The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-04-12
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER PARISH.

In 1911, the magnificent Gothic al
tars and pulpit, hand-carved through
out, and a work of love on the part of
the Franciscan lay-brothers in the
olden days, was purchased from ST.
Anthony's Church in St. Louis. The
style of architecture of the new
church there, had made this church
furniture impossible. But for the tact
and foresight of Father Eustace, these
gems of Gothic sculpture would have
been forever lost to ST. Francis parish.
At the instance of the RI Rev.
Bishop Koudelka, in 1913, a Francis
can Father, Rudolph Hanssens, was
secured from Belgium to minister to
the growing needs of the Belgian peo-
pie in the vicinity of Allouez. This
occasiOned the subsequent forming of
a new parish in this section of the
city. The site for the new church,
comprising almost half a city block,
is the munificent gift of Mr.. James
Bardon. The parish limits of St. Fran
els which had previously extended
from Itasca to Central Park, were
drawn to the Nemadji river by reason
of this new parish. st. Francis has
thus in the course of twenty years
given birth to three of the city par
ishes.
In 1915, Father EuStace terminated
his long and useful career Of over
thirty-two years at St Francis, and
removed to Ashland. His successor,
Father Fabian, himself over twenty.
five years pastor at Ashland, is today
ministering to the spiritual wants of
the Catholics Of the East End.
The portion Of the history of the
parish which bears on the part the
parish took in the past war will have
to be written at a later date. 1t
might, however be summed up briefly
by mention of the fact, that out of d
total roster of 175 families, the parish
was able to float d service flag to the
tune of one hundred and two stars.
To the Catholic reader of this brief
history of St Francis Xavier's parish,
it will at a glance appear that Gods
favor has visibly rested on it for over
more than half century of its life.
the city have never been known to be
prosperous in the usual acceptance of
the word, their church has somehow
always prOSpered and been able to I'M
dertake creditably its task of educat-
ing its members in the things of God.
A people less accustomed to hardships
and priyations as the older families
l., .,
never been capable of the spirit of
Self-sacrifice to which our parish plant
is a standing witness. And this ira
ditiOnal spirit of sacrifice bids fair to
expect the successful issue of any
new venture in the parish which the
interests of QUA holy religion may re-
quire. The eagenesS with which the
parishioners look forward to the
launching Of a new school and parish
center is the best evidence of this
feeling. Not the smallest measure Of
the credit for these signal successes
of st. Francis parish, is due, after God
TO the untiring and unselfsh efforts of
the Sisters who have helped to instill
into the growing youth of the parish
those principles, which together with
their knowledge, have made them use
full and even eminent as citizens of
Superior.
And finally, this sketch would be
incomplete, indeed, were no mention
made of the valuable services rem
dered to the parish from the year
1882 onward by the Jealous and quiet
ministrations of the good lay-brothers,
who at various times were connected
with the community here. There is
no doubling the fact that it was their
spirit of prayer which made the seed
of the Gospel, cast out by the priests,
to grow; and they have rendered
other valuable services of a material
nature, for which they have never re-
ceiyed nor do they await any other
than reward from God.