfel (1948-    ), Bishop of Juneau (1996-2007).   

Bishop Warfel was born in Indiana, became a Catholic at age 12, and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Anchorage in 1980.  Since 2007, he has served as the Bishop of Great Falls-Billings, Montana. 

Bishop Warfel was ordained Bishop in Juneau, the first such ceremony ever held there.  He also served for less than a year as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Fairbanks while also serving in Juneau.  As Bishop of Juneau, Bishop Warfel successfully dealt with two cases of clergy sexual abuse.  He also constructed a new St. Paul’s Catholic Church in the Mendenhall Valley and renovated the Shrine of St Therese.  He settled a dispute over subsistence hunting and fishing rights.  He also emphasized evangelization, saying the “holiness of life is our greatest and most effective tool, if the Church is going to be effective in its essential mission of evangelization.”  He was appointed Bishop of Great Falls-Billings, Montana, in 2007. 

Edward J. Burns (1957-    ), Bishop of Juneau (2009-2016). 

Bishop Burns was born in Pennsylvania and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1983.  

I was not able to find much information about Bishop Burns, other than that he was appointed Bishop of Dallas, Texas, in 2016. 

Current Bishop 

Currently vacant. 

The Cathedral 

Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

416 5^th Street

Juneau, Alaska  99801 

Little is known for sure about the birth of Mary, the Mother of Jesus.  Her parents are thought to be named Joachim and Anna (or Anne) and she was probably born in either Nazareth or Jerusalem.  The feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been celebrated since at least the 8th Century and is now celebrated on September 8.  Catholics believe that Mary was conceived without the stain of original sin, hence, the Immaculate Conception.

Impart to your servants, we pray, O Lord, the gift of heavenly grace, that the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin may bring deeper peace to those for whom the birth of her Son was the dawning of salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Nativity parish was founded in 1885 by Father John Althoff.  The first church was replaced by the current wooden building in 1910.  It became the Cathedral church for the Vicariate Apostolic of Alaska in 1916 and the Cathedral for the Diocese of Juneau in 1951.

The Cathedral website, juneaucathedral.org, has pictures of the Cathedral’s windows and other objects.  The Diocesan website is dioceseofjuneau.org.  The Cathedral is located near downtown Juneau and has four weekend masses.

All pictures are from the Cathedral website.

Diocese of Fairbanks 

The Diocese of Fairbanks consists of the 4 boroughs and 5 census areas that make up the Second and Fourth Judicial Districts in northern Alaska. The diocese has 9,000 Catholics (8 percent of the total population) in 46 parishes.  The diocese is the largest Latin-rite diocese in the United States in terms of land area—its 410,000 square miles make it larger than the states of California, Arizona, and New Mexico combined.  Yet, the diocese has the smallest Catholic population of any Latin-rite diocese in the United States. 

Bishops of Fairbanks (Northern Alaska) 

Francis D. Gleeson, S.J. (1895-1983), Vicar Apostolic of Alaska—based in Juneau—(1948 -1951), Vicar Apostolic of Northern Alaska—based in Fairbanks—(1951-1962), and first Bishop of Fairbanks (1962-1968). 

Bishop Gleeson was born in Missouri, grew up in Yakima, Washington, and was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1926. 

Francis Gleeson became the first and only Vicar Apostolic of Northern Alaska in 1951 and was named the first Bishop of Fairbanks in 1962.  As bishop, he focused his attention on upgrading parish and mission facilities, improving Catholic education, and emphasizing the need for more permanent deacons, which are especially important in Alaska.  Bishop Gleeson attended all sessions of the Second Vatican Council.  He resigned as bishop in 1968. 

Robert L. Whelan, S.J. (1912-2001), Bishop of Fairbanks (1968-1985). 

Bishop Whelan was born in Idaho and ordained a Jesuit priest in 1944.  He also served as coadjutor bishop of Fairbanks (1968).

Like all of the Bishops of Fairbanks, he spent much of his time traveling to parishes and missions throughout his large diocese.  He also strengthened the permanent diaconate program especially for Native Americans.  He retired in 1985, but served for ten years as director of the House of Prayer in Fairbanks.

Michael J. Kaniecki, S.J. (1935-2000), Bishop of Fairbanks (1985-2000). 

Bishop Kaniecki was born in Michigan and ordained a Jesuit priest in 1965.  He also served as Religious Superior of the Jesuits in Alaska (1982-1984) and coadjutor bishop of Fairbanks (1984-1985). 

A trained pilot, he flew himself to serve the remote parts of the Diocese and he worked to improve the diaconate program, Catholic schools, and the diocesan radio station.  He also was successful in bringing financial stability to the Diocese.  He welcomed Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan to Fairbanks in 1985.  Bishop Kaniecki died of a heart attack in 2000.   

Donald Kettler (1944-    ), Bishop of Fairbanks (2002-2013).   

Bishop Kettler was born in Minnesota and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1970. 

Kettler was the first non-Jesuit Bishop of Fairbanks.  He led the Diocese through bankruptcy proceedings in 2008 because of numerous sexual abuse claims against Diocesan clergy and staff.  He also visited communities most affected by the abuse scandal and apologized for the harm done.  Kettler was appointed Bishop of St. Cloud, Minnesota, in 2013. 

Current Bishop 

Chad Zielinski was appointed Bishop of Fairbanks by Pope Francis in 2014.  He was born in Detroit in 1964 and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan, in 1996.  He previously served as a pastor in the Diocese of Gaylord and as an Air Force chaplain.  Bishop Zielinski leads the only missionary diocese in the United States. 

The Cathedral 

Sacred Heart Cathedral

2501 Airport Way

Fairbanks, Alaska 99709 

St. John Eudes was a 17^th Century French priest who preached the loving nature of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Later in the same century, a French nun, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque had visions of Jesus revealing that his Sacred Heart was filled with love and mercy for all people.  The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated on the Friday after the second Sunday after Pentecost.  Many Catholics also show devotion to the Sacred Heart by attending Mass and receiving the Body and Blood of Christ on the first Friday of each month. 

O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you." Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of (here name your request).  Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Francis Gleeson became the first Bishop of Fairbanks in 1962.  His first cathedral was Immaculate Conception—the first and at that time only Catholic church in Fairbanks (and listed on the National Register of Historic Places).

From the Diocesan website

Bishop Gleeson immediately began making plans for a new cathedral and construction began in 1962 on Sacred Heart Cathedral.  The first Mass was celebrated in the new Cathedral in 1966.  The Cathedral is built in a modern style.  It was designed by Father James C. Spils, S.J., and built with the help of volunteer labor.  The Cathedral measures 55 feet by 170 feet. 

From the Cathedral website

From momn3boys.blogspot

The Cathedral website is sacredheartak.org and the Diocesan website is dioceseoffairbanks.org.  The Cathedral is located about two miles west of downtown Fairbanks and has three weekend masses and a Spanish mass during the winter.

Cathedral Names 

In case you were wondering about the most popular names for U.S. cathedrals, they are as follows:  Immaculate Conception (of Mary)—25; St. Peter, St. Paul, or both—19; St. Joseph—16; and the Sacred Heart (of Jesus)—15.  Altogether, there are 33 cathedrals dedicated to Jesus under his various titles, one dedicated to the Holy Spirit, one to the Holy Trinity, 64 dedicated to Our Lady under her various titles, 2 to the Holy Family, 6 to angels, 33 to one or more Apostles, and 75 dedicated to other saints.

Province of Atlanta

Pope John XXIII established the Province of Atlanta in 1962.  The Province consists of the Archdiocese of Atlanta and four dioceses in the States of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.  The Province has 1.7 million Catholics, 7 percent of the total population.  It has the fourth lowest percentage of Catholics to the total population of any of the 32 U.S. provinces.  In 2000, the Province had 768,000 Catholics or 4 percent of the total.

Map of the Province

Georgia

Catholic History of Georgia

Spanish explorers came to Georgia in the early 16^th Century.  The explorers were followed by Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries who established 18 missions beginning in 1595 to the Native Americans living along the Georgia coast.  Five Franciscans, now known as the Martyrs of Georgia and declared Servants of God (the first step toward canonization), were killed by Native Americans in 1597 for condemning the practice of polygamy.  The Spanish missions eventually closed (the last in 1702), and the English gradually pushed the Spanish out of Georgia.  James Oglethorpe established the English Colony of Georgia and the town of Savannah in 1733.  The few Catholics that lived in the Colony were not allowed to openly practice their religion until after the American Revolution.  Georgia became the fourth State in 1788.

The first English Catholic church in Georgia was established by settlers from Maryland in Locust Grove, east of Augusta.  They built a small log church in 1792 and built the first Catholic school in 1818.  Georgia became part of the Diocese of Charleston in 1820 and at that time there were fewer than 1,000 Catholics in the State with churches in Locust Grove, Savannah, and Augusta.  Pope Pius IX erected the Diocese of Savannah in 1850, at which time there were about 3,000 Catholics in Georgia served by a dozen parishes and priests.

The number of Catholics in Georgia continued to grow and in 1937, the name of the Diocese Savannah was changed to the Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta in recognition of the fact that Atlanta has surpassed Savannah as the largest city in Georgia by 1880 and had been the capital since 1868.  Atlanta became a separate diocese in 1956 and in 1962 it was raised to the status of an Archdiocese.

Archdiocese of Atlanta

The Archdiocese of Atlanta consists of 69 counties in northern Georgia. The archdiocese has 1 million Catholics (13 percent of the total population) in 88 parishes.

Bishop of Atlanta

Francis E. Hyland (1901-1968), first Bishop of Atlanta (1956-1961). 

• Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1927.
• Also served as auxiliary bishop of Savannah (1949-1956).

Francis Hyland built many new buildings for the Diocese, including three new high schools, in an attempt to keep up with Catholic population growth in the Diocese.  He opposed racial segregation and issued a pastoral letter stating his intention to integrate Catholic schools.  Ill health forced him to resign in 1961 before he could implement the letter.

Archbishops of Atlanta

Paul J. Hallinan (1911-1968), first Archbishop of Atlanta (1962-1968). 

• Born in Ohio and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Cleveland in 1937.
• Also served as Bishop of Charleston (1958-1962).

Atlanta became an archdiocese in 1962.  Shortly after he became archbishop, Hallinan desegregated the Archdiocese’s schools and hospitals.  He was a strong advocate for civil rights and for more important roles for lay people, including women, in the Church.  He appointed many lay men and women to positions with the Archdiocese and its parishes. During and after the Second Vatican Council, he became a leader for liturgical reform.  He established a Catholic center at the University of Georgia and started a weekly newspaper.  Hallinan served as an army chaplain during World War II and as president of the National Association of Newman Club Chaplains.  He died from hepatitis in 1968.

Thomas A. Donnellan (1914-1987), Archbishop of Atlanta (1968-1987). 

·         Born in New York and ordained a priest in 1939 for the Archdiocese of New York.

·         Also served as Bishop of Ogdensburg, New York (1964-1968).

Archbishop Donnellan established 32 new parishes to minister to the 125,000 new Catholics that came to the Archdiocese during the time he served as bishop.  He also established offices to serve the needs of Hispanic Catholics and African-American Catholics.  Around 1970, when public schools were being integrated, he tried to ensure that parents would not avoid integration by enrolling their children in Catholic schools.  Donnellan also was a co-author of a 1984 report by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on how the U.S. economy effected the nation’s poor.  He died in 1987 from a stroke.

Eugene A. Marino, S.S.J. (1934-2000), Archbishop of Atlanta (1988-1990). 

• Born in Mississippi and ordained a priest for the St. Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart in 1962.
• Also served as auxiliary bishop of Washington, DC (1974-1988).

Archbishop Marino was the first African American archbishop in the United States.  He was noted for his pastoral care—reaching out to prisoners, AIDS victims, the sick, and members of other faiths.  He took decisive action on clergy sexual abuse within the Archdiocese—setting up guidelines that included disclosure to law enforcement officials.  He was also an advocate for Catholic education.  He resigned in 1990 due to an inappropriate relationship with a woman.

James P. Lyke, O.F.M. (1939-1992), Archbishop of Atlanta (1991-1992). 

• Born in Chicago and ordained a Franciscan priest in 1966.
• Also served as auxiliary bishop of Cleveland (1979-1990) and apostolic administrator of Atlanta (1990-1991).

Archbishop Lyke was noted for his sensitivity in pulling the archdiocese together after the resignation of Archbishop Marino.  He was also a strong advocate for women religious and appointed one as a parish administrator.  He also sought to improve ministry to the growing Hispanic community and sought to evangelize the African-American community.  His first pastoral letter dealt with the sanctity of human life.  He died from kidney cancer in 1992 after serving only twenty months as archbishop. 

John F. Donoghue (1928-2011), Archbishop of Atlanta (1993-2004).

• Born in Washington, D.C., and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Washington in 1955.
• Also served as Bishop of Charlotte (1984-1993).

Archbishop Donoghue was a strong supporter of pro-life issues and in 2004 said that Catholic politicians who opposed pro-life issues should not receive the Holy Eucharist.  He also spoke out against the death penalty, same sex marriage, and the Iraq War.  Donoghue supported “zero-tolerance” of clergy child sexual abuse.  He hosted Mother Teresa in 1995 and the Summer Olympics in 1996.  Devotion to the Eucharist was a central theme in his pastoral work and he began a Eucharistic renewal program in 1996 that drew 23,000 participants by 2004.  He began several programs to help the poor and disadvantaged, including the opening of an AIDS hospice.  He built several new schools, including new high schools in Roswell, Athens, and Fairburn.  He retired in 2004.

Current Archbishop

Wilton D. Gregory was appointed Archbishop of Atlanta by Pope John Paul II in 2004.  He was born in Chicago in 1947 and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1973.  He previously served as auxiliary bishop of Chicago (1983-1993) and Bishop of Belleville, Illinois (1993-2004).  He served as President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2001 to 2004.

The Cathedral

Cathedral of Christ the King

2699 Peachtree Road, NE

Atlanta, Georgia  30305

The cathedral’s name refers to Jesus Christ as king of all creation.  As King, all people owe him honor, praise, and fidelity, in all aspects of our lives.  The Feast of Christ the King is celebrated on the last Sunday of the Church year.

O Jesus Christ, I acknowledge you as universal King. All that has been made has been created for You. Exercise all Your rights over me. I renew my Baptismal vows. I renounce Satan, his pomps and his works; I promise to live as a good Christian. And, in particular I pledge myself to labor, to the best of my ability, for the triumph of the rights of God and of Your Church. Divine Heart of Jesus, to You I offer my poor services, laboring that all hearts may acknowledge Your sacred kingship, and that thus the reign of Your peace be established throughout the whole universe. Amen. 

Christ the King parish was established in 1936 and was the first Catholic parish located outside of the downtown area.  The property included a mansion which served as a temporary church and which had once served as a headquarters for the Ku Klux Klan.  One year after the parish was established and before the church was built, the parish was selected to be the Co-Cathedral for the Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta.  Ground-breaking took place on the new Cathedral in 1937 and was completed in 1939.  When the Diocese of Atlanta was created in 1956, Christ the King became the Cathedral for the new Bishop of Atlanta, Francis Hyland.  When Pope John the XXIII raised Atlanta to the status of an archdiocese, Christ the King became the Cathedral for the first Archbishop, Paul Hallinan.

The French neo-Gothic Cathedral was designed by Henry D. Dagit and Sons of Philadelphia.  It is constructed with marble and seats 700.  The stained-glass windows were made by Willet Stained Glass Studios of Philadelphia.

Additional information can be obtained from the Cathedral website at cathedralofchristtheking.org and from the Archdiocesan website at archatl.com.  The Cathedral is located four miles north of downtown Atlanta and has 11 weekend masses—including three in Spanish—to serve 4,900 parishioners.  The parish elementary school has an enrollment of over 550.

Exterior picture is from cathedral website, interior from charlesorrarchitect.com

Also located in Atlanta is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Sacred Heart parish was established in 1880 and the current church was built around 1900.  The French Romanesque building is made from red brick and terra cotta and features twin towers that rise 137 feet above the street.  The sanctuary has a painting of Christ with his Sacred Heart.  Several stained-glass windows add to the beauty of the basilica.  Windows along the side depict events from the life of Christ and windows in the apse depict miraculous events.  All were made in Germany and installed in 1902.  The basilica also features a pipe organ and electronic carillon.  Pope Benedict XVI designated the church as a minor basilica in 2010.  It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A basilica is an honorary title bestowed on a church by the Pope because of the church’s antiquity, dignity, historical importance, or significance as a center of worship.  The Basilica website, sacredheartatlanta.org, has a detailed description of the church.

The Cathedral exterior picture is from its website, all others are from the internet.

Diocese of Savannah

The diocese consists of 90 counties in southern Georgia.  The diocese has 78,000 Catholics (3 percent of the total population) in 55 parishes.

Bishops of Savannah

Francis X. Gartland (1808-1854), first Bishop of Savannah (1850-1854). 

• Born in Ireland and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Philadelphia in 1832.

Gartland’s diocese consisted of Georgia and part of Florida.  Bishop Gartland established three new parishes, an orphanage, a Catholic cemetery, and recruited priests from Ireland.  A yellow fever epidemic struck Savannah in 1854 and Bishop Gartland ministered to victims before dying from the disease himself in 1854.

John Barry (1799-1859), Bishop of Savannah (1857-1859). 

·         Born in Ireland and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Charleston in 1825.

Bishop Barry established an orphanage and a school for boys.  He died during an 1859 trip to Europe to secure resources for the Diocese.

Augustin Verot, S.S. (1805-1876), Bishop of Savannah (1861-1870). 

• Born in France and ordained a Sulpician priest in 1828.
• Also served as the Vicar Apostolic of Florida (1856-1870) and as first Bishop of St. Augustine, Florida (1870-1876).

Before and during the Civil War, Bishop Verot supported the right to own slaves, but opposed the slave trade and called for humane treatment of slaves.  After the War, he fought for the rights of the newly-freed slaves.  He and his priests were the only clergy to visit Union prisoners at the notorious Andersonville prisoner-of-war camp.  During the First Vatican Council, he was a strong advocate for many positions, including reconciliation with Protestants, greater recognition of scientific research, and recognition of the equality of people of African descent.  Many of his positions were not accepted until many years later.  He had served as Vicar Apostolic of Florida from 1856 to 1870 (and for most of that time also serving in Savannah) and became the first Bishop of St. Augustine, Florida, in 1870. 

Ignatius Persico, O.F.M. Cap., (1823-1895), Bishop of Savannah (1870-1872). 

·         Born in Italy and ordained a Capuchin priest in 1846.

Bishop Persico served as Bishop of Bombay, India, prior to becoming Bishop of Savannah.  At the time Persico was named Bishop, the Diocese consisted only of Georgia and had 20,000 Catholics and 30 churches.  He continued the missionary work among African-Americans begun by Bishop Verot and built two churches.  He resigned due to ill health in 1872 and returned to Italy.  He was named a Cardinal in 1893 in Italy.

William H. Gross C.SS.R. (1837-1898), Bishop of Savannah (1873-1885). 

·         Born in Baltimore and ordained a Redemptorist priest in 1863.

·         Also served as Archbishop of Oregon City (now Portland), Oregon (1885-1898).

Bishop Gross spent most of his time rebuilding the churches, schools, and other Catholic buildings damaged during the Civil War, including the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah.  It was during his administration that the Sisters of Mercy established St. Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta.  He invited an order of nuns to work with African-Americans and invited the Jesuits to establish a seminary and college in Macon.  He also started a diocesan newspaper.  He was named Archbishop of Oregon City in 1885.

Thomas A. Becker (1832-1899), Bishop of Savannah (1886-1899). 

• Born in Pittsburgh, converted to Catholicism in 1853, and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Richmond in 1859.
• Also served as Bishop of Wilmington, Delaware (1868-1886).

Born as Thomas Baker, Becker was required by his Protestant parents to change his last name after his conversion to Catholicism.  As Bishop of Savannah, Becker started reconstruction of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist after it was destroyed by fire.  He invited religious orders of priests and nuns to serve the Diocese.  He was also one of the first bishops to advocate for a national Catholic university and he was a widely-read author and advocate of temperance.  He asked Rome to change his residence from Savannah to Atlanta, but the Vatican denied the request.  He died in 1899.

Benjamin J. Keiley (1847-1925), Bishop of Savannah (1900-1922). 

·         Born in Virginia and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware, in 1873.

When Bishop Becker came to Savannah as bishop, Father Keiley came with him.  He was eventually appointed vicar general of the diocese and succeeded as Bishop after Becker died.  As bishop, Keiley completed the rebuilding of Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah and provided for the spiritual needs of Catholics of African American descent, although he once stated that African-American men should never by ordained to the priesthood.  It was during his time as bishop that Marist School was established in Atlanta and Benedictine Military School in Savannah.  Bishop Keiley retired in 1922 due to poor health.

Michael Keyes, S.M. (1876-1959), Bishop of Savannah (1922-1935). 

·         Born in Ireland and ordained a priest for the Society of Mary in 1907.

Despite the Great Depression, Catholicism grew rapidly in Georgian during the time that Bishop Keyes served the Diocese.  Many new churches and other institutions were built.    Bishop Keyes resigned in 1935.

Gerald P. O’Hara (1895-1963), Bishop of Savannah (1935-1937), Bishop of Savannah-Atlanta (1937-1956), and Bishop of Savannah (1956-1959).   

·         Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1920.

·         Also served as auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia (1929-1935). 

Archbishop O’Hara built several new churches (including Atlanta’s Cathedral of Christ the King), schools, hospitals, and other institutions.  He also organized the Catholic school system and established vacation schools to teach the Faith to children in parishes without schools.  He provided missionary outreach to rural areas.  He mobilized Catholic support for members of the military serving in World War II and worked to improve race relations.  He served, while Bishop of Savannah, as the Pope’s diplomatic representative to Romania (1947-1950), Ireland (1951-1954), and England (1954-1963).  He was given the personal title of Archbishop in 1950.  He retired as Bishop of Savannah in 1959.

Thomas J. McDonough (1911-1998), Bishop of Savannah (1960-1967). 

·       Born in Philadelphia and ordained a priest in 1938 for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

·       Also served as auxiliary bishop of St. Augustine, Florida (1947-1957), auxiliary bishop of Savannah (1957-1960), and Archbishop of Louisville, Kentucky (1967-1981).

Bishop McDonough attended the Second Vatican Council and began implementation of the Council’s decrees.  He publicly condemned racial discrimination and integrated Catholic schools in the Diocese.  He established a seminary in Ireland to provide priests for the Diocese and restarted the Diocesan newspaper.  He also invited the Glenmary Fathers and Sisters to serve rural Catholics.  He was named Archbishop of Louisville, Kentucky, in 1967.

Gerald L. Frey (1914-2007), Bishop of Savannah (1967-1972). 

·         Born in Louisiana and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1938.

·         Also served as Bishop of Lafayette, Louisiana (1972-1989).

Bishop Frey implanted the changes from the Second Vatican Council, including the establishment of parish councils and the creation of a social services agency to facilitate Catholic efforts to serve the poor.  He was appointed Bishop of Lafayette, Louisiana, in 1972.

Raymond W. Lessard (1930-2016), Bishop of Savannah (1973-1995). 

·         Born in North Dakota and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fargo, North Dakota in 1956.

Bishop Lessard established missions to the Vietnamese and Hispanic communities, especially in rural areas.  He established the permanent diaconate and saw the population of the Diocese increase from 35,000 to 70,000.  He also denounced racism.  He resigned in 1995 due to poor health.

J. Kevin Boland (1935-    ), Bishop of Savannah (1995-2011). 

·         Born in Ireland and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Savannah in 1959.

Bishop Boland renovated the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, studied the reorganization of parishes and schools, and provided greater outreach to Hispanics.  His older brother, Raymond, served as the Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri.  He retired in 2011.

Current Bishop

Gregory Hartmayer was appointed Bishop of Savannah by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011.  He was born in New York in 1951 and ordained a Franciscan priest in 1979.  He previously served as a school principal in Maryland and New York and as a pastor in Georgia.

The Cathedral

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
222 East Harris Street
Savannah, Georgia  31401

John was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth and the cousin of Jesus.  As an adult, he prepared the way for his cousin’s ministry by preaching the need for baptism and repentance.  He baptized Jesus in the Jordan River at the beginning of Jesus’ own ministry.  John was beheaded by King Herod Antipas because of John’s admonition that Herod’s marriage was sinful and unlawful.  John is honored with two feast days—June 24 commemorates his birth and August 29 his death.  His is also the patron of St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome—the Pope’s Cathedral as Bishop of Rome—the Dedication of which is honored on November 9.  

O most zealous Apostle, who, without working any miracle on others, but solely by the example of your life of penance and the power of your word, did draw after you the multitudes, in order to dispose them to receive the Messiah worthily and to listen to His heavenly doctrine; grant that it may be given unto us, by means of your example of a holy life and the exercise of every good work, to bring many souls to God, but above all those souls that are enveloped in the darkness of error and ignorance and are led astray by vice.

The first church of St. John the Baptist was a small frame church built on Liberty Square in 1800.  It was known by its predominately French-speaking parishioners as Saint Jean-Baptiste.  It was replaced by a large brick church at the corner of Drayton and Perry Streets.  This church became the first Cathedral when the Diocese of Savannah was created in 1850.  The second Cathedral was completed at the current site in 1876 and was initially dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.  The Cathedral was rededicated to St. John the Baptist ten years later.  This French Gothic building was severely damaged by fire in 1898—only the outside walls and the two spires were spared.  Reconstruction work began and the first Mass in the current Cathedral was celebrated by Bishop Keiley on Christmas Eve 1899.  Interior decoration was not completed until 1912.

From the Cathedral website.

Two steeples rise 207 feet above the street, with 7-foot crosses on top.  The steeple bell was cast in Baltimore in 1900 and weighs 4,730 pounds.  The steeples are guarded by 16 terra cotta gargoyles.

The interior of the Cathedral has 55 stained glass windows on the upper level and 26 on the lower level, some as tall as 28 feet.  All are the work of Innsbruck Glassmakers of Austria who made the windows in 1904.  The 20-foot rose window, above the pipe organ, features St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music, and celestial musicians.  Other windows show Christ’s Ascension and Mary’s Assumption.  Three windows survived the 1898 fire and one, at the end of the chapel features the Blessed Virgin.  Its deep red color is different from all the other windows.

The Cathedral’s murals were designed by Savannah artist, Christopher Murphy, and were painted by Paul Gutsche and other artists in New York.  The murals were installed prior to 1912.  The murals reflect the American Renaissance period of 1876-1914 and feature religious themes, including the Sermon on the Mount.

The 9,000-pound main altar is made from Italian Carrara marble and features a Latin phrase which translates to "blessed are they who are called to the banquet of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:9).  The current pulpit was installed in 2003 after an arsonist burned the earlier pulpit.  The pulpit is the work of Guenther Wood Group of Savannah and features Italian carvings based on Ezekiel’s vision of the four creatures who would attest to the holiness of God, whom Christians believe to be the four Evangelists.  The wooden Confessional features etched glass telling the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).

The Noack pipe organ was installed in 1987 and is a tracker organ with 34 ranks and 2,308 pipes.  The Stations of the Cross are three dimensional painted wooden statues carved in Munich, Germany and installed in 1900.

Additional information can be found on the Cathedral website at savannahcathedral.org and the Diocesan website at diosav.org.  The Cathedral is located near downtown Savannah and has five weekend masses—including one in Latin.

All interior pictures were taken by me.

South Carolina

Catholic History of South Carolina

Spanish explorers came to the coast of South Carolina in 1521 and the first Mass was celebrated the same year.  Franciscan priests established missions to the Native Americans, but by 1670 the English had founded Charleston and were firmly in control of the Colony.  Colonial law denied Catholics the right to openly practice their Faith, but at that time, there were few Catholics in South Carolina.

After the American Revolution, South Carolina became the 8^th State in 1788.  Mass was first said in Charleston in 1786 by an Italian priest passing through town.  Father Thomas Keating established St. Mary’s Church in 1789 for a congregation of a few hundred. St. Mary’s is the oldest Catholic church in the Province of Atlanta.  Pope Pius VII created the Diocese of Charleston in 1820 to serve the few Catholics in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.  The first Bishop, John England, had only about six priests to serve a few thousand Catholics in a handful of churches spread out over a territory of 142,000 square miles.  By 1869, the Diocese of Charleston only included South Carolina.

Diocese of Charleston

The diocese consists of the State of South Carolina.  The diocese has 191,000 Catholics (4 percent of the total population) in 95 parishes.

Bishops of Charleston

John England (1786-1842), first Bishop of Charleston (1820-1842). 

• Born in Ireland and ordained a priest in Ireland in 1808.

Bishop England came to Charleston to take over a new diocese with 5,000 Catholics served by six priests and covering three states:  South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina.  He was the first U.S. bishop to write a pastoral letter and he established a seminary and the first regularly published U.S. diocesan Catholic newspaper.  England built schools for African-Americans and celebrated a Mass for them every Sunday morning.  He traveled extensively to visit his widely dispersed flock and wrote several documents to help Catholics better understand their Faith, including a missal and catechism for children.  England believed that Catholicism and democracy were not only compatible, but that separation of Church and State were desirable for both.  He addressed Congress on this topic in 1826—the first Catholic priest to address Congress—and he was a force behind the Councils of Baltimore, the first meetings of U.S. bishops.  He wrote a constitution for the Diocese that gave power to lay people, but prevented parish trustees from interfering with spiritual matters, including the appointment of priests.  He lived austerely and ministered to the sick during cholera and yellow fever outbreaks.  He died in 1842.

Ignatius A. Reynolds (1798-1855), Bishop of Charleston (1844-1855). 

·         Born in Kentucky and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1823.

Bishop Reynolds built new parishes and recruited priests to serve the growing number of Catholics—12,000 by 1846—mostly in South Carolina.  He also built St. Francis Infirmary and dedicated the new Cathedral of Saint John and Saint Finbar.  He paid off the debt incurred by Bishop England and published England’s writings.  Reynolds died in 1855.

Patrick N. Lynch (1817-1882), Bishop of Charleston (1858-1882). 

• Born in Ireland and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Charleston in 1840.

Bishop Lynch led the Diocese through an 1861 fire that destroyed much of Charleston and the Civil War that resulted in destruction throughout the Diocese.  Only one Catholic church in Charleston survived the War.  Lynch opposed certain aspects of slavery, but generally supported the institution.  As such, he supported the Confederacy, and was sent to Europe by Confederate President Jefferson Davis to seek support for the Southern cause.  He needed a presidential pardon to reenter the United States after the War.  He spent most of the rest of his time as bishop raising money to rebuild churches and schools in the Diocese.  He died in 1882.

Henry P. Northrop (1842-1916), Bishop of Charleston (1883-1916). 

• Born in Charleston and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Charleston in 1865.
• Also served as Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina (1881-1883).

Bishop Northrop had to seek funds to rebuild many of Charleston’s churches after an 1886 earthquake.  One of the churches that he rebuilt was the current Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. He also established a church and school for African Americans, which was funded by St. Katherine Drexel.  He brought religious orders to the Diocese to serve growing numbers of Catholic immigrants and established the Knights of Columbus and Holy Name Society within the Diocese.  He also established St. Francis Xavier Hospital and Bishop England High School.  He died in 1916.

William T. Russell (1863-1927), Bishop of Charleston (1917-1927). 

• Born in Maryland and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1889.

Bishop Russell built one high school and seven churches.  He was also one of the organizers of the National Catholic Welfare Conference—now the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.  He died in 1927.

Emmet M. Walsh (1892-1968), Bishop of Charleston (1927-1949). 

• Born in Beaufort and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Savannah in 1916.
• Also served as coadjutor bishop of Youngstown, Ohio (1949-1952), and Bishop of Youngstown (1952-1968).

Bishop Walsh developed a standard church building plan which allowed churches to be built quickly—he built more than two dozen.  He also built four hospitals and two youth camps.  Walsh brought religious orders to the Diocese to minister to African Americans.  He was named coadjutor bishop of Youngstown, Ohio, in 1949, and later became Bishop of Youngstown.

John J. Russell (1897-1993), Bishop of Charleston (1950-1958). 

• Born in Maryland and ordained a priest for Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1923.
• Also served as Bishop of Richmond, Virginia (1958-1973).

Bishop Russell built more than a dozen new parishes to serve the growing number of Catholics in South Carolina.  He also started a diocesan newspaper in 1951 and built Cardinal Newman High School.  He became the Bishop of Richmond, Virginia, in 1958.

Paul J. Hallinan (1911-1968), Bishop of Charleston (1958-1962). 

• Born in Ohio and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Cleveland in 1937.
• Also served as the first Archbishop of Atlanta (1962-1968).

Bishop Hallinan took over a Diocese whose Catholic population was less than two percent of the total population.  Nevertheless, he proved an effective voice for the Church.  He established a policy in 1961 to desegregate Catholic schools in the Diocese, although he was appointed Archbishop of Atlanta before he could implement the policy.  He also desegregated the Diocese’s five Catholic hospitals in 1959.  He was also a strong advocate of ecumenism.  He was appointed the first Archbishop of Atlanta in 1962.

Francis F. Reh (1911-1994), Bishop of Charleston (1962-1964). 

• Born in New York and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New York in 1935.
• Also served as rector of the North American College in Rome (1964-1968), and as Bishop of Saginaw, Michigan (1968-1980).

Bishop Reh implemented Bishop Hallinan’s school desegregation policy and began the process of ending racial discrimination in all Catholic institutions in the Diocese.  He participated in the Second Vatican Council prior to being named rector of the North American College in Rome in 1964.

Ernest L. Unterkoefler (1917-1993), Bishop of Charleston (1964-1990). 

• Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, in 1944.
• Also served as auxiliary bishop of Richmond, Virginia (1962-1964).

Bishop Unterkoefler completed the racial integration of all institutions in the Diocese and saw the Diocese grow from 42,000 people to 79,000 people.  He hosted Pope John Paul II during the Pontiff’s visit to South Carolina in 1987.  He ordained the first permanent deacon in the United States in 1971 and he retired in 1990.

David B. Thompson (1923-1913), Bishop of Charleston (1990-1999). 

• Born in Philadelphia and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1950.
• Also served as coadjutor bishop of Charleston (1989-1990).

Bishop Thompson convened the Synod of Charleston, which met between 1992 and 1995, and which sought to increase the participation of laity as lectors, cantors, and Eucharistic ministers, and to improve religious education and peace and justice programs.  Bishop Thompson also worked to improve the quality of Catholic school education and racial balance in the schools.  He retired in 1999.

Robert J. Baker (1944-    ), Bishop of Charleston (1999-2007). 

• Born in Ohio and ordained a priest for the Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida in 1970.
• Serves as Bishop of Birmingham, Alabama (since 2007).

This is all from Wikipedia.  As bishop of Charleston, Baker presided over rapid growth, thanks to a combination of adult converts, (the state's Catholic population boomed by almost 40 percent to over 175,000 during his tenure). As a result, he dedicated many new or expanded churches, schools and parish facilities.  He was appointed Bishop of Birmingham, Alabama, in 2007.

Current Bishop

Robert E. Guglielmone was appointed Bishop of Charleston by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.  He was born in New York in 1945 and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, in 1977.  He previously served the Diocese of Rockville Centre as a pastor and in various other capacities, including director of clergy personnel.

The Cathedral

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
120 Broad Street
Charleston, South Carolina 29401

John was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth and the cousin of Jesus.  As an adult, he prepared the way for his cousin’s ministry by preaching the need for baptism and repentance.  He baptized Jesus in the Jordan River at the beginning of Jesus’ own ministry.  John was beheaded by King Herod Antipas because of John’s admonition that Herod’s marriage was sinful and unlawful.  John is honored with two feast days—June 24 commemorates his birth and August 29 his death.  His is also the patron of St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome—the Pope’s Cathedral as Bishop of Rome—the Dedication of which is honored on November 9. 

O glorious Saint John the Baptist, greatest prophet among those born of woman, although you were sanctified in your mother's womb and led a most innocent life, nevertheless it was your will to retire into the wilderness, there to devote yourself to the practice of austerity and penance; obtain for us of thy Lord the grace to be wholly detached, at least in our hearts, from earthly goods, and to practice Christian mortification with interior recollection and with the spirit of holy prayer.

In 1821, one year after the Diocese of Charleston was established; Bishop England purchased a house that became the temporary home of the parish now known as St. John the Baptist.  He made this simple structure his cathedral and dedicated it to St. John and St. Finbar.  Construction began on a permanent church in 1850 designed by noted Catholic architect, Charles Patrick Keely.  The Cathedral was completed in 1854.  Unfortunately, a fire destroyed much of Charleston in 1861, including the Cathedral.  A new cathedral was built, but was destroyed by an earthquake in 1886.  Construction on the current Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, also designed by Keely, was begun in 1890 and completed in 1907.

From the Cathedral website

The Cathedral is designed in the Gothic style and has a bell tower.  The church is built of Connecticut brownstone.  The Cathedral’s nave has 14 large two-light windows depicted scenes from the life of Christ.  A window above the main altar depicts the Last Supper, the rose window depicts the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, and the clerestory windows depict the four evangelists.  The windows are the work of the Franz Mayer Company of Germany.  The Stations of the Cross are hand-painted.  The main altar and two side altars are made of Vermont marble and the pews are carved from Flemish oak. 

A 25-rank French Romantic pipe organ, Bedient Opus22, was purchased from the Episcopal cathedral in Louisville.

Pictures are from the internet.

Additional information about the Cathedral can be found on its website, charlestoncathedral.com and the Diocese’s website, sccatholic.org.  The Cathedral, which seats 450, is located in downtown Charleston and has four weekend masses to serve 800 parish families.

North Carolina

Catholic History of North Carolina

The first Europeans came to the coast of North Carolina in 1524—they were French and led by Giovanni da Verrazano.  The Spanish established a colony at Cape Fear in 1526 and the English on Roanoke Island in 1585—neither was successful.  Virginians started settling in the northeastern part of North Carolina during the 1650s, but it was not until 1663 that King Charles II officially made North Carolina an English colony.  The colony grew slowly and it was not until 1706 that Bath was founded as the first settlement, followed by New Bern in 1710.  By 1829, forty years after North Carolina became the 12^th State and nine years after North Carolina became part of the new Diocese of Charleston, there were less than 200 Catholics in the State served by churches in New Bern, Washington, and Fayetteville.  The first church in western North Carolina was not established until 1851—St. Peter’s in Charlotte.

North Carolina has a unique Catholic history, despite having few Catholics.  Pope Pius IX created the Vicariate Apostolic of North Carolina in 1869, separating the state from the Diocese of Charleston.  (A vicariate apostolic is a precursor to a diocese.)  James Gibbons served as the first Vicar Apostolic from 1868 to 1877, mostly while serving as Bishop of Richmond.  (Gibbons later became the Cardinal Archbishop of Baltimore.)  He was succeeded by James Keane who served from 1878 to 1882, while serving as Bishop of Richmond.  Henry Northrup served from 1882 to 1887, mostly while also serving as Bishop of Charleston.  The fourth Vicar Apostolic was Leo Haid, who was also the Abbot of Belmont Abbey, near Charlotte.  He served from 1887 to 1924.  Cardinal Gibbons ordained Haid in 1888 as the first abbot-bishop in the United States.

Pope Pius X created an abbatia nullius consisting of eight counties east of Charlotte—the only such example in U.S. history.  Haid served as bishop of the abbatia nullius, abbot of Belmont Abbey (which served as his Cathedral) and Vicar Apostolic of the rest of North Carolina until his death in 1924.  The same year Pope Pius XI raised the Vicariate Apostolic to the status of a diocese—the Diocese of Raleigh.  The new Diocese of Raleigh served only about 8,000 Catholics.

The abbatial nullius was reduced to Gaston County in 1944 and to the grounds of Belmont Abbey in 1960, before being suppressed in 1977.  Pope Paul VI created the Diocese of Charlotte in 1972 to serve the 34,000 Catholics in western North Carolina.

Diocese of Raleigh

The diocese consists of 54 counties in eastern North Carolina.  The diocese has 225,000 Catholics (5 percent of the total population) in 78 parishes.

Bishops of Raleigh

William J. Hafey (1888-1954), first Bishop of Raleigh (1925-1937). 

·         Born in Massachusetts and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1914.

·         Also served as coadjutor bishop of Scranton, Pennsylvania (1937-1938), and Bishop of Scranton (1938-1954).

Bishop Hafey saw the Catholic population of North Carolina increase from 6,000 to 10,000 (mostly due to converts) during his time as Bishop and he more than doubled the number of parishes (from 24 to 52) and the number of priests and nuns serving in the Diocese.  He established parishes to evangelize, with some success, the African-American population.  He traveled throughout the Diocese visiting parishes and throughout the country raising money and recruiting priests and nuns.  Hafey was appointed coadjutor bishop of Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1937, and later became Bishop of Scranton. 

Eugene J. McGuinness (1889-1957), Bishop of Raleigh (1937-1944). 

• Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1915.
• Also served as coadjutor bishop of Oklahoma City and Tulsa (1944-1948) and Bishop of Oklahoma City and Tulsa (1948-1957).

Bishop McGuinness increased the number of parishes to almost 90.  He ordained 30 priests and invited many religious orders to work in the Diocese.  Bishop McGuinness was named coadjutor bishop of Oklahoma City and Tulsa in 1944 and later became Bishop of Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

Vincent S. Waters (1904-1974), Bishop of Raleigh (1945-1974). 

• Born in Virginia and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Richmond in 1931.

Bishop Waters took over a diocese that included all of North Carolina, yet had only 13,000 Catholics—less than one percent of the total population.  By the time of his death almost 30 years later, North Carolina had over 70,000 Catholics and churches in most counties.  He traveled extensively throughout the state to serve Catholics and he established a mission program—the Missionary Apostolate—that sent priests to improve the Faith among Catholics and to bring the Faith to non-Catholics.  He established an integrated association of lay people and established a diocesan newspaper.  Waters attended the Second Vatican Council and cautiously implemented its decrees.  Bishop Waters ended racial segregation in all Catholic institutions in the Diocese in 1953, despite opposition.  The State was split into two dioceses shortly before his death from a heart attack in 1974.

F. Joseph Gossman (1930-2013), Bishop of Raleigh (1975-2006). 

• Born in Baltimore and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1955.
• Also served as auxiliary bishop of Baltimore (1968-1975).

Bishop Gossman oversaw tremendous growth in the Diocese—from 38,000 Catholics when he became bishop to over 190,000 at the time of his retirement, due to Hispanic immigrants, military personnel, and retirees coming to the Diocese.  He built dozens of churches, schools, and other institutions to try to keep pace with this growth.  He encouraged greater roles for the laity, including women, in administering the Diocese and its parishes.  He also encouraged ecumenical relationships with other religious denominations.  He spoke out on conditions for the working poor and sought an end to the death penalty.  He retired in 2006.

Michael F. Burbidge (1957-    ), Bishop of Raleigh (2006-2016). 

• Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1984.
• Also served as auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia (2002-2006) and serves as Bishop of Arlington, Virginia, since 2016.

Bishop Burbidge began construction of the new Cathedral of the Holy Name of Jesus and saw a large increase in the number of Catholics in the Diocese, especially Hispanic Catholics.  He also sought a compromise to North Carolina’s controversial 2016 public facilities law.  He was named Bishop of Arlington, Virginia, in 2016.

Current Bishop

Currently vacant.

The Cathedral

Sacred Heart Cathedral

100 Hillsborough Street

Raleigh, North Carolina 27603

St. John Eudes was a 17^th Century French priest who preached the loving nature of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Later in the same century, a French nun, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque had visions of Jesus revealing that his Sacred Heart was filled with love and mercy for all people.  The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated on the Friday after the second Sunday after Pentecost.  Many Catholics also show devotion to the Sacred Heart by attending Mass and receiving the Body and Blood of Christ on the first Friday of each month.

Oh Lord Jesus Christ, to Your most Sacred Heart I confide this intention {name petition}. Only look upon me, then do what Your love inspires. Let Your Sacred Heart decide. I count on You. I trust in You. I throw myself on Your mercy. Lord Jesus, You will not fail me. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I believe in Your love for me. Sacred Heart of Jesus, Your kingdom come. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I have asked You for many favors, but I earnestly implore this one. Take it, place it in Your open Heart. When the Eternal Father looks upon it, He will see it covered with Your Precious Blood. It will be no longer my prayer, but Yours, Jesus. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You. Let me not be disappointed. Amen.

The Vicars Apostolic of North Carolina made Wilmington their headquarters.  St. Thomas the Apostle church (now secularized) in Wilmington served as the pro-Cathedral from 1869-1912 and the Basilica Shrine of St. Mary in Wilmington served as the pro-Cathedral from 1912 to 1924  (see below).  Sacred Heart parish in Raleigh was founded in 1834 and was the first parish in Raleigh—and the only one for 120 years.  The current church was built between 1922 and 1924 and became the Cathedral for the new Diocese of Raleigh in 1924.  Sacred Heart is the smallest Roman Catholic cathedral in the United States—it seats 320.  Construction of the new Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral is underway near the diocesan center, between Centennial Parkway and Western Boulevard.  From atop a ridge, the new Cathedral will command an impressive view of downtown.

Sacred Heart Cathedral was renovated in 1998 and features a floral-themed terrazzo floor, red oak bishop's chair and a ceiling painted bright blue and inlaid with 14-carat gold leaf stars.  The current Cathedral will remain open after the completion of the new Cathedral.

Pictures are both from the internet.

Additional information can be obtained at dioceseofraleigh.org and sacredheartcathedral.org.  The Cathedral is located in downtown Raleigh and has nine weekend masses—including 3 in Spanish—to serve 6,000 parishioners.  There is also a monthly Latin mass.  The parish elementary school has an enrollment of 250.

The Basilica Shrine of St. Mary in Wilmington served as the pro-Cathedral for the Vicariate Apostolic of North Carolina (pre-cursor to the Diocese of Raleigh) from 1912 to 1924.  St. Mary’s was constructed between 1908 and 1912 in the Spanish Baroque style using brick tiles.  The Basilica has twin towers at the front of the building and a central dome.  Pope Francis designated the church as a minor basilica in 2013.  Basilica is an honorary title bestowed on a church by the Pope because of the church’s antiquity, dignity, historical importance, or significance as a center of worship.  It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The parish website is thestmaryparish.org.

All pictures are by me.

Diocese of Charlotte

The diocese consists of 46 counties in western North Carolina.  The diocese has 196,000 Catholics (4 percent of the total population) in 73 parishes.

Bishops of Charlotte

Most of the information on Charlotte’s bishops come from Wikipedia, for what it is worth.

Michael J. Begley (1909-2002), first Bishop of Charlotte (1972-1984). 

• Born in Massachusetts and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Raleigh in 1934.

Begley established ministries to deal with a large increase in Hispanic Catholics and fought for the poor and disadvantaged in the Appalachian region.  He also did not oppose the death penalty.  He retired in 1984.

John F. Donoghue (1928-2011), Bishop of Charlotte (1984-1993). 

• Born in Washington, D.C., and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Washington in 1955.
• Also served as Archbishop of Atlanta (1993-2004).

Bishop Donoghue established a Diocesan newspaper.  He also helped establish the North Carolina Lutheran-Catholic Covenant in 1991, which led to greater ties between the two Churches.  He was appointed Archbishop of Atlanta in 1993.

William G. Curlin (1927-    ), Bishop of Charlotte (1994-2002). 

• Born in Virginia and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Washington, DC in 1957.
• Also served as auxiliary bishop of Washington (1988-1994).

Bishop Curlin established ministries for Korean and Vietnamese Catholics and built and affordable senior housing community in Mooresville.  He was strongly pro-life and was noted as a gifted homilist.  He retired in 2002.

Current Bishop

Peter J. Jugis was appointed Bishop of Charlotte by Pope John Paul II in 2003.  He was born in Charlotte in 1957 and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Charlotte in 1983.  He previously served the Diocese as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe and judicial vicar of the diocesan marriage tribunal.

The Cathedral

Saint Patrick Cathedral

1621 Dilworth Road, East
Charlotte, North Carolina 28203

St. Patrick (5^th Century) was from a privileged family in Britain—his grandfather was a priest and his father a deacon.  As a teenager, he was captured by pirates and forced into slavery in Ireland.  He escaped, made his way home, and became a priest.  He was appointed to be the second Bishop of Ireland and went there in about 432.  He had great success in bringing the Irish people to the Catholic faith.  He is one of the patron saints of Ireland.  His feast day is, of course, March 17.

God our Father, you sent Saint Patrick to preach your glory to the people of Ireland. By the help of his prayers, may all Christians proclaim your love to all people. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

St. Patrick’s church was completed in 1939 and was the second Catholic church in Charlotte.  When the Diocese of Charlotte was created in 1972 by Pope Paul VI, St. Patrick’s was chosen as the Cathedral for the first bishop, Michael Begley.

The Cathedral was designed by Frank Frimmer with gray stucco and a 77-foot bell tower.  It seats 400 people.  The Cathedral’s stained glass windows were designed by the Henry Keck Studio in Syracuse, New York.  Heck once apprenticed with Louis Comfort Tiffany.  The windows over the altar depict the Annunciation, St. Patrick, and St. Joseph on his deathbed attended by Our Lord Jesus and Our Blessed Mother.  Stained glass windows in the choir loft show King David with a lyre and St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music.  Windows in the nave show scenes from the life of Jesus.

Picture is from Wikipedia.

The Cathedral’s main altar is made of Italian Carrara marble and also has side chapels dedicated to Mary and Joseph.  The Cathedral’s pipe organ was built by Zimmer and Sons of Charlotte.  A 700-pound bell, originally cast in St. Louis in 1875, was raised in the bell tower in 2007. Outside the copper-roofed Cathedral are a large Celtic cross and an outdoor Marian prayer grotto dedicated to the memory of babies lost through abortion and miscarriage and for the consolation of their parents.

Pictures are from the internet.

Additional information can be found at stpatricks.org and charlottediocese.org.  The Cathedral is located one mile south of downtown Charlotte and has five weekend masses to serve 700 parish families.  The parish elementary school (K-5) has an enrollment of over 300.

There are also two basilicas in the Diocese of Charlotte.  Basilica is an honorary title bestowed on a church by the Pope because of the church’s antiquity, dignity, historical importance, or significance as a center of worship.

The Basilica of Saint Lawrence in located in Ashville.  St. Lawrence parish was founded in 1869 and is the oldest Catholic parish in far-western North Carolina.  The current church was completed in 1909 and was designed by Rafael Guastavino and R.S. Smith.  Guastavino (1842-1908) came to Ashville from Spain in 1881 to work on the Biltmore Mansion.  Guastavino employed a tile and mortar building system to construct the buildings’ walls, floors, ceilings, stairs, and pillars.  The dome may be the largest unsupported elliptical dome in North America.  Pope John Paul II designated the Spanish Renaissance church as a minor basilica in 1993.  The Basilica is on the National Register of Historic Places.  See the parish website at saintlawrencebasilica.org.

All pictures are by me.

The Basilica Abbey Church of Our Lady Help of Christians is located in Belmont.  Belmont Abbey was founded by Benedictine monks in 1876.  The brick Gothic Revival church was completed in 1893 and was designed by Detroit architect, Peter Dederichs. The church has two uneven towers, the larger of which is the bell tower.  Ten windows in the church were designed by Francis Mayer and Company of Germany and are painted, not stained.  The same company also designed the Stations of the Cross.  Pope John Paul II designated the church as a minor basilica in 1998. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. See belmontabbey.org for more information.

This picture is from the internet.