Roman Catholic Diocese of Vincennes, Indiana facts for kids

The Diocese of Vincennes was the first Roman Catholic church area in Indiana. It was created on May 6, 1834, by Pope Gregory XVI. At first, it covered all of Indiana and the eastern part of Illinois. Over time, parts of this large area became new dioceses. In 1843, the Diocese of Chicago was formed from the Illinois section. Then, in 1857, the Diocese of Fort Wayne was created from northern Indiana.

Later, the main office of the diocese moved from Vincennes, Indiana, to Indianapolis. On March 28, 1898, it became known as the Diocese of Indianapolis. In 1944, Pope Pius XII made the Indianapolis diocese an archdiocese, which is a larger and more important church area. He also created two new dioceses in Indiana: the Diocese of Evansville and the Diocese of Lafayette. The city of Vincennes became part of the Evansville Diocese when it was created. The Diocese of Gary was established in 1956.

History

Early Church Missions (1675–1834)

Before the Diocese of Vincennes was created in 1834, its territory was part of three different church areas. First, it was under the Diocese of Quebec in Canada until 1789. Then, it was part of the Diocese of Baltimore in Maryland from 1789 to 1808. Finally, it belonged to the Diocese of Bardstown in Kentucky from 1808 to 1834.

It is believed that the first French Jesuit priests came to the area around present-day Vincennes, Indiana, in the late 1600s, about 1675. The Diocese of Quebec supported these early Catholic churches. Father Mermet, who might have been the first priest in Vincennes, arrived around 1712.

The first Catholic Church in Vincennes was built around 1732. It was called St. Francis Xavier. This church served as the main church for the Diocese of Vincennes from 1834 to 1898. Father Sebastian Louis Meurin was the first priest to live there, arriving in May 1748. The oldest church records from Vincennes date back to April 21, 1749. After Father Meurin left in 1753, several traveling priests visited the church, including Father Pierre Gibault in 1770. Father Gibault was the resident priest at St. Francis Xavier from 1785 to 1789. During these early years, Catholic communities faced many challenges. They dealt with the American Revolution, conflicts with Native Americans, and widespread sickness. The Diocese of Quebec, which covered a huge area, did not have enough money or priests to help everyone.

On November 6, 1789, Pope Pius VI created the Diocese of Baltimore as the first Catholic diocese in the United States. Vincennes and the Catholic missions in what is now Indiana were placed under its care. John Carroll became the first Bishop of Baltimore. In 1791, he sent Father Benedict Joseph Flaget to take over from Father Gibault at St. Francis Xavier in Vincennes. Father Flaget arrived on December 21, 1792. Before he was called back to Baltimore in 1795, Father Flaget opened a school at St. Francis Xavier church. The school taught religious studies, music, and job skills. John Francis Rivet, who took over from Father Flaget, arrived in Vincennes in 1796. He continued Flaget's work and died there in 1804. Father Rivet received a yearly salary from the U.S. Congress and became the first public school teacher in the Northwest Territory.

In 1808, Pope Pius VII divided the Catholic churches in the U.S. into five dioceses. The Catholic churches in the northwest territories, including the Indiana Territory, became part of the Diocese of Bardstown. Father Flaget was appointed its first bishop. In 1814, he became the first Catholic bishop to visit Indiana. In 1832, Bishop Flaget and Bishop Joseph Rosati of the Diocese of St. Louis asked the Holy See (the Pope's office) to name Simon Bruté de Rémur as the first Bishop of Vincennes.

The Diocese Under Bishop Bruté (1834–1839)

On May 6, 1834, Pope Gregory XVI issued an official document to create the Diocese of Vincennes. This was the first main church area in Indiana. Father Simon Bruté de Rémur was officially made the first Bishop of Vincennes on October 28, 1834, in St. Louis. He arrived in Vincennes on November 5, 1834. When he started, his diocese covered all of Indiana and the eastern third of Illinois, but it only had three priests.

Bishop Bruté made sure to visit every Catholic family in his diocese, no matter how far away they lived from his home in Vincennes. In 1837, he also started a college in Vincennes. It was connected to a school for men training to become priests, which had been set up by the Eudists. In 1839, they bought a building that used to be part of the first Vincennes University and named the new school St. Gabriel's College. The college closed in 1845, but its building later housed St. Rose Academy until 1884.

Bishop Bruté's dedication to his diocese eventually made him sick. He became ill while attending a church meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. This illness weakened him, but he kept working until he died in Vincennes on June 26, 1839. He is buried in the St. Francis Xavier crypt in Vincennes.

The Diocese Under Bishop Hailandière (1839–1847)

Father Célestine Guynemer de la Hailandière, who was Bishop Bruté's main assistant, became the second Bishop of Vincennes. He was officially made bishop on August 18, 1839, in Paris, France. The new bishop stayed in France for several months to raise money and plan improvements for the diocese. One of his biggest achievements was finishing the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Vincennes. He also built a library to hold Bishop Bruté's collection of over 5,000 books and religious papers. He officially opened the cathedral on August 8, 1841.

The diocese quickly grew its services under Bishop Hailandière. He arranged for the Sisters of Providence to start their work in the diocese. He also encouraged the Brothers of the Holy Cross to open schools for boys. He invited other Catholic leaders to Indiana, including Father Edward Sorin, who founded the University of Notre Dame, and Mother Théodore Guérin, who founded the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Even with Bishop de Hailandière's hard work, Indiana's population grew slowly. The institutions he helped create faced many problems. He became discouraged and resigned in 1847. Bishop Hailandière returned to France, where he died on May 1, 1882. He is buried in the crypt at St. Francis Xavier in Vincennes.

The Diocese Under Bishop Bazin (1847–1849)

John Stephen Bazin was appointed the third Bishop of Vincennes on September 3, 1847. He was the first bishop to be officially made a bishop in Indiana. Bishop Bazin's ceremony took place at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Vincennes on October 24, 1847.

His poor health cut short his time serving the diocese. Within a few months of becoming bishop, Bishop Bazin appointed Jacques Maurice de St. Palais, his main assistant, to manage the diocese. Bishop Bazin died in Vincennes on April 23, 1848, after serving for only about six months.

The Diocese Under Bishop St. Palais (1849–1878)

Jacques Maurice de St. Palais, who took over from Bishop Bazin, became the fourth Bishop of Vincennes. He was officially made bishop on January 14, 1849, in Vincennes. During his time as bishop, he had to deal with money problems left over from the previous bishop. He also faced a cholera sickness, the American Civil War, and the need to expand schools and church services in the diocese. In 1849, Mother Theodore Guerin opened St. Ann's orphanage in Vincennes. In 1853, monks from Einsiedeln, Switzerland, founded St. Meinrad abbey and seminary in southern Indiana. However, plans to open a school for African Americans were never completed.

During the American Civil War, several priests from the diocese served as chaplains (religious advisors to soldiers). One priest, Father Ernest Audran, was even drafted as a soldier in 1864. After the war, Bishop St. Palais saw that Indianapolis was growing very fast. By 1870, it was the eighth largest city in the United States. He thought about moving the main office of the diocese there but left that decision to the next bishop.

Bishop St. Palais died on June 28, 1877. By the time of his death, the diocese had grown significantly. It included 151 churches, 117 priests, and 90,000 church members. He is buried in the crypt of St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Vincennes.

The Diocese Under Bishop Chatard (1878–1898)

Father Francis Silas Chatard, who was the first American-born bishop in Indiana, became Bishop of Vincennes. He was officially made bishop in Rome, Italy, on May 12, 1878. He set up his home in Indianapolis in 1878. In 1898, Pope Leo XII approved Bishop Chatard's request to move the main office of the diocese to Indianapolis.

The Diocese of Vincennes officially became the Diocese of Indianapolis on March 28, 1898. Bishop Chatard then became the first Bishop of Indianapolis. He died in Indianapolis on September 7, 1918. He was first buried at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral. Later, his remains were moved to Calvary Cemetery in Indianapolis.

St. John the Evangelist Church in Indianapolis served as the temporary main church for the Diocese of Indianapolis until Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral was finished in 1907.

How the Diocese Changed Over Time

During the 1800s, the Diocese of Vincennes was divided, and two new church areas were created in Indiana and Illinois. In 1843, the Illinois part of the diocese became the Diocese of Chicago. On January 8, 1857, the northern half of Indiana became the Diocese of Fort Wayne.

On March 28, 1898, the main office of the diocese moved from Vincennes to Indianapolis. The Diocese of Vincennes then became the Diocese of Indianapolis. In 1944, Pope Pius XII made the Indianapolis diocese an archdiocese. He also created two new Indiana dioceses: the Diocese of Evansville and the Diocese of Lafayette. The city of Vincennes, which used to be the main city for the Diocese of Vincennes, became part of the new Roman Catholic Diocese of Evansville. This ended its direct connection to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The Diocese of Gary was created on December 17, 1956.

In 1995, the former diocese was recognized again as a special "titular see" of Vincennes. This means it's a historical title, not an active diocese with a territory. In 1997, Bishop Gerald Eugene Wilkerson was appointed as its first titular bishop.