Chapter Six
FATHER FRANCIS S. RANT
(1933-1937)

Francis S. Rant was born in Cesnica in the province of Krain (Carniola) in Austria-Hungary, January 20, 1875. He did his classical studies at Laibach and his philosophical and theological studies at the Saint Paul Seminary. He was ordained by Archbishop Ireland on June 9, 1900, and he celebrated his first solemn Mass at Saint Agnes on June 10. Until June, 1901, he remained at Saint Agnes, when he was sent to Holy Trinity in New Ulm. He made a visit to his native land in 1901 and brought back with him to Saint Paul five young men who entered the Saint Paul Seminary. Included in the group were Valentin Schiffrer and John E. Schiffrer. In September, 1903, he was moved to Sleepy Eye as a substitute pastor, until August 30, 1904, when he became pastor at Arlington. In December 1915, he was named pastor of Saint Raphael's Church in Springfield  , Minnesota, a position he held until 1928, when he returned to Sleepy Eye as pastor of Saint Mary, Help of Christians. On September 16, 1933, Archbishop Murray appointed him to Saint Agnes. Thirty-two years after he left his first assignment in the diocese, he returned to what would be his last assignment.

The thirties are remembered as the decade of the Great Depression when money was scarce and jobs failed. The people of Frogtown, while they had never known affluence, experienced the pinch of those years and the suffering that came from poverty, especially when getting a job was an impossibility. Relatives and neighbors stood together and the hard times passed. Those were years in which many blessings existed, when families found their joy and support in each other, when the smallest of pleasures was appreciated and remembered. Those who lived in those years knew what a treat a movie at the Faust Theater was, or how an ice cream cone or a visit to the state fair would be an event. Sundays were family days, spent listening to Father Charles Coughlin on the radio or visiting with relatives or friends, playing a ballgame at what is now West Minnehaha park. Sunday afternoon services at Saint Agnes were well attended, and events at the parish were the center of the social calendar. In reality, it was in the poverty of those years that people found great riches, a wealth of human values and a love centered on the family.

Saint Agnes school teams played at what is now Minnehaha Playground and at Como when they competed with Saint Bernard's and Saint Andrew's. It was largely through the efforts of Father Francis Benz that the area between the Good Shepherd Convent and Calvary Cemetery along the right of way of the Great Northern Railway was made into a playground. It had been a dump, always burning and smoking, but filled with excitement for the young scavengers who found it an interesting place to play and dig among the loads of trash hauled there from all parts of the city.

The girls earned a few pennies watering the flowers on the graves in Calvary Cemetery. Fifty cents paid for a large sprinkling can once a day for the whole month, and twenty-five cents brought a smaller one. A bonus for the cemetery "workers" were the ribbons from the floral wreathes that made good hair bows.

Many remember Father Rant for his great head of hair, and others recall that he had a German shepherd dog. He was known as a good preacher, and during the years of the depression especially he was a great friend of the poor and of the laboring man. During his tenure at Saint Agnes, the parish celebrated its golden jubilee, but because of his illness Father Rant was unable to take part in the festivities. The book prepared for the event has photographs of the many parish societies, and Father Rant is pictured on nearly every one of them. During his pastorate, he founded the Saint Agnes Drum and Bugle Corps of 83 members, and the group took part in many civic and religious events in the city. Father Louis A. Gales and Father Nicholas P. Schmitt were his assistants, and the three priests made many friends among the people of Saint Agnes. Father Rant made preliminary plans for a new school building but his early death prevented his completing the project. In all his assignments he had built an addition to the parish plant, and had he lived Saint Agnes would have been no exception.

On a visit to friends in Sleepy Eye, Father Rant was taken ill and brought to Loretto Hospital in New Ulm, where he died on November 27, 1937. He had been suffering from ulcers and apparently had an attack. A blood clot developed which was fatal and caused his unexpected death.

Archbishop Murray celebrated the funeral Mass at Saint Agnes on November 30, with two hundred priests in attendance along with representatives from the thirty-five parish organizations. Father John Goergen of Saint Mary's Church in New Ulm and Father John Dunphy of Ascension Church in Minneapolis were deacons of the Mass. Father John Trobec was assistant priest, and,Father Martin I. J. Griffen of Saint Vincent's Church and Father HenryJ. Scherer of Holy Trinity Church in New Ulm were deacons of honor to the archbishop. Father Francis J. Schenk of the Saint Paul Seminary preached. Father Francis A. Missia directed the choir of priests, and Father George Ziskovsky was master of ceremonies. On Monday, a Mass was celebrated for the German-speaking people of the parish. Father F. J. Plaschko, pastor of the Church of the Japanese Martyrs in Leavenworth, Minnesota, was celebrant, and Father Louis A. Gales and Father Nicholas P. Schmitt, both of Saint Agnes, were deacons. Father John C. Gruden preached in German, and on Tuesday morning he celebrated Mass for the school children. Father Mathias Savs of Saint Mark's Church in Shakopee conducted the services at Calvary Cemetery.

Father Rant was pastor for only four years, hardly long enough to become known by his parishioners. They were years of economic depression with unemployment and poverty the order of the day. He was concerned for those who were hurt and suffering, but his poor health kept him from doing all that he wished. Had he lived longer and been stronger, he would have left his mark on the parish. As it was, God called him before many really came to know and love him.

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