Michael Heiss

Michael Heiss was born in Pfahldorf, Bavaria (part of present-day Kipfenberg), to Joseph and Gertrude (née Frei) Heiss. 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] Because, at age 22, he was younger than the age requirement for ordination, he 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 emigrated to the United States, where he became pastor of Mother of God Church in Covington, Kentucky. He remained in Covington until 1844, when he was made secretary to John Henni, the newly appointed Archbishop of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[5] 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.[6] In 1856, he was named the first rector of St. Francis Seminary, serving for 12 years.[2]

The Diocese of La Crosse was erected in 1868 as suffragan to Milwaukee. Heiss was appointed its first bishop and consecrated on September 6, 1868. He hired architect Charles I. Ross to design St. Joseph Cathedral. The new parish had already been planned to serve the German speaking Catholics of La Crosse and ease over-crowding at St. Mary's.[7] In 1870 Bishop Heiss traveled to Rome to attend the First Vatican Council.

In 1871, at his request, the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration relocated their motherhouse, St. Rose of Viterbo Convent, to La Crosse.[8] The sisters had previously worked with Heiss, managing the household responsibilities at Saint Francis de Sales Seminary. The convent was initially built both as the administrative center of the congregation and also as a secondary school for girls. During his twelve years as bishop, he built several churches, including the cathedral, and the episcopal residence.[9]

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 de Sales Seminary.