March 17, 1904 March 17, 1904 Bishop Louis Mary Fink, OSB Bishop Louis Mary Fink, OSB Bishop Fink was born June 12, 1834 Bishop Fink was born June 12, 1834 at Triftersberg, Bavaria, Germany. He was at Triftersberg, Bavaria, Germany. He was professed as a Brother of the Order of St. professed as a Brother of the Order of St. Benedict Jan. 6, 1854. He was ordained by Benedict Jan. 6, 1854. He was ordained by Bishop Joshua Young of Erie May 28, 1857. He was named Bishop Joshua Young of Erie May 28, 1857. He was named Prior of St. Benedict’s Priory at Atchison in 1868. Prior of St. Benedict’s Priory at Atchison in 1868. Pope Pius IX named him Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Pope Pius IX named him Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Kansas to Bishop Miege on March 1, 1871. He was conse- Kansas to Bishop Miege on March 1, 1871. He was conse- crated by Bishop Thomas Patrick Roger Foley at St. Joseph’s crated by Bishop Thomas Patrick Roger Foley at St. Joseph’s Church in Chicago. Church in Chicago. He succeeded Bishop Miege on Nov. 18, 1874. He was He succeeded Bishop Miege on Nov. 18, 1874. He was appointed bishop of Leavenworth when the state, which had appointed bishop of Leavenworth when the state, which had been a vicariate territory, was established as a diocese. He been a vicariate territory, was established as a diocese. He witnessed two divisions of his diocese. The establishment witnessed two divisions of his diocese. The establishment of the Concordia and Wichita dioceses in 1887, and the of the Concordia and Wichita dioceses in 1887, and the subsequent removal of five additional counties to Concordia subsequent removal of five additional counties to Concordia and 14 additional counties to Wichita in 1897. and 14 additional counties to Wichita in 1897. W.J. Onahan in “Catholic Colonization of the West,” W.J. Onahan in “Catholic Colonization of the West,” characterized Bishop Fink as “one of the most active and characterized Bishop Fink as “one of the most active and zealous of the western prelates in encouraging colonization zealous of the western prelates in encouraging colonization and providing for the wants and necessities of the Catholic and providing for the wants and necessities of the Catholic settlers.” He prevented Catholic immigrants from scatter- settlers.” He prevented Catholic immigrants from scatter- ing widely by organizing viable parish groups and aiding ing widely by organizing viable parish groups and aiding Catholic colonies. (Kansas Monks, p. 204) Catholic colonies. (Kansas Monks, p. 204) Bishop Fink died March 17, 1904 at the age of 69. Bishop Fink died March 17, 1904 at the age of 69. His funeral Mass was celebrated at the Cathedral of the His funeral Mass was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Leavenworth, by the Most Rev. Immaculate Conception, Leavenworth, by the Most Rev. John Glennon, archbishop of St. Louis. Burial was in Mount John Glennon, archbishop of St. Louis. Burial was in Mount Olivet Cemetery at the Sisters of Charity motherhouse in Olivet Cemetery at the Sisters of Charity motherhouse in Leavenworth. Leavenworth. March 17, 1904 March 17, 1904 Bishop Louis Mary Fink, OSB Bishop Louis Mary Fink, OSB Bishop Fink was born June 12, 1834 Bishop Fink was born June 12, 1834 at Triftersberg, Bavaria, Germany. He was at Triftersberg, Bavaria, Germany. He was professed as a Brother of the Order of St. professed as a Brother of the Order of St. Benedict Jan. 6, 1854. He was ordained by Benedict Jan. 6, 1854. He was ordained by Bishop Joshua Young of Erie May 28, 1857. He was named Bishop Joshua Young of Erie May 28, 1857. He was named Prior of St. Benedict’s Priory at Atchison in 1868. Prior of St. Benedict’s Priory at Atchison in 1868. Pope Pius IX named him Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Pope Pius IX named him Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Kansas to Bishop Miege on March 1, 1871. He was conse- Kansas to Bishop Miege on March 1, 1871. He was conse- crated by Bishop Thomas Patrick Roger Foley at St. Joseph’s crated by Bishop Thomas Patrick Roger Foley at St. Joseph’s Church in Chicago. Church in Chicago. He succeeded Bishop Miege on Nov. 18, 1874. He was He succeeded Bishop Miege on Nov. 18, 1874. He was appointed bishop of Leavenworth when the state, which had appointed bishop of Leavenworth when the state, which had been a vicariate territory, was established as a diocese. He been a vicariate territory, was established as a diocese. He witnessed two divisions of his diocese. The establishment witnessed two divisions of his diocese. The establishment of the Concordia and Wichita dioceses in 1887, and the of the Concordia and Wichita dioceses in 1887, and the subsequent removal of five additional counties to Concordia subsequent removal of five additional counties to Concordia and 14 additional counties to Wichita in 1897. and 14 additional counties to Wichita in 1897. W.J. Onahan in “Catholic Colonization of the West,” W.J. Onahan in “Catholic Colonization of the West,” characterized Bishop Fink as “one of the most active and characterized Bishop Fink as “one of the most active and zealous of the western prelates in encouraging colonization zealous of the western prelates in encouraging colonization and providing for the wants and necessities of the Catholic and providing for the wants and necessities of the Catholic settlers.” He prevented Catholic immigrants from scatter- settlers.” He prevented Catholic immigrants from scatter- ing widely by organizing viable parish groups and aiding ing widely by organizing viable parish groups and aiding Catholic colonies. (Kansas Monks, p. 204) Catholic colonies. (Kansas Monks, p. 204) Bishop Fink died March 17, 1904 at the age of 69. Bishop Fink died March 17, 1904 at the age of 69. His funeral Mass was celebrated at the Cathedral of the His funeral Mass was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Leavenworth, by the Most Rev. Immaculate Conception, Leavenworth, by the Most Rev. John Glennon, archbishop of St. Louis. Burial was in Mount John Glennon, archbishop of St. Louis. Burial was in Mount Olivet Cemetery at the Sisters of Charity motherhouse in Olivet Cemetery at the Sisters of Charity motherhouse in Leavenworth. Leavenworth..