Alphonse James Schladweiler
Encyclopedia
Alphonse James Schladweiler (July 18, 1902—April 3, 1996) was an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of New Ulm
from 1958 to 1975.
, the third child of Mathias and Gertrude (née Schneider) Schladweiler. Following his mother's death in 1911, he and his family moved to Madison
, Minnesota
. He attended the parochial school
of St. Michael's Church, where he served as an altar boy
. He studied at the Franciscan Minor Seminary in Teutopolis
, Illinois
, for six years before teaching Latin
at St. Michael's High School. In 1923, he enrolled at St. Paul Seminary
.
to the priesthood
by Archbishop Austin Dowling
on June 9, 1927. His first assignment was as a curate
at the Church of the Nativity in St. Paul
, and he later served at Holy Trinity Church in New Ulm
, St. Michael's Church in St. Michael
, and St. Bernard's Church in Cologne
. He also served as chaplain
of St. Mary's Hospital in Minneapolis.
Schladweiler received his first pastor
ate at St. Joseph's Church in Montevideo
. He later served as pastor of St. Michael's Church in Morgan
and of Holy Rosary Church in North Mankato
. In December 1955, he was appointed pastor of St. Agnes Church in St. Paul. In addition to his pastoral duties, he served as prosynodal judge for the Archdiocese of St. Paul
from 1954 to 1957. He was raised to the rank of domestic prelate
in 1957.
of the newly-erected Diocese of New Ulm
by Pope Pius XII
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on January 29, 1958 from Archbishop William O. Brady, with Bishops James Joseph Byrne and Hilary Baumann Hacker
serving as co-consecrators
, at the Cathedral of St. Paul. His installation took place at Holy Trinity Church on January 30, 1958.
Between 1962 and 1965, Schaldweiler participated in all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council
in Rome. Following the conclusion of the Council, he worked to implement its reforms, including introducing English
into the Mass
. During his 18-year tenure, he ordained 64 priests and organized St. Isadore Church in Clarkfield
(1960) and Lady of the Lakes Church in Spicer
(1962). In 1972, he founded a diocesan newspaper, Newsletter, and the Diocesan Pastoral Council. He also established a mission in Guatemala
, assuming responsibility for staffing a parish in San Lucas Tolimán
.
, an auxiliary bishop
of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
He later moved to Divine Providence Community Home in Sleepy Eye
, where he died at age 93. He is buried in the New Ulm Catholic cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He served as Bishop of New Ulm
Roman Catholic Diocese of New Ulm
The Roman Catholic Diocese of New Ulm is a Roman Catholic diocese in Minnesota. It was founded on November 18, 1957, by Pope Pius XII. On July 14, 2008, John M. LeVoir was appointed as Bishop of New Ulm.The past bishops of the diocese are:...
from 1958 to 1975.
Early life and education
Alphonse Schladweiler was born in Milwaukee, WisconsinWisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, the third child of Mathias and Gertrude (née Schneider) Schladweiler. Following his mother's death in 1911, he and his family moved to Madison
Madison, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,768 people, 789 households, and 462 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,737.6 people per square mile . There were 882 housing units at an average density of 866.9 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 99.21% White,...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. He attended the parochial school
Parochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
of St. Michael's Church, where he served as an altar boy
Altar server
An altar server is a lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a Christian religious service. An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as fetching and carrying, ringing the altar bell and so on....
. He studied at the Franciscan Minor Seminary in Teutopolis
Teutopolis, Illinois
Teutopolis is a village in Effingham County, Illinois.-Geography:Teutopolis is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land.-History:...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, for six years before teaching Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
at St. Michael's High School. In 1923, he enrolled at St. Paul Seminary
Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity
The Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity, located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, was founded by Archbishop John Ireland in 1894, to provide ordained priests for the ever-increasing Catholic population of the Upper Midwest. The seminary now sits on the south campus of the University of St. Thomas,...
.
Priesthood
Schladweiler was ordainedHoly Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Archbishop Austin Dowling
Austin Dowling
Austin Dowling was the second Archbishop and fourth bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. He was appointed on January 31, 1919 and held the office to his death...
on June 9, 1927. His first assignment was as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at the Church of the Nativity in St. Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
, and he later served at Holy Trinity Church in New Ulm
New Ulm, Minnesota
New Ulm is a city in Brown County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,522 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brown County....
, St. Michael's Church in St. Michael
St. Michael, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,099 people, 2,926 households, and 2,437 families residing in the city. The population density was 279.4 people per square mile . There were 3,058 housing units at an average density of 93.9 per square mile...
, and St. Bernard's Church in Cologne
Cologne, Minnesota
Cologne is a city in Carver County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,519 at the 2010 census. The city is about 30 miles away from Minneapolis.-Geography:...
. He also served as chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
of St. Mary's Hospital in Minneapolis.
Schladweiler received his first pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
ate at St. Joseph's Church in Montevideo
Montevideo, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,346 people, 2,353 households, and 1,444 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,190.5 people per square mile . There were 2,551 housing units at an average density of 568.1 per square mile...
. He later served as pastor of St. Michael's Church in Morgan
Morgan, Minnesota
Morgan is a city in Redwood County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 896 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
and of Holy Rosary Church in North Mankato
North Mankato, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,798 people, 4,744 households, and 3,178 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,502.5 people per square mile . There were 5,046 housing units at an average density of 1,070.3 per square mile...
. In December 1955, he was appointed pastor of St. Agnes Church in St. Paul. In addition to his pastoral duties, he served as prosynodal judge for the Archdiocese of St. Paul
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the United States. It is led by the prelature of an archbishop which administers the archdiocese from the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis...
from 1954 to 1957. He was raised to the rank of domestic prelate
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
in 1957.
Episcopacy
On November 28, 1957, Schaldweiler was appointed the first BishopOrdinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
of the newly-erected Diocese of New Ulm
Roman Catholic Diocese of New Ulm
The Roman Catholic Diocese of New Ulm is a Roman Catholic diocese in Minnesota. It was founded on November 18, 1957, by Pope Pius XII. On July 14, 2008, John M. LeVoir was appointed as Bishop of New Ulm.The past bishops of the diocese are:...
by Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
. He received his episcopal
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on January 29, 1958 from Archbishop William O. Brady, with Bishops James Joseph Byrne and Hilary Baumann Hacker
Hilary Baumann Hacker
Hilary Baumann Hacker was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Bismarck from 1957 to 1982.Hacker was born to Emil and Sophia Hacker in New Ulm, Minnesota. He attended Holy Trinity High School for two years before entering Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary. He studied at St...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
, at the Cathedral of St. Paul. His installation took place at Holy Trinity Church on January 30, 1958.
Between 1962 and 1965, Schaldweiler participated in all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
in Rome. Following the conclusion of the Council, he worked to implement its reforms, including introducing English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
into the Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
. During his 18-year tenure, he ordained 64 priests and organized St. Isadore Church in Clarkfield
Clarkfield, Minnesota
Clarkfield is a city in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, United States, surrounded by Friendship Township. The population was 863 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
(1960) and Lady of the Lakes Church in Spicer
Spicer, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,126 people residing in the city. The population density was 1,038.4 people per square mile . There were 605 housing units at an average density of 557.9 per square mile...
(1962). In 1972, he founded a diocesan newspaper, Newsletter, and the Diocesan Pastoral Council. He also established a mission in Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, assuming responsibility for staffing a parish in San Lucas Tolimán
San Lucas Tolimán
San Lucas Tolimán is a municipality in the Sololá department of Guatemala. The town of 17,000 people sits on the southeastern shore of Lago de Atitlán, described by Aldous Huxley as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. The population is 90-95% Highland Maya...
.
Later life and death
Schaldweiler retired as Bishop of New Ulm on December 23, 1975. He was succeeded by Bishop Raymond Alphonse LuckerRaymond Alphonse Lucker
Raymond Alphonse Lucker was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of New Ulm from 1976 to 2000.-Early life and education:...
, an auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
He later moved to Divine Providence Community Home in Sleepy Eye
Sleepy Eye, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,515 people, 1,479 households, and 942 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,099.9 people per square mile . There were 1,591 housing units at an average density of 950.5 per square mile...
, where he died at age 93. He is buried in the New Ulm Catholic cemetery.