A Church Rich
with Pioneer History
Through the "Faith of Our Fathers" and the
resident pastors that have labored with untiring zeal and
single-hearted devotion, St. Patrick's Catholic Church
will be celebrating the 125th Christmas Mass in the
present church building. In 1871 Rev. Charles Toner
offered the first Mass in the new church on Christmas.
The 140 year old parish was begun in 1856 under the
guidance of Father Louis DeCailly. Being an organizer of
unusual ability he appointed the following committee;
giving it full power to preceed with the work: Michael
Humphrey, Richard Humphrey, Dennis O'Leary, Patrick
Geraghty and James Humphrey.
Even before that, northeastern Clayton County rural area
assembled with families traveling by wagon, horseback,
and on foot to attend the Mass offered by the missionary
priests.
The pioneers of yesterday were the: Peter O'Malley
family; Humphrey family; George Peter, Sr. family; Dennis
O'Leary family; Patrick Geraghty family; Nicholas Drumm
family; Carroll family; Thomas Ormsby family; Mrs.
Connell family; John Looney family; Peter Grady family;
and Peter Schofield family.
The first altar vessels were donated by Mary Humphrey who
purchased them in memory of her husband Richard who died
in passage to America. They are still on display at Loras
College in Dubuque.
Father Louis De Cailly was instrumental in the
construction of the first church, St. Richards*. With the
encouragement of Father DeCailly, the people labored
harmoniously. Some hauled logs six to eight miles to a
saw mill (about two miles north of Monona) to have them
sawed into lumber. In payment for the sawing they gave
50% of the lumber. Some hauled rock, sand and lime; these
materials were all hauled from the town of McGregor, a
distance of 13 miles. Although most of the materials were
donated, nevertheless the labor that those pioneers
performed in order to have a house in which to worship
God, is something well worthy of mention.
The members of the subscription committee met with
excellent success. Bishop Loras placed his name at the
head of the list with a donation of $50.
Bradley Olmstead of Monona was awarded the contract for
the erection of the building to be located at the west
end of town. Before the end of May of 1856 the church, a
frame building measuring 24 by 40 by 14 feet was
completed.
St. Richard's Catholic Church, 1856 drawing
After completion Father DeCailly made a written report
of expenses. A few items listed were: 45 yards red calico
for windo curtains, $4.95; 1 old stove, $2.50; 10 lbs
candles, $3.00; 800 pickets, $6.00; Entire cost of the
building, $850.00.
Mrs. Richard Humphrey, a pioneer Catholic mother of the
community, was to be honored by having the church named
St. Mary's. At her request it was to be named St.
Richard's, in memory of the patron saint of her deceased
husband, Richard Humphrey.
Father Phiip Laurent and Father DeCailly had served the
early settlers. Soon Father Richard Nagle came and served
several communities from his residence in or near
McGregor. During his ten-year pastorate, the parish
received from Michael Humphrey the present Pioneer
Catholic Cemetery, which is four miles southwest of
Monona.
In 1868 Rev. Bart C. Lenihan was appointed rector of St.
Mary's in McGregor and was to take on the needs of Monona
until July 9, 1871. It was under his direction the
building of the present church began.
Elijah Boley, a non-Catholic, donated the entire block of
land which today stands the church, rectory, hall and CCD
Center. Before the second church could be completed
Father Lenihan was transferred.
St. Patrick's Catholic church, 1996
Rev. Charles Toner succeeded and was the first priest
to live full time in Monona. While Father Toner was
pastor the present church was completed. The Holy
Sacrifice of the Mass was offered for the first time in
the new edifice by Father Toner on Christmas Day, 1871.
It was fortunate for the people of the parish that a new
church was being built. A few years later, St. Richard's
Church was destroyed by a tornado. As was the custom of
the times the old church was to be "raffled
off". Tickets were sold near & far. Viola Mae
Boley, daughter of the donor of grounds for the new
church was the winner and now earned a church. As she
pondered what she would do, providence took lead, a
tornado came, blowing the church to kindling wood, and
all who were in need of wood to keep away the cold came
and supplied themselves with fuel from the debris. So, to
the last chip, the church was divine comfort to humanity.
From 1871 until 1893 the parish was served by a number of
priests. In 1893 Father Michael J. Hogan was assigned. He
administered the parish for 23 years, built the parish
house and in 1915 built a school. The Presentation
Sisters of Dubuque conducted the school until 1969, when
the last eighth grade class graduated.
Ten years prior to Father Hogan's pastorate another
church was built in Beulah, about thirty Bohemian
families formed St. Wenceslaus Literary & Coral
Society. Eventually the people fully united with the
Monona Parish. The building was razed in 1946 and the
grounds continued as a third parish cemetery.
Father Hogan was succeded by Rev. John McNamara. Father
Luke Donlon served the longest pastorate, 1925 to 1956
and directed many changes in the parish spiritual life
and ground beautification.
In 1957 Father John Peters was appointed administrator
while the convent was purchased allowing extensive
remodeling of the school to accomodate more classrooms
and a hot lunch program.
In 1958 Father William Menster was appointed pastor. He
was instrumental in the construction of the present hall
in 1959.
In March of 1967 Msgr. Donald Heineman was pastor,
followed by Father Richard Bohr in 1980. In 1981 St.
Patrick's celebrated its 125th Anniversary of the parish.
When Father Bohr passed away in 1983 Father John Moran,
the present pastor was appointed. The church was
renovated in 1984 to its present day decor. The first
Parish Advisory Council was established in 1985 and in
1987 the parish began the three-year RENEW program for
renewing appreciation of personal and community faith.
Today St. Patrick's serves over 275 families. A full
complement of ushers, lectors, musicians, eucharistic
distributors, mass servers, rosary leaders assist in
three weekend Masses and three lay ministers assist in
visiting the sick and elderly.
Twelve women of the parish are in religious vocations,
five men have been ordained priests, one man is a brother
and one man is a married deacon.
~Monona Billboard, Wednesday, December 18, 1996
~transcribed by S. Ferrall
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