PASTORS OF SAINT SABINA PARISH
Msgr. Thomas Crowell: 1944-51
Msgr. Thomas Crowell was born on October 26, 1909, ordained on May 26, 1934, in Kansas City, MO. His first pastorate was at Lourdes in Harrisonville from which he founded St. Sabina in 1944 at age 35 and then became pastor here from 1944 to 1951 for 7 years, although he continued to live in Harrisonville until 1951. In 1951 he was made pastor at St. John LaLande in Blue Springs, MO. He retired in July 1978, age 68. He returned to live at the rectory of St. Sabina when Fr. Pilsl was pastor. He died here on April 7, 1987, at age 77 and is buried at Mt Olivet in Kansas City, MO.
Fr. Daniel Murphy: 1951-57
Msgr. Daniel Murphy was born on October 2, 1899, ordained in 1925 at St. Meinrad, IN. In 1951 he became pastor, age 51, here for 6 years, his 5th pastorate. He lived in the rectory bought for him at 522 Second St. He died in 1967, at age 68, and is buried at St. Mary Cemetery in KC, MO.
Fr. Bill Baskett: 1957-58
Fr. Bill Baskett was born on July 21, 1917, in Moberly, MO, ordained in 1944 in KC, MO. At age 40, St. Sabina was his first parish in June of 1957 until Feb 1958. After one year he was moved to the Jefferson City Diocese after serving as pastor here. He died in Eldon, MO in 1965 at age 47.
Fr. Bob Byrne: 1958-59
Fr. Bob Byrne was born on August 30, 1918, in Spangler, PA, ordained in 1944 in Altoona, PA. His first parish was St. Sabina in 1958 at age 40, having been a chaplain in the army from 1955-1958. He retired in 1988 at age 70 and died on October 13, 1997, at age 75.
Fr. Francis Daly: 1959-61
Fr. Frank Daly was born on February 27, 1924, in Moberly, MO, ordained in 1949 at Conception Abbey. His first parish was St. Sabina in July 1959. In May 1961, Fr. Bob Hogan signed all the baptisms as Vicar Substitute and then became pastor in October 1961. Fr. Frank Daly became USAF chaplain from 1961 to 1969 and then left the diocese. No record of his death is listed. He was not related to Fr. Bill Daly, who later served here with Msgr. Summers.
Msgr. Bob Hogan: 1961-62
Msgr. Bob Hogan was born on October 19, 1924, in Chillicothe, MO, ordained at Conception Abbey in 1949. He had been Vice-Chancellor of the St. Joseph Diocese before it was combined with the Kansas City Diocese in August 1956. Later he served as Chancellor of the KC-St. Joseph Diocese until his death in 1986, at age 62. He never became pastor of St. Sabina, but was administrator at age 36 in 1961 after filling in for Fr. Daly earlier in May 1961 as Vicar substitute. He served as administrator from September 1961 until Fr. John S. Murphy was assigned as pastor in September 1962. He died on November 24, 1986, at age 62.
Fr. John S Murphy: 1962-64
Fr. John Murphy was born on November 30, 1916, in Chicago, ordained in Kansas City, MO in 1941. He became pastor of St. Sabina in September 1962, at age 46 until June 1964. He was also chaplain at Richards-Gebaur AFB. He retired in 1975 at age 59, and died in 1980 at age 63, and was buried in Chicago.
Msgr. Emmett Summers: 1964-65
Msgr. Emmett Summers was born on February 2, 1923, in Ft. Leonard, MO, ordained from Conception at Kansas City, MO in 1952. He was made pastor of his 2nd parish at St. Sabina in July 1964 and brought with him Fr. Bill Daly who had been a Jesuit with health problems and served with Msgr. Summers until Bill’s death in Carrolton, MO in 1991. Msgr. Summers passed away on October 3, 2008 and was buried at Marceline, MO.
Fr. Roger Miller: 1965-78
Fr. Roger Miller was born on September 17, 1929, in Kansas City, MO, ordained in 1954 in KC. His first pastorate was St. Sabina in July 1965 until 1978. As pastor for 13 years he made many changes. He sold the church on Herschel St and built the new church on Trevis, as well as the new rectory at 700 Trevis. Many of the Vatican II changes happened during his stay. He hired Sr. Madeline Peplow as Pastoral Associate. In 1978, both moved to Lee’s Summit where he founded Holy Spirit parish. Fr. Miller died on March 12, 2005, age 75, after a long illness. As of 2008, Madeline lives in Lee’s Summit, MO.
Fr. Dick Pilsl: 1978-86
Fr. Dick Pilsl was born on March 26, 1921, in Kansas City, MO, ordained 1946 after studying at Catholic University in DC. His first parish was Presentation in Lee’s Summit and then assigned to Belton for 8 years at age 57 in 1978. He was a cousin of Fr. Roger Miller whom he succeeded. He retired in June 1986 and died in 1987 at age 65.
Msgr. John Huhmann: 1986-89
Msgr. John Huhmann was born on June 3, 1923, at St. Elizabeth, MO, ordained from Josephinum in Ohio in 1950. He was assigned to Belton from St. Stephen’s parish, serving St. Sabina for 3 years. He hired Sr. Lucille from St. Stephen’s as associate in 1987. Msgr. Crowell came to live with him and died in April 1987 at Belton. Msgr. Huhmann built the Gym and Education Wing that was dedicated in April 1989 and Msgr. retired 2 months later at age 66. He hired Cecilia Imming in September of 1988 as parish secretary. He loved to play golf and was an avid pilot. He was excellent with investments and often advised people about stocks. He died January 23, 2005, at age 82, 16 years after retiring.
Fr. Joe Matt: 1989-2004
Fr. Joe Matt was born on August 18, 1948, in Kansas City, MO, studied in Rome, later did JCL in Ottawa, Canada in 1988, ordained in 1974 at Christ the King. His first pastorate was at St. Sabina in 1989, age 40. He was pastor for 15 years until moved to St. Joseph the Worker in Independence in 2004. His first planning for the new church began in 1992 and completed 11 years later with the dedication in 2003. In 2001 a weekly Hispanic Mass began with guest priests offering the Mass in Spanish. His parents, Lucille and Herbert (with his brother Jeff), moved to the parish during his stay and both his parents died during that time. His mom was in Foxwood Springs for a couple years before her death in 2001 and his dad died in 2002. Another brother, Jon, also died (1995) during Father’s stay. His brother Jeff then moved in with him. While at St. Sabina Fr. Matt worked a lot with computers and updated the parish records and census. He was a good speaker, a great writer, and a wonderful teacher. Fr. Matt is also now Judicial Vicar of the Diocesan Tribunal.