We Salute You, Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan!

The diocese website is rather mum about it's history, other than to say "The Diocese of Grand Rapids was established May 19, 1882 and originally consisted of much of the northern and western parts of the Lower Peninsula. Since 1971 the diocese has been comprised of 11 counties of Western Michigan: Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, and Ottawa.

Before forming it's own diocese, Grand Rapids was part of the diocese of Detroit. It lost ground when the dioceses of Gaylord, Saginaw, and Kalamazoo were formed.

Cathedral of Saint Andrew, Grand Rapids

The first Bishop of Grand Rapids was Henry Richter, who as born in the Duchy of Oldenburg in Germany.

 The diocesan website says Richter ...

 

DIED:

December 26, 1916 (1:45 p.m.); St. Mary's Hospital, GR, MI

BURIAL:

St. Andrew's Cem., GR, MI

preservation vault, Lima, OH

Mt. Calvary Cem., GR, MI

Resurrection Cern., Wyoming, MI
What? They buried him then dug him up, then put him in a vault, then buried him, then dug him up, then buried him again??? So much for this whole "Rest in peace" thing.

The new bishop was installed in June of this year. is name is The Most Reverend David John Walkowiak, J.C.D. and his slogan is 'HOSTS AS BIG AS YOUR HEAD!"