Our History

History of the Province

The Early Years - Munjor and Mission

(11) Munjor and Mission (Antonino)

To the Catholics of Munjor belongs the honor of having been first among the German-Russians of Kansas to build a house of worship in Ellis County.

The first settlers of Munjor hailed from the Russian village of Obermundschuh, Marienthal, and Wittmann. Landing in New York in July, 1876, they went to work wherever they could, chiefly on farms and on the railroad, in order to earn money enough to set them up farming on their own account. In the spring of 1877 they gathered on the banks of the Big Creek, about live miles to the south of Hays City, where they founded the village of Mundschuh. This name the neighboring Americans promptly changed to Munjor, and though they had no more authority to do so than a certain simplified spelling commission of recent memory, they had better success, for Munjor is the recognized and official name of the settlement to this very day. Here, then, the hardy immigrants put up their humble dwellings or dugouts, which barely protected them against wind and rain. This done they set about building a "church." It was but a wretched little log cabin, but the best they could afford just then. In their eyes it was more precious than the mansions of the rich and the palaces of kings, and rightly so, for its humble walls were consecrated by the presence of Christ on the rare occasions on which the devout settlers enjoyed the privilege of having Mass celebrated in their midst. The first Mass offered at Munjor was said in February, 1876, by Father Sommereisen, who visited the village a few times thereafter. It was in May of the same year that the Capuchin Fathers of Victoria took over this mission together with a number of others already mentioned in this sketch. Father Anastasius, Father James, Father Andrew and Father Martin attended the place in succession. As the village was the most populous in Ellis County, after Victoria, Munjor had services once or twice a month at first, and from November, 1884, on three Sundays of the month.

The original church, an affair of about forty by twenty, had been much too small from the very start. In 1883 Father Andrew extended it by sixteen feet. At last Father Matthew, who in August, 1886, succeeded Father Martin as pastor of Munjor, decided to build a larger church. Though he began his preparations immediately, it was not until Passion Sunday of the year 1889 that the cornerstone of the new building could be laid. From that time matters progressed rapidly, and on Trinity Sunday, 1890, Very Rev. Father Francis Wolff, Provincial at the time, solemnly dedicated the new edifice, placing it under the patronage of St. Francis. The church was completed by Father Martin, who had succeeded Father Matthew in January, 1890. It is Gothic in design, and the interior is tastefully decorated and well-furnished, owing chiefly to the efforts of Father Leo, who was pastor of Munjor from August, 1897, to August, 1900. The tower, originally carried to a height of sixty feet, was completed in 1906, at an expense of $1,850.00, by the untiring efforts of Fr. Raphael Maria, pastor at said time.

The parish numbers about 200 families. It goes without saying that Munjor has a parochial school. At first the people sent their children to a public school in' the neighborhood, which, however, was generally in charge of a Catholic teacher. In the spring of 1885 Father Francis built a two-story convent, and in the fall of the same year three Sisters of St. Agnes arrived and taught school in the church building. As the number of their pupils was constantly increasing the erection of a school building became imperative. When Father Albert was appointed pastor of Munjor, in November, 1891, he immediately took the necessary steps. His parishioners eagerly responded to his call and with that prompt generosity which our chronicler has recorded as one of the characteristics of the Munjor Catholics, they set about hauling the necessary stone and furthering the undertaking in many other ways. Towards the end of September, 1893, the school was completed, and on April 3, 1894, Bishop Hennessey personally dedicated the new building. It is seventy-four feet long and thirty-seven feet high, by a depth of thirty-six feet. Owing to the vast amount of work done by the parishioners free-of-charge, it cost less than $3,600.00. The school, which contains four spacious classrooms, has an average attendance of from 230 to 240 children.

Until August, 1902, the pastors of Munjor had resided in Victoria, and later in Hays City. During their visits to Munjor they took up their abode in the sacristy of the church. The first room dignified by that name was nothing to boast of, unless we allow its merits as an eloquent exponent of truly apostolic poverty. The two little rooms added to the new church built in 1889-1890 offered a little more comfort. Finally the Catholics of Munjor decided they would have a resident priest. Their request was favorably received provided they would build a suitable rectory. At their own expense they then erected the present monastery, which was blessed by Bishop Cunningham on June I, 1902. Two months later, on August 9th, the Catholics of Munjor saw their wishes realized when Father Chilian, Father Theodosius and Brother Giles arrived from Victoria to take possession of the new hospice. They were later joined by Fathers Edward and Maure. Since then the congregation has had regular services on all Sundays and feast days, or rather every day of the year, two priests being appointed to attend to the spiritual wants of the parish, which is in a very flourishing condition. A number of societies have been introduced; among them the Confraternity of Christian Mothers and the Third Order have a membership of over a hundred.

Twice Munjor has enjoyed the blessings of a mission. The first was conducted by a Redemptorist Father in January, 1893, and another by a Jesuit Father in December, 1905.

The parish has its own cemetery, which was dedicated June 5, 1898.

Following is the series of pastors who have had charge of Munjor since 1878: Father Anastasius Joseph, May, 1878, to 1881; Father James, to March, 1883; Father Andrew to April, 1884, Father James, to October, 1884; Father Francis Charles, to December, 1885; Father Martin, to August, 1886; Father Matthew, to January, 1890; Father Martin, to November, 1891; Father Albert, to September, 1894; Father Hilary, to September, 1896; Father Nicholas Maria, to August, 1897; Father Leo, to August, 1900; Father Chilian, to June 1903; Father Leo to August, 1905; Father Raphael Maria, to August, 1906; Father Emmeram, since August, 1906.

In the fall of 1904 a number of parishioners of St. Francis took steps to build a church of their own in Lookout Township, Antonino, about nine miles west of Munjor. Messrs. John Dechant, Gerard Pfannenstiel, John Gerl and James Gabel donated twenty acres of land to the new parish, five of which were set apart for church purposes, the remainder being laid out in building lots. Messrs. John Rohr and George Sauer donated another tract of five acres for a cemetery. A church and priest's house were then built at an expense of about $3,000.00, not including a great amount of labor furnished by members of the new congregation free-of-charge.

The first dedicatory ceremonies were performed by Father Maure, the first pastor of the new church, March 26, 1905. The assistants on this occasion were Fathers Leo, John Maria, Michael, Anthony, and Titus; Father Leo preached the dedication sermon. About a month later, April 30th, Father Provincial Charles blessed the 650 pound bell of the new church, in honor of St. Michael, Father Michael, O.M. Cap., delivering the festive oration. Bishop Cunningham of Concordia finally performed the solemn dedication ceremonies, October 10, 1905, placing the church under the patronage of Mary, Help of Christians. Father Raphael Maria, at the time superior of the monastery at Munjor, delivered the sermon. A second bell was blessed by Father Celestine, September 26, 1905.

Fr. Andrew Eisenhut, OFM Cap

Fr. Edward Heyl. OFM Cap

Fr. Francis Charles Strobl, OFM Cap

Fr. Maure Schebler, OFM Cap

Fr. Celestine Oswald, OFM Cap