Camillus Paul Maes
Encyclopedia
Camillus Paul Maes was the third bishop
of the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky
, United States
. Bishop Maes was responsible for building the current cathedral.
, Belgium
on March 13, 1846. While Maes was studying in a Belgian seminary, he decided to join the American mission work under way at the time. Maes was ordained a priest
on December 19, 1868 in Belgium, and left for the Diocese of Detroit
, arriving in May 1869. Father Maes served the diocese well, eventually rising to the position of chancellor of the diocese. During his time as a priest, Father Maes wrote a biography of Father Charles Nerinckx
, one of the first Catholic missionaries in Kentucky and the founder of the Sisters of Loretto
. Father Maes was named the third bishop of Covington by Pope Leo XIII
on October 1, 1884, the first diocesan priest from Detroit to be named a bishop.
of Cincinnati on January 25, 1885. During Bishop Maes' time in Covington, he arranged for a new cathedral to be built down the street from the cathedral at the time, which was rapidly falling into decay. The bishop designed the cathedral to look exactly like Notre Dame de Paris
. The cathedral would not be finished before Bishop Maes' death, and is still unfinished to this day. Bishop Maes brought much help to the missions serving the hills of eastern Kentucky, still in the diocese in that period. Maes was also responsible for starting a diocesan newspaper, now knowing as the Messenger. Bishop Maes served the diocese until his death on May 11, 1915, the longest-serving bishop to date.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky
Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington is a Roman Catholic diocese in Northern Kentucky, covering that includes the city of Covington and the following Kentucky counties: Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Gallatin, Carroll, Grant, Owen, Pendleton, Harrison, Bracken, Robertson, Mason, Fleming, and Lewis. ...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Bishop Maes was responsible for building the current cathedral.
Early Life and Priesthood
Camillus Maes was born in KortrijkKortrijk
Kortrijk ; , ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province West Flanders...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
on March 13, 1846. While Maes was studying in a Belgian seminary, he decided to join the American mission work under way at the time. Maes was ordained a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
on December 19, 1868 in Belgium, and left for the Diocese of Detroit
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church covering the Michigan counties of Lapeer, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne...
, arriving in May 1869. Father Maes served the diocese well, eventually rising to the position of chancellor of the diocese. During his time as a priest, Father Maes wrote a biography of Father Charles Nerinckx
Charles Nerinckx
Rev. Charles Nerinckx was a Roman Catholic missionary priest who migrated from Belgium to work in Kentucky. He founded the Sisters of Loretto religious order.-Early life and education:...
, one of the first Catholic missionaries in Kentucky and the founder of the Sisters of Loretto
Sisters of Loretto
Sisters of Loretto or the Loretto Community is a Catholic religious institution, which, according to their mission statement, "strive[s] to bring the healing Spirit of God into our world" and is committed "to improving the conditions of those who suffer from injustice, oppression, and deprivation...
. Father Maes was named the third bishop of Covington by Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
on October 1, 1884, the first diocesan priest from Detroit to be named a bishop.
Bishop of Covington
Father Maes was consecrated bishop by Archbishop William ElderWilliam Henry Elder
William Henry Elder was a U.S. archbishop. He served as the Roman Catholic Bishop of Natchez from 1857 to 1880 and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Cincinnati between 1883 and 1904.-Early life and education:...
of Cincinnati on January 25, 1885. During Bishop Maes' time in Covington, he arranged for a new cathedral to be built down the street from the cathedral at the time, which was rapidly falling into decay. The bishop designed the cathedral to look exactly like Notre Dame de Paris
Notre Dame de Paris
Notre Dame de Paris , also known as Notre Dame Cathedral, is a Gothic, Roman Catholic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. It is the cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Paris: that is, it is the church that contains the cathedra of...
. The cathedral would not be finished before Bishop Maes' death, and is still unfinished to this day. Bishop Maes brought much help to the missions serving the hills of eastern Kentucky, still in the diocese in that period. Maes was also responsible for starting a diocesan newspaper, now knowing as the Messenger. Bishop Maes served the diocese until his death on May 11, 1915, the longest-serving bishop to date.