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Our chapter's main purpose is to perpetuate the history, traditions and customs of our people. We also share the history of those who have gone before us. Below is a book that is sponsored and offered through the Sunflower Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia.
This book is available at our chapter meetings or you
may order this book from: |
The autobiography of Father Celestine Pfannenstiel, ST has been
published, with proceeds from the sale going to the Sunflower Chapter.
Father Celestine was born in Munjor, Kansas, the grandson of immigrants
from Obermunjor, Russia. After graduating from Munjor Parochial
School and Saint Fidelis High School in Victoria, Kansas, he went to the
Capuchin Minor Seminary in Herman, Pennsylvania, but after two years he
left and joined the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity.
He was accepted in 1933 and was ordained in 1941. Father Celestine
spent his life as a Missionary Servant building churches, schools,
convents, and rectories throughout Alabama, Tennesee, Kentucky, and
Mississippi. He also was assigned Chaplain of the Newman Club at
Oklahoma A&M University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and served in the
Diocese of Seattle, Washington,, for a time. At each of his
assignments he had some very unusual experiences, which he relates in
his autobiography. In may 1999, at age 89, he was in residence at
Immaculate Conception Rectory in Camden, Mississippi, when he met with
an unfortunate accident that ended his life. Father Celestine was
truly a unique, one-of-a-kind jack of all trades and a servant of God.
His character was the result of strong German stock combined with a lot
of determination and willpower. He was one of "Unsere Leute"