Province
of Cincinnati
Pope Pius IX established the Province of Cincinnati Ohio
I have seen four of Ohio’s six Cathedrals—Cincinnati,
Columbus, Cleveland (although the Cleveland trip was a long time ago), and Toledo
(just recently). I have seen only one of
the five basilicas—Our Lady of Consolation.
Map of the Province
Catholic History of Ohio
The first Europeans to visit Ohio
were led by the French explorer, Robert Cavelier, sueur de La Salle, who
claimed the land for France Ohio around 1750 and established a mission
to the Hurons near modern day Sandusky Ohio
became part of the British colonies in 1763 and part of the United States Ohio Somerset and established the first permanent Catholic
church there (St. Joseph Knox County in central Ohio
and in Stark and Columbiana Counties in northeastern Ohio
Ohio became part of the Diocese of Bardstown, Kentucky, in
1808, but by 1820, Ohio had a population of almost 600,000, making it the
fourth most populous of the 24 States.
Pope Pius VII established the Diocese of Cincinnati in 1821 as the ninth
U.S. diocese. Over the next twenty
years, large numbers of immigrants, mostly German, came to Ohio ,
and in 1840, Ohio Ohio Province of Cincinnati
(the Provinces of Cincinnati, New Orleans , and New York , were created on the same day, making them the
fourth, fifth, and sixth provinces in the United States
In the 1840s and 1850s, large numbers of German and Irish
immigrants came to Ohio and by 1860, the population had grown to 2.3
million. Pius IX created the Diocese of
Columbus in 1868. The latter half of the
19th Century saw large numbers of immigrants coming to Northern Ohio
from Eastern Europe. Pope Pius X
established the Diocese of Toledo in 1910 and Pope Pius XII created the
Dioceses of Youngstown in 1943 and Steubenville
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati consists of 19 counties in
southwestern Ohio. The archdiocese has 461,000 Catholics (15 percent of the
total population) in 212 parishes.
Bishop of Cincinnati
Edward D. Fenwick, O.P. (1768-1832), first Bishop of
Cincinnati (1822-1832).
- Born in Maryland and ordained a Dominican priest in 1793.
Prior to becoming bishop, Edward Fenwick founded the first
Dominican house in the United States in 1805.
He served at times, both before and during his bishopric, as the
superior of the Dominican province. He
also did extensive missionary work in Ohio from 1807 until he became the first
Bishop of Cincinnati in 1822. Fenwick’s
new diocese consisted of Ohio, Michigan, and portions of other states. There were about six thousand Catholics in Ohio Europe
from 1823 to 1825 successfully recruiting priests and religious, and obtaining
contributions. After his return, he
built a new cathedral, established a seminary (the third in the United States),
and started a diocesan newspaper (in part to defend the Faith against
attacks—the newspaper is the oldest continuously published Catholic newspaper
in the nation). He also established what
is now known as Xavier University. He
rode on horseback throughout the Diocese establishing missions and making
converts. Bishop Fenwick died in 1832.
Archbishops of Cincinnati
John B. Purcell (1800-1883), Bishop of Cincinnati
(1833-1850) and first Archbishop of Cincinnati (1850-1883).
- Born in Ireland and ordained a priest in Europe in 1826.
Archbishop Purcell served half a century as the leader of
the Diocese and Archdiocese of Cincinnati—the second longest tenure of any U.S.
bishop for a single diocese. Purcell
greatly increased the number of churches and other Catholic institutions in the
Archdiocese, as well as the number of priests (from 14 to 480) and
religious. He built the first parish for
Germans east of the Allegheny Mountains and
established a German newspaper. He was a
strong proponent of parish schools and many were built as a result. He famously and successfully debated the
noted Protestant preacher, Alexander Campbell, over the course of a week in
1837, converting several people (including some Protestant ministers) to
Catholicism. He defended the Church, and
specifically his Cathedral, against attacks by the anti-Catholic Know-Nothing
party in 1853 and strongly supported the Union
during the Civil War. Purcell also
completed the current Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains. Purcell’s last years
were difficult due to mismanagement of Archdiocesan funds by the Archbishop’s
younger brother. Archbishop Purcell died
in 1883.
William H. Elder (1819-1904), Archbishop of Cincinnati
(1883-1904).
·
Born in Baltimore and ordained a priest in 1846
for the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
·
Also served as Bishop of Natchez, Mississippi
(1857-1880) and as coadjutor archbishop of Cincinnati (1880-1883).
Archbishop Elder was only partially successful in resolving
the financial crisis and crisis of faith among some Catholics that he inherited
from Archbishop Purcell, but he was able to reopen the diocesan seminary that
had closed eight years earlier because of the crisis. He also established 32 parishes. Elder was a talented administrator and
greatly improved the management and organization of the Archdiocese, in part by
requiring annual reports from each parish and Catholic institution. He was a good and holy priest, hearing
confessions almost to the day he died in 1904 from influenza.
Henry Moeller (1849-1925), Archbishop of Cincinnati
(1904-1925).
- Born in Cincinnati and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 1876.
- Also served as Bishop of Columbus (1900-1903) and coadjutor archbishop of Cincinnati (1903-1904).
Archbishop Moeller established several new churches and
schools and also rebuilt Mount St. Mary Seminary of the West. He started a local branch of Catholic
Charities and founded and chaired the American Board of Foreign Missions. He also resolved the financial crisis in the
courts system in 1905 and established a school for the deaf. Moeller was able to get the national
headquarters of Catholic Charities (now in Virginia) and the Catholic Students
Mission Crusade to locate in Cincinnati.
Archbishop Moeller died in 1925.
John T. McNicholas, O.P. (1877-1950), Archbishop of
Cincinnati (1925-1950).
- Born in Ireland, came to the United States in 1881, and ordained a Dominican priest in 1901.
- Also served as Bishop of Duluth, Minnesota (1918-1925).
Archbishop McNicholas made the Archdiocese a model for
Catholic education, in part through the creation of a teachers college and four
Latin schools. He also promoted
postgraduate study for his priests, supported workers’ rights, and sought to
convert African Americans to Catholicism. He established 50 new parishes, youth
programs, and doubled the number of priests. He was a leader of the National
Catholic Welfare Conference (now the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops) and the National Catholic Education
Association. He was a national spokesman
for the Church, speaking out against Communism, excessive wealth, and Nazi
persecution of the Jewish people, and in favor of farmers. In response to concerns about Al Smith, the
first Catholic from a major party to run for President, he said that American
Catholics owe no civil allegiance to Vatican City. He also founded the Legion of Decency to
combat immoral movies. He died in 1950
from a heart attack.
Karl J. Alter
(1885-1977), Archbishop of Cincinnati (1950-1969).
- Born in Toledo and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Toledo in 1910 (the first priest ordained for the new Diocese).
- Also served as Bishop of Toledo (1931-1950).
Archbishop Alter led the Archdiocese through the great
post-war building boom, involving 130 major projects, including seven new high
schools, and the restoration of the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains as the
Archdiocesan Cathedral. He advocated
greater lay involvement in the Church, implemented changes based on the Second
Vatican Council, pushed for greater social justice, and improved the management
of the Archdiocese through a priest’s senate, parish councils, and an
archdiocesan school board with lay members.
He wrote a pastoral letters on racial justice, employment
discrimination, voting rights, and education.
He also helped create an ecumenical organization. He served two terms as chairman of what is
now the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Archbishop Alter retired in 1969.
Paul F. Leibold (1914-1972), Archbishop of Cincinnati
(1969-1972).
- Born in Dayton and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 1940.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Cincinnati (1958-1966) and Bishop of Evansville, Indiana (1966-1969).
During his short time as Archbishop, Leibold focused on
education, social action, and ecumenism.
He strengthened priestly and lay advisory groups and convened an
Archdiocesan synod in 1971. Archbishop Alter died in 1972.
Joseph L.
Bernardin (1928-1996), Archbishop of Cincinnati (1972-1982).
- Born in South Carolina and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, in 1952.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Atlanta (1966-1972) and Archbishop of Chicago (1982-1996). He was named a Cardinal in 1983. He served as president of what is now the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 1974 to 1977.
Archbishop Bernardin served as president of what is now the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 1974 to 1977. He was appointed chair in 1980 of a committee
of bishops that wrote a pastoral letter on peace, which was approved in
1983. Bernardin was awarded the Albert
Einstein Peace Award that year. He also worked
to improve relations between Catholics and both Jews
and Protestants. Bernardin was also
known as a good administrator. Bernardin
was appointed Archbishop of Chicago in 1982.
Daniel E. Pilarczyk (1934- ), Archbishop of Cincinnati (1982-2009).
- Born in Dayton and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 1959.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Cincinnati (1974-1982).
Archbishop Pilarczyk improved the Archdiocesan seminary (for
both priestly training and lay ministry training) and ordained 84 priests. He nevertheless made a plan that recognized
that there could be fewer priests in the future. Pilarczyk also strongly supported Catholic
radio and established faith formation programs.
He was forced to close some parishes and schools, but was able to build
several new churches and schools as well.
He especially worked to keep schools open in the inner cities. He also served as President of what is now
the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 1989 to 1992. The Archdiocese pled guilty in 2003 for failing to report sexually abusive
priests in the 1970s and 1980s.
Archbishop Pilarczyk retired in 2009.
Current Archbishop
Dennis M. Schnurr was appointed coadjutor Archbishop of
Cincinnati by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008 and he became Archbishop the following
year. He was born in Iowa in 1948 and
ordained a priest for the Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa, in 1974. He previously served as general secretary of
what is now the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (1995-2001) and Bishop of
Duluth, Minnesota (2001-2008).
The Cathedral
Cathedral of St. Peter in
Chains
Eighth and Plum Streets
St. Peter, originally known as Simon, was the first apostle
chosen by Jesus. Peter is frequently
mentioned in the New Testament, and we know that he was a fisherman by trade,
that he was married, that he was the leader of the apostles, and that he often
tried the Lord’s patience. After the
Ascension of our Lord, Peter became the leader of the early church, eventually
going to Rome to become the first Bishop of Rome St. Peter’s imprisonment by
King Herod. Peter was bound in chains,
but one night an angel of the Lord came to Peter, released the chains, and led
him out of prison. The Feast of Sts.
Peter and Paul is celebrated on June 29.
O God, who has given unto Thy blessed Apostle Peter the keys
to the kingdom of heaven,
and the power to bind and loose: grant that we may be delivered, through the help of this intercession, from the slavery of all our sins: Who lives and reigns world without end. Amen.
and the power to bind and loose: grant that we may be delivered, through the help of this intercession, from the slavery of all our sins: Who lives and reigns world without end. Amen.
When Bishop Fenwick arrived in Cincinnati in 1822, there was
only one Catholic church in the young city—St. Patrick’s. St. Patrick’s was built in 1819 at Liberty
and Vine Streets outside of the then city limits (now the site of St. Francis
Seraph Church), because of a town ordinance that prohibited the building of a
Catholic church within the city limits.
This humble 30 by 55 foot frame building served as the first Cathedral
for the Diocese of Cincinnati. With the
ordinance repealed, Fenwick had the building moved by a team of oxen in 1822 to
a new location on Sycamore Street
(the present site of St. Francis Xavier Church) and rebuilt. The Cathedral was rededicated to St.
Peter. The Diocese soon needed a larger
church and the new St. Peter’s Cathedral was completed on the site of the old
one in 1826. This brick Gothic building
measured 50 by 110 feet and cost over $10,000.
It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bishop Purcell undertook construction of the current Cathedral
of St. Peter in Chains in 1841—it was completed in 1845. The Cathedral was renovated several times
over the years, but by 1938, was need of serious repair and was located in an
undesirable neighborhood. Archbishop
McNicholas received permission from the Pope to use St. Monica’s Church on McMillan Street as
his Cathedral. When Karl Alter became
Archbishop in 1950, he undertook a restoration of St. Peter’s that resulted in
its rededication as the Cathedral for the Archdiocese in 1957. The architect for the restoration was Edward
J. Schulte of Cincinnati.
The Cathedral was designed and built by Henry Walter in the
Greek Revival style and is made from white Dayton limestone with Bedford stone
details. The bell tower rises 221 feet
above the street supported by 12 Corinthian columns. Thirteen bells—the largest weighs 3,400
pounds—can play tunes controlled by a keyboard.
Picture taken by me.
The interior of the Cathedral is made from five colors of
marble—black, green, blue, cream, and white—altogether weighing 600 tons. Above the main altar is a glass mosaic
designed by Anton Wendling that measures 35 feet high and 40 feet wide. The central panel shows the Risen Christ
giving the keys of Heaven to St. Peter.
The left panel shows Peter being freed from his prison chains by an
angel and the right panel shows St. Peter being visited by St. Paul while
imprisoned in Rome. The Stations of the
Cross are life size murals designed by Carl Zimmerman, one of several local
artists making contributions to the Cathedral.
Others included Ernest Haswell and Robert Koepnick, who made many of the
Cathedral’s statues, and George Yostel who made some of the gold crucifixes and
candlesticks. The Baptistery to the
north of the sanctuary features bronze statues of the Risen Christ, St.
Elizabeth Ann Seton, and St. John Neumann.
The Blessed Sacrament Chapel to the south of the sanctuary features
bronze statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin, St. Thomas
Aquinas, and St. Pius X. The Cathedral
pipe organ was made by the Austin Organ Company in 1957 and features 55 ranks
with 3,230 pipes, controlled by two consoles.
Additional information about the Cathedral can be found on
their website, stpeterinchainscathedral.org and on the Archdiocesan website at
catholiccincinnati.org. The Cathedral is located in downtown Cincinnati and has
four weekend masses.
Diocese of Cleveland
The diocese consists of 8 counties in north central
Ohio. The diocese has 693,000 Catholics
(25 percent of the total population) in 185 parishes.
Bishops of Cleveland
Louis Amadeus Rappe (1801-1877), first Bishop of
Cleveland (1847-1870).
- Born in France, ordained a priest in France in 1829, and came to Ohio in 1840.
The new Diocese had only one church—St. Mary on the Flats—in
Cleveland. Bishop Rappe established many
new institutions for his new Diocese, including churches, schools, hospitals,
orphanages, and a diocesan seminary, and invited religious orders to work in
the Diocese. He also began construction of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Cleveland
Richard Gilmour (1824-1891), Bishop of Cleveland
(1872-1891).
·
Born in Scotland, converted to Catholicism in
Philadelphia in 1842, and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
in 1852.
Bishop Gilmour formalized the governance of the Diocese and
established a Diocesan newspaper. He
fought for the rights of Catholics by establishing an association to defend the
Catholic Faith against bigotry, winning the religious rights of prisoners in
Ohio, and gaining tax exempt status for Catholic churches and schools. He directed that all parishes have schools,
if possible, and he even wrote some textbooks for the schools. Gilmour established a diocesan school
board. He established over 70 churches,
over 60 schools, and four hospitals. He
was also very active in the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1884. Bishop Gilmour died in 1891.
Ignatius F. Horstmann (1840-1908), Bishop of Cleveland
(1892-1908).
- Born in Philadelphia and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Philadelphia in 1865.
Bishop Horstmann was the author of several articles defending
the Catholic Faith. He also supported
missionary work and started a Diocesan missionary group. He built schools, hospitals, and orphanages, and
sought to improve relations between Catholics and non-Catholics. Horstmann sought to meet the needs of immigrants
in his Diocese, notably those from southern and eastern Europe, by establishing
parishes for them. Horstmann asked for
and received an auxiliary bishop specifically to minister to Slavic
immigrants. Bishop Horstmann died in
1908 of heart disease.
John P. Farrelly (1856-1921), Bishop of Cleveland
(1909-1921).
- Born in Tennessee and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee, in 1880.
[From Wikipedia]
Bishop Farrelly built 47 churches and schools, including Cathedral Latin
High School and started a Diocesan Catholic Charities. He was appointed by Cleveland’s mayor to the
Cleveland War Commission during World War I.
Farrelly also ordered that English be spoken at all German churches and
schools in the Diocese. Bishop Farrelly
died in 1921.
Joseph Schrembs (1866-1945), Bishop of Cleveland
(1921-1945).
- Born in Germany and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1889.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Grand Rapids (for eight months in 1911) and the first Bishop of Toledo (1911-1921). He was given the personal title of Archbishop in 1939.
Bishop Schrembs worked to improve the Church’s work among
African-American and European ethnic groups and supported the rights of workers
to unionize and for equal pay for women and men. He was also a leader in what is now the
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and as such, fought for the
rights of Catholics in Mexico, defended the Church’s position on birth control,
and spoke out against Father Charles Coughlin, whose popular radio show
featured anti-Semitic and pro-Nazi sentiments.
He helped establish the National Conferences of Catholic Men and
Women. Bishop Schrembs and the Diocese
hosted the Seventh National Eucharistic Congress in 1935, which brought
thousands to Cleveland to honor the Eucharist.
He had an interest in improving pastoral music and even wrote some
hymns. Schrembs was no fan of
prohibition. He was given the personal
title of Archbishop in 1939 and he died in 1945.
Edward F. Hoban (1878-1966), Bishop of Cleveland
(1945-1966).
- Born in Chicago and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1903.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Chicago (1921-1928), Bishop of Rockford, Illinois (1928-1942), and coadjutor bishop of Cleveland (1942-1945). He was given the personal title of Archbishop in 1951.
Hoban was Bishop during the post-World War II population
boom in which the counties making up the Diocese of Cleveland increased their
population by 60 percent—helped by his encouragement of war refugees to settle
in Cleveland. This resulted in Bishop
Hoban building 61 new parishes, 47 new elementary schools, and 12 new high
schools. Some of the new parishes were
ethnic parishes, but he insisted that parochial schools teach only in
English. He established health care
facilities and encouraged Newman Centers to open on public college
campuses. Hoban also started a mission
in El Salvador. Hoban was given the
personal title of Archbishop in 1951 and died in 1966.
Clarence G. Issenmann (1907-1982), Bishop of Cleveland
(1966-1974).
- Born in Hamilton, Ohio, and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 1932.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Cincinnati (1954-1957), Bishop of Columbus (1957-1964), and coadjutor bishop of Cleveland (1964-1966).
According to the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, Bishop
Issenmann restructured the school
board, opened new high schools, and developed special ministries to the deaf
and mentally retarded. He opened St. Augustine Manor to provide skilled
short-term nursing care, established the Commission of Catholic Community
Action, and started the Martin de Porres Center. Issenmann began a priests'
senate, clergy personnel board, and senate of religious women and established
the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Office. Bishop Issenmann's health began
deteriorating in the early 1970s, and he resigned in July 1974.
James A. Hickey (1920-2004), Bishop of Cleveland (1974 to
1980).
· Born in Midland, Michigan, and ordained a priest
for the Diocese of Saginaw, Michigan in1946.
· Also served as auxiliary bishop of Saginaw,
Michigan (1967-1969) and Archbishop of Washington, DC (1980-2000). Named a Cardinal in 1988.
Bishop Hickey advocated for racial unity in Cleveland. He was also active with social justice issues
in El Salvador during that nation’s civil war.
Hickey sent a religious sister and a lay woman to that country to serve
as missionaries. The women, and two
others, were murdered in El Salvador because of the work they were doing. He kept pictures of the women in his private
chapel the rest of his life. Hickey was
appointed Archbishop of Washington, DC, in 1980, and was named a Cardinal in
1988.
Anthony M. Pilla (1932-
), Bishop of Cleveland (1980-2006).
- Born in Cleveland and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Cleveland in 1959.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Cleveland (1979-1980).
[From Wikipedia]
Pilla dealt with two crises during his time as Bishop: the clergy sexual abuse scandal and accusations
that a Diocesan officer stole over $700,000 from the Diocese. Pilla served as President of what is now the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 1995 to 1998. Bishop Pilla retired as Bishop of Cleveland
in 2006.
Richard G. Lennon (1947- ), Bishop of Cleveland (2006-2016).
- Born in North Dakota and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston in 1973.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Boston (2001-2006).
Bishop Lennon faced a problem when he became bishop. Cleveland’s population had declined by more
than 60 percent since 1950, but retained about the same number of
parishes. Other cities in the Diocese
had experienced similar population losses.
In addition, the number of priests in the Diocese had declined from 565
in 1970 to 257. Bishop Pilla, a
Cleveland native, had been reluctant to close parishes, but Bishop Lennon
undertook a major restructuring of the parishes in the Diocese. He ordered that 50 parishes be closed (based
mostly on parish income and condition of the facilities) and established 17
newly merged parishes. Although many
Catholics understood the need for this action, others, especially in the
affected parishes, fought against the action.
The Vatican reversed the closing of 13 of the parishes. Lennon established an endowment fund to help
churches and schools with their financial needs. Lennon also instituted audits of parish and
school records and sought continuing education for pastors and parish
staffs. Bishop Lennon resigned in 2016.
Current Bishop
Nelson J. Perez was appointed Bishop of Cleveland by Pope
Francis in 2017. He was born in Florida
in 1961 and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1989. He previously served as auxiliary bishop of
Rockville Centre (2012-2017).
The Cathedral
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
E. 9th and Superior
Ave., NE
O Glorious Saint John, you were so loved
by Jesus that you merited to rest your head upon his breast, and to be left in
his place as a son to Mary. Obtain for us an ardent love for Jesus and Mary.
Let me be united with them now on earth and forever after in heaven.
Amen.
When Bishop Rappe became the first Bishop of Cleveland in
1847, he found only one Catholic church in the city—St. Mary’s located in The
Flats section. Thus, this became his
first Cathedral, but he quickly undertook the building of the current cathedral. Bishop Rappe used property bought by St. Mary’s
pastor to build his new Cathedral, which was completed in 1852. The Cathedral was designed by Patrick Charles
Keely, one of the 19th Century’s greatest church architects. The Cathedral is brick in an ornamental
Gothic style. Interior and exterior decoration
was completed by 1879 and included the addition of a spire. [As an aside, the Cathedral has served
downtown workers from its establishment and in 1929, before anticipatory Masses
were allowed, the Cathedral began saying Mass at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday to
accommodate night shift workers.] The
Cathedral was enlarged and substantially rebuilt from 1946-1948, which included
having the brick exterior refaced in orange Tennessee Crabtree limestone in an ashlar pattern.
The Cathedral has
three front doors made of oak with a total of 60 bronze panels each marked with
a religious symbol. Above the doors are
sculpted figures of Saints Peter and Paul and one representing a Crucifixion scene
with the Blessed Mother and St. John.
The Cathedral’s bell tower is 185-feet high and contains 6 bells, the
largest weighing 3,300 pounds. The bells
are named for American saints.
The Cathedral’s main
altar is made of Botticino marble.
Behind the altar is a reredos made of 850 pieces of hand-carved
Appalachian Oak measuring 20 by 27 feet.
It features carved figures of St. John the Evangelist (Patron of the
Cathedral), St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Matthew, St. Mark, and St. Luke, and 32
angels. The marble work and the reredos
were created by John W. Winterich and Associates of Cleveland.
The Stations of the Cross are hand-carved from linden wood
by artists in Italy. The stained glass windows portray scenes from the
life of Christ and other New Testament themes.
Rose windows depict the Hand of God and the Holy Spirit. The windows are art glass made in
Germany. There are two pipe organs built
by the Holtkamp Organ Company of Cleveland shortly after the Second World
War. The main organ has 54 ranks and the
lessor has 18 ranks. Together there are
4,368 pipes and two consoles.
The Lady Chapel has a
statue of Our Blessed Mother above a white marble altar. Above the
altar is a rose window with a dove as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The entire
wall is a mural depicting the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Apostles, angels,
and the Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven.
The Sacred Heart Chapel has a
statue of Jesus and His Sacred Heart. A
mural depicts scenes from St. John’s Book of Revelation, including the Four
Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and the Woman and the Dragon. There are also statues of St. John and the
Pieta. The Mary Chapel has shrines
dedicated to the Christ Child, St. Joseph, and St Ann. There are also statues
of St. Pius X and St. Frances Xavier Cabrini.
The Resurrection Chapel
is the final resting place for most of Cleveland’s bishops. The chapel has a marble altar beneath a
statue of the Risen Christ. The ceiling
is a mosaic of varicolored Venetian glass and the window depicts the theme of
Redemption through Christ and the Mass. Figures of St. Peter, Aaron, David, and
Melchisedech are on the walls. This
chapel also contain the relics of St. Christine given to
the Diocese in 1928 by Pope Pius XI. Tradition says that Christine was a girl
of 13 or14 who died for her faith around the year 300 and originally buried in
Rome. Near the Resurrection Chapel is an
icon of St. John the Evangelist given to the Cathedral by the Byzantine
Catholic Diocese of Parma.
Additional
information, including a tour, can be found on the Cathedral website at
saintjohncathedral.com. Also see the
Diocesan website at dioceseofcleveland.org.
The Cathedral is located in downtown Cleveland and has five
weekend masses to serve a congregation of 1100 and many workers in downtown
Cleveland who attend daily Mass there.
From the Cathedral website.
There are also two Eastern-rite Catholic cathedrals in the
Diocese. Both are discussed elsewhere in
my blog.
St. Josaphat Cathedral in Parma is the cathedral church for
the Ukrainian-rite Diocese of St. Josaphat (in Parma)—one of four
Ukrainian-rite dioceses in the United States.
The diocese ministers to 8,000 Ukrainian Catholics in 38 parishes in the
states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and
West Virginia.
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Parma is the church
of the bishop of the Ruthenian-rite Diocese of Parma—one of four Ruthenian-rite
dioceses in the United States. The
diocese has 9,000 Ruthenian Catholics in 28 parishes in the states of Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Ohio.
Diocese of Columbus
The diocese consists of 23 counties in south central
Ohio. The diocese has 271,000 Catholics
(10 percent of the total population) in 106 parishes.
Bishops of Columbus
Sylvester H. Rosecrans (1827-1878), first Bishop of
Columbus (1868-1878).
- Born in Homer, Ohio, converted to Catholicism in 1845, and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 1853.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Cincinnati (1861-1868).
Bishop Rosecrans was a convert to Catholicism. The new diocese had about 30 parishes and
40,000 Catholics. As the bishop of a new
diocese, Bishop Rosecrans established many new churches, schools, and other
Catholic institutions, including a diocesan newspaper. His brother, William, was a general in the
Union Army during the Civil War, and was the one who convinced Rosecrans to
become a Catholic. Bishop Rosecrans died
in 1878—one day after he consecrated the new St. Joseph Cathedral.
John A. Watterson (1844-1899), Bishop of Columbus
(1880-1899).
·
Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a priest for the
Diocese of Columbus in 1868.
Prior to becoming bishop, Watterson served as president of
Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Maryland.
As bishop, he established a diocesan seminary, Mount Carmel Hospital,
and new parishes, especially for new immigrants from Europe. He emphasized Catholic religious education
and sought to increase the number of priests.
He believed strongly in the virtue of temperance. Unfortunately, Watterson’s building program
put the Diocese deep into debt and consideration was given to suppressing the
Diocese. Bishop Watterson died in 1899.
Henry Moeller (1849-1925), Bishop of Columbus
(1900-1903).
- Born in Cincinnati and ordained a priest for Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 1876.
- Also served as coadjutor archbishop of Cincinnati (1903-1904), and as Archbishop of Cincinnati (1904-1925).
In 1900, there were 60,000 Catholics in the Diocese. Bishop Moeller was in Columbus only three
years, but he was able to pay off most of the Diocesan debt and make
improvements in the governance of the diocese.
He established parish boundaries for Franklin County and convened the
fifth synod of the Diocese to set regulations pertaining to the needs of the
clergy and people of the Diocese.
Moeller established three new parishes and four missions. He had two brothers who became priests and
one sister who became a nun. Bishop
Moeller was named coadjutor archbishop of Cincinnati in 1903 and became
Archbishop the next year.
James J. Hartley (1858-1944), Bishop of Columbus
(1904-1944).
·
Born in Iowa and ordained a priest for the
Diocese of Columbus in 1882.
Bishop Hartley served longer than any other Bishop of
Columbus. During his 40 years as Bishop
(one of 19 U.S. bishops to serve 40 or more years as bishop of a single
diocese), he established St. Joseph Cemetery, Good Samaritan Hospital in
Zanesville, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary (now a high school), and numerous
churches, schools, and other Catholic institutions. He also remodeled St. Joseph Cathedral and
paid off its debt. Bishop Hartley died
in 1944.
Michael J. Ready (1893-1957), Bishop of Columbus
(1944-1957).
·
Born in Connecticut and ordained a priest for
the Diocese of Cleveland in 1918.
Bishop Ready established institutions for the elderly and
the poor, including the Catholic Welfare Bureau, established 18 parishes, and
built churches and schools. He also established several Catholic organizations
within the Diocese, including the Holy Name Society, the Diocesan Council of
Catholic Women, a Diocesan parent-teacher organization, and the St. Vincent de
Paul Society. He also built the Catholic
Student Center at The Ohio State University.
He also had to manage the realignment of the Diocese in 1944 with the
creation of the new Diocese of Steubenville—the Diocese of Columbus lost some
counties to Steubenville, but gained others from the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati. Prior to becoming bishop,
Ready served as general secretary of what is now the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops. Bishop Ready died of a
cerebral hemorrhage in 1957.
Clarence G. Issenmann (1907-1982), Bishop of Columbus
(1957-1964).
- Born in Hamilton, Ohio, and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 1932.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Cincinnati (1954-1957), coadjutor bishop of Cleveland (1964-1966), and Bishop of Cleveland (1966-1974).
- Prior to becoming a bishop, Issenmann earned a doctorate degree in journalism and served as editor of the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Bishop Issenmann established eight parishes, six high
schools that consolidated several parish high schools, and the Diocesan
Development Fund (now known as the Bishop's Annual Appeal). He also directed that there be a weekly televised
Mass. Issenmann attended all four
sessions of the Second Vatican Council. Issenmann
was named coadjutor bishop of Cleveland in 1964 and became Bishop of Cleveland
in 1966.
John J. Carberry (1904-1998), Bishop of Columbus
(1965-1968).
·
Born in Brooklyn, New York, and ordained a
priest for the Diocese of Brooklyn in 1929.
·
Also served as coadjutor bishop of Lafayette,
Indiana (1956-1957), Bishop of Lafayette (1957-1965), and Archbishop of St.
Louis (1968-1979). He was named a
Cardinal in 1969.
Bishop Carberry spent much of his short time in Columbus
implementing the decrees of the Second Vatican Council, including the creation
of a priest’s advisory committee. He
remodeled St. Joseph Cathedral to accommodate the liturgical changes and
organized an advisory committee of the diocesan priests. He also co-founded the Inter-Church Board for
Metropolitan Affairs to promote ecumenism and social action among Catholics and
Protestants—the first such organization in the United States—and received the
"Pastor of Pastors" Award from the Ohio Council of Churches in
recognition of this work. He served as
the President of the Canon Law Society of America. He was appointed Archbishop of St. Louis in
1968.
Clarence E. Elwell (1904-1973), Bishop of Columbus (1968-1973).
·
Born in Cleveland and ordained a priest for the
Diocese of Cleveland in 1929.
·
Also served as auxiliary bishop of Cleveland
(1962-1968).
Bishop Elwell continued the implementation of changes based
on the Second Vatican Council, including allowing Saturday evening Mass and
establishment of advisory councils of nuns and lay people. He provided opportunities for lay people to
be more involved in the Church, including the appointment of lay people to head
Diocesan organizations and councils. Elwell
provided greater opportunities for children to attend Catholic schools,
including the erection of three new high schools. He closed the Diocesan seminary, but
strengthened Diocesan financial programs.
Bishop Elwell’s tenure in Columbus was cut short by his sudden death in 1973.
Edward J. Herrmann (1913-1999), Bishop of Columbus
(1973-1982).
·
Born in Baltimore and ordained a priest for the
Archdiocese of Washington in 1947.
·
Also served as auxiliary bishop of Washington,
DC (1966-1973).
Bishop Herrmann established housing and food programs for
the poor and needy in the Diocese, including Operation Feed in Columbus. He also implemented the Emmaus program in the
Diocese to improve the spirituality of the Diocese’s priests. Bishop Herrmann retired in 1982.
James A. Griffin (1934-
), Bishop of Columbus (1983-2004).
·
Born in Fairview Park, Ohio, and ordained a
priest for the Diocese of Cleveland in 1960.
·
Also served as auxiliary bishop of Cleveland
(1979-1983).
Bishop Griffin established several planning processes and fundraising
campaigns to meet the future needs of the Diocese. He also helped initiate a faith-based program
to reduce family violence called “Breaking The Silence.” Bishop Griffin also served as President of
Catholic Relief Services from 1991 to 1995.
Bishop Griffin retired in 2004 due to health reasons.
Current Bishop
Fredrick F. Campbell was appointed Bishop of Columbus by
Pope John Paul II in 2004. He was born
in New York in 1943 and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and
Minneapolis in 1980. He previously
served as auxiliary bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis (1999-2004).
The Cathedral
212 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
St. Joseph was the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and
the foster father of Jesus. He was a
carpenter and taught this trade to Jesus.
Devotion to St. Joseph
Faithful St. Joseph, you felt a
pang close to death when you and Mary took Jesus to the temple for purification
and Holy Simeon prophesied that many would oppose Jesus and that a sword would
pierce your beloved wife Mary's heart. But at the same time you were filled
with great joy when Simeon and the prophetess Anna foretold that the little
child in your care would save many souls (Luke 2:22-39). Glorious St. Joseph, through the love you
bear to Jesus Christ and for the glory of His name, hear our prayers and obtain
our petitions.
Father Sylvester Rosecrans was named pastor of Columbus’ St.
Patrick Church in 1867 and was named the first Bishop of Columbus the following
year. St. Joseph’s Church, which had
been under construction since 1866, was chosen to be the cathedral for the new
diocese. Changes were made to reflect
its new status which lengthened the time for construction, but by Christmas
1872 St. Joseph
Michael Harding and Robert Brookes were the architects for
the Cathedral. The Gothic Revival
building is made of limestone and ashlar stone and the main walls are three
feet thick. It is 92 feet wide, 185 feet
long, and 70 feet high. Originally, two
towers rising 312 feet and 200 feet were planned, but only one shorter tower
was built. The Cathedral sits about 700.
Source is Wikipedia.
Picture by me.
The Cathedral has over 50 stained-glass windows that depict
the Holy Family, the Apostles and Evangelists, symbols of the Virgin Mary, and
other religious themes. The original
main altar and side altars were made with marble donated by Archbishop John
McCloskey of New York, the first American cardinal, but were later
replaced. The Cathedral has chapels
dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament, Our Blessed Mother, and St. Joseph.
For additional information, see the Cathedral website,
saintjosephcathedral.org, and the Diocesan website, colsdioc.org. The Cathedral is located in downtown Columbus
and has five weekend masses.
These two pictures are from the Cathedral website.
Diocese of Toledo
The diocese consists of 19 counties in northwestern
Ohio. The diocese has 321,000 Catholics
(22 percent of the total population) in 124 parishes.
Bishops of Toledo
Joseph Schrembs (1866-1945), first Bishop of Toledo
(1911-1921).
- Born in Germany and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1889.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Grand Rapids (for eight months in 1911) and Bishop of Cleveland (1921-1945).
Bishop Schrembs established 13 parishes and 33 schools and
created councils for both men and women representing all the parishes in the diocese. According to Wikipedia, Schrembs invited
religious orders of women to teach in the Diocese. He also criticized the U.S. Government for
not protecting Mexican Catholics during that nation’s civil war. Schrembs was appointed Bishop of Cleveland in
1921.
Samuel A. Stritch (1887-1958), Bishop of Toledo (1921-1930).
- Born in Nashville, Tennessee, and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Nashville in 1910.
- Also served as Archbishop of Milwaukee (1930-1939), Archbishop of Chicago (1939-1958), and for three months in 1958 as Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith at the Vatican. Named a Cardinal in 1946.
Bishop Stritch was only 34 at the time of his
appointment—the youngest U.S. bishop at that time. He began construction of the Queen of the
Most Holy Rosary Cathedral and 24 other churches. He improved Catholic education by enhancing
the professionalism of teachers, in part by starting a diocesan teachers
college, and he established Catholic Charities in the Diocese. Stritch confirmed Danny Thomas and encouraged
him to establish St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, which he did
in 1962. He was named Archbishop of
Milwaukee in 1930 and later became Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago.
Karl J. Alter
(1885-1977), Bishop of Toledo (1931-1950).
- Born in Toledo and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Toledo in 1910 (the first priest ordained for the new Diocese).
- Also served as Archbishop of Cincinnati (1950-1969).
Bishop Alter was the first Toledo native to become its
Bishop. He undertook an extensive building
program, including the construction of Central Catholic High School and the
completion of Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral. [The rest is from Wikipedia.] Alter founded the Catholic Chronicle
and deplored religious persecution in Germany and unrest in the Holy Land. In 1944, he drafted a proposal for a joint
declaration on world peace by Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant leaders and
following the Second World War, he offered a 10-point program for economic
security. Among his points were such
contemporary ideas as wage equalization on the basis of cost of living,
representation of laborers on a firm's board of trustees, profit-sharing, and
special consideration for persons living on fixed incomes. Alter also established DeSales College in
1942 and donated land for the construction of St. Charles Hospital. Bishop Alter was named Archbishop of
Cincinnati in 1950.
George J. Rehring (1890-1976), Bishop of Toledo
(1950-1967).
- Born in Cincinnati and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 1914.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Cincinnati (1937-1950).
All I know is that Bishop Rehring attended all four sessions
of the Second Vatican Council and that he retired in 1967. Given when he served as Bishop, I suspect
Bishop Rehring spent much of his time building new churches and schools as the
post-war baby boom was well underway.
John A. Donovan (1911-1991), Bishop of Toledo
(1967-1980).
- Born in Canada and ordained a priest in 1935.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Detroit (1954-1967).
[From Wikipedia] Considered progressive and innovative, Donovan implemented the reforms of the Second Vatican Council
in the Diocese by joining the Ohio Council of Churches, and establishing
a permanent diaconate and a Diocesan office for divorced, separated, and widowed Catholics.
He issued a pastoral letter endorsing an open housing referendum for the City of
Cleveland in 1967, but the referendum was defeated by the voters. Bishop Donovan also established the Diocesan
Development Fund and special programs for Spanish-speaking, African-American and elderly Catholics. Bishop Donovan retired in 1980.
James R. Hoffman (1932-2003), Bishop of Toledo
(1980-2003).
- Born in Fremont, Ohio, and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Toledo in 1957.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Toledo (1978-1980).
[This is from Wikipedia and deals only with Bishop Hoffman’s
handling of clergy sexual abuse cases.]
In 1992 he placed a priest in active ministry after the priest was
convicted of the sexual molestation of a teenaged girl. Hoffman suspended the priest in 2002 under
pressure. Hoffman said that he believed
in giving priests a second change since the Gospel teaches forgiveness and
reconciliation. Bishop Hoffman died of
cancer in 2003.
Leonard P. Blair (1949-
), Bishop of Toledo (2003-2013).
- Born in Detroit and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1976.
- Also served as a Roman Curia official, auxiliary bishop of Detroit (1999-2003), and serves as Archbishop of Hartford, Connecticut, since 2013.
I do not have information about Bishop Blair other than that
he now serves as Archbishop of Hartford, Connecticut (since 2013).
Current Bishop
Daniel E. Thomas was appointed Bishop of Toledo by Pope
Francis in 2014. He was born in
Pennsylvania in 1959 and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
in 1985. He previously served as an
official of the Congregation for Bishops at the Holy See and adjunct spiritual
director at the Pontifical North American College Seminary in Rome (2005-2006)
and as auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia (2006-2014).
The Cathedral
Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral
2535
Collingwood Blvd.
Early Christians recited the 150 psalms from the Bible daily
or weekly as a form of prayer.
Eventually people began reciting 150 prayers, mostly the Lord’s
Prayer. The current form of the Rosary
was developed in the Middle Ages. The
Rosary is a series of prayers, mostly said to Mary, the Mother of God, to
obtain her intercession with her Son, Jesus.
Catholics meditate on the life of Christ when the say the Rosary. We celebrate Our Lady of the Rosary on
October 7.
O blessed rosary of Mary, sweet chain which unites us to
God, bond of love which unites us to the angels, tower of
salvation against the assaults of hell, safe port in our universal
shipwreck, we will never abandon you. You will be our comfort in the hour
of death; yours our final kiss as life ebbs away. And the last word from our
lips will be your sweet name, O Queen of the Rosary of Pompeii, O dearest
Mother, O Refuge of Sinners, O Sovereign Consoler of the Afflicted. May you be
everywhere blessed, today and always, on earth and in heaven.
The first Cathedral for the Diocese of Toledo was St.
Francis de Sales Church at 501 Cherry Street in downtown Toledo. St. Francis was established at Toledo’s first
parish in 1841. It is no longer a
parish, but remains as a chapel. Soon
after the Diocese was established, plans were made to build the current Our
Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral.
Although the parish was established in 1915, construction did not begin
until 1925 and was not substantially completed until 1936. It was dedicated in 1940. The Cathedral was designed by John T. Comes
and William Perry of Pittsburgh and cost over $3 million to build.
The first picture is from the Cathedral website and the second is from pinterest.
Rosary Cathedral is a rare example of the Spanish Plateresque architectural style. It is built of Massachusetts granite and Indiana limestone without any construction steel. The building is 285 feet long, 215 feet wide, 96 feet tall, and has a multi-colored tile roof. The twin towers are named for Saints Peter and Paul and each houses bells made in England. Above the entrance is a 6-foot tall statue of Our Lady made of Indiana limestone. She is crowned with roses and a golden halo. Fifty bas-relief panels surround the exterior and depict events from ancient times to the present day in Toledo. They were the work of Frank Aretz, who also did some of the stone carving work inside the Cathedral.
The Cathedral’s main altar is made of Florido marble and
behind the altar is the Bishop’s chair, made by the Herman Brothers. The altar is under a marble and oak
baldachin. Also in the sanctuary is the
Florido marble baptismal font, made to resemble a Spanish well, and designed by
Natale Rossi. The crucifix above the
altar is made of European walnut with a corpus of bleached Black Forest oak
from Germany and was carved by German artist August Schmidt. Schmidt also carved the pulpit from Black
Forest white oak which features carvings of Saints Gregory, Augustine, Jerome, Ambrose, and John the
Evangelist. On the wall behind the altar
are carved statues of New Testament writers Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter,
Paul, James, and Jude. Above the statues
is a fresco showing the crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven by the Trinity (while
surrounded by the Church Triumphant and Suffering). The fresco used the Keim process which employs
a lasting mineral paint which neither evaporates nor disturbs acoustics.
A 28-foot rose window, made of
Norman slab glass, dominates the rear of the Cathedral. Below the window is an icon of the death of
Mary and underneath the icon are seven stained glass windows depicting holy
women. Above the rose window and
extending across seven bays is Felix Lieftuchter's fresco of the creation of the
world.
The Cathedral’s wall are supported
by French limestone columns measuring 6 feet by 10 feet. The pews are made from Wisconsin oak and the
stained-glass windows were made by Angelo Pitassi of Pittsburgh. The side aisles contain frescos of the
mysteries of the Rosary and their Old Testament counterparts made by John Henry
de Rosen; Pitassi stained glass windows, murals of victorious battles (Lepanto
and Temesvar) attributed to saying the Rosary; and the Stations of the Cross
carved by August Schmidt. The
Cathedral’s pipe organ was made by Ernest M. Skinner and contains 5,500 pipes
in 78 ranks.
The side altar chapels are
dedicated to Mary and to Joseph and feature white Trani marble statues of Mary,
Queen of Peace, holding the Infant Christ and of Joseph with the Boy Christ the
King, sculpted by Vanucci. Venetian
mosaics above the altars were done by the artist Maumejean. The tabernacles and candlesticks are made of glass
melted on bronze and were designed by architect William Perry. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel has a replica of
El Greco's Descent of the Holy Ghost and the ceiling is decorated with
likenesses of the Four Evangelists. The aluminum and bronze gates were designed
by Perry and executed by Wendell August. The sacristy or Bishop's Chapel has the Regina Angelorum reredos, carved
by August Schmidt and twelve stained glass windows.
The Cathedral diocesan website, Toledodiocese.org, has a
tour of the Cathedral, but few pictures.
Also see the Cathedral website at rosarycathedral.org. The Cathedral seats 1250 people and is
located a mile northwest of downtown Toledo.
It has two weekend masses to serve less than 200 parish families.
All pictures by me.
The first picture is from the Cathedral website and the second is from pinterest.
Also located in the Diocese is the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey. Father Joseph Gloden requested the Catholics of Carey to dedicate their church to Our Lady of Consolation and as an incentive purchased a statue of Our Lady of Consolation that was a replica of one that has long been revered in Luxembourg. In 1875, the parishioners carried their statue in procession to their little frame church from a town seven miles away. A strong May storm poured rain on both sides of the procession, but not one drop touched the statue or those in the procession. The little church, which still stands, has been replaced by a larger church, and pilgrims continue to pray to Our Lady for her consolation, as they have since the early days of the Church. The Basilica has been administered by the Conventual Franciscan Friars since 1912. Pope Paul VI designated it as a minor basilica in 1971. 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’s website is olcshrine.com.
All pictures were taken by me.
These three pictures are from the Basilica website.
Diocese of Youngstown
The diocese consists of 6 counties in northeastern
Ohio. The diocese has 169,000 Catholics
(14 percent of the total population) in 87 parishes.
Bishops of Youngstown
I have limited information of the Bishops of Youngstown.
James A. McFadden (1880-1952), first Bishop of Youngstown
(1943-1952).
- Born in Cleveland and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Cleveland in 1905.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Cleveland (1932-1943).
Bishop McFadden took over a Diocese that had 150,000
Catholics in 98 parishes. The Diocese
also had three hospitals, 54
elementary schools, one junior high school, and three Catholic high schools.
Bishop McFadden died in 1952.
Emmet M. Walsh (1892-1968), Bishop of Youngstown
(1952-1968).
- Born in South Carolina and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, in 1916.
- Also served as Bishop of Charleston, South Carolina (1927-1949) and as coadjutor bishop of Youngstown (1949-1952).
Bishop Walsh rebuilt St. Columba’s Cathedral, which had
burned in 1954, and attended the Second Vatican Council. He died in 1968.
James W. Malone (1920-2000), Bishop of Youngstown
(1968-1995).
- Born in Youngstown and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Youngstown in 1945.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Youngstown (1960-1968).
Bishop Malone served one term as President of what is now
the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (1983-1986) and he retired in 1995.
Thomas J. Tobin (1948-
), Bishop of Youngstown (1995-2005).
- Born in Pittsburgh and ordained a priest for Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1973.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Pittsburgh (1992-1995) and serves as Bishop of Providence, Rhode Island (since 2005).
Bishop Tobin was named Bishop of Providence, Rhode Island,
in 2005.
Current Bishop
George V. Murry, S.J. was appointed Bishop of Youngstown by
Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. He was born
in New Jersey in 1948 and ordained a Jesuit priest in 1979. He previously served as auxiliary bishop of
Chicago (1995-1998), coadjutor bishop of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands
(1998-1999), and Bishop of St. Thomas (1999-2007).
The Cathedral
Cathedral of St. Columba
W. Wood and Elm Streets
St. Columba (6th Century) was born in Ireland and founded several monasteries in Ireland prior to relocating to Iona ,
an island off the Scottish coast, in 556.
He founded a monastery there and lived there the rest of his life. He had a great influence of Celtic
Catholicism that remained well after his death.
His fest day is June 9 and he is the patron saint of Ireland, Scotland,
and of poets.
Be a bright flame
before me, O God, a guiding star above me.
Be a smooth path below me, a kindly shepherd behind me today, tonight,
and forever. Alone with none but you, my
God I journey on my way; what need I fear when you are near, O Lord of night
and day? More secure am I within your
hand than if a multitude did round me stand. Amen. [Prayer of St. Columba]
The parish of St. Columba, the first in Youngstown
Addition information about the Cathedral can be found on its
website at stcolumbacathedral.org or on the Diocesan website, doy.org. The Cathedral is located in downtown
Youngstown has four weekend masses—including one at St. Casimir’s church.
Also located in the Diocese are one Eastern-rite Catholic
cathedral and three basilicas.
St. George Cathedral in Canton is part of the Romanian-rite
Diocese of St George (in Canton)—the only Romanian-rite diocese in the United
States. About 5,000 Romanian-rite
Catholics live in the United States and are served by 14 parishes in 9 states.
The Basilica of St. John the
Baptist in Canton was established as a parish in 1823—the first in northeastern
Ohio. The current Gothic building was
completed in 1871 and was designed by James Renwick, who also designed St.
Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. The
Basilica’s bell tower rises 180 feet above the street in downtown Canton. The Basilica has terra cotta Stations of the
Cross made in Bavaria and installed in 1896 and stained glass windows depicting
the 15 mysteries of the Rosary that were erected in 1909. The Kegg pipe organ was installed in
2004. The church was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and Pope Benedict XVI designated
it as a minor basilica in 2012. 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. Additional information about the Basilica can
be found on its website, stjohncanton.com.
Basilica of Mount Carmel in
Youngstown was founded as a parish for Italian-Americans in 1908. The current church was dedicated in 1916, but
was damaged by a fire in 1923 and then restored. Pope Francis designated it as a minor
basilica in 2014. It is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. The Basilica website is olmcsta.com.
The Basilica of the National
Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in North Jackson is the first U.S. Eastern-rite
church to be name a basilica. The
Basilica was dedicated in 1965 and is a replica of a shrine in Lebanon. The Ohio shrine has a 55-foot high tower with
an exterior spiral stairway leading to a 16-foot statue of the Virgin Mary
carved from rose granite. Pope Francis
designated it as a minor basilica in 2014.
Additional information can be found on the website, ourladyoflebanonshrine.com.
Diocese of Steubenville
The diocese consists of 13 counties in southeastern Ohio. The diocese has 35,000 Catholics (7 percent
of the total population) in 56 parishes.
Steubenville is one of a dozen diocesan sees that has a population of
fewer than 20,000.
Bishops of Steubenville
John K. Mussio (1902-1978), first Bishop of Steubenville
(1945-1977).
- Born in Cincinnati and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 1935.
Prior to becoming a priest, Bishop Mussio studied both music
and law. As Bishop, he established a
seminary, a diocesan newspaper, lay organizations, and institutions to help the
poor and needy. He built over 80 new
churches, as well as hospitals and schools, including Catholic Central High
School. He also established the College
of Steubenville (now known as the Franciscan University of Steubenville) and
the Steubenville Ecumenical Institute (to promote Christian and Jewish
understanding). Mussio also established
moderately priced housing aimed at attracting young Catholic families and made
good use of radio and television to spread the Good News. Bishop Mussio retired in 1977.
Albert H. Ottenweller (1916-2012), Bishop of Steubenville
(1977-1992).
- Born in Montana and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Toledo in 1943.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Toledo (1974-1977).
Bishop Ottenweller, who was 6’5” tall, convened a Diocesan
Synod in 1983 which established a plan for the Diocese for the next ten
years. It also resulted in a council of
priests to advise the bishop and called for the provision of a relationship
with the Archdiocese of Cusco, Peru. It
also provided a means for more lay involvement in Diocesan decisions. Ottenweller improved Diocesan financial
systems and established housing for the elderly. He started religious education centers and
opened an Office of Worship to improve liturgical practices. He began programs to aid the handicapped and
the mentally disabled and he often visited hospital patients and drug addicts. Bishop Ottenweller retired in 1992.
Gilbert I. Sheldon (1926- ), Bishop of Steubenville (1992-2002).
- Born in Cleveland and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Cleveland in 1953.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Cleveland (1976-1992).
Bishop Sheldon expanded the permanent diaconate program in
the Diocese and wrote articles for
the diocesan paper on church teaching, specifically on The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which he strongly promoted
through workshops. Sheldon used creative
methods to honor lay people for their service to the Diocese. He started a program to increase faith, hope,
and charity entering the new millennium and began annual jubilee celebrations
for clergy and religious. Sheldon
retired in 2002.
Robert D. Conlon (1948-
), Bishop of Steubenville (2002-2011).
- Born in Cincinnati and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 1977.
- Serves as Bishop of Joliet, Illinois (since 2011).
Bishop Conlon visited all of the diocese’s parishes and
schools. He took steps to prevent clergy
sexual abuse and convened workshops to improve the quality of catechetics
within the Diocese. He also established
pastoral councils at the deanery level to advise him. Conlon consolidated six Steubenville parishes
into one and planned to build a new cathedral. A capital campaign was started
to pay for the new cathedral, but the 2008 recession put a damper on those
plans. Conlon was active in ecumenical
prayer groups, reestablished the permanent diaconate, worked with parishes to
reach out to lapsed Catholics with emphasis on the Eucharist, and established
an Hispanic ministry. Conlon led a group
of volunteers to help with the recovery effort following Hurricane Katrina in
2005. Bishop Conlon was named Bishop of
Joliet, Illinois, in 2011.
Current Bishop
Jeffrey Monforton was appointed Bishop of Steubenville by
Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. He was born
in Detroit in 1963 and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit in
1994. He previously served in several
capacities with the Archdiocese.
The Cathedral
Triumph of the Cross Cathedral
Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville, Ohio
The Triumph of the Cross refers to Jesus’ triumph over sin
and death through His death on the Cross and His Resurrection on the third day.
O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son should undergo
the Cross to save the human race, grant, we pray, that we, who have known his
mystery on earth, may merit the grace of his redemption in heaven. 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.
Holy Name Cathedral, located at 411 S. Fifth Street in
Steubenville, was established in 1885 and the current church was completed in
1890. Holy Name was designated the
cathedral when the Diocese of Steubenville was created in 1944. The Cathedral was rebuilt in 1957. In 2008, Bishop Robert Conlon consolidated
six Steubenville parishes, including Holy Name Cathedral parish, into one new
parish, Triumph of the Cross. Conlon also
planned to build a new Cathedral. During
construction, the parish was to meet at two churches, Holy Name and Holy
Rosary. Due to financial difficulties,
the new cathedral was not built and in 2013, Bishop Monforton decided that Holy
Name would remain the Diocesan Cathedral and that it would be renovated.
The parish website is triumphofthecross.org and the Diocesan
website is diosteub.org. The parish
meets at Holy Name in downtown Steubenville and at Holy Rosary in the West End
neighborhood. While Holy Name is being
renovated, all five weekend masses are being celebrated at Holy Rosary.
Also in the Diocese is the Basilica
of St. Mary in Marietta. Marietta
was established in 1788 as the first permanent settlement in the Northwest
Territory. By 1838, St. Mary’s parish
was established. Construction of the
current basilica began in 1903 and was completed in 1909. Architect Emil Ulhrich described the building
as "Spanish Renaissance," a blend of Romanesque and Baroque. The basilica’s twin towers rise 100 feet
above the street and the building has a central dome. The basilica’s stained glass windows were
made in Munich, Germany, and were installed between 1915 and 1920. Pope Francis
designated it as a minor basilica in 2013. Additional information can be
obtained at the Basilica website stmarysmarietta.org.
All are from the Basilica website.
