Fr. Kettlebnerger experienced how nice it is nice to be remembered as the representative of the VIncentians some 35 years after leaving “Queens”, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish in Jackson Michigan.
On June 25, 2017, the parish invited the last Vincentian Pastor, Father John Kettelberger, CM to participate in the Blessing and dedication of the newly built parish center which has been named “Vincentian Hall “ in honor of the 37 Vincentian Priests who served the parish between 1934 and 1996. The new hall features a beautiful plaque of dedication as well as a beautiful statue of St. Vincent de Paul. During his remarks at the dedication, Father Kettelberger, CM. spoke of the importance of this year for Vincentians who are celebrating the 400th anniversary of the birth of the Vincentian Charism. Father John spoke of how humbled and proud the Vincentians were at seeing how faithfully the people of Queen’s Parish continued to live out the Vincentian spirit in their concern for the poor of Jackson county and beyond.
Frs. Joe Elzi, Henry Bradbury, Mike Kenndy and Tom Kenndy are the only other living confreres who served there. All four reside at our Motherhouse. Fr. Elizi holds the distinction of being the only member of the Eastern Province to be born and raised in “Queens”. See the full list of confreres below.
In 1934 Bishop Gallagher invited the Vincentians of the Eastern Province to come to Jackson, Michigan and establish a parish on the west side of the town as well as become Chaplains to Southern Michigan prison and Mercy Hospital. The first Mass for the parish was celebrated by Father Leon Cahill, CM celebrated the First Mass for the parish on June 25, 1934, in the Knights of Columbus Hall. The Vincentian Community served the people of Jackson for the next 62 years in the parish which they named Queen of the Miraculous Medal as well as Southern Michigan Prison and Mercy and later Foote Hospitals. In 1996 the Vincentian Community withdrew from Jackson and priests of the Diocese of Lansing assumed leadership of the parish.
To put his history into context it might be helpful to realize that 1934 President Roosevelt was making plans for a radical new program that would become known as Social Security.
Vincentian Pastors
- Rev. William Casey, C.M.
- Rev. Joseph Wright, C.M.
- Rev. Michael J. Kennedy, C.M.
- Rev. Joseph F. Keenan, C.M.
- Rev. James T Twomey, C.M.
- Rev. Francis X. Desmond, C.M.
- Rev. F. Leon Cahill, C.M.
- Rev. John H. Dougherty, C.M.
- Rev. Arthur J. Keegan, C.M.
Others who served
- Rev. Francis J. McCormick, C.M.
- Rev. E. Louis Lawler, C.M.
- Rev. Francis X White, C.M.
- Rev. Joseph Keenan, C.M.
- Rev. Hank Thiel, C.M.
- Rev. John Hallahan, C.M.
- Rev. Raymond E. Lewis
- Rev. Vincent E. Trunk, C.M.
- Rev. James Wholey, C.M.
- Rev. William Glavin, C.M.
- Rev. Francis X. Quinn, C.M.,
- Rev. James Murphy, C.M.
- Rev. Thomas Kennedy, C.M.
- Rev. George Krock, C.M.
- Rev. James Kelly, C.M.
- Rev. Thomas Browne, C.M.
- Rev. Vincent Galchus, C.M.
- Rev. Keith Krusky, C.M.
- Rev. Joseph Symes, C.M.
- Rev. Stephen Denig, C.M.
- Rev. Vincent Penderghest, C.M.
- Rev. William Schmidt, C.M.
- Rev. Henry Bradbury, C.M.
- Rev. George Mullen, C.M.
- Rev. Bernard Tierney, C.M.
- Rev. John Kettelberger, C.M.
Hospital Chaplains
- Rev. Thomas D. O;Connor, C.M.
- Rev. Nelsen Schroder, C.M.
- Rev. Francis B. Hinton, C.M.
- Rev. F. Leon Cahill, C.M.
- Rev. Lester DeMott, C.M.
- Rev. John McMyler. C.M.
Dear Fr. Freund,
Great info re. Vincentian ministry. I forwarded your most interesting E-mail to my middle son,Chris,a federal judge stationed in Lansing MI.
Thank you!
Ed Ambrose
Could you answer this for me please? When my son was in the seminary in the seventies he took me through the wonderful museum on the Perryville campus. I have often wondered what happened to the beautiful,,very large, clllection of jade I’ll never forget the beauty of this collection. Thank you. ……..mickeyt1925@icloud.com
Since I am based in the East I can only suggest you contact the Western Province via https://www.vincentian.org/contact.html
The Perryville seminary was in Perryville, Missouri which
is in the Eastern province.. I wonder if one of the other priests might remember. It was a rather large museum considering it was owned by the seminary. Many beautiful objects there. If I’m not mistaken I believe hearing it was the largest collection of jade east of the Mississippi river.
If you don’t have time to look into this, I understand .
Thank you
Perryville is not considered to be in the eastern Province territory.
Dear John:
Good to hear from Ed Ambrose. I have fond memories of him at St.Joe’s
Don’t know where to start. Since entering the Seminary in the fall of 1952, I have been a Vincentian at heart and to this day I try to live with the Spirit of St. Vincent.
As you know God did send me in a new direction some years later. I married, lost my first wife to cancer, remarried and we have 8 children and fourteen grandchildren. I’m 80 and still run 5Ks with my lovely wife, Carole.
To this day I have taught my little ones (not so little any more) to live in the same spirit of St. Vincent and by his guidelines:”Work as if everything depends on you and pray as if everything depends on God”, etc.
I always felt, ’til today, that I was part of the VinFam; you, Bob Maloney, Richy Rock, etc, etc.. all my brothers in Christ.
To the point: I read the History of “Queens” yesterday. A part seems to have been left out. My name was not added to those who served the wonderful people of that parish. I served there with Joe Keenan and Mike Kennedy. Arrived the same Fall as Tom Brown and before my classmate Tom Kennedy. I said mass , heard confession, preached homilies, performed weddings, funerals, taught “religion” at St. Mary’s HS. I served on the Lansing Liturgical Commission , Chaplain at Newman Center at Jackson CC.. etc. etc. It was an honor to serve in whatever assignment I was given.
Whoever did the research on the HISTORY of “Queens” either inadvertently did not gather all the correct info, or sadly for some reason chose not to record the history accurately. Please don’t tell me it’s because I NOW, am not permitted to put CM after my name. It was CM then. I served proudly and I still am proud to call myself a Vincentian even if my VinFam doesn’t seem to recognize it. Sorry, but nobody can take the spirit of St. Vincent out of me. Also, if you say the parish council left my name out , I would think that the Pastor would have done his research made that correction.
Moreover, , after the death of my dear friend, Father Cahill, I was asked by Father Collins to leave the “Immaculate” in Phila. and permanently ( not temporarily, or “Summer Assignment” ) return to fill the Chaplain’s position at Southern Michigan State Prison. I accepted, moved back to Michigan and served the inmates .. daily mass, counseling, three masses on Sunday, etc., etc. ….now, the records will show that would make me #2 on the Chaplain’s list, as well.
I mention all this just to keep the record straight and the HISTORY of “Queens” accurate.
Am I hurt? Sure! Like a portion of some of the most wonderful moment of my life has been ignored by my own Family. I’ll get over it just like I have many other difficult times in my life. God has blessed me abundantly.
Thanks for listening.
Yours always, in St. Vincent de Paul
Rev. Hank Thiel, M.Div., FCM
(Hank)
Hank,
So good to hear from you!
First, as the author of the post, I can only say that I used material straight from the Golden Jubilee book put out by the people of Queens some years ago. Another confrere has commented that Steve Trzecieski’s name was also omitted. But Steve was only there as a summer appointment. But that, in turn, reminded me that I too had been there for a summer appointment. So who knows how many others could have been mentioned.
The amazing thing for me was the so many years after we left, the people of Queens saw fit to dedicate a building in memory of the Vincentians.
PS If you were there full time I would be happy to add your name to the post. I notice that Keith Crusky was included in their list.
Hank,
I just realized a mistake I made in preparing the article. The 50th anniversary was in 1984, Therefore it would not reflect anyone who served between 1984 and 1996 when we withdrew.
John,
For some reason, I also associate Jackson, MI, with Raymond Keith Krusky (MIS class 1970 ).
Keith’s name is in the story
Dear Hank,
And I have fond memories of you. I entered St. Joe’s as a Third Year student in 1953. You were one year ahead of me and we walked those beautiful grounds together while you assisted me in my orientation. Father Casey was our prefect,a kind and just man. In the Internal Seminary,again,you helped me get used to life at the Ridgefield house and you,with Confreres,saw our first year class through reception and beyond. Thus,I remember your kindness along with loads of your authentic Vincentian traits.To this day,I’ve wondered where you have been. I’m very sorry that your first wife was so young when God’s angels took her to Heaven,and I’m delighted that Carole is your loving wife. We can correspond by E-mail if you have time….joed7@cox.net. I’m ordained in the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ and serving as visitation minister in a Missouri Synod Congregation. Jo and I have been married for more than 40 years. Jo is from Richmond Hills,Queens and belonged to Holy Child Parish which nurtured John Freund. It’s amazing how God figures things out for us. These days,I’m delighted for renewed communication with “the guys”-a big improvement from being an “extern” in the old days.
May God continue blessing you,Carole and your many children with his richest blessings,Hank!
Ed
Fr. John,
I forwarded your info re. prison ministry to my son,Chris. Here is part of his reply. I had not known that his son,Joe,my grandson, had volunteered at the prison. Also,I assured them that God would see Joe’s volunteering as authentic ministry.
“Thanks for this interesting and moving account of the Vincentian ministry in Michigan. Joe has done work at the Jackson prison while at U of M. He ran a creative writing project as well as an improvisational theater program there. I suppose ministry can take many forms. “