History of the Diocese

Pope Gregory XVI established the first Diocese in the State of Indiana at Vincennes in 1834, and the entire state plus the eastern third of Illinois were under its jurisdiction. In 1857 the northern half of the state became the Diocese of Fort Wayne. After 1878 the bishop of Vincennes lived in Indianapolis and in 1898 the diocesan name was changed to Diocese of Indianapolis.

Then in 1944, the Diocese of Indianapolis was elevated to an Archdiocese, and the two new Suffragan Sees were also erected, the Diocese of Evansville and the Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana.

The Diocese of Evansville, having an area of 5,010 square miles and comprising twelve counties in the southwestern section of Indiana, was created by Pope Pius XII on November 11, 1944. The episcopal residence is in the city of Evansville.

The present Diocese of Evansville has 69 parishes divided into 7 deaneries with a Catholic population of 86,138.

MEMORABLE DATES

1674 -- Pope Clement X established the Diocese of Quebec, which included Indiana.
1702 -- Account of Mass celebrated along the lower Wabash River (presumed to be the Ohio River bordering
             present-day Illinois and Kentucky.
1732 -- Acquisition of property for St. Francis Xavier Church, Vincennes.
1749 -- Sacramental records began at St. Francis Xavier Church, Vincennes, the state's first parish.
1770 -- Father Pierre Gibault became pastor of Vincennes under the Diocese of Quebec.
1789 -- Vincennes and all of Indiana came under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Baltimore.
1808 -- Indiana became part of the Diocese of Bardstown, Kentucky.
1814 -- Bishop Benedict Flaget of Bardstown administered Confirmation in Vincennes; first visit of a Catholic
            bishop to Indiana.
1816 -- Indiana became the nineteenth state.
1834 -- Father Simon Brute was named first Bishop of Vincennes which included entire state of Indiana and the
            eastern third of Illinois. St. Francis Xavier Church became the first cathedral of the Diocese of Vincennes.
1839 -- Bishop Brute died and was succeeded by Bishop Celestine de la Hailandiere.
1843 -- Illinois portion of diocese became part of the Diocese of Chicago.
1847 -- Bishop Hailandiere resigned and was succeeded by Bishop John Stephan Bazin.
1848 -- Bishop Bazin died and Rev. Jacques Maurice de St. Palais was appointed Apostolic Administrator.
1849 -- Jacques Maurice de St. Palais became the fourth Bishop of Vincennes.
1857 -- Northern portion of the diocese became the Diocese of Fort Wayne.
1877 -- Bishop St. Palais died and Father Auguste Bessonies became diocesan administrator.
1878 -- Francis Silas Chatard became the fifth Bishop of Vincennes but he resided in Indianapolis, largest
            city in his diocese.
1898 -- Indianapolis became See City of the diocese; the Diocese of Vincennes became the Diocese of
            Indianapolis on March 28.
1918 -- Bishop Chatard died and was succeeded by Bishop Joseph Chartrand.
1934 -- Bishop Joseph Ritter succeeded Bishop Chartrand who died on December 8, 1933.
1944 -- Bishop Ritter became Indianapolis' first archbishop and Evansville became the See City for twelve
            southwestern Indiana counties making up the present Diocese of Evansville. Henry J. Grimmelsman
            was consecrated as first Bishop of Evansville on December 21, 1944 and Assumption Church became
            the Cathedral Church for the diocese. The first Chancery was housed in the Reitz Home.
1948 -- First Synod of the Diocese of Evansville was held.
1957 -- Chancery moved to office space adjacent to Holy Trinity Church.
1958 -- Second Synod of the diocese was held.
1965 -- Assumption Cathedral property sold and church dismantled. Holy Trinity Church designated
            as Pro-Cathedral for the diocese.
1966 -- Paul F. Leibold installed as Second Bishop of Evansville.
1969 -- Third Synod of the diocese was held.
1970 -- Francis R. Shea ordained and installed as Third Bishop of Evansville. St. Francis Xavier Church
            (Old Cathedral), Vincennes was elevated to the rank of Minor Basilica.
1976 -- Consolidation of Diocesan Offices at former Latin School building and became the
            Catholic Center
1977 -- Ordination of the first class of Permanent Deacons in the diocese.
1989 -- Rev. Msgr. Gerald A. Gettelfinger of Indianapolis named Fourth Bishop of Evansville.
1993 -- Fourth Synod of the diocese was held.
1997 -- Auxiliary Bishop Gerald Wilkerson of Los Angeles named Titular Bishop of Vincennes.
1999 -- St. Benedict Church dedicated as the diocesan Cathedral on April 11.
2001 -- Center for Hispanic Ministry dedicated as the Guadalupe Center on December 9.
2002 -- Diocesan Review Board established to review allegations of abuse.
2005 -- Twenty-three new permanent deacons ordained.
2006 -- Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger celebrated his 45th anniversary of priesthood.
2007 -- St. Francis Xavier (Old Cathedral) in Vincennes celebrated its 275th anniversary.
2008 -- St. Mary and St. Simon parishes in Washington merge to become Our Lady of Hope parish.

Cathedrals of the Diocese
Catholic History in Indiana