Father Hessler gets a brief mention in Beth Nance's account My Life, telling of her time in Stanley Camp during the War (p93). He would have been in his 30s at that time, and he was one of two priests of the Roman Catholic Maryknoll Mission order in camp, the other being Father Meyer.
Nance states that Father Hessler was more a theologian, whereas Father Meyer was more practical.
1939 He was ordained priest at the Maryknoll Seminary, Ossining, New York, and was assigned to the Maryknoll Mission at Kweilin, South China.
1941 He was visiting Hong Kong when the Japanese invaded and he was interned in Stanley Camp along with fellow priest Father Bernard Meyer. When repatriation was offered in 1942 heand Father Meyer chose instead to remain to care for the medical and spiritual needs of their fellow prisoners.
1945 He was liberated, but his health suffered both during internment and subsequently, preventing a posting to Maryknoll in Japan.
1946 He was given a three-year recovery posting in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
1950 He was posted to Maryknoll’s Mission in Mexico. There, Father Hessler found his fruitful mission for the next 43 years. He was appointed Pastor of the Bacalar Mission, one of the most backward places in the Yucatan Peninsula. He became an advocate and promoter of the laity and team ministry among them. He developed a lay missionary apostolate among the local people. His lay group developed a cooperative farm which improved the skills of the local farmers and their farming methods. Because of what was accomplished, Father Hessler gained government support for some of his projects. He received requests from Bishops in neighbouring Belize and British Honduras to send tutors there to develop the lay apostolate in their dioceses.
1960 He was transferred to Mexico City and took up residence and ministry in the Parish of Perpetual Help. There he became engaged with Catholic Relief Services and lay ministry among families, students and youth groups.
His Superior wrote about him: “All his work has been against a background of poor health and yet his ministry has been like one of robust health.”
1995 He diedin Cuernavaca, Mexico. He was 83 years of age and a Maryknoll priest for 56 years.
Comments
Donald Leo Hessler born April
Donald Leo Hessler born April 15, 1912 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, died October 2 1985. (Maryknoll MIssion Archives)
Father Hessler gets a brief mention
Father Hessler gets a brief mention in Beth Nance's account My Life, telling of her time in Stanley Camp during the War (p93). He would have been in his 30s at that time, and he was one of two priests of the Roman Catholic Maryknoll Mission order in camp, the other being Father Meyer.
Nance states that Father Hessler was more a theologian, whereas Father Meyer was more practical.
Father Donald Leo Hessler
Maryknoll Mission Archives: https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/deceased-fathers-bro/father-donald-l-hessler-mm/
Life summary
Using moddsey's link above I have done the following summary of Father Hessler's life:
1912 Donald Hessler was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After his schooling, he studied for eight years as a seminarian and received his BA Arts.
1934 He entered the Maryknoll Novitiate.
1939 He was ordained priest at the Maryknoll Seminary, Ossining, New York, and was assigned to the Maryknoll Mission at Kweilin, South China.
1941 He was visiting Hong Kong when the Japanese invaded and he was interned in Stanley Camp along with fellow priest Father Bernard Meyer. When repatriation was offered in 1942 he and Father Meyer chose instead to remain to care for the medical and spiritual needs of their fellow prisoners.
1945 He was liberated, but his health suffered both during internment and subsequently, preventing a posting to Maryknoll in Japan.
1946 He was given a three-year recovery posting in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
1950 He was posted to Maryknoll’s Mission in Mexico. There, Father Hessler found his fruitful mission for the next 43 years. He was appointed Pastor of the Bacalar Mission, one of the most backward places in the Yucatan Peninsula. He became an advocate and promoter of the laity and team ministry among them. He developed a lay missionary apostolate among the local people. His lay group developed a cooperative farm which improved the skills of the local farmers and their farming methods. Because of what was accomplished, Father Hessler gained government support for some of his projects. He received requests from Bishops in neighbouring Belize and British Honduras to send tutors there to develop the lay apostolate in their dioceses.
1960 He was transferred to Mexico City and took up residence and ministry in the Parish of Perpetual Help. There he became engaged with Catholic Relief Services and lay ministry among families, students and youth groups.
His Superior wrote about him: “All his work has been against a background of poor health and yet his ministry has been like one of robust health.”
1995 He died in Cuernavaca, Mexico. He was 83 years of age and a Maryknoll priest for 56 years.
1940s Letters from Donald L. Hessler
Donald L. Hessler wrote to his family and readers of the local newspapers. A link of references to Hessler from the 1940s at: https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=q&r=1&results=1&e=------194-en-10--51-byDA-txt-txIN-Hessler---------