Alphonse James Schladweiler

Alphonse James Schladweiler (July 18, 1902—April 3, 1996) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the new Diocese of New Ulm in Minnesota from 1958 to 1975.

Biography

Early life Alphonse Schladweiler was born on July 18, 1902, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the third child of Mathias and Gertrude (née Schneider) Schladweiler. Following his mother's death in 1911, he and his family moved to Madison, Minnesota. Schladweiler attended the parochial school of St. Michael's Parish in Milwaukee, where he served as an altar boy. After his ordination, Schladweiler served as curate at the following Minnesota parishes:

Church of the Nativity in St. Paul Holy Trinity in New Ulm St. Michael's in St. Michael St. Bernard's in Cologne. He was raised to the rank of domestic prelate in 1957. Following the conclusion of the council, he worked to implement its reforms, including introducing English into the Mass.

Schladweiler later moved to Divine Providence Community Home in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, where he died on April 3, 1996, at age 93. He is buried in the New Ulm Catholic cemetery.