Document Type
Finding Aid
Collection Date
1940s-2002
Finding Aid Date
9-29-2015
Identifier
MS Walchars JK
Description
All physical materials associated with the New England Province Archive are currently held by the Jesuit Archives in St. Louis, MO. Any inquiries about these materials should be directed to Jesuit Archives. Electronic versions of some items and the descriptions and finding aids to the Archives, which are hosted in CrossWorks, are provided only as a courtesy.
Johann Karl Walchars was born on May 9, 1912 in Vienna, Austria, to Josef and Adele (Vogler) Walchars. He entered into the Society of Jesus on September 7, 1932 at St. Andra, Austria, where he completed his novitiate and juniorate from 1932 until 1936. From 1936 until 1940 he studied Philosophy at the Jesuit University at Innsbruck. He spent his regency, 1940-1941, at Kingsien, North China, where he taught Philosophy, before studying Theology in Shanghai,China. On the Feast of Pentecost in 1943, he was ordained a priest in Kingsien, China. In 1947, when political conditions in China began to deteriorate, he was transferred to the New England Province. With the exception of his Tertianship in Cleveland, Ohio(1947-1948), he served at Cranwell Preparatory School, Lenox,MA until the school closed in 1975. At Cranwell, he taught German, French, sociology, and he also moderated the Casino Club and the Mothers Club. When Cranwell closed, he was assigned to the Campion Center Jesuit Community in Weston, MA, and was engaged in retreat work and writing. During his life, he traveled the world giving retreats in the United States,Europe and New Zealand. He published several books on spirituality. He died on July 21, 1992 of an apparent heart attack, in Innsbruck, Austria. Fr. Walchars was buried in Austria where his immediate family lived.
The collection consists of the personal papers of Fr. Walchars, donated typed transcripts of retreats given by Fr. Walchars and three biographical books. The personal papers consist of correspondence, book contracts, certificates, and reviews.
Recommended Citation
New England Jesuit Province Archives; New England Province of the Society of Jesus; and Walchars, Johann K. SJ, "Johann K. Walchars, SJ Papers" (2015). Finding Aids, Special Collections. 11.
https://crossworks.holycross.edu/findaid_nen_spcoll/11