Michael Heiss

Early years

Michael Heiss was born in Pfahldorf, Bavaria (part of present-day Kipfenberg), to Joseph and Gertrude (née Frei) Heiss. He received Confirmation when he was only two years old because his parents feared they would be without a bishop for a prolonged period of time due to tension between church and state. He entered a Latin school at age 9, and later graduated from the gymnasium of Neuburg in 1835.

Heiss then entered the University of Munich, where he originally studied law but switched to theology after deciding to join the priesthood. He completed his studies at the ecclesiastical seminary in Eichstätt.

Ordination and ministry

He was ordained a priest by Bishop Karl-August von Reisach on October 18, 1840. Because, at age 22, he was younger than the age requirement for ordination, he was granted a dispensation by Pope Gregory XVI.

Heiss served as a curate in Raitenbuch and afterwards in Pleinfeld. In December 1842, he immigrated to the United States, where he became pastor of Mother of God Church in Covington, Kentucky. He remained in Covington until 1844, when he was made secretary to John Henni, the newly appointed Archbishop of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He erected St. Mary's Church in Milwaukee, and served as its first pastor with his charge extending over an area of 52 square miles. In 1856, he was named the first rector of St. Francis Seminary, serving for 12 years.

Bishop of La Crosse, Wisconsin

Heiss was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse on March 3, 1868, and was ordained a bishop on September 6, 1868.

Archbishop of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

On March 14, 1880, Bishop Heiss was appointed coadjutor Archbishop of Milwaukee. On September 7, 1881, he succeeded Archbishop John Henni on his death as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He was an opponent of the Americanist heresy.

Archbishop Heiss died in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and was buried in St. Francis, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, in a chapel at St. Francis de Sales Seminary.