The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-22
COnsecrated Head of the Diocese
of LeavenwOrth.
Apostolic Delegate Has Charge
of the Ceremonies.
PRELATES AT EVENT.
They Include Many From States
Neighboring Kansas.
Takes Place Where Priest
Was Ordained.

Leavenworth, Kan, Feb. 22-With
all the solemn ceremony of the Ro-
man Catholic church. in the very
church in which, twenty-seven years
ago, he was ordained a priest and be-
fore a notable gathering of high
prelates, two hundred priests, and a
congregation of laymen that filled the
cathedral, Rt- Rev. John Ward, ID. D.,
enworth, Kan, diocese of the Roman
Catholic church, this morning.
His excellency, the Most Rev. Do
mede Falconio apostolic delegate to
the United States. was the consecrator
and Ri. Rev Thomas F. Lillis. retir-
the Rt. Rev. John Hogan, the vener-
able bishop of Kansas City. and Rt.
Rev. John Cunningham, bishop of the
COncOrdia diocese, were his assistants.
The conservation sermon was
preached by the Rev. Thomas H. Kin
Soldiers home, Danville, Ill. The
chaplain and Bishop Ward attended
college together and both were or
dained priests together.
Among the prelates present We're:
The Most Rev. John ]. Glennon, arch
John J. Hennessey, bishop of the
Wichita diocese; Rt. Rev. Peter Mu-
doom, bishop of Rockford, ILL.,; Rt-
Rev Richard ScanneH. bishop of
Omaha; Rt- Rev. Edmund Dunn.
bishop of Peoria, Ill; Rt. Rev. J.
Rev. Innocent Wolf o. S B., Atchison,
Kan; Rt. Rev. Frowin Conrad, o. S.
B.. Conception. Mo; Rt. Rev. Mgr.
Anton Kuhls, Kansas City, Kan; Rt.
Rev. Mgr. ]. H linen, Wichita.
Bishop Ward was born in West
View, Ohio. little town near Cleve-
land. May %, 1857. At an early age
he entered Count st. Mary's seminary,
Cincinnati, Ohio, and afterwards com
pleted his classical course in the Col
lege of the Assumption at Sandwich,
Ontario. Father Ward wa ordained
to the priesthood in the Cathedral of
Leavenworth July II, 1884, by the late
Rt. Rev. Louis Mary Fink, o. s. B.,
then bishop of Leavenworth. His first
appointment was assistant to the ca
thedral. The following November he
was appointed pastor of st. Joseph s
church, in Marshall county, with the
town of Frankfort as a mission. The
members of his flock were scattered
over a large district, which made his
laborS arduouS, but he met every OBJ
stacle with courage that insured
success, so that after five years of prl-
vations and Jealous striving he left re-
ligion on a solid footing His name
is held in benediction and no man to-
day enjoys more sincere friendship
from the people, both Catholic and
non-Catholic in Marshall county.
In the spring of 1889 Father Ward
was appointed rector of ST Patrick S
parish, Parsons, Kan. The removal of
heavy debt and the building of the
basement chapel of the present hand
some church taxed his energies for six
years. At the end of that time he was
named rector of the Church of ST.
Thomas the Apostle in Kansas City.
Kan. In May, 1898, the Very Rev.
John F. Cunningham was created
bishop of Concordia, Kan. and Father
Ward succeeded him in thu admins
tration of the cathedral at Leaven-
worth. After serving ten years in this
position he was, in May, 1909, chosen
to succeed the pioneer priest of the
diocese, the Rt. Rev. Mgr. Anton
Kuhls, as irremovable rector of ST.
Mary's church, Kansas City, Kan. On
the occasion of the ven cradle prelate' S
retirement to private life. July 1, 1910,
the Rt. Rev Thomas F. Lillis was
transferred from the see of Leaven-
worth to become coadjutor to Rt. Rev.
John Hogan, bishop of Kansas City,
Mo. The electoral college of the
Leavenworth diocese and the bishops
of the province of st. Louis met IN
Kansas City, Kan, August 25, under
the presidency of the Most. Rev. John
J. Glennon, the archbishop of st. Louis
and elected Father Ward to succeed
Bishop LiIlis in the see of Leaven-
worth. Pope Plus x approved the Sc
lection and Father Ward was an
nounced bishop of Leavenworth, No
vember &c, 1910