Athanasius was born at Black Wolf, Wisconsin, and the family later moved to Oshkosh. His mother died when he was only six years old. Like so many others during those pioneer days, he had to go to work at an early age to help provide for the family. As a consequence, his formal schooling was a bit defective.
At age 26, he entered St. Lawrence College, and was among the first three students to enter the scholasticate there. After novitiate, he found studies difficult, but his zeal and piety convinced the Superiors to allow him to be ordained.
In those days, prior to receiving full priestly faculties, the priest was required to pass a qualifying exam. Until he did, he was a simplex priest with limited faculties. After Athanasius was ordained, a priest was urgently needed at Holy Cross in Wauwatosa, so his exam was postponed for a year. At the end of the year, he was transferred to Mt. Calvary where he remained for the rest of his life.
On weekdays, he celebrated Mass for the Agnesian Sisters in Fond du Lac. When the Sisters opened St. Agnes Hospital, Athanasius was assigned there. Since he had not taken the qualifying exam, his faculty for hearing confessions was still limited to cases in which the person was dying and no other priest was available. Athanasius continued studying to prepare himself to take the exam. In the meantime, however, he suffered a serious nervous breakdown.
After spending some time in rehabilitation with the Alexian Brothers at Oshkosh, the doctors recommended outdoor activity. Athanasius was assigned to take care of the greenhouse, the flower beds, the woods and the orchard. He also took care of the collecting tours each fall until they were discontinued about 1918. During the early years he also preached occasionally at some afternoon services. It was probably due to the outdoor exercise that he reached such a ripe old age.
After contracting pneumonia, Athanasius passed away quickly and peacefully, as if falling asleep, at 83 years of age, after 51 years of religious life. He is buried at Mt. Calvary.
At age 26, he entered St. Lawrence College, and was among the first three students to enter the scholasticate there. After novitiate, he found studies difficult, but his zeal and piety convinced the Superiors to allow him to be ordained.
In those days, prior to receiving full priestly faculties, the priest was required to pass a qualifying exam. Until he did, he was a simplex priest with limited faculties. After Athanasius was ordained, a priest was urgently needed at Holy Cross in Wauwatosa, so his exam was postponed for a year. At the end of the year, he was transferred to Mt. Calvary where he remained for the rest of his life.
On weekdays, he celebrated Mass for the Agnesian Sisters in Fond du Lac. When the Sisters opened St. Agnes Hospital, Athanasius was assigned there. Since he had not taken the qualifying exam, his faculty for hearing confessions was still limited to cases in which the person was dying and no other priest was available. Athanasius continued studying to prepare himself to take the exam. In the meantime, however, he suffered a serious nervous breakdown.
After spending some time in rehabilitation with the Alexian Brothers at Oshkosh, the doctors recommended outdoor activity. Athanasius was assigned to take care of the greenhouse, the flower beds, the woods and the orchard. He also took care of the collecting tours each fall until they were discontinued about 1918. During the early years he also preached occasionally at some afternoon services. It was probably due to the outdoor exercise that he reached such a ripe old age.
After contracting pneumonia, Athanasius passed away quickly and peacefully, as if falling asleep, at 83 years of age, after 51 years of religious life. He is buried at Mt. Calvary.
Athanasius was born at Black Wolf, Wisconsin, and the family later moved to Oshkosh. His mother died when he was only six years old. Like so many others during those pioneer days, he had to go to work at an early age to help provide for the family. As a consequence, his formal schooling was a bit defective.
At age 26, he entered St. Lawrence College, and was among the first three students to enter the scholasticate there. After novitiate, he found studies difficult, but his zeal and piety convinced the Superiors to allow him to be ordained.
In those days, prior to receiving full priestly faculties, the priest was required to pass a qualifying exam. Until he did, he was a simplex priest with limited faculties. After Athanasius was ordained, a priest was urgently needed at Holy Cross in Wauwatosa, so his exam was postponed for a year. At the end of the year, he was transferred to Mt. Calvary where he remained for the rest of his life.
On weekdays, he celebrated Mass for the Agnesian Sisters in Fond du Lac. When the Sisters opened St. Agnes Hospital, Athanasius was assigned there. Since he had not taken the qualifying exam, his faculty for hearing confessions was still limited to cases in which the person was dying and no other priest was available. Athanasius continued studying to prepare himself to take the exam. In the meantime, however, he suffered a serious nervous breakdown.
After spending some time in rehabilitation with the Alexian Brothers at Oshkosh, the doctors recommended outdoor activity. Athanasius was assigned to take care of the greenhouse, the flower beds, the woods and the orchard. He also took care of the collecting tours each fall until they were discontinued about 1918. During the early years he also preached occasionally at some afternoon services. It was probably due to the outdoor exercise that he reached such a ripe old age.
After contracting pneumonia, Athanasius passed away quickly and peacefully, as if falling asleep, at 83 years of age, after 51 years of religious life. He is buried at Mt. Calvary.
At age 26, he entered St. Lawrence College, and was among the first three students to enter the scholasticate there. After novitiate, he found studies difficult, but his zeal and piety convinced the Superiors to allow him to be ordained.
In those days, prior to receiving full priestly faculties, the priest was required to pass a qualifying exam. Until he did, he was a simplex priest with limited faculties. After Athanasius was ordained, a priest was urgently needed at Holy Cross in Wauwatosa, so his exam was postponed for a year. At the end of the year, he was transferred to Mt. Calvary where he remained for the rest of his life.
On weekdays, he celebrated Mass for the Agnesian Sisters in Fond du Lac. When the Sisters opened St. Agnes Hospital, Athanasius was assigned there. Since he had not taken the qualifying exam, his faculty for hearing confessions was still limited to cases in which the person was dying and no other priest was available. Athanasius continued studying to prepare himself to take the exam. In the meantime, however, he suffered a serious nervous breakdown.
After spending some time in rehabilitation with the Alexian Brothers at Oshkosh, the doctors recommended outdoor activity. Athanasius was assigned to take care of the greenhouse, the flower beds, the woods and the orchard. He also took care of the collecting tours each fall until they were discontinued about 1918. During the early years he also preached occasionally at some afternoon services. It was probably due to the outdoor exercise that he reached such a ripe old age.
After contracting pneumonia, Athanasius passed away quickly and peacefully, as if falling asleep, at 83 years of age, after 51 years of religious life. He is buried at Mt. Calvary.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
