James Schwebach
Encyclopedia
James Schwebach was a Luxembourg
ian-born prelate
of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of La Crosse
from 1892 until his death in 1921.
, in the Préizerdaul
commune
of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
, to Nicholas Joseph and Margaret (née Busch) Schwebach. He received his early education from private tutors, and afterwards studied at the college of Diekirch
for two years. In 1864, he immigrated to the United States
, where he entered St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
. He there completed his studies in philosophy
and theology
in five years.
At age 21, being too young for ordination
to the priesthood
, Schwebach was called to La Crosse
and was there ordained a deacon
Bishop Michael Heiss
on July 24, 1869. He then served at St. Mary's Church in La Crosse, where he preached in English
, French
, and German
and taught at the parochial school
. He was eventually ordained a priest by Bishop Thomas Grace on June 16, 1870. He then served as pastor
of St. Mary's for 22 years, during which time he erected a new church, school, and rectory. He also built St. James the Less Church in 1887. In addition to his pastoral duties, he served as vicar general
of the Diocese of La Crosse
from 1882 to 1892.
On December 14, 1891, Schwebach was appointed the third Bishop of La Crosse
by Pope Leo XIII
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on February 25, 1892 from Archbishop Frederick Katzer
, with Bishops John Janssen
and Joseph Cotter
serving as co-consecrators
. During his 29-year tenure, he became known as a builder and founded St. Michael's Home for orphans.
Schwebach died at age 73. He is buried at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman
.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
ian-born prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of La Crosse
Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse
The Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse covers an area of west-central Wisconsin, including the city of La Crosse and 19 counties: Adams, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Marathon, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Portage, Richland, Trempealeau, Vernon, and...
from 1892 until his death in 1921.
Biography
James Schwebach was born at PlatenPlaten, Luxembourg
Platen is a small town in the commune of Préizerdaul, in western Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 507....
, in the Préizerdaul
Préizerdaul
Préizerdaul is a commune in western Luxembourg, in the canton of Redange. Until 17 July 2001, it was known as Bettborn, after its administrative centre...
commune
Communes of Luxembourg
The communes of Luxembourg are the lowest nation-wide administrative division in Luxembourg. They conform to LAU level 2.Within the hierarchy of administrative subdivisions, communes come directly below cantons, which are directly below districts. Communes are often re-arranged, being merged or...
of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, to Nicholas Joseph and Margaret (née Busch) Schwebach. He received his early education from private tutors, and afterwards studied at the college of Diekirch
Diekirch
Diekirch is a commune with city status in north-eastern Luxembourg, capital city of the canton Diekirch and the district of Diekirch. The city is situated on the banks of the Sauer river....
for two years. In 1864, he immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he entered St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. He there completed his studies in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in five years.
At age 21, being too young for ordination
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
, Schwebach was called to La Crosse
La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
and was there ordained a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
Bishop Michael Heiss
Michael Heiss
Michael Heiss was a German-born prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the first Bishop of La Crosse and the second Archbishop of Milwaukee .-Biography:...
on July 24, 1869. He then served at St. Mary's Church in La Crosse, where he preached in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
and taught at the parochial school
Parochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
. He was eventually ordained a priest by Bishop Thomas Grace on June 16, 1870. He then served as pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. Mary's for 22 years, during which time he erected a new church, school, and rectory. He also built St. James the Less Church in 1887. In addition to his pastoral duties, he served as vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the Diocese of La Crosse
Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse
The Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse covers an area of west-central Wisconsin, including the city of La Crosse and 19 counties: Adams, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Marathon, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Portage, Richland, Trempealeau, Vernon, and...
from 1882 to 1892.
On December 14, 1891, Schwebach was appointed the third Bishop of La Crosse
Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse
The Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse covers an area of west-central Wisconsin, including the city of La Crosse and 19 counties: Adams, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Marathon, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Portage, Richland, Trempealeau, Vernon, and...
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...
. He received his episcopal
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on February 25, 1892 from Archbishop Frederick Katzer
Frederick Katzer
Frederick Xavier Katzer was a Roman Catholic archbishop. Katzer was the third Bishop of Diocese of Green Bay and the third Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in Wisconsin....
, with Bishops John Janssen
John Janssen
John Janssen was the first Roman Catholic bishop of Belleville, Illinois, serving from 1888 until his death in 1913....
and Joseph Cotter
Joseph Bernard Cotter
Joseph Bernard Cotter was the first Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona, in Winona, Minnesota....
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. During his 29-year tenure, he became known as a builder and founded St. Michael's Home for orphans.
Schwebach died at age 73. He is buried at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman
Cathedral of Saint Joseph the Workman
The Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman is the mother church of the Diocese of La Crosse. The cathedral, designed by architect Edward J. Schulte, was completed in 1962.Built of limestone, it has a tall clock tower which rises above the surrounding buildings in downtown La Crosse, Wisconsin.The...
.