Ignatius Frederick Horstmann | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Cleveland | |
 | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| See | Diocese of Cleveland |
| In office | February 25, 1892— May 13, 1908 |
| Predecessor | Richard Gilmour |
| Successor | John Patrick Farrelly |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 10, 1865 by Costantino Patrizi Naro |
| Consecration | February 25, 1892 by William Henry Elder |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1840-12-16)December 16, 1840 |
| Died | May 13, 1908(1908-05-13) (aged 67) |
| Buried | Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist |
| Motto | Sustine et abstine (Sustain and abstain) |
| Signature | .png) |
Ignatius Frederick Horstmann (December 16, 1840 – May 13, 1908) was anAmericanprelate of theRoman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of theDiocese of Cleveland in Ohio from 1892 until his death in 1908.
Ignatius Horstmann was born on December 16, 1840, inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania, to Frederick and Catherine (née Weber) Horstmann.[1] After graduating fromCentral High School, he attendedSt. Joseph's College andSt. Charles Borromeo Seminary, all in Philadelphia.[2] In 1860, Horstmann went toRome to attend thePontifical North American College, one of its first students.[1]
While in Rome, Horstmann wasordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia by CardinalCostantino Naro on February 10, 1865.[3] He earned hisDoctor of Divinity degree in Rome in 1866.[2]
Upon his return to Philadelphia in 1866, Horstmann became professor ofphilosophy, German language, andHebrew language at St. Charles Seminary.[1] He was namedpastor of St. Mary's Parish in Philadelphia in 1877, andchancellor of the archdiocese in 1885.[2] Horstmann also served as assistanteditor of theAmerican Catholic Quarterly Review and president of theAmerican Catholic Historical Society.[1]
On December 14, 1891, Horstmann was appointed as the third bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland byPope Leo XIII.[3] He received hisepiscopalconsecration on February 25, 1892, from ArchbishopWilliam Elder, with BishopsWilliam O'Hara andSilas Chatard serving asco-consecrators, at theCathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.[3]
In the early 1890s, Horstmann faced a schism within the diocese. Polish parishioners at St. Stanislaus Parish in Cleveland, led by Reverend Anton Kolaszewski, were demanding more control over their parish with more sensitivity to their customs. In 1892, Horstmann relieved Kolaszewski of his post. When the new pastor arrived for his first mass, a brawl broke out among parishioners. In 1894, many parishioners started a new independent parish, Immaculate Heart of Mary, with Kolaszewski as pastor; Horstmannexcommunicated all of them. Years later, after the deaths of both men, the new church returned to the diocese.[4]
In 1907, Horstmann faced a second schism with Polish Catholics. After removing Reverend Casimir Zakrekac as pastor of St. Vitus Parish in Cleveland, he faced violent protests. After the parish rectory was stoned, the replacement priest was forced to flee. Over 100 people were arrested. On September 22, 1907, 5,000 Polish protesters marched on Horstmann's residence, demanding Zakrekac's reinstatement andhome rule for St. Vitus.[5]
As bishop, Horstmann erected 22 ethnicparishes, but faced opposition from nationalistschismatic groups, including thePolish National Catholic Church.[1] He founded the following institutions in the diocese:
He encouraged themissionary movement, and established of the first band of missionaries (headed by Rev.Walter Elliott)[1] in anydiocese of the United States.[2] He also expanded Catholic hospitals andorphanages, endorsed compulsoryparochial schools, and served as a trustee of theCatholic University of America in Washington, D.C.[2]
Horstmann died from heart disease inCanton on May 13, 1908, at age 67.[2] He was described theCatholic Encyclopedia as "a zealous pastor of souls, a wise and prudent ruler, a fearless defender of truth."[2]
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| Preceded by | Bishop of Cleveland 1892–1908 | Succeeded by |
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