William Menster
Encyclopedia
Father William J. Menster (February 10, 1913 - April 14, 2007) was a Roman Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Menster was best known as the first member of the clergy to visit Antarctica.
Born in Cascade
, Iowa
, Menster was the son of Joseph and Frances Menster. He attended St. Martin's School in Cascade and Loras College
in Dubuque. Menster studied for the priesthood at St. Mary's Seminary in Cincinnati
, Ohio
. Menster was ordained a priest on June 11, 1938.
Fr. Menster was then assigned to be the associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church
in Waterloo, Iowa
. During this time Menster joined the United States Naval Reserve, and by 1943 had reached the rank of Lieutenant Commander
. Following the Second World War, in 1946 Menster was assigned to Operation Highjump
- Admiral Richard Byrd
's fourth expedition to Antarctica. He was assigned to the USS Mt. Olympus, and was the only chaplain in the five ship fleet. In 1947 he became the first Catholic priest ever to set foot on Antarctica, and led the first ever religious service on the continent. During a religious service held in a tent set up on land, he consecrated Antarctica. Ministering to 2,000 men of a variety of religious faiths gave him experience in leading ecumenical services.
After returning to the United States in 1947, Menster was assigned to Saint Mary's Church in Corwith, Iowa. Menster was named the director of Catholic Charities
in 1948, and held this posting until 1958. He wrote the book Strong Men South as a chronicle of his adventures in 1949. He later traveled to Hollywood where he served as a technical consultant when ABC
made a documentary about Antarctica named "The Secret Land" - which was based in part on his book. In 1950 Menster and his father were granted a private audience with Pope
Pius XII. Menster was assigned to be the pastor of St. Patrick's Church in, Monona, St. Mary's in Waverly, and St. John's in Clarion in 1958. Menster was named the pastor of the St. Donatus
parish in 1978.
After the expedition he continued his career in the Navy. During this time he became involved in veteran's work, and served as the national chaplin of the AMVETS
organization. After 25 years of service Menster retired as a full Commander
.
Menster retired from active ministry, and was living in Dubuque at the time of his death. At the time of his death, Menster was the oldest living priest in the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
Menster Ledge (80°18′S 156°23′E) is a relatively level benchlike feature which rises to 1800 m 6 nautical miles (11 km) southwest of Mount Olympus
in Hughes Basin
, Britannia Range. The feature is 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) wide and is smoothly ice covered in the central and north portions; an abrupt ice and rock cliff forms the south end of the ledge. Named after Father William J. Menster (Chaplin, Commander, USN) of the flagship Mount Olympus in Operation Deep Freeze
, 1946-47. The location of the ledge is in proximity to Byrd Glacier
, Mount Olympus, and other features that memorialize leaders and ships of Operation High Jump.
Born in Cascade
Cascade, Iowa
Cascade is a city in Dubuque County and Jones County, Iowa, United States. The Dubuque County portion is part of Dubuque Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Jones County portion is part of Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,958 at the 2000 census, but is now...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, Menster was the son of Joseph and Frances Menster. He attended St. Martin's School in Cascade and Loras College
Loras College
Loras College is a four-year Catholic college located in Dubuque, Iowa, with a general attendance of approximately 1,700 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs...
in Dubuque. Menster studied for the priesthood at St. Mary's Seminary in Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Menster was ordained a priest on June 11, 1938.
Fr. Menster was then assigned to be the associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church
Sacred Heart church
-India:* Sacred Heart Malankara Catholic Church, Mylapra, also known as Sacred Heart Church, in Kerala, India* Sacred Heart Church, Puducherry * Sacred Heart Forane Church Thiruvambady,Kozhikode,Kerala-Indonesia:...
in Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the population decreased by 0.5% to 68,406. Waterloo is part of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the more populous of the two...
. During this time Menster joined the United States Naval Reserve, and by 1943 had reached the rank of Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
. Following the Second World War, in 1946 Menster was assigned to Operation Highjump
Operation Highjump
Operation Highjump , officially titled The United States Navy Antarctic Developments Program, 1946-1947, was a United States Navy operation organized by RADM Richard E. Byrd Jr. USN, , Officer in Charge, Task Force 68, and led by RADM Richard H. Cruzen, USN, Commanding Officer, Task Force 68....
- Admiral Richard Byrd
Richard Byrd
Richard Byrd is the name of:*Richard C. Byrd , American politician*Richard Evelyn Byrd , admiral, polar explorer, aviator*Richard Byrd , American Olympic athlete...
's fourth expedition to Antarctica. He was assigned to the USS Mt. Olympus, and was the only chaplain in the five ship fleet. In 1947 he became the first Catholic priest ever to set foot on Antarctica, and led the first ever religious service on the continent. During a religious service held in a tent set up on land, he consecrated Antarctica. Ministering to 2,000 men of a variety of religious faiths gave him experience in leading ecumenical services.
After returning to the United States in 1947, Menster was assigned to Saint Mary's Church in Corwith, Iowa. Menster was named the director of Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities is a network of charities whose aim is "to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same." It is one of the largest charities in the United States...
in 1948, and held this posting until 1958. He wrote the book Strong Men South as a chronicle of his adventures in 1949. He later traveled to Hollywood where he served as a technical consultant when ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
made a documentary about Antarctica named "The Secret Land" - which was based in part on his book. In 1950 Menster and his father were granted a private audience with Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
Pius XII. Menster was assigned to be the pastor of St. Patrick's Church in, Monona, St. Mary's in Waverly, and St. John's in Clarion in 1958. Menster was named the pastor of the St. Donatus
St. Donatus, Iowa
St. Donatus is a city in Jackson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 140 at the 2000 census. St. Donatus is known for its status as a Luxembourger village, with historic architecture and views along U.S. Highway 52. It is the home of a historic Catholic church, which is dedicated to...
parish in 1978.
After the expedition he continued his career in the Navy. During this time he became involved in veteran's work, and served as the national chaplin of the AMVETS
AMVETS
AMVETS or American Veterans is a volunteer-led organization formed by World War II veterans which accepts honorably discharged veterans as members....
organization. After 25 years of service Menster retired as a full Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
.
Menster retired from active ministry, and was living in Dubuque at the time of his death. At the time of his death, Menster was the oldest living priest in the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
Menster Ledge (80°18′S 156°23′E) is a relatively level benchlike feature which rises to 1800 m 6 nautical miles (11 km) southwest of Mount Olympus
Mount Olympus
Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, located on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia, about 100 kilometres away from Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. Mount Olympus has 52 peaks. The highest peak Mytikas, meaning "nose", rises to 2,917 metres...
in Hughes Basin
Hughes Basin
Hughes Basin is a large basinlike neve in Britannia Range which is bounded except to the south by Ravens Mountains, Mount Henderson, Mount Olympus and Mount Quackenbush. The feature is 15 nautical miles long and the ice surface descends north-south from 2000 m near Mount Olympus to 1000 m near...
, Britannia Range. The feature is 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) wide and is smoothly ice covered in the central and north portions; an abrupt ice and rock cliff forms the south end of the ledge. Named after Father William J. Menster (Chaplin, Commander, USN) of the flagship Mount Olympus in Operation Deep Freeze
Operation Deep Freeze
Operation Deep Freeze is the codename for a series of United States missions to Antarctica, beginning with "Operation Deep Freeze I" in 1955–56, followed by "Operation Deep Freeze II", "Operation Deep Freeze III", and so on...
, 1946-47. The location of the ledge is in proximity to Byrd Glacier
Byrd Glacier
The Byrd Glacier is a major glacier in Antarctica, about 136 km long and 24 km wide, draining an extensive area of the polar plateau and flowing eastward between the Britannia Range and Churchill Mountains to discharge into the Ross Ice Shelf at Barne Inlet.Named by the NZ-APC after Rear...
, Mount Olympus, and other features that memorialize leaders and ships of Operation High Jump.