September 1, 1936

Father John Maher

Father John Maher, brother of Father Thomas Maher also of the Diocese of Wichita, was born in England on June 5, 1876. He studied in England, France and at the University of San Appollinare in Rome where he was ordained on June 11, 1899. After spending the early years of his priesthood teaching philosophy and theology in Rome, he came to the Diocese of Wichita in 1908. He served as pastor at St. Patrick’s Parish, Wichita; St. Mary’s Parish (Mary Queen of Angels), Fort Scott; and from 1923 until his death at St. Mary’s Parish, Parsons. Along with serving as pastor, Father Maher was editor of the Catholic Advance in his early years in the diocese. Following a year of illness due to complications from a fall in which he broke his hip, he died on September 1, 1936. “The deceased priest was an able writer and a noted orator.” (The Catholic Advance, Sept. 5, 1936) Bishop Schwertner celebrated Father Maher’s funeral at St. Mary’s Parish, Parsons, with an overflowing crowd of parishioners.