Archbishop John Francis Noll, founder of this newspaper, Our Sunday Visitor, in 1912, was an innovator, a visionary and a master apologist. That is why, for 112 years, his newspaper was printed faithfully each week. And it’s why, come October, a new monthly magazine — along with the international newswire OSV News — continues his legacy for a new generation of Catholics.
Founding Our Sunday Visitor
Noll was born Jan. 25, 1875, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was one of 19 children, and he attended Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati for his theological and philosophical formation. Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fort Wayne on June 4, 1898, Father Noll quickly became a pastor focused on the needs of his people. He was creative and full of zeal. He was given charge of mission outposts, and at one point was pastor of five parishes.
His gift of clear communication was present from the start. On more than one occasion, he brought calm and peace to parishes that had been fractured due to poor leadership. In fact, it was this type of situation that led to Father Noll’s first publication, “Kind Words From The Priest To His People.” In it, he spoke from the heart to the average layman in an understandable and intelligible way, the start of a long and fruitful apostolate of the written word. During the early part of the 20th century, this newfound apostolate would take on greater significance as Father Noll began using his skills to respond to the growing anti-Catholic rhetoric.
From his early days as a priest, Noll made a point to connect with Protestants, hoping to overcome any misunderstandings they had about Catholicism. He believed that dialogue grounded in truth and charity would overcome any of the divisions that led to the ignorance and bigotry he encountered, and he used to attend “tent revivals” hosted by traveling preachers so he could debate their false assertions point by point. He also would invite those in attendance to a public lecture on the truth of Catholicism.
An informed and engaged laity was key to Noll’s vision for overcoming these obstacles, too. He knew there needed to be better, straightforward and simple means to help everyday Catholics comprehend the truths of Catholicism. A better equipped and energetic laity would take up the apostolic task of sharing the truth with a culture desperately needing it.
As the newspaper’s longtime editor, Noll’s aim was simply to let the truth shine on the areas of contemporary life that kept souls from Christ — from anti-Catholicism to communism, or birth control to artificial birth control.
What Noll did through speech, he continued through the pen — or rather, the printing press. After creating The Parish Monthly — based on, and with permission of the publication of North Carolina priest Father Thomas Price known as “Truth” — Father Noll found himself a Catholic publisher.
When Noll founded Our Sunday Visitor in 1912, he made clear its motto on the first page of what he called “The Harmonizer,” which was “to be practical and to do good.” For 112 years, the publication has continued Noll’s vision of informing and forming readers on the issues of the day and the truth of the Catholic Faith. As the newspaper’s longtime editor, Noll’s aim was simply to let the truth shine on the areas of contemporary life that kept souls from Christ — from anti-Catholicism to communism, or abortion to artificial birth control.

Establishing a publishing powerhouse
By 1925, at age 50, he had made a name for himself, and he was chosen by Pope Pius XI to be bishop of his native Diocese of Fort Wayne. Not only did he not seek out the appointment, he was not all that interested in it when it became his — except that it allowed him to stay connected with his beloved Our Sunday Visitor.
“A bishopric does not appeal to me,” Noll said in an interview after the appointment. “But there is one mitigating circumstance, and that is the bishopric to which I have been appointed is Fort Wayne. … And I feel that I can keep closer supervision on my work here in Huntington [where Our Sunday Visitor remains headquartered to this day] than I could if I had been appointed to some other diocese.”
Within a few years of his death, Our Sunday Visitor was the largest religious publisher contained under one roof in the world.
In addition to the weekly newspaper, Noll built up a publishing powerhouse. The Our Sunday Visitor name became synonymous with seemingly limitless resources — everything from pamphlets and books, even church offering envelopes. In 1924, Noll began what became known as The Priest magazine to teach, help, and foster renewal for parish priests in their mission. And there were Noll’s numerous and enduring catechetical works like the dialogue-style compilation of columns Father Smith Instructs Jackson, which sold millions of copies. Within a few years of his death, Our Sunday Visitor was the largest religious publisher contained under one roof in the world.
Noll left a major impact across northern Indiana, in the territory that encompassed his diocese during his tenure. In his 32 years as a diocesan bishop, he erected a preparatory seminary, opened several new parishes, schools and orphanages — even during the Great Depression.
But Noll was to play a bigger role in the national scene of the Catholic Church in the United States. He was one of the founding members of the Catholic Press Association, today’s Catholic Media Association. He was a leader in the National Catholic Welfare Conference, the precursor organization to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, for which he served for many years as secretary. He helped to form the national Legion of Decency, a watchdog and lobbying arm of the American bishops, which had the objective of forcing Hollywood filmmakers to produce more wholesome and decent productions.

Noll’s legacy
Noll also, through the support of the success of Our Sunday Visitor, helped to build two landmarks in Washington, D.C. The first is the statue titled “Christ, Light of the World,” which currently stands outside the offices of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and prior to that was at the location of the National Catholic Welfare Conference on Massachusetts Avenue. The idea began with Marjorie Lambert Russell from Topeka, Kansas, who proposed adding a statue of Christ to all the other statues and monuments found in the nation’s capital. The idea resonated with Noll, and he asked readers of Our Sunday Visitor to help raise funds. And the campaign was successful. The statue’s title, perhaps indicative of Noll’s prophetic ministry, is shared with one of the signature texts of the Second Vatican Council. Although he died six years before the council began, Noll embodied in advance so much of the council’s work throughout his ministry, particularly in the areas of building up the laity and taking on ecumenical dialogue.
In addition to the statue, Noll was instrumental in the creation of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, now a minor basilica, in Washington, D.C. Now the largest church in North America, the national shrine exists today in part thanks to Noll’s interest, support and vision. A bust depicting Noll — which calls him “Apostle of the Shrine” — stands in the crypt of the shrine that sits adjacent to The Catholic University of America.
In 1953, Pope Pius XII honored Noll with the personal title of “archbishop.” Just three years later, about a third of America’s bishops would attend his funeral, including two cardinals and then-Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, also a well-known Catholic media personality and pioneer.
In addition to the statue, Noll was instrumental in the creation of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, now a minor basilica, in Washington, D.C. Now the largest church in North America, the national shrine exists today in part thanks to Noll’s interest, support and vision.
“The whole Church in the United States is greatly indebted to him,” wrote Bishop Michael Ready, then chairman of the press department of the National Catholic Welfare Conference, at Noll’s passing. “The fruits of his great works and zeal greatly enriched our country.”
Noll’s work with Our Sunday Visitor spanned four decades and he remained integral until his final days. Thanks to his personable style and clear writing, he became a household name for nearly a million subscribers to the newspaper.
Archbishop Noll died on July 31, 1956. During the sermon at Noll’s funeral — attended by 10,000 — Chicago’s Cardinal Samuel Stritch said that Noll’s “faith was so deep, so real, that it really puzzled him when he saw Catholics who did not live wholly with Christ.”
In those can be found a full description of everything Noll sought to accomplish in his distinguished ministry as a priest and bishop. And Our Sunday Visitor is proud to keep alive such a rich legacy amid a new generation that needs his ingenuity, clarity and untiring faith as much as it did in his own day.