As one of sixteen children growing up on a farm in Wisconsin, Barney Casey learned about the importance of sharing. This virtue shaped his life and ministry.
Barney was born in 1870. His parents were from Ireland. The Casey’s raised their children in the Catholic faith.
Barney left the farm to work at a variety of jobs. He was a lumberjack, a prison guard, a hospital orderly, and even a street car operator, but none of these jobs satisfied him. He believed that God had other plans for him.
When he was twenty-one years old, Barney entered the seminary in Milwaukee, but he found the studies very difficult. Discouraged, he left. Five years later, he joined the Capuchin order in Detroit. He still had a difficult time learning theology, but he did not give up.
Barney was ordained in 1904. He took the name Solanus, the last name of a seventeenth century saint. Although he was a priest, Fr. Solanus was not permitted to preach or hear confessions because of his weak theological skills. He believed this freed him to devote himself entirely to the ministry of service.
Fr. Solanus worked as a porter in the Capuchin monastery in Detroit. In a religious order, the porter answers the door and greets all visitors. Day or night, Solanus listened to anyone who came to the monastery and promised to pray for them. He often blessed the visitors.
He led a prayer service for the sick every Wednesday. He started a soup kitchen that is still feeding the hungry today.
Fr, Solanus died at the age of eighty-six. More than 20,000 people prayed at his coffin before he was buried. He touched so many people’s lives with his generous and loving heart. Pope John Paul II declared Fr. Solanus “Venerable” in 1995. This is the first step on the journey to sainthood. Venerable Solanus’ life helps us to remember that when we serve others, we serve Jesus.
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