"In Memoriam" is a new feature of the Southwest Kansas Register that debuts in this issue. At right, readers will find the first in a continuing series of biographical sketches of deceased priests who have served in the area.

These sketches are being written and compiled for a priests’ necrology that will be published in the future. This is a multi-year project, but readers will be able to read a sampling in each issue of the Register while the book is being written. A publication date or information about obtaining a copy of this book will not be available for some time. It is expected that the book with include nearly 200 biographical sketches.

"This book will include biographies of all the priests who served in any parish or institution in what is now the Diocese of Dodge City," said Tim Wenzl, diocesan archivist. "Some parishes in southwest Kansas were established when the area was known as the Apostolic Vicariate of Indian Territory East of the Rocky Mountains, or as the Diocese of Leavenworth, Diocese of Wichita, or the Diocese of Dodge City. Any priest serving this area in whichever historic period, will be included in the book. Biographies of religious order priests serving in the area and of native priestly vocations will also be included."

The book will be organized in chronological order from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. The priest’s biographical sketch will appear on his death day. The book will be produced as a three-ringed binder so that biographies can be added as necessary.

Much work has already been accomplished on this project. Kaley Temaat and Jenna Stremel, summer interns, spent the summer locating and filing obituaries of many of the diocesan priests. Father David H. Kraus is busy contacting archivists from the religious orders that sent priests to southwest Kansas. Wenzl, author of Legacy of Faith, is writing the biographical sketches.

In Memoriam

January 15, 2002

Father Andrew McGovern

Father McGovern was born August 29, 1927, at Bundarra, Carrigallen, County Leitrim, Ireland. He was ordained at St. Peter’s College, Wexford, Ireland, on June 7, 1953, by the Most Rev. James Staunton, bishop of Ferns.

He was one of many Irish priests who were recruited in the seminary for service in Kansas. When the Diocese of Dodge City was established in 1951, the newly ordained priests were divided by picking a slip of paper with the name of either the Wichita or Dodge City diocese from a biretta in Bishop Carroll’s office.

Father McGovern served as associate pastor at St. Rose of Lima, Great Bend, for a short time in 1953 before his appointment as associate pastor at St. Joseph, Ellinwood, (1953-1957). His pastorates included: Sts. Peter and Paul, North Kinsley, and Holy Rosary, Burdett, (1957-1962); St. John, Kiowa, (1962-1965); St. Joseph, Beaver, (1965-1970); Sacred Heart, Larned, (1970-1979); St. John, St. John, and St. Francis Xavier, Seward, (1979-1991), Immaculate Conception, Claflin, Holy Family, Odin, St. Joseph, Beaver, and St. Catherine, Dubuque (1991-1993), and St. John, St. John, (1993-1996). While stationed in Larned, he also served as chaplain at St. Joseph Memorial Hospital. He was Diocesan Director for the Propagation of Faith from 1980 to 1996.

Father McGovern died January 15, 2002, at the age of 74. Bishop Gilmore celebrated his funeral on January 19 at the St. Elizabeth Chapel in the Catholic Care Center, Wichita. He was buried at St. Joseph Cemetery, Aughavas, Carrigallen, County Leitrim, Ireland.