The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-06-21
HISTORY OF THE CATHEDRAL
PARISH OF SIOUX FALLS,
SOUTH DAKOTA.

ally under the Jurisdiction of the do
cese of ST. Paul and for it's early his
tory the accounts of the early mis-
sionaries and the history of the do
cese. of St. Paul must be consulted.
In August, 1879, the vicariate apos-
tolic of Dakota was established with
headquarters at Yankton, and the
Right Rev. Martin Marty was ap-
pointed vicar apostolic of the new dis
trict The vicariate was an immense
district to govern with scarcely any
means of conveyance except the prim-
tive OK or mule team. Many and
heroic were the sacrifices of both
bishop and priests in these early days.
AS early as 1879 Father Knauff, of
Adrian, Mimi, attended the parish OF
Sioux Falls, and built there in that
year the little frame church which
served the needs of the people very
well. This was the first church in
Sioux Falls, and was destroyed by fire
in the year 1881. Later Father Brogan
worked very successfully in the little
parish amidst the greatest possible
hardships sowing the seeds of faith,
devotion and self-Sacrifice which have
grown and brought forth abundant
fruit under the able direction of his
successors.
Father William Maher, the pastor
from 1SS0-1SS9, was the first resident
pastor and he is responsible to large
extent for the growth and early devel-
Of oh no
trying circumstances. The territory of
Dakota was divided by an act of con-
gress, and made into two states, North
and South Dakota and admitted into
the Union in the year 1889 and the
same year marked the beginning of
the new diocese of Sioux Falls. In
1894 Bishop Marty, after having done
wonderful work among the Indians
and pioneers of the new vicariate, was
transferred to the diocese of st. Cloud
and Bishop OGorman became the
Bishop of Sioux Falls.
I During the two years after the fire
the service was held in the Van Fps
building, down town. In 1883 a sub
Stantial brick church was built which
served the needs of the parish until
the present grand structure was erect
ed in 1858.
The Rt. Rev. Thomas O'Gorman was
born at Boston, Mass, May l, 1913,
and was one OF the first students Sc
1ected for the priesthood by Bishop
Cretin, the other being Archbishop
Ireland He had pursued his studies
in France, been ordained and served
as pastor Of the churches in Rochester
and Faribault, Mimi, and first profess
sor of dogmatic theology and rector
of the College of st. Thomas, st. Paul.
Under his able direction the diocese
began to spread out wonderfully, and
the later statistics show a marked in
crease in priests and faithful as well
as stations, missions, schools, hos
pitfalls and chapels.
Father Hopkins was the pastor OF
the parish of Sioux Falls for a few
months in 1890, and then Father l.. A
Ricklin came and remained in Sioux
Falls for about year. 1t was during
his pastorate that the first Catholic
school was begun under the direction
of the Ursuline Nuns. The school
building was not near the church but
was located farther down town in the
building on 18th and Spring avenue
now called the Irving School.
About Christmas of 1891 the late
Mgr Sheehan took charge of the par
ish and had very successful pastor
ate, remaining in Sioux Falls unit
Father w. V. Nolan came at Easter
Sioux Falls for twenty-five years an(
accomplished wonderful things in the
parish. He was untiring in his effort!
to make the Cathedral parish one o
the finest in every way in the diocese
Under his direction the new Sisters
school was built in 1904, and put il
charge of the Dominican Sisters Of tn,
Mounds, who have eXerted every effor
to make it an educational institution
suited to the needs of the children o
the city. The school was found to b
too small in few years and larg
addition was built making it twice a
large as the original. Since that tim
the SCHULZ udu U66u GIlldISSu W tdh
in High School and Commercial stl
dents.
During the last few years of Fathe
Nolan's pastorate the needs of neV
and suitable cathedral became man
fest and plans were formulated t
erect a new building greater than an.
thing in the Northwest, but Fathe
Nolan resigned his place in favor of
younger man, and Father M. c. Fit
gerald, formerly of LennoX, wa
chosen by the Bishop as the new pa
tor of the Cathedral parish.
Since Father Fitzgerald has been {
the Cathedral the parish has made r
markable progress. The large projet
outlined by his predecessors has com
to a successful conclusion, the ne
cathedral and parish-house built, an
new Sisters home, one of the fine
in the country has been erected cove
ing a cost of approximately half M
lion dollars,
Father Fitzgerald began his term ;
pastor on July 4, 1915, and is the pre-
ent pastor Ground was broken fl
the grand new structure in June, 191
and the old brick Cathedral of
Michael was removed to make roo
for the handsome new edifice. e.
Masqueray, of st. Paul, drew the orr