John Janssen (March 3, 1835 – July 2, 1913) was a German-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the new Diocese of Belleville in Illinois from 1888 until his death in 1913.
After immigrating to the United States, Janssen was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Juncker for the Diocese of Alton in Illinois on November 19, 1858.[4] After his ordination, he was appointed pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Parish, a German-speaking parish in Springfield, Illinois. Jannser also ministered to German immigrants in surrounding counties. In 1863, Janssen left his parish to became secretary to Bishop Juncker and chancellor of the diocese.[1] He was appointed vicar general of the diocese in 1870, holding that position until 1886. He also served as pastor of St. Boniface Parish in Quincy, Illinois, from 1877 to 1879.[1] Bishop Peter Joseph Baltes eventually appointed Janssen as vicar general. After Baltes' death in 1886, Janssen was named as apostolic administrator for the diocese.[2][3][5]
In 1903, at Janssen's request, the Poor Handmaids of Christ religious order set up a hospital in East St. Louis, Illinois. The hospital was open to all patients, regardless of race or religion.[6]
John Janssen died on July 2, 1913, in Belleview at age 78.
References
^ abcd"JANSSEN, John". The Nation Encyclopedia of American Biography, 1904.
^ abcBateman, Newton; Selby, Paul; Wilderman, Alonzo St Clair; Wilderman, Augusta A. (1907). Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois. Munsell Publishing Company.