The Concession of the Bishop of Cheyenne to the Conventual Franciscans, their petition to the Holy See, and the Roman rescript, and acceptance by the Provincial 1911

Translation by J.G. Halisky of the Concession of the Bishop of Cheyenne to the Conventual Franciscans, their petition to the Holy See, the Roman rescript, and the acceptance by the Provincial follow below. The Latin transcriptions are at the bottom of the page. :

WE
James J[ohn]
By the Mercy of God and Concession of the Apostolic See
BISHOP OF CHEYENNE

To the Esteemed Religious and Reverend Father
Provincial and Commissary General of the Conventual Franciscans
In the United States of America
Greeting in the Lord!

Our illustrious predecessors undertook the greatest care and effort so that the flock entrusted to them would always be provided with a fitting supply of priests. Wherefore in order to assist with this need – for our territory encompasses 97,515 square miles with only twenty-two priests – we came to the Conventual Friars for help, and they responded most willingly. Some of their Fathers have already worked in our diocese for some time for the greater glory of God. Now, so that they may be able to carry out their life according to the rules of their order, by the consent of our Consultors, we grant to these Fathers the church of St. James in Douglas and a related territory, on account of which we issue the following Decree: The church of St. James in the city of Douglas in the state of Wyoming we grant in perpetuity to the aforesaid Order of Conventual Franciscans, that is, to the Province of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the same order, for the care of souls, with all the same rights, honors, and obligations of the other parochial churches of our diocese, and in particular that they may observe their conventual laws and enjoy religious life according to their Rule and Constitutions approved by the Apostolic See.
Reserved to us and to our Successors, however, are all those rights which pertain to Ordinaries respecting parochial churches, even if erected as religious parishes.
Moreover, we grant that the Conventual Fathers will have the right of caring for souls in all the churches, already erected or to be erected, in the counties of Converse, Niobrara, Goshen, and Platte, as long as the parish of St. James is able to undertake this by having a sufficient number of friars living religious life there according to the Constitutions of the Order.
We declare, furthermore, that all revenues of the aforesaid churches or parishes, from whatever source, be applied to the preservation of these churches, to the proper carrying out of divine worship, and to the fitting sustenance of the Rector, in accordance with the decrees we have issued or which we may issue in the future.
Title to the property, commonly known as “deeds”, and to all goods, whether movable or fixed, pertaining to the parish of St. James in Douglas, or to the other churches existing in the aforesaid counties, now or in the future, will remain as now in Our name and in the name of our Successors. The Superiors of the Conventual Franciscans, to whom the right pertains, shall have the unrestricted right of naming the Rector of the church, so long as he is a solemnly professed priest of this Order and enjoys the other legal requisites. Nevertheless, the Rector so named should seek our approval, or that of our Successors, as soon as possible thereafter.
Given in the City of Cheyenne in the State of Wyoming, from our Episcopal Offices on the 15th day of December, A.D., 1911.
James John Keane
Bishop of Cheyenne

Chancellor

Father Leo Greulich
Provincial and Commissary General

Petition to the Holy See.
+
SACRED CONGREGATION FOR RELIGIOUS
[Protocol. n. 6189-11

MOST HOLY FATHER

Friar Leo Greulich, religious Provincial of the Province of the Immaculate Conception of the Conventual Franciscans in the United States of America, prostrate before the feet of Your Holiness, humbly requests the faculty of accepting a parish and the care of souls in the Church of St. James in the city of Douglas of the Diocese of Cheyenne in the United States, with the rights and privileges of establishing there a religious family in accordance with the norms of the Constitutions of the Order and Apostolic Decrees; and also, the kind approval of the agreement entered into in this matter between the Most Reverend Ordinary and the Provincial of the Order of Conventual Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception. To this petition are joined the Decree and consent of the Most Reverend Ordinary of Cheyenne and the above stated agreement.

Rescript.

In Conference December 1, 1911.

By virtue of the special faculties granted by our Supreme Pontiff, the Sacred Congregation for Religious, having heard the plea of the Procurator General and after due consideration of the matter, kindly grants to the Minister-General of the Order permission to give effect to the faculty sought as set forth in the petition, as he by his will and conscience may see fit, subject to all things required by law and the norms of the attached Acceptance, which the same Sacred Congregation confirms and ratifies.

Given at Rome on the day, month, and year above stated.

Fr. J. C. Cardinal Vives
Prefect

Donatus Arpus Effesinus
Secretary

Acceptance

By virtue of the above Apostolic Rescript, we grant to our Provincial, Father Leo Greulich, the faculty of accepting in perpetuity the Parish set forth in the petition and concomitant agreement, and we command him to provide for all things which are required by law for establishing a religious family in that location.
Given at Rome at the Twelve Holy Apostles on the 10th day of December, 1911.

Friar Victor Ma. Sottaz
Minister-General

I attest that this document concords with the
original.
Friar Aloysius M. Fisch, OMC
Provincial
Louisville, Kentucky, January 29, 1933.

Transcriptions of the Concession of the Bishop of Cheyenne to the Conventual Franciscans, their petition to the Holy See, the Roman rescript, and the acceptance by the Provincial follow below:

NOS
Jacobus J.
Miseratione Divina et Apostolicae Sedis Gratia
EPISCOPUS CHEYENNENSIS

Relligioso Viro Adm. Rev. P. Ministro Provinciali et Commissario Generali Minorum S. Francisci Conventualium in Statibus Foederatis Americae
Salutem in Domine!

Illustrissimi Nostri Praedecessores maximam curam atque operam in id contulerunt, ut grex illis concreditus copia sacerdotum rite provideretur; quaproter ut hanc necessitatem sublevaremus -- ecce adest nempe territorium 97,515 leucarum et viginti duo tantum sacerdotes -- Minores Conventuales adivimus, ut essent adjutorio. Qui cordatissime responderunt. Nonnulli Patres in Nostra Dioecesi per aliquod jam tempus ad gloriam Dei laborant; quapropter ut vitam secundum Ordinis regulas agere possint, cum consensu Nostrorum Consultorum, ecclesiam S. Jacobi in Douglas necnon et aliud territorium illis Patribus concedimus, sequensque eapropter Decretum edimus Ecclesiam S. Jacobi in civitate Douglas, in Statu Wyoming sitam, praedicto Minorum S. Francisci Conventualium Ordini, i.e. Provinciae Immaculatae Conceptionis B.M.V. ejusdem Ordinis, pro animarum cura gerenda in perpetuum concedimus cum omnibus juribus, honoribus atque oneribus reliquarum Nostrae Dioecesis ecclesiarum parochialium, et in particulari, ut ibi jura Conventu habeant et secundum Regulam et Constitutiones ab Apostolica Sede approbatas vitam regularem instituere valeant.

Reservantur autem Nobis Nostrisque Successoribus omnia ea jura, quae Ordinariiis [sic] competunt quoad ecclesias parochiales, etiamsi sub cura Regula constitutas.

Praeterea concedimus ut Patres Conventuales jus habeant animarum curam exercendi in omnibus ecclesiis, sive jam erectis sive erigendis, in Comitatibus Converse, Niabrara [sic], Goshen et Platte, usquendum parochia S. Jacobi in civitate Douglas talis sit, ut ibi sufficiens numerus Fratrum ad vitam regularem, secundum Ordinis Contitutiones agendam requisitorum, possit sustentari.

Statuimus insuper, ut omnes redditus ecclesiarum seu parochiarum praedictarum quocunque titulo obvenientes applicentur ad ipsarum ecclesiarum conservationem, ad cultum divinum rito peragendum, necnon et pro condigna Rectoris sustentatione, secundum Decreta a Nobis lata vel in futurum ferenda.

Titulus proprietatis, vulgo “Deeds”, omnium bonorum tam mobilium quam immobilium ad parochiam S. Jacobi in civitate Douglas, sicut etiam ad alias ecclesias in supradictis Comitatibus existentes, pertinentium, aut in futurum pertinendorum, remanebit, sicuti modo est, nomine Nostro Nostrorumque Successorum inscriptus.

Liberum omnino erit Superioribus Minorum S. Francisci Conventualium, ad quos de jure pertinet, Rectorem ecclesiae nominare, dummodo sit Ordinis hujus sacerdos solemniter professus et reliquis de jure requisitis gaudeat. Rector tamen taliter nominatus, quamprimum poterit, approbationem Nostram vel Successorum Nostrorum expetat.

Datum in civitate Cheyennensi in Statu Wyoming ex Aedibus Nostris die quinto decimo Decembris, A.D. 1911.
Jacobus Joannes Keane
Episcopus Cheyennensis

Cancellarius
Fr. Leo Greulich
Min. Prov. et Comm. Gen.

Petition to the Holy See.
+
SACRA CONGREGATIO DE RELIGIOSIS
[Protocol. n. 6189-11

BEATISSIME PATER

fr. [sic] Leo Greulich, Minister Provincialis regularis Provinciae Immaculatae Conceptionis fratrum Minorum Conventualium in Statibus feoderatis Americae Septentrionalis ad pedes Sanctitatis Vestrae provolutus humllime petit facultatem acceptandi paroeciam seu curam animarum in Ecclesia Sancti Jacobi in civitate Douglas, Dioecesis Cheyennensis in iisdem Statibus feoderatis, cum juribus ac privilegiis ibidem familiam religiosam instituendi ad normam Constitutionum Ordinis et Decretorum Apostolicorum; nec non benignam approbationem stipulationis hac de causa initae inter Reverendissimum Ordinarium Cheyennensem et Ministrum Provincialem Ordinis Minorum Conventualium Immaculatae Conceptionis. Hisce precibus allegantur Decretum ac consensus Rmi Ordinarii Cheyennensis nec non supra enunciata stipulatio.
Et Deus -

Rescript.

In Congressu diei 1 decembris 1911.

Vigore specialium facultatum a SS. Domino Nostro concessarum, Sacra Congregatio negociis Religiosorum Sodalium praeposita, audito voto P. Procuratoris Generalis, attentisque expositis, P. Ministro Generali Ordin. benigne commisit ut petitam facultatem ad effectum de quo agitur pro suo arbitrio et conscientia concedat, servatis omnibus de iure servandis, et ad normam adnexae Conventionis, quam eadem S. Congregatio confirmat ac ratam habet. Datum Romae, die, mense et anno ut supra.
Fr. J. C. Card. Vives
Praef.
(L.S.)
Donatus Arpus Ephesinus, Secretarius

Acceptance.

Vigore superiaris Apostolici Rescripti concedimus nostro Ministro Provinciali P. Leoni Greulich facultatem acceptandi in perpetuum Paroeciam prout in precibus et in apposita conventione, eique mandamus ut provideat quae de jure requiruntur ad familiam religiosam ibidem contituendam.
Datum Romae, ad SS. XII Apostolos die 10 Decembris, anno 1911.

fr. Victor Ma Sottaz
Min. Gen.

Concordat cum Originali
Ita testor
Fr. Aloys. M. Fish O.M.C.
Min. Prov.
Ludovicopoli Ky, d. 29 Jan. 1933

Back to INDEX		Translation by J.G. Halisky of the Concession of the Bishop of Cheyenne to the Conventual Franciscans, their petition to the Holy See, the Roman rescript, and the acceptance by the Provincial follow below. The Latin transcriptions are at the bottom of the page. : WE James J[ohn] By the Mercy of God and Concession of the Apostolic See BISHOP OF CHEYENNE To the Esteemed Religious and Reverend Father Provincial and Commissary General of the Conventual Franciscans In the United States of America Greeting in the Lord! Our illustrious predecessors undertook the greatest care and effort so that the flock entrusted to them would always be provided with a fitting supply of priests. Wherefore in order to assist with this need – for our territory encompasses 97,515 square miles with only twenty-two priests – we came to the Conventual Friars for help, and they responded most willingly. Some of their Fathers have already worked in our diocese for some time for the greater glory of God. Now, so that they may be able to carry out their life according to the rules of their order, by the consent of our Consultors, we grant to these Fathers the church of St. James in Douglas and a related territory, on account of which we issue the following Decree: The church of St. James in the city of Douglas in the state of Wyoming we grant in perpetuity to the aforesaid Order of Conventual Franciscans, that is, to the Province of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the same order, for the care of souls, with all the same rights, honors, and obligations of the other parochial churches of our diocese, and in particular that they may observe their conventual laws and enjoy religious life according to their Rule and Constitutions approved by the Apostolic See. Reserved to us and to our Successors, however, are all those rights which pertain to Ordinaries respecting parochial churches, even if erected as religious parishes. Moreover, we grant that the Conventual Fathers will have the right of caring for souls in all the churches, already erected or to be erected, in the counties of Converse, Niobrara, Goshen, and Platte, as long as the parish of St. James is able to undertake this by having a sufficient number of friars living religious life there according to the Constitutions of the Order. We declare, furthermore, that all revenues of the aforesaid churches or parishes, from whatever source, be applied to the preservation of these churches, to the proper carrying out of divine worship, and to the fitting sustenance of the Rector, in accordance with the decrees we have issued or which we may issue in the future. Title to the property, commonly known as “deeds”, and to all goods, whether movable or fixed, pertaining to the parish of St. James in Douglas, or to the other churches existing in the aforesaid counties, now or in the future, will remain as now in Our name and in the name of our Successors. The Superiors of the Conventual Franciscans, to whom the right pertains, shall have the unrestricted right of naming the Rector of the church, so long as he is a solemnly professed priest of this Order and enjoys the other legal requisites. Nevertheless, the Rector so named should seek our approval, or that of our Successors, as soon as possible thereafter. Given in the City of Cheyenne in the State of Wyoming, from our Episcopal Offices on the 15th day of December, A.D., 1911. James John Keane Bishop of Cheyenne Chancellor Father Leo Greulich Provincial and Commissary General Petition to the Holy See. + SACRED CONGREGATION FOR RELIGIOUS [Protocol. n. 6189-11 MOST HOLY FATHER Friar Leo Greulich, religious Provincial of the Province of the Immaculate Conception of the Conventual Franciscans in the United States of America, prostrate before the feet of Your Holiness, humbly requests the faculty of accepting a parish and the care of souls in the Church of St. James in the city of Douglas of the Diocese of Cheyenne in the United States, with the rights and privileges of establishing there a religious family in accordance with the norms of the Constitutions of the Order and Apostolic Decrees; and also, the kind approval of the agreement entered into in this matter between the Most Reverend Ordinary and the Provincial of the Order of Conventual Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception. To this petition are joined the Decree and consent of the Most Reverend Ordinary of Cheyenne and the above stated agreement. Rescript. In Conference December 1, 1911. By virtue of the special faculties granted by our Supreme Pontiff, the Sacred Congregation for Religious, having heard the plea of the Procurator General and after due consideration of the matter, kindly grants to the Minister-General of the Order permission to give effect to the faculty sought as set forth in the petition, as he by his will and conscience may see fit, subject to all things required by law and the norms of the attached Acceptance, which the same Sacred Congregation confirms and ratifies. Given at Rome on the day, month, and year above stated. Fr. J. C. Cardinal Vives Prefect Donatus Arpus Effesinus Secretary Acceptance By virtue of the above Apostolic Rescript, we grant to our Provincial, Father Leo Greulich, the faculty of accepting in perpetuity the Parish set forth in the petition and concomitant agreement, and we command him to provide for all things which are required by law for establishing a religious family in that location. Given at Rome at the Twelve Holy Apostles on the 10th day of December, 1911. Friar Victor Ma. Sottaz Minister-General I attest that this document concords with the original. Friar Aloysius M. Fisch, OMC Provincial Louisville, Kentucky, January 29, 1933. Transcriptions of the Concession of the Bishop of Cheyenne to the Conventual Franciscans, their petition to the Holy See, the Roman rescript, and the acceptance by the Provincial follow below: NOS Jacobus J. Miseratione Divina et Apostolicae Sedis Gratia EPISCOPUS CHEYENNENSIS Relligioso Viro Adm. Rev. P. Ministro Provinciali et Commissario Generali Minorum S. Francisci Conventualium in Statibus Foederatis Americae Salutem in Domine! Illustrissimi Nostri Praedecessores maximam curam atque operam in id contulerunt, ut grex illis concreditus copia sacerdotum rite provideretur; quaproter ut hanc necessitatem sublevaremus -- ecce adest nempe territorium 97,515 leucarum et viginti duo tantum sacerdotes -- Minores Conventuales adivimus, ut essent adjutorio. Qui cordatissime responderunt. Nonnulli Patres in Nostra Dioecesi per aliquod jam tempus ad gloriam Dei laborant; quapropter ut vitam secundum Ordinis regulas agere possint, cum consensu Nostrorum Consultorum, ecclesiam S. Jacobi in Douglas necnon et aliud territorium illis Patribus concedimus, sequensque eapropter Decretum edimus Ecclesiam S. Jacobi in civitate Douglas, in Statu Wyoming sitam, praedicto Minorum S. Francisci Conventualium Ordini, i.e. Provinciae Immaculatae Conceptionis B.M.V. ejusdem Ordinis, pro animarum cura gerenda in perpetuum concedimus cum omnibus juribus, honoribus atque oneribus reliquarum Nostrae Dioecesis ecclesiarum parochialium, et in particulari, ut ibi jura Conventu habeant et secundum Regulam et Constitutiones ab Apostolica Sede approbatas vitam regularem instituere valeant. Reservantur autem Nobis Nostrisque Successoribus omnia ea jura, quae Ordinariiis [sic] competunt quoad ecclesias parochiales, etiamsi sub cura Regula constitutas. Praeterea concedimus ut Patres Conventuales jus habeant animarum curam exercendi in omnibus ecclesiis, sive jam erectis sive erigendis, in Comitatibus Converse, Niabrara [sic], Goshen et Platte, usquendum parochia S. Jacobi in civitate Douglas talis sit, ut ibi sufficiens numerus Fratrum ad vitam regularem, secundum Ordinis Contitutiones agendam requisitorum, possit sustentari. Statuimus insuper, ut omnes redditus ecclesiarum seu parochiarum praedictarum quocunque titulo obvenientes applicentur ad ipsarum ecclesiarum conservationem, ad cultum divinum rito peragendum, necnon et pro condigna Rectoris sustentatione, secundum Decreta a Nobis lata vel in futurum ferenda. Titulus proprietatis, vulgo “Deeds”, omnium bonorum tam mobilium quam immobilium ad parochiam S. Jacobi in civitate Douglas, sicut etiam ad alias ecclesias in supradictis Comitatibus existentes, pertinentium, aut in futurum pertinendorum, remanebit, sicuti modo est, nomine Nostro Nostrorumque Successorum inscriptus. Liberum omnino erit Superioribus Minorum S. Francisci Conventualium, ad quos de jure pertinet, Rectorem ecclesiae nominare, dummodo sit Ordinis hujus sacerdos solemniter professus et reliquis de jure requisitis gaudeat. Rector tamen taliter nominatus, quamprimum poterit, approbationem Nostram vel Successorum Nostrorum expetat. Datum in civitate Cheyennensi in Statu Wyoming ex Aedibus Nostris die quinto decimo Decembris, A.D. 1911. Jacobus Joannes Keane Episcopus Cheyennensis Cancellarius Fr. Leo Greulich Min. Prov. et Comm. Gen. Petition to the Holy See. + SACRA CONGREGATIO DE RELIGIOSIS [Protocol. n. 6189-11 BEATISSIME PATER fr. [sic] Leo Greulich, Minister Provincialis regularis Provinciae Immaculatae Conceptionis fratrum Minorum Conventualium in Statibus feoderatis Americae Septentrionalis ad pedes Sanctitatis Vestrae provolutus humllime petit facultatem acceptandi paroeciam seu curam animarum in Ecclesia Sancti Jacobi in civitate Douglas, Dioecesis Cheyennensis in iisdem Statibus feoderatis, cum juribus ac privilegiis ibidem familiam religiosam instituendi ad normam Constitutionum Ordinis et Decretorum Apostolicorum; nec non benignam approbationem stipulationis hac de causa initae inter Reverendissimum Ordinarium Cheyennensem et Ministrum Provincialem Ordinis Minorum Conventualium Immaculatae Conceptionis. Hisce precibus allegantur Decretum ac consensus Rmi Ordinarii Cheyennensis nec non supra enunciata stipulatio. Et Deus - Rescript. In Congressu diei 1 decembris 1911. Vigore specialium facultatum a SS. Domino Nostro concessarum, Sacra Congregatio negociis Religiosorum Sodalium praeposita, audito voto P. Procuratoris Generalis, attentisque expositis, P. Ministro Generali Ordin. benigne commisit ut petitam facultatem ad effectum de quo agitur pro suo arbitrio et conscientia concedat, servatis omnibus de iure servandis, et ad normam adnexae Conventionis, quam eadem S. Congregatio confirmat ac ratam habet. Datum Romae, die, mense et anno ut supra. Fr. J. C. Card. Vives Praef. (L.S.) Donatus Arpus Ephesinus, Secretarius Acceptance. Vigore superiaris Apostolici Rescripti concedimus nostro Ministro Provinciali P. Leoni Greulich facultatem acceptandi in perpetuum Paroeciam prout in precibus et in apposita conventione, eique mandamus ut provideat quae de jure requiruntur ad familiam religiosam ibidem contituendam. Datum Romae, ad SS. XII Apostolos die 10 Decembris, anno 1911. fr. Victor Ma Sottaz Min. Gen. Concordat cum Originali Ita testor Fr. Aloys. M. Fish O.M.C. Min. Prov. Ludovicopoli Ky, d. 29 Jan. 1933 Back to Top