Michael Heiss

The Most Reverend  Michael Heiss
Archbishop of Milwaukee
See	Milwaukee
Enthroned	September 7, 1881
Reign ended	March 26, 1890 (&100000000000000080000008 years, &10000000000000200000000200 days)
Predecessor	John Henni
Successor	Frederick Katzer
Other posts	Bishop of La Crosse (1868-80) Coadjutor Archbishop of Milwaukee (1880-81)
Orders
Ordination	October 18, 1840
Consecration	September 6, 1868
Personal details
Born	April 12, 1818(1818-04-12) Pfahldorf, Bavaria, Germany
Died	March 26, 1890(1890-03-26) (aged 71) La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States
Denomination	Catholic Church

Michael Heiss (April 12, 1818—March 26, 1890) was a German-born prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the first Bishop of La Crosse (1868-80) and the second Archbishop of Milwaukee (1881-90).

Biography

Michael Heiss was born in Pfahldorf, Bavaria, to Joseph and Gertrude (née Frei) Heiss.^[1] He received Confirmation when he was only two years old because his parents feared they would be without a bishop for a prolonged period of time due to tension between church and state.^[1] He entered a Latin school at age 9, and later graduated from the gymnasium of Neuburg in 1835.^[2]

Heiss then entered the University of Munich, where he originally studied law but switched to theology after deciding to join the priesthood.^[3] He completed his studies at the ecclesiastical seminary in Eichstätt.^[2] He was ordained a priest by Bishop Karl-August von Reisach on October 18, 1840.^[4] At age 22, he was below the age requirement for ordination but was granted a dispensation by Pope Gregory XVI.^[1]

Heiss served as a curate in Raitenbuch and afterwards in Pleinfeld.^[3] In December 1842, he immigrated to the United States, where he became pastor of Mother of God Church in Covington, Kentucky.^[5] He remained in Covington until 1844, when he was made secretary to John Henni, the newly-appointed Archbishop of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.^[6] He erected St. Mary's Church in Milwaukee, and served as its first pastor with his charge extending over an area of 52 square miles.^[5] In 1856, he was named the first rector of St. Francis Seminary, serving for 12 years.^[2]

Heiss was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse on March 3, 1868, and was ordained a bishop on September 6, 1868. On March 14, 1880, Bishop Heiss was appointed coadjutor Archbishop of Milwaukee. On September 7, 1881, he succeeded Archbishop John Henni on his death as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He was an opponent of the Americanist heresy. Archbishop Heiss died in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and was buried in St. Francis, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, in a chapel at St. Francis Seminary.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Blied, Benjamin Joseph (1955). Three Archbishops of Milwaukee. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Shea, John Gilmary (1886). The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church in the United States. New York: Catholic Publications. 
3. ^ ^{a b} The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. XII. New York: James T. White & Company. 1904. 
4. ^ "Archbishop Michael Heiss". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bheiss.html. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Milwaukee". Catholic Encyclopedia. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10319a.htm. 
6. ^ "Archbishop Michael Heiss". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee. http://www.archmil.org/Bishops/Former-Archbishops/Heiss.htm. 

External links

• Archbishop Michael Heiss
• Archbishop Michael Heiss, The Archdiocese of Milwaukee

Preceded by None

Bishop of La Crosse 1868–1880

Succeeded by Kilan Caspar Flasch

Persondata
Name	Heiss, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	April 12, 1818
Place of birth
Date of death	March 26, 1890
Place of death