The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-12-23
CATHEDRAL OF THE lMMAcU'
LATE CONCEPTION.
(EormerIy ST, Marys.)

(Formerly St. Mary's.)
st. Mary's Congregation of Crooks
ton, Minnesota, was organized in 1885,
the membership consisting of the Eng
disappearing Catholics heretofore be-
longing to st. Anne's parish Of the
city. The work of organizing the new
congregation was entrusted to Rev.
s. J. Lawlor, then pastor OF the par
= ish of Fisher, Minnesota.
During the summer of 1886 the first
church building was erected, and after
its completion in the fall of the same
year Father Lawlor removed his resi-
dence to Crookston, attending Fisher
as a mission. For several years Father
I4awlor remained in charge Of the
new parish; and after his time, st.
Mary's had as pastors in turn Fathers
Walsh, Watry, Connolly, Volbrecht
and Murphy. Father Hufnagel, who
came in 1900, put new life into the
congregation, and during his seven
years pastorate at the time Father
Hufnagel was promoted to Duluth, he
was contemplating the erection of a
church The work of obtaining funds
for said purpose was continued under
Rev. John Smiers, who succeeded
Father Hufnagel in 1907 and remained
in charge three years. Rev. Joseph
Wurm arrived on April q, 1910, hav-
ing been appointed rector of the new
Pro-Cathedral parish. Under his pas
torate a real Catholic activity and a
genuine Catholic spirit became more
and more manifest materially, but es
pecially spiritually. The first assist
ant pastor, of the parish was Rev
Moses Dufault, who has labored most
effectively ever since for the advance
ment of religion and the parish. 9th
er assistant pastors at the Cathedral
who have all done good work, were
Rev. E. J. Lemire, John P. Funk, c. o
Trudeau and A. /. Merth.
As Cathedral parish and as Cattle
dral city, the Pro-Cathedral parish and
Crookston offered but meager pros
poets for the new Bishop. The Right
Reverend Bishop said that "he found
nothing in sight but the sunshine
That sunshine" however, was made
to bring forth in remarkably shor'
time an abundant harvest. In a let
ter to the Apostolic Delegate the Rt
Rev. Bishop writes: The Pro-Cathe
y dral parish numbers 100 families. The
present church is both small and poor
Cathedral being of immediate neces
sity, but we must await the proper
means. Three months ago purchased
some fine central property in Crooks
ton, sufficient for Cathedral ant
school, including three houses. Ont
of these, having been remodelled
makes very suitable Bishops house
for this part of the country. This
other two, along with the formel
priests house, have been rented. Thi:
new property, with remodelled houses
the old Church property, including
Church, are all out of debt, owing tt
the generosity of both clergy ant
laity in and outside the diocese. l an
at present building brick parochia
school, the first in Crookston, at ;
cost of $4,000, which, Deus yolente
will be opened next September TIL.
first floor consists of meeting rooms
club rooms and gymnasium TO
young men, the second of schoo
rooms, the third of departments TO
the Knights of Columbus, school rooms
and an auditorium to be used tempo
rarily for Church, as the old Churcl
is quite distance from the residence
There is in the treasury to dat
$1S.000.00 for the new school in cours
of erection and each week brings il
more contributions. With prudence
and reasonable advancement no dan
III ger of a financial embarrassment vii
exist
The new Cathedral school was fir
ished in 1911 and opened in the fal
of that year; its total cost, fully furn
ished. was $4,000. 1t is made o
yed pressed BRICK, equipped with "