St Francis Minor Seminary - Via Yearbook (Milwaukee, WI)

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DIAMOND .x , a . Z? ' 97's Twaaralmm kee to succeed Bishop Koudelka. The Seminary felt proud that an alumnus had again been found worthy of the Episcopal dignity. He was born in Poland, Nov. 21, 1860. In 1885 he came to Chicago and the same year entered St. Francis Seminary for the dio- cese of Grand Rapids. He was ordained June 29, 1887, and was very successful in pastoral work in Michigan. His consecration took place on Jan. 14, 1914. The St. Stanislaus Literary and Debating Society held its annual celebration on November 6, and pre- sented the drama liGwiazcla Syberyil, tThe Star of Siberia1 by Leopold Storzenski. The Rev. Domi- nic Szopinski, President of the society, directed the play. The St. Philip Neri Mission Society held a meeting at which finances were reviewed and officers elected. Fifty-four new members were enrolled in the Total Abstinence Society on December 12. The Right Rev. Bishop Kouclelka left for his new See of Superior on November 3. Many bishops and priests attended his reception at Superior. The Right Rev. John J. Hennessey, Bishop of Wichita, cele- brated the Silver Jubilee of his consecration in a simple, quiet manner. On Jan. 14, 1914, the consecration of Bishop Koz- lowski as Auxiliary in Milwaukee took place and the Seminary students enjoyed a holiday. The Rector, professors, and the fourth course of theology attended. The new Auxiliary Bishop celebrated Pontifical Mass at the Seminary on St. Francis Day, Jan. 29, 1914. The biennial dramatic entertainment of the St. James Literary and Debating Society was given on Feb. 12, under the direction of the Rev. George Eilers, president of the society. iiThe Prince and the Pauper was presented. A pre-lenten entertainment, the musi- cal comedy iiCatilinaK was given on February 23. The Most Rev. Archbishop attended the celebra- tion of the feast of St. Joseph at the Seminary. The Right Rev. Joseph Rainer, the Rector, was honored on this day. The Archbishop conferred Holy Orders on March 28 and 29. On April 23, the St. Thomas Society presented 8King Henry 1V7. The Rev. George Eilers also directed this production. A rule was made at this time that beginning with the next scholastic year the philosophers also must wear cassocks. The Right Rev. A. F. Schinner, who had resigned as Bishop of Superior, was appointed to the newly erected See of Spokane, Washington. On May 11, the Rev. James A. Walsh, Missionary Apostolic, president of the Seminary of the Foreign Missionary Society of America at Maryknoll, Ossin- ing, N. Y., addressed the students. He spoke of the foreign missions and the work of the Maryknoll So- JUBILEE iESE ciety in them. St. Philip Neri Mission Society ob- served the feast of its holy patron on May 26. 1913-1914 On Sunday afternoon May 17, the boys, choir of St. Boniface Church, Milwaukee, of which the Rev. H. T. Stemper is pastor, gave a creditable sacred concert at the Seminary. The Douglas Elocution Contest was held on June 5; all continued to manifest a keen interest in this contest. The Right Rev. Edward Kozlowski, Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee, ordained to the priesthood the graduating class of 1914. The feast of Corpus Christi on June 10, was cele- brated with all due solemnity. Monsignor Rainer offered the Solemn High Mass and carried the Bles- sed Sacrament in the procession in which all the neighboring institutions took part. The weather on this day was very warm but otherwise favorable for the long outdoor procession. Because the Church was in mourning over the death of Pope Pius X, the Alumni Association meet- ing scheduled for August 27 was postponed indefi- nitely. The Rev. Charles Bruehl, Ph. D., resigned as pro- fessor of dogmatic theology. He had been recalled by his Archbishop tof Philadelphia to teach at the Seminary of St. Charles Borromeo at Overbrook. The Rev. Augustine C. Breig, D. D., was appointed to succeed Dr. Bruehl. St. Francis began another scholastic year on Sept. 8, 1914, with 275 students. Soon after the opening of school Bishop Schinner of Spokane was a welcome visitor at the Seminary. Bishop Hennessy of Wichita, also a former student of the Seminary, paid a short but pleasant visit to his Alma Mater on November 10. The Academic Albertus Society presented with great success Shakespearek tragedy, iiMacbethi', trans- lated into German by Schiller. The play was directed by the moderator of the society, the Rev. Aug. C. Breig, D. D. On the 24th of November the Rev. Dr. CYHearn, professor of Canon Law, Church History, Homi- letics, and Italian observed the twenty-fifth anniver- sary of his ordination to the priesthood. He graduated in 1889 and was ordained Nov. 24, 1889, after Arch- bishop Heiss had received a dispensation from Rome to ordain him before the canonical age. He attended the Catholic University at Washington and the Greg- orian University at Rome applying himself to Canon Law and Christian Archeology. After traveling in Europe he returned to Milwaukee and was assistant at the Cathedral for four years. He was appointed professor at the Seminary in 1905. I541

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493 for poor students was a source of great joy to the beloved prelate for he was always anxious and ready to help students in need of funds. Archbishop Messmet, Bishop Rhode, Bishop Schwebach and many visiting Monsignori and priests were present. The program in the auditorium, the congratulations, the eulogies, and the presentation of the burse bearing his name were a source of great astonishment and amaze- ment to the beloved Monsignor who was taken some- what by surprise. Monsignor Rainer in his humility said he did not recognize himself in the eulogies of the successive speakers. Monsignor Gerend, who had worked so nobly as treasurer in collecting the funds for the burse, presented it to Monsignor Rainer, who in turn was visibly affected and too overcome by emotions to express himself at length; but in a few heartfelt words he thanked all concerned in the occasion for their kind feelings toward him and their generous provisions in behalf of needy students, so dear to his heart. 1913 Tonsure, Minor Orders, and Subdeaconship were conferred by Archbishop Messmet on March 8. On the following day the subdeacons received deaconship. The St. Boniface Society directed by the Rev. William Nellen gave its biennial entertainment on April 10. iiCrowns and Palmsi a drama by Dr. Anton de Waal, was enacted. The St. Thomas So- ciety entertained an enthusiastic audience under the direction of Rev. D. J. OiHearn, D. C. L., by pre- senting iilulius Caesar,,. The resignation of the Right Rev. A. F. Schinner, D. D., from the See of Superior was a surprise and regret to many. The Alumni were so generous in contributing to the burse in honor of Monsignor Rainer that two burses were formed. The second burse was named the iiSt. Josephis Bursei, in honor of the patron saint of the Rector. The total amount collected was $10,061.03, to which Monsignor Rainer himself contributed $300. The Feast of Corpps Christi was celebrated with great solemnity by all the institutions of St. Francis. The feast of St. Philip Neri was duly celebrated by the Mission Society. The Douglas Elocution Con- test was held on May 29. On June 1, the students gave a reception to Mon- signor Rainer in honor of his Silver Jubilee as Rector. The celebration was a complete surprise to him. The Rev. Aloysius Muench, prefect, presented the gifts, a library table and a beautiful lamp, to Monsignor Rainer. Short speeches were given in English, Ger- man, and Polish, to which Monsignor Rainer re- sponded successively in the languages in which he had been addressed. SAINT FRANCIS SBMINARY Archbishop Messmer conferred Holy Orders on four deacons. The Rev. Thomas Schmitz and the Rev. Aloysius Muench ordained at this time, later became professors at the Seminary. Three students of the Seminary were ordained in Racine by Bishop Koudelka at St. Joseph,s Church. The final meeting of the St. James Literary and Debating Society consisted in farewell exercises to fifth class, the graduating class of the collegiate de- partment. Father George A. Durnin, professor of the Semi- nary and editor of the Salesianum, died on June 26. His serious illness was not publicly known as he shrank from publicity in sickness as in health and all respected his feelings. By Father Durnirfs death the Church lost a worthy priest; the Seminary, an efH- cient professor; his family, an affectionate son and brother; and his friends, a friend indeed. Funeral services were held Monday, June 30, at St. Roseis Church of which the Very Rev. P. H. Durnin was pastor. Rev. P. H. Durnin, brother of the deceased, offered the Funeral Mass and Bishop Koudelka gave the absolution. Father George Durnin was born in Milwaukee in 1869. He studied theology at St. Fran- cis and was ordained in 1895. From the time of his appointment as professor of the Seminary in 1906, he worked zealously and effectively as professor of En lish and homiietics, as editor of the Salesianum, an secretary of the St. Francis Alumni Association. The Rev. Barnabas Dieringer, professor at the Seminary, celebrated his sacerclotal silver jubilee on June 24. On July 1, the Class of 93 met at the Seminary to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of its ordi- nation. The large number present and the jovial spirit that prevailed made the occasion a very happy one. A reunion of the class of 1903 took place on July 22 and July 23 at the Seminary. Two hundred and sixty-four students entered St. Francis Seminary, September, 1913. The Rev. Eugene J. McCarthy had resigned as professor of philosophy and was succeeded by Rev. Matthew F. McEvoy, Ph. D. The Rev. George C. Eilers, M. A., took up his new duties at the beginning of this year as professor of English and other collegiate branches. On September 14, Vincent Ries, a student eighteen years of age and a member of third class, drowned in Lake Michigan while bathing. This caused a great deal of grief to the students and the Seminary. The Rev. Frederick Pommer, a former professor at the Seminary, died on Oct. 2, at St. Louis, Mo. Bishop Koudelka, Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee, was ap- pointed to the See of Superior. The Rev. Edward Kozlowski was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Milwau- i531

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Qis The Rev. A. Hopfgartner, a missionary from Borneo, gave a very instructive lecture on the religious, political and social conditions in that far away land. Archbishop Messmer attended the Solemn High Mass at the Seminary on Thanksgiving Day and preached on iiEcclesiatical Obedience? He had re- cently returned from Rome and after Mass he gave the Papal blessing to all. 1914-1915 Monsignor Rainer enrolled 52 new members in the Sodality of the B. V. M. on the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Dr. OiHearn, on the first Friday of December received 43 members into the Sacred Heart League. On the twenty-first of Decem- bet the Most Rev. Archbishop attended a concert given under the auspices of the Seminary orchestra. On December 31, for the first time the professors took their places at table in the new refectory which was added to the main building. The Right Rev. Bishop Fox of Green Bay resigned his See because of failing health. The Very Rev. H. F. Fairbanks, vice-president of the Alumni Association, died on Jan. 29, 1915, on the forty-seventh anniver- sary of his ordination. He had always been a very enthusiastic supporter of his Alma Mater, and the Seminary felt very keenly the loss of this true friend. On March 8, the Right Rev. Thomas Shahan, Rector of the Catholic University at Washington, was introduced to the Seminarians by Archbishop Messmer. Bishop Shahan gave an inspiring lecture on learning and piety. Mr. Peter Collins visited the Seminary and delivered an interesting discourse on Socialism. Mr. Collins came from Boston and as a layman, having abundant knowledge both ecclesiasti- cal and lay, he was doing much good for Church and State. The Most Rev. Archbishop conferred Tonsure, Minor Orders, Subdeaconship, and Deaconship at Passiontide. At this time also prayers for peace according to the decree of the Pope were begun. The St. Thomas Society presented the drama en- titled ilLouis X17, directed by the Rev. M. McEvoy, Ph. D. Members of the St. James Literary and Debating Society competed for a beautiful gold medal in an Oratorical contest. This medal was presented by the Rev. M. J. Huston, Chaplain of the National Soldiers, Home at Milwaukee. Mr. John J Sullivan was victor with the oration, 8The Century of Cent- ur1es7. The Rev. James F. Ryan was appointed to take charge of St. Thomas Parish at Beloit. He had spent 18 years as a professor at the Seminary and had en- deared himself to all. The students gave him a heart- felt farewell. The Right Rev. Msgr. Rainer, P. A., SAINT FRANCIS SEMINARY V. G., observed his seventieth birthday on February 1Q19U. Bishop J. J. Fox, D. D., who had resigned his See at Green Bay, died March 14 in the Alexian Brothers Hospital at Chicago. I-Iis dearest friends and his relatives were at his bedside as he breathed his last. He was born August 2, 1855, in the old historic city of Green Bay. After receiving his first Holy Communion he left for St. Francis Seminary to study for the priesthood. Having finished his Classics there he went to Louvain to take up Philosophy and Theo- logy. He was ordained at Malines, Belgium, in 1879. He gave his whole-hearted service to Green Bay dio- cese. He was Vicar-General for eleven years, and on July 23, 1904, was consecrated Bishop of Green Bay. His death was keenly felt by all, for he was all to all, and his life had ended at peace with the world and God. uTheoclotusii, a drama directed by the Rev. Lederet, was presented by the St. Boniface Society. Monsignor M. J. Lochemes, the author of the play, attended the performance. The Douglas Elocution Contest took place on May 28, at two p. m. The Rev. Paul Schaffel, D. D., was appointed to begin his work at the Seminary with the next scho- lastic year as professor of Holy Scripture. He had made extensive studies abroad. Father Hemmer, pro- fessor of Latin and Greek, resigned his position to return to La Crosse Diocese. Holy Orders were conferred on June 13 by His Grace, the Archbishop. Thursday, July 15, was the sixtieth anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of the Seminary. This brought to mind again the early history of this vener- able institution. The Right Rev. Paul P. Rhode, D. D., Titular Bishop of Barca and Auxiliary of Chicago, was ap- pointed to the See of Green Bay which was left vacant by the death of Bishop Fox. Bishop Rhode was the first Polish Bishop in the United States. He was born in Prussian Poland in 1871, but he spent the greater part of his life in Chicago. He was or- dained in 1894 and consecrated Bishop in 1908. The Right Rev. Edward Kozlowski, Titular of Germa and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, died Aug. 17, 1915, in St. Josephls Hos- pital. He was appointed Auxiliary October, 1913, and consecrated on Jan. 14, 1914, at St. Johns Cathedral, Milwaukee. He was no doubt the foremost exponent of the Polish-American cause, an exemplary Priest of God, and an ardent lover and enthusiastic leader of his people. He entered St. Francis Seminary in 1885 and was ordained in 1887. Before his appoint- ment as Bishop he had done effective pastoral work i551