BARAGA, FRIEDRICH

BARAGA, FRIEDRICH. - One of the greatest missionaries of North America in modern times and the first bishop of Marquette. Born on 29 June 1797 in Kleindorf in Carniola (Austria). After initially devoting himself to legal studies, he became a priest (1823) and, after some time in ministry in his homeland, he left (1830) for the United States, where he worked indefatigably among the Indians, first among the Ottawa and then among the Chippewa. In 1853 he was appointed the first bishop of Marquette (Michigan) and as such worked until his death, which occurred there on 19 January 1868. Besides being an apostle, Fr. Baraga is also renowned for his contributions to indigenous Christian literature in the Ottawa and Chippewa languages. In addition to many books of prayers, devotion, and religious instruction, he wrote the first grammar and the first dictionary of the Chippewa language, published in English in Detroit in 1850 and in Cincinnati in 1853 respectively; these works went through several editions. Fr. Baraga earned esteem and love from both the indigenous peoples and Europeans: several towns and institutions in Michigan and a street in Marquette are named in his honor.