The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-05-05

Of Nashville Bishop Ritter is one
of the youngest bishops in the
United States He was born in New
Albany, July 20, 1892, where he at
tended parochial school. He COM
pleted his theological studies at ST..
Meinrad's seminary, where he was
ordained by Bishop Chartrand, May
30, 1917. After his ordination, he
served six months as a curate at St.
Patricks, Indianapolis, and was then
transferred to the cathedral, where
he has been stationed since.
On March "a, the present Pope
conferred upon him the degree, Doc
tor of Sacred Theology.
TINE last conservation ceremony
Il performed by Bishop Chart
rand was a few weeks before his
death. On Oct 25, 1888, the Most
Rev James Hugh Ryan, rector of
the Catholic University of America,
was consecrated Titular Bishop of
Modra, by Bishop Chartrand at
Washington, D. c., in the national
shrine of the Immaculate Concep-
ton. Assisting Bishop Chartrand
in the conservation rites we're the
Most Rev. Thomas E. Molloy, Bishop
of Brooklyn and the Most Rev.
Bishop Ritter, the auxiliary, Of In
dianapolis. AS rector of the Cath
Ole university, Bishop Ryan, who
nh
professor of philosophy at st. Mary
of-the- Woods college, now occupies
the most important Catholic educa-
tional post in the United States.
One of the last official acts of
Bishop Chartrand was the appoint
ment of a committee for the cele-
bration of the centennial Of his
diocese which occurs Sunday, May g.,
1894. Bishop Ritter was appointed
chairman of the committee and with
him, eleven members of the clergy
headed by Rt. Rev Ignatius Esser
o. S. B., Abbot Of st. Meinrads
abbey and seminary and the heads
Of the principal Catholic lay socie-
ties of the diocese.
Bishop Chartrand, on April 26,
1882, was honored by the Italian
government with the decoration of
Knight Commander of the Grown of
Italy for his spiritual work in behalf
of the Italians of his diocese. On
Feb. 4, 1923, Pope Plus XT, honored
Bishop Chartrand by making him
an assistant at the pontif1cal throne
Bishop Chartrand was a stanch
advocate of the Catholic press and
during his epsicopacy issued many
letters in which he eXhorted his
flock to be generous and Jealous in
the diffusion and support of the
Catholic press
On Oct. %, 1882, the Rt. Rev.
MSgr. Francis H GaviSk, vicar
general and chancellor of the
diocese, died at the age of rs. Father
Gavisk was one of the most beloved
and ablest priests Of the diocese and
nationally known for his outstand-
ing work in the field of charities
and corrections He had been
pastor of st. Johns church, In
dianapolis, for forty years. He was
appointed vicar-general by Bishop
Chartrand in 1918 and made
prothonotary apostolic, July 16 1919.
At his death. the chancellorship was
assumed by the Rt. Rev. Msgr.
Joseph E. Hamill, Phi. D., who was
made prothonotary apostolic in
1888. At the same time, the fol-
lowing priests of the diocese were
created domestic prelates by the
Pope at the request of Bishop
Chartrand; the Rt. Rev. John P.
O'Connell; the Rt. Rev. William A.
Jochum; the Ri Rev. Frederic
Ketter; the Ri. Rev. William Kreis.
the Rt. Rev. Raymond R. Noll, D.
D.; the Rt. Rev. William Keefe; the
Rt. Rev. Maurice O'Connor and the
Rt Rev. Marino Priori All of these
monSignori were solemnly invested
with their insignia by Bishop Chart
rand in the summer of 1888.
We now come to the last and
most important achievement of
Bishop Chartrand, his constant,
dominant zeal in spreading the de-
votion of frequent and daily Holy
Communion. 1t is this one endur-
ing achievement of his amid the
distractions of a sordid and ma
teriahstic world that will perpetuate
his name for all the years to come.
In Catholic dogma. the Holy
Eucharist is the body, blood, soul