Bishop Louis Mary Fink (1834-1904)

Eventually the first bishop of the newly created Diocese of Leavenworth, which was carved out of the vast Vicariate Apostolic that was the charge of Bishop John M Baptist Miege, SJ, Louis Mary Fink was born in Bavaria, came to the United States and entered St. Vincent College, Latrobe, Pa.  He made vows as a Benedictine January 6, 1854 and was ordained priest May 26, 1857.  In 1858 he became a citizen of the United States of America. 

Archabbot Boniface Wimmer chose him to be Prior both in Covington, Ky., and St. Joseph’s in Chicago, Ill.  Later he was Prior of St. Benedict’s Abbey, Atchison, Kan.  While a monk at Atchison he was chosen co-adjutor to Bishop Miege who assisted at his episcopal ordination at St. Joseph’s Church June 11, 1871. His health was so precarious that Bishop Foley of Chicago thought it a waste of oils to consecrate the newly chosen candidate! He lived to be nearly 70 and died on the Feast of St. Patrick, 1904.

Under his guidance the Vicariate Apostolic became the Diocese of Leavenworth that embraced the entire state of Kansas.  Under his guidance the number of Catholics grew so that he turned his attention to the development of a Catholic School system as well as encouraging Catholic families to form colonies so that they could be better served.  Bishop Fink wrote a catechism that was printed at the Abbey Student Press and was popular in the Diocese until approximately 1945.  

True to the estimation of Bishop Miege, Bishop Fink was a “worthy man and a capable administrator.”  Out of devotion to the Blessed Virgin he added her name to “Louis” while a monk of St. Vincent.