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Monsignor Miller leaves behind a life of service
Monsignor Donald S. Miller, one of Conception Seminary College's oldest alumni and the senior priest of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, died Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006 at Heartland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph, Missouri. He was 90 years old and in his 65th year of priesthood.
There were two special moments of his final year. In June he celebrated his 90th birthday with many friends and family. In October he learned that he had received Pontifical Honors, being named a Chaplain to His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, receiving the title “Monsignor.”
Monsignor Miller was ordained a priest at St. Joseph Cathedral on May 30, 1942 by Bishop Charles LeBlond. Father was active in parishes for over 60 years until 2003, when he retired and moved to the infirmary at Conception Abbey, where six decades earlier he had attended seminary.
Covering a span of thirty years, he served in the Diocese of St. Joseph and then the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, as pastor at Sacred Heart Parish, Hamilton, Mo.(3 years), St. John LaLande, Blue Springs and the mission of St. George in Odessa (10 years). St. Louis Parish, Kansas City (7 years), St. Mark Parish, Independence (11 years). He started the parish school at St. John and built the first church at St. George. In addition he served as associate pastor in a number of parishes, notably spending 12 years at St. Joseph Cathedral (1943-1955).
When he retired from active pastoral work, he then spent the next fifteen years as Senior Priest in service first at St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City and then twelve years at St. Gregory Barbarigo Parish in Maryville.
In all of these he promoted the Legion of Mary. In his early years, he and other young priests did street preaching in various towns in northwest Missouri. At other times he served on the marriage tribunal as secretary, promoted activities for youth, and in Maryville wrote monthly articles on religious topics for the Maryville Daily Forum.
While a student at the school of Conception Abbey, he studied organ under Father Gregory Huegle, O.S.B. in the 1930's. Always a lover of music, he played the piano and organ and often accompanied the early Mass at St. Gregory's.
Monsignor Miller was born in Parnell, Mo. June 16, 1916 to Wyatt W. Miller and Esther Klaas. His mother died in 1918 leaving two young sons, Donald and his brother, Wyatt Joseph. Their father and grandmother, Louisa Klaas, raised the two boys. Donald attended public school in Parnell and then the Catholic school in Conception Junction, Mo. He attended the high school and college at Conception Abbey (1930-1938), and studied theology at Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis.
Monsignor Donald Miller was a dedicated priest and a humble and holy man, possessing a clever sense of humor, and always a gentleman. When Bishop Finn told him of the Pontifical Honors his first words were “that must be a mistake.” That final tribute crowns a life of dedicated service.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 19, 2006 at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, with burial in St Joseph's Cemetery, Parnell, Missouri.
We welcome your comments:
communications@conception.edu
www.conceptionabbey.org
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