Barry, Rev. Michael Kyran

REV. MICHAEL KYRAN BARRY

September 3, 1961

Personal Info

  • Date of Birth: 4 September 1888
  • Place: Creeves, Shanagolden, Ireland
  • County: Limerick
  • Education: St Patrick Seminary, Carlow, Ireland
  • Date of Ordination: 11 June 1914
  • Place of Ordination: St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, Ireland
  • Ordained by: Bishop Abraham Browrigg for the Wichita Diocese

 Diocesan Appointments

  • Assistant – Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Wichita, 10/10/1914 – 9/30/1915
  • Pastor – St Martin of Tours, Caldwell, 10/1/1915 – 9/17/1922
  • Pastor – Sacred Heart, Anthony, 4/26/1921 – 7/28/1922
  • Pastor – St Agnes Parish in Castleton and Chaplain – St Elizabeth’s Hospital and KS State Reformatory in Hutchinson, 7/28/1922 – 6/22/1941
  • Pastor – Our Lady of Guadalupe, Hutchinson, 1930-1931
  • Pastor – St Patrick’s Church in Fulton, 6/29/1941 – 4/25/1948
  • Pastor – St Andrew’s Parish, Independence, 4/25/1948 – 4/3/1961

In a Hutchinson, Kansas 1939 newspaper, it was noted that Father Barry celebrated Mass in the State Reformatory Prison two Sundays a month. It was explained that Mass was celebrated in temporary quarters while a new chapel was prepared. The paper went on to explain that the new chapel will be bigger and equipped with an altar, chancel rail, pews and a sacristy. The current chapel was being dismantled to make room for a church without bars.

In 1943, Father Barry of Fulton Kansas, representing Pastor Patrick Nagle, who was hospitalized recovering from a minor operation, attended the parish picnic and the 20 year mortgage burning where 300 persons attended. Fr Barry offered prayers for Fr Nagle’s speedy recovery, for the boys in service and for a quick world peace, as suggested by the Pope. Father Barry said: “A priest is helpless without the cooperation of his people. But Fr Nagle was not helpless, for his people have wiped out the debt, and from the bottom of his heart he thanks them.”

When it was learned that Fr Barry was given a new appointment by the Bishop, an appreciation luncheon was given in his honor as he had served as the chaplain at the state reformatory for 17 years. Hosted by the prison’s Superintendent Roy Frost, guests at the luncheon included Fathers D. M. Reidy, Joseph Birzer and Emil J. Meyer; The Rev. Mr. Frank Richard, Protestant chaplain at the reformatory and A. V. Funkhouser, assistant superintendent.

In April, 1961 following a coronary occlusion on Holy Thursday, Fr. Barry refused to be anointed saying, “There is no hurry. I will not die immediately I wish to be anointed with the oils that were consecrated this morning in St Mary’s Cathedral by Bishop Carroll.” Msgr. Matthias Gorgas anointed him on Good Friday morning and he died the following Monday.

 

  • Date of Death: April 3, 1961
  • Age of Death: 72
  • Place of Death: Mercy Hospital, Independence, Montgomery County, KS
  • Cause of Death: Coronary occlusion
  • Funeral Mass: Celebrated by Bishop Carroll with Fr Frank O’Donohue preaching the sermon, St Andrew’s Church, Independence, KS.
  • Burial: Catholic section of Calvary Cemetery in Independence, KS.

View the full story with footnotes.