Who We Are

In 1947 the Congregation of the Resurrection was divided into three separate administrative areas called provinces. One of these, the Ontario-Kentucky Province, began with the arrival in St. Agatha, Ontario of a young priest, Fr. Eugene Funcken, C.R. on August 14, 1857. Fr. Funcken became pastor of St. Agatha parish, a position he occupied until his death on July 18, 1888. Shortly after his arrival the Congregation was given charge of St. Mary’s parish in Berlin (now Kitchener). In 1865 Fr. Eugene’s brother, Fr. Louis Funcken founded St. Jerome’s College and when the college moved from a little log cabin in St. Agatha to Berlin Fr. Louis became pastor of St. Mary’s church while continuing as president of St. Jerome’s College. The College’s precarious financial situation demanded frequent fund raising trips to the United States. On one such trip in 1871 Bishop McCloskey of Louisville Kentucky invited the Congregation to take over St. Mary’s College in St. Mary, Kentucky. In September 1871 St. Mary’s College opened its doors. From its two bases in Ontario and Kentucky the Congregation expanded its pastoral and educational ministry.In 1953 the Ontario-Kentucky Province accepted the administration of the island of Bermuda which became a diocese in 1968.

Today members of the Ontario-Kentucky Province continue to minister in parishes in Kentucky, Ontario and Bermuda as well as Florida and Jamaica and are involved in secondary, post-secondary and adult education in Canada and the United States.

The priests, brothers, and deacons of the Ontario - Kentucky province are presently working in the following ministries :