September 24, 2010
Putting Strategic Planning into context
The First Fifty Years: Part I — Early years of diocese
Editor’s note: This article is the fourth 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 The First Fifty Years, written by Msgr. Clinton Hirsch and published by the Catholic Press of Evansville in 2003.
By papal decree of November 11, 1944, twelve counties of southwestern Indiana became the Diocese of Evansville, comprising an area of 5,010 square miles and serving the needs of 49,737 Catholics in a total population of 392,889. (1940 census).
Monsignor Henry J. Grimmelsman of the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, was appointed the First Bishop; consecration took place on December 21, 1944 at the Josephinum, and installation ceremonies were held January 3, 1945 at the Assumption Cathedral, Evansville. The new diocese was placed under the patronage of the Motherhood of Mary.
Purchased from the Daughters of Isabella, the John Augustus Reitz Home in Evansville became the episcopal residence and so remained for more than twenty years. The music room in this stately, elegant, century-old mansion served as the Chancery Office until 1957; for a short period during that span, one corner of that room was known as the School Office.
Monsignor Frederic Ketter was chosen as the First Vicar General. Father Thomas J. Clarke became Chancellor, under whose guidance and expertise the mechanics of a new diocese were set in motion. Social work and youth activities were organized in conjunction with Catholic Charities, Father Charles Schoettelkotte as Director. Comprising the original School Board were Monsignor Leonard Wernsing, Father Patrick Kilfoil, and Father William Lautner. The first Diocesan Building Committee, destined to be one of the busiest, consisted of Fathers John Rager, Henry Flaherty, Frederic Niehaus and Clarence Lindauer.
As the fledgling diocese was learning to fly on its own, now separated from the mother Diocese of Indianapolis, there were 63 parishes, including mission churches, administered by 75 diocesan priests and 19 priests of religious orders; in the beginning, there were 71 seminarians (major and minor). Women Religious in the diocese totaled 542; pupils attending the 43 parochial schools numbered 8,040, while the five Catholic High Schools counted a total enrollment of 1,512.
Where we are today
The numbers from 1945 are startling to anyone familiar with current statistics in the Diocese of Evansville:
- 75 diocesan priests
- 19 priests of religious orders
- 71 seminarians in minor and major seminaries
- 542 women religious in the diocese
In 2010, the corresponding statistics provide data under consideration by planning committee leaders and members, as they craft an emerging strategic plan for the diocese.
The statistics today include the following:
- 46 diocesan priests active in full time parish ministry.
- 3 Benedictine priests active in full time parish ministry
- 16 diocesan priests, retired or otherwise assigned, available for assistance
- 52 deacons in the diocese
- 6 seminarians (2 in college, 4 in theology)
- 250 women religious in the diocese
The average age of diocesan priests is over 63 years; the median age is 65. Retirement age for priests of the diocese is 65. The average age of diocesan retired priests is 79.
When Bishop Henry J. Grimmelsman came to southwestern Indiana in 1944, he had 75 priests and 71 seminarians.
At the time, preparation included six years of “minor seminary” and six years of “major seminary” studies, as was the case at St. Meinrad.
Many priests of the new Diocese of Evansville completed their theology studies at St. Meinrad; others went to Innsbruck, Austria, to Rome, Louvain, or to other seminaries in the United States.
St. Meinrad Archabbey was established in 1854 by Benedictine monks from the Swiss Abbey of Einsiedeln. The School of Theology was established in 1857.
In 1959, St. Meinrad reorganized to four years each of high school, college and theology. The high school was closed in 1968 and the college closed in 1998.
St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology now offers graduate-level degrees in philosophy and theology. Priesthood candidates work toward a Master's in Catholic Philosophical Studies or Master of Divinity. St. Meinrad began offering lay degree programs in 1969.
More than 5,000 men and women have studied at St. Meinrad.
Seminarians today
Seminarians Brian Emmick and Jeff Read are scheduled to be ordained to the transitional diaconate in June 2011, and to the priesthood in 2012.
Both are currently in their third year of theology at St. Meinrad Seminary. Emmick is from St. John the Baptist Church in Newburgh; Read, from St. John the Evangelist Church in Daylight.
Christopher Droste, from St. James Church in Haubstadt, is in his second year of theology at St. Meinrad.
Michael Loner, from Holy Family Church in Jasper, is in his first year of theology at St. Meinrad.
Jeremy Goebel and Tyler Tenbarge are in college at Marian University in Indianpolis. Goebel, a senior, is from Resurrection Church in Evansville; Tenbarge, a junior, is from Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Haubstadt.