The Catholic Church first came to what is now western Indiana in the form of the Wea people, who were evangelized by the Jesuits in the 1700s. They built villages along the banks of the Wabash River, often placing a large cross in the center. They were joined by French trappers and traders, and after 1800, a number of Irish and German Catholic settlers. In 1816, the City of Terre Haute was established by the Americans, who drove the French and Indian Catholics out.

In 1837, the new bishop of Vincennes, Indiana, Simon Bruté, came to Terre Haute and established two parishes – St. Joseph’s in Terre Haute City, and St. Mary’s Village in the woods on the other side of the river. Travelling priests served these parishes. In 1840, Mother Théodore Guérin – now St. Théodore – arrived from France and became a powerhouse of energy for the local church. She established the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Providence, the College of St. Mary of the Woods, the St. Vincent Academy for Girls at St. Joe’s parish, and inspired the parishioners to dream of more. In 1842, Fr. Simon Lalumière became the pastor of St. Joseph’s and served the parish for 15 years, working closely with Mother Théodore.

In 1865, the Benedictine monks of St. Meinrad’s agreed to take on the pastoral care of Terre Haute. The city had expanded rapidly in the 1850s and there were thousands of new immigrants. The Benedictines quickly determined that a second parish was needed, so they established St. Benedict’s just four blocks away from St. Joseph’s as the German parish. The monks envisioned these two parishes as sisters working together to build up the people of God.

The Benedictines also searched for another order to take over the pastoral care of the parishes, since parish work was not their charism. In 1872, friar Leopold Moczygemba – the former leader of the Conventual Franciscans in the United States – led a group of friars to Terre Haute to relieve the Benedictines. The friars established two friaries, one at each parish. We have served the Catholic people in this area ever since. In 1982, the two friaries were combined into St. Maximilian Kolbe Friary.

So many threads come together in Terre Haute, they spin a tapestry that spreads out into the world. The plight of the Native Americans, the pioneering spirit of various religious orders, the experience of immigrant Catholics, industrialization, the post-industrial transformation of America – it is all reflected in the parishes of Terre Haute. This city gave the Conventual Franciscans a minister general (friar Basil Heiser) and many other sons of St. Francis. The people continue to inspire us to this day.

As I serve in Terre Haute, I am aware that so many other friars before me have walked these streets and preached in these churches for 153 years. Ours is a living tradition rooted in the spirit of St. Francis and led forward – this is our earnest prayer – by the Holy Spirit. I am excited to see what the next 153 years will bring!