Augustus John Schwertner

Augustus John Schwertner (December 23, 1870 – October 2, 1939) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Wichita in Kansas from 1921 until his death in 1939.

Biography Early life and education Augustus Schwertner was born on December 23, 1870, in Canton, Ohio, the second of eight children of Anton and Christina (née Richart) Schwertner. His father was an Austrian immigrant who worked as a shoemaker. The family were parishioners at St. Peter's Parish in Canton, where Schwertner received his early education at the local parochial school.

Priesthood Schwertner was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Cleveland on June 12, 1897 by Bishop Ignatius Horstmann. Schwertner celebrated his first mass at his childhood parish, St. Peter's in Canton.

Schwertner was incardinated, or transferred, to the newly-erected Diocese of Toledo in Ohio in 1910. In 1913, Schwertner was appointed chancellor of the new diocese by Bishop Joseph Schrembs, placing him in charge of the diocese's business and financial affairs.

When Schwertner arrived in Wichita in 1921, the diocese contained 110 priests, 81 parishes, 49 parochial schools, and eight hospitals to serve a Catholic population of 36,905. By his final year as bishop in 1939, there were 56,248 Catholics, 155 priests, 97 parishes, 65 parochial schools, and 13 hospitals. Sacred Heart Junior College in Wichita was established during his tenure in 1933. It is today Newman University.

Death John Schwertner died from a stroke at his residence in Wichita on October 2, 1939, at age 68. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Wichita.