Michael Brooks
Indiana's Catholic churches have a long history, dating back to the late 17th century when they were under the authority of the Diocese of Quebec. Over the years, the state's Catholic parishes have fallen under the jurisdiction of several dioceses, including Baltimore and Bardstown, before the Diocese of Vincennes—the first episcopal see in Indiana—was erected in 1834. Since then, Indiana's Catholic community has been led by several bishops and archbishops, with the Diocese of Indianapolis being elevated to an archdiocese in 1944.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Bishops in Indiana | More than 15 |
| First Bishop of Baltimore (which included present-day Indiana) | John Carroll |
| First Bishop of Vincennes (first episcopal see in Indiana) | Bruté |
| Current Archbishop of Indianapolis | Charles Coleman Thompson |
| Previous Archbishops of Indianapolis | Joseph William Tobin, Paul Clarence Schulte, Joseph Elmer Ritter, Francis Silas Marean Chatard |
| Number of Parishes in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis | 125 |
| Number of Schools in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis | 68 |
| Number of Catholic Charities Agencies in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis | 5 |
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What You'll Learn
Bishops of Vincennes
The Catholic Diocese of Vincennes was the first Latin Church diocese in Indiana. It was erected in 1834 by Pope Gregory XVI, encompassing all of Indiana and the eastern third of Illinois. The diocese was originally established as the Diocese of Vincennes in 1834, and it was renamed the Diocese of Indianapolis in 1898.
The first four Bishops of Vincennes resided at the seat of the episcopal diocese in Vincennes. Their remains are buried in the crypt of St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Vincennes. The first bishop was Simon William Gabriel Bruté de Rémur, a French Catholic missionary to the United States. He served as the first Bishop of Vincennes from 1834 until his death in 1839. Bruté was consecrated as the first bishop on October 28, 1834, in St. Louis. At the time of his installation, there were only three priests in his diocese. Despite his initial protestations of ill health and difficulty with English, Bruté accepted the position and travelled to his new diocese. He made it a point to visit each Catholic family in his diocese, regardless of the distance from his rectory at Vincennes. In addition to his pastoral duties, Bruté founded a college at Vincennes in 1837, connecting it to a theological seminary for the training of priests.
Bruté's successor was Célestine Guynemer de la Hailandière, who was consecrated as the second Bishop of Vincennes on August 18, 1839. De la Hailandière completed the construction of St. Francis Xavier Church, which became the first cathedral church in the state. He resigned in 1847 and was succeeded by Bishop John Stephan Bazin, who died in 1848. Rev. Jacques Maurice de St. Palais then became the fourth Bishop of Vincennes in 1849.
In 1878, Francis Silas Chatard became the fifth Bishop of Vincennes but resided in Indianapolis, the largest city in his diocese. In 1898, the See City was officially moved to Indianapolis, and the diocese became the Diocese of Indianapolis.
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Indianapolis' first bishop
The first bishop of the Diocese of Vincennes, which at the time included all of Indiana and the eastern third of Illinois, was Bishop Bruté, who was consecrated in 1834. He was followed by Célestine Guynemer de la Hailandière in 1839. Silas Chatard, Indiana's first American-born bishop, was consecrated as the bishop of Vincennes in 1878.
In 1898, the Diocese of Vincennes was renamed the Diocese of Indianapolis, and Chatard became the first bishop of Indianapolis. He was succeeded by Joseph Chartrand in 1918, who opened more than 25 elementary and secondary schools in his first 14 years as bishop. Chartrand was followed by Joseph Ritter in 1934, who integrated several girls' schools in the diocese. In 1944, the Diocese of Indianapolis was elevated to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, and Ritter became the first archbishop of Indianapolis.
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Archbishop of Indianapolis
The Archbishop of Indianapolis is the head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis, which covers 39 counties in central and southern Indiana. The Archdiocese was originally erected as the Diocese of Vincennes in 1834, encompassing all of Indiana and the eastern third of Illinois. It was renamed the Diocese of Indianapolis in 1898 and elevated to an archdiocese in 1944.
The current archbishop, Charles Coleman Thompson, was appointed by Pope Francis in 2017. He is the seventh archbishop of Indianapolis and was installed in 2017. Archbishop Thompson previously served as Bishop of Evansville from 2011 to 2017. He is a strong supporter of Pope Francis, seeing him as a 'bridge builder' and 'a man of peace'.
The first bishop of the Diocese of Vincennes, which covered the same area as the current Archdiocese of Indianapolis, was Bruté, who served from 1834 until his death in 1839. Célestine Guynemer de la Hailandière then served as bishop from 1839 until the diocese was renamed in 1898. Bishop Francis Chatard became the first Bishop of Indianapolis in 1898.
The Diocese of Indianapolis was elevated to an archdiocese in 1944, and Joseph Ritter was appointed as the first archbishop. He served from 1944 until 1946, when he became archbishop of Saint Louis. He was succeeded by Paul Schulte, who served from 1946 to 1970. Since then, there have been four more archbishops of Indianapolis before the current incumbent, Charles Thompson: George Biskup (1970-1979), Edward T. O'Meara (1980-1992), Daniel M. Buechlein (1992-2011), and Cardinal Joseph William Tobin (2012-2017).
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Indiana's Catholic history
In 1789, Pope Pius VI erected the Diocese of Baltimore, the first Catholic diocese in the United States, which included present-day Indiana. John Carroll was named the first bishop of Baltimore. In 1791, Carroll sent Benedict Flaget to Vincennes to succeed Gibault at Saint Francis Xavier Parish. Flaget opened a school and held classes before being recalled to Baltimore in 1795. His successor, John Francis Rivet, became the first public school teacher in the Northwest Territory when he received an annual teacher's salary from the U.S. Congress.
In 1808, Pope Pius VII divided the Catholic churches in the United States and its territories into five dioceses. The Catholic parishes in the northwest territories, including Indiana, came under the Diocese of Bardstown, with Flaget as its first bishop.
On May 6, 1834, Pope Gregory XVI established the Diocese of Vincennes, the first episcopal see in Indiana. Simon Bruté was consecrated as its first bishop. At the time, the diocese covered all of Indiana and the eastern third of Illinois, and there were only three priests serving the region. Bruté worked tirelessly to visit every Catholic family in the diocese and founded a college in Vincennes in 1837. However, he fell ill and passed away in 1839. Célestine Guynemer de la Hailandière succeeded him as bishop of Vincennes.
In March 1898, the Diocese of Vincennes was renamed the Diocese of Indianapolis, with Bishop Francis Chatard as its first bishop. Chatard lobbied for this change and envisioned a downtown parish away from the commercial portions of the expanding city. He purchased land for the episcopal residence and an adjoining chapel for SS. Peter and Paul.
In October 1944, Pope Pius XII elevated the Diocese of Indianapolis to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, appointing Joseph Ritter, who had served as auxiliary bishop, as the first archbishop. The pope also founded the Dioceses of Evansville and Lafayette, which were created from the territories of the new archdiocese.
Throughout Indiana's Catholic history, notable figures like Chartrand and Ritter contributed significantly to racial integration and education. The state has also witnessed threats to Catholics, such as the intimidation and prejudice from the Ku Klux Klan during the 1920s.
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Diocesan community work
One of the key focuses of the Diocesan community work in Indiana is education. Since its early days, the Diocese has been committed to providing quality education to its congregation and the wider community. As early as 1792, Benedict Flaget, a priest in Vincennes, opened a school and held classes at Saint Francis Xavier Parish. This tradition continues today, with the Diocese of Indianapolis supporting and fostering educational initiatives. For example, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Indianapolis has developed a strong relationship with its local school district, and Grace Episcopal Church in Muncie offers its commercial kitchen to fledgling minority businesses.
Another important aspect of Diocesan community work in Indiana is social justice and equality. In 1937, Joseph Ritter, who served as the bishop of the Diocese of Indianapolis, made a bold move by ordering the racial integration of three girls' schools within the diocese. He furthered this commitment to equality by integrating the Catholic high school in Evansville in 1942. The Diocese of Indianapolis continues to uphold these values, as evidenced by their participation in Indy Pride, demonstrating their support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Outreach and service to the vulnerable are also central to the Diocesan community work in Indiana. The Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis describes itself as "beacons of Christ in our communities, standing with the vulnerable and offering radical welcome." This is exemplified by initiatives such as Brown County Weekend Backpacks, which addresses food insecurity in Brown County, Indiana. Additionally, Catholic Charities Indianapolis serves anyone in need, regardless of their background, in central Indiana.
The Diocesan community in Indiana also places a strong emphasis on spiritual development and evangelism. Through initiatives like the United Catholic Appeal, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis seeks to spread discipleship, formation, and community across central and southern Indiana. They encourage believers to unite in the Eucharist and work together to build a more compassionate world, embodying Christ's love through their actions.
Overall, the Diocesan community work in Indiana encompasses a wide range of initiatives, from education and social justice to outreach, service, and spiritual development. With a long history of serving the community, the Catholic Church in Indiana continues to play an active and vital role in the lives of its congregation and the wider population.
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