La Junta tribune., 1906-01-03
CATHOLIC cmueen.

Twenty suiurE pears dEo thr
Catholic church made its first ap-
psarance in La Junta IN the shape Of
an adobe building at the corner of
Lincoln avenue and Secpnd street Had
the Right Rev. Bishop Machebeuf
coIorado's pioneer bishop. came to
La Junta in the summer of Iss5 Vad
appointed committee OF whom J p
Bradish was the moving spirit to Sc
l.ct a site and building for Catholic
worship. Mr.. Bradish was selected to
solicit contributions for the church
and 80 great was his success that
the old bishop. to mark his apprecis-
ton OF his efforts. dedicated she
hur, To- our energetic townsgnan's
ratron saint-St. Patrick
The ehurch and grounds which
onuprise half block were then used
FOR school house purposes and their
natural transition to the service OF ~
Iixion was but another proof Of the
harmony between science and faith.
Rev r. Tomassini. :. j.. OF Pueeo.
was the first visiting pastor. He was
succeeded by Rev. J. Pitivol now CO.
.djutor archbishop of Santa Fe, n
NJ Later came Rev. r. Revaliier. ana
in 1888 Rev. Faber Smith. That the
ational panic which caused such dis
nray over the country did not serious
ty affect the citizens of La Junta Is
-yid-nt from the fact that In the
face OF that year. when distress was
u it, height. the Catholics det-rmik-
o build an edifce of worship suited to
city three times the size Of the La
Jun,a OF that day The following
year under the pastorate OF Rev. ]. J.
Donnslly the church was completed by
incurring a small debt Of $1,000. Its
slightly situation on the hill has. dur
ing the past ten years. proclaimed to
all travellers on the trans-continental
santa Fe route that the wild and
woody west" was not oblivious Of the
gospel injunction to seek first the
Kingdom OF God" The next pastor.
Rev. J. Erinker. now Of Colorado CITY
1a-~.d eight years Of an active life N
miuisterine to the spiritual wants Of
La Junts and the neighboring towns
Of Rocky Ford, Las Aninas. Lamar
and Holly. During his pastorate the
church debt was considerably reduc-
ed. In May Of the present year.
Father Callahan. the present pastor.
took charge and on October LIST.
Father Bastien WAS appointed as as
sistsnt pastor. The two priests great
IS enlarged the scope of their work
and built and purchased two new
churches at Granada and Lamar. At
present plans are being drawn for -
cement block church at sugar city
which viii be built and paid for dur
INK the ensuing sprinE.
In the La Junta church improves .
ments amounting To- s2.oeo have been
mace. In the Interior and the surround
ing grounds EARLY Ia the srring sew
eraI thousand feet of cement side
walks and an ornamental fence va
set nfT the beauty Of the new lawn. ~
contract has also been signed with "a
local floral company for rose beds.
vines. ivy and shrubbery TO ornamert :
the grounds and exterior, of the church.
The ground between the sidewalks and
curhing will he parked and planted
With shade trees by the miauie Of
April thus completing the present
scheme of out door Improvements.
The new altar donated by Mrs. Doyle
N memory of her brother. Jam.k
Rourke. has been pronounced by
competent critics one of the finest In
the west. Adjoining the same are
several statues OF artistic merit Inn
ported from Europe. When the ne1'
staineti glass windows are In place
he Catholic church. both exteriorly and
'ntsriorly. VIII be source of pride to
ths citizens OF La Juuta.
on Christmas eve the pleasing am
nounc.ment Was made by Father CAL
'ansn to his parishioner- that the re-
-ent bazaar realized In gross proceeds
81 lee. of which $3.50 <o to the credit
4 the church. The bazaar advertised
our city ~ the me-t prosperous in the
state and marked new era in its pro-
xrss-. lie also announced that tn.
mortgage "f ten years standing was
uaid in full s- well ss all Improve.
m.nts t. date and that a sufficient
amount Was still In the church treas
ury to Tay for the new sidewalk.
fence and shrubbsry.
The Prospects for the Catholic
church in Ia Junta we're never
brighter than at the opening of the
New Year.