Dr. Jim Surrell, Journal columnist

Irenaeus Frederic Baraga was born to nobility in a castle in Slovenia on June 29, 1797. He served in his native Slovenia as a priest for seven years before coming to the United States. Father Baraga arrived in the New World on December 31, 1830, and for the next 37 years he traveled the length and breadth of the Great Lakes to serve so many as a Catholic Priest. During the summer months, Father Baraga traveled on foot and by canoe. During the winter months, he traveled on snowshoes thus giving him the titles of “Apostle of the Lakelands” and “Snowshoe Priest.”

Bishop Baraga was a great author and wrote long, detailed frequent accounts of his missionary activities, including his three-volume diary. Just the sheer number of his writings is something to behold. He wrote 7 Slovenian prayer books, and also authored 20 Native American language books. One of his great works is his monumental Grammar and Dictionary of the Chippewa Language, still in use today. He was the first Bishop to write a pastoral letter in both the English and Chippewa languages.

From 1840 to his death, he also ministered to the immigrants who came to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to work in the iron and copper mines of the region. About the same time, he began the practice of rising at 3 A.M. in the summer and at 4 A.M. in the winter to start each day with three hours in prayer, which he continued until the end of his life.

His responsibilities grew even greater when he was named bishop of the newly created Diocese of the Upper Peninsula. He was consecrated bishop in Cincinnati on November 1, 1853. The lack of priests and money in his Diocese weighed heavily on his heart. However, due to his hard work and dedication, Bishop Baraga was able to see that his Diocese rested on a firm foundation, with enough priests and churches for the fast-growing area. Sault Ste. Marie was his first Diocese, and he was there until 1866. It was then moved to Marquette to be more centrally located, and to be more accessible by ship and train.

In the Fall of 1866 while attending the Council of Bishops in Baltimore, Bishop Baraga suffered a severe stroke. Although the medical details are not well known, it is believed that this stroke somewhat altered his ability to walk and to speak. He then left Baltimore and returned by train to his beloved Marquette, where he spent the last 2 years of his life. After thirty-seven years of extremely devoted missionary work in the Upper Peninsula, he died in Marquette on January 19, 1868, at age 70. His remains are at the Bishop Baraga Chapel at St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette.

At the present time, Bishop Baraga has been named Venerable, and this is the second of the 4 steps in the process of being declared a Saint in the Catholic Church. (1. Servant of God, 2. Venerable, 3. Blessed, 4. Saint). There are significant ongoing efforts to have him declared a Saint by the Catholic Church.

The Bishop Baraga Association (BBA) offices and the Baraga Education Center are located at the restored Bishop Baraga house here in Marquette at 615 South Fourth Street. For any questions or for directions, the BBA phone number is (906) 227-9117. If you are interested, information regarding membership in the BBA is available at the Baraga Education Center. There is only a small annual fee for BBA membership at the Baraga Education Center.

Now that the Baraga house has been restored, people are encouraged to come and visit this historic site where you can review the life history of Bishop Baraga and also view various historic artifacts related to Bishop Baraga. While at the restored Baraga house you can also view the room where Bishop Baraga is believed to have passed away.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Jim Surrell is the author of “The ABC’s For Success In All We Do” and the “SOS (Stop Only Sugar) Diet” books. Contact Dr. Surrell by email at sosdietdoc@gmail.com.