Father Massoth was ordained at Maryknoll on June 2, 1917. His first and last assignment was not to the Orient, as he had expected, but rather to teach at the Venard. He soon came to love his new home and work. In the following spring the war in Europe reached its peak. Because of his love for America and his extensive knowledge of French, he made known his wish to become a chaplain in France. Father Walsh, however, thought he would best serve God by remaining at his teaching duties.
In February, 1919 the epidemic of influenza, which had been sweeping the country, took the life of one of the students at the Venard. Father Massoth held the boy while he was being taken to the hospital and it was probably this close contact that brought about his own serious illness. He struggled valiantly to overcome the disease but on March 9, 1919 he died at Maryknoll. He was the first Maryknoll priest to go to his reward. At the request of his aged parents he was buried near his home in Piqua, Kansas.
Father Massoth's life with Maryknoll was indeed a short one. His consecrated fingers had been able to distribute the Bread of Life for only two years when God called him to Himself. He had decided early in life that the whole motivation for all his actions would be doing God's will. -- From the official Maryknoll biography.
Submitted by FAG contributor, Jonathan Hill
Father Massoth was ordained at Maryknoll on June 2, 1917. His first and last assignment was not to the Orient, as he had expected, but rather to teach at the Venard. He soon came to love his new home and work. In the following spring the war in Europe reached its peak. Because of his love for America and his extensive knowledge of French, he made known his wish to become a chaplain in France. Father Walsh, however, thought he would best serve God by remaining at his teaching duties.
In February, 1919 the epidemic of influenza, which had been sweeping the country, took the life of one of the students at the Venard. Father Massoth held the boy while he was being taken to the hospital and it was probably this close contact that brought about his own serious illness. He struggled valiantly to overcome the disease but on March 9, 1919 he died at Maryknoll. He was the first Maryknoll priest to go to his reward. At the request of his aged parents he was buried near his home in Piqua, Kansas.
Father Massoth's life with Maryknoll was indeed a short one. His consecrated fingers had been able to distribute the Bread of Life for only two years when God called him to Himself. He had decided early in life that the whole motivation for all his actions would be doing God's will. -- From the official Maryknoll biography.
Submitted by FAG contributor, Jonathan Hill
Gravesite Details
Ordained 6-2-1917
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