The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-07-29
SKETCH OF ST. PATRIck'S PAR.
ISH, BILLINGS, MONT.

Billings owes it's existence to the
way. This railroad, after crossing the
Yellowstone two miles east of the
present city, found this location the
most favorable for the terminal of a
railroad division; 10 miles west of
FOrsythe and 125 east of Livingston.
The city was named after Mr.. Fred
erick Billings, Vice President of the
road. The first train entered Billings
in 1882 after the completion of the
bridge, and the new town was laid out
parallel with it's track. Before the
advent of the railroad, the Yellow
stone Valley north of the river had
become inhabited by few settlers
who had reached this country by stage
from the south and east. A military
road connected Fort Buford at the
mouth Of the. Yellowstone with Fort
Ellis, near BoZeman, and regular
stages were run from Helena to Miles
City. The religious wants of the few
Catholic settlers were attended by
Rev. Peter Barcelo, S. J. The Fa-
Their had been stationed in Helena
since 1880, and was directed by his su-
periors to visit the Grow Indians, To-
Gated on their large reservation south
of the Yellowstone. Father Barcelo
made frequent visits to the Indians
and spent considerable time among
them. Whilst attending them he did
not neglect the new settlers, and
when Billings started, he was the first
priest to oficiate in the town He
said the first Mass in Billings in Mi
chael Rooney's house, in Block A, and
baptized the child of Michael FIana-
gan, born in Billings, October IS, 1883
This was the first baptism performed
in Billings.
In September, 1888, Right Rev. J. B.
Brondel, Bishop of Victoria and newly
appointed administrator of the Vica-
riate Apostolic of Montana, made his
first visitation to Billings. He was
accompanied by Rev. Father Joseph
Cataldo, S. j., Superior of the Rocky
Mountain Missions, and Rev. Father
P. Barcelo, S. j., the visiting mission
airy of the district. Having obtained
permission to use the new railroad
building situated on the spot where
the present Union Depot stands, the
Bishop ofliciated at the first Con-
firmation service in Billings. He adj
mjnistered the Sacrament to five per-
sons, and strange to say, all are alive
at the time of this writing These
confirmands were: Mr.. NJ Flanagan
and wife, and wife's brother, now liv-
ing at Acton, Mont; and Mr.. Patrick
Gogarty and wife, now residing at
MiSsoula.
The Jesuit Fathers continued to adj
minister to the spiritual wants of the
Catholics in Billings, after they had
established the st. Xavier's Indian
Mission on the Big Horn river.
Father Barcelo died in the Sisters
hospital of Spokane November /, 1888.
Another priest, the Rev. ]. B. Halton,
stationed short time at Livingston,
also visited Billings from September
at Preston, Mimi, December 8, 1887.
On the Gath of April, 1886, a few
but fervent Catholics of Billings form
ed a church building committee, pur-
chased for one hundred dollars four
lots on Thirty-third Street North and
First avenue, and started collecting
funds for a church.
The leader in this good work was
MIR. Patrick Gogarty, first Road Mas
ter of the Northern Pacific Railway
in Billings. He arrived with his fam
lily in 1888. and was transferred to
Missoula in 1889. The priests attend
ing Billings. always found a warm well
come at this truly Catholic home, and
his parlor was used for religious serv-
ice. His daughter Sarah was the first |
child to receive her first Communion
in Billings from Father Barcelo, in
the summer of 1888.
At this time, frame building, To- |
Gated on Montana avenue and Tween
ty-siSth Street North, and formerly ]