John Baptist Franz
Encyclopedia
John Baptist Franz was an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Dodge City
(1951-59) and Bishop of Peoria
(1959-71).
, Illinois
, to Fridolin and Louisa (née Reisch) Franz. His father worked in the meat packing business
. He recalled that his parents "provided us an atmosphere that made us conscious we were Catholic and that we belonged to the Church. I never wanted to be anything but a priest
." He received his early education at the parochial school
of SS. Peter and Paul Church in his native city. Between 1910 and 1917, he attended St. Francis Solanus High School and the Franciscan College
in Quincy
. He then studied at Kenrick Seminary
in St. Louis
, Missouri
.
a priest for the Diocese of Alton
by Archbishop John J. Glennon
on June 13, 1920. From 1920 to 1927, as a member of the Granite City
-based Diocesan Mission Band, he traveled around Central Illinois
and Eastern Missouri to give missions
and retreats. In 1926, he was assigned to establish a campaign fund for a cathedral
complex in Springfield.
Franz became administrator of St. Mary's Church and superintendent
of St. Isidore High School, both in Farmersville
, in 1927. From 1935 to 1951, he served as rector
of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
. He was named a papal chamberlain
in December 1941, and raised to the rank of domestic prelate
in April 1945.
of the newly-erected Diocese of Dodge City
in Kansas
by Pope Pius XII
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following August 29 from Samuel Cardinal Stritch, with Bishops Mark Carroll
and William O'Connor
serving as co-consecrators
.
on August 8, 1959. From 1962 to 1965, he attended the Second Vatican Council
in Rome
. In response to his implementation of the Council's reforms, some people expressed enthusiasm, while others caution to such rapid changes. The political turmoil of the 1960s
also added to his challenges, but he still managed to create 17 new grade schools
, two new high school
s, one Newman Centre
, four new parishes
, four missions, and elevate eight missions to parish status. After 11 years of service, he resigned as Bishop on May 24, 1971.
Franz died at age 95., and is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Peoria.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He served as Bishop of Dodge City
Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City is a Roman Catholic diocese covering twenty-eight counties in Kansas. Pope Pius XII created the diocese on May 19, 1951.John B...
(1951-59) and Bishop of Peoria
Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the central Illinois region of the United States.-Territory:...
(1959-71).
Early life and education
John Franz was born in SpringfieldSpringfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, to Fridolin and Louisa (née Reisch) Franz. His father worked in the meat packing business
Meat packing industry
The meat packing industry handles the slaughtering, processing, packaging, and distribution of animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and other livestock...
. He recalled that his parents "provided us an atmosphere that made us conscious we were Catholic and that we belonged to the Church. I never wanted to be anything but a priest
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....
." He received his early education 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:...
of SS. Peter and Paul Church in his native city. Between 1910 and 1917, he attended St. Francis Solanus High School and the Franciscan College
Quincy University
Quincy University a private liberal arts Catholic university in the Franciscan tradition. It is located in Quincy, Illinois and currently enrolls around 1,300 students.-History:...
in Quincy
Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, known as Illinois' "Gem City," is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. As of the 2010 census the city held a population of 40,633. The city anchors its own micropolitan area and is the economic and regional hub of West-central Illinois, catering a...
. He then studied at Kenrick Seminary
Kenrick-Glennon Seminary
Kenrick–Glennon Seminary is a private not-for-profit Roman Catholic Seminary located in Shrewsbury, Missouri in St. Louis County. The Seminary is named after Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick and Cardinal John J. Glennon, former Archbishops of Saint Louis. The Seminary traces its origins to the...
in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
Priesthood
Franz was ordainedHoly 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....
a priest for the Diocese of Alton
Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the south central Illinois region of the United States...
by Archbishop John J. Glennon
John J. Glennon
John Joseph Glennon was an Irish American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of St. Louis from 1903 until his death in 1946, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1946.-Early life and ministry:...
on June 13, 1920. From 1920 to 1927, as a member of the Granite City
Granite City, Illinois
Granite City is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States, part of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. At the 2010 census, the population was 29,849, making it the third largest city in the Metro-East and Southern Illinois, behind Alton and Belleville...
-based Diocesan Mission Band, he traveled around Central Illinois
Central Illinois
Central Illinois is a region of the U.S. state of Illinois that consists of the entire central section of the state, divided in thirds from north to south. It is an area of mostly flat prairie. The western section was originally part of the Military Tract of 1812 and forms the distinctive western...
and Eastern Missouri to give missions
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
and retreats. In 1926, he was assigned to establish a campaign fund for a cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
complex in Springfield.
Franz became administrator of St. Mary's Church and superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
of St. Isidore High School, both in Farmersville
Farmersville, Illinois
Farmersville is a village in Montgomery County, Illinois, United States. The population was 768 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Farmersville is located at ....
, in 1927. From 1935 to 1951, he served as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception may refer to:In Benin:*Basilique de l’Immaculée Conception, OuidahIn Burkina Faso:*Ouagadougou CathedralIn Canada:*Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception...
. He was named a papal chamberlain
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
in December 1941, and raised to the rank of domestic prelate
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
in April 1945.
Dodge City
On May 27, 1951, Franz was appointed the first BishopOrdinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
of the newly-erected Diocese of Dodge City
Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City is a Roman Catholic diocese covering twenty-eight counties in Kansas. Pope Pius XII created the diocese on May 19, 1951.John B...
in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
by Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
. 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 the following August 29 from Samuel Cardinal Stritch, with Bishops Mark Carroll
Mark Kenny Carroll
Mark Kenny Carroll was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wichita from 1947 to 1967.-Biography:...
and William O'Connor
William Aloysius O'Connor
William Aloysius O'Connor was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Springfield in Illinois from 1949 to 1975.-Biography:...
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...
.
Peoria
Franz later returned to Illinois upon being named the fifth Bishop of PeoriaRoman Catholic Diocese of Peoria
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the central Illinois region of the United States.-Territory:...
on August 8, 1959. From 1962 to 1965, he attended the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. In response to his implementation of the Council's reforms, some people expressed enthusiasm, while others caution to such rapid changes. The political turmoil of the 1960s
Counterculture of the 1960s
The counterculture of the 1960s refers to a cultural movement that mainly developed in the United States and spread throughout much of the western world between 1960 and 1973. The movement gained momentum during the U.S. government's extensive military intervention in Vietnam...
also added to his challenges, but he still managed to create 17 new grade schools
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
, two new high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s, one Newman Centre
Newman Centre
Named in honour of Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman, the Newman Centers are residence and Catholic ministry centers at non-Catholic universities throughout the world. They were inspired by Newman's writings encouraging societies for Catholic students attending secular universities.In 1888 the...
, four new parishes
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
, four missions, and elevate eight missions to parish status. After 11 years of service, he resigned as Bishop on May 24, 1971.
Franz died at age 95., and is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Peoria.