The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-10-27
CHURCHES AT EVELETH,
MINNESOTA.

The town of Eveleth was organized
with the opening of the mines, Adams
and Fayal Mines being the principal
ones on the Mesaba Range in 1898
In 1894 there were only few Catho-
lie families settled in and around
Eveleth, whose nearest place for at
tending divine service was at Virginia
Mimi, and that place had the services
only every alternate Sunday. In the
year 1897 Virginia got resident
priest, Rev. M. Bilban, who also start
ed to attend Eveleth once month,
there being then only 40 families of all
nationalities, Catholic. In 1898 they
were, attended twice a month. The
services were held in the town-hall
till October, 1899, when the first Cath
Ollie Church was dedicated to the Holy
Family, by the Rt. Rev. Jas. McGolrick,
Bishop of Duluth, assisted by Rev.
NJ. Bilban. The church was erected
at a cost of $4,000 Mr. John Murnik,
one of the first dry-goods men in Eve
leth, was the main promoter of this
church. He was also the man who took
the most interest in securing the town
hall for services and was always ready
to help. Then he undertook the work
for the new church-collecting for
the church, fixing fires, until the pas
tor was stationed there, and every
possible accommodation made for the
priest There were about $50 fam
lilies of all nationalities, Irish, German,
Italian, Slovenians, Slovaks, Polish and
French. The Catholic population grew
so fast that a resident priest became
necessity. The Bishop sent them
Rev. James Hogan, who soon erected
the priest house. The majority of the
Catholic population consisted of for
eigners, Slovenians. The same year,
in October, the Rt. Rev. Bishop ap-
pointed Rev. M Bilban as pastor of
the Holy Family Church of Eveleth.
The present church soon became too
small, so the English-speaking people
and the French separated and erect
ed ST. Patrick Church, which was dedi-
Gated in 1904 by the Rt. Rev. Bishop
James McGolrick.
Father II. Floyd was appointed the
first pastor of st. Patricks congrega-
ton, the families belonging to this
congregation then were about 100.
In 1905 Father Floyd erected a new
parish house.
The Holy Family congregation COM
prising Slovenians, Slovaks and Pol
ish, grew SO fast under the guidance
of Father Bilban that it was soon nee
essary to build a new church. The
present church was erected in 1909
at the cost of $4,000 and was dedi-
Gated on May 20, 1910, by Rt Rev.
Bishop James Trobec of st. Cloud.
To the parish belonged then $50 fam
lilies. The present pastor, Rev. A.
Leskovic, took charge of the Holy
Family Church in 1916, 800 families
belonging to the parish.
st. Patrick parish was under the
passionate of Father Floyd until Feb
ruary, 1911, when Father T. Culligan
became pastor and in 1916 Father d.
v. Patti took charge of it.
The parish of Immaculate Concep-
ton was organized for the Italian
Catholics in 1915 and church built
for them by Rev. Creole Dominicis.
The present pastor, Rev. Gerado Penta,
erected new parish house this year,
two hundred families belonging to the
parish.
The Italians were attended first
from Hibbing by Rev. Gambini They
held services in the basement of the
Holy Family Church Seeing the
necessity of building a church Rev.
Ercole Dominicis went to see the peo-
pie and soon had enough money prom
ised to start to build a church,
which now stands as monu-
ment for the Italian people of Eveleth.
Rev. F. Penta is improving the church
gradually; putting in stained glass
windows and so forth. 1t was .dedi-
Gated August Is, 1915, by Rt. Rev.
Bishop McGolrick.
Eveleth is now one of the most
prosperous cities outside of Duluth,
especially concerning the Catholic
population.
Father d. V. Patt was not idle since
his coming to Eveleth. Under his
charge the church and the parish
house were renovated and he is now
looking forward to school.
The Sloyenians also are progressing
The Holy Family Church needs a