November 18, 1946
Bishop Christian H. Winkelmann
Bishop Winkelmann was born in St. Louis, MO on September 12, 1883 and attended St. Boniface’s School also in St. Louis. His higher education was completed at Quincy College, Quincy, IL and Kenrick Seminary, St. Louis, MO. Following his ordination for the Archdiocese of St. Louis on June 11, 1907, he served as assistant pastor for fifteen years at St. Peter’s Parish, St. Charles, MO. As pastor he was assigned for seven years to Sacred Heart Parish, Richfountain, MO and eleven years at St. Francis de Sales’ Parish in St. Louis. He was consecrated bishop on November 30, 1933 and served as Auxiliary Bishop to Cardinal Glennon until he was installed as the third bishop of Wichita on March 5, 1940. As bishop in Wichita he expanded minority parishes, began programs for youth, established the Diocesan Charities Office, started the St. Vincent de Paul Society, was Supreme Spiritual Director of the Catholic Knights of America; and served as the Episcopal Protector of the Third Order of St. Francis. Following an illness in March of 1946, Bishop Winkelmann was confined to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Wichita for five months where he died on November 18th at 63 years of age. Archbishop Ritter of St. Louis celebrated his funeral Mass at the cathedral and Archbishop Schulte of Indianapolis preached the sermon. Bishop Winkelmann was laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery in Wichita with his predecessor bishops.