The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-07-27

FAodplllCy vi having the new CnuGCn
more centrally located caused quite a
stir in the congregation. 1t was finally
decided to have the pastor appoint a
committee to manage the building,
and to their judgment was also left
the matter of location.
The committee appointed by Father
Augustine were the Messrs. M. H.
Brennan, Jos. M. Kelly, H. Rutten, P.
"A. Deplazes, A. A. Doin and Edmund
DeVanney, all old timers and good
Catholic men, who had the interest
of the Church at heart.
Six lots were bought of Senator
Hansbrough on the corner of Fourth
Street and Hill Avenue for the consid-
GRAFTON of $4,000. Along in July the
plans and specifications were open for
bids. Mr.. Valdemar Gram of Devils
Lake was awarded the contract for the
new building, his figure being the
lowest.
August 25, 1906, ground was broken
for the excavation and before winter
set in the basement walls were finished
to the water table.
On June &c, 1907, occurred the lay
ing of the cornerstone. Being unable
to reach Devils Lake on that day the
Right Rev. Bishop Stanley delegated
the pastor, Rev. Father Augustine, to
perform the impressive ceremony. The
new church was ready for dedication
in the early spring of 1908, and on
April 20 the Catholics of Devils Lake
had had their gala day. The Right Rev.
Bishop Stanley and the Right Rev. Alb
bot Vincent, together with about TWEEN
ty priests from different surrounding
parishes, had answered our invitations
and come to take part in the celebra-
ton.
At ten o'clock sharp the opening ex-
ercises were held, consisting of the
blessing of the church, outside and
then inside, by the bishop, assisted by
the clergy. The crowds then filed
into the church and soon standing
room was at a premium.
Pontifical High Mass was then sung
as special favor by the Right Rev.
Abbot Vincent, o. S. B., who had for
many years been pastor of this con-
gregation and who also delivered a
beautiful and eloquent sermon in the
German language. After the Pontif-
cal High Mass the Right Reverend
Bishop made an impressive address
expressing his admiration for the beau
tiful edifice and the spirit of generos-
ity of the people manifested in the
erection of the magnificent building,
pronouncing it the finest and best
equipped in the diocese, an ornament
and credit not only to the Catholics of
Devils Lake, but to the whole city
yes, an ornament and credit to the
whole state of North Dakota.
In the afternoon at o'clock a class
of seventy-two young people was con-
firmed by the bishop
In the fall of 1907 plans and specifi-
cations had also been drawn UP by
John Marshal for new parochial res
1dence and the contract for this struc-
ture was also signed with V. Gram,
who built the church. The new house
was finished on September 1, 1908,
and few days afterward was blessed
and occupied by Father Augustine.
In September, 1911, Father Angus
tine was called to another field of
labor and not only his devoted congre-
cation, but Devils Lake in general,
bade him a grateful farewell at a re-
ception given at the parish house.
Father Augustine was succeeded by
Father Leo Kaufman, o. S. B., who
continued parish work along the line
OF his predecessor, striving to pro-
mote the spiritual welfare of his con-
gregation and at the same time reduce
the financial burden of the church.
The multitudinous duties of the large
parish were too heavy for one minis
ter and in March, 1918, Bishop Wehrle
granted Father Leo an assistant, Faith
er Edward Lippert, o. S. B. The abil-
ity of Father Leo gained recognition
and in November, 1913, he was called
to high Office in the Benedictine Or
der at the Richardton monastery, and
his parish children, while rejoicing
over the honor paid their priest, felt
that once again they were losing a
good spiritual father.
But the Benedictine Order is rich
in Gods faithful shepherds and Father
Thomas Staerkle, o. S. B., one of the
learned young priests of the Order,
was sent to take Father Leos place.
For one year Father Thomas worked
faithfully among his flock, but the du-
ties we're too arduous for his failing
health, and he was obliged to return
to the Richardton monastery.
In November, 1914, Father Edward
O. S. B., was raised to the
dignity of pastor of st. Joseph's con-
Father Edward came into
his holy Office with an advantage not
granted to any of his predecessors. |
The two years he had lived in the
as assistant pastor had |
given him an insight into the needs |
of the parish and preparation for his |
responsibilities. The three years of |
Father Edwards service have been |
remarkable for spiritual activity and |
fraternal cooperation in St. Joseph's
parish. For the new pastor realized !.