The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-02
ORANGE PRIEST DIES
FATHER WENZE sue.
cUMBS TO PARALYSIS.
Was Pastor of st. venantius r. O..
Church, Orange, for Eighteen Years.
Spoke Nine Languages.

After FIVE years of suffering. which
had made him a virtual prisoner in his
rectory. 1875 Cone street, Orange, during
his period OF illness, the Rev. p. A.
Wenzei, pastor of st. Venantius's Roman
Catholic Church, at Henry and Cone
streets. Orange, passed away shortly
after 10 a. m, today. The well-known
German clergyman had passed a restless
morning, and was unable to retain food,
and he was suddenly prostrated by a sec
ond stroke of paralysis and expired be-
fore the arrival of DR.. Augustus V.
Wendell. who was m from his
home in Littleton avenue this city, by
telephone.
The nurse at the house who has been
caring for the priest for the past nine
years, as soon as she noticed the sudden
change for the worse, sent for the Rev.
John p. Callaghan, rector of the Church
of Our Lady Help of Christians, East Or
ange, who had been doing the work of the
Orange parish while the titular head was
Frustrated with Illness. and the clergyman
and faithful associate of the dying priest
arrived at the house soon after he died.
DR.. Wendell signed the death certificate
after his arrival.
With the Rev. Father Callaghan as cele-
brant a solemn high mass of requiem viii
be solemnized Saturday morning at $3.50
o'clock In the Church of st. Venantius's,
and at the conclusion of the ceremonies
Mther Wenzels body will be laid away
in the funeral plot owned by Father Cal
laghan in the Cemetery of the Holy
Sepulcllre.
Father Wenzel during the eighteen years
of his pastorate in Orange had accom-
plished much good work among the Ger
meriean members OF his parish until
otrta1xpv ~ down with rhp1Jn1tiS1n and other
ailments which gradually resulted in his
death. A missionary priest of the Jesuit
order, he Ind travelled the world over and
visited the larger countries. He was a
gifted man and spoke nine languages per-
.fectly. Trouble with his eyes caused him
to accept the dispensation from the Society
of Jesus and take up secular work and he
into his labors. in Orange the same
zeal and enthusiasm that had stamped his
successful missionary labors among the
Chinese, Greeks and various other people
among whom he had worked.
Al one time a professor at Seton Hal
College, South Orange, Father Wenzel had
cultivated a lasting friendship among
students, many of them 10Y in the priest
hood and the Rt Rev. John ]. O'Connor,
bishop of the Newark diocese, was a
weekly and at times ssmi-weekly visitor
at the bedside OF the stricken man during
the last five years.
Born in Prague, Austria. seventy-three
years ago, he was educated and later or
dained in Germany. He took up mission
airy b. which he successfully continued
while his health allowed him. A brother
of his is now in the far West, a membe
of the franciscan order. This is his only
surviving relative.
During his recent illness Father CAL
laghan was In charge of the parish work
In st. Venantius's. He was assisted by
other priests in the diocese, many of whom
gave considerable help. Father John j..
Rongetti, pastor Of Jul Lady of Mount
Carmel Church, Orange, at one time spent
three weeks at the priests side nights and
helped minister to his physical wants.
Father Callaghan's daily attentions and
work relieved the min of Father Wengel
Of responsibilities and he was, in spite of
his serious Illness, a cherry patient,