The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-12-27
ST. STEPHENS Gnu RICH, ANokA, MINI.

1Jy 6hCll hCCuOds hO 1liLClioA 40
lighted by sixteen stained glass win
dows and a number of smaller ones.
The walls of the building are twenty
feet high and from these the ceiling
rises much higher till it reaches in
the center, a point only few inches
below the roof. The building is made
from cream colored brick. trimmed
with red stone from Lake Superior. 1t
is heated by two furnaces. Recent
improvements have added much to
the exterior beauty of the church. A
substantial stone walk has been laid,
together with fight of stone steps
leading to the front entrance.
Rev. Thomas Duane assumed charge
of ST. Stephens Church as pastor Oc-
tober 26, 1891. and has presided eff
GENTLY over the destinies Of the par
ish for the past eleven years. When
he entered upon the active duties of
his passionate the parish was $4,000
in debt Many members of the congre
cation felt that the Indebtedness was
more than they could hope to liquidate,
and they considered it useless to con-
tinue the payments Of interest and the
other expenses. Some advised a pos
sihle sale, while others remained reti-
cent An effort had been made by the
former pastor to enforce the payment
Of a subscription and an assessment
held against several of the members,
but failed of success.
Father Duane understood that the
problem of liquidating the debt was a
serious one, and it was with the great
est difficulty that he inspired hope in
the discouraged souls of his people
| 1t was a time of financial depression
| in Anoka; the mills that had contrib
uted much to the prosperity of the
| city for years were beginning to pass
out of existence. In the surrounding
| country the condition was no better;
| the crops were poor and prices low.
| No large contributions were to be ex-
pected from even the most prosperous,
members of his congregation to the
| giving of small sums to fairs and festi-
| walls that any success was possible
The good ladies of the parish nobly
| seconded his efforts and many a fail,
and festival have since been scored to
the credit Of the parish. Through this
means the Indebtedness of the parish
has been completely wiped out, and
| the repairs and improvements of the
church paid for in due order. The
| property has been increased materi-
| ally, adding in the line of improve
ments three fine affairs, a splendid bell,
church decorations, stone steps and
fine cement sidewalk. .ra
Rev. Oliver Dolphin succeeded Father
Duane. He was pastor for fourteen
years. This might be called the gold
en- era of the parish. The parish prac-
| tically doubled itself in that period.
The magnet that drew so many to the
parish was the priestly charm and
eloquence of the pastor, and the fruit
of his zeal, may be seen in the splendid
piety and loyal spirit of the people.
The parish house, beautiful and we'll
arranged, was built during his pastor
ate. July, 1918, he was appointed pas
tor of. Red Wing. Rev. D. F. Mac
Carthy, the present pastor, succeeded
him. Under the. splendid co-opera-
ton of the parishioners the entire
church property has been repaired and
painted. The decoration is pure gothic
the prevailing tone French grey and
| the mouldings ivory. The affairs are
done in ivory. Light is furnished by
new beautiful lights gothic in design,
donated by the women of the parish.
The decoration is by Joseph Kiemen,
is a beautiful model of ecclesiastie art
and merits the highest praise for this
promising young artist of the North.
west.