History of St Mary's Catholic Church, Albia, IA - 1914

PHENEY, MCMENOMY, HARRISON, OHARA, MURPHY, MORRISON, GORMAN, HORRIGAN, CONWAY, HIGGINS, SEXTON, HOPKINS, GUINN, MCELROY, COOK, KING, DALY, QUINN, FITZSIMMONS, NOLAN, ADE, MCCARVILLE, GUINAN, FALVEY, MORRISSY, RICHMOUD, SULLIVAN, MORRISSEY, HINES, GREELY, BROOKS, MCDONALD, DOUGHERTY, CULLINANE, HOFFMAN, NUGENT, WALSH

Posted By: DJ Scieszinski
Date: 5/10/2022 at 13:17:28

The Catholic Messenger
April 9, 1914

WHERE CATHOLICITY FLOURISHES IN MONROE COUNTY, IOWA

BRIEF ACCOUNTS OF SEVERAL PROGRESSIVE CHURCH COMMUNITIES

St. Mary's, Albia

The first Mass said in Albia, county seat of Monroe county, was at the home of James Pheney in either the year 1866 or 1867, and was celebrated by Father McMenomy. Mass was also said in the old court house for some time.

In 1874 Father Harrison made a number of visits to Albia, saying Mass for the few Catholics who were then located there. Both Father McMenomy and Father Harrison came from Georgetown. Father Harrison, aided by the early Catholic citizens, among whom we find the following names, James Pheney, Dan O'Hara, Thomas Murphy, Edw. Morrison, Thos. Gorman, T. Horrigan, John Conway, W. Higgins, Tom Sexton, Mike Hopkins, Thos Guinn, John McElroy, John and Chas. Horrigan and several others, laid the foundation of St. Mary's parish when they purchased the Episcopal church which was located on the present St. Mary's church site. The price paid was $1,200. After remodeling the building so as to make it practical for Catholic ceremonies the church was dedicated early in 1875 by Father Cook and another missionary priest, who came here at the request of Father Harrison.

For about two years Father Harrison continued to come from Georgetown at stated intervals. In 1877 Albia was made an out-mission from Centerville and Father King, who then was pastor at Centerville, took up the work of looking after the people of Albia.

Early in 1878 Father Daly succeeded Father King. He came to Albia for eight years, and was succeeded by Father Quinn for three years; then Father Fitzsimmons for one year, Fathers Nolan, Ade and McCarville also became pastors at Centerville and came to Albia while located there.

Father Guinan next succeeded to the pastorate at Centerville with Albia as an out-mission and for some time he made visits as the other priests had done until after the building of the present St. Mary church, which he himself erected.

Arrangements for the erecting of the new church were completed at a meeting held on May 16, 1903, when the subscription list was started, and the following committee appointed. Rev. W J Guinan, M. C. Falvey, Jno. F. Morrissy, L. T. Richmoud, Jno. L. Sullivan, W. T. Morrissey, Faley Hines, Mark Greely, Jno. Brooks, Wm. McDonald, Thos. Dougherty, Pierce Cullinane and Dan O'Hara.

On the first day of October, 1903, the cornerstone was laid with Dean Hoffman of Ottumwa in charge of the ceremony. A large crowd was present.

The old church was sold back to the Episcopal people, who are now using it.

The first Mass in the new church was on Easter Sunday of 1904. The church was not yet quite completed, neither had the altars arrived, and it was necessary to get a number of dry goods boxes with which an altar was made. On June the fifth, 1904, St. Mary's was dedicated.

Rev. J. F. Nugent of Des Moines was present and delivered a sermon at the church and then a lecture at the opera house in the evening. The services at the church were crowded to the utmost capacity, as was the opera house in the evening.

St. Mary's church completed, with interior furniture such as pews, altars, stations and sanctuary, cost $17,000.

The residence next to the church which was bought and remodeled cost $6,000.

Up to July 1911, $26,000 had passed through the bank credited to the account of St. Mary church. Two thousand dollars of this amount had been paid out for the lecture courses which were conducted for four years.

In July of 1911, Father Guinan was transferred to Washington, Iowa, and Rev. J. M. Walsh of Washington came to Albia, and that the parish is still growing is plainly evident from the crowds that attend all services. Every seat is taken and it is only a question of time until a larger church or additional services will be necessary.

Father Walsh also attends to St Mary parish at Hiteman. He is an earnest friend of Catholic literature and has placed a book rack in the lobby of the church pamphlets, little booklets and papers which he frequently urges the people to take home and read.