The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-11-25
TIE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN
GRAND FORKS, N. D.

The late Bishop Stanley, in his
booklet, The Founding of the Cath
o1ic Church in North Dakota" states
on page 20 that "In fact, before 1856.
Mass had been said often in every
camping place from Lake Traverse to
Pembina;" and this was one Of those
places.
On the evening of October 80, 1860,
Rev Joseph NJ Cotton, on his way
from st. Paul to Pembina and ST.
Joseph (noW Walhalla and Leroy,
being appointed pastor of these places,
reached the site where the great city
Of Grand Forks now is, where he
camped al fresco with a half-breed
named Desmarais, who in parting with
him the next morning, gave him a
small package of wild haws.
It was seventeen years later, that
is in 1877, that the Church made its
first entrance into the then frontier
town. Rev. P. Hubert, being sent as
a missionary in this section, that is
for Grand Forks, Crookston and Red
Lake settlements, gathered about him
the first little congregation. In 1881
chapel was erected, and in 1882 a
new church was constructed BY this
time Father L'Hiver had taken the
charge of the parish, followed by Rev.
II. A. Anne in April, 1888; under his
pastorate on March II, 1884, the first
Solemn Pontifical Mass was celebrated
in Grand Forks by the Right Rev.
Martin Marty, Vicar Apostolic of the
Dakota Territory, and Rev. Father De-
cantiilon, 0. P, of Minneapolis, preach
ed an eloquent sermon The St Mi
chaers Benevolent Society marched in
q body to the church; Mr., A. J.
O'Kecfe being the president Of that
organization and Mr. Phil J. McLaugh-
n vicepresident A banquet in the
otzian hall, South Third street, fol-
owed the ceremony, at which lgna-
us Donnelly was the principal speak
-; after whom came A. w. Bangs, A.
. Noyes, George H. Walsh and A. J..
l'Keefe At the close of, the celebra-
on, the Bishop spoke on the Pope,
90 XIII, and was presented with a
rozier.
The next Solemn PontiGeal Mass
as celebrated b. the same Right
ev Martin Marty on the occasion of
re dedication Of the church, and Rev.
rancis Flanagan OF Lafimore deliy-
red the sermon In 1887 that church
vas wrecked by a tornado, but it was
aoon rebuilt: and it was not until the
ire of 1907 that the, parish was again
without a church. Work was then
commenced to the end that the pres
ent structure might be erected, and its
completion marks an achievement Of
which the Catholics of Grand Forks
may we'll be proud.
Early in June, 1908, Right Rev John
Stanley, then Bishop of Fargo, pre-
sided at the laying of the cornerstone
otthe present church. assisted by the
pastor, Rev. +. ]. Conaty, Rev. John
w. Cohsidiae, Rev. Edward Geraghty
and others
On Sunday morning, June is, 1910,
the Right Rev James O'Reilly, d. D.,
present Bishop Of Fargo, solemnly
dedicated St Michael's church in the
presence of many thousands of loyal
Catholics: Knights of Columbus play
ing the prominent part. The dedica-
tory ceremonies began at 10 o'clock,
followed by the Solemn Mass, with
Rev E. ]. Conaty as celebFant. Rev.
J. a. Lemieux as deacon, Rev. Joseph
Bachand as sub-deacon and Rev. NJ. J.
.O'DFiscoll as master of ceremonies
Attending Bishop 0,Reilly was Rev. NJ
Pischcrit of Winnipeg. The Right
Rev, Bishop delivered the. sermon.
During the early days Catholic serv.
ices were held in the building at the
northeast corner of Sixth street and
DeMcrs avenue. II was in this build
ing tiiat on July 80, 1887, Rev. E. J.
Cohaty said his first Mass, having ar
rivosl here just short time after the
destruction Of the church by tornado
and took possession of the Grand
FORKS pef.ish Al The heAdsof which he
remained until February p, 1911