(Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash)
Fifth in a series on the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Madison
Following is a timeline of key events in the 75-year history of the Diocese of Madison under each of the diocese’s bishops.
Bishop William P. O’Connor
January 9, 1946 — Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, Apostolic Delegate to the United States, announces the creation of the Diocese of Madison with Bishop William P. O’Connor as its first bishop.
March 12, 1946 — Canonical erection of the diocese and enthronement of Bishop O’Connor at St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison.
August 6, 1946 — The Catholic Welfare Bureau (later known as Catholic Social Services and then as Catholic Charities) is licensed by the State of Wisconsin. In addition to the central office in Madison, district offices were opened in Beloit in 1954 and in Platteville in 1955.
September 29, 1946 — Bishop O’Connor establishes the Blessed Martin Guild to promote racial understanding and bring a knowledge of the Catholic Faith to minorities. Blessed Martin House is opened in Madison in 1947 and St. Peter Claver House is opened in Beloit in 1949.
Fall of 1947 — The Madison edition of the Catholic Herald Citizen makes its debut.
October 1952 — A plan to renovate St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison is revealed with an estimated cost of $100,000.
July 15, 1953 — Bishop O’Connor dedicates Camp Gray, a place for youth located eight miles northwest of Baraboo founded by Msgr. Francis Gray, then pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Baraboo.
March 10, 1955 — Cardinal Stritch of the Archdiocese of Chicago dedicates the renewed cathedral with a Mass in honor of St. Raphael.
February 1962 — Bishop O’Connor announces plans to build a seminary in Madison on land donated in memory of the late Dr. William J. Ganser by his widow, Alma. A financial campaign for $4,000,000 was organized.
March 1962 — This marks the 50th year of Bishop O’Connor’s ordination to the priesthood and his 20th year as a bishop (he was a bishop in the Diocese of Superior before coming to the Diocese of Madison). Pope John XXIII confers the title of Assistant at the Pontifical Throne on him for his outstanding service and referred to him as a “good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
1963 — Bishop Jerome J. Hastich is named Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Madison by Pope Paul VI. In 1969, he is appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Gallup, N.M.
September 15, 1963 — The cornerstone of Holy Name Seminary is laid with 125 priests in attendance.
Fall of 1964 — There are 205 seminarians in the first three years of high school who begin studies at Holy Name Seminary.
March 10, 1966 — Bishop O’Connor celebrates his 80th birthday at a party given in his home at St. Raphael Cathedral.
September 21, 1966 — The first organizational meeting of the diocesan Priest Senate is held. It was one of the first such bodies formed and actively functioning in the United States according to the directions of the Second Vatican Council.
February 22, 1967 — Bishop O’Connor’s request for retirement is accepted. The Diocesan Consultors elect him diocesan administration until the installation of the next bishop.
March 7, 1967 — Bishop O’Connor celebrates his silver jubilee as a bishop with 25 years served in the Dioceses of Superior and Madison. A special Mass is celebrated at St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison.
Bishop Cletus F. O’Donnell
February 22, 1967 — Bishop Cletus F. O’Donnell, who had been an Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago since 1960, is named the second Bishop of the Diocese of Madison. He is installed on April 25, 1967.
June 10, 1967 — Holy Name Seminary graduates its first four-year class of 53 students.
October 31, 1967 — Bishop O’Donnell establishes the Apostolate to the Handicapped (later known as the Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities) and names Fr. Thomas Campion as the director.
1967-1992 — Bishop O’Donnell’s accomplishments include formation of the Office of Family Ministry, Office of Religious Education, Diocesan Pastoral Council, Personnel Board, Office of Conciliation and Arbitration, Board of Education, and Liturgical Commission.
July 13, 1972 — Bishop O’Connor dies.
1978 — Bishop George O. Wirz is named Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Madison.
April 1992 — Bishop O’Donnell resigns after suffering a stroke. He celebrated his 50th anniversary as a priest and had been bishop for 32 years. He died on August 31, 1992. Bishop Wirz served as administrator of the diocese from April of 1992 to April of 1993.
Bishop William H. Bullock
April 13, 1993 — Bishop William H. Bullock, who had been Bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines since 1987, is named the third Bishop of the Diocese of Madison. He is installed on June 15, 1993.
1993-2003 — Bishop Bullock’s accomplishments include establishing the Office for Justice and Peace and appointing full-time lay directors for the Offices of Worship, Finance, and the Tribunal. He established a central corporate board and named Fr. Paul Swain as vicar general.
May 1995 — After a lengthy review process, it is recommended that Holy Name Seminary be closed and that the facility be maintained as a diocesan center.
April 21, 1996 — The celebration of the Diocese of Madison’s Golden Jubilee is begun with a Mass at St. Raphael Cathedral and events held throughout the year. A highlight is an 11-day pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, and Florence led by Bishop Bullock and Bishop Wirz.
September 1996 — Plans are approved for the renovation of the newly-named Holy Name Catholic Center to be used for diocesan offices, an education and conference center, and retirement housing for priests.
2000 — Celebration of the Church’s Jubilee Year with Papal Awards conferred upon 24 people in the Diocese of Madison.
May 23, 2003 — Bishop Bullock resigns and serves as diocesan administrator.
Bishop Robert C. Morlino
May 23, 2003 — Bishop Robert C. Morlino, who had been the Bishop of the Diocese of Helena, is appointed the fourth Bishop of Madison. He is installed on August 1, 2003.
September 13, 2004 — Eucharistic Adoration and Prayer for Vocations begins being held on weekdays from 9 to 11:45 a.m. in the chapel of the renamed Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center.
March 14, 2005 — St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison is heavily damaged in a fire set by an arsonist.
November 19, 2006 — Bishop Paul J. Swain, former vicar general of the Diocese of Madison, returns to Madison for a Mass of Thanksgiving after being named Bishop of the Diocese of Sioux Falls.
2003-2018 — Bishop Morlino’s accomplishments include an increase in the number of seminarians and ordinations to the priesthood; establishment of the Priests for Our Future endowment fund; support for the founding of St. Ambrose Academy in Madison; and promoting reverence in the liturgy and respect for all human life.
November 24, 2018 — Bishop Morlino dies. Vicar General Msgr. James Bartylla serves as diocesan administrator.
Bishop Donald J. Hying
April 25, 2019 — Bishop Donald J. Hying, who had been the Bishop of the Diocese of Gary, is appointed the fifth Bishop of Madison. He is installed on June 25, 2019.
August 22, 2019 — In his weekly column in the Catholic Herald, Bishop Hying says that he plans to visit every parish in the diocese during his first year as bishop.
June 7, 2000 — On Pentecost Sunday, Bishop Hying announces that he is launching an evangelization initiative — Go Make Disciples — on the occasion of the diocese’s 75th anniversary in 2021 to deepen and animate the commitment to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone. He issues a Pastoral Letter, and weekly articles are published on evangelization and catechesis in the Catholic Herald.
December 31, 2020 — In his column in the Catholic Herald, Bishop Hying looks to the 75th anniversary of the diocese being observed in 2021 as an opportunity to give thanks for those who have gone before us and to embrace the future. He encourages everyone in the diocese to mark the anniversary and the evangelization initiative by committing themselves to the faith, prayer, the Scriptures, the sacraments, and the Church.
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.