Fr. Alphonse Filian (1861-1941)

Father Alphonse was born in Bavaria and came to Des Moines, Iowa, when he was 21 years of age. There he became acquainted with the Benedictines of Atchison and entered the community in Atchison in 1884.  As he was studying for the priesthood he also taught German, French and Latin at St. Benedict’s College.  He was ordained in 1889 and was sent to St. Catherine’s Boarding and Industrial School for Indian boys at Santa Fe, N.M.  Father Alphonse was assistant pastor at St. Benedict’s Church, Atchison, and later at St. John’s, Burlington, Iowa, where he succeeded Father Timothy Luber. 

Father Alphonse was called to Atchison to be novice master in 1904, only to return to Burlington a year later until 1907.  For the next 25 years he resided at the abbey, ministered at various abbey missions like Doniphan, White Cloud, Wetmore, and Perrin, Mo.  He also taught again at St. Benedict’s College German, French, and Spanish in addition to theology to the diocesan divinity students.  He was for many years confessor at Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison.  Father Alphonse was an ardent stamp collector and helped increase the value of the Abbey Collection.