BISHOPS DURING
THE LIFE OF ST. BRIDGET CHURCH

Bishop John Baptiste Miege (1851-1874)

Bishop Miege was the first bishop of what is now called the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.  It was called the Indian Vicariate when he was appointed in 1851.  The first settlers to the St. Bridget area arrived when he was bishop.  The parish was officially established under Bishop Miege.

Bishop Louis M. Fink, OSB (1874-1904)

 

Bishop Louis Fink, OSB was the prior at St. Benedict's Abbey when Bishop Miege requested his appointment as coadjutor bishop. His health was considered "frail" but he served as Bishop until 1904.  While he was bishop, the Indian Vicariate was elevated to the rank of Diocese in 1877. Thus Bishop Fink was the First Bishop of the Diocese of Leavenworth (Kansas). The old frame church was replaced with the Rock Church at St. Bridget while he was the Bishop.

Bishop Thomas Lillis (1904-1911)

Bishop Lillis was Vicar General of the Kansas City, Missouri diocese before being appointed to succeed Bishop Fink in 1904. Bishop Lillis was responsible for establishing many catholic grade and high schools throughout the diocese. He was appointed Bishop of Kansas City, Missouri in 1910 and administered both diocese until 1911 when his successor arrived in this diocese.

Bishop John Ward (1911-1929)

Bishop Ward, so far, is the only native priest to be named Bishop of his home diocese.  Bishop Ward was a strong advocate of education, as was his predecessors.  Sts. Peter and Paul High School in Seneca was established during Bishop Ward's time.  The new rectory was built (1916), burned down (1919) and rebuilt (1920) while Bishop Ward was bishop.

Bishop Francis Johannes (1929-1937)

Bishop Johannes was appointed coadjutor bishop to Bishop Ward in 1928. Raised in the city, he requested a parish assigned in a rural area and was assigned to St. Gregory's in Marysville. When Bishop Ward died in 1929, Bishop Johannes moved to Leavenworth. He was bishop during the Great Depression and is credited with establishing many diocesan program to assist the poor and homeless during those difficult depression years.

Bishop Paul Schulte (1937-1946)

Bishop Schulte was a native of St. Louis and upon Bishop Johannes' death was named as Bishop of Leavenworth. He organized the CCD program, encourage street preaching by his priests in towns with minimal Catholic population. He began the Diocesan newspaper, The Eastern Kansas Register (now Leaven) in 1939.

Bishop George Donnelly (1947-1950)

Bishop Donnelly was another St. Louis priest before being appointed Bishop of Leavenworth. During his bishopic the see city of the diocese was transferred from Leavenworth to Kansas City, Kansas. St. Peter's Church in Kansas City, Kansas was designated the new Cathedral of the diocese. Bishop Donnelly stressed the importance of Catholic education at all levels. Bishop Donnelly was bishop when St. Bridget became a mission parish to Summerfield in 1949.

Archbishop Edward Hunkeler (1951-1969)

Archbishop Hunkeler, a native Kansan, was Bishop of Grand Island, Nebraska before coming to Kansas City. During his bishopic, the diocese was elevated to an ecclesiastical province with Kansas City, Kansas being made an archdiocese. He took charge of a diocese with aging buildings and much renovation needed and new construction being required because of the post war baby boom. He brought the changes of Vatican II to the diocese.  Because of a dwindling rural population, and a shortage of priests, he was forced to close some of the less populated parishes, including St. Bridget.  He was the Bishop when St. Bridget ceased being an active Catholic parish in 1967.  It was his intention to tear down the church building in 1969 when ill health forced him to resign as Archbishop.

Archbishop Ignatius J. Strecker (1969-1993)

Archbishop Strecker is the person most responsible for saving the church building of old St. Bridget from the wrecker's ball.  Archbishop Hunkeler was adamant about tearing down the old church.  No amount of debate was possible to change his mind. Ill health intervened and Archbishop Strecker was appointed our new Bishop. After meeting with a group of former parishioners, he advised them to form a non-profit corporation, the St. Bridget Historical Society. After a lot of paperwork, it was accomplished. In 1972, Archbishop Strecker deeded the church and six and one-half acres to the new St. Bridget Historical Society. The church was now the property of the new non-profit corporation controlled by former members of the parish.

Bishop Marion Forst

Bishop Forst came to our diocese from the Diocese of Dodge City (Kansas) in 1976.  He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese, assisting Archbishop Strecker.  Even though he retired formally as Bishop, he continued a very rigorous schedule traveling throughout the diocese. He was retired in name only. In 1995, he was appointed Titular Bishop of the Diocese of Leavenworth. (Titular sees are see cities that cease to exist because of a merging of a diocese or the transfer of diocesan headquarters to another city.) Although he has never been to St. Bridget (since the parish closed before he came to our Diocese) -- he is always most welcome.

Archbishop James Patrick Keleher (1993 to present)

Archbishop Jim, as he likes to be called, was the first Archbishop to celebrate a liturgy at St. Bridget's since Archbishop Hunkeler had Confirmation there in the early 1960's. Archbishop Keleher was the presiding celebrant for our Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of the establishment of the St. Bridget Historical Society. He has since returned two more times. We are thankful for his ongoing interest for the old parish of St. Bridget.

We ask St. Bridget to watch over our Shepherds as they watch over us.

We thank the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas for much of the biographical information and pictures of our bishops. The information and photos were taken from the publication: "The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. 150 Years of Faith  1850-2000."