This Month in History
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1885
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MOST REV. WILLIAM GROSS, C.Ss.R. was promoted to Archbishop of Oregon City (later: Portland Archdiocese). He was a member of the Baltimore Province. Born in Baltimore June 12, 1837; professed 1860; ordained 1865. Consecrated Bishop of Savannah, GA. February 14, 1873. Shortly after his arrival in Oregon, he applied to the provincial of the St. Louis Province to establish a foundation in Portland. When the provincial declined due to lack of personnel, the Archbishop appealed to Father Mauron, the rector major, who directed the Baltimore provincial, Father Schauer, to provide personnel for a new foundation. This was done in 1890, but the attempt met with little success and the community moved to Seattle in 1891 to establish the first permanent West Coast foundation, Sacred Heart Parish. |
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1953
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REV. JOSEPH HEIDELL died at the age of 62 while stationed at St. Mary’s Assumption, New Orleans. Born in Plaquemine, Louisiana, January 1, 1890; professed at Kansas City, August 15, 1910; ordained at Oconomowoc, July 1, 1915. While a professor and prefect of students at Kirkwood (1924-1927), his voice gave out, so he took up work for the deaf, for which it was not unusual that he travel 30,000 miles a year, visiting as far as Los Angeles and San Francisco. A series of heart attacks made him an invalid in his last years. Died in Mercy Hospital, New Orleans. |
42 years professed; 37 years ordained. |
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1888
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CLERICAL STUDENT JOHN BOTT died at the age of 26 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Kansas City. Born in Philadelphia, June 29, 1861; professed at Annapolis, December 24, 1886. He volunteered for the St. Louis Province, but died of consumption. |
Professed a little over one year. |
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1960
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REV. EUGENE WITTE died at the age of 54 while stationed at St. Alphonsus, Chicago. Born in St. Louis, December 8, 1905; professed at DeSoto, August 2, 1929; ordained at Oconomowoc, June 29, 1934. After serving as teacher in the minor seminary, he became a parish priest for most of his life. He was a quiet, unassuming man. A stroke made him an invalid during his last years. Died in Alexian Brothers Hospital, Chicago. |
30 years professed; 25 years ordained. |
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1787
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First Foundation Outside Italy was established in Warsaw, with the arrival of St. Clement Hofbauer, Rev. Thaddeus Huebl, and Bro. Emmanuel Kunzmann. For almost twenty years it ran as a “continuous mission,” until the Redemptorists were expelled on Napoleon’s orders. |
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1924
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BRO. BENEDICT (JAMES) COAKLEY died at the age of 72 at St. Mary’s Assumption, New Orleans. Born in County Galway, Ireland, September 29, 1851; professed in Chatawa, June 28, 1878. He served in the parish office and sacristy, mainly in New Orleans, St. Louis, and Detroit. |
45 years professed. |
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1975
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BRO. JOHN CORNELL died at the age of 79 while stationed at St. Thomas, Coeur d’Alene. Born at Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, February 2, 1896; professed at DeSoto February 2, 1954. He was a convert to the Faith, baptized on June 3, 1933 in St. Agatha’s Church, Chicago. He was a perfectionist, whether at carpentry, machine work, or cooking. Most of his years of service were spent up in the northern houses of the Oakland Province. He died in Billings, Montana while visiting his relatives, and is buried in Coeur d’ Alene. |
21 years professed. |
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1983
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REV. JOHN KATHREIN died at the age of 86 at Immaculate Conception, Oconomowoc. Born in Fiss, Tyrol, Austria, January 9, 1897; professed at DeSoto, August 2, 1918; ordained at Oconomowoc, July 2, 1923. Two of his brothers became Redemptorists. He was business manager of the Liguorian and Perpetual Help magazines. He worked among the Spanish in San Antonio and, at the age of sixty, began an apostolate among the Spanish at St. Michael’s, Chicago, for twenty-five years. He was a man of strong convictions - right or otherwise. |
64 years professed; 59 years ordained. |
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2000
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BRO. FRANCIS (WALTER) CLAUSSEN died at the age of 68 at St. Clement’s Health Care Center, Liguori. Born in Omaha, November 22, 1931; professed at DeSoto, February 2, 1952. He first served in several communities caring for the upkeep of the house. In 1959 he began caring for a sick, elderly confrere. Gradually he took on more duties of caring for sick and dying confreres. He trained in practical nursing and took on responsibilities in the province health care center. For over thirty years, he excelled in his dedication to this ministry. In his last years a stroke impaired his speech and movement, causing him great frustration. He was a man of dedication to prayer and to service. He loved Notre Dame: both the college and the Madonna. He once wrote his own epitaph on a ministry planning form: “I do what I can.” |
48 years professed. |
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1963
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General Chapter XVIwas convoked in Rome. Although it intended to revise the Rule and Constitutions, its deliberations were so lengthy it was able to revise only the Rule. This Chapter decreed that henceforth the revised rule is to be known as the Constitutions, and the Constitutions will be known as Capitular Statutes. The Chapter closed on April 3. Thomas Manwaring (provincial), and John Kane represented the Oakland Province; John McCormick (provincial) and Raymond Schmitt represented the St. Louis Province; Paul Baudry and Alphonsus Abadie represented the New Orleans Vice-Province. |
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1990
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REV. JAMES RYAN died at the age of 36 while stationed at St. Alphonsus, Chicago. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, February 22, 1953; professed at Oconomowoc, August 5, 1973; ordained at Waterford, May 31, 1979. Wholeheartedly devoted to the preaching apostolate, he belonged to the mission team. He was a simple and captivating preacher whose constant theme was: “Jesus loves you.” He thoroughly believed and lived this. He gave of himself completely to the ministry of confessor. Always willing to listen, he involved himself extensively in programs for the divorced and separated. He died in Omaha. |
16 years professed; 10 years ordained. |
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1937
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REV. WILLIAM BOND died at the age of 78 while stationed at St. Alphonsus, St. Louis. Born in Gibson, Mississippi, December 28, 1858; professed at Kansas City, September 8, 1881; ordained at Ilchester, March 25, 1886. A student at Chatawa in 1879, he was in the pioneer minor seminary class when it moved to Kansas City. He was superior in Denver, pioneered in Detroit, and was twice director of the second novitiate. As a provincial consultor, he helped found the Portland house. He was an active mission preacher. Crippled with arthritis for the last twenty years of his life, he would offer Mass on crutches. He authored a monthly calendar “Leaves of the Rock” about the founding of the “Rock” Church. Though a rather crusty individual, he was a delightful community man. Died in St. Mary’s Hospital, St. Louis. |
55 years professed; 50 years ordained. |
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1954
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General Chapter XV opened in Rome. Most Rev. William Gaudreau was elected rector major. The chapter decided to revise the Rule and Constitutions. Robert Elliot (provincial) and Mark McInerney represented the Oakland Province; James Vance (provincial) and Donald Miller (I) represented the St. Louis Province. On February 27, Rev. William Grangell of the New Orleans Viceprovince was elected consultor general; Raymond Schmitt (Vice-Provincial) represented New Orleans. |
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1885
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REV. JOSEPH COLONEL died at the age of 50 at St. Mary’s Assumption, New Orleans. Born in Kloster-Ebrach, Bavaria, March 22, 1834; professed at Annapolis, October 25, 1861; ordained at Annapolis, April 6, 1867. He began his clerical studies in Germany which were interrupted because of family financial problems. He came to America in 1852. He was stationed in New Orleans from 1869 until his death. He compiled a widely-used book of Catholic hymns. He is remembered as a man of deep faith and practical charity in word and deed. |
23 years professed; 17 years ordained. |
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1993
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BRO. JOHN PROBACIUS died at the age of 83 at St. Clement’s Health Care Center, Liguori. Born in Westville, Illinois, August 27, 1909; professed at DeSoto, January 28, 1929. At profession he took the name Alfred, but returned to his baptismal name in the 1960s; he was most often known as “Brother Speedy” because of the quick way he went about doing things. He was led to Congregation by a talk given in the orphanage in which he was reared. He spent most of his active career at Immaculate Conception (Oconomowoc) and Kansas City, but also served in St. Louis, Perpetual Help (Oconomowoc), and Grand Rapids. He mainly cared for the house and sacristy wherever he was stationed. A highlight of his life was a pilgrimage to Rome and the Holy Land at his golden jubilee. He retired at the Health Care Center in 1984 where he completed his life serving others as before, a gentle and inspiring confrere. |
64 years professed. |
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1995
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REV. ELMER TOUPS died at the age of 80 at Bishop DeFalco Retreat Center, Amarillo. Born, July 7, 1914 at Lafourche, LA; professed at DeSoto, August 2, 1937; ordained at Oconomowoc, July 1, 1942. After his second novitiate, he was appointed to the teaching staff at St. Joseph Preparatory College, Kirkwood, MO, where he served for ten years. Then he began a long career in the Vice Province of New Orleans as a teacher, parish priest, preacher of retreats, and often minister of the community. He was the founding pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Crowley, LA, and later, as pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Corpus Christi, TX, he built the permanent church there. Buried at Lacombe. |
57 years professed; 52 years ordained. |
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1950
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REV. DANIEL WETTA died at the age of 63 at St. Mary’s Assumption, New Orleans. Born in New Orleans, September 11, 1886; professed at Kansas City, August 15, 1905; ordained at St. Louis, June 28, 1911. Most of his active life was spent in St. Louis, Grand Rapids and Kansas City, but he also labored for a short time in Portland. An obliging confrere, even when sick in his last years, he would aid confreres to lessen their workload. |
44 years professed; 38 years ordained. |
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1787
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ST. CLEMENT HOFBAUER took possession of St. Benno’s Church in Warsaw. Redemptorists were expelled from there in 1808. |
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1949
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The Alphonsian Academy was begun in Rome by Superior General Leonard Buys. |
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1995
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REV. GERARD KULLECK died at the age of 83 at St. Clement’s Health Care Center, Liguori. Born in Chicago, October 18, 1911; professed at DeSoto, August 2, 1931; ordained at Oconomowoc, June 29, 1936. He followed his elder brother Leo, into the Congregation. He touched most bases in his apostolic career: parish priest (Grand Rapids, St. Louis, and Davenport), retreat work (Glenview), and mission preaching. He was superior for one term in Davenport. In 1962, he spent several months giving missions at armed forces bases in Spain and Africa. |
63 years professed; 58 years ordained. |
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1996
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REV. HENRY HEIM died at the age of 82 while stationed at St. John Neumann Residence, Biloxi, Mississippi. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, July 13, 1913; professed at DeSoto, August 2, 1943; ordained at Oconomowoc, June 29, 1948. He spent twenty-two years as a mission preacher in the Viceprovince of New Orleans. He was rector in Greenwell Springs, LA, Houston, and later of the community of the Viceprovincial residence. He had a strong sense of responsibility and was a skillful handyman. He loved both sports and music. A serious foot infection forced him to enter Biloxi Hospital where he died. Buried at Lacomb. |
52 years professed; 47 years ordained. |
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1997
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REV. ALBERT FUYTINCK died at the age of 80 at St. Clement’s Health Care Center, Liguori. Born in Graniteville, Missouri, August 2, 1916; professed at DeSoto, August 2, 1937; ordained at Oconomowoc, July 1, 1942. He was first stationed at St. Alphonsus (New Orleans) and then, except for short terms at St. Alphonsus, St. Louis, and Carlisle (Kentucky) he spent his active life in the New Orleans Viceprovince. He was founding pastor of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Corpus Christi. He learned Spanish on his own so he could preach missions in that language. He was an engaging confrere, always ready for a conversation. |
59 years professed; 54 years ordained. |
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2005
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REV. EUGENE JOHN STAUB died peacefully at the age of 78 at Summit Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Born in New Orleans March 3, 1927; professed at DeSoto August 2, 1947; ordained at Oconomowoc, June 26 1952. He would say of himself that he never wanted anything but to be a Redemptorist. Father “Gene” served in the Vice Province of New Orleans, in San Antonio, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Greenwell Springs, Crowley and Lacombe, as an associate pastor, pastor, missionary and minister. A bit of a contemplative; his “morning routine” included an hour of private meditation following morning prayer and meditation in common. This served him well in his last years when he struggled with cancer and suffered a series of strokes. As pastor, he considered the Sunday homily as his principal work for the week and worked for hours to craft his message. A man of no pretense; accepted himself and all others lovingly and uncritically. |
57 years professed; 52 years ordained. |
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1839
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The Forty Hours Devotion was held for the first time by Redemptorists in America at St. Alphonsus Church in Peru, Ohio. It was conducted by Fathers Joseph Prost and Francis Tschenhens. |
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1926
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Nine houses of the Congregation were suppressed in Mexico during the Calles persecution. |
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1930
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BRO. OWEN O’CONNOR died at the age of 60 at Holy Redeemer, Oakland. Born in Janesville, Pennsylvania, April 5, 1869; professed at Kansas City, February 15, 1907. In his youth, he went to Butte, Montana and worked in the mines. A mission there in 1902 persuaded him to join the Redemptorists. He spent all of his religious life as a cook, first in the Midwest until he went to Fresno in 1921. Buried in Liguori. |
22 years professed. |
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1962
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REV. ALOYSIUS BOOS died at age 75 at St. Michael’s, Chicago. Born in Chicago, June 19, 1886; professed at Kansas City, September 8, 1906; ordained at DeSoto, June 28, 1911. He was a professor in Oconomowoc, worked as a missionary out of Oakland in 1934-1935, and spent twenty-seven years at St. Michael’s, Chicago. He had a reputation as an electrical and mechanical expert¾even in his seventies he could occasionally be seen climbing the church tower at St. Michael’s to keep the clock functioning. He is remembered as a zealous parish priest, as well as a wise and gentle confessor. |
55 years professed; 50 years ordained. |
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1971
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REV. WILLIAM MORGAN died at the age of 49 at Travis Air Force Base, California. Born in Fort Collins, Colorado, May 25, 1921; professed at DeSoto, August 2, 1942; ordained at Oconomowoc, January 6, 1948. He grew up in St. Joseph’s, Denver. He served as a missionary in Montana (1949-1955) and then joined the air force in 1955. He gave missions with Father Steve O’Connor of the Baltimore Province while in the service. He covered the globe in his mission work and was highly respected. |
27 years professed; 23 years ordained. |
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2001
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REV. ROBERT GAYDOS died at the age of 81 at St. St. Clement’s Health Care Center, Liguori. Born in St. Louis, January 24, 1920; professed at DeSoto, August 2, 1939; ordained at Oconomowoc, June 22, 1944. His brother, Raymond, was also a Redemptorist. His first assignment was a year at St. Wenceslaus Bohemian Parish in Baltimore, because he spoke Czech. After this he spent almost his entire life as a parish mission preacher, first in the St. Louis Province and then in the New Orleans Viceprovince. In 1973 he became a parish priest in Crowley where he remained until his health forced his retirement in 1984. A quiet man, his last years of prayer were no less apostolic than his earlier life. Rev. Tom Picton was the celebrant. |
61 years professed; 56 years ordained. |
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1978
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REV. JOHN ZIMMER died at age of 84 at Holy Ghost, Houston. Born in Chicago, August 6, 1893; professed at DeSoto, August 2, 1914; ordained at Oconomowoc, July 2, 1919. He served as parish priest and missionary, spending the last twenty-five years of life in Houston. He was affectionately known as “Zim” and “Jacques.” |
63 years professed; 58 years ordained. |
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1982
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BRO. WALTER (VALERIAN) ROBEL died at age of 70 at Immaculate Conception, Oconomowoc. Born in St. Louis, MO, January 28, 1912; professed at DeSoto, February 2, 1934. Before joining the Congregation, he attended Kenrich Seminary (St. Louis) and Columban Seminary. Served in many, many communities. |
48 years professed. |
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1887
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REV. STEPHEN SCHNEIDER died at age of 62 while stationed at St. Michael’s, Chicago. Born in Wuerttemberg, Germany, December 6 1824; ordained as a diocesan priest, August 10, 1849; professed as a Redemptorist in Europe, September 29, 1851. He came to U. S. from the Lower German Province, April 10, 1874, and worked in the Baltimore Province for eleven years before coming to St. Michael’s in 1885. He died in Alexian Brothers Hospital and is buried in St. Boniface Cemetery. |
35 years professed; 37 years ordained. |
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1946
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REV. JOHN. ZELLER died at age of 65 in Immaculate Conception, Oconomowoc. Born in Chicago, May 23, 1880; professed at Kirkwood, August 15, 1897; ordained at St. Louis, March 28, 1903. Having studied in Rome, he was a teacher in both the minor and the major seminary (DeSoto and Oconomowoc), where he taught mainly Scripture and church history. He also served as prefect of students. He was novice master (1933-1945) and provincial consultor (1933-1939). “Father John” was truly a spiritual and intellectual giant, inspiring novices and students with a love for God, Church, and Congregation. His life-long prayer was that he would die in his habit in a Redemptorist house amid his confreres; his prayer was granted. Buried at Glenview. |
48 years professed; 42 years ordained. |
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1987
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REV. GREGORY LAHAY died at age of 74 at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Crowley. Born in Dielstadt, MO, January 27, 1913; professed at DeSoto, August 2, 1936; ordained at Oconomowoc, July 2, 1941. He pioneered in the African-American parish in McAlester, Oklahoma, was superior in four other communities, and student prefect for nine years. In parishes, he exercised a “shoe-leather” apostolate, walking the streets visiting homes; his homilies were meticulously prepared. He had a special devotion to the rosary; when someone once pointed out that his rosary was hanging halfway out of his pocket, he said “That’s for a quick draw!” Died suddenly; buried at Liguori. |
50 years professed; 45 years ordained. |
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2001
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The second Provincial Chapter of the Denver Province began at the Hilton Hotel, Whittier, California. The focus of the Chapter was to review the Province Ministerial Plan approved at the first chapter. No legislation was enacted at this chapter. It closed on February 15. |
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1900
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REV. LOUIS BRANDER died at age of 35 at St. Joseph’s, Denver. Born in Chicago, Illinois, September 27, 1864; professed at Kansas City, August 2, 1884; ordained at St. Michael’s Church, Chicago, April 25, 1889. He served as teacher in the minor seminary and as a parish priest. Suffering from consumption, he was transferred to Denver in 1897 in the vain hope of regaining his health. He was appointed rector there (1898); and died in office. Buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Denver. |
15 years professed; 10 years ordained. |
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1988
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REV. RICHARD JOHNSON died at age of 40 at Holy Ghost, Houston. Born in San Antonio, Texas, June 26, 1947; professed at Clinton, Iowa, August 2, 1968; ordained at San Antonio, Texas, June 23, 1973. He served as a professor and director of retreats at Lacombe. “Loved - Cared - Shared”: these words characterized his short ministry. The lung cancer which eventually claimed his life was detected shortly after his thirty-eighth birthday. Buried at Lacombe. |
19 years professed; 14 years ordained. |
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1990
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BRO. ALOYSIUS (STEPHEN) LEMANSKI died at age 73 at St. Clement’s Health Care Center, Liguori. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, November 2, 1916; professed at DeSoto, Missouri, February 2, 1948. An excellent photographer, he joined the Redemptorists through a novena preached in his home parish. His buoyant temperament made him seem to zip from one activity to another. He was patient in his suffering; as cancer brought his death closer, he frequently mentioned that his “bags were packed.” |
42 years professed. |
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2000
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REV. JOHN WILLIAM KANE died at the age of 81 while stationed at The Desert House of Prayer, Tucson. Born in Portland, May 20, 1918; professed at DeSoto, August 2, 1939; ordained at Oconomowoc, June 22, 1944. He began as a teacher at the minor seminary in Oakland, and then spent several years as a mission preacher and respected retreat master. He gradually developed his expertise in spirituality as he returned to Oakland in the early 1960’s as superior and director. He then joined the retreat team at Picture Rocks Retreat, also serving as vicar for religious of the diocese of Tucson. Here he began to develop a house of contemplative prayer with lay members. This project grew into a separate facility, The Desert House of Prayer, that drew people from around the world. He directed Desert House for over twenty years. An outstanding man appreciated for wisdom, learning, and prayerfulness. |
60 years professed; 55 years ordained. |
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1867
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The Cause of St. Clement Hofbauer was introduced in Romeby Pope Pius IX. |