My Genealogy Hound

REV. PETER HOMMES, father of St. Mark’s Catholic Church, was born in Germany, August 13, 1855, the youngest of seven children of Peter and Mary Ann (Goebel) Hommes. Our subject was reared in his native country, receiving a collegiate education, and in 1878 started westward across the ocean for America, landing first at New York. Early in youth he had resolved to dedicate his life in the interest of humanity, and upon his arrival in America, he came to St. Meinrad and began there the completion of the education that would fit him for his life’s duties. Three years at St. Meinrad’s College he devoted to pious and diligent study, and June 11, 1881, was formally and solemnly ordained a priest of the Catholic Church. For about four months he acted as assistant priest at Vincennes under the title of St. Francis Xavier. November 3, 1881, he took charge of St. Mark’s Church, and now also visits St. John’s and St. Peter’s congregations, ministering to about ninety families. He is doing an excellent work.