Spirit Lake - St. Mary

SPIRIT LAKE - In 1856, the first settlement was made in the region of Spirit Lake. In that same year, Father J. J. Smith of Emmetsburg, convinced that there must be some Catholics among the settlers in the lakes region, traveled 50 miles on horseback in search of them. It was in the home of Oliver Sarazine of Spirit Lake that Father Smith celebrated the first Mass in Dickinson County. Following his initial trip to the region, Father Smith returned two or three times each year to attend to the spiritual needs of the Catholics in the area.

The trips continued for some 25 years until, in 1881, Father M. K. Norton came to Spirit Lake and made his home with the Sarazine family. Father Norton and a small but faithful group of parishioners build the first church in Dickinson County at a cost of $1,500. The land on which the frame church was built was donated by a local Episcopalian, B. B. Van Steenburg. With the addition of an extension in 1912, this church served as the congregation of the Spirit lake area until 1956.

In 1887, Father Norton moved to Ruthven, in order to be more centrally located. In the same year, he was replaced by Father Luke J. Carroll who continued to serve in the Spirit Lake parish as a mission for the next seven years. Father Carroll was succeeded by Father P. McCauley early in 1894.

Until 1914, pastors from surrounding parishes served St. Mary's as a mission. They were: Father P. Tierney, Father J. L. Kerby, Father M. R. Daly, Father J. Murtagh, Father Simon Roth and Father E. C. Meyers.

The first resident pastor was Father Clement Sweeney. The parish built a rectory for $3,500 with money that was raised through contributions and a fair, staged at the Old Opera House. Father Sweeney established the Solidarity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which flourished until 1924. The present Rosary Society was founded in January of 1917. Father Sweeney was succeeded by Father Arthur Cavanaugh, Father Fortunatus LeBlond and Father J. G. Skahill. The parish was then pastored by the Congregation of the Missionaries of Our Lady of LaSalette with Father John F. Dunne as pastor. He was succeeded by Father Vincent L. Beacom who built the present church, dedicated by Bishop M. Mueller in 1957.

Father Francis H. Staber follower Father Beacom. In 1964, Father Elmer D. Thom became pastor.

In June of 1970, Father N. J. Becker became pastor and began plans for a parish hall, classrooms for the religious education program and a rectory, which were completed in 1972. Father's sister, Clare, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Holy Family of Dubuque, began serving the parish as director of religious education and as pastoral liturgist.

Father Becker retired in 1988 and was followed by Father Clair Boes, who served until 1993, when Father Albert O. Grendler, present pastor, arrived.

From small beginnings, St. Mary's Parish has grown to almost 500 families with nearly 1,500 members and approximately 300 students in the religious education program.