Société des Missions Africaines – Province de Strasbourg

né le 3 septembre 1893 à Strasbourg dans le diocèse de Strasbourg, France membre de la SMA le 29 novembre 1914 prêtre le 14 juillet 1918 décédé le 9 septembre 1942

1918-1919 missionnaire au Nigeria pendant 5 mois 1919-1922 Keer 1922-1942 missionnaire aux USA, Géorgie décédé à Los Angeles, USA, le 9 septembre 1942, à l’âge de 49 ans

A Los Angeles (U.S.A.), le 9 septembre 1942, retour à Dieu du père Edmond Schlecht, à l'âge de 49 ans.

Edmond Schlecht naquit le 3 septembre 1893 à Strasbourg. Il fit ses études secondaires au petit séminaire de Strasbourg, puis à Keer aux Missions Africaines. Il fit son noviciat à Chanly et son serment en novembre 1914. A cause de la guerre, il continua ses études à Keer, puis à Cork. Il fut ordonné prêtre en juillet 1918.

En mars 1919, le père Schlecht partait pour la préfecture de la Nigeria Orientale. Dès octobre 1919, il devait revenir en Europe, la santé bien compromise.

Il passa deux ans comme professeur à Saint-Pierre. En mars 1922, le père Schlecht rejoignait les missions pour les Noirs en Géorgie. Il était supérieur à Los Angeles depuis 1936 et pro-visiteur depuis 1935. Il a "bien travaillé avec courage et persévérance". Il écrivit plusieurs articles dans "l'Echo" sur le "Demi-siècle de progrès chez les Noirs d'Amérique". Il en intitula d'autres: "Au pays des Stars et des Movies". Il se trouvait en effet tout près d'Hollywood. Il mourut subitement dans l'après-midi du 9 septembre.

Father Edmond Schlecht (1893 - 1942)

Edmond Schlecht was born in Strasbourg, in the diocese of Strasbourg on September 3, 1893.
He died, after a heart attack, in St. Vincent hospital, Los Angeles, California, on September 9, 1942.

Edmond was one of five children born to Lucian and Marie Clotilde Schlecht. His uncle, Lucien Breitel, was a professor in the SMA Apostolic School. Edmond received his early second level education in the diocesan minor seminary in Strasbourg, before going to the Society’s Our Lady of Lourdes Apostolic School at Keer en Cadier, Holland. Edmond made his novitiate in Chanly On account of the outbreak of the Great War he did not go to the SMA’s major seminary at Lyon, France – as was usually the case for students – but returned briefly to Keer before going to Cork, Ireland, where he completed his philosophy and theology. He was ordained a priest in the North Cathedral, Cork city, on July 14, 1918.

In March 1919 Edmond sailed for West Africa to take up a posting in the Vicariate of Eastern Nigeria (peculiarly named as it was situated mainly in the North). He was assigned to Shendam, the oldest mission in Northern Nigeria, established in 1907. However within a matter of seven months his health broke down and he returned to Europe. He spent the next two years as a teacher in the Apostolic School at Saint-Pierre near Eichhoffen in Alsace. In March 1922 Edmund was assigned to assist in the work of the Society’s American branch which at the time had missions among African-Americans in the Southern States. Arriving early in 1923 the superior of the American works, Ignace Lissner, also an Alsatian, sent Edmond to teach Scripture and Dogmatic Theology in the Seminary which he had founded two years previously in Tenafly, New Jersey. This seminary was intended to provide priests – of all races – for the Georgia missions. Meanwhile Archbishop John J. Cantwell had requested the Society to found a ‘Colored Mission’ in the city of Los Angeles. Edmond was sent as founding pastor. There was neither church nor house prepared for him and for the first nine months he roomed at St. Patrick’s Rectory with a Father Callaghan. During that time he canvassed the area in search of African-American Catholics who might form the basis of a parish community. By the end of the year the Archbishop gave him a lot on 53rd and Hooper Avenue, known as the ‘Chinese Nursery’. There was a little cottage adjacent to it at Latham Street and in the center of the lot another cottage. Edmond converted the Latham Street cottage into a little church and the other premises into a hall for religious instruction. When Fr. Lissner visited in December 1925 he found ‘about 50 people crowded into the little church on Sundays and more on the verandah outside’. Plans were then prepared for a proper church and rectory and in January 1926 ground was broken for the new St. Odilia’s church. Fr. Lissner lived with Edmond until the church, rectory and a new parish hall were completed. Meanwhile a convent was also prepared for Sisters who had arrived from France, the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, founded by the SMA Superior General, Auguste Planque. The opening of the new church was a grand occasion, with an attendance of some 600 people, Catholic and non-Catholic.

A year before Edmond became pastor of St. Odilia’s mission, in 1925, he took on the responsibility of Society ‘Visitor’, answerable to his superiors for the spiritual and temporal welfare of the confreres. Subsequently he took a keen interest in the affairs of the American branch and was a founder member of the Province when it was erected in March 1941. Edmund had a gift for writing and penned several articles in l’Echo, the journal of the French Province, under various titles including: ‘A half-century of progress among the Blacks of America’, ‘In the Country of “Stars” and “Movies”’. The latter, no doubt, was prompted by the fact that in St. Odilia’s he lived near Hollywood, yet at the same time was a million years removed from the glamour associated with that name.

Edmond was to remain pastor of St. Odilia’s for the remainder of his life. He came to be loved and respected by the clergy and laity, black and white. A cultured man, a powerful preacher, a good teacher and an entertainer, he had visited four continents, could speak ten different languages and could talk about the customs and history of a great many nations. Edmond was a great believer in parish-based associations and societies. Among those he founded were the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Knights of St. Peter Claver, the Holy Name Society, the Altar Society, the Children of Mary and Holy Angel Sodalities, the Boy Scouts and the Ladies’ Auxiliaries. Edmond died unexpectedly in the 24th year of his priesthood, having spent 20 years in America. During his wake many members of Societies which he had founded formed a guard of honor in the church throughout the night. At the time of his death he was survived by his father, three sisters and one brother, all residing in unoccupied France except his sister Marie who was resident in New York City.

He is buried in the Calvary Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, USA.