Cleveland Plain Dealer Newspaper - June 9, 1947
Farewell Honors Are Paid to Rev. Sebastian J. Kremer
With solemn high mass yesterday morning and a dinner in Hotel Hollenden
last night, Rev. Sebastian J. Kremer, C. PP. S., observed the 40th
anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood and the 29th anniversary
of his pastorate at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 4423 Pearl
Road S. W.
Wednesday Father Kremer will be succeeded at Our Lady of Good Counsel
Church by Rev. Frank C. Lautick, former army chaplain and procurator at
St. Joseph’s College, Rensselaer, Ind., for the last year. Father Kremer
has been transferred to Fort Wayne, Ind., where he will be pastor of
Precious Blood Church.
Father Kremer was celebrant of a solemn high mass in his church at 10
yesterday morning. Two priests assisted at the mass, Rev. Henry J.
Friedel, C. PP. S., and Rev. Christian Staab, C. PP. S., were deacon and
subdeacon. Father Friedel is a member of the mission band of the
Congregation of the Most Precious Blood. Father Staab is a faculty member
of St. Charles’ College, Collegeville, Ind.
Termed a Zealous Pastor
Rev. Melchior Lochtefeld, C. PP. S., pastor of St. Edward’s Church,
delivered the sermon, in which he described Father Kremer as a zealous
pastor whose work was demonstrated in the spiritual life of the parish
and in the group of parish buildings erected during his pastorate. The
latter include a magnificent church, a modern school, a convent and a
rectory.
Father Lochtefeld read a letter from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni
Cicognani, apostolic delegate to the United States, bestowing the blessing
of Pope Pius XII on Father Kremer and all who took part in the observance
of the double anniversary.
“Especially does the holy father bless you,” the letter said, “not
alone for a splendid record in the priesthood to date, but also for
the planned new high school to be erected in the parish and to be a
memorial to your 40th anniversary as a priest.”
Following the mass Father Kremer carried the Eucharist in a solemn
procession through the church.
Blesses Plaque
Later Bishop Edward F. Hoban blessed a bronze plaque in the sacristy of
the church honoring 25 young men of the parish who have become priests
and the 41 young women who have entered sisterhoods.
At the dinner Common Pleas Judge James C. Connell compared Father Kremer
to the early missionaries in his work since becoming a priest. Father
Kremer, he said, had “genius for organizing” and cited the parish loan
society, which has aided thousands, as one of his accomplishments.
Judge Connell said Father Kremer did not limit his work to Catholics but
had been helpful in promoting Alcoholics Anonymous, “in giving spiritual
care to the German prisoners of war at Crile General Hospital during the
war and in opening the parish hall to all kinds of community activities.”
Mayor Thomas A. Burke said the good that Father Kremer had accomplished
was demonstrated by the affection and admiration of his parishioners.
Rev. Joseph Marling, provincial of the American province of the
Congregation of the Precious Blood, praised Father Kremer for his work
as a member of the congregation.
Rev. Robert B. Koch, C. PP. S., Father Kremer’s assistant at Our Lady of
Good Counsel Church, said the jubilarian was a true leader and that,
while he had been a builder in a material way, the greatest edifice he
had built were in the souls of his parishioners.
Tonight at 8 there will be a farewell program for Father Kremer in the
parish hall.
Marks 25th Anniversary
With Bishop Hoban presiding, Rev. James P. Brennan, pastor of St. Philip
Neri’s Church, E. 82d Street and St. Clair Avenue N. E., yesterday
celebrated solemn high mass in observance of the 25th anniversary of his
ordination.
Msgr. Robert B. Navin, director of St. John College, was the deacon and
Rev. J. Leo Brennan, brother of the celebrant, subdeacon. Attending the
mass were Father Brennan’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Brennan, and other
members of his family. Auxiliary Bishop Floyd L. Begin and several
priests of the diocese were in the sanctuary.
Msgr. Joseph J. Mullen, faculty member at St. Mary’s Seminary, preached
the sermon, in which he outlined the establishment of the priesthood by
Christ.
“With men of the scholarly mind of Dr. Brennan,” he said, “the
observance of a jubilee is not a period of personal wish, but a time
of meditation upon the goodness of God in calling him to the ministry
to be the ambassador of Christ.”
Purses Presented
Members of the parish presented a program in the parish hall last night
in honor of Father Brennan.
Joseph McConnella, representing the parish, and Mrs. Herbert
Walkersdorfer, representing the parish societies, presented purses to
Father Brennan, who said they would be used for a trip to Rome.
“It has been my desire,” he said, “since I left the Eternal City as a
young priest to return to that city to renew acquaintances with those
I met during student days. The trip may become a reality later in the
year.”
A cablegram from Cardinal Tardini at the Vatican conveying the blessing
of Pope Pius to Father Brennan and his parishioners was read.
