Submitted by: Dan Rich

Msgr. Theodore Hammes

Apr. 4, 1885 –Sept. 6, 1985

South Bend Tribune 9/7/1985

Monsignor Theodore Hammes, 100, founder of St. Matthew parish in South Bend, died Thursday night in the St. Anthony Home, Crown Point, Ind. He was born April 4, 1885 in Racine, Wis., and began his religious studies at St. Joseph College in Rensselaer, Ind., and later attended Josephinum School of Theology in Columbus, Ohio. He also attended St. Francis de Sales Seminary in Milwaukee and St. Meinard Seminary in Indiana. He was ordained in 1912 in Fort Wayne and became the assistant pastor of St. Patrick Church in Kokomo. He later became pastore of Sacred Heart Church in Wanatah.

Monsignor Hammes organized St. Matthew parish in South Bend in 1922. He also was assigned to serve as pastor of St. John’s Church in Goshen, and St. Mary’s Church in Union City. In 1968, at age 75, he was named a monsignor by Pope John XXIII. He is survived by three sisters, Sister Benigna, Sister Huberta and Sister Miolo, all of Nazareth Heights Rest Home in Fond du Lac, Wis.; and a brother Rev. Joseph Hammes of Crown Point.

A requiem Mass will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday in St. Joseph Church, Elwood, Ind. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Elwood. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today in the Dunnichay Funeral Home, Elwood. The body will lie in state at the church from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, where the rosary will be recited at 7 p.m.