 |
|
| An elevated view of the altar and congregation in St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison during the installation of Bishop William P. O’Connor as the first bishop of Madison on March 12, 1946. Bishop O’Connor served as the Bishop of Madison until 1967. (Wisconsin Historical Society photo) |
First in a series on the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Madison
MADISON — In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Catholic population had been expanding in the southwestern region of Wisconsin, leading to the formation of the Diocese of Madison in 1946.
Work of missionary priests
The faith had grown thanks to the work of missionary priests, including Venerable Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP, who built 25 churches and established nine schools in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois in the 1800s.
He also founded the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of Sinsinawa. Their work has kept his legacy alive to this day.
Father Mazzuchelli died in Benton in 1864 and is buried there.
Another missionary who worked in the Diocese of Madison area was Fr. Adalbert Inama, a Norbertine priest from Austria. He served Catholics in Sauk City, Roxbury, Martinsville, Cross Plains, and Middleton areas.
In the state capital of Madison, the cornerstone was laid for St. Raphael Church in 1854, and it was ready for use in 1862. It later became the cathedral church of the diocese. Holy Redeemer Church was built in Madison by German-speaking Catholics, and the first Mass was celebrated there in 1857.
The Catholic population continued to expand not only in Madison but throughout the outlying areas. After World War II, the area experienced unprecedented growth.
Formation of the new diocese
The formation of a new diocese was under discussion for several years. In a decree dated December 22, 1945, Pope Pius XII established the Diocese of Madison.
On January 9, 1946, Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, Apostolic Delegate to the United States, announced the creation of the Diocese of Madison with Bishop William P. O’Connor as its first Bishop.
The canonical date of the actual erection of the diocese and enthronement of Bishop O’Connor was on March 12, 1946. Bishop O’Connor, a native of Milwaukee, had previously served as Bishop of Superior in Wisconsin since 1942.
Archbishop Moses E. Kiley of Milwaukee said at the time of the establishment of the Diocese of Madison, “When there is a substantial increase in the number of persons in a diocese, in order to better care for the spiritual welfare of the people, the usual practice is to divide the territory and establish a new diocese . . .
“Because of this growth, the Holy See has considered it advisable to establish a new Diocese at Madison. . . . As a result, the Bishop of Madison will be able to give closer attention to the religious needs of the people living in that territory.”
The new Diocese of Madison consisted of 11 counties. Seven of them were formerly part of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee: Columbia, Dane, Green, Green Lake, Jefferson, Marquette, and Rock. Four counties formerly belonging to the Diocese of La Crosse were Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, and Sauk.
When the Diocese of Madison was established, there were 100 parishes with resident pastors and 29 missions, 55 schools enrolling 8,463 students, 122 diocesan priests, 13 Religious Order priests, and 82,000 Catholics.
It should be noted that the establishment of the new Diocese of Madison remained a surprise until it was announced because every parish priest had to remain in the parish where he served at that time.
Growth in first 10 years
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Diocese of Madison in 1956, Bishop O’Connor said, “By the grace of God and through the zeal of our priests, Religious, and laity, a noticeable spirit of unity and solidarity has become characteristic of the Church of Madison during these early years of its existence. Enthusiasm for the faith and an ardent desire to propagate it have contributed much to the growth and development of the Church of Madison during these years of foundation.
“Looking forward to the future life of the Church in this Diocese, there is promise under guidance of Divine Providence and through the labors and sacrifices of priests, Religious, and faithful of notable physical and spiritual growth and development.
“May Our Blessed Mother, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, to whose patronage the Diocese of Madison was confided on its birthday, continue to represent our sacred cause to Her Divine Son in the years that may lie ahead,” said Bishop O’Connor.
Bishop’s special devotion to Mary
Bishop O’Connor had a special devotion to Mary dating back to the time he spent as a chaplain in World War I. He received the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star from the French army for saving the life of a badly wounded French officer by carrying him from the battle lines.
The effects of poisonous gas he suffered in the Battle of Argonne left then Father O’Connor unable to walk or talk. The doctors told him that his voice was so badly damaged that there was the possibility that he might never preach again. He decided to make a pilgrimage to Lourdes, the site of the apparition of the Blessed Mother to Bernadette and a place associated with the restoration of health.
Father O’Connor received permission to join a soldiers’ pilgrimage on the anniversary of the apparition. When the priest who was scheduled to preach at the Mass at Lourdes was hurt in an accident, Father O’Connor was asked to assume the responsibility. He said later that he prayed the Rosary and promised the Blessed Mother that if she let him use his voice, he would use it as often as he could in the service of her Son. He preached the sermon at Lourdes and was a strong and effective speaker for the rest of his life.
Sources: Building Our Future in Faith: Commemorative History of the Catholic Diocese of Madison (1996); archives of the Catholic Herald newspaper.
Mary C. Uhler served on the staff of the Catholic Herald-Diocese of Madison for almost 47 years, the last 34 years as editor. She retired in July of 2020.