The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-02-04
OLD ST. MARY's.

St. Paul is beginning to initiate
older and larger cities in one re-
spect: venerable landmarks Of re-
ligion and education are being
swept away to surrender their
sites to the demands Of industry.
This transformation takes place
in practically all our American
cities at one time or another. The
choice location Of the early
churches ceases to attract and the
population is pushed further away
by expanding business interests.
In 1867, st. Mary's church was
erected on the corner of Nintha and
Locust streets in ST. Paul. This
was in the heart Of the fashionable
district of the growing city. The
pretty stone structure, with it's
graceful but solid tower and ivy
mantled walls, all set on beauti-
full plot near Lafayette Park, was
the center Of worship for the
faithful who formed a major part
Of Lower Town. The surround
ing streets, powered in masses of
trees and shrubbery, comfortable
and elegant homes, and the pres
ence Of half a dozen other church
es in the immediate neighborhood,
all combined to give old st.
| Mary's a dignity and decorum
| well BETTING its position as local
lregent Of the Church Of Rome.
The loved Monsignor Caillet be-
came the lodestone which drew all
hearts and welded the parishion-
ers into one compact, devout body.
His successors but added to the
strength and fervor of religion
here.
| Today, old St. Mary's has reach
ed the end of it's tenure of life in
this locality. Sunday, February
IS, will witness the last solemn serv-
ices within its walls. The dedi.
cation sermon in 1867 was preach.
ed by Father Ireland. As Arch
bishop ireland, he delivered the
discourses on the silver and the
golden anniversaries, record
unique for both church and pref
ate. Next Sunday His Grace
Archbishop Bowling will pro.
nounee the. farewell address in
this venerable house of worship
The following Sunday will behold
the spirit of st. Mary's arrayeo
in new garb, bright and joyous
with the glow of never-changine
lyouth, modest symbol of tbs
| Church Of Christ herself.
| Memories tender and deep clus.
ter about the sacred spot now
about to be converted unto pro.
| fame uses. Thousands of persons
in st, Paul will look with fond re
membrance on the hallowed struc
| tnre that witnessed their vows ii
baptism or at marriage; that lis
| tened to the secrets of their heart.
/ poured out in the quiet of the trib
unal Of penance; that beheld then
| Sunday after Sunday kneeling de
voutly before the Tabernacle O.
their God that stood sponsor be
Islde them as their souls were
strengthened in the sacrament Of
confirmation or empnrpled will
the Blood of Christ; that, in {
!. word, has been the companion, 81
ito say, Of their sweetest joys ant
: OF the poignant anguish tha
swept their souls when DEATH
| snatched away some loved one.
i The new st. Mary's will now
ENTER upon a tradition Of its own
Gently and pionsly will it fold III
the scroll of the past. and place i
in the archives of valued treas
ures. Bnoyant and up-looking ii
its regeneration, eager to se1y,
the children Of God, either resi-
dent or transient, the new ST
4 Mary's even now is laying TIL
foundation Of history that il
| time to come will be considered
venerable in its own way. Toda,
) EOld residents love to recall the re
vered image Of the first pastor
the gentle Father Caillet. Sew
r eral generations hence, it is no
too much to say, the name Of tn
: first pastor Of the new church
Z Rev. John Dunphy, will be pre-
Il nounced with as fervent an accen
e and as loving a recollection a
ever surrounded the memory of
d good and jealous priest. Theme,
q pastor has already won the love 9