Daring archbishop left a lasting impact on Church in America

By Mike Krokos

On its website, Our Sunday Visitor notes, “Archbishop John Francis Noll was a missionary at heart, whose influence extended through the printed word and his work as a bishop in the Catholic Church.”

Some also say no other prelate had a greater impact or more lasting influence on the Catholic Church in America.

So much more could be said about Archbishop Noll, who was born in 1875 in Fort Wayne, Ind. He left his home at 13 to enter a preparatory seminary, later attended Mount

St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati for his theology and philosophy studies, and was ordained a priest for the then-Diocese of Fort Wayne at the age of 23 in 1898.

Known for his leadership, his character and his commitment to Christian principles, the young priest fought against anti-Catholicism in all its forms, including against a predominately Protestant culture that suspiciously viewed Catholics. Father Noll also became a beloved pastor who helped unite the divided parishes in which he served.

The priest used his writings to help educate his people about the faith, and his excellent work eventually led him to create The Parish Monthly, a periodical, with other American clergy adopting his idea.

Ten years after his ordination, Father Noll bought a printing press for just $1 and hired a team to help him with publications. On May 5, 1912, the first issue of Our Sunday Visitor newspaper, based in Huntington, Ind., rolled off the presses with an initial run of 35,000 which were sent to priests and parishes across the United States. The publication’s original goals were to combat anti-Catholic sentiment, defend the teachings of the Church and provide solid catechesis to its readers.

By the end of the year, Father Noll had sent out more than 200,000 copies of the paper. At its peak in 1961, the national weekly publication reached 1 million copies in circulation, and Our Sunday Visitor, Inc. became one of the world’s largest Catholic publishers.

When Bishop Herman J. Alerding died in late 1924, Pope Pius XI named then-Father Noll the fifth bishop of Fort Wayne. He was ordained a bishop on July 30, 1925.

Bishop Noll’s commitment to Our Sunday Visitor continued, and because of his experience with national and international issues, he was named secretary of what later became the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. He was also a longtime member of its administrative committee. In his role, he again demonstrated his foresight about the coming information age.

Bishop Noll helped launch Catholic News Service and the “Catholic Hour” on NBC radio with then-Father Fulton J. Sheen. He then worked with Catholic Charities to aid families and children who were devastated by the Depression. He also oversaw a massive building program of churches, schools, hospitals, a seminary and an orphanage. As a sign of Vatican esteem, Bishop Noll was given the honorary title of archbishop in 1953.

Archbishop Noll played an instrumental role in the early 1950s by leading a national fundraising campaign to complete work on completion of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, using Our Sunday Visitor as a means of galvanizing donations. The shrine was dedicated on Nov. 20, 1959, three years after Archbishop Noll died. He was honored at the time of dedication for his leadership with the title “Apostle of the Shrine.”

Archbishop Noll had notable connections to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. He was a first cousin of Msgr. Raymond Noll, who served as archdiocesan vicar general from 1934-59. And he was a great uncle of John Fink, who served as editor of The Criterion from 1984-1996 (and later as editor emeritus) after serving in various positions at Our Sunday Visitor from 1956-84.

Our Sunday Visitor, Inc. continues to thrive as a major American Catholic publishing company and digital service provider. It is the largest Catholic publishing house in the United States.

In the closing paragraph of her book, Champion of the Church: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Archbishop Noll, author Ann Ball sums up his life:

“John Francis Noll—with his ‘faithful companion,’ Our Sunday Visitor—was a daring, resourceful priest who led the fight against ignorance and bigotry in the early western United States. Nowhere in the pages of history can one find a greater champion of the Catholic Church in America.” †

Related: Indiana’s Catholics reflect American spirit of courage and sacrifice