Fr. Adolph Wessling (1846-1891)

Father Adolph Wessling passed away September 24, 1891.

Herman Wessling was born in Gross Fullen, Hannover, Germany, was educated at St. Benedict’s, and ordained by Bishop Louis Mary Fink in 1878.  He was appointed pastor of St. Benedict’s, Atchison, after ordination and was the first resident pastor at St. Patrick’s, south of Atchison.   In 1883 Abbot Innocent sent Father Adolph on a three-year begging tour of the eastern United States in the interest of promoting the Abbey Foundation Mass.   On his return in 1886 he was asked by the Abbot to organize what was to become St. Peter’s Parish, Council Bluffs, Iowa.  He did just that.  Father Adolph was succeeded by Father Herman Mengwasser but returned to St. Peter’s from Atchison in 1890 and died in Council Bluffs at 3:00 p.m., September 24, 1891, attended by Father Alphonse Filian of the abbey. 

The editor of the Council Bluffs Nonpareil wrote:  “His virtues cannot be emulated; his excellence, kindness and charity exemplify the beautiful virtues of a noble manhood… In the review of his peaceful life those who knew and loved him best have none but tender sympathy.”