February 4, 1989

Msgr. Joseph Fischer

Msgr. Fischer was born on May 12, 1909 in Tipton, MO and prepared for the priesthood at Conception Seminary, Conception, MO and at Kenrick Seminary, St. Louis, MO. Bishop Schwertner ordained him on June 15, 1935 in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Wichita. As an assistant he was assigned to St. Teresa Parish in Hutchinson and his first assignment as pastor was to Cunningham with Zenda and Turon as missions. After serving as a Navy chaplain during World War II, he was assigned to Resurrection Chapel in Planeview which led to his founding of All Saints Parish in Wichita in 1946. Subsequent assignments were to St. Mary Parish in Parsons, Sacred Heart Parish in Halstead, and Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott. He was made a monsignor in 1960, was a member of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission, and was dean of the Parsons Deanery. He strongly believed that the sacraments should be celebrated in the language of the people and he was president of the Vernacular Society of Chicago from 1960 to 1963. “He was way ahead of his time on that one,” said Father Arthur Busch, pastor of All Saints Parish. (The Wichita Eagle-Beacon, Feb. 8, 1989) Bishop Gerber celebrated Msgr. Fischer’s funeral Mass at All Saints Parish in Wichita and his burial was at St. Andrew Cemetery in Tipton, MO.