Cardinal Ritter House

 

An Indiana Historical Marker was placed at the boyhood home of the late Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter recently with representatives from two Archdioceses and and other dignitaries in attendance of the auspicious occasion.  Renovation of the home is nearing completion in memory of Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter, whose motto was "Live Hard, Pray Hard, Don't Worry".

 

Cardinal Ritter was born and raised in New Albany, Indiana and entered the seminary shortly after his parochial elementary education was completed.  After being ordained at Saint Meinrad, Indiana in 1917 and serving in parishes within our state, he was appointed as Bishop of the Diocese of Indianapolis in 1934 where he initiated procedures for desegregating Catholic schools within the Diocese.  In 1946 he was assigned as the Archbishop of Saint Louis and in 1947 he desegregated five Catholic High Schools in Saint Louis amid protests, with others following shortly thereafter.

 

Cardinal Ritter was elevated to the College of Cardinals in 1961 - the first and only priest in Indiana to receive that honor.  Cardinal Ritter served in Rome and sat on all three sessions of Vatican II.  The Cardinal died in 1967, however his teachings and philosophical legacy lives on.

 

 

Speaking at the Dedication:  Seated in front (left to right) State Family Director Terry Walker, (representing Indiana State Deputy Norman Stoffel),   Jeremy Hackard, Indiana Historical Bureau;  standing at podium, Gregory Sekula, Southern Indiana Landmarks Foundation; seated (left to right) Father William W. Ernst (Cardinal Ritter Council 1221 Chaplain); Most Reverend Robert J. Hermann, Aux Bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis; David Hock,  Cardinal Ritter House Foundation Chairman; Monsignor Joseph Schadel Vicar General, Archdiocese of Indianapolis; and Father Troy Overton, Cardinal Ritter Foundation Member.