Theophile Meerschaert
The Right Reverend Theophile Meerschaert | |
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Vicar Apostolic of Indian Territory Titular Bishop of Sidyma | |
Signature |
Styles of Theophile Meerschaert | |
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Your Excellency | |
Religious style | Monsignor |
Posthumous style | none |
Theophile Meerschaert (24 August 1847 – 21 February 1924) was a Belgian-born prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Oklahoma (and its predecessor) in the United States from 1891 until his death in 1924.
Early life and education
Théophile Meerschaert was born on 24 August 1847 in Russignies, a farming village near
Ordination and ministry
Meerschaert was
Vicar Apostolic in Oklahoma
On 2 June 1891, Meerschaert was appointed
At the time of his arrival, the vicariate had three diocesan priests, 23
Bishop of Oklahoma
Meerschaert was named the first Bishop of Oklahoma on 23 August 1905, when Pope Pius X raised the vicariate to the rank of a diocese.[6]
For thirty-two years as the Bishop, Meerschaert kept a detailed diary about his life and career in Oklahoma. It was edited and published as a book seventy years after his death.[1]
Meerschaert died on 21 February 1924 at St. Anthony's Hospital in Oklahoma City, aged 76.[3] Originally buried at Fairlawn Cemetery in Oklahoma City, his remains were transferred to the Bishops' Vault at Resurrection Cemetery, also in Oklahoma City.[1]
Writings
Theophile Meerschaert, author, and James D. White, editor, Diary of a frontier bishop: The journals of Theophile Meerschaert (
See also
- Hierarchy of the Catholic Church
- Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
- List of Catholic bishops in the United States
- Lists of popes, patriarchs, primates, archbishops, and bishops
References
- ^ a b c d White, James D. "Meerschaert, Theophile (1847–1924)". Oklahoma Historical Society: Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture. Archived from the original on 30 July 2010.
- ^ (in French) Théophile Meerscheart, Birth Certificate No. 12, filed 24 August 1847, Register of Births for the Year 1862, Russeignies, East Flanders, Belgium; in: FamilySearch, "Belgium, Hainaut, Civil Registration, 1600–1911"; Russeignies, Geboorten, huwelijken, overladen [Dutch, "Births, Marriages, Deaths"] 1811–1870; Image 496, Left Page, Item 3. The titles and columns were in Dutch but the actual birth certificate was in French. In 1847, Russeignies still belonged to the province of East Flanders. It did not switch to the province of Hainaut until 1963. See (in French) "Historie de la commune", Belgique – Russeignies (Rozenaken), at Geneawiki for more details.
- ^ a b c d Williams, R.L. "Right Rev. Theophile Meerschaert (1847–1924)". Chronicles of Oklahoma.
- ^ a b c d e "Growth: 1891–1924". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008.
- ^ a b "Bishop Theophile Meerschaert". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.[self-published source]