Visiting

Archduke Markus von Habsburg and his wife, Archduchess Hildegard von Habsburg, enjoy an afternoon tour of Lake Patoka with Father John Boeglin, pastor of Jasper’s Holy Family Parish.  The Austrian royalty recently visited the town of Ferdinand, St. Ferdinand Parish and Monastery Immaculate Conception.

The Archduke is the great-great-great nephew of Emperor Ferdinand I, for whom the town of Ferdinand is named. Father Joseph Kundek received financial assistance through the help of Ferdinand I and the Leopoldine Society to purchase 1,300 acres of land  and plot the town.

The Ferdinand Historical Society invited Father Boeglin to celebrate Mass in German during the royal couple’s visit. After providing a tour of the lake, Father Boeglin decided to nickname his pontoon boat “The Royal Patoka.”

Submitted photo courtesy of Father John Boeglin