Catholic Priests in Indiana: Rev. Dominic SHUNK, C. PP. S.

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The Rev. Dominic SHUNK, C. PP. S.      Rev. Dominic Shunk, C. PP. S., was born at Canal Fulton, Ohio, November 26, 1855; ordained priest at Cincinnati, Ohio, on June 11, 1881.
     In July 1885, Rev. Shunk, C. PP. S., began to reside at All Saint' Church, at San Pierre, in Starke County, Indiana. He arranged for an addition, of 10 feet, to be made to the small, 18x12 feet church which was in existence when he arrived. He then planned and built a new church which was completed in 1886. The old church was then used as the priest's residence. Father Shunk continued to tend the congregation at San Pierre until the fall of 1895.*
     In 1887, he organized the parish of the Most Precious Blood at Wanatah, and built the church there. Having been appointed the resident pastor of the Most Precious Blood Church, he remained as pastor from June 1887 to February 1897. About 1888, Father Shunk built a frame school, convent and rectory at Wanatah, placing the school in charge of the Sisters of the Precious Blood. This school remained open until June of 1904, when it was closed due to greatly reduced attendance.
     From the church at Wanatah, in La Porte County, Indiana, Father Shunk attended as missions: Schimmels and Westville, also in La Porte County, Indiana; Kouts, in Porter County, Indiana; Wheatfield, in Jasper County, Indiana; Hamlet, from January 3, 1891 till March 1, 1897, San Pierre, North Judson and the station Knox, all in Starke County, Indiana. While residing at Wanatah, he was the visiting pastor to St. Patrick's at Walkerton, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, during the period from September 1, 1895 to February 4, 1897. He attended Schimmels, residing at San Pierre, from July 1885 to 1888, and residing at Wanatah, from 1888 to February 1897.
*Note:   Though there appears to be no dispute that Father Shunk continued to serve the All Saint's Church, in San Pierre, his residence location during the intervening years between 1887 and 1895 appears to be a bit less certain.   Rt. Rev. Alerding's biographical sketch of Rev. Shunk reports that Father Shunk attended the mission at Schimmels, from July 1885 to 1888, while residing at San Pierre, and from 1888 to February 1897, while residing at Wanatah. However, the historical sketch of the All Saints' Church, in the same book, relates the following: "The pastor having completed the church, used the old church building for his residence, during a period of eight years. In the fall of 1895 Wanatah became Father Shunk's place of residence. From here he attended San Pierre, until the fall of 1895..." Since the latter report places him continuing to tend San Pierre from the fall of 1895...until the fall of 1895, it seems probable that this may be a typographical error, and the years reported in Father Shunk's biographical sketch are most likely correct.

Below is a transcription of Rev. Dominic Shunk's biography as written in:
The Diocese of Fort Wayne, 1857--September 22--1907, A Book of Historical Reference, 1669-1907. By the Rt. Rev. H. J. Alerding. Fort Wayne: The Archer Printing Co. 1907.
The Rev. Dominic SHUNK, C. PP. S. He was born at Canal Fulton, Ohio, November 26, 1855; ordained priest at Cincinnati, Ohio, June 11, 1881. He was the organizer of the parish of the Most Precious Blood at Wanatah, being the pastor from June 1887 to February 1897. From Wanatah he attended as missions: Schimmels, San Pierre, Walkerton, Westville, Hamlet, Wheatfield, North Judson and Kouts, and the station Knox. He attended Schimmels, residing at San Pierre, from July 1885 to 1888, and residing at Wanatah, from 1888 to February 1897.