Though the Diocese of Green Bay was not officially created until 1868, the history of the Catholic faith in the area dates back to 1634 when French North American explorer Jean Nicolet landed near Green Bay and was soon followed by Jesuit missionaries dedicated to spreading the Gospel to the native people along the Fox, Wolf, and Menominee rivers.

For nearly a century, the Native Americans, missionaries, and French Canadian voyagers kept the faith alive until the presence of Christianity could become more formalized. Father Claude Allouez, a Jesuit missionary, celebrated Mass with the Native Americans near the present site of Oconto on Dec. 3, 1669, the feast of St. Francis Xavier. Fr. Allouez established St. Francis Xavier Mission there. The mission was moved to Red Banks (northeast of Green Bay) for a short time in 1671, and then to De Pere, where it remained until 1687, when it was burned. The missionaries continued working with the Fox, Sauk, and Winnebago tribes under the protection of the French in newly constructed Fort Francis (now west Green Bay). Fort Francis was destroyed in 1728. Catholicism then lay dormant in the area for almost a century.

Green Bay began as part of the Quebec Diocese, before becoming part of the Baltimore Diocese in 1791; Bardstown, Kentucky, (1808-21); Cincinnati (1821-33); Detroit (1833-43) and Milwaukee (1843-68).

The establishment of Fort Howard (Green Bay’s near west side) in 1816 further built upon the settlements of the Catholic French Canadians, who had been in the area since the mid-1700s. A log church-school, blessed as St. Francis Xavier Chapel, was erected in 1825, near the corner of the present-day Adams and Mason streets in downtown Green Bay. It burned shortly thereafter. Following a visit by Bishop Fenwick of Cincinnati, a church was constructed in Shantytown on land that is now part of Allouez Cemetery. The church was named St. John the Evangelist and is the oldest continuing parish in Wisconsin.

St. John's, a primarily French-speaking congregation, became the mother parish for all the churches in the Diocese of Green Bay, including: St. John Nepomucene in Little Chute, 1836; Holy Maternity of Mary, Manitowoc Rapids, 1848; St Edward, Mackville, 1849; St. Luke, Two Rivers, 1851; St. Anna, St. Ann, 1851; St. Peter, Oshkosh, 1853; and St. Mary (now St. Francis Xavier Cathedral), Green Bay, 1854.

The growing community of Catholics in the area led to the establishment of the Diocese of Green Bay by Pope Pius IX on March 3, 1868, with 40,000 Catholics scattered over 15, 378 square miles. The area shrunk in size with the establishment of the Diocese of Superior in 1905 and Madison in 1946.

Throughout the mid- to late-1800s immigrants poured in, forming their own ethnic churches. In Green Bay, for example, the Germans formed St. Mary (now St. Francis Xavier Cathedral) in 1854; the Dutch established St. Willebrord in 1864; the Irish formed St. Patrick in 1865; the Belgians established Sts. Peter and Paul in 1875; and the Polish formed St. Mary of the Angels in 1898. Intermarriage and the English language gradually weakened the bonds of the ethnic churches.

Many gifted bishops have served God and the Diocese since its inception. Their achievements have been truly remarkable:

Most Reverend Joseph Melcher, first Bishop of Green Bay, (1868-1877)

• Raised the number of priests from 16 to 40, while the Catholic population soared from 40,000 to 60,000.

• Built a rectory for the pro-Cathedral parish.

• Attended the first Vatican Council in Rome, 1869-1870.

• Persuaded Ursuline Sisters of St. Louis to open an academy for young ladies in Green Bay.

Most Reverend Francis Xavier Krautbauer, second Bishop of Green Bay, (1875-1885)

• New cathedral building built 1876-1879 at his direction.

• Earned respect of early Catholics with his concern for Catholic schools, the sick, and elderly priests.

• Responsible for planning and construction for chapel at Robinsonville.

Most Reverend Frederick Katzer, third Bishop of Green Bay, (1886-1891)

• Successfully led opposition to so-called Bennett Law, which tried to ban use of any language but English.

• Oversaw the growth of schools and other Catholic institutions.

Most Reverend Sebastian G. Messmer, fourth Bishop of Green Bay, (1892-1903)

• Encouraged parochial school growth and other church institutions.

• Invited Fr. Bernard H. Pennings, O. Praem of Holland to establish the Norbertine Order in America and began building St. Norbert College, in De Pere, in 1898.

Most Reverend Joseph John Fox, fifth Bishop of Green Bay, (1904-1914)

• Interested in education and the advancement of a parochial school system.

• Built new episcopal residence (now known as the Chancery).

• Honored to be the first and only native son of the Diocese to become its bishop.

Most Reverend Paul Peter Rhode, sixth Bishop of Green Bay, (1914-1945)

• Founded 10 parishes and 19 parochial schools.

• Created local charities department and diocesan department of education.

• Responsible for a number of benevolent diocesan institutions.

Most Reverend Stanislaus Vincent Bona, seventh Bishop of Green Bay, (1945-1967)

• Founded 67 grade schools and four high schools, and expanded many others.

• Founded Holy Family College (now Silver Lake College) in Manitowoc and Sacred Heart Seminary in Oneida.

• Established the diocesan newspaper, The Green Bay Register, (now The Compass).

• Refocused the social welfare program of Catholic Charities to new needs, such as migrant farm workers.

Most Reverend Aloysius Wycislo, eighth Bishop of Green Bay, (1968-1983)

• As one of the fathers of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), he implemented initiatives in this Diocese that he and his brother Bishops developed and approved at the Council.

• Formed the Permanent Diaconate program which prepares single and married men to serve the church as deacons (ministers of service).

• Rewrote marriage guidelines to make worship made more meaningful.

• His lifelong service to people in crisis was evident in his establishment of family counseling services; development of social concern initiatives to address the needs of refugees and migrants including Vietnamese, Laotian, Hmong, and Hispanic people; creation of commissions for youth, scouting, and pro-life activities; and establishment of ministries for the deaf and handicapped, and Native Americans.

Most Reverend Adam Joseph Maida, ninth Bishop of Green Bay, (1984-1990)

• Appointed first female chancellor, Sr. Ann Rehrauer, OSF.

• Named first female parish director, Sister Mary Bride Grubbs, ANG, who served St. Patrick Parish in Stephensville.

• Established diocesan planning council and ministry formation program.

• Implemented Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process.

• Raised $9 million through Lumen Christi education endowment campaign.

Most Reverend Robert Joseph Banks, tenth Bishop of Green Bay, (1990-2003)

• Implemented study of diocesan schools and development of school policies.

• Wrote weekly column for The Compass newspaper.

• Initiated parish planning study process to evaluate parish life with fewer priests and more lay leaders.

• Offered spiritual renewal program called Renew 2000 to every parish in the Diocese.

• Developed good relationship with Lutheran, Episcopalian, and Methodist church leaders that culminated with the signing of a covenant.

• Served as chair of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Education and the National Catholic Education Association; was a member of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on the Catechism.

• Visited each parish in the Diocese.

• Established the Record Review Task Force which reviewed every priest’s file (980) dating back to 1859.

Most Reverend David Allen Zubik, eleventh Bishop of Green Bay, (2003-2007)

• Strengthened existing policies and training for maintaining safe environments.

• Increased the number of seminarians from 14 in 2003 to 16 in 2007.

• Called people to a deeper spirituality through events at diocesan shrines and retreat houses.

• Worked to strengthen Catholic education through a three-prong approach (Catholic schools, religious education and adult-faith formation).

• Commenced a diocesan-wide stewardship campaign called Advancing the Mission, which emphasizes prayer, service and sharing.

• Created the diocesan Evangelization and Worship Department.

• Visited nearly all 160 parishes in the Diocese.

• Formalized the collaborative relationships with the Diocese’s Catholic health care leaders and women and men religious communities.

• Strengthened dialogue about religious studies with Catholic college presidents and faculties.