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Acknowledgments

This book traces its beginning to the decade (1946–1956) that Fr. Solanus lived at St. Felix Friary in Huntington, Indiana, where Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., is also located. Early in 1956, he was transferred back to Detroit, where he died in 1957. When I lived in Huntington, many years after his death, some people were still talking of him and telling their own stories about him. I am thankful to all those who shared their personal Solanus stories.

Great thanks are also due to the wonderful people at the Solanus Casey Center (www.solanuscenter.org) in Detroit, where efforts continue to promote the cause and story of Fr. Solanus Casey. The late Br. Leo Wollenweber, OFM Cap, an early vice-postulator of the cause for Solanus’s beatification and canonization, offered his time and wonderful Capuchin hospitality to me more than once.

Br. Leo’s personal memories of Fr. Solanus, and his cooperation in opening the archives of Solanus material to me, were invaluable contributions. Direct quotations from the writings of Fr. Solanus (notably in the section headed “Words and Wisdom of Fr. Solanus” in the latter part of this work) have been left intact — grammatical inconsistencies and all — to maintain the flavor and spirit of the Capuchin’s innermost thoughts.

I am very grateful, as well, to Fr. David Preuss, OFM Cap, director of the Solanus Casey Center in Detroit, and to Br. Richard Merling, OFM Cap, vice-postulator of the Solanus Casey cause and director of the Father Solanus Guild. Br. Richard and Br. Michael Gaffney, OFM Cap, were helpful in acquiring photos for this book. All of this wonderful Capuchin cooperation has helped tell the story of Fr. Solanus.

Thanks also goes to Mike Stechschulte of The Michigan Catholic for his help in providing additional photographs.