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Blessed Solanus Casey

1870–1957 Capuchin Franciscan priest

Before people lined up at his monastery door in Detroit, Bernard Casey worked on the log booms in Stillwater, Minnesota.

Meet the Mora assembly named for him
Two nearly identical historic views of the old state prison and surrounding hills in Stillwater, Minnesota
State prison at Stillwater, dated between about 1868 and 1885. Stereograph by James Sinclair, New York Public Library. View archival record

His Stillwater years

Casey grew up on a Wisconsin farm and left as a teenager to help support his family. In Stillwater he worked on the river, took a job as a part-time prison guard, and operated an electric streetcar. He was confirmed at the Church of St. Michael.

The Capuchins on his early life St. Michael’s parish history

The doorkeeper at St. Bonaventure

As porter at the Detroit monastery, Father Solanus welcomed people who came looking for help. He listened, prayed with visitors, and made time for people who were sick or worried about their families. He encouraged them to “thank God ahead of time.”

During the Great Depression, he helped the Detroit Capuchins start their soup kitchen in 1929. That work grew from feeding neighbors who came to the monastery hungry.

Read the Capuchin biography His practice of gratitude History of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen

Why he is called Blessed

He was beatified in Detroit on November 18, 2017. Pope Francis marked the occasion the following day by recalling his service to the poor. The Solanus Casey Center observes his feast on July 30 and publishes updates on the cause for canonization.

The beatification in Detroit Pope Francis’s Angelus Feast day Cause for canonization

His life in dates

  1. Born Bernard Casey

    Born November 25 to an Irish immigrant family in Oak Grove, Wisconsin.

  2. Joined the Capuchins

    Arrived at St. Bonaventure Monastery in Detroit and took the name Francis Solanus during his novitiate.

  3. Ordained in Milwaukee

    Began his priestly ministry in Yonkers, New York, and later served parishes in New York City.

  4. Returned to Detroit

    Served at St. Bonaventure, where people came to him for prayer and counsel.

  5. Died in Detroit

    Died July 31 after years of ministry that included time at St. Felix Friary in Huntington, Indiana.

  6. Beatified in Detroit

    The Catholic Church declared him Blessed on November 18 at Ford Field.

Full Capuchin timeline

The assembly that carries his name

Father Solanus Casey Assembly #2390 in Mora is the Fourth Degree assembly sponsoring our work at Spark House. If you’d like to get involved, ask the assembly about its current service projects in Minnesota.

Minnesota’s official assembly directory
Support Assembly #2390 Explore the Minnesota Knights

Follow his story in person