John Baptist Vincent de Paul Wehrle
Encyclopedia
John Baptist Vincent de Paul Wehrle, O.S.B.
(December 19, 1855—November 2, 1941) was a Swiss
-born prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He was the first Bishop of Bismarck
(1910-1939).
, St. Gallen
, to John Baptist and Elizabeth (née Hafner) Wehrle. He studied at the minor seminary
of St. Gallen for four years, when it was closed down by an anti-clerical
state government. He then studied at Einsiedeln Abbey
for two years. He made his profession
as a member of the Order of St. Benedict
(more commonly known as the Benedictines) at Einsiedeln on December 3, 1876. He was later ordained
to the priesthood
on April 23, 1882. That same year he was sent by his superiors
to the United States
, where he joined Subiaco Abbey
in Logan County
, Arkansas
. He later went to St. Meinrad Abbey
in Spencer County
, Indiana
.
In 1887 Wehrle came to the Dakota Territory
and was named chancellor
by Bishop Martin Mary
. After laboring as a missionary
among the Native Americans
in Yankton
, he was assigned as pastor
of Devils Lake
. He there founded St. Gall's Priory in 1893, and was elected as its first prior
. He later established Assumption Abbey at Richardton
, where he was abbot
, in 1903. He also established new parishes
in the surrounding towns of Mott
, Richardton, Lefor
, and Strasburg
.
On April 9, 1910, Wehrle was appointed the first Bishop
of the newly-erected Diocese of Bismarck
, North Dakota
, by Pope Pius X
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following May 19 from Archbishop John Ireland
, with Bishops James McGolrick
and James Trobec
serving as co-consecrators
, at the chapel
of St. Paul Seminary
in Minnesota
. His installation
took place on June 16, 1910, and was attended by Governor John Burke. During his 29-year-long tenure, Wehrle presided over a period of great growth for the church. From 1910 to 1939, the number of Catholics increased from 25,000 to 55,000; and 55 churches, 115 congregations, 18 parochial school
s, and four hospital
s were established. He also began construction on the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, but was forced to abandon his efforts due to the Great Depression
.
By 1937 his health began to fail and he became a patient at St. Alexius Hospital
. He resigned as Bishop of Bismarck on December 11, 1939; he was appointed Titular Bishop
of Teos on the same date. Wehrle later died at age 85.
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
(December 19, 1855—November 2, 1941) was a Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
-born 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 was the first Bishop of Bismarck
Roman Catholic Diocese of Bismarck
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bismarck is a Roman Catholic diocese in North Dakota. It was founded on December 31, 1909. It is part of the ecclesiastical province of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, which is headquartered in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St...
(1910-1939).
Biography
Vincent de Paul Wehrle was born in BergBerg, St. Gallen
Berg is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Rorschach in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.-History:Berg is first mentioned in 796 as ad Berga. In 837 it was mentioned as in villa nominata Perc.-Geography:...
, St. Gallen
Canton of St. Gallen
The Canton of St. Gallen is a canton of Switzerland. St. Gallen is located in the north east of Switzerland. It covers an area of 2,026 km², and has a population of . , the population included 97,461 foreigners, or about 20.9% of the total population. The capital is St. Gallen. Spelling...
, to John Baptist and Elizabeth (née Hafner) Wehrle. He studied at the minor seminary
Minor seminary
A minor seminary is a secondary boarding school created for the specific purpose of enrolling teenage boys who have expressed interest in becoming priests. They are generally Roman Catholic institutions, and designed to prepare boys both academically and spiritually for vocations to the priesthood...
of St. Gallen for four years, when it was closed down by an anti-clerical
Anti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism is a historical movement that opposes religious institutional power and influence, real or alleged, in all aspects of public and political life, and the involvement of religion in the everyday life of the citizen...
state government. He then studied at Einsiedeln Abbey
Einsiedeln Abbey
Einsiedeln Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in the town of Einsiedeln in the Canton of Schwyz, Switzerland. The abbey is dedicated to Our Lady of the Hermits, the title being derived from the circumstances of its foundation, from which the name Einsiedeln is also said to have originated...
for two years. He made his profession
Profession (religious)
The term religious profession is defined in the 1983 Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church in relation to members of religious institutes as follows:By religious profession members make a public vow to observe the three evangelical counsels...
as a member of the Order of St. Benedict
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
(more commonly known as the Benedictines) at Einsiedeln on December 3, 1876. He was later ordained
Holy 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....
on April 23, 1882. That same year he was sent by his superiors
Superior (hierarchy)
In a hierarchy or tree structure of any kind, a superior is an individual or position at a higher level in the hierarchy than another , and thus closer to the apex. It is often used in business terminology to refer to people who are supervisors and in the military to people who are higher in the...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he joined Subiaco Abbey
Subiaco Abbey and Academy
Subiaco Abbey is a Benedictine monastery located in Logan County, Arkansas, United States, in the Arkansas River valley. Subiaco Abbey and its associated academy are major features of the town of Subiaco, Arkansas. It is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Little Rock. It is named after...
in Logan County
Logan County, Arkansas
Logan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 22,353. There are two county seats: Booneville and Paris.-History :...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. He later went to St. Meinrad Abbey
St. Meinrad Archabbey
Saint Meinrad Archabbey in Spencer County, Indiana, USA, was founded by monks from Einsiedeln Abbey on March 21, 1854, and is home to approximately 98 monks. It is one of only two archabbeys in the United States and one of 11 in the world....
in Spencer County
Spencer County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,391 people, 7,569 households, and 5,752 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 8,333 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
, 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...
.
In 1887 Wehrle came to the Dakota Territory
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
and was named chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
by Bishop Martin Mary
Martin Marty (bishop)
Bishop Martin Marty, O.S.B. was a Benedictine priest and missionary in America. He was the first Abbot of St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana, the first Vicar Apostolic of Dakota Territory, and the second Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Cloud...
. After laboring as a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
among the Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
in Yankton
Yankton, South Dakota
Yankton is a city in, and the county seat of, Yankton County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 14,454 at the 2010 census. Yankton was the original capital of Dakota Territory. It is named for the Yankton tribe of Nakota Native Americans...
, he was assigned as 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"....
of Devils Lake
Devils Lake, North Dakota
As of the 2000 Census, there were 7,222 people, 3,127 households, and 1,773 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,508 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 89.23% White, 0.22% African American, 7.84% Native American, 0.28%...
. He there founded St. Gall's Priory in 1893, and was elected as its first prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
. He later established Assumption Abbey at Richardton
Richardton, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 619 people, 251 households, and 168 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,686.7 people per square mile . There were 285 housing units at an average density of 776.6 per square mile...
, where he was abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
, in 1903. He also established new parishes
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
in the surrounding towns of Mott
Mott, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 808 people, 362 households, and 205 families residing in the city. The population density was 894.4 people per square mile . There were 441 housing units at an average density of 488.1 per square mile...
, Richardton, Lefor
Lefor, North Dakota
Lefor is an unincorporated community in southern Stark County, North Dakota, United States. It lies southeast of the city of Dickinson, the county seat of Stark County. Its elevation is 2,592 feet . Lefor's post office closed November 2, 2002, but the town still has its own ZIP code of...
, and Strasburg
Strasburg, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 549 people, 216 households, and 136 families residing in Strasburg. The population density was 1,823.0 people per square mile . There were 245 housing units at an average density of 813.5 per square mile . The racial makeup of the town was 96.72% White, 0.18%...
.
On April 9, 1910, Wehrle was appointed the first Bishop
Ordinary
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 Bismarck
Roman Catholic Diocese of Bismarck
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bismarck is a Roman Catholic diocese in North Dakota. It was founded on December 31, 1909. It is part of the ecclesiastical province of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, which is headquartered in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St...
, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, by Pope Pius X
Pope Pius X
Pope Saint Pius X , born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was the 257th Pope of the Catholic Church, serving from 1903 to 1914. He was the first pope since Pope Pius V to be canonized. Pius X rejected modernist interpretations of Catholic doctrine, promoting traditional devotional practices and orthodox...
. 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 the following May 19 from Archbishop John Ireland
John Ireland (archbishop)
John Ireland was the third bishop and first archbishop of Saint Paul, Minnesota . He became both a religious as well as civic leader in Saint Paul during the turn of the century...
, with Bishops James McGolrick
James McGolrick
James McGolrick was a U.S. bishop. He was the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Duluth, between the foundation of the diocese in 1889 until his death in 1918....
and James Trobec
James Trobec
James Trobec was the third Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Cloud, in Saint Cloud, Minnesota.Born in Slovenia, Trobec was ordained a priest on September 8, 1865...
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 chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
of 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,...
in 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...
. His installation
Enthronement
An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. This ritual is generally distinguished from a coronation because there is no crown or other regalia that is physically...
took place on June 16, 1910, and was attended by Governor John Burke. During his 29-year-long tenure, Wehrle presided over a period of great growth for the church. From 1910 to 1939, the number of Catholics increased from 25,000 to 55,000; and 55 churches, 115 congregations, 18 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:...
s, and four hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s were established. He also began construction on the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, but was forced to abandon his efforts due to the Great Depression
Great Depression in the United States
The Great Depression began with the Wall Street Crash of October, 1929 and rapidly spread worldwide. The market crash marked the beginning of a decade of high unemployment, poverty, low profits, deflation, plunging farm incomes, and lost opportunities for economic growth and personal advancement...
.
By 1937 his health began to fail and he became a patient at St. Alexius Hospital
St. Alexius Medical Center
St. Alexius Medical Center is an American healthcare provider headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota. St. Alexius is the oldest healthcare provider in the state of North Dakota....
. He resigned as Bishop of Bismarck on December 11, 1939; he was appointed Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Teos on the same date. Wehrle later died at age 85.