Roman Catholic Diocese of Bardstown facts for kids
,_exterior,_view_from_the_corner_opposite_the_basilica.jpg)
The Diocese of Bardstown was an important part of the Catholic Church in the early United States. It was a special church district set up in Bardstown, Kentucky on April 8, 1808. This new diocese was created from a large area that used to be part of the Diocese of Baltimore. It was one of four new dioceses created at that time.
When it was first started, the Bardstown Diocese covered a huge area. This included most of Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. Today, this same area is home to 44 different Catholic dioceses. In 1841, the main church of the diocese moved to Louisville. Because of this, its name changed to the Diocese of Louisville.
Contents
History of the Bardstown Diocese
Early Catholic Settlers in Kentucky
The first Catholic families came to this area from Maryland in 1785. They built Holy Cross Church, which was the first Catholic church in Kentucky. By 1796, about 300 Catholic families lived in Kentucky.
Early missionaries, like Stephen Badin and Michel Barriere, were sent by Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore. They arrived in Kentucky in 1793. Badin made his home base on Pottinger's Creek. For 14 years, he traveled by foot, horse, and boat to visit Catholic settlements. For three years, Badin was the only priest in all of Kentucky. Other priests joined him later, helping to serve the growing number of Catholics.
Growth and New Religious Orders
In 1805, the Dominicans, a group of priests, arrived in Springfield. Two groups of Catholic sisters were also founded nearby. The Sisters of Loretto started in Marion County in 1812. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth began near Bardstown in the same year.
A group of French settlers came to Louisville in 1806. They built their first church in 1811. Stephen Badin was their first pastor.
Bishop Flaget and the New Diocese
In 1808, Bardstown became its own diocese. Benedict Joseph Flaget was chosen to be its first Bishop. The new diocese was carved out of the very first American diocese, the Diocese of Baltimore. It covered a vast area that now includes parts of 10 modern states.
Bishop Flaget initially did not want the job. He even traveled to France to try and change the decision, but he was not successful. When he returned to the United States, he brought other important missionaries with him. Bishop Flaget was officially made a bishop on November 4, 1810, in Baltimore.
Building the Church in the West
When Bishop Flaget started his work, he had only seven priests to help him. He was in charge of caring for Catholics across the entire western frontier of the United States. He worked hard to establish new institutions.
Saint Thomas Seminary was opened in 1811. Saint Joseph College in Bardstown followed in 1820. This college later served as a hospital during the American Civil War. Saint Mary College was founded in 1821. It was one of the oldest Catholic colleges for boys in the country before it closed in 1976.
The Diocese of Bardstown quickly grew. It started with one church, Saint Thomas Parish. Within 25 years, the number of parishes grew to 23. The number of priests also increased from six to 36. The main church, the historic Basilica of Saint Joseph Proto-Cathedral, began construction in 1816. Many beautiful paintings and decorations for the church were gifts from important people, including Pope Leo XII and King Louis-Philippe of France.
Leadership Changes and New Dioceses
John Baptist Mary David became Bishop Flaget's assistant in 1817. He briefly took over as head of the diocese in 1832. However, he resigned less than a year later, and Bishop Flaget was reappointed.
In 1837, the area of Tennessee was separated from the Bardstown Diocese. This is when the Diocese of Nashville was created by Pope Gregory XVI.
Moving to Louisville
In 1841, the main church of the diocese moved from Bardstown to Louisville. The diocese was then renamed the Diocese of Louisville. Its new main church became the Cathedral of the Assumption. Later, the Diocese of Louisville became an Archdiocese.
Today, the Diocese of Bardstown no longer exists as an active diocese. It is now listed by the Catholic Church as a "titular see." This means it's a historical title without a current bishop.
In April 2008, Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States. This visit celebrated the 200th anniversary of the creation of these new dioceses in 1808. It also marked the time when Baltimore became an archdiocese.
