July 16, 1941
Father Jose Munoz
Father Munoz was born on October 6, 1888 at Salamanca, Spain. He received his minor orders after studying at the University of Salamanca and went to Mexico to continue his preparation for major orders. After attending the seminary in Monterey, Mexico, he was ordained for the Diocese of Monterey on April 11, 1911. Because of a persecution of priests and religious in Mexico, he had to flee the country four years after his ordination. Bishop Lillis of Kansas City invited him to his diocese to found Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish for the Spanish speaking. In 1927 he came to the Diocese of Wichita and Bishop Schwertner assigned him to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Newton. He died on July 16, 1941 while he was shopping in downtown Newton in preparation for a vacation to Monterey. Bishop Winkelmann celebrated his funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Parish in Newton on July 18, 1941. Following a Requiem Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Kansas City, he was buried at St. Mary’s Parish Cemetery in Kansas City, MO.