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Subject: Fr. Modestus Wirtner, O.S.B.
Date: Sat, 05 Feb 2005 04:19:26 -0500


North Cambria News, Hastings, Pa. Thursday, July 10, 1947

FATHER MODESTUS PRIEST 61 YEARS

Sixty-one years of devotion to the priesthood were observed Tuesday by Father Modestus Wirtner, o.S.B., a native of Carrolltown. Father Modestus now is living in retirement in St. Vincent Monastery, Latrobe. He is 86.
The well-known priest retired from active service in 1942 after 57 years of ministry. At the time of his retirement he was rector of St. Gregory Catholic Church, Daisytown.
The aged priest was ordained in St. Vincent Archabbey July 8, 1886, by Most Rev. Richard Phelan, bishop of the Pittsburgh Diocese. He sang his first solemn high mass July 11, 1886.
For a number of years he served as a teacher in St. Vincent College, later assuming parish work. He served at:
St. George's, Patton and
St. Lawrence in 1909 and 1910.
At various times the beloved priest served as pastor in:
St. Nicholas Church, Nicktown;
St. Boniface Church, St. Boniface, and
St Gregory Church, Daisytown.
Fr. Wirtner maintains his hobby of scientific and historical research work. He is a charter and life member of the Etymological society of North America, and a life member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has made numerous contributions to the St. Vincent Museum.

Note: Fr. Modestus wrote "The History of the Benedictine Parishes in Cambria County." It is not just a history of the founding of the churches, but descriptive of the people and the places. There is much good genealogy information in the book[s]. Locally, it is published in two brown soft cover volumes, but it was published in hardback. One is primarily about St. Benedict's Church in Carrolltown, published for the Centennial of the Church. The other details the other Benedictine parishes in the north of the county.
Father was very interested in Indian relics, and found many of them. Local farmers would call him whenever they made a find. Some of them are pictured in his book[s].
A Mr. Carl,[I think Bernard Carl] was his faithful companion on his expeditions.
Father was indeed beloved. Numerous children were named for him; one class in Hastings had three boys named Modestus in it. Many others received Modestus as a second name.

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