Father Donnell (Don) Kirchner, CSSR, who dedicated his life to serving the poor and marginalized and spent 40 years in the Amazon region of Brazil, died on May 13 at the Holy Ghost Redemptorist rectory in Houston.
Father Kirchner was born on Dec. 24, 1940, in Fort Benning, Georgia, but grew up in Omaha and considered Nebraska his home. He made his first profession of vows on Aug. 2, 1961, and professed perpetual vows on Sept. 2, 1964. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 22, 1966.
After ordination, Father Kirchner was sent to the Amazon to help meet the need for Catholic priests. He served in parishes in Manacapuru, Belém and Manaus. He also was involved in formation ministry, and trained many priests currently serving in the Amazon region. An exceptional teacher and preacher, he related theoretical spiritual principles to everyday life. He wrote many booklets and articles for newspapers and magazines and hosted a weekly television program. He served nine years as vice provincial vicar of the Vice Province of Manaus.
Serious health issues dictated his return to the United States in 2007. He joined the Liguori Mission House mission team in Missouri, and was a popular and effective preacher. He was sent briefly to St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Whittier, California, in 2014, and returned to formation ministry as co-director of formation in Chicago from 2015-17.
Father Kirchner was troubled by the unmet needs of the Hispanic community and learned Spanish while he was in his early 70s. He served with the Redemptorists involved in Hispanic ministry in Louisiana and Texas from 2017 until his death.
