May 5, 1938
Father Bernard Drath
Father Drath was born on May 18, 1870 at Duesseldorf, Germany. He was ordained in Rome on May 27, 1899 and upon his arrival in the Diocese of Wichita was assigned as an assistant pastor to St. Theresa’s Parish in Hutchinson. As pastor he served at McCracken, Bushton, Claflin, Odin, Cherryvale, Willowdale and Belpre. At Cherryvale he built the school and at Willowdale he built the rectory. After thirty-six years of service in the Diocese of Wichita and after many years of illness, he retired to his native city of Dusseldorf where he died on May 5, 1938.