Michael Heiss | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Milwaukee | |
 | |
| See | Archdiocese of Milwaukee |
| Installed | September 7, 1881 |
| Term ended | March 26, 1890 |
| Predecessor | John Henni |
| Successor | Frederick Katzer |
| Other posts | Bishop of La Crosse (1868–1880) Coadjutor Archbishop of Milwaukee (1880–1881) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | October 18, 1840 by Karl-August von Reisach |
| Consecration | September 6, 1868 by John Henni |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1818-04-12)April 12, 1818 Pfahldorf,Kingdom of Bavaria |
| Died | March 26, 1890(1890-03-26) (aged 71) |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Education | University of Munich |
| Motto | Gratia et pax (Grace and peace) |
Michael Heiss (April 12, 1818 – March 26, 1890) was aGerman-bornAmerican Catholic prelate who served asarchbishop of Milwaukee in Wisconsin from 1881 to 1890. He previously served as the firstBishop of La Crosse in Wisconsin (1868–1880).
Michael Heiss was born on April 12, 1818, in Pfahldorf in theKingdom of Bavaria (now part of present-dayKipfenberg, Germany), to Joseph and Gertrude (née Frei) Heiss. He receivedconfirmation when he was only two years old because his parents feared they would be without abishop for a prolonged period of time due to tension between church and state.[1] Heiss entered aLatin school at age nine, and later graduated from thegymnasium ofNeuburg, Bavaria, in 1835.[2]
Heiss then entered theUniversity of Munich, where he originally studiedlaw but switched totheology after deciding to join thepriesthood.[3] He completed his studies at the Collegium Willibaldum, a seminary inEichstätt, Bavaria.[2]
Heiss wasordained a priest in Bavaria for theDiocese of Louisville by BishopKarl-August von Reisach on October 18, 1840.[4] Because, at age 22, he was younger than the age requirement for ordination, Heiss was granted adispensation byPope Gregory XVI.[1] Heiss briefly served as acurate inRaitenbuch, Bavaria and afterwards inPleinfeld, Bavaria.[3]
In December 1842, Heiss emigrated to the United States, where the diocese assigned him aspastor ofMother of God Parish, a German immigrant parish inCovington, Kentucky.
The Diocese of Louisville released Heiss in 1844 to serve as secretary toJohn Henni, bishop of the newDiocese of Milwaukee in Wisconsin.[5] Heiss in 1849 attended the firstPlenary Council of Baltimore, a meeting of all the bishops in the United States. At this time, the German Catholics in Milwaukee were pressing Henni for a German-language national parish. In response, Henni erected St. Mary's Parish inMilwaukee and assigned Heiss as its first pastor.[6][7]
While at St. Mary's, Heiss' health deteriorated, forcing him to spend the next two years in Europe recuperating. In 1856, after Heiss returned to Wisconsin, Henni appointed him asrector ofSt. Francis de Sales Seminary in St. Francis, Wisconsin. Heiss opened Christ King Chapel at the seminary in 1861. He served as rector at St. Francis until 1868.[2][8]
Pope Pius IX on March 3, 1868, erected the Diocese of La Crosse in Wisconsin and appointed Heiss as its first bishop. He was consecrated at theCathedral of St John the Evangelist in Milwaukee on September 6, 1868, by Henni.[9]
When the diocese was erected, it had 22 priests, 23 churches and approximated 50 stations. The diocese included national parishes for Irish, German, Polish and Italian immigrants. The diocese at this time was financially-strapped and reliant on foreign donations for its operations.[10][11]
After his consecration, Heiss hired architect Charles I. Ross to design St. Joseph Cathedral. Heiss laid the cornerstone for the Cathedral in 1869.[11] That same year, he returned to Baltimore for theSecond Plenary Council.
In 1870, Heiss traveled to Rome to attend theFirst Vatican Council. The new cathedral was dedicated that year during his absence. After the conclusion of the conference, Heiss traveled to Bavaria to visit friends and family and to recruit more clergy for his diocese.
In 1871, at Heiss' request, theFranciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration transferred from Jefferson, Wisconsin to Milwaukee, where they built theSt. Rose of Viterbo Convent.[12][13] The sisters had previously worked with Heiss, managing the household responsibilities at Saint Francis de Sales Seminary. That same year, they opened St. Rose High School in La Crosse.[14]
On March 14, 1880, Heiss was appointedcoadjutor archbishop of Milwaukee byPope Leo XIII to assist Henni. On September 7, 1881, after Henni's death, Heiss automatically succeeded him as archbishop of Milwaukee.[4]
As archbishop, Heiss reduced the archdiocesan debt and created aschool board for the growing number of archdiocesan schools. He promoted the teaching of English in the parish schools and worked to recruit more American women into thereligious orders.[5] In 1884, Heiss attended theThird Plenary Council of Baltimore.[14]
Michael Heiss died inLa Crosse, Wisconsin, on March 26, 1890, at age 71. He was buried at Christ King Chapel in St. Francis de Sales Seminary.[8]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Archbishop of Milwaukee 1881–1890 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by None | Coadjutor Bishop of Milwaukee 1880–1881 | Succeeded by None |
| Preceded by None | Bishop of La Crosse 1868–1880 | Succeeded by |
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