{"id":88026,"date":"2025-07-25T11:19:33","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T16:19:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=88026"},"modified":"2025-07-25T11:19:53","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T16:19:53","slug":"hays-public-library-hosts-presentation-discussing-legacy-of-local-catholic-priest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=88026","title":{"rendered":"Hays Public Library hosts presentation discussing legacy of local Catholic priest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>By RYAN SCHUCKMAN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Tiger Media Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On Thursday, the Hays Public Library hosted a presentation discussing the life and legacy of Fr. Valentine Sommereisen \u2013 the Catholic priest who founded eight churches in the Ellis and Rush county areas during the 1870s.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe could easily be considered a modern-day St. Paul\u201d, said Fr. Reggie Urban, the speaker during the presentation. \u201cFr. Valentine was a driven Christian missionary, a founding pastor of many parishes and the object of many hardships and rejections.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"593\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-88028\" data-id=\"88028\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-2.jpg?resize=790%2C593\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-2-scaled.jpg?resize=347%2C260&amp;ssl=1 347w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-2-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C113&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-2-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-2-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-2-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Fr. Reggie Urban, a semi-retired Catholic priest, speaks to the audience. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"593\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-88027\" data-id=\"88027\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-3.jpg?resize=790%2C593\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-3-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-3-scaled.jpg?resize=347%2C260&amp;ssl=1 347w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-3-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C112&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-3-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-3-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-3-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-3-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Amanda Rupp, executive director at the Ellis County Historical Society, displays a cane-gun owned by Fr. Valentine Sommereisen.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"790\" height=\"593\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-88029\" data-id=\"88029\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-0.jpg?resize=790%2C593\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-0-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-0-scaled.jpg?resize=347%2C260&amp;ssl=1 347w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-0-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C113&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-0-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-0-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-0-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-0-scaled.jpg?w=2370 2370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 790px) 100vw, 790px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Over 100 members from the community attended the presentation about Fr. Valentine Sommereisen.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Between 1876 and 1878, Sommereisen served a 160-mile area stretching from Russell to Wallace, helping to establish churches in Hays, Catherine, Victoria (Herzog), Pfeifer, Schoenchen, Rush Center and Munjor. Despite serving in the area for only 19 months, he performed 119 baptisms, 19 weddings and 313 funerals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFr. Valentine was quite the independent, driven, charismatic Catholic priest \u2013 a pivotal player in the history of Rush and Ellis County in the 1870s, 80s, and 90s,\u201d Urban said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Born in 1829 in the Alsace-Lorraine region of France, Sommereisen was ordained a priest in Minnesota in 1856. His early ministry included serving dozens of mission stations in Minnesota and acting as chaplain for General George Custer\u2019s troops. In 1876, Sommereisen arrived at Fort Hays just as Volga German immigrants began entering the area.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI haven\u2019t come across the real reason why he came to Hays,\u201d Urban said. \u201cThere is some speculation that because he understood Sioux fluently, he was guessing that there would soon be a major battle between Custer and the Indians \u2013 and there was. But perhaps the main reason was because of the growing number of Volga German immigrants since he spoke German fluently.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Artifacts tied to Sommereisen, including a pocket watch and a cane-gun, were showcased during the presentation courtesy of the Ellis County Historical Society.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Urban also shared plans to erect a plaque at the intersection of Commerce Parkway and Vineyard Road to memorialize Sommereisen. His personal home and vineyard \u2013 the namesake for Vineyard Road \u2013 were located near the proposed location for the plaque.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFr. Valentine and all our ancestors are just great models of perseverance,\u201d Urban said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By RYAN SCHUCKMAN Tiger Media Network On Thursday, the Hays Public Library hosted a presentation discussing the life and legacy of Fr. Valentine Sommereisen \u2013&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":88029,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":false,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3397,11],"tags":[14420,3126,15722,16330],"class_list":["post-88026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-area-news","category-news","tag-hays-history","tag-hays-public-library","tag-ryan-schuckman","tag-valentine-sommereisen"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Fr.-Valentine-Presentation-0-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1920&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88026","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=88026"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88026\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88032,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88026\/revisions\/88032"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/88029"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=88026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=88026"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=88026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}