The Most Reverend
Martin Marty, O.S.B.

1895 – 1896

James Joseph Alois Marty was born in the Canton Schwyz in Switzerland on January 12, 1834. At the age of 20, he took his final vows on May 20, 1855, taking the name Brother Martin Marty. He was ordained a priest over a year later on Sept. 14, 1856. He was ordained a bishop on Feb. 1, 1880 and appointed Bishop of Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Nov. 26, 1889 by Pope Leo XIII.

For 19 years before his arrival in St. Cloud, Benedictine Father Martin Marty lived the demanding life of a missionary in the Dakota Territory. At one point, his region covered 150,000 square miles across North and South Dakota. He was passionate about his work with the American Indians; they were his friends and he was their advocate. The Hunkpapa Dakota even inducted him into their tribe and named him Black Robe Lean Chief.

On Jan. 21, 1895, he was appointed by Pope Leo XIII the second Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Cloud.  Upon his appointment to the diocese, Bishop Marty was quite ill. He only served for one year before his death in 1896 while serving as Bishop of Saint Cloud. His lasting contribution to the diocese was the initiation of an effort to incorporate the churches within the diocese.