Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-24


cleared. Almost at once the construc.
ton of the parochial residence was be-
gun: The work was carried on through
out practically all the winter. 1t was
completed early in the spring of 1899,
at total cost OF about SILL 900. The
total cost of both church and residence
and the lots upon which they are sit
uated was in the neighborhood of $685.
600.
Illness of Father Flood.
It was during the winter of 1898 that
the exposure and hard work to which
he subjected himself began to tell on
Rev. Father Flood. He began to fail,
gradually at first and then more rap
idly Through the remainder of 1889
he continued his work of conducting
his parish and of Tightening the bur
den of debt under which he and his
congregation were laboring. His de-
cline grew more rapid and in August,
1901, he passed away.
After his death, Rev. Father Henry
Manniett, who had been professor in
st. Ambrose college. at Davenport, was
assigned temporarily to the pastorate.
Father Foley Appointed.
Rev. Father James Foley, of Stuart,
was then appointed to the parish and
arrived and took charge in October,
1901. Under his energetic manage
ment the congregation was able to
raise about $4,000 by January 1, 1902
A portion of this, however, was do
nation from Bishop Cosgrove of SIS 900
upon the provision that the parish
raise like sum.
K
A bazaar was held in Turner opera
house which netted nearly the entire
sum, the balance of the $4,000 being
raised by subscription. Since that
time nearly $4,000 more has been
raised and the total debt now out
standing against the church is only
about $4,000.
One Hundred and Fifty Families.
The Sacred Heart parish now after
an existence of not quite six years, is
comprised of about $50 Catholic fami-
lies and owns a handsome parochial
residence and a church structure that
is a credit to the city. The total value
OF the property, residence, church and
lots is estimated at about $4,000. For
a parish that has no rich members in
it's congregation and that has been in
existence for SO short a time the rec
ord is certainly a good one. Under
the able and efficient business manage
ment of Father Foley the church is
prospecting in an unusual manner not
alone in temporal affairs but in spirit
ual matters as we'll.
Sketch of Pastor.
Rev. James Foley, rector of the Sa-
cred Heart church, Ottumwa, is al
native7of Tullow, Ireland, and was born
on August Is. 1852. His childhood
years were spent in his native town
At an early age he entered st. Patrick's
monastery, pursuing his studies thus
until he had completed his full class
ical course. when he entered Carlow
college at the age of eighteen years.
His studies were directed along the
lines of moral and natural philosophy,
theology and Holy Scriptures Six
years were spent in this-one of the
Oldest institutions of learning in Ire
land. During the last two years of his
collegiate course, he filled the honor
able position of senior project in Car
low lay college. AT the completion
of his theological course he was or
dained to the priesthood for the do
cese of Dubuque on June 10, 1876
Though deeply imbued with the love
of his native land. he babe farewell
to friends and sailed for America, the
land Of his adoption.
Pastor of Stuart.
Soon after his arrival he was ap-
pointed by Bishop Hennessey, pastor Of
Stuart, where he remained for twenty
four years, until his appointment to
the pastorate of the Sacred Heart
church of this city. His mission at
Stuart, comprised all of Adair and
Guthrie counties, including nine or ten
small towns. AS a pioneer pastor he
went there in the days OF his youth to
a new and undeveloped location, to
build up and grow up with the coun.
try The Catholic historian of Iowa
the Rev. j. +. Kempker, speaks thus
/ of him:
Few priests have grown up to so
high measure of esteem and rever.
ence, as Father Foley has attained
among all classes in the community
and whilst the land rapidly progressed
from wild prairie to highly cultivated
fields, dotted everywhere with happy
homes and prosperous villages, Father
Foley has been assiduous in instructing
and visiting his people, and largely in.
strumental in inducing over two hun.
bred good Catholic families to build up
their homes in this favored part OF
4 Iowa. AS a proof of the interest he
took in his people, they are now the
possessors of twenty-five thousand
acres of rich land. and from being ex
|ceedingly poor, have, within the last
4 twenty years, accumulated lands and
chattels worth almost three millions OF
dollars. Seeing the rich country
i sparsely settled up, he wrote hundreds
of letters of such an encouraging ma
lture, that two hundred Catholic fami
lilies locked from different parts of lowe
4 and Illinois into his mission, and now
he has the prayers of hundreds of his
co-religionists, who owe debt of graf
itude.to him for the kindly interest he
took in their spiritual and Temporal
welfare. In ministering to the spirit
ual wants of these people, widely sep
arated over two counties, the reader
4 can readily imagine the amount of la
Dor and exposure endured, and the ex
tent of spiritual zeal which would
prompt such an undertaking.