From
the Pastor
Bishop John Baptist Miege, SJ, established the Old Cathedral Parish of the Immaculate Conception in August 1855. In 1858, he established Leavenworth's second parish, St. Joseph Church, as an ethnic parish for German Catholics. Here the German language and culture would flourish for some 70 years. In October 1864, Bishop Miege transferred the administration of St. Joseph's Parish to two Carmelite friars from Straubing, Bavaria. From these humble beginnings in frontier Leavenworth, the Carmelite Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary was founded in 1890.
This Friday, we welcome Fr. John Russell, O.Carm., the Prior Provincial of our Carmelite Province, for our 150th Jubilee celebrations. Fr. John was elected "Provincial" in 2002, and is the religious superior of Carmelites serving in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Peru. His office is in the suburban Chicago town of Darien, Illinois.
Fr. John was born in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, on July 19, 1934. He took first vows as a Carmelite brother on August 26, 1957, and was ordained to the priesthood on July 26, 1960. Fr. John has studied in Rome, ministered in Carmelite high schools and parishes, served as a seminary professor and spiritual director, as well as a Carmelite novice director and formation director. Most of all, he is one of the most-renowned authorities in the world on the spirituality of St. Therese of the Child Jesus.
This Friday evening, October 15, at 7:00p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, Fr. John will be giving a presentation entitled: "A Gift from Carmel: The Spirituality of St. Therese." After his talk, we will be distributing a novena booklet written by Fr. John. Following his presentation, pie and cider will be served in Miege Hall. We also plan to have a number of 19th Century photographs on display of our early German-American Carmelite founders who served in Leavenworth.
We hope as many of our parishioners as possible will be able to attend this special evening! Fr. John will also be staying with us for this important anniversary in the history of our parishes and the Carmelite Order, let us give him a warm Kansas welcome!
God bless you always!
