The First Bishop of the Diocese of Natchez, Mississippi, Monsignor John Joseph Mary Benedict Chanche PSS., was born on Barre Street in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 4, 1795, the fourth child of Catherine Provost and John Chanche. His parents fled Santo Domingo during the slave riots between 1792 and 1793. The John Chanche possibly originated in Orthez, France at the base of the Pyrenees, not far from Lourdes.
In 1806, at the age of eleven, John entered St. Mary's College in Baltimore. The College on Paca and St. Mary streets was within walking distance of his home. In his early years he witnessed two significant events - the construction of America's first neo-Gothic Church at St. Mary's College between 1806 and 1808, and the construction of America's first Cathedral by Archbishop John Carroll in Baltimore from 1806 till 1821.
In September 1814, he began his theological studies at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. On June 5, 1819, at 23 years of age, John Chanche was ordained to the priesthood through the Society of St. Sulpice. The Sulpician Order had the primary responsibility for training Priests.
John J. Chanche, rose in the academic ranks of the seminary. From a professor he was promoted to vice-president and then to president of St. Mary's College in 1834. He was then called to the Cathedral See of Natchez by Pope Gregory XVI in 1840. By special permission he remained a member of the Sulpician Order.
Chanche received his episcopal consecration at 45 years of age on March 14, 1841, from Archbishop Samuel Eccleston PSS., assisted by Bishop Benedict Joseph Fenwick SJ., and Archbishop John Joseph Hughes.
Possibly influenced by the construction of the two churches in Baltimore, he envisioned an impressive Gothic cathedral for his diocese. From 1842 until 1843, he worked on his Cathedral in Natchez. In 1846 he built his residence adjoining the cathedral.
Bishop Chanche played major roles in the United States Church. While attending the Provincial Council in Baltimore in 1846, he signed the document decreeing the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin the Patroness of the United States. On a mission to Europe in 1848, to seek financial help for his church, he delivered the document for the unification of the Sisters of Charity in America with the Sisters of Charity in France. Upon his return to Baltimore for the Provincial Council of 1849, he brought news of the 1830 apparitions of Our Lady to Sister Catherine Laboure. In 1835 Bishop Chanche brought the first medals of the Immaculate Conception - already known as the "Miraculous Medal" in France - to St. Joseph's Valley, near Emmitsburg, Maryland.
At the First Plenary Council in Baltimore, in 1852, Bishop Chanche served the role of chief promoter. He died shortly after the Sessions of the Council, at Frederick, Maryland, on July 22, 1852, presumably of cholera, while en route to Natchez after participating in the First Plenary Council in Baltimore, aged 56, leaving his diocese with 11 priests, 11 churches erected, and 13 attendant missions.
Though he was the Bishop of Natchez, the native Baltimorean was buried at the original Cathedral Cemetery in West Baltimore and reinterred at the New Cathedral Cemetery on Old Frederick Road on February 11, 1878. However, the Bishop wanted his remains moved to St. Mary Basilica in Natchez, the church he helped establish.
At the request of Bishop Joseph N. Latino of Jackson, the Diocese that now includes Natchez, Cardinal William Henry Keeler, the retired Archbishop of Baltimore, agreed to return the remains of Bishop Chanche to the Mississippi Basilica. His remains were exhumed on August 8, 2007, and arrived in Natchez on August 17, for re-interment, together with the original grave monument.
Most of the remains were encased in a lead lining, which had been placed inside the casket when the body was reinterred in 1878.
The entire lead lining was lifted into the new casket, along with a new set of vestments, zucchetto and a Bishop's miter supplied by Sulpician Father Ronald D. Witherup, Provincial Superior for the Sulpicians of the United States.
A sprinkling of snow greeted parishioners and visitors on January 19, 2008, as they gathered for the re-interment ceremony. Seven students from Cathedral School served as pallbearers, carrying the coffin, handcrafted of walnut wood by the Trappist monks at New Melleray, Iowa, with the remains of Bishop Chanche into the Sanctuary of the Basilica.
Cardinal Keeler presided over the Eucharistic celebration. Concelebrating with the Cardinal were several bishops from nearby southern dioceses, several priests, and Reverend Ronald D. Witherup, Provincial of the Sulpicians, Bishop Chanche's order of priests.
After the church ceremony the clergy and many participants in the liturgy processed to the adjacent grave site for the re-interment and committal rite. The remains of Bishop John Mary Joseph Chanche now rest in the shadows of his beloved cathedral, now St. Mary's Basilica.
In 1806, at the age of eleven, John entered St. Mary's College in Baltimore. The College on Paca and St. Mary streets was within walking distance of his home. In his early years he witnessed two significant events - the construction of America's first neo-Gothic Church at St. Mary's College between 1806 and 1808, and the construction of America's first Cathedral by Archbishop John Carroll in Baltimore from 1806 till 1821.
In September 1814, he began his theological studies at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. On June 5, 1819, at 23 years of age, John Chanche was ordained to the priesthood through the Society of St. Sulpice. The Sulpician Order had the primary responsibility for training Priests.
John J. Chanche, rose in the academic ranks of the seminary. From a professor he was promoted to vice-president and then to president of St. Mary's College in 1834. He was then called to the Cathedral See of Natchez by Pope Gregory XVI in 1840. By special permission he remained a member of the Sulpician Order.
Chanche received his episcopal consecration at 45 years of age on March 14, 1841, from Archbishop Samuel Eccleston PSS., assisted by Bishop Benedict Joseph Fenwick SJ., and Archbishop John Joseph Hughes.
Possibly influenced by the construction of the two churches in Baltimore, he envisioned an impressive Gothic cathedral for his diocese. From 1842 until 1843, he worked on his Cathedral in Natchez. In 1846 he built his residence adjoining the cathedral.
Bishop Chanche played major roles in the United States Church. While attending the Provincial Council in Baltimore in 1846, he signed the document decreeing the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin the Patroness of the United States. On a mission to Europe in 1848, to seek financial help for his church, he delivered the document for the unification of the Sisters of Charity in America with the Sisters of Charity in France. Upon his return to Baltimore for the Provincial Council of 1849, he brought news of the 1830 apparitions of Our Lady to Sister Catherine Laboure. In 1835 Bishop Chanche brought the first medals of the Immaculate Conception - already known as the "Miraculous Medal" in France - to St. Joseph's Valley, near Emmitsburg, Maryland.
At the First Plenary Council in Baltimore, in 1852, Bishop Chanche served the role of chief promoter. He died shortly after the Sessions of the Council, at Frederick, Maryland, on July 22, 1852, presumably of cholera, while en route to Natchez after participating in the First Plenary Council in Baltimore, aged 56, leaving his diocese with 11 priests, 11 churches erected, and 13 attendant missions.
Though he was the Bishop of Natchez, the native Baltimorean was buried at the original Cathedral Cemetery in West Baltimore and reinterred at the New Cathedral Cemetery on Old Frederick Road on February 11, 1878. However, the Bishop wanted his remains moved to St. Mary Basilica in Natchez, the church he helped establish.
At the request of Bishop Joseph N. Latino of Jackson, the Diocese that now includes Natchez, Cardinal William Henry Keeler, the retired Archbishop of Baltimore, agreed to return the remains of Bishop Chanche to the Mississippi Basilica. His remains were exhumed on August 8, 2007, and arrived in Natchez on August 17, for re-interment, together with the original grave monument.
Most of the remains were encased in a lead lining, which had been placed inside the casket when the body was reinterred in 1878.
The entire lead lining was lifted into the new casket, along with a new set of vestments, zucchetto and a Bishop's miter supplied by Sulpician Father Ronald D. Witherup, Provincial Superior for the Sulpicians of the United States.
A sprinkling of snow greeted parishioners and visitors on January 19, 2008, as they gathered for the re-interment ceremony. Seven students from Cathedral School served as pallbearers, carrying the coffin, handcrafted of walnut wood by the Trappist monks at New Melleray, Iowa, with the remains of Bishop Chanche into the Sanctuary of the Basilica.
Cardinal Keeler presided over the Eucharistic celebration. Concelebrating with the Cardinal were several bishops from nearby southern dioceses, several priests, and Reverend Ronald D. Witherup, Provincial of the Sulpicians, Bishop Chanche's order of priests.
After the church ceremony the clergy and many participants in the liturgy processed to the adjacent grave site for the re-interment and committal rite. The remains of Bishop John Mary Joseph Chanche now rest in the shadows of his beloved cathedral, now St. Mary's Basilica.
The First Bishop of the Diocese of Natchez, Mississippi, Monsignor John Joseph Mary Benedict Chanche PSS., was born on Barre Street in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 4, 1795, the fourth child of Catherine Provost and John Chanche. His parents fled Santo Domingo during the slave riots between 1792 and 1793. The John Chanche possibly originated in Orthez, France at the base of the Pyrenees, not far from Lourdes.
In 1806, at the age of eleven, John entered St. Mary's College in Baltimore. The College on Paca and St. Mary streets was within walking distance of his home. In his early years he witnessed two significant events - the construction of America's first neo-Gothic Church at St. Mary's College between 1806 and 1808, and the construction of America's first Cathedral by Archbishop John Carroll in Baltimore from 1806 till 1821.
In September 1814, he began his theological studies at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. On June 5, 1819, at 23 years of age, John Chanche was ordained to the priesthood through the Society of St. Sulpice. The Sulpician Order had the primary responsibility for training Priests.
John J. Chanche, rose in the academic ranks of the seminary. From a professor he was promoted to vice-president and then to president of St. Mary's College in 1834. He was then called to the Cathedral See of Natchez by Pope Gregory XVI in 1840. By special permission he remained a member of the Sulpician Order.
Chanche received his episcopal consecration at 45 years of age on March 14, 1841, from Archbishop Samuel Eccleston PSS., assisted by Bishop Benedict Joseph Fenwick SJ., and Archbishop John Joseph Hughes.
Possibly influenced by the construction of the two churches in Baltimore, he envisioned an impressive Gothic cathedral for his diocese. From 1842 until 1843, he worked on his Cathedral in Natchez. In 1846 he built his residence adjoining the cathedral.
Bishop Chanche played major roles in the United States Church. While attending the Provincial Council in Baltimore in 1846, he signed the document decreeing the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin the Patroness of the United States. On a mission to Europe in 1848, to seek financial help for his church, he delivered the document for the unification of the Sisters of Charity in America with the Sisters of Charity in France. Upon his return to Baltimore for the Provincial Council of 1849, he brought news of the 1830 apparitions of Our Lady to Sister Catherine Laboure. In 1835 Bishop Chanche brought the first medals of the Immaculate Conception - already known as the "Miraculous Medal" in France - to St. Joseph's Valley, near Emmitsburg, Maryland.
At the First Plenary Council in Baltimore, in 1852, Bishop Chanche served the role of chief promoter. He died shortly after the Sessions of the Council, at Frederick, Maryland, on July 22, 1852, presumably of cholera, while en route to Natchez after participating in the First Plenary Council in Baltimore, aged 56, leaving his diocese with 11 priests, 11 churches erected, and 13 attendant missions.
Though he was the Bishop of Natchez, the native Baltimorean was buried at the original Cathedral Cemetery in West Baltimore and reinterred at the New Cathedral Cemetery on Old Frederick Road on February 11, 1878. However, the Bishop wanted his remains moved to St. Mary Basilica in Natchez, the church he helped establish.
At the request of Bishop Joseph N. Latino of Jackson, the Diocese that now includes Natchez, Cardinal William Henry Keeler, the retired Archbishop of Baltimore, agreed to return the remains of Bishop Chanche to the Mississippi Basilica. His remains were exhumed on August 8, 2007, and arrived in Natchez on August 17, for re-interment, together with the original grave monument.
Most of the remains were encased in a lead lining, which had been placed inside the casket when the body was reinterred in 1878.
The entire lead lining was lifted into the new casket, along with a new set of vestments, zucchetto and a Bishop's miter supplied by Sulpician Father Ronald D. Witherup, Provincial Superior for the Sulpicians of the United States.
A sprinkling of snow greeted parishioners and visitors on January 19, 2008, as they gathered for the re-interment ceremony. Seven students from Cathedral School served as pallbearers, carrying the coffin, handcrafted of walnut wood by the Trappist monks at New Melleray, Iowa, with the remains of Bishop Chanche into the Sanctuary of the Basilica.
Cardinal Keeler presided over the Eucharistic celebration. Concelebrating with the Cardinal were several bishops from nearby southern dioceses, several priests, and Reverend Ronald D. Witherup, Provincial of the Sulpicians, Bishop Chanche's order of priests.
After the church ceremony the clergy and many participants in the liturgy processed to the adjacent grave site for the re-interment and committal rite. The remains of Bishop John Mary Joseph Chanche now rest in the shadows of his beloved cathedral, now St. Mary's Basilica.
In 1806, at the age of eleven, John entered St. Mary's College in Baltimore. The College on Paca and St. Mary streets was within walking distance of his home. In his early years he witnessed two significant events - the construction of America's first neo-Gothic Church at St. Mary's College between 1806 and 1808, and the construction of America's first Cathedral by Archbishop John Carroll in Baltimore from 1806 till 1821.
In September 1814, he began his theological studies at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. On June 5, 1819, at 23 years of age, John Chanche was ordained to the priesthood through the Society of St. Sulpice. The Sulpician Order had the primary responsibility for training Priests.
John J. Chanche, rose in the academic ranks of the seminary. From a professor he was promoted to vice-president and then to president of St. Mary's College in 1834. He was then called to the Cathedral See of Natchez by Pope Gregory XVI in 1840. By special permission he remained a member of the Sulpician Order.
Chanche received his episcopal consecration at 45 years of age on March 14, 1841, from Archbishop Samuel Eccleston PSS., assisted by Bishop Benedict Joseph Fenwick SJ., and Archbishop John Joseph Hughes.
Possibly influenced by the construction of the two churches in Baltimore, he envisioned an impressive Gothic cathedral for his diocese. From 1842 until 1843, he worked on his Cathedral in Natchez. In 1846 he built his residence adjoining the cathedral.
Bishop Chanche played major roles in the United States Church. While attending the Provincial Council in Baltimore in 1846, he signed the document decreeing the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin the Patroness of the United States. On a mission to Europe in 1848, to seek financial help for his church, he delivered the document for the unification of the Sisters of Charity in America with the Sisters of Charity in France. Upon his return to Baltimore for the Provincial Council of 1849, he brought news of the 1830 apparitions of Our Lady to Sister Catherine Laboure. In 1835 Bishop Chanche brought the first medals of the Immaculate Conception - already known as the "Miraculous Medal" in France - to St. Joseph's Valley, near Emmitsburg, Maryland.
At the First Plenary Council in Baltimore, in 1852, Bishop Chanche served the role of chief promoter. He died shortly after the Sessions of the Council, at Frederick, Maryland, on July 22, 1852, presumably of cholera, while en route to Natchez after participating in the First Plenary Council in Baltimore, aged 56, leaving his diocese with 11 priests, 11 churches erected, and 13 attendant missions.
Though he was the Bishop of Natchez, the native Baltimorean was buried at the original Cathedral Cemetery in West Baltimore and reinterred at the New Cathedral Cemetery on Old Frederick Road on February 11, 1878. However, the Bishop wanted his remains moved to St. Mary Basilica in Natchez, the church he helped establish.
At the request of Bishop Joseph N. Latino of Jackson, the Diocese that now includes Natchez, Cardinal William Henry Keeler, the retired Archbishop of Baltimore, agreed to return the remains of Bishop Chanche to the Mississippi Basilica. His remains were exhumed on August 8, 2007, and arrived in Natchez on August 17, for re-interment, together with the original grave monument.
Most of the remains were encased in a lead lining, which had been placed inside the casket when the body was reinterred in 1878.
The entire lead lining was lifted into the new casket, along with a new set of vestments, zucchetto and a Bishop's miter supplied by Sulpician Father Ronald D. Witherup, Provincial Superior for the Sulpicians of the United States.
A sprinkling of snow greeted parishioners and visitors on January 19, 2008, as they gathered for the re-interment ceremony. Seven students from Cathedral School served as pallbearers, carrying the coffin, handcrafted of walnut wood by the Trappist monks at New Melleray, Iowa, with the remains of Bishop Chanche into the Sanctuary of the Basilica.
Cardinal Keeler presided over the Eucharistic celebration. Concelebrating with the Cardinal were several bishops from nearby southern dioceses, several priests, and Reverend Ronald D. Witherup, Provincial of the Sulpicians, Bishop Chanche's order of priests.
After the church ceremony the clergy and many participants in the liturgy processed to the adjacent grave site for the re-interment and committal rite. The remains of Bishop John Mary Joseph Chanche now rest in the shadows of his beloved cathedral, now St. Mary's Basilica.
Gravesite Details
Article Reprinted With Permission Of The St. Mary Basilica Archives Committee. (Biographical Sketch Of John Mary Joseph Chanche By Mary Bellan Eidt).
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