Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis is a division of the Roman Catholic Church
in the United States
. It was originally erected as the Diocese of Vincennes, Indiana
on May 6, 1834, and encompassed all of Indiana as well as the eastern third of Illinois
. It was re-named the Diocese of Indianapolis on March 28, 1898, when Bishop Francis Chatard was ordered to make his residence in Indianapolis. It was elevated from a diocese
to a metropolitan archdiocese on October 21, 1944.
Pope Benedict XVI
accepted the resignation of Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein
, OSB
, in September of 2011, due to illness. Auxiliary Bishop Christopher J. Coyne
remains in office and is serving as the Apostolic Administrator
until a successor to Archbishop Buechlein is named. Per the 2000 census, the archdiocese contained 2,430,606 people, 233,273 of whom were Catholic. The archdiocese covers 39 counties in central and southern Indiana, with a total area of 13,757 square miles.
, due to the resignation in September 2011 of Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein, OSB, on account of illness due to ongoing issues with cancer. Auxiliary Bishop Christopher J. Coyne, who was ordained a bishop in March 2011, is apostolic administrator
, pending the appointment of a new archbishop. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis has four suffragan dioceses within its Province, which comprises the entire state of Indiana: the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary
, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana
, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Evansville
.
date to 1749, but French Jesuit missionaries had been in the area as early as the 1730s.. In these early years, the Church in Indiana was under the authority of the Diocese of Quebec
, Canada. In its early years, the faith community experienced suffering during the American Revolution
, hostility from Native Americans
, and epidemics that swept through the frontier, as well as a profound lack of money and priests to minister to the people.
In 1789, Pope Pius VI
created the first Catholic diocese in the United States, the Diocese of Baltimore
. Indiana came under the authority of Bishop John Carroll
of Baltimore, and in 1791 he sent Fr. Benedict Joseph Flaget to succeed Fr. Pierre Gibault at the fledgling parish of St. Francis Xavier in Vincennes. In 1808 Pope Pius VII divided the United States and its territories into five dioceses, and the Northwest Territories came under the authority of the then-Diocese of Bardstown
with Benedict Flaget as its bishop.
In 1832, Bishop Flaget, along with Bishop Joseph Rosati of St. Louis, Missouri, petitioned the Holy See
to name Fr./Dr. Simon Bruté de Rémur as the first Bishop of Vincennes. The Diocese was created by Papal Decree on May 6, 1834 and Fr. Bruté was elevated to Bishop on October 28. At the time of his installation, there were only 3 priests in his diocese which covered all of Indiana and the eastern third of Illinois. Bishop Bruté made a point to visit each Catholic family in his diocese, regardless of the distance from his rectory. His devotion to his diocese contributed to his demise, as he caught a cold while going to a provincial council
in Baltimore, which weakened his immune system and he continued to minister despite this.
Despite the consecration of a cathedral, Bishop de Hailandière experienced many problems with the size of the diocese, leading to his resignation in 1847. His successor, John Stephen Bazin, was the first bishop ordained in Indiana and quickly delegated authority to two vicars general
. He died shortly thereafter, having served just six months. His successor, Maurice de Saint-Palais, had to contend with unresolved monetary issues from Hailandière's episcopacy and a cholera epidemic, all while expanding the educational and ministerial opportunities. It was under Saint-Palais' watch that Mother Theodore Guerin started an orphanage in Vincennes, the monks from Einsiedeln, Switzerland
came to found an abbey and seminary in southern Indiana, St. Ann's opened as a school for Negroes and the Holy See
added a suffragan diocese in northern Indiana at Fort Wayne
.
Bishop de Saint-Palais also had to contend with the call for soldiers in the American Civil War
. Several priests from the Diocese of Vincennes served as chaplains
, and one Fr. Ernest Audran was drafted as a soldier in 1864. De St. Palais did not preach in regards to the topic of the Emancipation Proclamation
because he feared that doing so would venture too much into politics and would violate his character. He recognized that Indianapolis was quickly growing and was the eighth-largest city in the United States as of 1870 but he relegated the decision to move the seat of the diocese there to his successor, Silas Chatard. Despite moving the see to Indianapolis and ordering the new cathedral, Chatard's reign was marked not by his accomplishments, but by his poor health, having been paralyzed by a stroke in 1900.
Chatard's successor, Joseph Chartrand, expanded the education of young children in the diocese, opening more than 25 elementary and secondary schools in his first 14 years. When he died, the diocese had 126 parochial schools and 19 secondary schools. He also faced much adversity during his time as bishop. The outbreak of World War I
led to many sermons against war as well as the rise of Communism
shortly thereafter. Chartrand also dealt with threats by the Ku Klux Klan
by publishing a list of members' names in the newspaper. During the years of the Great Depression
, he dispensed the entire diocese from fasting except on Fridays during Lent.
Joseph Elmer Ritter succeeded Chartrand as Bishop of Indianapolis, having served as auxiliary bishop under Chartrand. In 1937, he ordered that three of the girls' schools in the diocese integrate and allow students of all races. Later he integrated all of the schools under threat of closure. In addition to integrating schools, Ritter was named Archbishop of Indianapolis when the diocese was elevated in October 1944 to a metropolitan archdiocese. He left the archdiocese to become the archbishop and later cardinal of St. Louis.
Archbishop Paul C. Schulte served as the leader of the archdiocese from 1946 until 1970 and was called to Rome for the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council. He was known for his humility, for building 3 high schools in the Indianapolis area and for leading his flock through the tumultuous times of the 1960's. He retired as the oldest and longest-serving bishop in America. Schulte's successor, George J. Biskup, established the first Priests' Senate in order to expedite decisions at the diocesan level.
Archbishop Edward T. O'Meara worked to consolidate many of the archdiocesan offices, and used the former site of Cathedral High School as a building for the offices. He was very vocal regarding the shortage of priests and the need to remain stalwart on the issue of female clergy even in the face of a shortage as well as the right-to-life and needs of the poor. His successor, Daniel M. Buechlein, continued his devotion to life, education, and the poor through his ministry, with a particular focus on education to the point that newspapers called him "the education bishop." On September 21, 2011, the Vatican granted Buechlein an early retirement at age 73 due to health reasons. Auxilary Bishop Christopher Coyne, appointed by the Pope in March 2011 to assist the ailing Buechlein with his duties, is serving as Apostolic Administrator until the Pope appoints the next Archbishop.
Prior to and during the construction of the new cathedral, St. John the Evangelist parish church in Indianapolis was used as the pro-cathedral. It was designed by the architect Diedrich A. Bohlen who followed a mix of Romanesque and French Gothic style. Construction began on July 21, 1867 and was completed in 1893 by Diedrich's son, Oscar D. Bohlen, over 20 years after its dedication as a parish church. The paintings of the Stations of the Cross were painted by the Parisian painter L. Chovet. On the centennial of its dedication in 1871, it was restored by the generosity of Msgr. Charles P. Koster and adapted for the Novus Ordo by removing the pre-Vatican II communion rail and adding an altar that allowed the priest to celebrate the congregation.
Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral currently serves as the seat of the archdiocese. It was completed in 1907 under the authority of Francis Chatard. Construction began for the cathedral rectory and episcopal chapel on July 15, 1891, following the plans of James Renwick, Jr. and supervised by the architectural firm D.A. Bohlen and Son. The design for the cathedral was modeled after St. John Lateran in Rome, Italy. Despite owning the proper land and having the money, Chatard did not have permission to build a new cathedral until March 28, 1898 when Pope Leo XIII transferred the seat of the diocese to Indianapolis – construction began in April 1905. James' nephew William Whetten Renwick assumed sole responsibility for the completion of the cathedral and simplified the design laid forth by his late uncle. Renwick designed the building, the interior decorations and the altars, but Bohlen and Son supervised construction of the building and the baptismal fonts and the original wooden furnishings. The final facade was designed by the firm of August Bohlen, son of Oscar and grandson of Diedrich, and was commissioned by Archbishop Joseph Elmer Ritter. The facade was also drawn from the design of St. John Lateran in Rome.
The interior of Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral was very ornately decorated, with statues of Carrara Marble statues by Cesare Aureli, and a Mural of the Holy Family flanked by Ss. Peter and Paul done by Edgar S. Cameron of Chicago (which was later replaced by a mosaic of Jesus enthroned flanked by Ss Peter and Paul). The Cathedral has undergone many renovation projects in the decades between its construction and how it stands today.
The following schools are operated under the auspices of religious orders:
serves the archdiocese as a seminary, college and Benedictine Monastery. It was founded in 1854 by monks from the Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland in order to meet the needs of a growing German-speaking Catholic population. In 1969, it opened its programs to lay degree-seekers during the summer for graduate level theological studies and in 1993 opened its lay program during all academic sessions.
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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was originally erected as the Diocese of Vincennes, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
on May 6, 1834, and encompassed all of Indiana as well as the eastern third of 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,...
. It was re-named the Diocese of Indianapolis on March 28, 1898, when Bishop Francis Chatard was ordered to make his residence in Indianapolis. It was elevated from a diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
to a metropolitan archdiocese on October 21, 1944.
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
accepted the resignation of Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein
Daniel M. Buechlein
Daniel Mark Buechlein, OSB is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the fifth Archbishop of Indianapolis until his resignation in September 2011; his replacement has not been named by Pope Benedict XVI, so the Archdiocese is a vacant see .- Biography :Daniel Buechlein was...
, OSB
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
, in September of 2011, due to illness. Auxiliary Bishop Christopher J. Coyne
Christopher J. Coyne
Bishop Christopher J. Coyne is the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Indiana. He was appointed administrator by the Pope on September 21, 2011, upon the early retirement of Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein on grounds of ill health.Bishop Coyne was born in Woburn,...
remains in office and is serving as the Apostolic Administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
until a successor to Archbishop Buechlein is named. Per the 2000 census, the archdiocese contained 2,430,606 people, 233,273 of whom were Catholic. The archdiocese covers 39 counties in central and southern Indiana, with a total area of 13,757 square miles.
Hierarchy
The archdiocese is headed by an archbishop, but the see is currently vacantSede vacante
Sede vacante is an expression, used in the Canon Law of the Catholic Church, that refers to the vacancy of the episcopal see of a particular church...
, due to the resignation in September 2011 of Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein, OSB, on account of illness due to ongoing issues with cancer. Auxiliary Bishop Christopher J. Coyne, who was ordained a bishop in March 2011, is apostolic administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
, pending the appointment of a new archbishop. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis has four suffragan dioceses within its Province, which comprises the entire state of Indiana: the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary
Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary is a Roman Catholic diocese in Indiana. It was founded on December 10, 1956.-Bishops:#Andrew Gregory Grutka #Norbert Felix Gaughan #Dale Joseph Melczek...
, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend is a Roman Catholic diocese in north-central and northeastern Indiana. The Most Reverend Kevin C. Rhoades was appointed diocesan bishop by Pope Benedict XVI on November 14, 2009, and was installed on January 13, 2010...
, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana
Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana
The Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana was established by Pope Pius XII on October 21, 1944, from the territory of the Diocese of Fort Wayne. At that time, there were 54 parishes. The diocese contained approximately 31,700 Roman Catholics at its inception...
, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Evansville
Roman Catholic Diocese of Evansville
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Evansville is a Roman Catholic diocese in Southwestern Indiana. It was founded on October 21, 1944.The diocese includes the entirety of the eleven southwestern Indiana counties of Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Pike, Posey, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, and...
.
Ordinaries of the See of Indianapolis
- Simon Bruté de Rémur (1834–1839)
- Célestine Guynemer de la HailandièreCélestine Guynemer de la HailandièreCélestine René Laurent Guynemer de la Hailandière was a French-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Vincennes, currently known as the Archbishop of Indianapolis, from 1839 to 1847....
(1839–1847) - Jean BazinJohn Stephen BazinBishop John Stephen Bazin was the third Roman Catholic Bishop of Vincennes . He was born at Duerne, near Lyon, France, October 15, 1796; died at Vincennes, Indiana, U.S.A., April 23, 1848. He was educated in his native country and ordained in Lyon Cathedral, July 22, 1822...
(1847–1848) - Jacques-Maurice De Saint PalaisJacques-Maurice De Saint PalaisJacques-Maurice des Landes d’Aussac De Saint Palais was a French-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Vincennes, currently known as the Archbishop of Indianapolis, from 1848 until his death.De Saint Palais was born in La Salvetat, and ordained to the...
(1848–1877) - Francis Silas ChatardSilas ChatardSilas Francis Marean Chatard was a Roman Catholic Bishop of Indianapolis in the United States.He was born Francis Chatard in Baltimore, Maryland on December 13, 1834...
(1878–1918) - Joseph ChartrandJoseph ChartrandJoseph Chartrand was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Indianapolis from 1918 until his death.-Biography:...
(1918–1925, 1925–1933) - Joseph Ritter (1934–1946)
- Paul SchultePaul Clarence SchultePaul Clarence Schulte was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Indianapolis from 1946 to 1970.-Biography:...
(1946–1970) - George BiskupGeorge BiskupGeorge Biskup was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Des Moines, Iowa and Archbishop of Indianapolis .-Biography:...
(1970–1979) - Edward O'Meara (1979–1992)
- Daniel BuechleinDaniel M. BuechleinDaniel Mark Buechlein, OSB is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the fifth Archbishop of Indianapolis until his resignation in September 2011; his replacement has not been named by Pope Benedict XVI, so the Archdiocese is a vacant see .- Biography :Daniel Buechlein was...
, OSBOrder of Saint BenedictThe Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
(1992–2011)
History
The Catholics of the land that is now Indiana have been shepherded by many clerics from the start of the colonization of America. The earliest records of the Catholic Church in VincennesVincennes, Indiana
Vincennes is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 18,701 at the 2000 census...
date to 1749, but French Jesuit missionaries had been in the area as early as the 1730s.. In these early years, the Church in Indiana was under the authority of the Diocese of Quebec
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec
The Archdiocese of Québec is the oldest Catholic see in the New World north of Mexico. The archdiocese was founded as the Apostolic Vicariate of New France in 1658 and was elevated to a Diocese in 1674 and an Archdiocese in 1819...
, Canada. In its early years, the faith community experienced suffering during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, hostility from Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
, and epidemics that swept through the frontier, as well as a profound lack of money and priests to minister to the people.
In 1789, Pope Pius VI
Pope Pius VI
Pope Pius VI , born Count Giovanni Angelo Braschi, was Pope from 1775 to 1799.-Early years:Braschi was born in Cesena...
created the first Catholic diocese in the United States, the Diocese of Baltimore
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Baltimore is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. The archdiocese comprises the City of Baltimore as well as Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, and Washington Counties in Maryland...
. Indiana came under the authority of Bishop John Carroll
John Carroll
-People:*John Carroll , American actor*John Carroll , Australian neoconservative writer*Sir John Carroll , British scientist*John Carroll -People:*John Carroll (actor) (1906–1979), American actor*John Carroll (author) (born 1944), Australian neoconservative writer*Sir John Carroll (astronomer)...
of Baltimore, and in 1791 he sent Fr. Benedict Joseph Flaget to succeed Fr. Pierre Gibault at the fledgling parish of St. Francis Xavier in Vincennes. In 1808 Pope Pius VII divided the United States and its territories into five dioceses, and the Northwest Territories came under the authority of the then-Diocese of Bardstown
Roman Catholic Diocese of Bardstown
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bardstown was established on April 8, 1808, along with the dioceses of Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, out of the territory of the Baltimore Diocese, the first Catholic diocese in the US. When founded, the Bardstown Diocese included most of Kentucky, Tennessee,...
with Benedict Flaget as its bishop.
In 1832, Bishop Flaget, along with Bishop Joseph Rosati of St. Louis, Missouri, petitioned the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
to name Fr./Dr. Simon Bruté de Rémur as the first Bishop of Vincennes. The Diocese was created by Papal Decree on May 6, 1834 and Fr. Bruté was elevated to Bishop on October 28. At the time of his installation, there were only 3 priests in his diocese which covered all of Indiana and the eastern third of Illinois. Bishop Bruté made a point to visit each Catholic family in his diocese, regardless of the distance from his rectory. His devotion to his diocese contributed to his demise, as he caught a cold while going to a provincial council
Provincial council
Provincial councils are organisational bodies within the Gaelic Athletic Association, each made up of several GAA counties. The provincial council is responsible for the organisation of club and inter-county competitions such as the provincial championships, and the promotion of Gaelic games within...
in Baltimore, which weakened his immune system and he continued to minister despite this.
Despite the consecration of a cathedral, Bishop de Hailandière experienced many problems with the size of the diocese, leading to his resignation in 1847. His successor, John Stephen Bazin, was the first bishop ordained in Indiana and quickly delegated authority to two vicars 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...
. He died shortly thereafter, having served just six months. His successor, Maurice de Saint-Palais, had to contend with unresolved monetary issues from Hailandière's episcopacy and a cholera epidemic, all while expanding the educational and ministerial opportunities. It was under Saint-Palais' watch that Mother Theodore Guerin started an orphanage in Vincennes, the monks from Einsiedeln, Switzerland
Einsiedeln, Switzerland
Einsiedeln is a municipality and district in the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland known for its monastery, the Benedictine Einsiedeln Abbey. Einsiedeln is also the birthplace of Paracelsus, a Renaissance physician and alchemist who is credited with first naming zinc.-Prehistoric...
came to found an abbey and seminary in southern Indiana, St. Ann's opened as a school for Negroes and the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
added a suffragan diocese in northern Indiana at Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
.
Bishop de Saint-Palais also had to contend with the call for soldiers in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Several priests from the Diocese of Vincennes served as chaplains
Military chaplain
A military chaplain is a chaplain who ministers to soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and other members of the military. In many countries, chaplains also minister to the family members of military personnel, to civilian noncombatants working for military organizations and to civilians within the...
, and one Fr. Ernest Audran was drafted as a soldier in 1864. De St. Palais did not preach in regards to the topic of the Emancipation Proclamation
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation is an executive order issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War using his war powers. It proclaimed the freedom of 3.1 million of the nation's 4 million slaves, and immediately freed 50,000 of them, with nearly...
because he feared that doing so would venture too much into politics and would violate his character. He recognized that Indianapolis was quickly growing and was the eighth-largest city in the United States as of 1870 but he relegated the decision to move the seat of the diocese there to his successor, Silas Chatard. Despite moving the see to Indianapolis and ordering the new cathedral, Chatard's reign was marked not by his accomplishments, but by his poor health, having been paralyzed by a stroke in 1900.
Chatard's successor, Joseph Chartrand, expanded the education of young children in the diocese, opening more than 25 elementary and secondary schools in his first 14 years. When he died, the diocese had 126 parochial schools and 19 secondary schools. He also faced much adversity during his time as bishop. The outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
led to many sermons against war as well as the rise of Communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
shortly thereafter. Chartrand also dealt with threats by the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
by publishing a list of members' names in the newspaper. During the years of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, he dispensed the entire diocese from fasting except on Fridays during Lent.
Joseph Elmer Ritter succeeded Chartrand as Bishop of Indianapolis, having served as auxiliary bishop under Chartrand. In 1937, he ordered that three of the girls' schools in the diocese integrate and allow students of all races. Later he integrated all of the schools under threat of closure. In addition to integrating schools, Ritter was named Archbishop of Indianapolis when the diocese was elevated in October 1944 to a metropolitan archdiocese. He left the archdiocese to become the archbishop and later cardinal of St. Louis.
Archbishop Paul C. Schulte served as the leader of the archdiocese from 1946 until 1970 and was called to Rome for the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council. He was known for his humility, for building 3 high schools in the Indianapolis area and for leading his flock through the tumultuous times of the 1960's. He retired as the oldest and longest-serving bishop in America. Schulte's successor, George J. Biskup, established the first Priests' Senate in order to expedite decisions at the diocesan level.
Archbishop Edward T. O'Meara worked to consolidate many of the archdiocesan offices, and used the former site of Cathedral High School as a building for the offices. He was very vocal regarding the shortage of priests and the need to remain stalwart on the issue of female clergy even in the face of a shortage as well as the right-to-life and needs of the poor. His successor, Daniel M. Buechlein, continued his devotion to life, education, and the poor through his ministry, with a particular focus on education to the point that newspapers called him "the education bishop." On September 21, 2011, the Vatican granted Buechlein an early retirement at age 73 due to health reasons. Auxilary Bishop Christopher Coyne, appointed by the Pope in March 2011 to assist the ailing Buechlein with his duties, is serving as Apostolic Administrator until the Pope appoints the next Archbishop.
Patronage
The patron saints of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis are Ss. Francis Xavier and Theodora Guerin. St. Francis Xavier was the patron of the first cathedral of the diocese, and therefore also of the diocese. St. Theodora Guerin was the first saint canonized from the archdiocese and was recognized as patroness of the archdiocese in 2006.Cathedral
The original cathedral for the Diocese of Vincennes was the Church of St. Francis Xavier in Vincennes, Indiana. Designed from the Bardstown Cathedral, it was begun in 1826 and consecrated on August 8, 1841by Bishop Hailandière. The bell tower was designed by the architect Jean-Marie Marsile, who was appointed the diocesan architect. The interior features three murals by the German painter Wilhelm Lamprecht – the first depicting the Crucifixion; the second, the Virgin Mary and Ss. Simon, Celestine, Stephen and Maurice and the third mural depicting St. Francis Xavier.Prior to and during the construction of the new cathedral, St. John the Evangelist parish church in Indianapolis was used as the pro-cathedral. It was designed by the architect Diedrich A. Bohlen who followed a mix of Romanesque and French Gothic style. Construction began on July 21, 1867 and was completed in 1893 by Diedrich's son, Oscar D. Bohlen, over 20 years after its dedication as a parish church. The paintings of the Stations of the Cross were painted by the Parisian painter L. Chovet. On the centennial of its dedication in 1871, it was restored by the generosity of Msgr. Charles P. Koster and adapted for the Novus Ordo by removing the pre-Vatican II communion rail and adding an altar that allowed the priest to celebrate the congregation.
Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral currently serves as the seat of the archdiocese. It was completed in 1907 under the authority of Francis Chatard. Construction began for the cathedral rectory and episcopal chapel on July 15, 1891, following the plans of James Renwick, Jr. and supervised by the architectural firm D.A. Bohlen and Son. The design for the cathedral was modeled after St. John Lateran in Rome, Italy. Despite owning the proper land and having the money, Chatard did not have permission to build a new cathedral until March 28, 1898 when Pope Leo XIII transferred the seat of the diocese to Indianapolis – construction began in April 1905. James' nephew William Whetten Renwick assumed sole responsibility for the completion of the cathedral and simplified the design laid forth by his late uncle. Renwick designed the building, the interior decorations and the altars, but Bohlen and Son supervised construction of the building and the baptismal fonts and the original wooden furnishings. The final facade was designed by the firm of August Bohlen, son of Oscar and grandson of Diedrich, and was commissioned by Archbishop Joseph Elmer Ritter. The facade was also drawn from the design of St. John Lateran in Rome.
The interior of Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral was very ornately decorated, with statues of Carrara Marble statues by Cesare Aureli, and a Mural of the Holy Family flanked by Ss. Peter and Paul done by Edgar S. Cameron of Chicago (which was later replaced by a mosaic of Jesus enthroned flanked by Ss Peter and Paul). The Cathedral has undergone many renovation projects in the decades between its construction and how it stands today.
Education
The archdiocese contains 2 Catholic colleges, 2 Seminaries, 11 Catholic high schools and 60 Catholic elementary schools.High schools
The following schools are operated under the auspices of the archdiocese:- Bishop Chatard High SchoolBishop Chatard High SchoolBishop Chatard High School is a Catholic co-educational preparatory high school located in the Broad Ripple district of Indianapolis, Indiana in the United States...
, Indianapolis - Cardinal Ritter High SchoolCardinal Ritter High SchoolCardinal Ritter High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school on West 30th Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis. It was founded in 1964 and serves the west side of Indianapolis. It is named after Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter. The...
, Indianapolis - Our Lady of Providence Junior-Senior High SchoolOur Lady of Providence Junior-Senior High SchoolOur Lady of Providence Junior-Senior High School is a coed Catholic high school in Clarksville, Indiana, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The school first opened on September 12, 1951....
, Clarksville - Roncalli High SchoolRoncalli High School (Indiana)Roncalli High School is a Catholic high school located in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is located on the south side of Indianapolis and run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis...
, Indianapolis - Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High SchoolScecina Memorial High SchoolScecina Memorial High School a Roman Catholic, co-educational high school located on the East Side of Indianapolis, Indiana. It is named in honor of Father Thomas Scecina, a priest from Indianapolis who was killed in action while ministering to United States military personnel during the Second...
, Indianapolis - Seton Catholic High SchoolSeton Catholic High School (Richmond, Indiana)Seton Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Richmond, Indiana. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Indianapolis....
, Richmond - Father Michael Shawe Memorial High SchoolShawe Memorial High SchoolFather Michael Shawe Memorial Jr./Sr. High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Madison, Indiana. It is run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis.- Founding :...
, Madison
The following schools are operated under the auspices of religious orders:
- Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory SchoolBrebeuf Jesuit Preparatory SchoolBrebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School is a private college preparatory school founded by the Jesuits and located on the northwest side of Indianapolis. It is a part of the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus and geographically located within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis.Brebeuf...
, Indianapolis - Cathedral High SchoolCathedral High School (Indianapolis)Cathedral High School is a private, Catholic institution in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. There are over 1,200 students in grades 9 to 12. It once was located within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis, and was run independently by the Brothers of Holy Cross...
, Indianapolis - Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate ConceptionOldenburg Academy of the Immaculate ConceptionOldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception is a private, Catholic high school in Oldenburg, Indiana. It is sponsored by the Sisters of St...
, Oldenburg - Providence Cristo Rey High SchoolProvidence Cristo Rey High SchoolProvidence Cristo Rey High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis and is run by the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.-Background:...
, Indianapolis
Colleges
- Marian University, Indianapolis
- Home of the Simon Bruté College Seminary
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods CollegeSaint Mary-of-the-Woods CollegeSaint Mary-of-the-Woods College is a Roman Catholic, four-year liberal arts women's college located northwest of Terre Haute, Indiana, between the Wabash River and the Illinois state line. There is also a small village of the same name located nearby...
, Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods, IN
Archabbey
St. Meinrad ArchabbeySt. Meinrad Archabbey
Saint Meinrad Archabbey in Spencer County, Indiana, USA, was founded by monks from Einsiedeln Abbey on March 21, 1854, and is home to approximately 98 monks. It is one of only two archabbeys in the United States and one of 11 in the world....
serves the archdiocese as a seminary, college and Benedictine Monastery. It was founded in 1854 by monks from the Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland in order to meet the needs of a growing German-speaking Catholic population. In 1969, it opened its programs to lay degree-seekers during the summer for graduate level theological studies and in 1993 opened its lay program during all academic sessions.