Célestine Guynemer de la Hailandière

Who was Célestine Guynemer de la Hailandière?

Célestine René Laurent Guynemer de la Hailandière was a French-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Vincennes, currently known as the Archbishop of Indianapolis, from 1839 to 1847.

Hailandière was born in Combourg, and ordained to the priesthood on May 28, 1825 in Paris. He was later assigned to the United States, as vicar general of the Diocese of Vincennes, Indiana, in 1839.

On May 17, 1839, Hailandière was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Vincennes and Titular Bishop of Axieri by Pope Gregory XVI. He succeeded the late Simon Bruté de Rémur as the second Bishop of Vincennes on the following June 26, and received his episcopal consecration on August 18 from Bishop Charles Forbin-Janson, with Bishops Louis Blanquart de Bailleuil and Jean Lamercier serving as co-consecrators.

During his tenure, the eastern third of Illinois, which had hitherto been part of the diocese's territory, was separated from the Diocese of Vincennes upon the establishment of the Diocese of Chicago on November 28, 1843. Hailandière resigned his post on July 16, 1847, after eight years of service, and then returned to France.

He died at the age of 84, after a 35 year self-imposed exile and his remains were returned to the United States in November of 1882 and were transferred to and buried in the Old Cathedral of Vincennes on November 22, 1882.