The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-11-15
ST. WILFRID's CATHOLIC CHURCH

The first Holy Mass at Woonsocket
was said in 1884 by Rev. Father
A'Hearn, very able and powerful
man, who resided on a farm near Ar
tesian, 26 miles east of Woonsocket.
He began his visits once a month at
the end of January, 1884. Mass was
said in the different homes for a time,
till the divine service was held in a
country schoolhouse, one mile and a
half southwest of town, until October,
1884. In the spring of 1885, the Cath
Ollie population had increased so much
that larger place for gatherings had
to be provided, and the locality Sc
lected was the public school, Later,
Mass was celebrated in George Fish's
Music Store on Main street until the
summer of 1885. In the fall of the
same year, the first church was built
northwest of town, at a spot near the
beautiful Prior Lake. The church
measured twenty-five feet long by thir-
ty wide. There was no gallery, no
singing and no organ-playing. Occa-
sionally, an organ was borrowed from
Mr. Carr and Miss A'Hearn used to
play.
In November, 1886, Father A'Hearn.
assisted by three priests gave Woon-
socket a mission. The same year a
fair was held for the benefit of the
Catholic Church, at the skating rink,
and was a great success. On August
26th, 1888, Father A'Hearn preached
his farewell sermon. He was succeed
ed by Father Murphy, who gave his
first sermon on September 2nd, 1888.
Father J. E. Collins came with him,
and they we're given a great welcome.
Father Murphy was a great worker
and made many Improvements in the
church.
Father Claude Elmer, a Benedictine,
was sent in October, 1889, by Bishop
Marty, from his former work in the
Indian reservation. In 1890, Father
Claude began the erection of rectory,
moving into the new house in Noyem-
Der, 1890.
The next pastor was Father John H.
Jaspers, frail man of great
piety. He remained only a few months
in 1897.
Father Birkle succeeded Father Jas
pers and remained till the spring of
1908. Then came Father P. Kearns,
who stayed until September of the
same year.
On September 4th, 1908, four Eud-
list Fathers took charge of the parish
and neighboring missions, Letcher, Ar
tesian, Brisbine, Roswell, and later on
washington Springs, Grow Lake and
Carthage. Under their care the parish
of Woonsocket has grown wonderfully
In 1906, the Presentation Sisters Of
Aberdeen were called by the Eudist
Fathers to open a school in a private
building, which they occupied until
1909
The new school building, costing
$23,O0O00 was dedicated in 1909. 1t
is three story structure, of brick and
with full basement. Connected with
the school is a full four-year High
School course The st. JOseph's
school had during 1913 an enrolment
of 203 students.
The new church which was started
in 1915, costs $60,00000 and is the
most complete Catholic Church in the
state, except the Cathedral at Sioux
Falls. 1t is of pure Romanesque style
143 feet long by IS feet wide, con
structed very substantially of brick
and stone. Under the whole church is
a very spacious basement, built of
Black Hills pink stone. The upper
structure is of brick and sand stone
trimmings.
The Eudist Fathers are still in
charge of Woonsocket parish, but their
missions in the surrounding territory
have so increased in Catholic popula
ton that RI Rev. Bishop O'Gorman
has had to appoint resident priests at
Letcher, Carthage and Roswell. This
growth speaks well of the strong faith
and generosity of the parishioners I'M
der the care of the Eudist Fathers.