Joseph Strub
Encyclopedia
Joseph Strub, C.S.Sp.
(1833–1890), an Alsatian
missionary priest
with the Congregation of the Holy Ghost
, was the founder of what is today Duquesne University
, which was called the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost until 1911.
, Alsace-Lorraine
on November 1, 1833. While studying to become a Holy Ghost Father, he was given permission to do missionary work in West Africa
. He worked there from 1857 to 1863, being ordained a priest in 1858 in Dakar
, Senegal
. He became the Vicar General to Mgr. Kobes, the Vice Superior of Dakar, and subsequently the provincial superior at Marienthal
and Marienstadt in Germany. He was Chaplain General of the French prisoners at Mainz
during the Franco-Prussian War
, and became an intimate friend of Marshal Patrice de Mac-Mahon. He was rewarded for his services by the French government with the Cross of the Legion of Honor
.
's Kulturkampf
in 1872. Strub and five priests moved to Ohio
, but relocated a few years later after hearing of a demand for German priests in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
.
In April 1874, the Bishop of Pittsburgh, Michael Domenec
, assigned Strub to St. Mary's Church in Sharpsburg
, hoping that the parish could serve as a place to open a school for Catholic men. Three attempts to open a college in Pittsburgh had already failed, so Strub was reluctant. He accepted the order, however, hoping that the establishment could serve as a scholasticate for the Holy Ghost Fathers (despite the Congregation's desire that all Holy Ghost fathers be educated in France). The establishment of the college was delayed for two years by complications surrounding the Holy See
's creation of a Diocese of Allegheny
, as Bishop John Tuigg
became the new bishop of Pittsburgh.
as the new college's rector (Strub believed an Irishman would not be viewed as hard-working as a German in Pittsburgh), the second and third floors of a bakery were leased on the corner of Wylie Avenue and Federal Street in downtown Pittsburgh as a temporary location for the college.
Strub and his fellow Spiritans established the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost on October 1, 1878, a month behind schedule. Bishop Tuigg did not provide the support he had promised, having learned that the interim rector while Power arrived was a German priest, and only forty students constituted the first class. In order to avoid provoking the bishop further, Strub left for Arkansas
, only two weeks after establishing the Pittsburgh Catholic College, hoping to bring the Spiritan influence to that state.
Bishop Edward Fitzgerald
's call for more Roman Catholic clergy in Arkansas, Strub visited the state and wrote Bishop Fitzgerald obtaining permission to found St. Joseph Colony in Conway
. The Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad granted the mission several hundred thousand acres of land from Marche
and Atkins
. In January 1879, Strub moved the mission to Morrilton
, since the location was more central. In 1880, Strub wrote Der Leitstern (The Guiding Star), a German-language pamphlet that encouraged immigrants to settle in the colony. By 1889, ninety-five Catholic families had settled near Morrilton. A drought in the mid-1880s stymied immigration, but the mission persisted. However, the Holy Ghost Fathers's novitiate moved to Pittsburgh in 1884, and the school and church in Morrilton were destroyed by a tornado in 1892. Strub died on January 27, 1890 while on a visit to Pittsburgh.
Holy Ghost Fathers
The Congregation of the Holy Spirit is a Roman Catholic congregation of priests, lay brothers, and since Vatican II, lay associates...
(1833–1890), an Alsatian
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
missionary priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
with the Congregation of the Holy Ghost
Holy Ghost Fathers
The Congregation of the Holy Spirit is a Roman Catholic congregation of priests, lay brothers, and since Vatican II, lay associates...
, was the founder of what is today Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
, which was called the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost until 1911.
Missionary work and distinction in Europe
Joseph Strub was born in StrasbourgStrasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, Alsace-Lorraine
Alsace-Lorraine
The Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine was a territory created by the German Empire in 1871 after it annexed most of Alsace and the Moselle region of Lorraine following its victory in the Franco-Prussian War. The Alsatian part lay in the Rhine Valley on the west bank of the Rhine River and east...
on November 1, 1833. While studying to become a Holy Ghost Father, he was given permission to do missionary work in West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
. He worked there from 1857 to 1863, being ordained a priest in 1858 in Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
. He became the Vicar General to Mgr. Kobes, the Vice Superior of Dakar, and subsequently the provincial superior at Marienthal
Marienthal
Marienthal may refer to one of the following places:Germany*Marienthal , a quarter of Geisenheim, Hesse*Marienthal, Hamburg, a quarter in the Wandsbek borough of Hamburg*A part of Goosefeld, Schleswig-Holstein*A part of Zehdenick, Brandenburg...
and Marienstadt in Germany. He was Chaplain General of the French prisoners at Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
during the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
, and became an intimate friend of Marshal Patrice de Mac-Mahon. He was rewarded for his services by the French government with the Cross of the Legion of Honor
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
.
Expulsion from Germany
Strub and his order were expelled from Germany during Otto von BismarckOtto von Bismarck
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...
's Kulturkampf
Kulturkampf
The German term refers to German policies in relation to secularity and the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, enacted from 1871 to 1878 by the Prime Minister of Prussia, Otto von Bismarck. The Kulturkampf did not extend to the other German states such as Bavaria...
in 1872. Strub and five priests moved to Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, but relocated a few years later after hearing of a demand for German priests in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
In April 1874, the Bishop of Pittsburgh, Michael Domenec
Michael Domenec
Michael Domenec, D.D., C.M. was the second Roman Catholic bishop of the diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the only bishop of the short-lived Diocese of Allegheny.-Background:...
, assigned Strub to St. Mary's Church in Sharpsburg
Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania
Sharpsburg is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Pittsburgh, along the Allegheny River. In the past, it had a rolling mill, foundries, machine shops, and manufacturers of varnish, brick, glass, lumber products, wire, hair, felt, and lubricating oil. In 1900, 6,842 people...
, hoping that the parish could serve as a place to open a school for Catholic men. Three attempts to open a college in Pittsburgh had already failed, so Strub was reluctant. He accepted the order, however, hoping that the establishment could serve as a scholasticate for the Holy Ghost Fathers (despite the Congregation's desire that all Holy Ghost fathers be educated in France). The establishment of the college was delayed for two years by complications surrounding the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
's creation of a Diocese of Allegheny
Allegheny (titular see)
The Diocese of Allegheny is a titular see in the Roman Catholic Church. The first titular bishop was appointed to this see on 29 October 1971. In Latin, the see is known as Dioecesis Alleghenensis. The see was created from the Diocese of Pittsburgh on 11 January 1876, and Bishop Michael Domenec...
, as Bishop John Tuigg
John Tuigg
John Tuigg was the third Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania....
became the new bishop of Pittsburgh.
Opening a college
Finally, in 1878, Bishop Tuigg gave Strub permission to open a college in Pittsburgh, though he allocated no resources towards its foundation: no building, land, nor money was available. All Tuigg promised was a recommendation to the parishes of the diocese. Strub also wrote the Superior General in Paris for personnel, writing, "Be careful to send no one without English. You have no idea how useful the English language is here. I might even say necessary!" Despite a dispute concerning the choice of Irish Spiritan William PowerWilliam Patrick Power
William Patrick Power, C.S.Sp. was the first head of Duquesne University, founded as the "Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost"...
as the new college's rector (Strub believed an Irishman would not be viewed as hard-working as a German in Pittsburgh), the second and third floors of a bakery were leased on the corner of Wylie Avenue and Federal Street in downtown Pittsburgh as a temporary location for the college.
Strub and his fellow Spiritans established the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost on October 1, 1878, a month behind schedule. Bishop Tuigg did not provide the support he had promised, having learned that the interim rector while Power arrived was a German priest, and only forty students constituted the first class. In order to avoid provoking the bishop further, Strub left for Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, only two weeks after establishing the Pittsburgh Catholic College, hoping to bring the Spiritan influence to that state.
Mission in Arkansas
Having heard Little RockLittle Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
Bishop Edward Fitzgerald
Edward Fitzgerald (bishop)
Edward Mary Fitzgerald was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Little Rock from 1867 until his death in 1907.-Biography:...
's call for more Roman Catholic clergy in Arkansas, Strub visited the state and wrote Bishop Fitzgerald obtaining permission to found St. Joseph Colony in Conway
Conway, Arkansas
Conway is the county seat of Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 58,908 at the 2010 census, making Conway the seventh most populous city in Arkansas. It is a principal city of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area which had...
. The Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad granted the mission several hundred thousand acres of land from Marche
Marche, Arkansas
Marche is an unincorporated community in Pulaski County, Arkansas, United States. It lies north of Little Rock. It is not a census-designated place.-History:...
and Atkins
Atkins, Arkansas
Atkins is a city in Pope County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,878 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Atkins is located at ....
. In January 1879, Strub moved the mission to Morrilton
Morrilton, Arkansas
Morrilton is a city in Conway County, Arkansas, United States, northwest of Little Rock. The town was home to Harding College, now Harding University of Searcy, Arkansas, for about a decade in the 1920s and 1930s. The population was 6,550 at the 2000 census...
, since the location was more central. In 1880, Strub wrote Der Leitstern (The Guiding Star), a German-language pamphlet that encouraged immigrants to settle in the colony. By 1889, ninety-five Catholic families had settled near Morrilton. A drought in the mid-1880s stymied immigration, but the mission persisted. However, the Holy Ghost Fathers's novitiate moved to Pittsburgh in 1884, and the school and church in Morrilton were destroyed by a tornado in 1892. Strub died on January 27, 1890 while on a visit to Pittsburgh.