Diocese of Evansville

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The Diocese of Evansville, a suffragan diocese of the Latin Rite, is an active diocese in the United States serving southwestern Indiana. Established on December 21, 1944, by Pope Pius XII, it is led by Bishop Joseph M. Siegel since 2016. Part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Indianapolis, the diocese encompasses 12 counties with around 70,000 Catholics in 67 parishes and missions, notable for its strong emphasis on Catholic education and vocations in a region historically shaped by German and Irish immigrants.

Stored in Cargo: Diocese of Evansville

Diocese: Diocese of Evansville
Status:Active
Rite:Latin
Type:Suffragan diocese
Ecclesiastical Province:Province of Indianapolis
Metropolitan Archdiocese:Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Country:United States
Region:Indiana
Bishop:Joseph M. Siegel
Website:https://www.evdio.org/
Newspaper:https://evdio.org/the-message
Catholic %:8.8%
Elementary Schools:23
High Schools:7
Deaneries:6
Priests:102
Existence:1944–
Predecessor Dioceses:Diocese of Indianapolis
Catholic Hospitals:3
Rating:3.8
Chancery Address:421 Walnut St.
P.O. Box 4169
Evansville, IN 47724-0169

Establishment

The Diocese of Evansville was canonically erected on December 21, 1944, by Pope Pius XII through the apostolic constitution Quum in regione, carved from the Diocese of Indianapolis to serve the Catholic communities in southwestern Indiana.[1][2] This creation addressed the growing Catholic population amid industrial expansion in areas like Evansville, with Henry Joseph Grimm appointed as the first bishop.

History

The diocese developed amid post-World War II growth, with Bishop Grimm overseeing the construction of new parishes and schools. Boundary adjustments occurred minimally, but it navigated challenges like clerical shortages and secularization. In recent decades, it has focused on evangelization and youth ministry under Bishops Gerald Gettelfinger and Siegel.[3]

Geography

The Diocese of Evansville covers 12 counties in southwestern Indiana, totaling approximately 4,021 square miles (10,410 km²):

  • Daviess
  • Dubois
  • Gibson
  • Knox
  • Martin
  • Perry
  • Pike
  • Posey
  • Spencer
  • Sullivan
  • Vanderburgh
  • Warrick

It falls within the Ecclesiastical Province of Indianapolis.[4]

Mother church

St. Joseph Cathedral in Evansville, built in 1901 in Romanesque Revival style and elevated to cathedral status in 1944, serves as the mother church. It underwent renovations in 1971 and features notable stained glass windows depicting local saints.[5]

Leadership

Current Bishop

Bishop Joseph M. Siegel was installed on March 2, 2017. Ordained in 1997, he previously served as vicar general and focused on priestly formation and family life initiatives.[6]

Past Bishops

Name Tenure Notes
Henry Joseph Grimm 1944–1965 First bishop; built infrastructure.
Paul Francis Leibold 1966–1969 Transferred to Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Sidney Albert Satori 1969–1980 Focused on education; died in office.
Francis Joseph Schroering 1980–1994 Emphasized social justice; retired.
Gerald Andrew Gettelfinger 1994–2012 Promoted vocations; retired.
Joseph Lambert Walker 2013–2016 Apostolic administrator; died in office.

According to Catholic-Hierarchy.org and diocesan records.[7]

Theological and Cultural Orientation

The diocese rates as slightly conservative (3.8), with Traditional Latin Mass offered weekly in several parishes, a strong emphasis on pro-life and marriage teachings alongside community outreach, and Bishop Siegel prioritizing Eucharistic devotion and orthodoxy.[8][9]

Statistics

As of 2023, the diocese spans 4,021 square miles (10,410 km²), serves 70,766 registered Catholics (8.8% of total population of 804,000), across 67 parishes and missions, with 102 priests, 23 elementary schools, and 7 high schools.[10][11]

Religious Communities

Benedictine Sisters of Spencer

The Benedictine Sisters of Spencer run education and retreat ministries at Saint Meinrad Monastery. Address: 8025 CR 825 E, St. Meinrad, IN 47577.[12] Benedictine Sisters

Franciscan Sisters of Oldenburg

The Franciscan Sisters of Oldenburg support healthcare and education. Address: Oldenburg, IN 47036.[13]

Parishes

Main article: List of parishes in Diocese of Evansville
Diocese of Evansville

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This map created from a Cargo query (Purge)

No results The Diocese of Evansville includes 67 parishes organized into 6 deaneries: Evansville East, Evansville West, Gibson-Posey-Warrick, Knox-Daviess-Sullivan, Pike-Martin-Dubois-Perry-Spencer. It features diverse ethnic communities and historic churches like those served by German immigrants.[14]

Mission and Services

Catholic Education

The diocese oversees 23 elementary/middle schools and 7 high schools, educating over 5,000 students. Key institutions include:

School Name City Type Website
Reitz Memorial High School Evansville High School https://www.reitzmemorial.org/
Mater Dei High School Evansville High School https://www.materdeiknights.org/
Central Catholic School Washington Elementary/High School https://www.ccswarriors.org/
Gerstmeyer Catholic School Terre Haute (Sullivan Deanery) Elementary https://www.gcsflyers.org/
Main article: List of Catholic schools in Diocese of Evansville

[15]

Community Outreach

Catholic Charities Evansville serves over 20,000 annually with food pantries, housing, and immigration aid, operating in partnership with parishes.[16]

Notable Events or Figures

  • Bishop Paul Leibold, an early bishop, later became Archbishop of Cincinnati and participated in Second Vatican Council.[17]
  • The diocese hosted the National Catholic Youth Conference regional events, drawing thousands in 2018.[18]

Fun facts

Below are some fun facts about the Diocese of Evansville:


  • Did you know? Pope Pius XII created the Diocese of Evansville in 1944 just as World War II ended, entrusting it to Bishop Henry Grimm who built dozens of churches from scratch in booming industrial towns!
  • Surprise! St. Joseph Cathedral in Evansville boasts stunning stained-glass windows made by German artisans in 1901, depicting local saints and surviving floods and renovations.
  • Here's something cool: The diocese covers 12 counties with quirky names like "Pike" and "Posey," home to over 70,000 Catholics who keep alive traditions from 19th-century German settlers.
  • Wow moment: Bishop Joseph Siegel, a homegrown priest from Jasper, Indiana, became the 6th bishop in 2017, boosting vocations with his love for seminaries and family rosaries.
  • Little-known gem: The Benedictine sisters at Saint Meinrad Archabbey in the diocese brew their own beer for guests— a tasty nod to monastic hospitality since 1854!
  • Fun fact: Evansville's Reitz Memorial High School has won 20+ state basketball championships, proving Catholic schools dominate Hoosier hoops with faith and teamwork.
  • Did you know? The diocese's "The Message" newspaper has been sharing faith stories since 1960, including heartwarming tales of 100-year-old parishioners still serving Mass.
  • Surprise! In 2023, the diocese celebrated 30 vocations to priesthood, one of the highest rates per Catholic in Indiana—proof of fervent prayer in these river towns!

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    Associated saints

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    Diocesan photos

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    References

    1. ↑ "Diocese of Evansville". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/devan.html. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
    2. ↑ "Quum in regione (1944)". https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/la/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-xii_apc_19441221_quum-in-regione.html. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
    3. ↑ "Diocese History". https://evdio.org/history. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
    4. ↑ "Map & Directory". https://evdio.org/about-us/map-directory. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
    5. ↑ "St. Joseph Cathedral". https://evdio.org/cathedral. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
    6. ↑ "Bishop Joseph Michael Siegel". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bsiegeljm.html. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
    7. ↑ "Diocese of Evansville". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/devan.html. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
    8. ↑ "Liturgy & Worship". https://evdio.org/worship/liturgy. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
    9. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". https://evdio.org/respect-life. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
    10. ↑ "Diocese of Evansville". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/devan.html. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
    11. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". https://www.evangelicalcatholic.org/stats. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
    12. ↑ "Saint Meinrad Monastery". https://monasteryfoundation.org/. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
    13. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". https://evdio.org/religious. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
    14. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". https://evdio.org/parishes. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
    15. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". https://evdio.org/schools. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
    16. ↑ "Catholic Charities Evansville". https://evdcharities.org/. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
    17. ↑ "Archbishop Paul Francis Leibold". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bleibold.html. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 
    18. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". https://evdio.org/news/ncyc. Retrieved 2024-10-01. 

    External Links

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