St. Conrad Messenger
Published by the
Capuchin Province of Mid-America
www.capuchins.org
Published by the
Capuchin Province of Mid-
Clockwise from top left: Fr. Simon Conrad, Fr. Valentine Young, Fr. Earl Meyer, and Fr. Canice Froehlich. (photo of Fr. Meyer courtesty of Rebecca Venegoni Tower
ST. CONRAD MESSENGER - FALL 2008 - VOL 4
CAPUCHINS BID ST. LOUIS FAREWELL AFTER 65 YEARS
Oct. 10, 2008 - St. Louis Review
by Jennifer Brinker, Review Staff Writer
Reproduced with permission of St. Louis Review
After more than 65 years of service in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the Capuchin Franciscan friars are saying farewell.
Citing an increase in the friars’ age, decreasing numbers in the community and the sheer size of the Mid-America Province — which includes St. Louis and extends west to its headquarters in Denver — Provincial Minister Father Charles Polifka said it inevitable for the community’s last four friars in St. Louis to leave.
"This was one of those things in the journey of a religious community," said Father Polifka. "We have to recognize the signs of the times and where the spirit is moving. This was done with prayer and some common sense and realism."
The people of St. Louis and the archdiocese "have been wonderful to us and responsive to us and our ministry," Father Polifka added. "We want to say thank you to the people in St. Louis whom we have ministered to."
In November, Capuchin Father Earl Meyer, associate pastor of St. Mark Parish in Affton, will move to St. Conrad Fraternity in Lawrence, Kan.
The other three Capuchins will be moving on to different locations in December. They are Father Simon Conrad, sacramental minister at St. John the Apostle and Evangelist Parish Downtown, who is going to St. Fidelis Fraternity in Victoria, Kan.; Father Canice Froehlich, also sacramental minister at St. John and confessor at the Vianney Renewal Center in Dittmer, Mo., who is going to St. Joseph Fraternity in Victoria, Kan.; and Father Valentine Young, pastor of St. Patrick Parish since 1981 and administrator of the Shrine of St. Joseph Downtown for 25 years, who is retiring to Pennsylvania.
Father Young, 86, who has been in the St. Louis Archdiocese for 47 years, said of the faithful: "It’s going to be terribly difficult leaving them. I’ve spoiled them, and they’ve spoiled me. I will miss my fellow priests that I have lived with for many years. I will be keeping them in my prayers."
A history of service
The Capuchins’ presence in St. Louis actually dates back to 1772, when several friar missionaries traveled up the Mississippi River from New Orleans. Father Valentine Neufebateau was the first resident priest. The friars provided pastoral care in the area until 1806.
In 1943, the Capuchins returned to the archdiocese at the invitation of Cardinal John J. Glennon. Fathers Herbert Schehl and Sylvan Fondriest arrived to administer St. Charles Borromeo Parish at Locust and Ewing streets Downtown.
In the 1950s and ’60s, pastor Father Joseph Adams oversaw extensive renovations at the parish and developed it into a eucharistic shrine. The church also operated a cafeteria for noontime worshippers, many of them Downtown workers, who came to the parish for Mass.
Over the years, the Capuchins have been involved in numerous other apostolates, including parish administration, sacramental ministry, chaplaincy, mission and retreat work, teaching and vocations and formation work.
One of the community’s notable ministries was its chaplaincy at the former Alverne Hotel, a residence for older adults Downtown established by Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter. The Capuchins were at the hotel from 1960 until budget reasons caused the archdiocese to close the chapel in 1991. The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary operated the hotel.
The Capuchins celebrated Mass five times daily and 13 times on Holy Days, to make the sacrament available to anyone Downtown, including workers and shoppers.
In 1961, the Capuchins also were assigned to direct the Catholic Information Center. Father Young headed the initiative, which was located on the ground floor of the Alverne. In addition to providing regular spiritual guidance and resources, the center also offered individual and group instruction for potential converts.
The Capuchins also handled many marriage cases, where a nonCatholic or new convert was involved. Father Young
Oct. 10, 2008 -
Reproduced with permission of St. Louis Review
After more than 65 years of service in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the Capuchin Franciscan friars are saying farewell.
Citing an increase in the friars’ age, decreasing numbers in the community and the sheer size of the Mid-
"This was one of those things in the journey of a religious community," said Father Polifka. "We have to recognize the signs of the times and where the spirit is moving. This was done with prayer and some common sense and realism."
The people of St. Louis and the archdiocese "have been wonderful to us and responsive to us and our ministry," Father Polifka added. "We want to say thank you to the people in St. Louis whom we have ministered to."
In November, Capuchin Father Earl Meyer, associate pastor of St. Mark Parish in Affton, will move to St. Conrad Fraternity in Lawrence, Kan.
The other three Capuchins will be moving on to different locations in December. They are Father Simon Conrad, sacramental minister at St. John the Apostle and Evangelist Parish Downtown, who is going to St. Fidelis Fraternity in Victoria, Kan.; Father Canice Froehlich, also sacramental minister at St. John and confessor at the Vianney Renewal Center in Dittmer, Mo., who is going to St. Joseph Fraternity in Victoria, Kan.; and Father Valentine Young, pastor of St. Patrick Parish since 1981 and administrator of the Shrine of St. Joseph Downtown for 25 years, who is retiring to Pennsylvania.
Father Young, 86, who has been in the St. Louis Archdiocese for 47 years, said of the faithful: "It’s going to be terribly difficult leaving them. I’ve spoiled them, and they’ve spoiled me. I will miss my fellow priests that I have lived with for many years. I will be keeping them in my prayers."
A history of service
The Capuchins’ presence in St. Louis actually dates back to 1772, when several friar missionaries traveled up the Mississippi River from New Orleans. Father Valentine Neufebateau was the first resident priest. The friars provided pastoral care in the area until 1806.
In 1943, the Capuchins returned to the archdiocese at the invitation of Cardinal John J. Glennon. Fathers Herbert Schehl and Sylvan Fondriest arrived to administer St. Charles Borromeo Parish at Locust and Ewing streets Downtown.
In the 1950s and ’60s, pastor Father Joseph Adams oversaw extensive renovations at the parish and developed it into a eucharistic shrine. The church also operated a cafeteria for noontime worshippers, many of them Downtown workers, who came to the parish for Mass.
Over the years, the Capuchins have been involved in numerous other apostolates, including parish administration, sacramental ministry, chaplaincy, mission and retreat work, teaching and vocations and formation work.
One of the community’s notable ministries was its chaplaincy at the former Alverne Hotel, a residence for older adults Downtown established by Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter. The Capuchins were at the hotel from 1960 until budget reasons caused the archdiocese to close the chapel in 1991. The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary operated the hotel.
The Capuchins celebrated Mass five times daily and 13 times on Holy Days, to make the sacrament available to anyone Downtown, including workers and shoppers.
In 1961, the Capuchins also were assigned to direct the Catholic Information Center. Father Young headed the initiative, which was located on the ground floor of the Alverne. In addition to providing regular spiritual guidance and resources, the center also offered individual and group instruction for potential converts.
The Capuchins also handled many marriage cases, where a nonCatholic or new convert was involved. Father Young
continued the ministry when he moved to St. Patrick.
Moving into the modern.
In 1981, the friars were asked by Archbishop John L. May to oversee a new church to be built Downtown, across from the Cervantes Convention Center. It was to serve the poor living in nearby apartments as well as visitors and conventiongoers.
The parish was named St. Patrick and replaced the historic church by the same name that was closed in the 1970s. The Capuchins moved there and provided several ministries, including preaching and teaching as well as continued service to the Alverne and later to St. John the Apostle Parish Downtown.
According to archdiocesan officials, St. Patrick Parish will not be administered once the Capuchins leave the archdiocese at the end of the year. However, the archdiocesan administrator does not have the authority to open and close parishes. A decision on the status of the parish will be made once a new archbishop is named for St. Louis.
A year after the Capuchins moved to St. Patrick, Father Young received a call from Archbishop May, who asked him if he also would oversee the spiritual activities at the Shrine of St. Joseph.
At first, the priest was reluctant, seeing that his provincial at the time didn’t want the community to take on the additional assignment. But after much consideration, the Capuchins agreed to the role for a year. Somehow, that year turned into a quarter of a century of service.
In 1982, the Capuchins’ Mid-America Province opened St. Crispin Friary, located on Westminster Place in Midtown St. Louis, near St. Louis University. The house was a residence for the province’s postulants and friars in post-novitiate formation.
St. Crispin’s closed this June, according to Father Polifka, who added the building was sold to the Jesuits. The community’s formation program is now entirely located in Denver.
In 1991, the community also expanded to Immaculate Conception Parish in Arnold, where Father Meyer served as pastor for 10 years. Father Gilmary Tallman was associate pastor. Seven friars lived in the community until 2001.
Some information for this story was provided by Father Blaine Burkey, communications officer and archivist for the Capuchin Franciscans’ Mid-America Province.
Moving into the modern.
In 1981, the friars were asked by Archbishop John L. May to oversee a new church to be built Downtown, across from the Cervantes Convention Center. It was to serve the poor living in nearby apartments as well as visitors and conventiongoers.
The parish was named St. Patrick and replaced the historic church by the same name that was closed in the 1970s. The Capuchins moved there and provided several ministries, including preaching and teaching as well as continued service to the Alverne and later to St. John the Apostle Parish Downtown.
According to archdiocesan officials, St. Patrick Parish will not be administered once the Capuchins leave the archdiocese at the end of the year. However, the archdiocesan administrator does not have the authority to open and close parishes. A decision on the status of the parish will be made once a new archbishop is named for St. Louis.
A year after the Capuchins moved to St. Patrick, Father Young received a call from Archbishop May, who asked him if he also would oversee the spiritual activities at the Shrine of St. Joseph.
At first, the priest was reluctant, seeing that his provincial at the time didn’t want the community to take on the additional assignment. But after much consideration, the Capuchins agreed to the role for a year. Somehow, that year turned into a quarter of a century of service.
In 1982, the Capuchins’ Mid-
St. Crispin’s closed this June, according to Father Polifka, who added the building was sold to the Jesuits. The community’s formation program is now entirely located in Denver.
In 1991, the community also expanded to Immaculate Conception Parish in Arnold, where Father Meyer served as pastor for 10 years. Father Gilmary Tallman was associate pastor. Seven friars lived in the community until 2001.
Some information for this story was provided by Father Blaine Burkey, communications officer and archivist for the Capuchin Franciscans’ Mid-
Rebecca Venegoni Tower
FAREWELL, MY FRIENDS — Capuchin Franciscan Father Valentine Young, third from left, celebrates a Mass last weekend at the Shrine of St. Joseph Downtown. Pictured with him, from left, are Deacon John Schiffer from St. Peter Parish in St. Charles; Father DeSales Young; Father Valentine’s brother and also a Capuchin friar; and Father Charles Polifka, provincial minister for the Capuchins’ Mid-America Province. The Mass was in recognition of Father Valentine’s 25 years of service as administrator of the shrine and 60 years of priesthood. He is retiring at the end of the year.