July 18, 1911

Father Michael J. Casey

Father Casey was born in Annachullion, County Monaghan, Ireland, and studied for the priesthood at All Hallows Seminary in Dublin where he was ordained for the Diocese of Leavenworth on June 24, 1875. Olathe, Newton, Abilene, Scammon, and Weir were some of the early assignments for Father Casey. After Father James O’Reilly, who was appointed first bishop of the Diocese of Wichita, died before arriving in Wichita; Father Casey was made administrator for almost two years until the arrival of Bishop Hennessy. “Even though no detailed account is available of his administration the signs of the times nevertheless point to a very progressive and well-conducted administration on the part of Father Casey.” (History of the Diocese of Wichita, p. 61) It is known that he began All Hallows Academy, later called Mt. Carmel, and had begun building St. John’s Institute where Newman University is now located. While at his last assignment at Fulton he became ill and spent weeks at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas. On June 1, 1911 he was released from the hospital and retired in Denver, CO where he died some weeks later at St. Joseph’s Hospital in that city on July 18, 1911. His funeral Mass was celebrated by Bishop John Ward at the cathedral in Leavenworth and Bishop John Hennessy preached the sermon.