John Stephen Michaud
Encyclopedia
John Stephen Michaud was an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Burlington
from 1899 until his death in 1908.
Michaud was born in Burlington
, Vermont
, to Stephen and Catherine (née Rogan) Michaud. He attended the school
run by Rev. Jeremiah O'Callaghan, the first resident priest of Vermont, and served as an altar boy
to the new bishop
, Louis De Goesbriand
. Following his father's death in 1847, he worked in various Burlington lumber industries
and later graduated from Bryant and Stratton Commercial College. In September 1865 he entered the Sulpician
-run Montreal College
in Quebec
, Canada
, followed by studies at Holy Cross College
in Worcester
, Massachusetts
(earning a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1870) and at St. Joseph's Seminary in Troy
, New York
.
Michaud was ordained
to the priesthood
by Bishop Edgar Wadhams
on June 7, 1873. He then served in Newport
, Albany, Barton and Lowell
, where he established the first Catholic churches, including st. Mary Star of the Sea
in Newport. After being briefly felled by smallpox
and given further pastoral responsibilities, Michaud was recalled to Burlington in 1879 to handle the construction of St. Joseph's Orphanage, completed in 1883. He concurrently did pastoral work in Bennington
, North Bennington
, Fairfield
, Underhill
and Charlotte
. He was later named pastor
of St. Stephen's Church in Winooski
and, after a period of rest spent in Europe
, of St. Frances de Sales Church in Bennington (October 1885).
On May 4, 1892, Michaud was appointed Coadjutor Bishop
of Burlington and Titular Bishop
of Modra by Pope Leo XIII
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following June 29 from Archbishop John Joseph Williams, with Bishops Denis Mary Bradley
and Henry Gabriels
serving as co-consecrators
. He succeeded the late Bishop De Goesbriand as the second Bishop of Burlington
upon the latter's death on November 3, 1899. During his tenure, Michaud completed the Cathedral Church, built the Fanny Allen Hospital
and staffed it with the Religious Hospitalers of St. Joseph
. The Sisters of Charity
of Providence operated another new hospital in St. Johnsbury
; the Loretto Home for the Aged in Rutland
was served by the Sisters of St. Joseph
. In 1904, the Bishop invited the dedicated Society of Saint Edmund
to establish St. Michael's College at Winooski Park. In 1905, the Daughters of Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
came to Newport where they opened a mission to serve as teachers, nurses and catechists for the Northeast Kingdom
. During his tenure, Michaud expanded the number of churches in Vermont from 72 to 94. There were 75,000 Catholics, 102 priests, 286 religious sisters, and 20 parochial schools serving some 7000 students.
Michaud later died in New York, aged 63. He is buried at Resurrection Park in South Burlington
.
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 Burlington
Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States, comprising the entire state of Vermont...
from 1899 until his death in 1908.
Michaud was born in Burlington
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, to Stephen and Catherine (née Rogan) Michaud. He attended the school
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
run by Rev. Jeremiah O'Callaghan, the first resident priest of Vermont, and served as an altar boy
Altar server
An altar server is a lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a Christian religious service. An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as fetching and carrying, ringing the altar bell and so on....
to the new bishop
Ordinary
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...
, Louis De Goesbriand
Louis De Goesbriand
Louis Joseph Mary Theodore De Goesbriand was a French-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Burlington in the United States from 1853 until his death in 1899.-Early career:...
. Following his father's death in 1847, he worked in various Burlington lumber industries
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
and later graduated from Bryant and Stratton Commercial College. In September 1865 he entered the Sulpician
Society of Saint-Sulpice
The Society of Saint-Sulpice is a Catholic Society of Apostolic Life named for Eglise Saint-Sulpice, Paris, in turn named for St. Sulpitius the Pious. Typically, priests become members of the Society of St. Sulpice only after ordination and some years of pastoral work. Uniquely, Sulpicians retain...
-run Montreal College
Collège de Montréal
The Collège de Montréal is a private secondary school for students attending grades 7–11 located in Downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A former Roman Catholic Seminary, it was founded 1 June 1767 as the Petit Séminaire of Montreal by the Suplician Order...
in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, followed by studies at Holy Cross College
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
in Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
(earning a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1870) and at St. Joseph's Seminary in Troy
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Michaud was ordained
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....
by Bishop Edgar Wadhams
Edgar Philip Prindle Wadhams
Edgar Philip Prindle Wadhams was the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg.Born in 1817 at Lewis in Essex County. He was a deacon in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, later convert to Roman Catholicism....
on June 7, 1873. He then served in Newport
Newport (city), Vermont
Newport is a city in and the shire town of Orleans County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,005. The city contains the largest population of any government in the county, yet encompasses the smallest area....
, Albany, Barton and Lowell
Lowell, Vermont
Lowell is the westernmost town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 738 at the 2000 census.-School District:* Budget - $1,199,600* Principal - Scott Boskind...
, where he established the first Catholic churches, including st. Mary Star of the Sea
St. Mary Star of the Sea (Vermont)
St. Mary Star of the Sea Roman Catholic church, is located at the crest of Prospect Street, Newport, Vermont overlooking Lake Memphremagog. It serves a community of more than 1000 families.-History:...
in Newport. After being briefly felled by smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
and given further pastoral responsibilities, Michaud was recalled to Burlington in 1879 to handle the construction of St. Joseph's Orphanage, completed in 1883. He concurrently did pastoral work in Bennington
North Bennington, Vermont
North Bennington is an incorporated village in the town of Bennington in Bennington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,428 at the 2000 census....
, North Bennington
North Bennington, Vermont
North Bennington is an incorporated village in the town of Bennington in Bennington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,428 at the 2000 census....
, Fairfield
Fairfield, Vermont
Fairfield is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,800 at the 2000 census. It is believed President Chester A...
, Underhill
Underhill, Vermont
Underhill is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,980 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 51.4 mi2 , of which 51.3 mi2 is land and 0.1 mi2 is water.-Education:Underhill...
and Charlotte
Charlotte, Vermont
Charlotte is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for Sofia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, youngest daughter of Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.The population was 3,569 at the 2000 census....
. He was later named 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. Stephen's Church in Winooski
Winooski, Vermont
Winooski is a city in Chittenden County, Vermont, in the United States. Located at the mouth of the Winooski River, as of the 2010 census the city population was 7,267...
and, after a period of rest spent in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, of St. Frances de Sales Church in Bennington (October 1885).
On May 4, 1892, Michaud was appointed Coadjutor Bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of Burlington and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Modra 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 consecration
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....
on the following June 29 from Archbishop John Joseph Williams, with Bishops Denis Mary Bradley
Denis Mary Bradley
Denis Mary Bradley was an American Catholic priest, who became the first Bishop of Manchester, New Hampshire...
and Henry Gabriels
Henry Gabriels
Henry Gabriels was a Belgian-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Ogdensburg from 1892 until his death in 1921.-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...
. He succeeded the late Bishop De Goesbriand as the second Bishop of Burlington
Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States, comprising the entire state of Vermont...
upon the latter's death on November 3, 1899. During his tenure, Michaud completed the Cathedral Church, built the Fanny Allen Hospital
Fletcher Allen Health Care
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with its partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont's academic medical center. Fletcher Allen target clientele are the one million people in Vermont and northern New York...
and staffed it with the Religious Hospitalers of St. Joseph
Sisters of St. Joseph
The title Sisters of St. Joseph applies to several Roman Catholic religious congregations of women. The largest and oldest of these was founded in Le Puy-en-Velay, France...
. The Sisters of Charity
Sisters of Charity
Many religious communities have the term Sisters of Charity as part of their name. The rule of Saint Vincent for the Daughters of Charity has been adopted and adapted by at least sixty founders of religious orders around the world in the subsequent centuries....
of Providence operated another new hospital in St. Johnsbury
St. Johnsbury, Vermont
St. Johnsbury is the shire town of Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 7,571 at the 2000 census. St. Johnsbury is located approximately northwest of the Connecticut River and south of the Canadian border.St...
; the Loretto Home for the Aged in Rutland
Rutland (town), Vermont
Rutland is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,054 at the 2010 census. Rutland completely surrounds the city of Rutland, which is incorporated separately from the town of Rutland.-History:...
was served by the Sisters of St. Joseph
Sisters of St. Joseph
The title Sisters of St. Joseph applies to several Roman Catholic religious congregations of women. The largest and oldest of these was founded in Le Puy-en-Velay, France...
. In 1904, the Bishop invited the dedicated Society of Saint Edmund
Society of Saint Edmund
The Society of Saint Edmund is a religious congregation of the Catholic Church founded in 1843, in Pontigny, France by Rev. Jean Baptiste Muard. They adhere to vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. The order is named after Saint Edmund....
to establish St. Michael's College at Winooski Park. In 1905, the Daughters of Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Daughters of Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Daughters of Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a congregation established on 18 December 1823 in France by Jean-Maurice Catroux and Rose Giet ....
came to Newport where they opened a mission to serve as teachers, nurses and catechists for the Northeast Kingdom
Northeast Kingdom
The Northeast Kingdom is a term used to describe the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Vermont, comprising Essex, Orleans and Caledonia Counties and having a population of 62,438. In Vermont, the written term "NEK" is often used. The term is attributed to the late George D. Aiken, former...
. During his tenure, Michaud expanded the number of churches in Vermont from 72 to 94. There were 75,000 Catholics, 102 priests, 286 religious sisters, and 20 parochial schools serving some 7000 students.
Michaud later died in New York, aged 63. He is buried at Resurrection Park in South Burlington
South Burlington, Vermont
-Economy:CommutAir, a regional airline, is headquartered in the city, by the airport. The Magic Hat Brewing Company, one of the United States's larger craft breweries, is located here.One measure of economic activity is retail sales...
.