Salix - St. Joseph

SALIX - Upon this rock I shall build my church, so the Bible states, but the Catholics of St. Joseph Parish in Salix built their church and parish on the tall grass prairie of western Iowa, nestled between the Loess Hills and the Missouri River.

French Canadians and Irish railroad builders made up the first 14 Catholic families of Salix. In 1869, Father John Hayes, pastor of St. Mary's Church in Sioux City, gathered them together at a private home and offered the first Mass to this group of pioneers.

As the parish grew, the need of a church building became apparent. In 1875, a primitive structure was erected on a lot donated by the Railroad Company at the corner of Willow and Tipton Streets. Not long after the building was completed, it was totally destroyed by a violent windstorm. The congregation rebuilt the church in 1880, and it served the parish for 45 years.

Father James P. Barron was appointed to serve as pastor of Salix and many other scattered parishes. Father M. C. Daly (1883-1887) and Father J. A. Griffin (1887-1918) succeeded Father Barron.

Father Daly was the first resident pastor and a rectory was purchased in 1884. Father Griffin acquired two blocks of ground on Tipton Street near the south end of Salix in 1887. The church that was built in 1880 was moved to this location and enlarged.

Realizing the need for a parochial school, Father Griffin held a meeting in December of 1890, where the sum of $3,000 was subscribed for a building. As soon as a religious order was found to conduct the school, the erection of the building began. The school opened May 9, 1892, with an enrollment of 127 pupils, grades 1-12. The Sisters of St. Joseph's of Cluny served the school from 1892 to 1899, when they were called home to France. Another order of Sisters of St. Joseph's was secured from New Orleans. They remained for eight years. The Servants of Mary assumed charge of the school in 1907.

A large rectory was also built north of the church in 1907. Additionally, three acres of ground on the west side of Salix was purchased for a new cemetery. The old cemetery called Liberty Township is located on Benton Street north of Salix.

Father J. J. Ryan (1918-1931) started a fund in 1924 for a new church building to replace the humble frame structure of pioneer days. The church was completed in November of 1925. The total cost was $75,000. It is built of red brick trimmed with gray Bedford stone and roofed with red tile.

In 1927, there were 105 families in the parish and about 150 pupils enrolled at the school.

Over the years, the Servants of Mary served St. Joseph's School, with their living quarters on the third floor of the school. In 1962, a new convent was built for them.

St. Joseph's High School was discontinued in 1960. Because of the shortage of nuns, in 1970, St. Joseph's School became the first Catholic grade school in the diocese entirely staffed by lay people. In spite of the commitment, the school was closed in May of 1991 with an enrollment of 43 pupils.

There have been many vocations from St. Joseph's Parish. There have been three fathers, one brother and nine sisters.

A major fund drive was launched in 1995 for the Renovation Campaign. An addition to the church, new elevators and restrooms, redecorating and repainting of the church and replacing the front steps to the church would all be added or fixed with the money from the campaign. The new addition was dedicated June 29, 1997. In 2000, central air conditioning and major improvements to the church hall were accomplished.

Many priests have served St. Joseph's over the years: Father Edward A. Dunn (1931-1936), Father Joseph T. Finnegan (1936-1952), Father John Turza (1952-1954), Father Norbert J. Boes (1954-1968), Father James A. Fandel (1968), Father Raymond P. Wieling (1968-1990), Msgr. Thomas C. Nash (1990-1991), Father Bruce Lawler (1991-1998) and Father Donald Slaven (1998-present).