CINCINNATI, Ohio — Father Francis Joseph Schenk, a Glenmary Home Missioner for 66 years, died April 11 in Cincinnati. He was 102.
Reception of the body will take place at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, at Our Lady of the Fields’ Chapel, 4085 Glenmary Trace, Fairfield, Ohio. Visitation will follow. Wake service will begin at 7 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 19, at St. Matthias Catholic Church, 1050 W. Kemper Rd., Cincinnati, Ohio. Internment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 11000 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45249.
One of the oldest and longest serving Glenmarians, Father Frank was not expected to live past age 15. Early in life, he contracted a bone disease that took him six operations, and years of bedrest to recover from. Once healed, Father Frank set out to see the world, working in Wyoming and South Dakota, studying in Washington state and visiting friends in Oregon.
During a short vacation, he visited an Oregon library, where he read about Glenmary, a new Catholic society that was serving in the southern and rural United States. Intrigued, Father Frank sent letters to Glenmary founder Father William Howard Bishop, who invited the Mount Vernon, Ind., native to begin the formation program in 1948.
After his ordination in 1955, Father Frank began serving in Sylva, Spruce Pine and North Wilkesboro. He also ministered in Oklahoma, Kentucky, Georgia and Arkansas. A small-town boy, he enjoyed rural ministry, connecting with the community and parish and helping to break down barriers between Catholics and Protestants.
“Father Frank wanted to contribute to the mission cause however he could,” said Glenmary president Father Chet Artysiewicz. “He stayed in the missions until he was 90! He lived very simply and was interested in the affairs of Glenmary and the world. He was practical and his observations reflected basic common sense.”
In his service, Father Frank wrote a weekly newspaper column, hosted a radio show, preached in a tent and helped build a North Carolina church by hand. One of the first Glenmarians to study Spanish, Father Frank started a Spanish Mass in all of his missions and provided outreach to migrant workers who needed help with transportation, translating services, food or work.
On two occasions Father Frank worked in Colombia as a pastor and a scout for potential Glenmary missions in South America. Though the areas he served were poor and remote, he enjoyed feeding the hungry, educating the youth and ministering to his parish.
Father Frank did not accept Glenmary senior membership until age 90. Though legally blind, he was determined to continue working until he could no longer be of service. Even after he returned to Cincinnati, Father Frank continued to tend a garden and bake fresh bread every morning for many years.
Father Frank made his first oath with Glenmary in 1951 and was ordained a priest in 1955. He attended St. Martin’s College in Olympia, Wash., St. Gregory Seminary in Cincinnati and St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati. He also studied Spanish in Cincinnati and Cuernavaca, Mexico.
He is survived by many nieces, nephews, fellow missioners and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Rose (née Bluff) Schenk; and brother John Schenk and his wife Bernice.
Memorials may be made to Glenmary Home Missioners, P.O. Box 465618, Cincinnati, OH 45246-5618 or at Glenmary.org.
Newcomer Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald
SCRANTON, Pa. — Sister Jane Meehan (formerly known as Sister Annmarie) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died Feb. 4, 2018, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Feb. 10, 2018, at Our Lady of Peace Residence. Interment followed at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, Pa.
Sister Jane was born on Feb. 12, 1928, in New Albany, Pa., the daughter of the late James and Annabelle Healey Meehan. She entered the IHM Congregation on Sept. 8, 1948, and made her temporary profession of vows on May 9, 1951, and her final profession of vows on Aug. 2, 1954.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in education and a Master of Science in counselor/secondary education from Marywood College.
Sister Jane served as a teacher in the following schools: St. John the Evangelist Elementary School in Binghamton, N.Y., from 1951 to 1953; Our Lady of Grace Elementary School in Greensboro, from 1953 to 1955; St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School in Archbald, Pa., from 1955 to 1957; St. Agnes Elementary School in Baltimore, Md., from 1957 to 1963; St. Ephrem Elementary School in Brooklyn, N.Y., from 1963 to 1968; and Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Elementary School in Forest Hills, N.Y., from 1968 to 1974.
She served as a guidance counselor at the following schools: Maria Regina Diocesan High School in Uniondale, N.Y., from 1974 to 1980; Bishop Neumann High School in Williamsport, Pa., from 1980 to 1985; Bishop Hannon High School in Scranton from 1985 to 1987; St. Mary’s High School in Manhasset, N.Y., from 1987 to 1996; and Seton Catholic High School in Pittston, Pa., from 1996 to 1997.
Sister Jane then served as minister to homebound parishioners at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Pittsburgh from 1997 to 2004; pastoral visitor at the Marian Convent in Scranton from 2004 to 2006; pastoral visitor at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton from 2006 to 2011; and as a member of the support service staff at the IHM Center in Scranton from 2011 to 2017.
From 2017 until her death, Sister Jane was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, James Jr. and Francis; and two sisters, Mary Jackson and Kathleen.
She is survived by two sisters, Alice Rice of Massapequa, N.Y.; and Annabelle Kravetz of Mildred, Pa.; and by the members of the IHM Congregation.
Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired IHM Sisters c/o the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18509.
— Catholic News Herald