July 3, 1992 July 3, 1992 Bishop John Baptist Franz Bishop John Baptist Franz Bishop Franz was born Oct. 29, 1896 Bishop Franz was born Oct. 29, 1896 in Springfield, Ill. He was ordained June 13, in Springfield, Ill. He was ordained June 13, 1920, in the chapel at Kenrick Seminary by 1920, in the chapel at Kenrick Seminary by the Most Rev. (later Cardinal) John Glen- the Most Rev. (later Cardinal) John Glen- non, archbishop of St. Louis. He was elevated to the honor non, archbishop of St. Louis. He was elevated to the honor of papal chamberlain by Pope Pius XII on Jan. 2, 1942, and of papal chamberlain by Pope Pius XII on Jan. 2, 1942, and to domestic prelate on March 1, 1945. to domestic prelate on March 1, 1945. He was rector at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Con- He was rector at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Con- ception in Springfield, Ill., when Pope Pius XII named him ception in Springfield, Ill., when Pope Pius XII named him first bishop of the newly-created Diocese of Dodge City first bishop of the newly-created Diocese of Dodge City on June 6, 1951. He was consecrated to the episcopacy by on June 6, 1951. He was consecrated to the episcopacy by Samuel Cardinal Stritch, archbishop of Chicago, in Spring- Samuel Cardinal Stritch, archbishop of Chicago, in Spring- field on Aug. 29. Bishop Franz was installed at Sacred Heart field on Aug. 29. Bishop Franz was installed at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Dodge City on Sept. 12, 1951, by Archbishop Cathedral in Dodge City on Sept. 12, 1951, by Archbishop (later Cardinal) Joseph E. Ritter of St. Louis. (later Cardinal) Joseph E. Ritter of St. Louis. Bishop Franz was ordinary of Dodge City from 1951 Bishop Franz was ordinary of Dodge City from 1951 to 1959. During those years 34 new parish buildings were to 1959. During those years 34 new parish buildings were constructed. On Aug. 12, 1959, Pope John XXIII named constructed. On Aug. 12, 1959, Pope John XXIII named him the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Peoria. him the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Peoria. When he left, the Dodge City diocese had a Catholic When he left, the Dodge City diocese had a Catholic population of 25,850; 49 parishes and 11 missions. At Peo- population of 25,850; 49 parishes and 11 missions. At Peo- ria, he assumed responsibility for a Catholic population of ria, he assumed responsibility for a Catholic population of 200,006 with 157 parishes and 53 missions. 200,006 with 157 parishes and 53 missions. He retired to St. Joseph’s Home in Peoria on June 1, He retired to St. Joseph’s Home in Peoria on June 1, 1971, and resided there until his death at the age of 95 1971, and resided there until his death at the age of 95 on July 3, 1992. The Most Rev. John J. Myers, bishop of on July 3, 1992. The Most Rev. John J. Myers, bishop of Peoria, celebrated his funeral at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria, celebrated his funeral at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria. Among those concelebrating were Joseph Cardinal Peoria. Among those concelebrating were Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, archbishop of Chicago, and Dodge City Bishops Bernardin, archbishop of Chicago, and Dodge City Bishops Forst, Gerber, and Schlarman. Burial was in the Bishop’s Forst, Gerber, and Schlarman. Burial was in the Bishop’s Mausoleum at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Peoria. Mausoleum at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Peoria. July 3, 1992 July 3, 1992 Bishop John Baptist Franz Bishop John Baptist Franz Bishop Franz was born Oct. 29, 1896 Bishop Franz was born Oct. 29, 1896 in Springfield, Ill. He was ordained June 13, in Springfield, Ill. He was ordained June 13, 1920, in the chapel at Kenrick Seminary by 1920, in the chapel at Kenrick Seminary by the Most Rev. (later Cardinal) John Glen- the Most Rev. (later Cardinal) John Glen- non, archbishop of St. Louis. He was elevated to the honor non, archbishop of St. Louis. He was elevated to the honor of papal chamberlain by Pope Pius XII on Jan. 2, 1942, and of papal chamberlain by Pope Pius XII on Jan. 2, 1942, and to domestic prelate on March 1, 1945. to domestic prelate on March 1, 1945. He was rector at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Con- He was rector at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Con- ception in Springfield, Ill., when Pope Pius XII named him ception in Springfield, Ill., when Pope Pius XII named him first bishop of the newly-created Diocese of Dodge City first bishop of the newly-created Diocese of Dodge City on June 6, 1951. He was consecrated to the episcopacy by on June 6, 1951. He was consecrated to the episcopacy by Samuel Cardinal Stritch, archbishop of Chicago, in Spring- Samuel Cardinal Stritch, archbishop of Chicago, in Spring- field on Aug. 29. Bishop Franz was installed at Sacred Heart field on Aug. 29. Bishop Franz was installed at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Dodge City on Sept. 12, 1951, by Archbishop Cathedral in Dodge City on Sept. 12, 1951, by Archbishop (later Cardinal) Joseph E. Ritter of St. Louis. (later Cardinal) Joseph E. Ritter of St. Louis. Bishop Franz was ordinary of Dodge City from 1951 Bishop Franz was ordinary of Dodge City from 1951 to 1959. During those years 34 new parish buildings were to 1959. During those years 34 new parish buildings were constructed. On Aug. 12, 1959, Pope John XXIII named constructed. On Aug. 12, 1959, Pope John XXIII named him the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Peoria. him the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Peoria. When he left, the Dodge City diocese had a Catholic When he left, the Dodge City diocese had a Catholic population of 25,850; 49 parishes and 11 missions. At Peo- population of 25,850; 49 parishes and 11 missions. At Peo- ria, he assumed responsibility for a Catholic population of ria, he assumed responsibility for a Catholic population of 200,006 with 157 parishes and 53 missions. 200,006 with 157 parishes and 53 missions. He retired to St. Joseph’s Home in Peoria on June 1, He retired to St. Joseph’s Home in Peoria on June 1, 1971, and resided there until his death at the age of 95 1971, and resided there until his death at the age of 95 on July 3, 1992. The Most Rev. John J. Myers, bishop of on July 3, 1992. The Most Rev. John J. Myers, bishop of Peoria, celebrated his funeral at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria, celebrated his funeral at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria. Among those concelebrating were Joseph Cardinal Peoria. Among those concelebrating were Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, archbishop of Chicago, and Dodge City Bishops Bernardin, archbishop of Chicago, and Dodge City Bishops Forst, Gerber, and Schlarman. Burial was in the Bishop’s Forst, Gerber, and Schlarman. Burial was in the Bishop’s Mausoleum at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Peoria. Mausoleum at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Peoria. .