The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-01-15
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ITALIAN CHURCH DEDICATED

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| ITALIAN CHURCH DEDICATED
Mrs. Charles Dindorf to the Church
of the Holy Redeemer, a piece of
property on College Avenue between
st. Peter and Rice Streets for con-
sideration of $4,000. Later on, addi-
tional lots were secured at the back
of the property facing on Tenth Street
for the residence of the pastor, and
la house on the premises has been
fitted up for that purpose.
The plans for the church were
drawn by Mr.. e. L. Masqueray, the
architect of the new Cathedral, and
in the early part of last July, the
contract for its construction was
awarded to Oace and Amlee Of st.
Paul, for $19,925. The work began
Immediately and was carried on so
rapidly that the cornerstone was laid
on August %. The first Mass was
celebrated in the Church on Christ
mas Day.
The Church of the Holy Redeemer
is a brick structure, in the Italian
style of architecture, with stone trim
mings and stone foundation. 1t is 131
feet long and As feet wide, with full
basement which will be furnished and
equipped with stage and other ac-
cessories for a parish hail. The ia
cade has a tower at the left of the
main entrance which rises to a
height of 81 feet and is surmounted
by a gilded cross. A flight of stone
steps leads to the main doors, of
which there are three, opening from
q vestibule beneath the organ loft.
At each side of the sanctuary there
is a sacristy.
History of the Parish.
Missionary work among the Italians
of st. Paul commenced in the year
1874, when the Reverend John Shan
ley, then assistant pastor Of the Ca
thedral of st. Paul, officiated at the
funeral of a young Italian who died
in st. Paul. On that occasion Father
Stanley learned of the. existence of
about twenty Italians in the city and
thereafter he held occasional services
for them and gave them instructions
in the Italian language. In 1883 he
was relieved of the work by the Rev.
erend James G.. Byrne, who had just
returned from Rome, and who, in addi-
ton to his other duties, took charge
of the Italian colony, to which he min
istered until 1888 when Father Ces-
tell came to the city and was APP
pointed professor of Moral Theology
and Greek in the old st. Thomas Semi
nary. Father Cestelli remained in
charge until August, 1896 when he
left st, Paul Thereafter the spiritual
needs of the Italians were attended
to by Fathers Hebron, Moynihan,
Turner and Brannan-all of whom
had been students at the American
College, Rome until 1899, when the
Reverend N. G. Odone was brought
from Italy and placed in charge.
The arrival of Father Odone marks
new period in the history of the
Italian mission of st. Paul. Up to that
time no efforts had been made to form
regular parish. The congregation
usually worshipped in the basement
of the Cathedral, though for a time,
when Father Byrne and Father Ces-
tell were in charge, the services were
held in little brick church OH Mar
ket Street, opposite Rice Park, which
was later converted into an automo-
bile shop. In 1899 there were about
$50 italian families distributed in diff.
ferent parts in the city. When Father
Odone took charge, he renovated the
basement of the Cathedral and fur
nished it with all that was necessary
for the celebration of Mass. The first
service took place on Sunday, Octo-
Der |, 1899, the Feast of the Holy
Rosary.
On May q, 1901, the church was
named in honor of the Most Holy Re.
deemer and the parish was erected
into a separate corporation on Febru-
airy 8, 1906, at which time the con-
gregation numbered little over 200
families. Father Odone remained in
charge until 1911, when he was ap-
pointed chaplain at the House of the
Good Shepherd, and was succeeded in
the Holy Redeemer parish by the Rev
|erend o. r. Balducci, during whose
pastorate the Church of st. Ambrose
on Bradley Street was opened for the
benefit of the Italian families residing
In that part of the city and plans were
made for a new Church to house the
congregation Of the Most Holy Re
deemer when the old Cathedral would
cease to exist.
In the summer of 1914 the present
pastor, Reverend III. Ciebattone, took
charge Of the parish and under his
direction the new Church OF tie Holy
Redeemer on College Avenue, which
was dedicated last Sunday, WIS erect.
ed Great credit is due to him for
the success which has crewaed his
efforts He has gained the good viii
and cooperation of his parig llioners
aud out Of their slender resources
they have generously provided for the
erection and equipment of the Church
Of the Holy Redeemer. which adds
another artistic structure to the relig-
ious ediIiees in the city Of st. Paul.