Joseph Salzmann
Joseph Salzmann (August 17, 1819 – January 17, 1874), one of the best-known Roman Catholic pioneer priests in the Northwest Territory of the United States, was the Austrian founder of several Catholic educational institutions, including the prominent Saint Francis de Sales Seminary (St. Francis, Wisconsin) known as the "Salesianum."
Biography
He was born at Münzbach in the Diocese of Linz, Upper Austria on August 17, 1819. He was ordained in 1842 and worked in his home diocese until 1847, when an appeal from the visiting first Bishop of Milwaukee, John Martin Henni inspired him to work in foreign missions.
After arriving in Milwaukee in October, 1847, he was appointed to a small country mission, but soon his success caused the bishop to make him pastor of St. Mary's congregation at Milwaukee. There, he was opposed by German free-thinkers and he struggled with them. Because there was a lack of priests, Salzmann conceived the idea of founding a seminary.[1] To collect funds he went from state to state,[2] and, after many difficulties, on January 29, 1856,[3] the institution was opened with twenty-five students. Michael Heiss, afterwards Archbishop of Milwaukee, was its first rector. The seminary became one of the most prominent in the United States. Several hundred priests and twenty-three bishops graduated from it by 1900.
Salzmann was also the founder of the first Catholic normal school in the United States and of the Pio Nono College. After years of struggles, the Catholic Normal School of the Holy Family found a solid basis, sending out teachers to parochial schools every year.
The American branch of the St. Cecilia Society for the promotion of genuine church music owes its existence and growth to him.
Salzmann died at St. Francis, Wisconsin on January 17, 1874.[2] He was praised as having a noble character full of holy enthusiasm for the cause of God and the Catholic Church, fearless in the defense of truth, an eloquent preacher, a warm friend and father of his students, and a wise counselor to priests and bishops.
From the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia
Joseph Salzmann — Founder of St. Francis Provincial Seminary (St. Francis, Wisconsin) known as the "Salesianum", one of the best known pioneer priests of the North-west, b. at M¸nzbach, Diocese of Linz, Upper Austria, 17 Aug., 1819; d. at St. Francis, Wisconsin, 17 Jan., 1874. He was ordained in 1842, and laboured very successfully in his home diocese until 1847, when the visit of the first Bishop of Milwaukee, John Martin Henni, and his urgent appeal ripened his long-felt desire to devote his life to the foreign missions. Having come to Milwaukee in October, 1847, he was appointed to a small country mission, but soon his extraordinary success induced the bishop to make him pastor of St. Mary's congregation at Milwaukee. There the German free-thinkers resorted to every kind of insult and calumny to thwart the success of this intrepid champion of the Church, and he encountered a long and bitter combat with them. Feeling the lamentable scarcity of priests Salzmann conceived the idea of founding a seminary. To collect the necessary funds he went from state to state, and after many difficulties, on 29 January, 1856, the institution was opened with twenty-five students. Rev. Michael Heiss, afterwards Archbishop of Milwaukee, was its first rector. The seminary is now one of the most prominent in the country. Several hundreds of priests and twenty-three bishops call it their Alma Mater.
Salzmann is also the founder of the first Catholic normal school in the United States and of the Pio Nono College. After years of hard struggles the Catholic Normal School of the Holy Family now stands on a solid basis and yearly sends out efficient teachers to parochial schools. The American branch of the St. Cecilia Society for the promotion of genuine church music owes its existence and growth to him. Salzmann was of a noble character full of holy enthusiasm for the cause of God and his Church, fearless in the defence of truth, an eloquent preacher, a warm friend and father of his students, and a wise counsellor to priests and bishops.
RAINIER, Dr. Joseph Salzmann, Leben u. Wirken (St. Louis, 1876; 2nd ed., Milwaukee, 1903); tr. BERG, A Noble Priest (Milwaukee, 1903).
References
- Back to citation "Death of Dr. Salzmann, Rector of St. Francis Seminary". Green Bay Weekly Gazette. January 24, 1874. p. 2. Retrieved November 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com; "St. Francis Seminary". Eau Claire Leader. August 3, 1904. p. 2. Retrieved November 29, 2016 – via Newspapers.com; Rainer, Joseph (1903). A Noble Priest: Joseph Salzmann, D. D., Founder of the Salesianum. Milwaukee: Olinger & Schwartz.
- Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 "Death of Dr. Salzmann, Rector of St. Francis Seminary". Green Bay Weekly Gazette. January 24, 1874. p. 2. Retrieved November 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- Back to citation "St. Francis Seminary". Eau Claire Leader. August 3, 1904. p. 2. Retrieved November 29, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
- Joseph Salzmann at Find a Grave