Province of Indianapolis

Pope Pius XII established the Province of Indianapolis in 1944.  The Province consists of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the Dioceses of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Lafayette, Evansville, and Gary, in the State of Indiana.  The Province has 740,000 Catholics or 11 percent of the total population, as of 2015.  In 2000, there were 747,000 Catholics or 13 percent of the total population.

Map of the Province

Indiana

Catholic History of Indiana

French explorers and fur traders, such as Robert Cavalier (La Salle) and Louis Jolliet, accompanied by Franciscan (e.g., Louis Hennepin) and Jesuit (e.g., Jacques Marquette) priests likely came to Indiana in the 1660s and 1670s.  A Jesuit priest, Claude Allouez, established a mission on the St. Joseph River in 1680 near what is now Niles, Michigan, to minister to the Miami tribe on both sides of the current day state line.  By 1733, the French had established outposts at current day South Bend, Fort Ouiatenon [near Lafayette], Fort Miami [Fort Wayne], and Poste au Oaubache [Vincennes].  St. Francis Xavier church was established in Vincennes in 1749 and is the oldest Christian church in Indiana.

Indiana became part of the United States in 1783, following the American Revolution.  The Northwest Territory, which included current day Indiana, was established in 1787, and a separate Indiana Territory (which included modern day Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and parts of Michigan and Minnesota) was established in 1800, with Vincennes as the capital.  Indiana became the 19^th State in 1816 at which time there were about 500 Catholics in the state, mostly of French ancestry.  The original French Catholics were soon joined by English Catholics from Kentucky, and German and Irish Catholics.

Indiana came under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Bardstown, Kentucky [now the Archdiocese of Louisville] after its creation in 1808.  Pope Gregory XVI made Indiana its own diocese (the Diocese of Vincennes, now the Archdiocese of Indianapolis) in 1834.  [The diocese at the time included a portion of Illinois.]  Pope Pius IX created the Diocese of Fort Wayne in 1857 to serve northern Indiana.  Francis Chatard, upon becoming Bishop of Vincennes in 1878, moved to Indianapolis, which had become the capital of Indiana in 1825 and was by this time the largest city in the state.  The name of the diocese was changed to the Diocese of Indianapolis in 1898.  Pope Pius XII, in 1944, elevated Indianapolis to an Archdiocese and created new dioceses at Lafayette and Evansville, and in 1957, created the Diocese of Gary.  In 1960, the name of the Diocese of Fort Wayne was changed to the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.

Archdiocese of Indianapolis

The Archdiocese of Indianapolis consists of 38 counties plus a portion of Spencer County in central and southeastern Indiana. The Archdiocese has 222,000 Catholics (8 percent of the total population) in 125 parishes, as of 2015.

Bishops of Vincennes

Simon G. Brute de Remur (1779-1839).  

• Born in France and ordained a priest in France in 1808 and came to the United States in 1810.
• First Bishop of Vincennes (1834-1839).

When Bishop Bruté, formerly the president of Mount St. Mary’s College in Maryland, became Bishop in 1834, he found a large diocese—the State of Indiana and part of Illinois—with few resources.  He became a U.S. citizen in 1835 and he traveled to Europe the same year and returned the following year with 20 priests and seminarians to serve the 25,000 Indiana Catholics.  Brute raised enough money in Europe to finish St. Xavier Cathedral, and build a seminary, school, and orphan home.  He traveled frequently throughout his vast Diocese celebrating Mass, administering the Sacraments, and meeting with his priests.  He also sent a priest to evangelize the Potawatomi people.  Bishop Brute died in 1839 and has been declared a Servant of God—the first step toward canonization.  Brute was known for his holiness and intelligence.  President John Quincy Adams said the Brute was “the most learned man…in America.”

Celestine de la Hailandiere (1798-1882)

• Born in France, ordained a priest in France in 1825, and came to the United States in 1836.
• Bishop of Vincennes (1839-1847).

As coadjutor bishop, de la Hailandiere became Bishop upon the death of Bishop Brute.  He invited the Congregation of the Holy Cross (who founded the University of Notre Dame) and the Sisters of Providence (who founded St. Mary-of-the-Woods College near Terre Haute) into the diocese, which now consisted of the State of Indiana.  He resigned as Bishop in 1847 because of disagreements between himself and both clergy and religious in the Diocese.  He subsequently returned to France.

John S. Bazin (1796-1848)

• Born in France, ordained a priest in France in 1822, and came to the United States in 1830.
• Bishop of Vincennes (1847-1848).

Bishop Bazin settled relations with diocesan clergy and religious sisters that had deteriorated under Bishop de la Hailandiere and improved seminary training by merging a struggling Catholic college with the diocesan seminary.  He also initiated plans to build an orphanage.  Bishop Bazin died on Easter Sunday 1848, after serving only six months as Bishop.  

Maurice de Saint-Palais (1811-1877)

• Born in France, ordained a priest in France in 1836, and came to Indiana as a missionary.
• Bishop of Vincennes (1848-1877).

During his time as bishop, de Saint-Palais oversaw the growth in the Diocese from 30,000 to 80,000 Catholics and 35 to 104 priests.  This growth is even more significant given that at the time he became Bishop, his Diocese covered all of Indiana and at the time of his death, only the southern half.  He also invited Benedictine monks from the Swiss Abbey of Einsiedeln of, to visit Indiana.  This led, in 1856, to the establishment of St. Meinrad Archabbey, the first Benedictine institution in the United States.  De Saint-Palais invited other religious orders to administer hospitals and parishes.  He also established a weekly Diocesan newspaper and an orphan home, but closed the Diocesan seminary.  Bishop de Saint-Palais died in 1877.

Bishops of Indianapolis

Francis Silas Chatard (1834-1918)

• Born in Baltimore and ordained a priest in Rome in 1862.
• Bishop of Vincennes (1878-1898) and first Bishop of Indianapolis (1898-1918).

Chatard had earned a medical degree, but chose to become a priest instead.  After his ordination, he served for 16 years as vice-rector and rector of the North American College in Rome.  He served as Bishop of Vincennes under the name Francis Silas.  The Vatican transferred the Diocese to Indianapolis in 1898, although Chatard had moved to Indianapolis in 1892.  Indianapolis had become the largest city in Indiana with over 100,000 people and was centrally located, whereas Vincennes only had 10,000 people.  Chatard sent some of his seminarians to be trained in Europe and established a fund for retired priests.  He also encouraged Catholic lay organizations and chaired four diocesan synods.  Bishop Chatard suffered a stroke in 1899 which eventually led to his death in 1918.  He was one of 19 U.S. bishops to serve 40 or more years as bishop of a single diocese.  

Joseph Chartrand (1872-1933)

• Born in St. Louis and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Vincennes in 1892.
• Also served as coadjutor bishop of Indianapolis (1910-1918).
• Bishop of Indianapolis (1918-1933).

As coadjutor bishop, Chartrand became Bishop upon the death of Bishop Chatard.  He promoted frequent reception of the Holy Eucharist and vocations to the priesthood.  He opened high schools in Indianapolis and Evansville, a hospital in Batesville, and built facilities for disadvantaged boys and girls.  Bishop Chartrand died in 1933.

Archbishops of Indianapolis

Joseph E. Ritter (1892-1967)

• Born in New Albany, Indiana, and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Indianapolis in 1917.
• Also served as auxiliary bishop of Indianapolis (1933-1934).
• Bishop of Indianapolis (1934-1944) and first Archbishop of Indianapolis (1944-46).
• Later served as Archbishop of St. Louis (1946-1967) and named a Cardinal in 1961.

Ritter improved the Archdiocese’s financial base and its administration.  He also appointed a superintendent of Archdiocesan schools, started a rural life committee, established the Catholic Youth Organization within the Archdiocese, and reorganized the Archdiocesan Catholic Charities.  Ritter established 14 new parishes and completed SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral.  He also integrated Catholic schools in 1938, which led to protests outside the Cathedral by members of the Ku Klux Klan and some Catholic priests.  Ritter was appointed Archbishop of St. Louis in 1946 and was named a Cardinal in 1961.  

Paul C. Schulte (1890-1984)

• Born in Missouri and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of St. Louis in 1915.
• Also served as the Bishop of Leavenworth, Kansas (now Kansas City) (1937-1946).
• Archbishop of Indianapolis (1946-1970).

The number of Catholics more than doubled during Schulte’s time as Archbishop and much of his focus was on building new parishes and schools, especially in or near Indianapolis to serve these new Catholics.  Archbishop Schulte also attended the Second Vatican Council and began to implement the Council’s changes.  Archbishop Schulte retired in 1970.

George J. Biskup (1911-1979)

• Born in Iowa and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa, in 1937.
• Also served as auxiliary bishop of Dubuque, Iowa (1957-1965), Bishop of Des Moines, Iowa (1965-1967), and coadjutor bishop of Indianapolis (1967-1970).
• Archbishop of Indianapolis (1970-1979).

As coadjutor archbishop, Biskup became Archbishop upon Schulte’s retirement.  He continued to implement the changes from the Second Vatican Council and worked to improve Catholic education in the Archdiocese.  Archbishop Biskup retired in 1979.

Edward T. O’Meara (1921-1992)

• Born in St. Louis and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of St. Louis in 1946.
• Also served as auxiliary bishop of St. Louis (1972-1979).
• Archbishop of Indianapolis (1979-1992).

Archbishop O’Meara was  the former national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in the United States.  He gave priority to the development of priestly spirituality.  While Archbishop, he served (from 1987 to 1991) as chairman of Catholic Relief Services.  Archbishop O’Meara died in 1992 from pulmonary fibrosis.

Daniel M. Buechlein, O.S.B. (1938-2018)

• Born in Jasper and ordained a Benedictine priest in 1964.
• Also served as Bishop of Memphis (1987-1992).
• Archbishop of Indianapolis (1992-2011).

Archbishop Buechlein improved the Archdiocese’s finances by reducing staff and raising money.  He also faced the problem of staffing parishes and schools with fewer priests and religious.  He continued to support programs to increase priestly spirituality.  Archbishop Buechlein resigned in 2011 due to ill health.

Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R. (born in 1952)

• Born in Michigan (the oldest of 13 children) and ordained a Redemptorist priest in 1978.
• Also served as general superior of the Redemptorists (1997-2009) and as secretary of the Vatican Congregation for Institutes for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (2010-2012).
• Archbishop of Indianapolis (2012-2016).
• Pope Francis named him a Cardinal in 2016 and named him Archbishop of Newark the same year.

Cardinal Tobin held several events to foster Catholic-Muslim dialogue.  He was named Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, in 2016.

Current Archbishop

Charles C. Thompson was appointed Archbishop of Indianapolis by Pope Francis in 2017.  He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1961, and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Louisville in 1987.  He previously served as Bishop of Evansville (2011-2017).   

The Cathedral

SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral
1347 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202

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, or Pope.  He was crucified there in approximately 64 A.D.  St. Paul, originally known as Saul, persecuted the early church, but was converted to Christianity by a vision of Jesus.  He spread the message of Christ to communities throughout much of the Roman Empire, becoming the Apostle to the Gentiles.  Many of his letters to early Christian communities have been retained in the New Testament.  He was beheaded in Rome either in 64 or 67 A.D.  The Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul is celebrated on June 29.

O God, Whose right hand raised up blessed Peter, when he walked upon the water and began to sink, and thrice delivered his fellow-Apostle Paul from the depths of the sea, when he suffered shipwreck: graciously hear us and grant, by the merits of them both, that we also may attain unto everlasting glory: Who lives and reigns world without end. Amen 

St. Francis Xavier Church in Vincennes was established by the French in 1749—the first church established in Indiana.  Construction of the current church was begun in 1826 and was completed in 1839—it had become the Cathedral for the Diocese of Vincennes in 1834.  Rome moved the Diocesan see to Indianapolis in 1898 and Bishop Chatard used St. John the Evangelist Church on Georgia Street as a temporary cathedral until SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral was completed in 1907.  St. John’s was founded in 1837 and is the oldest parish in Indianapolis—the current building dates to 1871.  The parish of SS. Peter and Paul was established in 1892.  St. Francis Xavier Church and SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Classical Revival SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral was completed in 1907, although the Corinthian façade was not completed until 1936.  It was designed primarily by William W. Renwick of New York and it is thought to be modeled after the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome (where Bishop Chatard was ordained).  The Cathedral, which is 188 feet long and 80 feet wide, is made of limestone from Bedford, Indiana.  The façade features four fluted columns 56 feet tall.  There are three front doors—one has the U.S. coat of arms, another the Indiana state seal, and the last, symbols of the Catholic Church.

The top picture is from the Cathedral's website and the bottom picture is from Widipedia.

Above the main altar are glass mosaics depicting Christ in Majesty with Saints Peter and Paul on either side.  Marble statues carved by Italian sculptor Cesare Aureli depict the Mother and Child, St. Joseph, and St. Francis de Sales.  The sanctuary also has a pieta.  The stained glass windows were installed around 1930 and were created by the Rambusch Decorating Company of New York.  They depict religious images including Saints Peter and Paul, the Four Evangelists, and two popes.  The Cathedral pipe organ dates to 1907, but has been renovated since then.  The Blessed Sacrament Chapel features Venetian mosaics and eleven paintings of Fra Angelico-style angels by Bernard Mellerio.

See archindy.org and ssppc.org.  The Cathedral is located in downtown Indianapolis and can seat 1,000 people.  There are two weekend masses to serve fewer than 200 parish families.

The first picture is from the Cathedral website and the other two are from Widipedia.

Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend

The diocese consists of 14 counties in northeastern Indiana.  The Diocese has 156,000 Catholics (12 percent of the total population) in 81 parishes, as of 2015.

Bishops of Fort Wayne

John H. Luers (1819-1871)

• Born in Germany, immigrated to the United States as a child with his parents, and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Cincinnati in 1846.
• First Bishop of Fort Wayne (1858-1871).

Bishop Luers traveled extensively throughout his diocese celebrating the Holy Eucharist as often as possible.  He established an orphan home, a hospital, and other Catholic institutions and a fund to support elderly and infirm priests.  He built the current Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne and brought a number of German priests and nuns to serve the Diocese.  He oversaw growth in the Diocese from 20,000 Catholics and 20 churches to 50,000 Catholics in 75 churches.  He was an articulate defender of the Faith, especially in regard to Catholic schools.  Bishop Luers died from a stroke in 1871.

Joseph Dwenger, C.PP.S (1837-1893)

·         Born in Ohio and ordained a priest for the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood in 1859.

·         Bishop of Fort Wayne (1872-1893).  

Bishop Dwenger was a strong advocate of parochial schools and established a diocesan school board.  He also established several homes for orphans—he himself was orphaned at a young age—and he improved the financial condition of the Diocese.  He led the first American pilgrimage to Lourdes (in 1874) and traveled four times to Rome.  Dwenger was partially responsible for convincing the U.S. State Department to block the planned confiscation of the American College in Rome by the Italian government.  He also helped establish St. Joseph’s College near Rensselaer.  Bishop Dwenger died in 1893, not long after his fourth trip to Rome.

Joseph Rademacher (1840-1900)

• Born in Michigan and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fort Wayne in 1863.
• Also served as Bishop of Nashville (1883-1893).
• Bishop of Fort Wayne (1893-1900).

Bishop Rademacher was noted for his intelligence and breadth of knowledge on many subjects, as well as for his charitable works and kindly disposition.  He increased the number of churches, schools, and other institutions within the Diocese, and remodeled the Cathedral in Fort Wayne.  A stroke forced Bishop Rademacher to give up the daily management of the Diocese in 1898 and he died in 1900.  

Herman J. Alerding (1845-1924)

• Born in Germany, immigrated with his parents as an infant to Kentucky, and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Vincennes in 1868.
• Bishop of Fort Wayne (1900-1924).

Prior to becoming a bishop, in 1883, Alerding published a history of the Diocese of Vincennes.  As Bishop of Fort Wayne, he reorganized the deanery system for the Diocese and established new parishes to serve a Catholic population that doubled during his time as Bishop, mostly due to immigrant Catholics coming to work in Indiana’s steel mills.  Alerding worked to expand parochial schools, especially high schools, and he doubled the number of priests serving the Diocese.  Bishop Alerding died in 1924 following an automobile accident.

John F. Noll (1875-1956)

• Born in Fort Wayne and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fort Wayne in 1898.
• Bishop of Fort Wayne (1925-1956).

As a parish priest, Noll was concerned about the strong wave of anti-Catholicism, led by the Ku Klux Klan, which swept Indiana and the nation in the early decades of the 20^th Century.  To counter this, he established a weekly newspaper, Our Sunday Visitor, in 1912, and helped found the Catholic Press Association in 1923.  As Bishop, he helped establish the Legion of Decency and led fund raising efforts for the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.  He also worked to evangelize non-Catholics and he established the Catholic Youth Organization and the Council of Catholic Women in the Diocese.  He invited several religious orders to the work in the Diocese and built high schools in Hammond and South Bend.  He was given the personal title of Archbishop in 1953.  He died in 1956 at the age of 81.

Bishops of Fort Wayne-South Bend

Leo A. Pursley (1902-1998) 

• Born in Hartford City, Indiana, and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fort Wayne in 1927.
• Also served as auxiliary bishop of Fort Wayne (1950-1955) and apostolic administrator of Fort Wayne (1955-1957).
• Bishop of Fort Wayne (1957-1960), and first Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend (1960-1976).

Pursley served three years as Bishop of Fort Wayne before being named the first Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend in 1960.  Bishop Pursley attended the Second Vatican Council and he retired in 1976.

William E. McManus (1914-1997)

• Born in Illinois and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1939.
• Also served as auxiliary bishop of Chicago (1967-1976).
• Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend (1976-1985).

Bishop McManus was one of five U.S. bishops who received the 1981 U.S. Catholic Award for promoting the cause and status of women in the church.  Bishop McManus also moved out of a large home occupied by previous bishops and moved to a more modest ranch-style home that had been donated to the Diocese.  Bishop McManus retired in 1985.

John M. D’Arcy (1932-2013)

• Born in Massachusetts and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston in 1957.
• Also served as auxiliary bishop of Boston (1974-1985).
• Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend (1985-2009).

Bishop D’Arcy instituted televised Sunday masses for the homebound in Fort Wayne and South Bend and began the Annual Bishop's Appeal, which provided support to Catholic schools and to various Catholic charities.  He also established a women’s care center, a home for the homeless, an office of spiritual development, and Hispanic ministry, and office of catechesis, and he expanded youth ministry efforts.  Bishop D’Arcy renovated the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne and worked to improve relationships with Methodist, Evangelical Lutheran, and Jewish leaders.  Bishop D’Arcy retired in 2009.

Current Bishop

Kevin C. Rhoades was appointed Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.  He was born in Pennsylvania in 1957 and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1983.  He previously served as Bishop of Harrisburg (2004-2009).

The Cathedrals

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
1122 S. Clinton Street
Fort Wayne, Indiana  46854

The Fort Wayne cathedral is dedicated to Our Blessed Mother.  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 Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, and my mother, from the sublime heights of your dignity turn your merciful eyes upon me while I, full of confidence in your bounty and keeping in mind your Immaculate conception and fully conscious of your power, beg of you to come to our aid and ask your Divine Son to grant the favor we earnestly seek in this novena... if it be beneficial for our immortal souls and the souls for whom we pray. (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.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was established in 1836 as St. Augustine’s parish.  The first church was a 2,300 square foot log building completed in 1837 located on the same block as the current Cathedral.  This church became the Cathedral for the new Diocese in 1857 but was destroyed by fire the same year.  The current Cathedral was completed in 1860 at a cost of about $65,000, including the organ and furnishings.  The Cathedral was designed by Thomas Lau and Monsignor Julian Benoit, the pastor, in a Gothic style.  The Cathedral was built with red brick trimmed with sandstone, but was later refaced using Indiana limestone and Wisconsin lannonstone.

Both are by me.

Behind the Cathedral’s main altar are hand-carved Gothic reredos made in Belgium that depict redemption history.  The stained-glass windows were made at the Royal Bavarian Art Institute in Germany and were installed in 1896.  The windows depict the life of Our Blessed Mother.  The Stations of the Cross are three dimensional and were also made in Germany.  Both the large mission crucifix and the main altar were saved from St. Augustine’s after the fire.  The Cathedral is on the National Register of Historic Places.  

For additional information, see the diocesan website at diocesefwsb.org or the cathedral’s website at cathedralfortwayne.org.  The Cathedral is located in downtown Fort Wayne and has four weekend masses.

All are by me.

St. Matthew Cathedral
1701 Miami Street
South Bend, Indiana 46613                               

The cathedral in South Bend is named for St. Matthew.  Matthew was one of the twelve apostles and one of the four evangelists.  He was a tax collector, but little is known for sure of his life after the Resurrection.  He may have traveled to modern day Iran, Ethiopia, and Ireland.  It is thought that he was martyred by being stabbed with a sword.  He is patron saint of government workers, accountants, and of course, tax collectors.  His feast day is September 21.

God of mercy, you chose a tax collector, Saint Matthew, to share the dignity of the apostles. By his example and prayers help us to follow Christ and remain faithful in your service. 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. Amen.

St. Matthew Cathedral was established in 1921 and its first church was built by the parishioners at a cost of $10,000.  This small wooden church, completed in 1922, could only seat 240 people.  Additions were added as the parish grew and a school was built in 1929.  Construction of the current brick building began in 1959 and while still incomplete, St. Matthew’s was raised to the status of a co-Cathedral in 1960.  The bells from the old church were installed in the new Cathedral.  See the Cathedral website for more detail at stmatthewcathedral.org.

The Cathedral is located a mile southeast of downtown South Bend and has four weekend masses to serve 1300 parish families.  The parish elementary school has an enrollment of 400.

From Flickr, Wikipedia, and YouTube.

Also located in the Diocese

The Basilica of the Most Sacred Heart is on the campus of the University of Notre Dame at South Bend.  Sacred Heart parish was established in 1842, the same year the Congregation of the Holy Cross established what is now the University of Notre Dame.  Construction of the current Gothic Revival church was begun in 1870 and was completed in 1892 and is modeled after the Church of the Gesu in Rome—Mother church of the Jesuit Order.  The Basilica has 116 stained glass windows made in France.  Pope John Paul II designated it as a minor basilica in 1991.  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.  See campusministry.nd.edu/mass-worship/basilica-of-the-sacred-heart.

First two are by me and the second two are from Wikipedia.

Diocese of Lafayette

The diocese consists of 24 counties in north central Indiana.  The Diocese has 99,000 Catholics (8 percent of the total population) in 62 parishes, as of 2015.

Bishops of Lafayette

John G. Bennett (1891-1957)

• Born in Dunnington, Indiana, and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fort Wayne in 1914.
• First Bishop of Lafayette (1944-1957).

Bishop Bennett was a native son of the Diocese and he died in 1957.

John J. Carberry (1904-1998)

·         Born in Brooklyn, New York, and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Brooklyn in 1929.

·         Also served as coadjutor bishop of Lafayette (1956-1957).

·         Bishop of Lafayette (1957-1965).

·         Later served as Bishop of Columbus, Ohio (1965-1968), and Archbishop of St. Louis (1968-1979).  Named a Cardinal in 1969.

As coadjutor bishop, Carberry became Bishop upon the death of Bishop Bennett.  Bishop Carberry attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council and addressed the Council on the subject of religious liberty.  Within the Diocese, he convened a synod and established a Diocesan men’s council and a society for priestly vocations.  Bishop Carberry was named Bishop of Columbus, Ohio, in 1965.  He later became Cardinal Archbishop of St. Louis.

Raymond J. Gallagher (1912-1991)

·         Born in Ohio and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Cleveland in 1939.

·         Bishop of Lafayette (1965-1982).

Gallagher served as executive secretary of Catholic Charities prior to becoming Bishop of Lafayette.  Bishop Gallagher retired in 1982.

George A. Fulcher (1922-1984)

·         Born in Ohio and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Columbus in 1948.

·         Also served as auxiliary bishop of Columbus, Ohio (1976-1983).

·         Bishop of Lafayette (1983-1984).  

Bishop Fulcher died in an automobile accident after serving less than one year as Bishop.

William L. Higi (born in 1933)

·         Born in Wawasee, Indiana, and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lafayette in 1959.

·         Bishop of Lafayette (1984-2010).  

Bishop Higi built several churches and St. Theodore Guerin High School in Noblesville.  Bishop Higi retired in 2010.

Current Bishop

Timothy L. Doherty was appointed Bishop of Lafayette by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.  He was born in Illinois in 1950 and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Rockford in 1976.  He previously served in several capacities for the Diocese of Rockford.

The Cathedral

Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception
1207 Columbia Street
Lafayette, Indiana  47901

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 Most gracious Virgin Mary, beloved Mother of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, intercede with him for us that we be granted the favor which we petition for so earnestly in this novena...O Mother of the Word Incarnate, we feel animated with confidence that your prayers on our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. O Glorious Mother of God, in memory of your joyous Immaculate Conception, hear our prayers and obtain for us our petitions. (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.

A group of Catholics, mostly of Irish descent, formed the first parish in Lafayette in 1843.  Three years later, a small brick church was completed at the corner of Fifth and Brown Streets dedicated to Saints Mary and Martha.  The current Gothic Revival parish church was completed in 1866—at a cost of $75,000—and dedicated to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception.  Since 1944, St. Mary’s has served as the Cathedral for the Diocese of Lafayette.

From pinterest and Wikipedia.

The Cathedral’s façade and stained glass windows were added in the 1880s and a belfry and steeple were added to the tower in 1898.  The steeple is 180 feet high.  The Cathedral has been renovated several times since its original construction.  The Cathedral has oak flooring and pews and mahogany frames for the Stations of the Cross.  Bottocino Classico and Rouge France Incamet marbles are used in the sanctuary.

For additional information, see the cathedral website at saintmarycathedral.org and the diocesan website at dol-in.org.  The Cathedral is located slightly east of downtown Lafayette and has five weekend masses.

From pinterest.

Diocese of Evansville

The diocese consists of 11 counties and most of Spencer County in southwestern Indiana.  The Diocese has 77,000 Catholics (15 percent of the total population) in 58 parishes, as of 2015.

Bishops of Evansville

Henry J. Grimmelsman (1890-1972)

• Born in Ohio and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 1915.
• First Bishop of Evansville (1944-1965).

Bishop Grimmelsman’s new diocese had 50,000 Catholics, but that number would grow in the post-war years.  As a result, Grimmelsman built 12 new parishes and six high schools.  He also opened Memorial Hospital in Jasper and dedicated a new building for St. Mary’s Medical Center in Evansville.  Bishop Grimmelsman attended the Second Vatican Council.  He also sold the property of the Diocese’s first cathedral and relocated the Cathedral to Holy Trinity Church.  Bishop Grimmelsman retired in 1965.

Paul F. Leibold (1914-1972)

• Born in Ohio and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 1940.
• Also served as auxiliary bishop of Cincinnati (1958-1966).
• Bishop of Evansville (1966-1969). 
• Later served as Archbishop of Cincinnati (1969-1972).

Bishop Leibold held the Third Synod for the Diocese in 1969.  He also opened a retirement home for the Daughters of Charity and built St. Joseph Hospital in Huntingburg.  Leibold was appointed Archbishop of Cincinnati in 1969.

Francis R. Shea (1913-1994)

• Born in Tennessee and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Nashville in 1939.
• Bishop of Evansville (1969-1989).

Bishop Shea ordained the first class of permanent deacons for the Diocese and established a weekly Diocesan newspaper.  Shea established an advisory board of women religious and appointed a religious sister as pastoral administrator of a parish.  Bishop Shea also had to close four high schools due to low enrollment.  Shea led a Diocesan Holy Year Pilgrimage in Evansville in 1975.  Bishop Shea retired in 1989.

Gerald A. Gettelfinger (born in 1935)

• Born in Ramsey, Indiana, and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in 1961.
• Bishop of Evansville (1989-2011).

Bishop Gettelfinger ordained dozens of permanent deacons and appointed the first lay chancellor for the Diocese.  He also started an Hispanic ministry and opened a home for retired priests.  Gettelfinger, with Vatican approval, named St. Benedict church to be the Diocese’s new Cathedral in 1998.  Bishop Gettelfinger actively promoted the Boy Scouts and received the Scout’s highest honor in 2005.  He established a board to review sexual abuse allegations by Diocesan employees and several priests were removed from ministry.  Gettelfinger banned smoking in all Diocesan facilities in 2006.  Bishop Gettelfinger retired in 2011.  

Charles C. Thompson (born in 1961)

• Born in Louisville, Kentucky, and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Louisville in 1987.
• Bishop of Evansville (2011-2017).
• Serves as Archbishop of Indianapolis (since 2017).

Bishop Thompson consolidated 41 parishes into 17 parishes.  He was named Archbishop of Indianapolis in 2017.  

Current Bishop

Joseph M. Siegel was appointed Bishop of Evansville by Pope Francis in 2017.  He was born in Lockport Township, Indiana, in 1963 and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Joliot, Illinois, in 1988.  He previously served as auxiliary bishop of Joliet (2009-2017).

The Cathedral

St. Benedict Cathedral
1328 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, Indiana 47714

St. Benedict was born in Italy around 480 A.D.  He studied in Rome for a time, but left around 500 A.D. to become a hermit.  He soon attracted followers and in 529 established a monastery at Monte Cassino near Naples—the origin of the Benedictine Order.  The Rule of St. Benedict emphasizes prayer, reading of sacred texts, and work—his motto was “pray and work.”  His rule became the model for western monasticism and influenced western civilization.  He died in 347.  Benedict is the patron saint of Europe, school children, victims of poisoning, and, of course, monks.  His feast day is July 11.

Gracious and Holy Father, give us the wisdom to discover You, the intelligence to understand You, the diligence to seek after You, the patience to wait for You, eyes to behold You, a heart to meditate upon You, and a life to proclaim You, through the power of the Spirit of Jesus, our Lord. Amen. [Prayer of St. Benedict]

When the Diocese of Evansville was created in 1944 by Pope Pius XII, Assumption Church was chosen to be the first Cathedral for the diocese.  Assumption parish was the oldest in Evansville (1837) and the Cathedral building, built in the 1870s, was located on Seventh Street.  The property was sold in 1965 to the City of Evansville and is now the site of the Civic Center.  Holy Trinity, Evansville’s second oldest parish (1849), was then selected as the new Cathedral.  Holy Trinity is located on NW Third Street, but is no longer a Catholic church.  Bishop Gettelfinger selected St. Benedict’s Church to be the Diocese’s new Cathedral in 1999.  St. Benedict’s parish was established in 1912 and current building was completed in 1928.

The top picture is by me and the bottom picture is from Wikipedia.

The Lombard-Basilica-style church seats 1,000 people and has a Wicks pipe organ with 1,350 pipes.  The marble altar is covered by a baldachin.  Additional information can be obtained from the diocesan website at evdio.org and from the cathedral’s website at saintbenedictcathedral.org.

St. Benedict’s is located one mile east of downtown Evansville and has four weekend masses to serve 1,000 parish families.  The parish elementary school has an enrollment of over 400.

From Wikipedia.

Also located in the Diocese

The Basilica of St. Francis (“The Old Cathedral”) is in Vincennes.  St. Francis was established in 1749 and was the cathedral for the former Diocese of Vincennes.  The current brick church—the third to bear the name—was completed in 1834 and is 60 feet wide by 115 feet long.  It features murals of the Crucifixion over the main altar and murals of the Madonna and Child and of St. Francis Xavier over the side altars—all done by Wilhelm Lamprecht.  The stained glass windows were made by the Von Gerichten Art Glass Company of Ohio.  The Stations of the Cross were painted by Bouasse Lebel in 1883.  The first four bishops of Vincennes are buried in the crypt, including Simon Brute, who is in the initial stage of the canonization process.  Pope Paul VI designated the church as a minor basilica in 1970.  See stfrancisxaviervincennes.com.

The first picture is from Flickr and the other two are from Wikipedia.

Diocese of Gary

The diocese consists of 4 counties in northwestern Indiana.  The Diocese has 185,000 Catholics (23 percent of the total population) in 68 parishes, as of 2015.

Bishops of Gary

Andrew G. Grutka (1908-1993)  

• Born in Illinois and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fort Wayne in 1933.
• First Bishop of Gary (1957-1984).

At its founding, the Diocese of Gary had 129 active diocesan priests, 77 parishes, 60 parish schools, and 135,485 Catholics.  Bishop Grutka ordained 81 priests, started two parish schools, and reorganized the Diocese’s high schools.  He established a summer camp for young Catholics and a retirement home for Diocesan priests.  Grutka attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council and spoke out against racial injustice at one of the Council’s sessions.  This was at a time of demographic change in the Diocese.  Bishop Grutka retired in 1984.

Norbert F. Gaughan (1921-1999)

• Born in Pittsburgh and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1945.
• Also served as auxiliary bishop of Greensburg, Pennsylvania (1975-1984).
• Bishop of Gary (1984-1996).

Bishop Gaughan ordained 13 priests for the Diocese and established a Diocesan newspaper.  He also started a fund-raising campaign to meet the needs of the Diocese.  Gaughan established pastoral councils in parishes and developed channels of communication between the councils and the Diocese.  Bishop Gaughan suffered a serious stroke in 1992 and Pope John Paul II appointed Dale Melczek to be apostolic administrator and later coadjutor bishop of the Diocese.

Dale J. Melczek (born in 1938)

• Born in Detroit and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1964.
• Also served as served as auxiliary bishop of Detroit (1982-1992), apostolic administrator of Gary (1992-1995), and coadjutor bishop of Gary (1995-1996).
• Bishop of Gary (1996-2014).

Bishop Melczek administered the Diocese for four years prior to becoming Bishop upon the retirement of Bishop Gaughan in 1996.  Bishop Melczek ordained 20 priests for the Diocese and reestablished the permanent diaconate.  He also started a program to certify lay people for ministry.  Melczek established a policy to protect minors and others from sexual abuse and wrote pastoral letters encouraging ethnic and racial diversity and condemning racism.  Bishop Melczek retired in 2014.

Donald J. Hying (born in 1963)

• Born in Wisconsin and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 1989.
• Also served as served as auxiliary bishop of Milwaukee (2011-2014).
• Bishop of Gary (2014-2019).
• Serves as Bishop of Madison, Wisconsin (since 2019).

Bishop Hying called the Diocese’s first synod in 2017 to develop pastoral priorities for the Diocese, parishes, other Catholic institutions, and the laity.  Bishop Hying was in the process of implementing the Synod’s findings when he was appointed Bishop of Madison, Wisconsin, in 2019.

Current Bishop

Currently vacant.  

The Cathedral

Cathedral of the Holy Angels
640 Tyler Street
Gary, Indiana, 46402

Angels are supernatural spirits created by God to serve Him and assist human beings in remaining faithful to God.  They have no gender and are finite in number.  They are organized into nine “choirs” each with its own function.  They are mentioned numerous times in the Bible and three are mentioned by name:  Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.  The feast of these archangels is celebrated on September 29.  Catholics and others also believe that God assigns a guardian angel to each human being.  The feast of the Guardian Angels is commemorated on October 2.  

O leaders of the heavenly armies, although we are always unworthy, we beseech you that with your prayers you may encircle us with the protection of the wings of your angelic glory. Watch over us as we bow low and earnestly cry out to you: Deliver us from trouble, o princes of the Heavenly armies.

The United States Steel Corporation built a steel mill on the shores of Lake Michigan and established Gary in 1906 as a home for it workers.  That same year, Holy Angels parish was established to meet the religious needs of the large number of Catholics who had come to Gary to build and work at the steel mill.  Mass was held at a tavern until the first Holy Angels Church was completed in 1909.  As the parish grew, plans for a new church were made which led to the completion of the current building in 1950—costing $300,000.  When the Diocese of Gary was established in 1957, Holy Angels was chosen as the Cathedral for the new diocese.

The top picture is from the Cathedral website and the bottom is from Wikipedia.

Holy Angels Cathedral is made primarily of limestone and is built in a Gothic Revival style.  The Cathedral’s main altar is square and made of marble.  In the floor surrounding the altar are four angels in mosaic—each representing a human race—African, Asian, Caucasian, and Latino.  Behind the altar is a reredos showing the crucifixion.  The Bishop’s Cathedra, or chair, is made of black walnut.  The Bishop’s coat of arms on the back of the cathedra was stitched by a member of a local Methodist church.  The ambo is made of marble and the paschal candle stand and ambry are made of black walnut.  The baptismal font is constructed with travertine and salmon marble and is large enough for an adult to be fully immersed.  The Cathedral has a green terrazzo floor.

The Blessed Sacrament Chapel contains the Tabernacle.  There is a cross behind the tabernacle and four carved angels in adoration.  The Cathedral also has shrines dedicated to the Holy Family and to the Holy Angels.  The Holy Angels Chapel has an icon done in an Ethiopian-Coptic style dedicated to the Holy Angels.  The Cathedral has a dozen statues and other images of saints.

For additional information, see the Cathedral’s website at garycluster.org/hac/ or the Diocesan website at dcgary.org.

The Cathedral is located near downtown Gary and has one weekend mass to serve 95 parish families.  The former parish school is now a charter school named in honor of the late Sister Thea Bowman, but is not affiliated with the Diocese.

Both from Pinterest.