Fr. Dominic Weber (1873-1964)

Father Dominic was past ninety-one years of age and a priest more than 61 years when he died fortified by the Sacraments of the Church.  He was born in Wenns, Austria, October 31, 1873, came to the United States as a small boy and took his monastic vows July 11, 1897.  He was ordained June 14, 1903; truly one of the pioneers of the community.  In the earliest days of his priesthood he was on the faculty of St. Benedict’s College, no doubt a teacher of many subjects as needed, and was a student prefect.  

Father Dominic soon began a long pastoral career that included assignments at Nebraska City, Neb., Valley Falls, Kan., and forty-six uninterrupted years at St. Mary’s Church, Des Moines, Iowa.  He was known in the Diocese of Des Moines as the confessor to the priests. 

Once it was stated during the reading of the minutes of a community meeting that “Father Dominic has asked the abbot to resign.”  Which bold statement prompted Father Felix Nolte to say, “He can’t do that!!!”  Father Felix was satisfied after being assured that the resignation pertained to Father Dominic’s resignation and not Abbot Cuthbert’s!

Father Dominic Weber passed away November 18, 1964.