Here are a few items from the calendar to pass along to you:
In this country, one hundred years ago is a long long time. But, what about 260 years ago? Not only that, but 260 years ago in Indiana? Well, that’s how long ago it has been since Fr. Sebastian Louis Meurin S.J. witnessed the marriage of Julen Tratier and Josette Marie on April 21, 1749, in the church of St. Francis Xavier in Vincennes. This is the oldest written record from the church which later became St. Francis Xavier “Cathedral”.
April 23rd will mark 161 years since the death of the Right Rev. John Stephen Bazin, third Bishop of Vincennes. He was seen by many as a kind of hero after the problems that stemmed from the time of Bishop Hailandière. I would maintain that Hailandière wasn’t as bad as some have made him out to be, although he certainly wreaked havoc on some, Saint Mother Theodore Guerin in particular.
Bazin brought a new spirit to the diocese, but it was literally “short lived”. Born in Duerne, in the Archdiocese of Lyons, France on October 15, 1796. Bazin was ordained a priest at Lyons, on July 22, 1822. He came to the United States in 1830 and was appointed vicar general of Mobile. He was chosen as Bishop Hailandière’s replacement and was consecrated bishop of Vincennes in the cathedral at Vincennes, October 24, 1847, by Bishop Michael Portier of Mobile, assisted by Bishop Purcell of Cincinnati and Bishop de la Hailandière, his predecessor. He died at Vincennes, almost exactly six months to the day, on April 23, 1848. His body is interred in the Old Cathedral, Vincennes.
The third item, which will take us up the the first day of May, was the death of the man that Bazin replaced, only this was almost 34 years later. On May 1, 1882, the Right Rev. Célestin René Laurent Guynemer de la Hailandière died in France and his body was returned to Vincennes where it was laid to rest on November 22, 1882.
There will be more on Hailandière next month as well as a number of other items with May being a busy time in Indiana Catholic History.
