Karl Aloysius Aschmann, a member of the Saint Alphonsus Villa community, New Smyrna Beach, died on September 17, 2020 in hospice care in Palm Coast, Florida. Father Aschmann was born September 4, 1923 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The son of Alois and Theresa (Rudolph), he was baptized at Sts. Peter and Paul (September 23, 1923) and confirmed at St. Philomena (May 21, 1937) in Pittsburgh.
He attended St. Mary’s College, North East, PA (1938-1944) and made his profession as a Redemptorist on August 2, 1945, in Ilchester, MD. His final vows were at Mt. St. Alphonsus Seminary, Esopus, New York (September 2, 1948), which he attended from 1945 to 1951.
He was ordained on June 18, 1950 at Mt. St. Alphonsus. He made his second novitiate at St. Mary’s, Annapolis (1951-1952). He began his Redemptorist career as a missionary in Paraguay and served there for 35 years, during which he built three churches, two in the city of Asuncion and one in Bella Vista. In Asuncion he also built a parish center and a High School.
He first was assigned to Pedro Juan Caballero (1952-1957); Asunçion (1957-1959; 1959-1961, rector); Bella Vista (rector, 1961-1967); Asunçion I (rector, 1967-1972); Asunçion II (rector, 1972-1978); Asunçion I (rector, 1978-1980; 1980-1986).
He took a study sabbatical at Marianella in Ireland, 1986. In the Vice-Province of Richmond his ministry focused on the Spanish apostolate. He served at St. Joseph’s, Tampa (pastor, 1986-1996); St. Joseph’s, Kannapolis, NC (with residence at St. James, Concord, NC; pastor, 1996-2005; built the new Church of St. Joseph). He ministered at St. Ann, Sumpter, SC (2002-2005).
He ministered from St. Alphonsus Villa, New Smyrna Beach, Fl from 2005 until his death.