www.theleaven.com | Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas | Vol. 32, No. 23 january 21, 2011
Family man
Pastor taught many that ‘you’ve got to love them all’
T
By Joe Bollig
OPEKA — The whole life and 53-year priestly ministry of Father Francis J. Krische can be expressed in a single word: family. Father Frank, as he was almost universally known, was one of seven children in a very devout, very close family. He might have followed in the footsteps of his uncle, Father Otto Krische, a Franciscan, and become a member of a religious order. Instead, he become an archdiocesan priest, probably to stay close to family, said Msgr. Vincent Krische, one of Father Frank’s younger brothers. But the gregarious Father Frank’s idea of family didn’t end with his relatives. Family was his parish, and family was his community. That community, in kind, turned out in full force Jan. 17 to honor him — so much so, in fact, that the archbishop himself commented on it. “The incredible outpouring of affection and respect for Father Frank Krische demonstrates more powerfully than words,” said Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, “the impact upon so many of the life of one good and faithful priest. I hope the young men present for Father Frank’s wake and funeral are inspired to think about the possibility that God may be calling them to serve his people as a priest.” Among the multitudes that Father Frank called friends were governors and homeless people, children and seniors, homemakers and businesspeople, Catholics and non-Catholics — just about everybody and anybody. A nephew’s spouse said she couldn’t go anywhere in Topeka without someone asking if she was related to Father Frank. A Protestant minister once said, “I love Father Frank!” “He was such a good role model for compassion, and he could see good in everyone,” said Father Bill Bruning, pastor of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Topeka. “He’d say, ‘Catholic means universal. That means everybody’s coming, Billy. You’ve got to love
them all. You’ve got to welcome everybody.’” On Jan. 12, Father Frank celebrated Mass for the students, faculty and staff at Hayden High School — something he really enjoyed. That afternoon, he died of a heart attack while sitting in his chair at home. It was a good death.
From a family’s heart Father Frank’s family belonged to St. Joseph, the ethnic German parish in Topeka. His parents were very devout and prayed together, including family rosaries. One thing his parents (and grandparents) prayed for was priestly vocations from their family. “In our family, priests were held in high esteem,” said Msgr. Krische. “We had a great uncle, an uncle, and three cousins who were priests, and a great aunt who was a Benedictine nun at Clyde, Mo.” Father Otto Krische, OFM, was a major influence. “My favorite uncle became a priest,” Father Frank said in a 2007 interview with the Topeka Capital-Journal newspaper. “He really appealed to me as a role model.” Father Frank’s departure at age 13 for the high school seminary at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, was a great family event. “Everyone was so proud,” said Msgr. Krische, who was six at the time. “We’d tell everybody that our brother was going to be a priest. We almost ordained him before he left. We missed him a lot. Mom had to pack a lot of clothes in his trunk because he’d only come back for Christmas and the summer. We thought he was the cherry on the sundae.” Larry Krische remembered that it was a thrill for him to take care of big brother Frank, the seminarian. “One summer — I don’t remember which one — he broke his leg,” said Larry Krische. “I was the go-to person Turn to “young priests” on page 5