Bishop Meyer (1946-1953)

A great reformer and
the only bishop having served in Superior
who went on to become a Cardinal

• Introduction
• Early life and ordination to priesthood
  • Sudies in Rome
  • Ordination
  • Licentiate in Sacred Scripture
  • Associate pastor for one year
  • Appointments as seminary professor, then rector of seminary
• Taking reins in Superior
  • Early lessons learned
• A capable building administrator
  • Land O'Lakes parish named in his honor
  • Other new churches and schools
• Other achievements as bishop of Superior
  • Third synod of the Superior Diocese
  • Diocesan Council of Catholic Women
  • Superior edition of the Catholic Herald Citizen
  • Apostolate of Vocations
• Appointments after Superior
  • Archbishop of Milwaukee
  • Archbishop of Chicago
• Role during the Second Vatican Council
• Born to eternal life

The end of World War II brought a new era of growth and prosperity in America. For the Superior Diocese, it also brought new leadership. Bishop Albert Gregory Meyer was serving as rector of St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee when he was appointed Superior’s sixth bishop on February 18, 1946. In seven years as bishop, he initiated programs for the laity and began preparing them for church reforms that would be introduced a decade after his departure. Bishop Meyer rode the crest of post-World War II expansion and optimism, and in the process went on to achieve episcopal acclaim in Milwaukee and Chicago, topped off by his elevation to the sacred College of Cardinals.

Born in Milwaukee March 9, 1903, the fifth and youngest child of Peter and Matilda Meyer, he attended old St. Mary’s Parish and School. It was his wish to attend St. Francis Seminary after eighth grade, but a family crisis (his father, a grocer, lost his store in 1912) forced him to attend Marquette Academy for one year.

In 1917, thanks to a benefactor, Bishop Meyer was enrolled at St. Francis Seminary. The young seminarian's desire to become a priest was influenced by his family's deep religious convictions. He had two uncles who were priests, and his two sisters, Olivia and Louise, were religious sisters. Bishop Meyer completed high school and two years of college at St. Francis Seminary.

Studies in Rome

In 1921, Bishop Meyer, now 18 and a standout pupil, was sent to Rome to study philosophy and theology at the Propaganda University, taking up residence at the North American College.

Ordination

He was ordained to the priesthood on July 11, 1926, by Cardinal Basilio Pompili at the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome. After receiving his doctorate degree in sacred theology in 1927, Bishop Meyer returned home to celebrate his first Mass in Milwaukee, which took place at the motherhouse of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. As a boy, he served Mass there, and his older sister, Olivia (who took the name of Sister Alberta in her brother's honor), was a member of the community.

Licentiate in Sacred Scripture

Returning to Rome, Bishop Meyer began graduate courses in sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute. He received a licentiate in sacred Scripture in 1930.

Associate pastor for one year

He accepted his first priestly assignment upon his arrival back home in Milwaukee. Bishop Meyer served as associate pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Waukesha for one year.

Appointments as seminary professor, then rector

In 1931, he was appointed professor of dogmatic theology at St. Francis Seminary, and in 1937 he became seminary rector. The following year he was honored with the title of domestic prelate (monsignor). Bishop Meyer's advanced studies in theology and Scripture earned him national recognition. While serving as seminary rector, he translated three books of the New Testament into English.

On February 18, 1946, Pope Pius XII selected Bishop Meyer to succeed Bishop William P. O'Connor. He was consecrated bishop of Superior on April 11, 1946, by Archbishop Moses Kiley at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral in Milwaukee. Arriving in Superior on May 8, 1946, Bishop Meyer found a land rich in natural resources, but a church poor in material wealth.

Marquette's Fr. Avella wrote his doctoral dissertation on the life and times of Bishop Meyer. This research was included in his comprehensive and revealing history of the Milwaukee Archdiocese, published in 2002. According to Fr. Avella, Bishop Meyer's challenges in Superior "were in part based on (the diocese's) remoteness and poverty." "He would spend seven years in the diocese, attempting to bring about some unity among its far-flung parishes," wrote Fr. Avella.

Early lessons learned

One lesson Bishop Meyer learned early was that he could not implement policies for his priests simply because they were used in Milwaukee. According to Fr. Avella, Bishop Meyer ordered that

• no young priest should own a car.

He also insisted that each priest

• pay back to the diocese his seminary expenses.

"Both policies raised tensions with the local clergy and revealed how little the 'city-boy' Meyer knew of the distances traveled in rural dioceses and of the limited finances on which priests worked in the poor see," stated Fr. Avella.

"After a short time, he backed away from both [of these polices]."

Bishop Meyer is remembered as a capable administrator. He was responsible for initiating numerous diocesan programs and overseeing many building projects. “Attesting to his hard work and quiet, effective leadership are the many new schools, churchs and hospital additions constructed since he took the post in 1946,” stated a July 20, 1953, story in the Milwaukee Sentinel.

Land O'Lakes parish named in his honor

He established a new parish in Land O’Lakes in 1949, which was named in his honor- St. Albert the Great.

Other new churches and schools

He also oversaw the building of 15 new churches in Birchwood, Boulder Junction, Chetek, Clam Lake, Cumberland, Eagle River, Erin, Haugen, Hammond, Iron River, Radisson, Stetsonville, Weyerhaeuser, Wilson and Winchester. Also, during Bishop Meyer’s tenure, new schools were constructed in Superior (Cathedral grade and high school), Phillips, Rice Lake, Red Cliff, Rhinelander, New Richmond, River Falls, Hudson and Weyerhaeuser.

Third synod of the Superior Diocese

Bishop Meyer convened the third synod of the Superior Diocese in June 1952, the first diocesan synod held in 41 years. It brought up to date and put into conformity diocesan law with church law.

Diocesan Council of Catholic Women

In 1950, Bishop Meyer founded the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, an organization that continues today.

Superior edition of the Catholic Herald Citizen

Three years later he established the Superior edition of the Catholic Herald Citizen.

Apostolate of Vocations

He also instituted the Apostolate of Vocations to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life and ordained 13 men to the priesthood. “(Bishop) Meyer was fortunate to share in the vocation boom of post-war Catholic America,” stated Fr. Avella. “By the time he left Superior in 1953, tiny Superior counted 50 seminarians in different phases of formation a string of priestly ordinations that took place every year…”

Archbishop of Milwaukee

On July 29, 1953, Bishop Meyer was appointed archbishop of Milwaukee. He was enthroned as Milwaukee’s new archbishop on September 24, 1953, at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral, Archbishop Meyer served in Milwaukee for only five years.

Archbishop of Chicago

On September 19, 1958, Pope Pius XII appointed him archbishop of Chicago. He was installed at Holy Name Cathedral on November 14, 1958- the feast of his patron, St. Albert. One year later, on December 14, 1959, Pope John XXIII elevated Chicago’s archbishop to the College of Cardinals.

“His great qualities of mind and spirit came to the fore most prominently in the daily challenges of the Second Vatican Council and he was regarded as one of the outstanding spokesmen during the last two sessions,” wrote Bishop George A. Hammes in 1965. “He became a leader in the Catholic Church in America and in the Vatican Council through his keen insight into the problems of the church and of the world.”

Cardinal Meyer also participated in the conclave that elected Pope Paul VI in 1963.

In January 1965, Cardinal Meyer was rushed to Chicago’s Mercy Hospital with what was later diagnosed as severe gall bladder distress. Following his release, he began to suffer severe headaches. In mid-February he returned to Mercy Hospital for examinations, which found that he had a brain tumor. Cardinal Meyer underwent a four-hour surgery on February 25. The beloved cardinal never left his hospital bed. “During the 43 days that followed, Cardinal Meyer was capable of receiving holy Communion just once, “ the Catholic Herald Citizen reported April 17, 1965. Fr. William Riordan, a hospital chaplain, anointed the cardinal with the oil of the sick on April 8. He died the next morning.

At his request, Superior’s sixth bishop was buried in the cemetery at Our Lady of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, IL.


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Source: Our Journey through Faith: A History of the Diocese of Superior, by Sam Lucero, 2005.