Information from "A Romance of Lady Poverty" by Celestine N. Bittle, O.F.M. Cap. and "The History of Mt Calvary" by Fr. Corbinian Vieracker, O.F.M. Cap. translated by Ronald Jansch, O.F.M. Cap. in 2007.
Father Bonaventure Frey O.F.M. Cap. was born with the name John Anthony Frey, the son of Johy Frey and Elizabeth Lautenschlager. Along with Father Francis Haas they founded the Capuchin order in the United States.
The two men from Switzerland arrived in Mt Calvary via horseback on October 15, 1856. Frey was described as tall and gaunt with a stern mien. Frey had been pastor of St Mary's Parish in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They had left Milwaukee that morning and traveled to Fond du Lac, where they hired two horses. The bishop had asked them to inspect Mt Calvary to see if it was a suitable place to erect the first Capuchin friary.
They followed a pioneer road from Calumet Harbor on Lake Winnebago toward the east. The going was hard through woods, skirting marshes, and through very hilly terrain. After some mistakes in direction and backtracking they finally arrived at the edge of what is now Mt. Calvary. They were impressed by the quiet solitude of the area, its sacred name, the hill, and on its peak the little church, amidst the towering oak trees. "Here we will build the first monastery" they said.
Information from "A Romance of Lady Poverty" by Celestine N. Bittle, O.F.M. Cap. and "The History of Mt Calvary" by Fr. Corbinian Vieracker, O.F.M. Cap. translated by Ronald Jansch, O.F.M. Cap. in 2007.
Father Bonaventure Frey O.F.M. Cap. was born with the name John Anthony Frey, the son of Johy Frey and Elizabeth Lautenschlager. Along with Father Francis Haas they founded the Capuchin order in the United States.
The two men from Switzerland arrived in Mt Calvary via horseback on October 15, 1856. Frey was described as tall and gaunt with a stern mien. Frey had been pastor of St Mary's Parish in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They had left Milwaukee that morning and traveled to Fond du Lac, where they hired two horses. The bishop had asked them to inspect Mt Calvary to see if it was a suitable place to erect the first Capuchin friary.
They followed a pioneer road from Calumet Harbor on Lake Winnebago toward the east. The going was hard through woods, skirting marshes, and through very hilly terrain. After some mistakes in direction and backtracking they finally arrived at the edge of what is now Mt. Calvary. They were impressed by the quiet solitude of the area, its sacred name, the hill, and on its peak the little church, amidst the towering oak trees. "Here we will build the first monastery" they said.
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