April 3, 1961
Father Michael K. Barry
Father Barry was born in Greeves Shanagolden, County Limerick, Ireland on September 4, 1888. After completing his studies for the priesthood at St. Patrick’s College in Carlow, Ireland he was ordained for the Diocese of Wichita on June 11, 1914 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Kilkenny, Ireland. Upon his arrival in Wichita he was assigned as assistant pastor at the cathedral and he then served in Caldwell; in Hutchinson at St. Elizabeth's Hospital along with the state reformatory and Castleton; and in Fulton. In April of 1948 he went to his final assignment as pastor of St. Andrew's Parish in Independence. Following a coronary occlusion on Holy Thursday he refused to be anointed saying, "There is no hurry. I will not die immediately. I wish to be anointed with the oils that were consecrated this morning in St. Mary's Cathedral by Bishop Carroll." (The Advance Register, Apr. 14, 1961) Msgr. Matthias Gorgas anointed him on Good Friday morning and he died the following Monday. Bishop Carroll celebrated his funeral Mass and Father Frank O'Donohue preached the sermon at St. Andrew’s Church in Independence. Father Barry was buried in the Catholic section of the cemetery in Independence.