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July 25, 2022While in Iron River, MI, this month, I explored the history surrounding one of our Diocese’s great priests: Fr. James Lenhart, Ph.D. Originally born in Germany in 1871, Fr. Lenhart began studying to be a priest at age 10. By 19, he had already obtained a Ph.D., and at 22 he completed all of his theological coursework. From there, he traveled to America and was persuaded by then Bishop Vertin of Marquette to become ordained in our Diocese and serve here. Shortly thereafter, in 1898, he became the pastor of our very own St. Agnes in Iron River, where he served as priest for the rest of his life up to his tragic and untimely death in 1934 (nearly 37 years serving one place).
During his life, Fr. Lenhart was beloved by the Iron River community, and there are many colorful stories and legends about the man. In 1901, he placed a piece of paper in St. Agnes’ cornerstone in which he correctly predicted that citizens would find the entire Iron River area to be rich in iron ore. The area was also in a drought one year, and a man told Fr. Lenhart that he would give him $100 if he would pray for rain so that they could work. As it happened, it began raining that very night and for several days thereafter to the point where the land got flooded! The man begrudgingly returned to Fr. Lenhart and offered him another $100 if he would pray and make the rain stop.
Fr. Lenhart was also a man of his community. He was conversant in several languages and would routinely visit immigrants’ houses and converse with them in their native tongues. He regularly engaged in charity, leaving gifts and baskets of groceries on parishioners’ porches, and he used his church to serve the hungry and the homeless during the Great Depression.
In 1934, Fr. Lenhart’s life came to a tragic end. A former prizefighter named Magliore LaBelle had moved to Iron River with his family, and sadly the family home was often in turmoil. LaBelle's wife and children would seek refuge at Fr. Lenhart’s rectory for a decent meal and time away from the spouse. This apparently drove LaBelle mad, and he became convinced that Fr. Lenhart was trying to drive his family away from him. On a cold day in early November, LaBelle murdered the good priest.
The story is tragic, but what we take from Fr. Lenhart’s life gives hope. After his passing, hundreds upon hundreds of persons descended on Iron River for his funeral, including nearly all of the priests of the Diocese. All gave homage to what a great man he was, and I believe all would recognize him as being representative of the sort of blessings a man of faith has to offer a community. Our Catholic faith is one that has the power to heal communities and bring them together, and it is our job as Catholics to recognize and deliver that hope in each of our towns. We do this in part by turning to our church, serving it, and offering our charity and talents. We are blessed with many priests with hearts as big as Fr. Lenhart’s, and it is our great privilege as members of the laity to work with these priests in helping them carry out their vocations and missions.
In Christ,
-Rob
