Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-24
e,suRcH BUILT LESS THAN SEW.
EN- YEARS AGO HAS RECORD
TO BE PROUD OF.
HAS OVER $50 MEMBERS

Property Cost Approximately $S5, 900
and Total Debt is Now Less Than
$4,000 Bazaar Planned to Pay
Off Remaining Indebtedness.
With total membership of almost
$50, comprising about $50 families, and
property valued at $4,000, with total
Indebtedness of less than $4,000, the
parish of Sacred Heart Catholic church
established less than seven years
ago, the youngest church, of
any denomination in the city
of Ottu,nwa, has record be-
hind it, which, while short, is one
of which any church of even many
years standing might well be proud.
The Catholic people Of the East End,
presided over by Rev. Father James
Foley, form, a sturdy, strong-hearted
congregation. They are not wealthy,
but they are hard and willing workers,
and. what is, best Of ALL are, good giy-
To Have Bazaar in January.
To pay off the remaining indebted
ness on the property or at least good
portion of it, a grand bazaar will be
held during the month of january. The
complete arrangements for this event
have not as yet been completed, but
soliciting committees have been at
work for some time and the success
with which these workers met leaves
no doubt but that the bazaar will be
a great success from social stand
pint and will be the means of paying
off a goodly portion of the church debt.
The merchants and citizens of Ottum-
wa have responded literally and have
demonstrated that the Sacred Heart
parish and it's pastor are held in high
esteem. y
Formation of Parish.
1t was in June, 1897, that Bishop
Cosgrove gave orders for the division
of the large st. Mary's parish, pre-
sided over for almost fifty years by
Very Rev. John F. Kreclle. All that
part of the parish lying east of College
street, comprising 1876 Catholic fami-
lies, was separated from the old parish.
and later became known as the Sacred
Heart parish. Before the separation
was made there had been great ques-
ton as to whether the division should
be made or a chapel erected in the
East End for the accom- mediation of the
large number of parishioners located
there.
Division of Opinion.
Father Krec1le and many of the in,
fnential members of the parish were
DESTROYS that the old st. Mary's parish
should be kept intact Many felt, that
it was almost a sacrilege to break up
the old parish over which Father
Kreckle had presided so many years, SO
long as he was living These people
desired chapel in the East End for
the accommodation of the people re-
siding there after the death of Father
Kreckle, they were perfectly willing
to have the parish divided.
Settled by Bishop cosarove.
In June of 1897, however, Bishop
Cosgrove settled the matter by an
bouncing the division of the parish, and
appointing Rev. Father Bernard Flood
$ to preside all over that part of the city
lying east OF College street, and on the
north side of the river.
Father Floods Arrival.
Father Flood came to Ottumwa from
Williamsburg. He was 3S years of age
and was a big-hearted, good-natured
man. He quickly wen the hearts of his
people, and enthused some of his all
most inexhaustible energy into them
( hmm edaately upon his arrival the par
ish was named Sacred Heart, and tht
congregation began holding services il
the Con. Doran building at the corne,
OF Union and East Main streets.
Plans for New Building.
Plans We're at once begun for secur
ing a new church building. Some de
slider a cheap structure. Others witt
Father Flood desired to erect a perma
nent and substantial building 1t wa
soon found to be the sentiment O
the majority Of the entire East End
both Catholic and none Catholic, TO
Protestants as well took great interes
In the establishment of the East En-,
parish, that the structure to be erecte,
{ should be one that would be credi
to that portion OF the CITY,
Meets Heads of Families.
Soon after his arrival Father Floo
called a. meeting of the heads Of fam
lilies in the parish, and laid befor
them his plans for securing the desired
new building. This building was t.
cost not less than S21 900, not countin
the cost Of the ground upon which j
was to stand. The money was to b
raised by means of subscriptions, an
by the proceeds of a number of bazaar
2 which were to be held.
Some Large Donations.
The plans met with the approval q
the families Of the parish, and sui
scription was started In short tim
$500 was raised by the individuf
subscriptions of the members Of th
parish. AS soon as this amount wa
secured, The work of securing loo;
ton was begun. About the time tn
present location, a! tie carnes of AS
md East Second street was selected
onation Of $4,000 was received frol
ssE7 p. Foster. the only stipulation ben
l'7t the building should be a creditabI
eae
Church Dedicated.
n the late fall Of 1897 bazaar wa
lr1a at which about $4,000 was cleared