Province
of Louisville
Pope Pius XI established the Province of Louisville Tennessee
I have seen all the cathedrals and basilicas in the
Province, except the new cathedral in Knoxville, which is still under
construction. The Cathedral in Covington
is stunning.
Map of the Province
Catholic History of Kentucky
Harrodsburg was established in 1774 as Kentucky’s first permanent
settlement. Among the first settlers was
Dr. George Hart, a Catholic and one of the first physicians to settle in
Kentucky, and William Coomes, whose wife, Jane, was the both the first white
female settler and the first school teacher. Some members of Daniel Boone’s
family were also Catholic. In 1785, 25
families came to Kentucky from St. Mary’s
County, Maryland
Father Charles Whelan, Kentucky’s first resident priest,
arrived in the Bardstown area in 1787.
He was followed by a French exile, Father Stephen Badin, the first
priest ordained in the United
States Baltimore to Pittsburgh
and then by taking a flatboat down the Ohio River to what is now Maysville , Kentucky Belgium
Pope Pius VI created the Diocese of Baltimore in 1789, which
at the time consisted of the 13 original U.S. states. Baltimore was
raised to an archdiocese by Pope Pius VII in 1808 and four new dioceses were
created—Boston , New York ,
Philadelphia , and Bardstown , Kentucky Kentucky and Tennessee Indianapolis
Catholics in Eastern Kentucky tended to be Germans, who
settled near Cincinnati , and Irish, who settled
around Lexington and Frankfort Covington; St. Francis de Sales (1790s) in White Sulphur
near Lexington; and St. Peter (1818) in Lexington
Germans and Irish had also come to Western Kentucky,
especially near towns along the Ohio River, and by 1860, there were almost 20
Catholic churches in the western third of the state. Pope Pius XI created the Diocese of Owensboro
in 1937 at the same time that he created the Province of Louisville
Archdiocese of Louisville
The Archdiocese of Louisville consists of 24 counties in
central Kentucky. The Archdiocese has 190,000 Catholics (14 percent of the
total population) in 102 parishes (as of 2015). The Diocese of Bardstown was established in 1808. It became the Diocese of Louisville in 1841 and the Archdiocese of Louisville in 1937. A good source for a history of the bishops of Bardstown and
Louisville is The Faithful Image, by Father Clyde F. Crews.
Bishops of Bardstown
Benedict J. Flaget, S.S. (1763-1850), first Bishop of Bardstown
(1808-1832 and 1833-1841) and first Bishop of Louisville (1841-1850).
·
Born in France and ordained a Sulpician priest
in 1788.
Bishop Flaget arrived in Kentucky in 1811 as the first Bishop of
Bardstown and was accompanied by two priests and three seminarians (one of
whom, Guy Chabret, became the first priest ordained west of the Alleghany
Mountains). Bishop Flaget's diocese consisted of
Kentucky and Tennessee, but as noted above, he had responsibility for a
territory that consists of what are now several states. (This vast territory was reduced in 1821 with
the creation of the Diocese of Cincinnati.
In 1837, the Diocese consisted only of the State of Kentucky.) Although the Diocese was large in size, it
had few souls. There were about 6,000
Catholics in Kentucky, and a few others scattered in settlements such as
Detroit, Vincennes (Indiana), and Kaskaskia and Cahokia (both in Illinois). Almost all of the churches were log
chapels. Flaget made frequent pastoral
visits throughout this territory and built colleges and a seminary—the first
such Catholic institutions in the American West. (Many of the early leaders of the American
Catholic church received their training in these institutions—eight of Flaget’s
priests would later become bishops—and he was influential in the selection of
U.S. bishops.) Flaget built St. Joseph’s
Cathedral in Bardstown and welcomed many religious congregations to his diocese
including the Dominicans, the Jesuits, and the Franciscans, as well as
encouraging the establishment of the Sisters of Loretto and the Sisters of
Charity of Nazareth. Bishop Flaget oversaw
continued growth in the Diocese and built new parishes—by the late 1830s, the
diocese, now only consisting of Kentucky, had 40 churches, 70 mission stations, 51
priests, and several schools. Flaget established
a weekly Catholic paper ("The Catholic Advocate") in 1836 and
transferred his See from Bardstown to Louisville in 1841 after it became apparent that
Louisville would become the principal city in Kentucky. He began construction of the Cathedral of the
Assumption in Louisville and, in 1848, welcomed a group of French Trappist
monks who built the now-famous Abbey of Gethsemani. Flaget died in 1850 and is one of 19 U.S.
bishops to serve 40 or more years as bishop of a single diocese.
John B. David, S.S. (1761-1841), Bishop of Bardstown
(1832-1833).
· Born in France and ordained a Sulpician priest
in 1785.
· Also served as coadjutor bishop of Bardstown
(1819-1832)—he refused to become a bishop for two years before becoming the first bishop
consecrated west of the Appalachian Mountains.
David served only five months as Bishop and was succeeded by
his predecessor, Bishop Flaget. Nearing 70, Bishop
Flaget resigned his position in 1832 in favor of Guy Chabret, but the Vatican
appointed Flaget’s coadjutor bishop, John David, as Bishop instead. All three priests were surprised and David immediately
submitted his resignation to Rome. Pope
Gregory XVI accepted his resignation five months later and reappointed Benedict
Flaget as bishop. Flaget had spent his
temporary “retirement” tending to cholera victims.
Bishops of Louisville
Benedict J. Flaget, S.S. (1763-1850), first Bishop of
Bardstown (1808-1832 and 1833-1841) and first Bishop of Louisville (1841-1850).
·
See above biography.
Martin J. Spalding (1810-1872), Bishop of Louisville
(1850-1864).
- Born in Marion County, Kentucky, and ordained a priest in 1834 for the Diocese of Bardstown.
- Also served as coadjutor bishop of Louisville (1848-1850) and Archbishop of Baltimore (1864-1872).
Louisville was blessed with two of the greatest 19th
Century U.S. bishops—Flaget and Martin Spalding who, as coadjutor bishop, became Bishop of
Louisville in 1850 at the death of Bishop Flaget. The Kentucky-born Spalding, who led a Diocese
of 30,000 Catholics (in 1850), created a parochial school system and invited
religious orders, such as the Xaverian Brothers (who were from Belgium and
established St. Xavier High School in Louisville in 1864) and Ursuline Sisters
(from Germany), to teach in the schools.
He also completed construction of the Cathedral of the Assumption in
1852. Spalding tended to the needs of
large numbers of Irish and German immigrants—the Catholic population of the
Diocese more than doubled between 1848 and 1864 despite the creation of the
Diocese of Covington in 1853. The large
number of immigrants resulted in a backlash.
Nativist mobs attacked the new immigrants on August 6, 1855 and over
twenty people were killed and the homes of 20 Catholic families destroyed. Bishop Spalding urged restraint and further
violence was stopped. Bishop Spalding
remained neutral during the Civil War and supplied chaplains and nurses to both
sides. Spalding, known for being an
outstanding speaker, noted author, skilled canon lawyer, and considered to be
the most influential American Catholic apologist prior to the Civil War, was appointed
by Pope Pius IX to be Archbishop of Baltimore in 1864.
Peter J. Lavialle (1819-1867), Bishop of Louisville
(1865-1867).
- Born in France and ordained a priest for Diocese of Louisville in 1844.
Bishop Lavialle built six churches and established a
Catholic cemetery. Lavialle attended the
Second Council of Baltimore in October 1866, but became ill and died a few
months later, serving only two years as Bishop.
William G. McCloskey (1823-1909), Bishop of Louisville
(1868-1909).
- Born in Brooklyn and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New York in 1852.
- Prior to becoming Bishop, he served as the first rector of the North American College at Rome.
McCloskey was Bishop of Louisville during a time of growth and he built almost
100 new churches to attend to this growth.
He also invited religious orders to serve in the Diocese (including the
Benedictines, the Sisters of Mercy, the Little Sisters of the Poor, and the
Franciscan Sisters) and established a seminary in Louisville. He attended the First Vatican Council in 1870
and two plenary councils in Baltimore.
McCloskey was noted for his piety, but also for his authoritarian
nature—he frequently feuded with his clergy, religious orders, and the laity. At the time of his death in 1909, he was the
oldest U.S. Catholic bishop. McCloskey is
one of 19 U.S. bishops to serve 40 or more years as bishop of a single diocese.
Denis O’Donaghue (1848-1925), Bishop of Louisville
(1910-1924).
- Born in Indiana and ordained a priest in 1874 for the Diocese of Vincennes.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Indianapolis (1900-1910).
O’Donaghue led the Diocese of Louisville through the First World War and
the world-wide influenza epidemic. He
established several new parishes and schools, as well as orphanages and a
college. Ill health forced Bishop
O’Donaghue to resign in 1924.
Archbishops of Louisville
John A. Floersh (1886-1968), Bishop of Louisville
(1924-1937), and first Archbishop of Louisville (1937-1967).
- Born in Nashville and ordained a priest in 1911 for the Diocese of Nashville.
- Also served as coadjutor bishop of Louisville (1923-1924).
Floersh, who had been appointed coadjutor bishop in 1923,
became Bishop upon the resignation of Bishop O’Donaghue. Pope Pius XI created the Province of
Louisville in 1937, naming Floersh the first Archbishop of Louisville and
forming western Kentucky into the Diocese of Owensboro. Archbishop Floersh built many new parishes
and schools during the post-war economic boom.
He also established Bellermine University and a seminary. He established a school board to govern
Archdiocesan schools and consolidated charitable activities under the auspices
of Catholic Charities. Floersh also
supported the civil rights movement and attended the Second Vatican Council. Floersh retired in 1967 after serving over 42
years as Bishop and Archbishop—the 8th longest tenure in a single
diocese of any U.S. bishop.
Thomas J. McDonough (1911-1998), Archbishop of Louisville
(1967-1981).
- 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, Georgia (1957-1960), and Bishop of Savannah (1960-1967).
Archbishop McDonough enthusiastically implemented the
decrees of the Second Vatican Council, including the establishment of the
permanent diaconate program, ecumenical outreach, liturgical renewal and
greater involvement by the laity. He
spoke out against the Supreme Courts legalization of abortion in 1973. Archbishop McDonough resigned in 1981.
Thomas C.
Kelly, O.P. (1931-2011), Archbishop of Louisville (1982-2007).
- Born in New York and ordained a Dominican priest in 1958.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Washington D.C., while serving as chief administrative officer and general secretary of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and of the U.S. Catholic Conference (1977-1982).
Archbishop Kelly established a strategic planning process
that guided initiatives in social services, evangelization, lay ministry,
multicultural ministry, pastoral care, education, and faith formation. He also established development campaigns and
renovated the Cathedral of the Assumption.
Kelly encouraged the Presbyterian Church (USA) to move its headquarters
to Louisville. The Archdiocese settled a
lawsuit in 2003 for $26 million as a result of clergy sexual abuse against 240
victims. Archbishop Kelly retired in
2007.
Current Archbishop
Joseph E. Kurtz was appointed Archbishop of Louisville by
Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. He was born
in Pennsylvania
The Cathedral
Cathedral of the Assumption
443 South 5th
Street
The Cathedral is named for Mary, the mother of Jesus, and
therefore, the Mother of God. From the
earliest days of the Church, Christians believed that Mary, upon her death, was
assumed body and soul into Heaven by her Son.
This belief was formalized in 1950 by Pope Pius XII, who declared that
the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was a dogma of the Catholic Faith. The Feast of the Assumption is celebrated on
August 15.
O most sweet Lady and our Mother,
by the merits of your happy death, obtain for us holy perseverance in the
divine friendship that we may finally quit this life in God’s grace; and unite
with the blessed spirits in praising you and singing your glories as you
deserve. Amen.
When Bishop Flaget first arrived in Kentucky St. Thomas St.
Joseph St. Joseph
When Bishop Flaget moved the diocesan See to Louisville in
1841, he chose St. Louis Church as his cathedral. St. Louis was
the first Catholic church in Louisville-- St. Joseph
The current cathedral, the Cathedral of the Assumption, was
built around the old St. Louis Cathedral, and opened in 1852. The Cathedral is the third oldest cathedral
in the country in continuous use and the fourth oldest building in downtown Louisville
The Cathedral’s steeple, 287 feet high, was the tallest
spire in North America at the time it was built in 1858. The bell tower has three bells, the largest
of which weighs more than two tons and was a gift from the Archbishop of
Mexico. The interior walls are painted
in a faux technique that looks like limestone blocks. The floor is made
from white oak. The cathedral’s ceiling
consists of 8,000 24-karat gold leaf stars on a blue background. A ceiling fresco depicts the Assumption of
the Blessed Virgin Mary created by a Cincinnati artist.
The baptismal font is made of pink granite and bronze and the
marble surrounding the pool is taken from the original communion rail. The main altar has a base of gray marble with
a red granite table. The marble was taken from the original high altar during
a 1972 renovation. The altar has
carvings of Catholic symbols. The ambo
has a similar design as that of the main altar.
The Coronation window depicts the crowning of Mary as the
Queen of Heaven. It was designed by the
Blum Art Company of Louisville in 1883 and is one of the oldest and largest
hand-painted glass windows in the United States. The four large oil paintings in the sanctuary
were given to Bishop Flaget by Pope Gregory XVI and depict four minor
saints. These paintings were used originally
at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome during the 1825 ceremonies when their subjects
were beatified. The Cathedral pipe organ was made by the Steiner-Reck Company
of Louisville in 1983. The organ is a mechanical-action tracker organ
with 43 ranks and 36 Stops. The casework is hand-carved mahogany.
Additional information can be found on the Cathedral’s
website, cathedraloftheassumption.org and on the Archdiocesan website,
archlou.org. The Cathedral is located in
downtown Louisville and has four weekend masses to serve 1,300 parish
families. The Cathedral also has a Mass in
the Syro-Malabar Rite celebrated twice a month.
Also located in the
Archdiocese
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. There
are two basilicas in the Archdiocese of Louisville, specifically in Nelson
County. Nelson County is one of only
five counties in the United States that have two or more basilicas. The others are Cook County, Illinois
(Chicago) and Kings County, New York (Brooklyn) with three each, and Mahoning
County, Ohio (Youngstown), and the City of St. Louis, Missouri, each with
two.
St. Joseph’s Proto-Cathedral in Bardstown was discussed
above. Additional information can be
found on its website at stjosephbasilica.org.
The other basilica is Our Lady of Gethsemani Abbey in
Trappist, Kentucky. Gethsemani Abbey was
founded in 1848 by French Reformed Cistercian monks (better known as
Trappists). It is probably the best
known monastery in the United States due in part to the fact that noted author,
Thomas Merton, spent the last 27 years of his life here. Pope Pius XII designated the monastery chapel
as a basilica in 1949—the sixth church in the United States to receive such a
designation. The website is monks.org.
Diocese of Covington
The Diocese consists of 14 counties in northern
Kentucky. The Diocese has 91,000
Catholics (18 percent of the total population) in 47 parishes (as of 2015).
Bishops of Covington
George A. Carrell, S.J. (1803-1868), first Bishop of
Covington (1853-1868).
·
Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a Jesuit
priest in 1827.
When Carrell became Bishop, there were 7,000 Catholics, 10
churches, and 7 priests in the Diocese.
The former president of St. Louis University and rector of St. Xavier
College (in Cincinnati) spent much of his time organizing his new Diocese and
building the churches, schools, and other institutions needed to keep pace with
a 200 percent growth in the number of Catholics in the Diocese during his time
as bishop. He invited several religious
orders, including the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Visitation nuns, Ursuline
nuns, and Benedictine priests and nuns, to work in the Diocese. Bishop Carrell died 1868.
Augustus M. Toebbe (1829-1884), Bishop of Covington
(1869-1884).
- Born in Germany and was ordained a priest in 1854 for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Like his predecessor, Bishop Toebbe built many new parishes
to keep up with the growth in the number of Catholics. Toebbe was responsible for bringing the
Sisters of Notre Dame to the Diocese. Bishop
Toebbe died in 1884.
Camillus P. Maes (1846-1915), Bishop of Covington
(1884-1915).
·
Born in Belgium and ordained a priest in 1868 in
Belgium.
Bishop Maes built the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption
and worked zealously to care for the people living in the mountainous areas of
Eastern Kentucky, who were mostly poor and non-Catholic. He established 3 diocesan newspapers,
encouraged the establishment of The Catholic University in Washington D.C., and
Catholic historical groups, and led several organizations that promoted the
Eucharist. Bishop Maes died in 1915.
Ferdinand Brossart (1849-1930), Bishop of Covington
(1916-1923).
·
Born in Germany and ordained a priest in 1872
for the Diocese of Covington.
Brossart is the only priest of the Diocese to become its
Bishop. Because he was born in Germany,
Brossart faced discrimination during the First World War. As a result, he directed that all churches
use only Latin and English in their liturgies.
He also translated several German theological books into English. Bishop Brossart worked to complete the
interior of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, but was forced to resign
in 1923 due to poor health.
Francis W. Howard (1867-1944), Bishop of Covington (1923-1944).
·
Born in Ohio, and ordained a priest for the
Diocese of Columbus in 1891.
An advocate of education, Bishop Howard worked to improve
educational facilities and opportunities in the Diocese, including the
establishment of special schools with classical curricula, and served as secretary
general (1903-1928) and president (1928-1936) of the National Catholic
Education Association. He also helped
victims of the devastating Ohio River flood of 1937. Bishop Howard died in 1944.
William T. Mulloy (1892-1959), Bishop of Covington
(1944-1959).
·
Born in North Dakota and ordained a priest in
1916 for the Diocese of Fargo.
A former president of the National Rural Life Conference,
Bishop Mulloy, was also dedicated to civil rights. Bishop Mulloy died in 1959.
Richard Ackerman, C.S.Sp. (1903-1992), Bishop of
Covington (1960-1978).
·
Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a priest for
the Congregation of the Holy Spirit in 1926.
·
Also served as auxiliary bishop of San Diego,
California (1956-1960).
Bishop Ackerman attended the Second Vatican Council and
co-founded the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker in
1973. Bishop Ackerman retired in 1978.
William A. Hughes (1921-1913), Bishop of Covington
(1979-1995).
·
Born in Ohio and ordained a priest for the
Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, in 1946.
·
Also served as auxiliary bishop of Youngstown,
Ohio, (1974-1979).
During his time as Bishop, the Diocese of Covington was reduced
to its current size with the creation in 1988 of the Diocese of Lexington. Bishop Hughes implemented the decisions of
the Second Vatican Council including the creation of a permanent diaconate
program, a youth ministry, and a Diocesan pastoral council. Hughes also reinstituted the Rite of
Christian Initiation of Adults program and created a pro-life office, a
development office, and offices to manage clergy education and lay employee
pension plans. Hughes also created five
new parishes. Bishop Hughes retired in 1995.
Robert W. Muench (1942-
), Bishop of Covington (1996-2001).
- Born in Louisville and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1968.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of New Orleans (1990-1996) and serves as Bishop of Baton Rouge, Louisiana (since 2001).
Bishop Muench directed the renovation of the Cathedral
Basilica of the Assumption. [I don’t
have anything else on his time in Covington.] Muench was appointed Bishop of
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2001.
Current Bishop
Roger J. Foys was appointed Bishop of Covington by Pope John
Paul II in 2002. He was born in Chicago
The Cathedral
Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption
1130 Madison
Avenue
The Cathedral is named for Mary, the mother of Jesus, and
therefore, the Mother of God. From the
earliest days of the Church, Christians believed that Mary, upon her death, was
assumed body and soul into Heaven by her Son.
This belief was formalized in 1950 by Pope Pius XII, who declared that
the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was a dogma of the Catholic
Faith. The Feast of the Assumption is
celebrated on August 15.
Father in heaven, all creation rightly gives you praise, for all life and all holiness come from you. In the plan of your
wisdom she who bore the Christ in her womb was raised body and soul in glory to be with him in heaven. May we
follow her example in reflecting your holiness and join in her hymn of endless love and praise. We ask
this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
When Bishop Carrell became the first bishop of Covington in
1853, he chose Covington’s first Catholic church, St. Mary’s, as his
cathedral. St. Mary’s had been
established in 1834. By the time it
became a cathedral, it was apparent that the existing church building was
inadequate and a new St. Mary’s was begun in 1853 on Eighth Street, between Greenup Street and Scott Boulevard. The Cathedral parish had outgrown this second
building when Camillus Maes became bishop in 1885. Bishop Maes began making plans for a new
cathedral building and laid the cornerstone in 1895. The new Cathedral of the Assumption was
dedicated for use in 1901, although construction continued until 1910.
The Cathedral Basilica’s exterior was modeled on the
Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris and its interior on the Abbey Church of St.
Denis, near Paris
Pope Pius XII named the Cathedral a basilica in 1953—the
eighth such church to be honored in the United States and the second U.S. cathedral. The Cathedral is also listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
Additional information can be obtained on the Cathedral’s
website, covcathedral.com, and on the diocesan website at covdio.org. The Cathedral is located near downtown Covington
and has four weekend masses.
The first three pictures are from the parish website, the fourth is from flickr, and the rest were taken by me.
Diocese of Owensboro
The Diocese consists of 32 counties in western
Kentucky. The Diocese has 50,000
Catholics (6 percent of the total population) in 79 parishes (as of 2015).
Bishops of Owensboro
Francis R. Cotton (1895-1960), first Bishop of Owensboro
(1937-1960).
·
Born in Bardstown, Kentucky, and ordained a
priest in 1920 for the Diocese of Louisville.
Bishop Cotton convened the first Diocesan Synod in 1943 to
establish statutes for the new Diocese.
He also helped establish Brescia University in Owensboro. Bishop Cotton
died in 1960.
Henry J. Soenneker (1907-1987), Bishop of Owensboro
(1961-1982).
·
Born in Minnesota and ordained a priest in 1934
for the Diocese of St. Cloud, Minnesota .
Bishop Soenneker attended all four sessions of the Second
Vatican Council and retired in 1982.
John J. McRaith (1934-2017), Bishop of Owensboro
(1982-2009).
·
Born in Minnesota and ordained a priest in 1960 for
the Diocese of New Ulm, Minnesota.
McRaith was a former executive director of the Catholic
Rural Life Conference. Bishop McRaith
established an African-American ministry and a ministry to serve the growing
number of Hispanic Catholics in the Diocese.
He bought homes for the homeless—he lived in a double-wide trailer—and
took part in Jubilee2000, an ecumenical event.
Bishop McRaith retired in 2009 due to poor health. According to press accounts, after he died,
Bishop McRaith’s casket was taken to a cemetery 15 miles from Owensboro on a
flatbed between bales of hay and towed by a tractor. According to his successor, Bishop Medley,
"all along the way, farmers parked their tractors and farm equipment along
the road and stood there in silent salute. It was one of the most moving things
I have ever seen."
Current Bishop
William F. Medley was appointed Bishop of Owensboro by Pope Benedict
XVI in 2009. He was born in Marion
County, Kentucky, in 1952, and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Louisville
in 1982. He previously served in several
capacities in the Archdiocese, including pastor.
The Cathedral
614 Locust
Street
Owensboro, Kentucky
42301
The cathedral is named for St. Stephen, the Church’s first
martyr. St. Stephen was one of the first
deacons appointed to assist the Apostles.
Stephen belonged to a group of early Christians who believed they would
have to separate themselves from Judaism.
These views led to his being stoned to death outside of Jerusalem
O Great St.
Stephen, the scriptures tell us that your face was like that of an angel as you
witnessed to the truth of Christ. Please ask the Most Holy Trinity to fill my
soul and the souls of all my brothers and sisters throughout the world with a
deep hunger for the truth that comes from the Heart of Jesus, and also with the
loving courage to embrace and profess the truth even amid difficulties,
confusion, and persecution. May the serenity and peace which were yours
at the hour of your stoning be ours as well as we wait in hope for the coming
of the Lord Jesus who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
St. Stephen parish was founded in 1839, the first parish in
Owensboro. This church was located at
Second and Cedar Streets and was replaced by a larger church at the same
location in 1856. The present Italianate
brick building was completed in 1926 and became the cathedral when the diocese
was created in 1937.
The Cathedral was renovated in 2012. The stained-glass windows date to the
dedication of the Cathedral and the current Bishop’s chair was installed in
1938, shortly after St. Stephen’s became a cathedral.
The Cathedral website is ststephencathedral.org and the
diocesan website is owensborodiocese.org.
The Cathedral website has a slideshow about the renovation. The Cathedral is located in downtown Owensboro
and has four weekend masses to serve 600 parish families.
Both pictures are mine.
Diocese of Lexington
The Diocese consists of 50 counties in eastern
Kentucky. The Diocese has 46,000
Catholics (3 percent of the total population) in 48 parishes (as of 2015).
Bishops of Lexington
James K. Williams (1936- ), first Bishop of Lexington (1988-2002).
·
Born in Athertonville, Kentucky, and ordained a
priest for the Archdiocese of Louisville in 1963.
·
Also served as the first auxiliary bishop of
Covington (1984-1988).
Williams served on the Board of Catholic Missions and
fostered ecumenical relations with other churches. He resigned in 2002 under allegations of
sexual misconduct.
Ronald W. Gainer (1947-
), Bishop of Lexington (2003-2013).
·
Born in Pennsylvania and ordained a priest for
the Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1973.
· Serves as Bishop of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (since 2013).
· Serves as Bishop of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (since 2013).
I have no information on Bishop Gainer, except that he was
appointed Bishop of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 2013.
Current Bishop
John Stowe was appointed Bishop of Lexington by Pope Francis in
2015. He was born in Ohio in 1966 and
ordained a priest for the Conventual Franciscans in 1995. He previously served as vicar provincial of
the Conventual Franciscan Province of Our Lady of Consolation, Mount St.
Francis, Indiana, and rector of the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of
Consolation in Carey, Ohio.
The Cathedral
Cathedral of Christ the King
299 Colony
Blvd.
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.
Almighty and merciful God, you break the power of evil and
make all things new in your Son Jesus Christ, the King of the universe. May all
in heaven and earth acclaim your glory and never cease to praise you. We ask
this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Christ the King parish was founded in July 1945 with an
original congregation of about 100 people.
The parish moved to its current site in May 1946 and masses were held in
a prefabricated structure. The current
church was designed by Cincinnati architect Edward J. Schulte in modern and art
deco styles and was built between 1965 and 1967 at a cost of $1.5 million. When the Diocese of Lexington was formed in
1988, Christ the King was named the Cathedral church for the Diocese. The Cathedral has brightly colored stained
glass windows.
The Cathedral website is cathedralctk.org and the diocesan
website is cdlex.org. The Cathedral is
located two miles southeast of downtown Lexington and has five weekend masses
to serve 2500 parish families. The
parish elementary school has an enrollment of 450.
The first picture is mine, the next two are from pinterest, and the last is from Wikipedia.
Tennessee
Catholic History of Tennessee
A number of Spanish and French explorers, including Hernando
De Soto and Father Jacques Marquette, visited the area that is now Tennessee as
early as the 1500s. By the late 1600s,
Franciscan priests likely offered the first Mass in Tennessee
near what is now Memphis
Bishop John David, the auxiliary bishop of Bardstown,
visited Nashville Nashville
In 1837, Pope Gregory XVI separated Tennessee
from the Diocese of Bardstown, Kentucky , and Nashville Nashville Tennessee Tennessee
Nevertheless, Tennessee never received large waves of
Catholic immigrants as did states in the East and Midwest. Until 1970, the Diocese of Nashville included
all of Tennessee Tennessee
Diocese of Nashville
The Diocese consists of 38 counties in central Tennessee. The diocese has 81,000 Catholics (3 percent
of the total population) in 52 parishes (as of 2015).
Bishops of Nashville
Richard P. Miles, O.P. (1791-1860), first Bishop of
Nashville (1838-1860).
·
Born in Maryland, grew up in Kentucky, and
ordained a Dominican priest in 1816.
Richard Miles was appointed the first Bishop of Nashville in
1837 and arrived on horseback a year later to find himself the only resident
priest in Tennessee to serve a Catholic population of 300. He invited some of his fellow Dominicans to
staff St. Peter’s parish in Memphis
James Whelan, O.P. (1822-1878), Bishop
of Nashville (1860-1864).
·
Born in Ireland and ordained a Dominican priest
in 1846.
·
Also served as coadjutor bishop of Nashville
(1859-1860).
James Whelan, the coadjutor bishop,
became Bishop of Nashville upon Bishop Miles’ death. Whelan became Bishop at a difficult time as
many battles were fought in Tennessee during the Civil War. He job was made even more difficult by his
loyalty to the Union. He invited the
Dominican Sisters to Nashville, who established St. Cecilia Academy. He also enlarged the Cathedral and started an
orphanage. Bishop Whelan resigned in
1864 and retired to a Dominican community.
Patrick A. Feehan (1829-1902), Bishop of Nashville
(1865-1880).
·
Born in Ireland and ordained a priest in 1852
for the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
·
Also served as the first Archbishop of Chicago
(1880-1902).
Feehan became Bishop when there were only three
diocesan priests and many damaged Catholic buildings due to the Civil War. He restored the Diocese spiritually and
physically by increasing the number of churches in the diocese to 30, of which
18 had resident priests, building schools and an orphanage, and recruiting
priests from Ireland. He brought
religious orders to the Diocese, which resulted in the establishment of Nashville ’s St. Bernard Academy
and of schools run by the Christian Brothers in Memphis. He also attended the First Vatican
Council. Many Tennesseans were stricken
with cholera and yellow fever during the 1870s and Bishop Feehan and other
priests and religious worked to take care of the victims of these
epidemics. Many priests and nuns died
caring for others. Feehan was named the
first Archbishop of Chicago in 1880.
Joseph Rademacher (1840-1900), Bishop of Nashville
(1883-1893).
·
Born in Michigan and ordained a priest for the
Diocese of Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1863.
· Also served as Bishop of Fort Wayne, Indiana (1893-1900).
· Also served as Bishop of Fort Wayne, Indiana (1893-1900).
The Diocese was without a Bishop for almost three years
until the appointment of Joseph Rademacher in 1883. Many Catholics came to the Diocese during
Bishop Rademacher’s tenure and he built churches and other buildings to serve
them. He was beloved by clergy and laity
for his acts of charity, despite being in ill-health during his time in
Nashville. Rademacher was named Bishop
of Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1893.
Thomas S. Byrne (1841-1923), Bishop of Nashville
(1894-1923).
·
Born in Ohio and ordained a priest in 1869 for
the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Bishop Byrne organized the Diocese by establishing parish
boundaries and strong administrative controls and by paying of the Diocese’s
debts. He chaired the first diocesan
synod in 1905 with 34 priests attending.
He built many churches and schools, including some for African Americans,
and brought in religious orders of nuns to administer hospitals and nursing
homes. His most notable building was the
Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville
Alphonse J. Smith (1883-1935), Bishop of Nashville
(1924-1935).
·
Born in Indiana and ordained a priest for the
Diocese of Indianapolis in 1908.
Bishop Smith greatly increased the number of Tennessee-born
priests and increased the number of Tennessee-born seminarians from 10 to
60. Smith invited the Sisters of Mercy
to establish St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville and the Poor Clares to open a
monastery in Memphis. He also opened
several new parishes and schools, including Father Ryan High School in
Nashville, Sacred Heart High School in Memphis, and Knoxville Catholic High
School. Bishop Smith died in 1935.
William L. Adrian (1883-1972), Bishop of Nashville (1936-1969).
·
Born in Iowa and ordained a priest in 1911 for
the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa.
William Adrian served as Bishop of Nashville for 33
years. He saw a huge growth in the
Catholic population in Tennessee—from fewer than 40,000 Catholics in 1950 to
more than 90,000 in 1970. To serve these
new Catholics, Bishop Adrian built 65 churches, five high schools, 33
elementary schools, two hospitals, and he ordained 100 priests. He also started a Diocesan newspaper and a
chapter of the National Council of Catholic Women. He held a Diocesan synod and reorganized the
Diocesan Curia. He attended the Second
Vatican Council. Bishop Adrian retired
in 1969.
Joseph A. Durick (1914-1994), Bishop of Nashville
(1969-1975).
·
Born in Dayton, Tennessee, and ordained a priest
for the Diocese of Mobile, Alabama, in 1940.
· Also served as auxiliary bishop of
Mobile—Birmingham (1955-1964), coadjutor bishop of Nashville (1964-1966), and apostolic
administrator of Nashville (1966-1969).
Durick served as apostolic administrator of Nashville from 1966
to 1969 due to the poor health of Bishop Adrian. Bishop Durick implemented the
decrees of the Second Vatican Council and integrated Catholic
institutions. He brought the Diocese’s
priests together to develop clerical guidelines and formed a priest’s senate
for advice and a priest’s personnel board.
He also instituted a program to provide Diocesan priests and laity with
a better understanding of the Second Vatican Council. Durick’s leadership in the civil rights
movement and his opposition to the Vietnam War and the death penalty led to
criticism and to occasional boycotts of his public appearances. He was active in prison ministry during and
after his time as Bishop. Bishop Durick resigned in 1975 due to heart problems.
James D. Niedergeses (1917-2007), Bishop of Nashville
(1975-1992).
·
Born in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, and ordained a
priest for the Diocese of Nashville in 1944.
Bishop Niedergeses was a noted ecumenist and he opened
parishes and missions in several small cities in the Diocese. He expanded Catholic Charities in the
Diocese, renovated the Cathedral, and built a new Bishop Ryan High School. Bishop Niedergeses retired in 1992.
Edward U. Kmiec (1936-
), Bishop of Nashville (1992-2004).
·
Born in New Jersey and ordained a priest for the
Diocese of Trenton in 1961.
·
Also served as auxiliary bishop of Trenton
(1982-1992) and serves as Bishop of Buffalo, New York (since 2004).
Bishop Kmiec’s developed
and implemented a long-range strategic plan, a program to increase vocations to
the priesthood, and reinstated the permanent diaconate program. He also opened
five new schools, including Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville. Kmiec was appointed Bishop of Buffalo, New
York, in 2004.
David R. Choby (1947-2017), Bishop of Nashville (2005-2017).
·
Born in Nashville and ordained a priest for the
Diocese of Nashville in 1974.
Bishop Choby ordained 30 new priests and sought better
relationships with other faith traditions.
He also opened a new Diocesan pastoral center. Bishop Choby died in 2017 as a result of a
fall.
Current Bishop
J. Mark Spalding was appointed Bishop of Nashville by Pope Francis in 2017. He was born in Kentucky in 1965 and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Louisville in 1991. He previously served the Archdiocese as a pastor and vicar general.
The Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Incarnation
2001 West End
Avenue
The Incarnation refers to the act of God the Son, the second
person of the Trinity, becoming fully human as the son of the Virgin Mary,
without losing the fully divine nature of God.
The leap of divine
joy: God knows that the time has come when the mystery of salvation, hidden
from the beginning of the world, will shine into human darkness and confusion.
It is as if the Trinity were to say, “Let us work the redemption of the whole
human race; let us respond to the groaning of all creation.”
When Bishop Miles came to Nashville Nashville , is the oldest church in Nashville Boston Rome Argonne Forest
in Germany
Old St. Mary's from the parish website.
Bishop Thomas Byrne decided to build a new Cathedral and
work on the current Cathedral began in 1910 under the direction of Nashville
architect, Fred Asmus. The new Cathedral
of the Incarnation was dedicated in 1914, built at a cost of $500,000. The basilica-style Cathedral of the Incarnation is built of yellow
glazed brick with a red tile roof and features a 100-foot bell tower.
From flickr.
The interior of the Cathedral, which seats 1,000 people, was designed in a 13th Century Italian Renaissance style. The ceiling of the Cathedral is particularly stunning and is made with rigalico—a type of ornamental plaster—and contains symbols of the birth and death of Jesus. The beautiful clerestory windows were made by the Louisville Art Glass Company. The baptismal font came from St. Mary’s and is a smaller replica of the Michelangelo-designed font in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Sculptures of the evangelists look down from the four corners of the Cathedral. Behind the main altar is a crucifixion scene that was sculpted in Italy and installed in the Cathedral in 1937. Paintings of God the Creator and His angels are attached to the dome rising above the sanctuary.
From flickr.
The interior of the Cathedral, which seats 1,000 people, was designed in a 13th Century Italian Renaissance style. The ceiling of the Cathedral is particularly stunning and is made with rigalico—a type of ornamental plaster—and contains symbols of the birth and death of Jesus. The beautiful clerestory windows were made by the Louisville Art Glass Company. The baptismal font came from St. Mary’s and is a smaller replica of the Michelangelo-designed font in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Sculptures of the evangelists look down from the four corners of the Cathedral. Behind the main altar is a crucifixion scene that was sculpted in Italy and installed in the Cathedral in 1937. Paintings of God the Creator and His angels are attached to the dome rising above the sanctuary.
Additional information can be found on the Cathedral website, cathedralnashville.org and on the diocesan website, dioceseofnashville.com. The Cathedral is located less than a mile southwest of downtown Nashville, near Vanderbilt University, and has four weekend masses to serve 2,300 parish families.
The first picture is from the Cathedral website and the second from flickr. The rest are mine.
Diocese of Memphis
The Diocese consists of 21 counties in western
Tennessee. The Diocese has 65,000
Catholics (4 percent of the total population) in 42 parishes (as of 2015).
Bishops of Memphis
Carroll T. Dozier (1911-1985), first Bishop of Memphis
(1971-1982).
- Born in Virginia and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, in 1937.
Dozier implemented the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, including
those involving the liturgy and the role of the laity in diocesan affairs. He
also established the Diocesan Housing Corporation, a Diocesan Catholic
Charities, a ministry to the sick, and a weekly Diocesan newspaper. Dozier was an early opponent of the Vietnam
War, advocated the desegregation of public schools and the elimination of
capital punishment. He also supported
ecumenism and women’s rights. Dozier
resigned in 1982 due to poor health.
Francis Stafford (1932-
), Bishop of Memphis (1982-1986).
- Born in Baltimore and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1957.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of Baltimore (1976-1982), Archbishop of Denver (1986-1996), President of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Laity (1996-2003), and served as the Vatican’s Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary (2003-2006). Pope John Paul II named him a Cardinal in 1998.
Bishop Stafford revised the structure of the Pastoral Office, improved
the fiscal conditions of the Diocese, and concentrated on the evangelization of
African Americans. Stafford was named Archbishop
of Denver in 1986.
Daniel M.
Buechlein, O.S.B. (1938- ), Bishop
of Memphis (1987-1992).
- Born in Indiana and ordained a Benedictine priest in 1964.
- Also served as Archbishop of Indianapolis (1992-2011).
Buechlein became the Archbishop of Indianapolis in 1992.
J. Terry Steib, S.V.D. (1940- ),
Bishop of Memphis (1993-2016).
- Born in Louisiana and ordained a priest of the Divine Word in 1967.
- Also served as auxiliary bishop of St. Louis (1984-1993).
The Aquinas Institute of Theology gave Bishop Steib its 2012
“Great Preacher Award” for his preaching abilities, for reopening some
Catholic schools in the Diocese, and promoting a culturally diverse Diocese.
Current Bishop
Martin D. Holley was appointed Bishop of Memphis by Pope Francis
in 2016. He was born in Florida in 1954
and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee in 1987. He previously served as auxiliary bishop of Washington,
DC (2004-2016).
The Cathedral
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
1695 Central
Avenue
Many Christians believe that humans are born into sin—known
as original sin. This sin is erased
through baptism and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Catholics believe that Mary, through the
grace of God, was conceived without the stain of original sin—the Immaculate
Conception. She was given the honor
because of her role as the Mother of God.
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on December 8.
O Lord, who, by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin
Mary, did prepare a fitting dwelling for your Son, we beseech you that as by
the foreseen death of your Son, you did preserve her from all stain of sin,
grant that through her intercession, we may be favored with the granting of the
grace that we seek for at this time... (State your intention here...) O
Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with
your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in
heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if
it be the Divine Will. Amen.
Immaculate Conception parish was established in 1921. The first combination church and school building
was located at the corner of Rozelle Street and Central Avenue and is now the Cathedral Elementary School
The Cathedral was designed by Richard J. Regan in a
combination of Romanesque and Spanish Colonial Revival styles. Regan used churches in Chicago for his
inspiration. The Cathedral has 112-foot
twin towers with copper covered domes and is made from stone, steel,
cream-colored brick, concrete, and red tile.
The building is 173 feet long by 106 feet wide and has three rose
windows. The Cathedral seats 1,200 and
was restored in 2001 by Conrad Schmitt Studies.
Changes included decorative painting and a new apse mural.
According to the “Liguori Guide to Catholic USA,” the
Cathedral uses animal imagery to convey religious truths. A peacock is an ancient symbol of
immortality. A stag (traditional enemy
of snakes) represents Christ’s conquest of Satan. A pelican (thought by the ancients to feed
its young with its own blood) symbolizes our redemption through the death of
Jesus. A unicorn represents the
Incarnation (because unicorns could only be captured by a virgin). A butterfly represents eternal life after our
mortal life.
Additional information can be found on the Cathedral’s
website, iccathedral.org, and on the diocesan website, cdom.org. The Cathedral
is located two miles southeast of downtown Memphis and has five weekend masses,
including one in Spanish, to serve 800 parish families. The parish school (K-12) enrolls 400 students.
Diocese of Knoxville
The diocese consists of 36 counties in eastern
Tennessee. The diocese has 67,000
Catholics (3 percent of the total population) in 49 parishes (as of 2015).
Bishops of Knoxville
Anthony J. O’Connell (1938-2012), first Bishop of
Knoxville (1988-1998).
·
Born in Ireland and ordained a priest for the
Diocese of Jefferson City, Missouri, in 1963.
·
Also served as Bishop of Palm Beach, Florida
(1998-2002).
O’Connell was appointed the first Bishop of Knoxville in
1988 and began to organize the new diocese.
He established a diocesan newspaper and the Office of Hispanic
Ministry. In his ten years as bishop,
the number of Catholics increased from 32,000 to 46,000 and the number of
parishes from 38 to 44. He was named
Bishop of Palm Beach, Florida, in 1998.
Joseph E. Kurtz (1946-
), Bishop of Knoxville (1999-2007).
·
Born in Pennsylvania, and ordained a priest of
the Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1972.
·
Serves as Archbishop of Louisville (since 2007).
Kurtz reached out to the people of the Diocese by preaching
and celebrating Mass at two or three locations each weekend. He also learned to speak Spanish in order to
better serve the diocese’s Hispanic population.
He was named Archbishop of Louisville in 2007.
Current Bishop
Richard F. Stika was appointed Bishop of Knoxville by Pope
Benedict XVI in 2009. He was born in Missouri
The Cathedral
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
711 Northshore
Drive
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to
have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant
us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of
Mary, your tender Mother and ours.
In the early 1950s, the Bishop of Nashville, William Adrian,
saw a need for a new parish on Knoxville Knoxville
Ground was broken in April 2015 for a larger Cathedral on
the same site as the current Cathedral.
The new Sacred Heart Cathedral will have 25,000 square feet of worship space
and will seat 1,000. It was designed by
McCrery Architects and Barber McMurry Architects. The Cathedral is expected to open in early
2018. I will have an update at that
time.
Additional information can be obtained on the Cathedral’s
website at shcathedral.org (including information about the new Cathedral) and
on the Diocesan website at dioknox.org. The
Cathedral is located three miles southwest of downtown Knoxville and has five
weekend masses, including one in Spanish, to serve 1,600 parish families. The parish elementary school has an
enrollment of just under 200.
Current cathedral from Wikipedia.
Also located in the
Diocese
The Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul is located in
Chattanooga. Sts. Peter and Paul parish
was established in 1853—Chattanooga’s first Catholic parish and the only one
until 1937. The current Gothic church,
completed in 1890, is made of brick and stone and once featured 174-foot twin
towers. The Basilica’s 14 stained-glass
windows were designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and depict events from the life
of St. Peter on the east side and of St. Paul on the west side of the
Basilica. The windows are 30 feet high
and contain over 12,000 pieces of glass.
The Basilica also features polychrome Stations of the Cross designed by
a French artist who is said to have spent 17 years designing them and three
years producing the Stations. They
contain more than 300 figures. Pope Benedict
XVI designated the church as a basilica in 2011—the first in Tennessee. 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 is also listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. Additional
information can be found on the Basilica’s website, stpeterandpaulbasilica.com.
All pictures by me.
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