The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-11-04
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPHS
CHURCH.


Father De Smet, S. j., of st. Louis,
was the first Sina Sapa tBlack Robe)
among the Indian tribes along the Mis-
souri,, slope. In 1888 he visited an
Indian camp south of Mandan. Though
he admired the vast Missouri River
dotted with its many islands, virgin
forests on its banks, and immense
prairies with grazing buffaloes, all OF
which lent infinite variety to the as
pect, yet the scenic beauty failed to
render agreeable a journey fraught
with many dangers. He writes: y
would rather cross the ocean than
ascend the Missouri River" He
baptized many Indians and founded
'.the. lodge OF prayers" among them.s
The Benedictines were next: in mis-
sionary labor among the Sioux tribes
located on the Standing Rock Reser.
walton. With the building of the N
P. Bridge the city of Mandan was
founded and the Catholic white set
tiers went to Bismarck for Mass or
the priest from Bismarck said Mass
in Mandan.
Rev. Patrick Cassidy, the first resi-
dent priest in Mandan, who arrived
on November i, 1880, gave promise
of new Catholic life and activity. He
built the first st. Joseph's church dur
ing the following summer and cele'
brated the first Mass in it September,
1881. His successors were the
following: Reverends Martin Schmitt,
0. S. B., Joseph Perrault. Ed
ward Powers, J. A. Lemieux, D. V. Col
Inns, and the present pastor, Clement
Dimpf, o. S. B..
Although incomplete, various add
lions were made to the first church
from time to time, Rev. Lemieux add
ing a belfry and installing an altar
while the rectory, which formed a
wing of the church building, was en-
larged and changed to make more of
Groom. Great and substantial Inn
provements we're made during the
fifteen year pastorate of Rev. Collins,
who undertook the building of the
new brick church in 1904, costing $40,.
600, towards which he contributed
literally from his own means, and
which stands today as monument to
his zeal and enterprise. He com
menced the erection of a new rectory
in 1907, but was unable to complete
it on account of lack of funds. This
good priest, who had rounded out
forty one years in the ministry, laid
down life's burdens in September,
1909 mourned by the whole COM
munity.
Rev. Otto Wolpers took charge OF
the parish at Mandan until 1910, when
Bismarck was selected as the episco-
nal seat Of the new diocese. On as
Stunning charge of his new see, the Rt.
Rev. Vincent Wehrle, o. S. B., Bishop
of Bismarck, appointed Father Glenn
emf, who had labored with success
in the capital city for fifteen years,
pastor of st. Joseph's church. The
new pastor entered upon his duties on
July II, 1910. Father Collins had
cherished the. hope of establishing a
school or academy in Mandan to be
placed in charge of some sisterhood
whichs shouldG supply thorough
secular and religious education. to the
children Of the parish and country.
His plans were to materiallze under
his successor.
In 1911 the new brick rectory was
completed at a cost of $4,000. Comply
ing with the last will Of Father Col
Inns, steps were taken to remodel the
old church and parsonage into COM
bined school and convent. Benedic-
tine Sisters from st. Joseph, Mimi,
were secured and opened the first
parochial school in 1913. However
school facilities soon proved made
quate, so additional classrooms were
provided in the basement OF the new
church. The attendance continuing
TO Increases steps were taken three
years later to build larger and more
modern. school. The World War and
other uncertainties delayed the pro-
ject until August, 1914 when active
operations were begun. The present
beautiful, eight-room school was COM
pleted in January, 1918. Meanwhile
the old school was. partly destroyed
by fire, on october 20, 1917, and, in or-i
der not to interrupt school work,
quarters were kindly furnished by the
city authorities in the old city hall.
In April, 1918, Bishop Vincent Wehrle |
blessed the new school. which ac-
commodities over 400 children and