The Priest They Buried Twice: The Secret of Saint Aldric

On December 11, 2019, a greyhound named Pepper led Keith Whitfield to a buried oak box containing liturgical vestments embroidered with the name "Al Jarek" near a trail in Calvert, Indiana. This discovery sparked an investigation into the history of the town and its former priest, Theodore Wenda, who had been suspended from the priesthood in 1906 but continued to serve the community in secret for over a decade. The Diocese of Evansburg had no record of Wenda's activities during this time, and the parish records from 1913 to 1922 show deliberate omissions regarding the presiding clergy.

Researcher Frances Young spent years uncovering the story behind the vestments and the missing records. Her investigation revealed that Wenda had performed numerous sacraments without authorization, including baptisms and burials, during a period when the town was grappling with the influenza epidemic. Following Wenda's death in December 1917, the community held a meeting where they decided to fabricate a narrative for the diocese, claiming records were lost to the epidemic. They buried Wenda's vestments at the parish property line, honoring him with the name Aldrich, which means "noble ruler," and established an annual observance in his memory.

The Aldrich Walk, a tradition that began in 1922, continues to this day, with a small group gathering each year to commemorate Wenda's service. Despite the lack of formal recognition from the church, the community's collective memory and the act of walking the path serve as a testament to their enduring connection to Wenda and the sacraments he provided. The vestment box now resides in the Weldon County Historical Society, symbolizing a hidden history that reflects the complexities of faith, community, and memory.

The Priest They Buried Twice: The Secret of Saint Aldric

A buried oak box wrapped in oilcloth, violet vestments embroidered with the single name "ALDRIC," and a town ledger that intentionally erased nine years of priests' names-what were Calvard's residents protecting for more than a century? Who sewed a saint's name into a coffin of silence, and why was a suspended priest allowed to minister for eleven years without diocesan authorization?

In this episode, we follow the discovery that reopened a closed chapter: the sealed vestments found by a dog on December 11, 2019, the gap in parish records from 1913 to 1922, and the trail of documents, diaries, and local memory that led retired librarian Frances Young to a single unexplained name. How did Theodore Wende's suspension, his continued ministry, and the town's deliberate omissions shape the story of "Aldric"?

Person: Theodore Wende Date: December 13, 1917 Location: Calvard, Welden County, Indiana Event: Vestments found in sealed oak box on December 11, 2019 Case: Parish records gap from 1913 through 1922

- Pepper the greyhound found the sealed oak box 40 yards off a gravel trail on the Millstone Nature Loop. - The vestments included a violet chasuble, a stole, and a maniple embroidered with the name "ALDRIC." - Theodore Wende was placed on administrative leave by the Diocese of Evansburg in 1906 but continued ministering in Calvard until his death. - From 1906 to 1917 Wende baptized 31 children, buried 14 adults, and married 9 couples while suspended. - Frances Young discovered the name "Aldric" in a brittle parish ledger in 2014 after 11 years of research.

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