FATHER FRANCIS SERAPHIN HAWELKA
Father Hawelka was our first pastor of Sacred Heart Church. He built our first Catholic church in 1891. He was born December 4, 1859 in Luarm Maravia Austrine. He studied in Luarm Vienna Louvain. He was ordained June 29, 1889 in Leavenworth. He was pastor at Hanover, Kansas 1889-1891, Pittsburg, Kansas 1891-1894, Ottowa, Kansas 1894-1896, Axtel, Kansas 1896-1898, Moscow, Idaho up to May 1898, Ulmus,Kansas May 1898.
DOCTOR JOSEPH A. POMPENEY (1862-1940)
Joseph August Pompano was born in Canton, Ohio, May 5, 1862. His parents were Augusta Leander Pompano and Felicia (Paumeir) Pompano. Joseph received his early education from district and parochial schools in Stark County, Ohio. From there he went to spend 13 years in colleges and universities: St. Joseph's College, Cleveland, Ohio, 1877-1878; Canisas College, Buffalo, NY (received B.A.) 1878-1882; Innsbruck University 1882-1887; Gregorian University 1887-1888; College of St. Thomas, Pontifical Seminary and Roman academy of St. Thomas, where he received Doctor of Canon Law 1888, Ph.D. 1889 and also Doctor of Sacred Theology. In 1919 he was awarded the honorary degree, Doctor of Laws from St. Mary's College. J.A. Pompano was assigned to St. Mary's Church in Pittsburg in 1893 where he served the community until 1897. He served Sacred Heart Parish in Frontenac as a mission from 1894-1895. In 1904 he was appointeds to Frontenac Sacred Heart Church where he served as pastor for eight years. In 1912 he was again appointed to St. Mary's in Pittsburg. He served in Pittsburg until 1928. During WWI, he servedas a sergeant and chaplain in the Kansas State Guard. In 1928, Father Pompano was transfered to Newton. While in Newton, he taught Greek History and Philosophy at Sister's College in Wichita. On June 30, 1931, Father Pompano was invested with the robes of Domestic Prelate with the title Monsignor. He died while in Newton on October 1, 1940.
FATHER ANTHONY P. PODGORSEK (1867-1942)
Father Podgorsek, of Slovenian extraction, was born in 1867. He was assigned as pastor of St. John the Baptist parish at Greeley in February, 1893. In September, 1895, he was transfered to Frontenac. Occasionally, at this time, Father Podgorsek went to Kansas City, Kansas to assist the Slovenian immigrants of that place by hearing their confessions and helping them to make their Easter duty. During these visits, he mentioned the need for a parish in Kansas City, and from his suggestions Holy Family Parish was finally organized in early 1907. By 1899, he was sent to the western part of the state and assigned as pastor of St. Rose of Lima, at Great Bend. From this parish, he attended the missions of St. Patrick at Coolidge, Sacred Heart at Dodge City, St. John Evangelist at Hoisington, St. Francis Xavier at Seward and Garden City. In additioin he visited stations at Dublin, Lakin, Pawnee Rock, Syracuse and Ulysses. By 1901, with the assignment of additional priests, his duties in this area were reduced. He soon left this area and went to Lincolnsville in Marion County in 1902. He was stationed at LaSalle, Illinois in 1904. In 1908 at Pana, Illinois and in 1909 he was at the parish of St. Mark at Venice, Illinois. By 1910 he returned to the Wichita diocese being assigned to Bellefort. He was stationed at Sacred Heart, Cunningham in 1914, and from 1916-1918, was at St. Catherine's at Dubuque. After this we have no further record concerning him until 1937 when he was reported as retired at Ellenwood. He died there on October 17, 1942.
FATHER FILIPPO (PHILIP) BARTOCCETTI, S.O.S.B. (1878-1953)
Father Philip, as he was known here, was born June 22, 1978, in the Aspennine mountiains of Italy, son of German and Olive (Giorgetti) Bartoccetti. He entered the Sylvester monastery December 31, 1892 in the Apennines. He made his simple profession October 25, 1894. Before the year was out, he was sent to the Gregorian University in Rome and was to remain there the next five years, receiving his bacclaureate and licentiate in Philosophy. He left Italy November 1, 1900. He finished his studies at St. Anthony college in Kandy, Ceylon and was ordained July 25, 1901. After teaching for six years, Father Philip was restless and longed for new travels and adventure. When Bishop Hennessy's request for a priest to help with Italian immigrants in the Wichita diocese came, Father Philip and Father Joseph Cipolletti quickly responded. They left for America on October 12, 1910 and arrived in Wichita on November 10. Meeting with Bishop Hennessy, they were informed of their destination at Chicopee. They were at St. Barbara's for two years before being transfered to Sacred Heart in Frontenac in September of 1912. During the next 17 years, they were to serve 13 different missions from Frontenac and build churches in Capaldo, Cherokee and Arma. Father Philip was appointed to find a place for a Silvestrine's monastery in the United States. He left Frontenac travelling to Kansas City, Chicago, and Grand Rapids, settling in Detroit. This seemed a promising place for the monastery. In May 1929, he was transfered from Holy Family to Our Lady of Help Parish, Detroit. He was to remain pastor of this parish for the rest of his life. His dream of he Silvestrines was realized and a monastery was erected. There, to this day, stands St. Sylvester Monastery and Cloister, a monument to the determination and faith of Father Philip. In July, 1951, Father Philip celebrated his golden Jubilee to the priesthood. July 20, 1953, he died in Detroit.
FATHER GUISEPPE (JOSEPH) MARIE CIPOLLETTI, S.O.S.B. (1879-1938)
Father Joseph's exact bith date has yet to be obtained. He was a native of Italy, coming from the village of Ficano, now Poggio S. Vicino, in Acona. He had taken the dark blue habit of the Silvestrine Benedictines at the age of 15, at about the same time as Father Philip. He studied at the Gregorian University in Rome and there, it is presumed, his friendship with Philip began, as they were fellow students. About 1900, he returned to St. Sylvester's Monastery at Monte Fano, and taught in the intermediate school attached to the monastery. In this capacity, he was once more joined by Father Phlip in about 1904. During this time, he became the secretary and counselor to Abbot Antonio Antonelli. Fulfilling his duties with much dedication by 1910, Father Joseph showed a certain weariness and desire for change. Thus, when Bishop Hennessy's request became known, Father Joseph was immediately Father Philip's choice for the endeavor. He was appointed superior of the new mission. After the long journey to the United States, he was dismayed at the conditions that he found upon arrival at Chicopee. But mustering his deep faith and commitment, he, with Philip, began to sow new seeds of belief among these new changes. The seeds were to grow and multiply. As has been stated, he transferred to Frontenac in September 1912. There for the next 17 years, he and Philip spread the faith thoughout the coal fields. In December, 1923 he was appointed to the Council of Vigilance of the Faith. He remained at Sacred Heart, in charge, until Philip had established a permanent setting in Detroit. Then, in 1929, he returned to the Frontenac parish, along with its mission field, over the Franciscan Capuchin order and joined Philip and the others in Detroit. He also was to serve as our Lady of Help in Detroit. Following the erection of the monastery there, he became the Master of Novices. He died in 1938 at the age of 59 at St. Mary's Hospital in Detroit.
FATHER ILDEPHONSE ROECKL, O.F.M. Cap.
Father Ildephonse was born in Trautenberg, Bavaria on July 27, 1888. He came to the United States in 1904. After spending two years with the Benedictine Fahters of St. Vincent's Archabbey, Latrobe, Pa. as a brother of candidate and novice, he began his ecclesiastical studies with the Capuchin Fathers in St. Fidelis Prepatory Seminary, Herman, Pennsylvania. He studied philosophy in St. Fidelis Seminary, Victoria, Kansas, and completed his theological studies in Sts. Peter and Paul monastery, Cumberland, Maryland. He was ordained September 22, 1918 in Mt. St. Mary's Seminary, Emmitsburg, Maryland. His first appointment was as assistant priest in Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Cumberland, Maryland. In 1921 he was transferred to Charleston, West Virginia to take care of the missions in the coal fields. In 1923 he went to Marienthal. Three years later, he was made superior and pastor of the Marienthal parish, in his pastorate a new school was erected. For one year he served as superior and pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Ness City, and then he traveled east to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to act as chaplain and business manager of Toner - an institute for homeless boys. In 1933 he returned to Kansas being made superior and pastor in Ellis. In 1936 he was appointed pastor of St. Fidelis Parish in Victoria, Kansas and in 1939 became superior and pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Frontenac, Kansas. In 1940, the Fontenac church was destroyed by fire. Before the year ended, a beautiful new church - the present church - was erected. Untiring in his efforts, Father Ildephonse cleared the debt in December 1942.
MONSIGNOR JOHN WHITE (1911-1982)
He was born July 22, 1911 in County in County Westmeath, Ireland. He was ordained priest June 23, 1935 at All Hollows College in Dublin. Monsignor White served Kansas churches in Newton, Cunningham, Fredonia, Yates Center and Anthony. He served as a chaplain in the army for twenty years beginning July 11, 1942. He came to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Frontenac July 1, 1964 and retired July 1, 1976. He died November 2, 1982 in Long Beach, New York.
MONSIGNOR VINCENT HOGAN
Monsignor Hogan was born September 2, 1916 to John and Mary (Loughnane) Hogan, Chicago, Illinois. He attended elementary school of St. Aloysius, Chicago, Illonois and entered the Passionist Seminary at Louisville, Kentucky and Detroit, Michigan. He then studied at Conception Seminary, Conception, Missouri and was ordained there at Immaculate Conception Abbey on September 23, 1944 for service in the diocese of Wichita. Msgr. Hogan's first assignment was temporary Chaplain, St. John's Hospital, Iola, Kansas, October 1944. Subsequent assignments were: St. Mary's Cathedral, Wichita, Kansas, November 1944; St. John Parish, Kiowa, Kansas, January, 1947; St. Ignatious Parish, Neodesha, Kansas, October 1949; St. Mary parish, Moline, Kansas, november 1955; St. Michael Parish, Mulvane, Kansas, May 1963; St. Margaret Mary Parish, Wichita, Kansas, June 1964; St. Patrick Parish, Chanute, Kansas, July 1966; Sacred Hear Parish, Frontenac, Kansas, November 1976; St. Francis Parish, St. Paul, Kansas, June 1987. Msgr. Hogan had a brother, Fr. William Hogan, C.P., a Passionist preist, who died September 1, 1989 in Chicago, Illinois.
FATHER JAMES R. O'SHEA
Father O'Shea was born in Galway, Ireland October 25, 1931 to James and Jane O'Shea. He was ordained a priest June 2, 1956 in Ireland. His first assignment was at St. Mary's Parish in Wichita, Kansas, 1956-60. He has also served Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Pittsburg, Kansas, 1960-1964; St. Theresa's Parish, Hutchinson, Kansas, 1964-1966; Mother of God Parish, Oswego, Kansas, 1966-1981; St. Joseph's Hospital Wichita, Kansas 1981-1987. In 1987 Father O'Shea came to this parish, Sacred Heart, Frontenac, Kansas, and in 1991 he went to serve at the State Department of Detention Council, El Dorado, Kansas. Father has five sisters living in Ireland.
FATHER DONALD R. THISSEN
Father Thissen was born September 29, 1944 to Cornelius and Clara Thissen in Kingman, Kansas. After finishing grade school at St. Patrick's in Kingman, he entered the seminary in 1958 and began the journey to the priesthood. He attended three seminaries during 1958-1962, Trinity High School in Sioux City Iowa, 1962-1966; Conception College in Conception Missouri, 1966-1970; and St. Thomas in Denver Colorado. Father was ordained on May 30, 1970 at the Cathedral in Wichita. His first assignment was to Blessed Sacrament, Wichita Kansas, 1970-1975. He also served St. Francis of Assisi, Wichita Kansas 1975-1978, and then returned to Blessed Sacrament 1978-1982. In 1982 he served All Saints in Wichita until 1984 and from 1984 until 1991 he served at St. Leo's Parish, St. Leo Kansas. He came to be our pastor at Sacred Heart in Frontenac in September 1991. Father was the 10th child of 12 children. Two of the twelve children are now deceased. There is one other priest in the family, Father Kevin, O.P. and St. Thomas Aquinas, Houston, Texas, and one sister became a nun, Sister Rita Marie C.S.J. at Spiritual Life Center, Wichita, Kansas.