The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-10-20
CHURCH OF THE BLESSED SAC
RAMENT.

The Catholic Church at Hibbing,
Mimi, is and always has been what
it should be everywhere harmoni-
Gus unit
The Church. of the Blessed Sacra-
ment was built under the guidance of
its first pastor, the Rev. c. " Gamache,
who had for many years before COM
ing to Hibbing, been missionary in
the north woods of Minnesota, and
was most admirably fitted by his pre-
vious experience before coming to
Hibbing, to build up large, thriving
parish in a new mining town, which
is attested by his pronounced success
at Hibbing. His parishioners were
made UP of six different nationalities.
1t was due to his efforts that a sepa-
rate church for the Italian people was
started, which is now thriving par
ish, known as the Immaculate Con-
ception Church of Hibbing, with a
resident Italian priest. The first par
ishioners were principally Irish, Ital-
ian, French and Austrian.
Hibbing was first attended on week
days by Rev. Joseph F. Buh and Rev..
M. Bilban, commencing in 1894, and
the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was of
fered up in private houses. Mass
was first said on Sunday by Rev. C.
V. Gamache, January 81, 1895, and the
Mass was offered up in the village hall
for about three years.
The building of new church was
commenced in July, 1897, and Mass
was celebrated for the first time in the
new church September 10, 1897, by
the Rev. C. V. Gamache, and he was
ids, Mimi. The church was blessed
November 81, 1900. The Rev. CIV.
Gamache was appointed the first resi-
dent pastor in July, 1901. The first
trustees of the church were James
Geary and M. Godfrey; choir was
formed November II, 1901 The par
ish house, attached to the church, was
built in 1902. The parish when first
organized had about fifty families.
The church was enlarged June, 1908,
and was solemnly dedicated by Bish-
op McGolrick November 8, 1908
The location of the church when
built was on the south side of the
town, and in 1911 the parish became
so large that Bishop McGolrick de-
cided to divide the parish and build
a. nh u,I,; ol, h11 NV,
a sudden shifting of the residence por-
ton of the town by reason of mining
operations, which was coincident with
the request of Rev. Father Gamache
to be assigned to some other parish,
after the death of his mother, who had
been his housekeeper for many years,
and he was succeeded by the Rev.
James Hogan, who was appointed pas
tor on August 10, 1911, and he was
given an assistant, the Rev. Patrick
Larrigan, who was appointed Septem-
Der 80, 1911, and the building of new
church was abandoned.
In May, 1912, the erection of a par
ish school was commenced adjacent
to the church and was opened for
school September 2, 1912, the Sisters
of ST. Benedict taking charge of the
school, with Sister M. Bernardine as
principal, under the superintendency
of Rev. Father Hogan. The school
was blessed and dedicated with sol
emn service June II, 1913, by Bishop
McGolrick. There were 100 pupils at
tending this school the first year.
In the construction of the parish
school a hall was provided on the
third floor of the building, which is
known as McGolrick hall, and is. used
as the meeting place of all the parish
societies and as an auditorium for the
school, also for parish socials; it is
equipped with a kitchen and dining
hall and is the social center of the
parish
That the parish has this splendid
equipment is due to the foresight of
the present pastor and his untiring
zeal in Interesting societies in his
plan and securing their cooperation
Of the laymen's societies the Knights
OF Columbus, with a membership of
240, is the largest, and the Ladies'
Auxiliary of the A. o. H. has a large
membership. 1t can well be stated
that the same zeal for the spiritual
welfare of the parish erected and
equipped a fine parochial school,
where 500 children of the parish are