Ignatius J. Strecker

IGNATIUS J. STRECKER The Most Reverend Ignatius J. Strecker, retired Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, passed into the fullness of eternal life on October 16, 2003, at Providence Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas. Archbishop Strecker, 85, was the spiritual leader of the Archdiocese for twenty-four years, retiring in 1993. His body will be received at the Cathedral of Saint Peter, 14th and Orville, with a prayer service at 5 p.m. Monday, October 20. Visitation will close at 8 p.m. with the recitation of the Rosary. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12noon on Tuesday, October 21. Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In addition to the family of the Church of the Archdiocese, survivors include two sisters, Catherine Helfrich of Spearville, Kansas, Elizabeth Petz of Colwich, Kansas and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Henry and sisters, Agnes, Mary and Wilhelmina. Archbishop Strecker's priestly ministry spanned 60 years, 41 of it as a bishop and archbishop. He was the ninth bishop and second archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. He guided the Church in northeast Kansas with great vision, faithfulness and intelligence through times of challenge and renewal. Archbishop Strecker was born on November 23, 1917 to William and Mary Strecker on a farm near Spearville, Kansas. The future archbishop attended Maur Hill High School and St. Benedict's College in Atchison, Kansas and then Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Wichita on December 19, 1942. After serving in pastoral ministry and as diocesan chancellor he was named Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Missouri by Blessed Pope John XXIII and ordained bishop on June 20, 1962. He was appointed Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas by Pope Paul VI and was installed at the Cathedral of Saint Peter on October 28, 1969. During his twenty-four years as leader of the Church in northeast Kansas he oversaw the implementation of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council and renewal of Church life. He focused strongly on spiritual renewal of the Church especially in its commitment to youth, college students, minorities and all those in need. He established new parishes and Catholic schools to meet the needs of the Catholics in the suburbs and emphasized education and social services as vital for urban communities. Archbishop Strecker was one of the few remaining bishops who participated in the Second Vatican Council. He was also a leader in the Church in the United States especially in the areas of rural life and priestly life and ministry. After his retirement in 1993, he wrote a book on The Church in Kansas, 1850-1905: "A Family Story." The spirit of his priesthood and priestly ministry is best summed up with his strong faith in God and hope for the future. "Ultimately, there is only faith in the mystery of God's love for all of His children, and I am humbly grateful to Him." The Church of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is also grateful to God for the gift of Archbishop Strecker. (Arrangements: Skradski Funeral Home, Kansas City, KS (913) 371-1404)