24 Facts About Henri Streicher

Henri Streicher was a French Catholic archbishop who served as Vicar Apostolic of Northern Victoria Nyanza from 1897 to 1933.

Henri Streicher ordained the continent's first Catholic priests of modern times, both from Uganda.

Henri Streicher was born on 29 July 1863 in Wasselonne, France.

In 1890, Streicher was appointed to the Apostolic Vicariate of Victoria Nyanza led by Bishop John Joseph Hirth, which he reached in 1891.

Henri Streicher was assigned to Buddu in the south of the Buganda kingdom.

The next year Henri Streicher, acting as head of the Roman Catholic mission since his death, was appointed his successor.

On 1 February 1897, Henri Streicher was appointed Titular Bishop of Thabraca and Vicar Apostolic of Northern Victoria Nyanza in what is Uganda.

Henri Streicher decided that he would not return to Europe to be consecrated, and was ordained on 15 August 1897 in the small church of Kamoga at Bukumbi by Bishop John Joseph Hirth assisted by two priests.

Henri Streicher's vicariate included all of the south and west of modern Uganda, and included 30,000 baptized Christians when he became Apostolic Vicar.

Henri Streicher began missionary activity in Ankole in 1902, and in Kigezi twenty years later.

Henri Streicher was authoritarian, using his diocesan synods to present decisions rather than encouraging debate.

Henri Streicher assumed some of the royal trappings in his costume.

Henri Streicher was a strong believer in education and set up schools throughout his territory.

Henri Streicher founded a training college for catechists in 1902.

Henri Streicher required that students know the alphabet before being admitted to the catechumenate, and that they were literate before they could be baptized.

Henri Streicher did allow English in St Mary's Lubaga, founded in 1906 for the sons of chiefs.

Henri Streicher saw Catholic teaching orders as a potential threat to his authority, and did not allow them to enter the diocese until 1924, when the Canadian Brothers of Christian Instruction of Ploermel were permitted to launch St Mary's College Kisubi and to open other schools.

Henri Streicher consider that training indigenous priests was the first priority, more important than conversion of the people.

Henri Streicher inherited the seminary at Kisubi, later moved to Bukalasa, near to Villa Maria.

In 1913, Henri Streicher ordained the first two African priests of the colonial era.

In 1913 and 1914 Henri Streicher headed a commission charged with assembling the testimonials needed to beatify the Uganda Martyrs.

Henri Streicher pushed hard to prepare for the diocese to become autonomous from European assistance, causing resentment from missionaries who felt that more time was needed.

Henri Streicher's mission was separated into the vicariates of Rubaga and Masaka.

Henri Streicher was interred in his church that he had built at Villa Maria.