Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-22
DEAN HOFFMAN,
PASSES25 YEAR
MARK ASPR|EST
hector OF ST. MARYs CHURCH
b QUIETLY OBSERVES HIS QUAR-
TER CENTURY JUBILEE PAR
lskfloMERs PRESENT GIFTS.

twenty-five years ago yesterday,
Very Rev. F. w. Hoppman, rector of
BIT. Mary's church, was ordained a
priest In that quarter Of century
be has shown faithfuiness to his flock
TO degree unusual even in the priest
hood, whose lives all are dedicated
10 unselfishness in the cause of the
Master.
In all the twenty-five years he had
served as a Catholic priest he has
been absent from his own church but
Beven Sundays and five Of these were
turing well earned vacation trip last
hummer.
Dean Hoppman had not advised his
congregation of the signiflance Of the
nay to him, and to them, not desiring
any unusual celebration, as to use his
own words. he preferred to celebrate
his twenty-ffth jubilee in solitude.
Father Hoppman last night was ten
dered several gifts from his parishion-
ers, indicative Of the esteem in which
he Is held.
Father Hoppman was ordained June
20, 1884 in st. Vincent's Benedictine
college at Beatty, Penn, and his first
mass was celebrated in st. Johns
church at Burlington on June 20, the
day being the feasts of Saints Peter
and Paul. He came to Ottumwa on
February 25, 1902 and has been in
charge Of the Ottumwa deanery since
that date.
A Conscientious Catholic.
Father Hoppman's entire life has
been marked by self denial. He pur-
sued his studies from childhood with
the priestly goal in view and achiev-
Ing his ambition he has labored zeal
pusly in the cause Of his faith.
His early education was received at
Burlington, where at the age of eight
years he entered st. Johns parochial
school. When little past the age OF
fourteen, Father Hoppman entered st.
Lawrence college at Mt. Calvary,
Wis, where he spent five years. His
sixth year was spent with the Jesuit
Fathers at Buffalo, where he gradual
ed In classical studies. Because there
was not sufficient number Of stu
fents to make practical course of
philosophy, Father Hoppman left the
eastern city and came to Dubuque
where he entered st. Joseph's college
for this study. In 1881 he entered st.
Francis seminary at Milwaukee to
study theology, and after two years In
that Institution he journeyed to the
eastern school, ST. vincent's Benedic-
tine college at Beatty, Penn, where the
third year in theology was spent, and
where he was ordained priest upon
June 20. 1884.
First Parish at Richmond.
Upon July 8, 1884, Dean Hoppman
began his first charge at Richmond,
where he continued for over seven
years pastor. In 1891 he was trans
ferred to Portsmouth, where three
years was the length Of his residence.
St. Paul, in Lee county, was the next
parish over which Father Hoppman
had charge, and 1t was from this little
town in southern Iowa that he came
to Ottumwa- He spent eight years in
st. Paul.
While at Richmond Father Hopp-
man built new parochial residence,
added several improvements to the
parish school and remodeled the in
terior of the church. A new church
was the fruit Of his labors in Ports
mouth. AT st. Paul Father Hoppman
had just started new $4,000 resi-
nence when he was transferred to OF
tumwa.
Father Hoppman has been blessed
with unusually good health, and his
parishioners will testify to his great
eaithfulness in the celebration of the
mass and other offices of the church
Five of the Sundays he has been alb
sent from the church were in the va
cation he enjoyed last summer, when
IN company with several priests he
visited the Klondike. Father Hoppman
intends taking another vacation this
hummer. trip north being the one
how planned.