April 18, 2008

Father Leo Kerschen

Father Leo Kerschen and his twin brother Father Leon Kerschen were born on October 8, 1935, and raised on a farm south of Andale, KS. Following his studies at Conception Seminary, Conception, MO Father Leo was ordained with Father Leon by Bishop Carroll on April 7, 1962 at St. Joseph Parish in Andale. As an assistant, chaplain or director of education, Father Kerschen was assigned to Blessed Sacrament Parish, Wichita; St. Anne Parish, Wichita; Sacred Heart Academy, Wichita; Our Lady of Lourdes and Colgan High School, Pittsburg; Sacred Heart Parish, Frontenac; St. Paul Parish-Newman Center, Wichita; and Mercy Hospital, Fort Scott, with St. Patrick Parish, Fulton. As pastor he served at Mary Queen of Angels Parish, Fort Scott and St. Margaret Mary Parish, Wichita. In 1988 the two priest brothers began a team ministry assignment at the two parishes in Parsons: Mary Queen of Peace and St. Patrick’s with St. Ambrose Parish, Erie, added in August of 1992. The last two pastoral assignments for Father Leo Kerschen were to Holy Name Parish, Coffeyville and to Sacred Heart Parish, Eureka, along with St. Teresa Parish, Madison, and St. John Parish, Hamilton. He was noted for his strong support for Catholic education and Catholic schools throughout his priesthood. Father Leo Kerschen and his brother retired in Yates Center, KS where he was living at the time of his death on April 18, 2008. In reflecting on their close relationship throughout their lives, Father Leon noted, “When we were preparing for our ordinations we would send each other samples of invitations we liked. They would always be the same and would cross each other in the mail. Our chalices were the same even though we designed them separately.” (The Catholic Advance, Apr. 17, 2008) Bishop Jackels was the principal celebrant and homilist at Father Leo Kerschen’s funeral Mass in St. Joseph Church, Andale, after which Father Leo was buried next to his parents in the parish cemetery.