Diocese of Vincennes

The Diocese of Vincennes, a suffragan diocese of the Latin Rite, was a historic diocese in the United States. Established in 1834 by Pope Gregory XVI, it encompassed much of the Indiana Territory and served the growing Catholic population on the American frontier. The episcopal see was transferred to Indianapolis in 1898, after which the diocese was suppressed and its territory reorganized as the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Stored in Cargo: Diocese of Vincennes

Diocese: Diocese of Vincennes
Status:	Historic
Rite:	Latin
Type:	Suffragan diocese
Country:	United States
Region:	Indiana
Existence:	1834–1898
Successor Dioceses:	Archdiocese of Indianapolis

Establishment

The Diocese of Vincennes was erected on 6 May 1834 by Pope Gregory XVI to serve the expanding Catholic communities in the Indiana Territory and adjacent regions, carved from territory previously under the Diocese of Bardstown.

History

Early Years

The diocese was established amid rapid settlement of the Midwest following the Louisiana Purchase and the opening of the Erie Canal. Early bishops focused on building churches, schools, and missions among French, German, and Irish immigrants as well as Native American communities.

Transfer of See

In 1898 the episcopal see was moved from Vincennes to Indianapolis. The original diocese was thereby suppressed, and its territory became the foundation for the newly erected Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

Geography

The historic diocese covered the entire state of Indiana together with portions of eastern Illinois. Its territory corresponded to the modern civil boundaries of Indiana and adjacent counties in Illinois.

Mother Church

The former mother church was the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Vincennes, Indiana, a brick structure completed in 1826 that served as the cathedral until the transfer of the see.

Leadership

Past Bishops

Name	Tenure	Notes
Simon William Gabriel Bruté de Rémur	1834–1839	First Bishop of Vincennes; founded seminaries and schools.
Célestine René Laurent Guynemer de la Hailandière	1843–1847	Second Bishop; expanded missions and constructed churches.
John Stephen Bazin	1847–1848	Third Bishop; brief tenure ended by death.
Jacques Maurice de St. Palais	1848–1877	Fourth Bishop; oversaw growth during Civil War era.
Francis Silas Marean Chatard	1878–1898	Fifth and final Bishop of Vincennes; see transferred to Indianapolis.

According to diocesan records and Vatican documents.

Titular Status

The former Diocese of Vincennes is not currently maintained as a titular see.

Fun facts

Below are some fun facts about the Diocese of Vincennes:

Did you know? The Diocese of Vincennes was erected in 1834 by Pope Gregory XVI, making it one of the earliest dioceses west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Surprise! Its first bishop, Simon Bruté, personally designed and helped build many of the diocese's earliest log churches and schools while traveling on horseback across Indiana.

Here's something cool: The Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Vincennes still stands today as a minor basilica and contains the tombs of several early bishops.

Wow moment: Bishop Bruté brought the first printing press to Indiana and used it to publish the diocese's first Catholic newspaper.

Little-known gem: The diocese once included parts of Illinois and served both French Creole and Native American congregations before state boundaries were finalized.

Fun fact: The transfer of the see to Indianapolis in 1898 preserved the historic cathedral in Vincennes as a treasured pilgrimage site.

Surprise! Several early bishops of Vincennes were French aristocrats who fled the French Revolution and brought European liturgical traditions to the American frontier.

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Diocesan photos

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External Links

• Archdiocese of Indianapolis official website
• Basilica of St. Francis Xavier