Silas Chatard
Encyclopedia
Silas Francis Marean Chatard (1834-1918) was a Roman Catholic
Bishop
of Indianapolis
in the United States
.
He was born Francis Chatard in Baltimore, Maryland
on December 13, 1834. Raised in a prominent family in Baltimore, he attended Mount Saint Mary's College (now Mount Saint Mary's University
), receiving a doctorate in medicine.
Soon afterward, he received a revelation and began studying at the College of the Propaganda at Rome to become a priest. He was ordained on June 14, 1862, and received a Doctor of Divinity
degree from the college the next year.
Following his graduation, he served as Vice-Rector of the Pontifical North American College
in Rome
. In 1868, he became rector of the college. On March 26, 1878 he was named Bishop of the Diocese of Vincennes, in Indiana
. At his consecration in Rome on June 14, 1878, he switched his first and middle name, taking the name of Francis Silas. (The name Marean was his mother's maiden name.) He was installed in the cathedral at Vincennes on August 11, 1878 and he went almost immediately to Indianapolis, arriving there on August 17, 1878.
Chatard had not been bishop very long when, in 1883, he was rumored as the new Archbishop of Philadelphia. That appointment never took place for reasons unknown. Chatard did have some impact on the American Church, however. He aligned himself with the more conservative wing of the Church, led by Michael Corrigan of New York and others. The more progressive wing was led by the likes of Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Ireland.
While bishop, he oversaw the movement of the Episcopal see
of the diocese of Vincennes to Indianapolis in 1898. Following the move, he was named as the first bishop of the newly-renamed diocese of Indianapolis
. When he died on September 7, 1918, at the age of 83, he did so having enormously changed the face of the Catholic Church in Indiana. His body was interred in the crypt of the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul
in Indianapolis. On June 8, 1976, Bishop Chatard’s remains were transferred from the cathedral to the Calvary Cemetery, Chapel Mausoleum, Indianapolis.
The diocese of Indianapolis was split in 1944. The old see city of Vincennes was made part of the new diocese of Evansville
with Indianapolis
being raised to the status of Archdiocese.
In the 1960s, establishment for Bishop Chatard High School began. The high school is highly populated nowadays, located in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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...
Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Indianapolis
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis is a division of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It was originally erected as the Diocese of Vincennes, Indiana on May 6, 1834, and encompassed all of Indiana as well as the eastern third of Illinois...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
He was born Francis Chatard in Baltimore, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
on December 13, 1834. Raised in a prominent family in Baltimore, he attended Mount Saint Mary's College (now Mount Saint Mary's University
Mount Saint Mary's University
Mount St. Mary's University, also known as The Mount, is a private, liberal arts, Catholic university in the Catoctin Mountains near Emmitsburg, Maryland. It was founded by French émigré Father John DuBois in 1808 and is the oldest independent Catholic college in the United States...
), receiving a doctorate in medicine.
Soon afterward, he received a revelation and began studying at the College of the Propaganda at Rome to become a priest. He was ordained on June 14, 1862, and received a Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
degree from the college the next year.
Following his graduation, he served as Vice-Rector of the Pontifical North American College
Pontifical North American College
The Pontifical North American College is a Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy educating seminarians for the dioceses in the United States and providing a residence for American priests studying in Rome. It was founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX and was granted pontifical...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. In 1868, he became rector of the college. On March 26, 1878 he was named Bishop of the Diocese of Vincennes, in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. At his consecration in Rome on June 14, 1878, he switched his first and middle name, taking the name of Francis Silas. (The name Marean was his mother's maiden name.) He was installed in the cathedral at Vincennes on August 11, 1878 and he went almost immediately to Indianapolis, arriving there on August 17, 1878.
Chatard had not been bishop very long when, in 1883, he was rumored as the new Archbishop of Philadelphia. That appointment never took place for reasons unknown. Chatard did have some impact on the American Church, however. He aligned himself with the more conservative wing of the Church, led by Michael Corrigan of New York and others. The more progressive wing was led by the likes of Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Ireland.
While bishop, he oversaw the movement of the Episcopal see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
of the diocese of Vincennes to Indianapolis in 1898. Following the move, he was named as the first bishop of the newly-renamed diocese of Indianapolis
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis is a division of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It was originally erected as the Diocese of Vincennes, Indiana on May 6, 1834, and encompassed all of Indiana as well as the eastern third of Illinois...
. When he died on September 7, 1918, at the age of 83, he did so having enormously changed the face of the Catholic Church in Indiana. His body was interred in the crypt of the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul
Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, Indianapolis
Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It is the seat of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. St. John the Evangelist Church in Indianapolis served as the Proto-cathedral from 1871-1907. The Diocese of Vincennes was renamed the Diocese...
in Indianapolis. On June 8, 1976, Bishop Chatard’s remains were transferred from the cathedral to the Calvary Cemetery, Chapel Mausoleum, Indianapolis.
The diocese of Indianapolis was split in 1944. The old see city of Vincennes was made part of the new diocese of Evansville
Roman Catholic Diocese of Evansville
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Evansville is a Roman Catholic diocese in Southwestern Indiana. It was founded on October 21, 1944.The diocese includes the entirety of the eleven southwestern Indiana counties of Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Pike, Posey, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, and...
with Indianapolis
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis is a division of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It was originally erected as the Diocese of Vincennes, Indiana on May 6, 1834, and encompassed all of Indiana as well as the eastern third of Illinois...
being raised to the status of Archdiocese.
In the 1960s, establishment for Bishop Chatard High School began. The high school is highly populated nowadays, located in Indianapolis, Indiana.