The Diocese began during
an era dominated by boundless optimism, a speculative attitude and an enormous
expansion of business, industry and agriculture. The cities and towns in Southern
Nebraska envisioned themselves as the great commercial centers of the future.
Many had dreams of unlimited prosperity and greatness. In order to attract
settlers from other states and from Europe, the propagandists resorted to
advertisements that greatly exaggerated the advantages of living in Nebraska.
People came from around the world to settle is southern Nebraska.
Population
In 1887, there were approximately 25,000 Catholics in Southern Nebraska, constituting five percent of the total estimated population of 500,000. The members of this small minority of Catholics were scattered over the vast expanse of the Diocese. Furthermore, the great cultural diversity among them added to their isolation. Instead of forming cohesive units, the Catholics were frequently divided into ethnic factions.
American Protective Association
From the time of the establishment of the Diocese, Catholics have encountered opposition. A primary example of this was the American Protective Association, or the APA, which was founded in 1887. Its members affirmed that Catholics could not be good Americans because they had to obey an Italian Pope. The epitome of their fanatical propaganda was probably reached in the accusation that Catholics were massing arms in the basement of the convent of the Ursuline Sisters in York, Nebraska. They thought the arms would be used to take over the country so that the Pope could supplant the president. When they investigated the basement, they found nothing more than the steam pipes for the furnace.
From the vantage point
of history, one can see that the propaganda of the APA promoted, rather than
hindered the development of the Church. Through the undisguised bigotry of
the association, parents became aware of the dangers to their faith and strove
to teach their children the truth. As a result they made a greater effort
to live their faith and became more interested in helping to establish parochial
schools.
Since its beginning in 1887, the Diocese of Lincoln has been guided by eight bishops. Each one made invaluable contributions to the growth of the Church in Southern Nebraska. Their names and the dates that they served the Diocese are as follows:
The Most
Reverend Thomas A. Bonacum 1887-1911
The Most Reverend J. Henry Tihen 1911-1917
The Most Reverend Charles J. O’Reilly 1918-1923
The Most Reverend Francis J. Beckman 1924-1930
The Most Reverend Louis B. Kucera 1930-1957
The Most Reverend James V. Casey 1957-1967
The Most Reverend Glennon P. Flavin 1967-1992
The Most Reverend Fabian W. Bruskewitz 1992-Present
Priests Serving Universal Needs of the Church
God's grace, the intercession
of Mary Immaculate, the prayers, sacrifices and good example of the bishops,
priests, religious and laity, have made it possible for the Diocese of Lincoln
to provide priests to serve not only the needs of the Diocese but also the
needs of the Universal Church. During the year of 1999, two priests of the
Diocese of Lincoln were elevated to the "fullness of the priesthood."
The Most Reverend Thomas J. Olmsted is Coadjutor Bishop of Wichita, Kansas,
and the Most Reverend Robert F. Vasa is Bishop of Baker, Oregon. Since 1968,
priests of this Diocese have served as mission Barquisimeto, Venezuela. At
the request of the Holy See, (a great tribute to this Diocese) Father James
Reinert was appointed a Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations
in New York. Three years later he received the title of monsignor. In 1997,
Monsignor Michael Jackels received a request from the Holy See to serve as
an Official in the Doctrinal Section of the Congregation of the Doctrine of
the Faith. In addition, Monsignor Thomas J. Fucinaro has served in the Congregation
for the Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome since
1996.
St. Thomas Orphanage
One of the monumental
building projects of the pioneer days of the diocese was the construction
of St. Thomas Orphanage. Bishop Bonacum, traveling with horse and buggy, canvassed
the Diocese for funds. After a decade of patient attempts, unremitting dedication
and indomitable courage in the face of criticism, the orphanage at 4001 South
27th Street was completed without debt in 1906, at a cost of $80,000. St.
Thomas Orphanage was finally closed, yet its duties, especially adoption services,
were absorbed by Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Lincoln.
Plan of Providence
There are many manifestations of the growth and vitality of the diocesan family. In 1887, when the Diocese was established, Catholics constituted about five percent of the total population. Today that has increased four-fold, to an estimated twenty percent. Thirty-two priests attempted to take care of the spiritual needs of the Diocese in 1887. That number too, has more than quadrupled.
Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz
The era of the administration of the Most Reverend Fabian W. Bruskewitz from 1992 to the present cannot be covered adequately in this short history. Only a few of the outstanding achievements can be mentioned here, such as the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress in 1995, the Diocesan Synod in 1996, the establishment of Saint Gregory the Great Seminary in 1997, the blessing of cornerstone of Our Lady of Guadeloupe Seminary of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter in 1998, and welcoming the cloistered Carmelite Sisters in 1999.
The climate and the landscape, bigotry and hatred, an increasingly secularized society; these things and more challenge the Catholic Church in southern Nebraska to remain vital and to flourish in the face of adversity. God, in His loving providence continues to bless the diocese and assist the faithful in becoming His holy people. As the Church moves into the third Christian millennium, the challenges lay unknown, but the Lord Jesus, through the powerful intercession of his mother, Mary, remains unchanging and ever-new, to guide His holy Church to union with Him in heaven.
This small work is obviously wanting in detail. For more information concerning the history of the Diocese contact:
Chancery
P. O. Box 80328,
Lincoln, Nebraska 68501
An excellent book, The History of the Diocese of
Lincoln, may be purchased at this address as well.
