Fr. Eugene Phelan (1840-1903)

Father Eugene Phelan was born in Dublin, Ireland, came to Pittsburgh, Pa., with his parents attending St. Vincent College, Latrobe, Pa.  He entered the community and made his profession November 13, 1862, and completed his studies for the priesthood at St. Vincent’s being ordained April 12, 1867.  Archabbot Boniface Wimmer sent him to St. Mary’s, Pa., where he worked out of the priory there to serve multiple communities, many along the path of the railroad from Driftwood to Red Bank, Pa.

At the priory started by St. Vincent at Creston, Iowa, the Prior, Father Augustine Burns, died in 1874.  Father Eugene was sent there and was appointed the first canonical prior when the community became independent in 1882.  In fact he was the first and last member of St. Malachy’s.  He and the monks who were stationed there over the years, served the Catholics of Southwestern Iowa. 

Father Eugene worked hard and zealously but took ill, lived at Lenox, Iowa, for a while but was recalled to Atchison to be vice-president of St. Benedict’s College.  The work was not compatible with his nature and so he returned to missionary work.  He served in Iowa again but was advised to enter a hospital in Pennsylvania where his sister was the Superior. 

He recovered his health in the Allegheny Mountains and came to Atchison, had a slight stroke and asked permission to enter Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  Father George Kiem was chaplain of the hospital and attended Father Eugene to the end.