September 17, 2010
Putting Strategic Planning into context
The Grimmelsman Years: Part III — Early years of diocese
Editor’s note: This article is the third in a series examining the Catholic Church in southwestern Indiana and its leadership and also the trends in the church and in the larger society. (Download this story as a PDF | See other articles in the series)
The following text is taken from a supplement to the diocesan newspaper at the time, the Register of Southwestern Indiana, published on June 10, 1966. The Article, “A time of Growth: Diocese of Evansville 1945-1965,” was published without a byline or credit to a writer.
In the years between 1945 and 1965 the number and strength of the Catholic organizations have grown.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society, which started with seven councils in 1915 today has 58 councils in the diocese with 341 active members. Over the years they have opened a number of salvage stores to provide clothing and home furnishings for the poor.
Other established organizations such as the Legion of Mary, the Council of Catholic Women and the Parent Teachers Association have also grown.
To meet the needs of the times, new groups and organizations came into being. The Pre-Cana Conferences, the Serra Club, the Christian Family Movement, the Catholic Theater Guild, the Catholic Interracial Council are only some of these. Marian Day School was opened to provide training and religious education for mentally disabled children. Dubois Memorial Hospital at Jasper and St. Mary’s Hospital in Evansville have been built. The Little Sisters of the Poor have started an addition to their home in Evansville.
Like most other cities its size, Evansville has seen a decline in some of its inner city parishes. Since 1944 both Holy Trinity and Assumption schools have been closed and enrollment in several others have declined. To the sorrow of many of its faithful parishioners scattered throughout the city, the Assumption Cathedral was sold in 1965 and razed to make way for a new Civic Center. Holy Trinity has been named the temporary pro-Cathedral.
On Oct. 10, 1965, shortly before his 75th birthday, Bishop Grimmelsman resigned as bishop of the diocese and Bishop Paul F. Leibold was named Apostolic Administrator.
Bishop Grimmelsman was a man who would seldom accept credit for the things accomplished under his leadership. He was simply “doing my duty” as he often said. But, many would also say that a man of lesser zeal, foresight and determination could not have accomplished such things. His path was not always a smooth one, but he never wavered in his whole-hearted dedication to his office as spiritual leader of the People of God in the 12 counties of southwestern Indiana.
Cathedrals in southwestern Indiana
The Basilica of St. Francis Xavier (the Old Cathedral) in Vincennes occupies land that was granted to the Catholic Church by the King of France. The first parish records date from 1749. The present building was begun in 1826 and completed in 1839. It was the first cathedral church in the state when Pope Gregory XVI established Vincennes as the first diocese in Indiana in 1834, with Bishop Simon Bruté. The first four bishops of Vincennes are buried in the crypt below the church. In 1898, the See City was moved to Indianapolis and the diocese became the Diocese of Indianapolis.
Assumption Church was founded in Evansville in 1837 by Father Anthony Deydier. It was the first Catholic Church in Evansville and the fourth parish established in present diocesan boundaries. The first church, at Second and Sycamore Streets, was sold in 1871, and a new church was built on Seventh Street. Bishop Grimmelsman dedicated Assumption as the diocesan cathedral in 1945. Twenty years later, the property was sold to the city of Evansville to make way for the new Civic Center Complex.
Holy Trinity Church was established in 1849 by Father Francis Kutassy and was the second Catholic Church in the city of Evansville. In 1950 lightning struck the church and it burned to the ground. The present building was completed in 1957. It served the diocese as the Pro-Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity from 1965, when Assumption was torn down, until 1999.
Where we are today
Little Sisters of the Poor
From website, www.littlesistersofthepoor.net
As Little Sisters of the Poor, we care for the elderly poor in the spirit of humble service which we have received from Jeanne Jugan. We welcome the elderly as we would Jesus Christ himself and serve them with love and respect until death.
We have been serving the needy elderly of Evansville and the Tri-State area since 1882. The present St. John’s Home is located adjacent to St. Benedict’s Cathedral on Lincoln Avenue in Evansville, built in 1882.
St. John’s welcomes needy seniors of at least 60 years of age, regardless of race or religion. We provide a continuum of care in a home-like setting, including:
- Independent Living Apartments (21 units), for individuals and couples capable of meeting their own daily needs.
- Intermediate Care Nursing (47 private rooms), for Residents who receive complete assistance with their personal and medical needs 24 hours a day, by licensed, trained professionals.
- Our Services include: Nursing and Medical Services, Pastoral Care, Recreational and Social Activities, Social Services, Dietary Services, and Laundry and Housekeeping Services.
For more information about the Home, please contact us at (812) 464-3607.
Legion of Mary
“Our main purpose is the spiritual enrichment of our members, and to assist priests,” said Jackie Fehrenbacher, president of the Legion of Mary in the diocese.
The parish organization is known as a praesidium; its members meet weekly. A praesidium reports to a comitium, and the comitium to the senatus; the senatus reports to the original organization in Ireland, where the Legion of Mary was founded.
Membership is for men and women. The legion is active in the Evansville and Washington areas.
Contact Jackie Fehrenbacher at (812) 985-5019.
Christian Family Movement
The Christian Family Movement is a national network of parish or neighborhood small groups of families. Parents meet regularly in one another's homes. Through the use of programming available from the CFM USA Office and the dynamics of small group interaction, Christian values are reinforced and families are encouraged to reach out in action to others.
The national office was moved from Ames, Iowa to rented space in the Catholic Center, Evansville, in 2000.
Missy and Paul Parkison are the national executive director couple.
Contact CFM at (812) 962-5508 or see the website, www.cfm.org.
St. Vincent de Paul Society
From the annual report of the Evansville Diocesan Council, 2008-2009
The mission statement of the society begins with this statement: “Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul.”
During the fiscal year, October 2008 through September 2009, the society in the Diocese of Evansville obtained nonprofit status under 501 (c)(3) provisions of the Internal Revenue Service. The Evansville, Jasper, Vincennes and Washington districts were incorporated.
“All of our Conferences and Councils are experiencing increased demand for emergency help and for finding creative ways to help those in need,” said Tom Peter, president of the Evansville Diocesan Council. Efforts have expanded.
“Evansville District has bought additional property to expand very limited parking and allow for future store expansion. Jasper District collaborated with churches in the area to provide meals to those in need. Vincennes District completed a significant expansion in their store facilities. And Washington District Council completed construction of a new pantry facility in Loogootee.
During the year, diocesan Vincentians provided 52,037 hours of service to over 58,009 people, and over $860,355 in financial assistance to clients.
Councils are active in 46 parishes of the diocese.
Contacts include Tom Peter, (812) 636-4909 and Deacon Bob Hayden, spiritual advisor, (812) 402-1868.