Sebastian Menke
Encyclopedia
Sebastian G. Menke was a 20th century Catholic
priest in the United States
who served as the 10th president of St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa
from 1964-1973.
. He graduated from St. Ambrose in 1934, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Davenport
in St. Paul in 1938.
, Greek
, ancient history
and astronomy
on campus. He then became rector for East Hall (Rohlman Hall). While he studied for his doctorate
at the University of Iowa
he served as chaplain at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Menke served as president during a time when struggles were high for private colleges. The Vietnam War
was raging and there were protests against the war on campus. Dr. Edward Rogalski, who would eventually serve as the college's president, remembers, "He did a lot to help defuse the emotions. We would meet with students at any time of day and night. He even led a protest march here in Davenport — and that was a time when emotions were running very high." In 1964 he was named a Domestic Prelate by Pope Paul VI, upon the nomination of Bishop Ralph Hayes
. From 1970-1973 St. Ambrose and Marycrest College
planned for a merger. They even chose a new name for the school, Newman College, before the effort was discontinued and both schools went their own way. During his presidency, South Hall (Cosgrove Hall), Hayes Hall, and Galvin Fine Arts Center were all constructed.
and rector
of Sacred Heart Cathedral. He served as a chairperson for one of the commissions during the diocesan synod
in 1974. Msgr. Menke also chaired a board that was working on the consolidation of St. Luke’s and Mercy Hospitals in Davenport. Like the merger of the two colleges, the hospital merger did not happen either. He was involved in establishing the United Way of the Quad-Cities Area. El Centro Cultural Hispano, a organization that cared for the needs of the Spanish-speaking people of the Quad City
area, was established at Sacred Heart in 1975. Two years later Mass in Spanish was added to the cathedral schedule. He was instrumental in establishing a food pantry and a clothing center at the cathedral. He helped out at the Catholic Worker
House and the East Side Development Center. He was involved with other social service agencies and racial matters.
in Iowa City. At the end of 1991 he left Iowa City and retired to St. Vincent Center in Davenport. He died in 2002 at the age of 91. Memorial Masses were held at Christ the King Chapel at St. Ambrose and Sacred Heart Cathedral. He donated his body to the Department of Anatomy at the University of Iowa, which was later buried in the Priests' Circle of Mount Calvary Cemetery
in Davenport.
is an astronomical
observatory
owned and operated by St. Ambrose University. It was named in honor of Msgr. Menke.
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
priest in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
who served as the 10th president of St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
from 1964-1973.
Early life & Education
Menke was born and raised in St. Paul, IowaSt. Paul, Iowa
St. Paul is a city in Lee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 118 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Fort Madison–Keokuk, IA-MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:St...
. He graduated from St. Ambrose in 1934, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Davenport
Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport is a diocese of the Catholic Church for the southeastern quarter of the state of Iowa. There are within the diocese...
in St. Paul in 1938.
St. Ambrose College
Menke returned to St. Ambrose and taught Latin, GermanGerman language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, ancient history
Ancient history
Ancient history is the study of the written past from the beginning of recorded human history to the Early Middle Ages. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, with Cuneiform script, the oldest discovered form of coherent writing, from the protoliterate period around the 30th century BC...
and astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
on campus. He then became rector for East Hall (Rohlman Hall). While he studied for his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
he served as chaplain at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Menke served as president during a time when struggles were high for private colleges. The Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
was raging and there were protests against the war on campus. Dr. Edward Rogalski, who would eventually serve as the college's president, remembers, "He did a lot to help defuse the emotions. We would meet with students at any time of day and night. He even led a protest march here in Davenport — and that was a time when emotions were running very high." In 1964 he was named a Domestic Prelate by Pope Paul VI, upon the nomination of Bishop Ralph Hayes
Ralph Leo Hayes
Ralph Leo Hayes was a 20th century bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Helena in the state of Montana from 1933–1935, and as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Davenport in the state of Iowa from 1944-1966...
. From 1970-1973 St. Ambrose and Marycrest College
Marycrest International University
Marycrest College Historic District is located on a bluff overlooking the West End of Davenport, Iowa, United States. The district encompasses the campus of Marycrest International University, which was a small, private collegiate institution...
planned for a merger. They even chose a new name for the school, Newman College, before the effort was discontinued and both schools went their own way. During his presidency, South Hall (Cosgrove Hall), Hayes Hall, and Galvin Fine Arts Center were all constructed.
Sacred Heart Cathedral
After leaving the presidency Menke became the pastorPastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
and rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Sacred Heart Cathedral. He served as a chairperson for one of the commissions during the diocesan synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
in 1974. Msgr. Menke also chaired a board that was working on the consolidation of St. Luke’s and Mercy Hospitals in Davenport. Like the merger of the two colleges, the hospital merger did not happen either. He was involved in establishing the United Way of the Quad-Cities Area. El Centro Cultural Hispano, a organization that cared for the needs of the Spanish-speaking people of the Quad City
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
area, was established at Sacred Heart in 1975. Two years later Mass in Spanish was added to the cathedral schedule. He was instrumental in establishing a food pantry and a clothing center at the cathedral. He helped out at the Catholic Worker
Catholic Worker Movement
The Catholic Worker Movement is a collection of autonomous communities of Catholics and their associates founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933. Its aim is to "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ." One of its guiding principles is hospitality towards those on...
House and the East Side Development Center. He was involved with other social service agencies and racial matters.
Later life & Death
In 1985 Msgr. Menke retired as the cathedral rector and took up residence at St. Mary’s ChurchSt. Mary's Church and Rectory (Iowa City, Iowa)
St. Mary's Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Davenport located at 220 E. Jefferson St. in Iowa City, Iowa. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as St. Mary's Church and Rectory. The parish's first rectory, which is now a private home, is also listed on the NRHP as...
in Iowa City. At the end of 1991 he left Iowa City and retired to St. Vincent Center in Davenport. He died in 2002 at the age of 91. Memorial Masses were held at Christ the King Chapel at St. Ambrose and Sacred Heart Cathedral. He donated his body to the Department of Anatomy at the University of Iowa, which was later buried in the Priests' Circle of Mount Calvary Cemetery
Mount Calvary Cemetery (Davenport, Iowa)
Mount Calvary Cemetery is located in north-central Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was established as St. Marguerite’s Cemetery in the 1850s on of property donated by Antoine LeClaire. At the time the cemetery lay outside the city of Davenport...
in Davenport.
Legacy
The Menke ObservatoryMenke Observatory
Menke Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by St. Ambrose University. It is located northwest of Dixon, Iowa on the southern bank of the Wapsipinicon River. It is named after the former President of St...
is an astronomical
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
owned and operated by St. Ambrose University. It was named in honor of Msgr. Menke.