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Parish memories:
Centennial remembrances
Submitted by James Kerwin, 74, This was shortly after St. Joseph and SS Peter and Paul were united into Holy Spirit Parish; the year was 1968. Father Lenz, the pastor, came into the Commercial Savings Bank where I was employed and said, "I'll come right to the point; I want you to be president of the Holy Name Society (Men's Club). " I said, "Father, don't you think better somebody from St. Pete's, the German Parish; they represent a substantial majority of the parishioners of the new parish." Father Lenz looked me straight in the eye and said, "I want you." Father Lenz was very concerned that the men get together once a month and he attended every meeting. This was one of the most enriching experiences in my Catholic faith-life. Alice Speers, parish secretary since 1974, In the office the biggest changes are that we did everything by hand - payroll, bookkeeping and record keeping. We never had correction tape on our typewriters (of course, no computers) and we ran 1,000 bulletins on those old mimeograph machines. The biggest change in the people of the parish is the diversity of our community. It used to be if you picked up the phone, someone would always be speaking English - that's not always the case anymore! Submitted by Joyce Babbitt, The old Calhoun County courthouse served many purposes for the people at St. Francis. The third floor was the convent, the courtroom was actually transformed into a chapel, and the main floor was reserved as classrooms. Parishioners enhanced the school lunch program by donating meat from the farm and hauling in sweet corn, which they then froze or canned as a group and reserved it for a later time. Apparently, Father Buccholtz, pastor at one time, used to roll up his sleeves, throw on an apron and work along with all the women. Students picked up all the downed corn one year when winds had knocked it over and the money was used to purchase the church's first organ. The altars and tabernacle for the new church were made by parishioner Harry Hall ... definitely a time when life's activities centered around the church!! Submitted by Marie Reuter, Alma Hons and Eunice Fettes, Discussing making our church more accessible to everyone, a committee developed a plan to meet our many needs. A beautiful new addition was attached to St. Patrick's and has proven to be very useful, a full capacity elevator, meeting rooms and bathrooms. The interior of the church was completely re-decorated. Several years later, new oak doors were installed with celtic cross inlays. Adding new landscaping and restoration of our pipe organ, St, Patrick's has a whole new atmosphere. Submitted by Michael Duffy, 40, He recalled being one of the last persons inside of the old St. Mary's school building. The night before it was demolished in 1983, Mike and two buddies spent the night in a classroom. (Mike wasn't sure if they had permission to stay overnight.) They exited the building in the morning to take their "front row" seats to watch the demolition. Submitted by Cheryl Paulsen, age 50 something, Memories are always good, be they earlier times or recent days. Thirteen priests have served this parish since 1886, with memories from each, with one remembered as being very strict but kindhearted. It is noted that in winter, marriages were performed on Mondays to conserve heating costs as the church was heated for Sunday Mass. In more recent years, we remember our annual Turkey Supper, our parish picnic/auction and, always, the many yearly organizational events. Our parish is now clustered with St. Mary, Alton, and St. Anthony, Hospers ... all working very closely in all aspects of parish life. We also form the active nucleus of Spalding Catholic Schools, grades Pre-K thru 12. Memories of this parish are still being made after all of these years! Submitted by Virginia Robinson, In 1986 our church building was condemned. We then had Mass in the St. Brigid Parish Center. This was an experience for all of us. Moving to the Parish Center for Mass and other church activities brought the congregation closer together. We became more of a Parish that we had ever been. Ground was broken for a new church on Sept. 7, 1986. The new church was dedicated on June 7, 1987. This year on June 1 a young man from St. Brigid's, Michael A. Kellogg, was ordained a priest at the Cathederal of St. Mary, St. Cloud, Minnesota. The last young man from St. Brigid Parish to be ordained was Father John Hebenstriet on May 22, 1942. Father Mike will be at St. Brigid's to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving on June 16. This will truly be a "Memorable Moment". Submitted by Bill Thompson, 53, One of my fondest, and more humorous memories of parish life in Primghar at St. Anthony's occurred in the spring of 1966. The late Father (later Monsignor) Dean Walker was our pastor at the time, and we were to have Confirmation in Primghar. I was to be one of the altar boys, but Father Walker also assigned me the responsibility of making sure everyone was in the right place at the right time before, during, and after the ceremony. When I arrived at the church, Bishop Mueller was already sitting in his chair in the sanctuary. According to the rehearsals, and my notes, he was to be in the back of the church to be part of the procession. About 15 minutes before the service was to begin I headed for the sanctuary and announced I was going to tell the bishop where he was to be. Those of you who knew Msgr. Walker probably are aware of his reaction. His face was "beet" red and he nearly tackled me. Confirmation did go off without a hitch. Submitted by Velma Tigges, We have dedicated parishioners proud to come forward when a job is to be accomplished. In 1964 we remodeled the church basement into a cafeteria for our school children. As time passed our school consolidated with St. Joseph in Dedham (1968) with four grades in each school. We had a large centennial celebration in 1982. In 1984-85 we built a new school which has been transformed to a parish center as all children now attend classes in Carroll. Our Guild has been very active for 45 years. We continue to honor the feast of Corpus Christi with the traditional procession through the cemetery. We have reshingled the church roof and just finished tuckpointing the church. The parishioners are people of Faith. As one of the "Churches of Carroll County" tours are given upon request. Submitted by Roman Groff Remsen St. Mary's I remember when Father Schulte [Remsen's first resident pastor, 1885-1925] used to walk up and down the sidewalk between St. Mary's Church and rectory saying his daily breviary. I remember he was one of those strict "old school" priests with a thick German accent. If a girl came to church with her legs showing he sent her home. Submitted by Rosalyn Sporrer For almost 40 years, the Rolfes family was in charge of ringing the church bells for 6 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. Angelus and for the regularly scheduled daily and Sunday Masses. All of the Rolfes' children rang the bell during their childhood. The boys were primarily in charge of the bell ringing, but when they weren't available one of the girls or Mrs. Rolfes would run across the street to perform the chore. The Rolfes family used to toll the bells also when someone in the parish passed away. They used to do this immediately when they got word of one's death whether it was day or night. The bell was tolled one time for each year of the person's age. In addition to maintaining the bell schedule, they had to climb into the tower whenever the bells overturned and set them right again. This was sometimes a terrible job because of all the pigeons that were ever present in the tower. They were paid $60 a year for this service! Holy Angels, Roselle Carrie Rupiper lived on a farm for 61 years. A large rusty model airplane hung from a tree pointed towards the farm home. The 81-year-old widow managed the place by herself. She kept busy planting flowers around the lawn, gathering eggs in the hen house, feeding the ducks and geese, or cooking in the kitchen. She was the oldest living lifetime member of the Roselle Church. She remembered when Roselle had both a Catholic and public school, three taverns, an implement store, a blacksmith's shop and two general stores. She had vivid memories of walking to the Roselle School as a child on cold March days. "Some days the bread in our lunch pail froze. So did our toes!" By the middle of May she walked barefooted to school! Sacred Heart, Templeton The "baby corn" industry came to Templeton in 1969 and provided 75 youngsters with summer employment. The corn is picked by hand in the field and then transported to the Sacred Heart Church grounds, where workers husk the miniature ears by hand. It was pickled in a secret-formula brine and was barely four inches in length. The baby corn was edible, cob and all! The driving force behind Operation Baby Corn in Templeton was a man of the cloth, the Rt. Rev. Msgr. A.W. Behrens of Sacred Heart Church. Submitted by Mary Dahm, 81 Sacred Heart Parish of Early in noted mostly as a cluster of rural Families.. But also as a people of deep faith, supporters of Catholic Education for their children and always having a choir. Music is and has been an integral part of liturgies and celebrations through the years. We've been blessed with good priests and bishops throughout these 100 years. Submitted by Fayann Hubert Remembering: Mother unknown, that's the phrase noticed time after time when researching death record for family history. In the pages of church history the unknown pioneer wife's, mothers, grandmothers, and others who left home and family to migrate to the prairie land of western Iowa, with all its perils and hardships, to start a new life. Remember. The unknown are the women who demanded a church for worship, a school for the education of their children. Remember. The unknown raised money for these projects with bake sales, dinners and bazaars. Remember. The unknown women of the religious order who crossed oceans and wilderness to teach our youth. Remember. The unknown are the women who cared for the sick and needy of their parish and community. Women of yesterday we remember you. O.L.G.C, Fonda We see decline of farm community: empty buildings on many roads. From "hustle and bustle" on Main Street to peace and quiet. O.L.G.C.: 1968 & 1969: 40-plus students graduating each year. 13 nuns living in 2 homes to none. 2 priests in the rectory to 1 priest for 2 parishes... CDA Mother/daughter Mass & breakfast: in the glory days filled one whole side of the church and filled the gym for the breakfast and program: not a vacant chair anywhere!! Submitted by Lorraine McDermott St. Michael's Parish of Kingsley is unique in one way because it was one of the first parishes to sponsor a huge chicken dinner and bazaar with a tent that included children's and adult's games, bakery goods and craft items. Annually people looked forward to our dinners and visiting with friends. Some years we served as many as nineteen hundred people. This event is still held every June. Submitted by Mary Kelly (class of 1944) A treasured memory for many in St. Columbkille Parish, Varina, is the "Hall on the Corner." For many years all parish and school and other area activities were held there. When this church and school were built happy days were back again. Memories of all the priests who have served in Varina, past and present, are truly special, and perhaps the best memories of all. Submitted by Marcella Hamm Some remembrances of growing up in St. Michael Parish: Gathering together every Sunday in our little Leeds church to attend Mass said in Latin. Fasting from midnight in order to receive Communion. Attending Forty Hours Devotion, missions and Mass on rogation days. Gathering for ice cream socials in the park each summer. Having a yearly bazaar with booths all around the hall and a huge table filled with prizes to be won. Working with other parishioners on annual dinner and fish suppers. It was a wonderful parish in which to grow up. Submitted by Thelma Gravenish We remember- Loretta Academy built and opened as a boarding school in 1892 and staffed by the Blessed Virgin Mary Sisters of Dubuque-used as Marcus Hotel-1915-razed in 1996. Also, three Father O'Reilly's, John and Edward both of Ireland, and Robert. And Mary Ellen Kelly, born Nov. 12, 1922, and became a paraplegic at age 17, due to rheumatoid arthritis. The doctor created a fake shoulder joint so she could write. She penned the book, "But with the Dawn, Rejoicing," and traveled extensively to Lourdes and Rome. Submitted by Kate Hoffman Rev. Henry Meyer had wedding Mass servers stand at the end of the isle with a white rope and the bride and groom had to pay the servers before they could leave the church after the ceremony. Father Walter Bruch held a sign on the Hee Haw float. Father Meyer could always be found on the golf course with the Priest from Templeton and Father Dougherty from Coon Rapids. Father Don Slaven thought he lost the parish checkbook and had the parishioners pray to St. Anthony only to find out that it really wasn't lost. Submitted by Doreen Schroeder For a while we had problems with bats getting into the church. One joined us for mass one morning. The janitor killed a bat in church one day and was worried that it was a sin to kill a bat inside of a church, so she called the church secretary to find out from the priest if she needed to confess her bat-killing escapade. Submitted by Mary Pat Greiner I remember... When First Communion and Confirmation demanded that all girls wear only white with long sleeves and white stockings that bagged and sagged at the knees, and of course, white veils... The little "clickers" that the teacher clicked so that the class would genuflect in unison... When there was a grade school boys choir that wore white robes with red sashes and sang "An army of youth flying the Banner of Truth."...Vespers during Lent and lights out while books were clapped for thunder at evening services on Holy Thursday... How our parish gave all the responses in Latin, along with the altar boys, at every mass with everyone participating... The confessional under the choir loft that some people avoided like the plague... Submitted by Walter Fee, 93 In 1927, St. Bernard High School was accredited by the state of Iowa. I am the only living member of that first graduating class. We had a full curriculum, including two years of Latin. We enjoyed putting on plays and put out a year book that included information on every class as well as many poems and essays. Many students played in the community orchestra. We had good times and some funny incidents, such as when we prepared to throw chalk-filled erasers at a classmate, only to accidentally hit Sister Generosa instead. That was a long time ago, but we received a very good classical and classy education. |
