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Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario. |
Reverend - Doctor Louis Elena
1817 - 1899 (~ 81 years)-
Name Louis Elena Prefix Reverend - Doctor Born Sep 1817 Tirol, , Steiermark, Austria 
[1, 2, 3] Gender Male Occupation 1871 Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [1] Priest Occupation 1891 Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [3] Clergyman Residence 1891 Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [3] Roman Catholic Occupation 1899 Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada minister Eby ID Number Waterloo-85188 Died 26 Apr 1899 Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [2] Buried Formosa, Culross Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada Person ID I85188 Generations Last Modified 7 Nov 2024
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Notes - Very Reverend General-Vicar Dr. Louis Elena
Died in Berlin, Apr. 26, 1899.
The Catholic Church suffered a great loss on Friday afternoon at 4: 30 through the death of the Very Reverend Louis Elena, L.L.D. He was born in September 1817 in the Tyrol, Austria and was a member of a highly-regarded family. He studied at the university in Padua, Italy, where he graduated as a Doctor of civil and canon law. He practiced for some time as a lawyer and also was a member of the Tirol parliament, as well as mayor of Trient.
In 1864, he abandoned his civilian career and devoted himself to the spiritual state, and went to Rome, where he joined the Congregation of the Resurrection of Christ and was ordained as a priest in 1865. Shortly after, he came to Canada and was active here as a professor at Saint-Jerome's College in St. Agatha. Then, after the institution was moved to Berlin, he was a substitute for the president, Very Rev. Dr. Louis Funken, for a time. In addition, he was active as pastor and as a result of his great piety and his charming modesty, was just as affectionately regarded as he had been as a teacher and educator.
After he had been pastor in New Germany for over a year, he became president of the college in St. Mary's Kentucky, re-opened in August 1871, which office he retained until December 1873.
Then, he returned to Canada, and, after he led the St. Joseph's congregation in Hamilton for a time, he became pastor in Formosa, where he worked with great success, and directed the building of the beautiful, big church there. It stands debt-free as a monument to a loyal, energetic priest and a self-sacrificing congregation. The church in Formosa is the largest and most beautiful German church in Canada. It is built of stone and, in its magnificent site on a high hill, is visible far away. It should be mentioned especially, that as soon as the construction of the church had been finished, the costs of construction were completely paid off.
In 1890, he retired from active service, was named "General-Vicar" for the Germans in the Diocese of Hamilton and since then, has remained for the most part in St. Jerome's College here.
Although the consequences of old age had been obvious for several years in him, he was still quite active and one could see him going for a walk every day when the weather allowed, until noon, the Friday before last, when he became unwell and had to go to bed. He had an intestinal pain, which despite the best medical treatment, could not be relieved and passed away peacefully and piously at the age of 81 years and seven months.
After a very solemn requiem mass, in which Father David Fennessey was the celebrant, Father A. Weiler, the deacon, Father Ignatius Perius, the assistant deacon, and Father J. Schweitzer, the master of ceremonies, on Thursday morning, the body, accompanied by Very Rev. Wm. Kloepfer and R. Lehmann, was taken to Formosa for burial, according to his wishes.
In Mildmay on Thursday, a large crowd had gathered at the station when the train carrying the body arrived. The pupils from the separate school formed a guard of honour and the funeral procession, accompanied by many vehicles, set out in the direction of Formosa. The farmers residing on the road joined the procession as it passed. Just outside of Formosa, the parish organizations and the former parish children of the deceased took over the procession and accompanied it to the church. After the coffin had been deposited in the church, the singing of the vespers service followed.
On Friday morning, mourners from the whole area took their places in the church, to show their respect for their dearly beloved pastor. The solemn mass began at 10: 00 o'clock. Very Rev. Father St. Forster was the celebrant; R. Lehmann, the deacon, W. Gehl, the sub-deacon; W. Kloepfer, master of ceremonies. Monsignor McEwan, who was representing the Bishop of Hamilton, read a letter from the latter, and preached about the deceased's love of justice. Very Rev. M. Halm gave a sermon in German, fitting for the occasion. In addition, the following priests were present: Deacon O'Connell, Mount Forest; Geo. Brohmann, St. Clements; Rev. Cote, Dundalk; Joseph Wey, Deemerton; Jos. E. Wey, Carlsruhe; Kelly, Walkerton; Hauck, Markdale; Corcoran, Teeswater; Zettler, Walkerton; J. Gehl and Cl. Brohmann, Formosa. The body was buried in the centre of the recently enlarged cemetery, where the remains of the priests, J.L. Schmitz, and N. Lehmann are to be buried.
At the close of the sermon at the high mass in the Catholic church here on Sunday, Very Rev. W.B. Kloepfer spoke of the noble character and blessed works performed by the deceased.
Berliner Journal May 4, 1899 Page 4 - Columns 3 & 4 Translated by Patricia J. Kauk April 1, 2005 for the Kitchener Public Library
- Very Reverend General-Vicar Dr. Louis Elena
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Sources
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Event Map 
Born - Sep 1817 - Tirol, , Steiermark, Austria 
Occupation - Priest - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Clergyman - 1891 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Roman Catholic - 1891 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada 
Occupation - minister - 1899 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 26 Apr 1899 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada 
Buried - - Formosa, Culross Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada = Link to Google Earth
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