Crosiers Named in Sex Abuse

The Order of Crosier Fathers and Brothers

The Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross, commonly called Crosiers, are a Roman Catholic religious order.  While their Catholic Communities are primarily located in Onamia, Minnesota and Phoeniz, AZ, their priests and brothers have been transferred to California.  In some known cases, Crosier Brothers who were publicly named as child sexual abusers have worked at Catholic High schools in California.

The following is a running list of Crosiers who have been officially recognized by the Order of the Holy Cross in sexual abuse cases.

EIGHT CROSIERS PUBLICLY NAMED BY THE ORDER IN OCTOBER 2002

Neil Emon, osc

Date of birth: 11/20/1940
Date of ordination: 06/03/1967
Prior assignments:

• Assistant Novice Master, Hastings, Neb., 1967–71
• Prior, Crosier Community of Hastings, Neb., 1971–74
• Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minn., 1974–80
• Weekend priest/spiritual director, Central Minnesota TEC Program, 1978–88
• Pastor, St. Peter, St. Cloud, Minn., 1980–89
• Parochial Vicar, St. Alfred’s Parish, Taylor, Mich., 1989–2000
• Parish Assistance, Our Lady of Joy, Carefree, Ariz., 2000–2002
• Prior, Crosier Community of Phoenix, 2000–2002

Date removed from ecclesiastical ministry: 5/28/2002
Current location: Phoenix, living under safety plan
Current status: Retired; no priestly faculties

Gabriel Guerrero, osc

Date of birth: 01/03/1935
Date of first profession: 03/19/1953
Prior assignments:
Prior assignments:

• Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minn., 1953–55
• Our Lady of the Lake Seminary, Syracuse, Ind., 1955–57
• Crosier Community of Hastings, Neb., 1957–58
• Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minn., 1958–79
• Crosier Community of Hastings, Neb., 1979–1990
• Crosier Community of New Rochelle, N.Y., 1990–2000
• Crosier Community of Phoenix, 2000–present

Date removed from work with minors: 1990
Current location: Phoenix, living under safety plan
Current status: Retired

Gregory Madigan, osc

Date of birth: 08/01/1935
Date of first profession: 03/19/1956
Prior assignments:

• Crosier Community of Hastings, Neb., 1955–1958
• Wawasee Prep, Syracuse, Ind., 1958–1960
• Crosier Community of White Plains, N.Y., 1960–1961
• Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minn., 1961–1987
• Sabbatical, 1988
• Crosier Community of Chicago, 1988–1990
• Crosier Community of New Rochelle, N.Y., 1990–2000
• Crosier Community of Shoreview, Minn., 2000–2003
• Crosier Community of Phoenix, Ariz., 2004–present

Date removed from work with minors: 1988
Current location: Phoenix, living on safety plan
Current status: Retired

Bruce Maxwell, osc

Date of birth: 12/11/1939
Date of ordination: 05/10/1975
Prior assignments:

• Deacon, St. Columban’s Parish, Birmingham, Mich., 1974–75
• Mission Director, Hastings, Neb., 1975–82
• Pastor, Sacred Heart, Kenesaw, Neb., 1977–82
• Parochial Vicar, St. Cyprian’s, Riverview, Mich., 1983–84
• Project Director, Archdiocesan Computer Development Program, Detroit, Mich., 1984–86
• Weekend assistance, Archdiocese of Detroit, 1984–87
• Superior, Crosier Community of Riverview, Mich., 1986–89
• Director of Religious Services, Gabriel Richard High School, Riverview, Mich., 1986–89
• Parochial Vicar, St. Cyprian’s, Riverview, Mich., 1987–89
• Chaplain, U.S. Coast Guard, Petaluma, Calif., 1989–1992
• Chaplain, Naval Support Unit, Manama, Bahrain, 1992–1994
• Chaplain, Destroyer Squadron 8, Mayport, Fla., 1994–1996
• Chaplain, Destroyer Squadron 14, Mayport, Fla. 1996
• Chaplain, Fleet Activities, Yokosuka, Japan, 1996–1998
• Chaplain, Marine Corps Air Station, Jacksonville, N.C., 1998–2001
• Chaplain, Marines, Okinawa, Japan, 2001–2002
• Crosier Community of Phoenix, 2002–death

Date removed from ecclesiastical ministry: 9/9/2002
Current status: Deceased (02/17/2006)

James Moeglein, osc

Date of birth: 01/05/1943
Date of ordination: 05/31/1970
Prior assignments:

• Deacon, St. Mary’s, St. Cloud, Minn., Summer 1969–70
• St. Mary’s Deaconate, Weekend Work, Ottoville, Ohio, 1969–70
• Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minn., 1970–88
• Weekend priest/spiritual director, Central Minnesota TEC Program, 1978–88
• Weekend assistance (Most often in parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis), 1970–1988
• Prior, Crosier Community of Onamia, Minn., 1978–84
• Weekend assistance, Maternity of Mary parish, St. Paul, Minn., 1988–89
• Parochial Vicar, St. Cyprian’s Parish, Riverview, Mich., 1989–90
• Prior, Crosier Community of Hastings, Neb., 1990–1999
• Crosier Community of Onamia, 2000–present

Date removed from ecclesiastical ministry: 6/1/2002
Current location: Onamia, living under safety plan
Current status: No priestly faculties

Thomas O’Brien

Date of birth: 10/29/1946
Date of ordination: 05/11/1974
Prior assignments:

• Deacon/Teaching, Huntington, Ind., 1972–1973
• Faculty/Dean of Students, Wawasee Prep, Fort Wayne, Ind., 1974–1975
• Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minn., 1975–1988
• Crosier Community of Riverview, Mich., 1988–94
• Teacher & Chaplain, Gabriel Richard High School, Riverview, Mich., 1989–1994
• Provincial Econome, Shoreview, Minn., 1994–2001
• General Econome, Rome, 1999–2007

Limited interaction with minors: 1989
Date removed from ecclesiastical ministry: 10/4/2002
Current location: Ohio
Current status: Dismissed 08/05/2008; no priestly faculties

Richard Ohlemacher, osc

Date of birth: 03/10/1922
Date of ordination: 05/28/1955
Prior assignments:

• Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minn., 1956–59
• Our Lady of the Lake Seminary, Syracuse, Ind., 1959–75
• Parochial Vicar, Immaculate Conception, Three Rivers, Mich. (with missions at St. Joseph in White Pigeon and St. Clare in Centreville), 1975–79
• Crosier Ministry Center, Fort Wayne, Ind., 1979–82
• Parochial Vicar, St. Michael, Plymouth, Ind., 1982–87
• Parochial Vicar, St. Louis the King, Glendale, Ariz., 1987–92
• Crosier Community of Phoenix, Ariz., 1990–death

Retired: 7/1/1992
Date removed from ecclesiastical ministry: 6/1/2002
Current status: Deceased (07/29/2005)

Justin Weger, osc

Date of birth: 04/21/1925
Date of ordination: 06/07/1952
Prior assignments:

• Summer Assistance, Our Lady of the Lake Seminary, Syracuse, Ind., 1953
• Associate, St. Mathias, Fort Ripley, Minn., 1953–54
• Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minn., 1954–57
• Pastor, St. Therese, Vineland, Minn., 1957–67
• Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minn., 1967–72
• Pastor, Prince of Glory Catholic Indian Church, Minneapolis, Minn., 1971–72
• Crosier House of Studies, Fort Wayne, Ind., 1972–73
• Social Services Consultant, Fort Wayne Housing Authority, Fort Wayne, Ind., 1973–74
• Weekend assistance, Diocese of Gallup (New Mexico and Arizona), 1974–75
• Parochial Vicar, St. Mary Church, Sells, Ariz., 1975–76
• Director, Tribal Lodge, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz., 1977–2002
• Crosier Community of Phoenix, Ariz., 2002–death

Date removed from ecclesiastical ministry: Priestly faculties withdrawn 1976
Current status: Deceased (1/15/2005)

OTHER CROSIERS WITH ONE OR MORE CREDIBLE ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR

Timothy Conlon, osc

Date of birth: 03/23/1949
Date of ordination: 06/02/1979
Prior assignments:

• Retreat Director, Ministry Center, Hastings Neb., 1979–85
• Campus Ministry Director, Iona College, New Rochelle N.Y., 1985–92
• Chaplain, St. Vincent’s Hospital, New York City, 1992–96
• Pastor, St. Angela Merici Church, Bronx, N.Y., 1996–2000
• Vicar for Ethnic Ministry, Diocese of Phoenix, Ariz., 2000–2006
• Canonical Pastor, Sacred Heart, Phoenix, Ariz., 2003–2010
• Administrator, St. John the Baptist, St. Johns, Ariz., 2011–January 2014

Date removed from ecclesiastical ministry: 1/25/2014
Current location: Arizona
Current status: No priestly faculties

Cornelius DeVenster, osc

Date of birth: 12/12/1907 (Nijmegen, the Netherlands)
Date of ordination: 01/08/1933
Prior assignments:

• Crosier Community of Hastings, Neb., 1934–47
• Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minn., 1947–60
• Crosier Community of White Plains, N.Y., 1960–68
• Crosier Community of New Rochelle, N.Y., 1968–71
• Crosier House of Studies, Fort Wayne, Ind., 1971–73
• Chaplain, St. Joseph Hospital, Fort Wayne, Ind., 1971–73
• Weekend assistance, St. Mary, Van Wert, Ohio, 1974–83
• Weekend assistance, Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, 1983–88

Date removed from ecclesiastical ministry: Deceased at time of allegation
Current status: Deceased (12/25/88)

Gerald Funcheon

Date of birth: 07/22/1938
Date of ordination: 05/22/1965
Prior assignments:

• Teacher, St. Cecilia High School, Hastings, Neb., 1965–66
• Teacher and Athletic Director, Our Lady of the Lake Seminary, Syracuse, Ind., 1966–69
• Graduate student/Weekend Pastoral Assistance, Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind., 1969–70
• Assistant Pastor/Teacher, St. Odilia Church, Shoreview, Minn., 1970–73
• Teacher/Prefect of Discipline, Wawasee Preparatory, Syracuse, Ind., 1973–75
• Teacher, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 1975–76
• Parochial Vicar, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 1975–76
• Catholic Chaplain on Active Duty, United States Air Force, San Antonio, Texas, and Wilford Hall Hospital, Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany, 1976–79
• Teacher/Prefect of Discipline, Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minn., 1979–80
• Teacher/Spiritual Director, Cathedral High School, St. Cloud, Minn., 1980–82
• Teacher, Damien High School, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1982–84
• Chaplain to Christian Brothers/Teacher, Palma High School, Salinas, Calif., 1984–85
• Parochial Vicar, St. Stephen, Anoka, Minn., 1985–86
• Teacher, Central Catholic High School, Lafayette, Ind., 1986–87

Date removed from ecclesiastical ministry: 4/1/1993
Status: Dispensed from vows on 6/25/1987; incardinated into Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana on 7/31/1987
Current location: Missouri
Current status: No priestly faculties

Eugene Hambrock, osc

Date of birth: 02/12/1926
Date of first profession: 01/01/1947
Prior assignments:

• Crosier House of Studies, Fort Wayne, Ind., 1947–54
• Our Lady of the Lake, Syracuse, Ind., 1954–58
• Crosier Community of White Plains, N.Y., 1958–62
• Crosier Community of Fort Wayne, Ind., 1962–64
• Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minn., 1964–67
• Crosier Community of Hastings, Neb., 1967–72
• Crosier Community of Fort Wayne, Ind., 1972–85
• TEC, Fort Wayne, Ind., 1982–85
• Crosier Community of Onamia, Minn., 1985–87
• Crosier Community of Hastings, Neb., 1987–death

Current status: Deceased (01/30/1999)

Steven Henrich, osc

Date of birth: 8/30/1946
Date of ordination: 05/11/1974
Prior assignments:

• Co-Director of Decide, Fort Wayne, Ind., 1970–71
• Business Manager, Fort Wayne, Ind., 1971–73
• Chaplain, State Hospital, Fergus Falls, Minn., 1973
• Faculty, Wawasee Prep., Syracuse, Ind., 1974–75
• Parochial Vicar, St. Margaret of Cortona, Bronx, NY, 1975–76
• Chaplain, Iona Grammar and Christian Brothers, New Rochelle, NY, 1975–81
• Prior, Crosier Community of New Rochelle, NY, 1976–79
• Assistant for Finance, Crosier Provincialate, St. Paul, Minn., 1981–86
• Provincial Councilor, St. Paul, Minn., 1980–88; 1993–96; 1999–2010
• Rector, Crosier Community of Chicago, Ill., 1989–90
• Parochial Vicar, St. Cyprian, Riverview, Mich., 1990–92
• Associate Director, Conference of Major Superiors of Men, Silver Spring, Md., 1994–96
• Executive Director, Conference of Major Superiors of Men, Silver Spring, Md., 1996–99
• Co-Director, Pre-Novitiate Residence, St. Paul, Minn., 2002–2004
• Administrative Councilor to Administrator, Crosier Community of Phoenix, Ariz., 2004–05
• Prior, Crosier Community of Phoenix, 2005–2010
• General Econome, Phoenix, Ariz., 2007–2009
• General Econome, Rome, Italy, 2010–present

Date removed from ecclesiastical ministry: 1/23/2017
Current location: Phoenix, living under safety plan
Current status: Internal work for the Order; no priestly faculties

Joseph Lendacky, osc

Date of birth: 06/14/1918
Date of ordination: 06/08/1945
Prior assignments:

• Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minn., 1946–48
• Crosier Monastery, Hastings, Neb., 1949–50
• Crosier Seminary and Community, Onamia, Minn., 1950–death

Date removed from ecclesiastical ministry: Deceased at time of allegation
Current status: Deceased (05/31/1989)

Ron Melancon

Date of birth: 3/15/1944
Date of first profession: 12/28/1972
Prior assignments:

• Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minn., 1972–75
• Crosier Community of Fort Wayne, Ind., 1975–78
• Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minn., 1978–80

Date removed from work with minors: Was not a member of the Order at the time of allegation
Current location: Louisiana
Current status: Left the Order in 1980; dispensed from vows on 9/21/1989

Wendell Mohs

Date of birth: 2/18/1952
Date of first profession: 8/21/1974
Prior assignments:

• Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minn., 1974–80
• Weekend retreat staff, Central Minnesota TEC Program, 1979–82
• Pastoral Ministry, Epiphany parish, Coon Rapids, Minn., 1980–82
• Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minn., 1982

Date removed from work with minors: Was not a member of the Order at the time of allegation
Current location: Minnesota
Current status: Left the Order on 11/1/1982; dispensed from vows on 9/17/1987

Michael Paquet

Date of birth: 04/01/1946
Date of ordination: 05/28/1978
Prior assignments:

• Deacon Internship, St. Odilia Parish, Shoreview, Minn., 1977–78
• Parochial Vicar, St. Odilia Parish, Shoreview, Minn., 1978–79
• Ministry Center Retreat Director, Fort Wayne, Ind., 1979–85
• Spirit Alive TEC Youth Minister/Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend, Fort Wayne, Ind., 1983–85
• Province Formation Director (Pre-Novitiate), Shoreview, Minn., 1985–87
• Superior, Crosier Community of Shoreview, Shoreview, Minn., 1986–89
• Weekend assistance, Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis (including Nativity of Mary, Bloomington, Minn.), 1985–87
• Parochial Vicar, St. Odilia, Shoreview, Minn., 1987–89
• Parochial Vicar/Administrator/Pastor, St. Stephen Parish, Anoka, Minn., 1989–2001
• Sabbatical 2001–2002
• Pre-Novitiate Residence, St Paul, Minn., 2002–11/18/2002
• Exclaustration 11/18/2002–05/18/2004

Date removed from ecclesiastical ministry: 11/18/2002
Current location: Canada
Current status: Dismissed 09/16/2005

Anton Schik, osc

Date of birth: 2/5/1915
Date of first profession: 1/4/1934
Prior assignments:

• Crosier Seminary and Monastery, Onamia, Minn., 1932–48
• Wawasee Prep, Syracuse, Ind., 1948–71 (his death)

Date removed from work with minors: Deceased at time of allegation
Current status: Deceased (12/22/1971)

Urban Schmitt, osc

Date of birth: 07/19/1919
Date of ordination: 05/04/1949
Prior assignments:

• Parochial Vicar, St. Vincent, Elkhart, Ind., 1950–53
• Pastor, St. Ann, Doniphan, Neb., and St. Patrick, Highland, Neb., 1953–58
• Our Lady of the Lake Seminary, Syracuse, Ind., 1958–64
• Pastor, Holy Family, Moose Lake, Minn., & Holy Trinity, Barnum, Minn., 1964–66
• Parochial Vicar, St. Odilia, Shoreview, Minn., 1966–73
• Pastor, St. Helena, Grafton, Neb., & St. Patrick, McCool Junction, Neb., 1973–1994
• Weekend assistance, Diocese of Lincoln, 1994–1999 (including St. Michael, Albion, Neb., in 1996 and St. Francis of Assisi, Neligh, Neb., in 1997)
• Administrator, St. Anthony, Cedar Rapids, Neb., and Mission of St. Mary, Primrose, Neb., 1997–98
• Crosier Community of Hastings, Neb., 1998–death

Retired: 1994
Current status: Deceased (7/20/1999)

Roger Vaughn

Date of birth: 06/16/1948
Date of ordination: 05/14/1977
Prior assignments:

• Deacon, St. Cyprian, Riverview, Mich., 1976–77
• Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minn., 1977–80
• Weekend priest/spiritual director, Central Minnesota TEC Program, 1979–84
• Parochial Vicar, St. Peter, St. Cloud, Minn., 1980–84
• Parochial Vicar, St. Sabina, Chicago, Ill., 1984–87
• Chaplain, Iona Grammar School, New Rochelle, N.Y., 1987–92
• Campus ministry, College of Mt. St. Vincent, Bronx, N.Y., 1987–89
• Campus ministry, Manhattanville College, Purchase, N.Y., 1989–93
• Chaplain, Christian Brothers Residence, New Rochelle, N.Y., 1993–96
• St. Elizabeth Ann Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Staten Island, N.Y., 1997–99
• Director of Pastoral Care/Substance Abuse Counselor, Sisters of Charity Healthcare System, Staten Island, N.Y., 1999–2001

Date removed from ecclesiastical ministry: 10/6/2000
Current location: New York
Current status: Dismissed 11/27/2001; no longer a member of the Roman Catholic Church

This list of Crosiers Named in Sex Abuse was retrieved directly from the Crosiers website.

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