The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-10-14
ST. MARY,s CATHEDRAL PARISH.

- l. MRh r y IA FlEDnAL FAni0Tl.
Fargo, North Dakota, has been call
ed 'the biggest little city in the coun-
try" and is known in the commercial
work as a progressive and up-to-date
business center. The Catholic Church
has kept pace with the progress of the
city. The Cathedral, the Bishops res
idence and parochial house, all solid,
substantial brick buildings, occupy one
of the largest blocks in the city and
the Catholics of Fargo are justly proud
of them.
The first Catholics of Fargo attend
ed Mass in Moorhead, Mimi, for many
years. In the spring of 1880, the
Catholics of Fargo made an effort to
get church of their own and the
pastor Of Moorhead wrote to Bishop
Marty of Yankton, South Dakota.
Bishop Marty was then Vicar Apos-
tolic of the Territory of the Dacotahs.
On August IA, 1880, Bishop Marty was
in Fargo On August Is, he preached
at High Mass in Moorhead, and called
p meeting of the Catholics of Fargo
for that afternoon. Father Richard Of
Yankton accompanied the Bishop to
the meeting which was held at the
home of a Mr.. Giriet, French Ca
madam, as the name indicates. At
the meeting, it was decided to have a
church in Fargo, and soon after lit
tie frame church was purchased from
one of the Protestant denominations
nn6 H1yoc ronund fo tho oCf
ner of the block where the st. Johns
Orphanage now stands. The original
building still stands and. is used by
Thos. F. Powers Co. Father Richard
continued to say Mass in Moorhead
until the new church was ready.
The first Mass in ST. Mary's church,
Fargo, was celebrated by Father Rich
ard on Sunday, September 26, 1880,
and henceforth Fargo had it's own
church. Rev. Jos. A. Stephan, after
wards Monsignor Stephan, Director of
the Catholic Indian Bureau in Wash
ington for many years until his death
few years ago, came to Fargo as
pastor in the fall of 1880.
In August, 1882, the Sisters of the
Irish Presentation Order came up
from st. AIMS, near Yankton, S. D.,
and opened school just north of the
church. Mother st. John was the first
Superioress. The school was used for
many years and then turned into an
orphanage. 1t was burned in Janu-
airy, 1905, and the present orphanage
was built on the old site
The present records show that Fa-
Their Flanagan was pastor of Fargo
in 1883 and 1884. Rev. D. v. Collins
was in Fargo in February, 1884. Rev.
S. Maddox, now pastor of Chatfield,
diocese of Winona, Mimi, was pastor
of Fargo from April or May, 1884, to
January, 1886. Rev. d. V. Collins, who
died as pastor of Mandan in 1909, was
pastor Of Fargo from February, 1887,
to 1895. Monsignor J. A. Lemieux,
now pastor of ST. MichaePs church,
Grand Forks, took charge of Fargo in
July, 1894, and remained in charge un-
til August 81, 1907. During his pas
torate the Cathedral and Bishops res
idence were erected.
On august TO, 1891, the late Bishop
Stanley removed his residence from
Jamestown to Fargo, and in 1892 the
Bishop built the foundation of the new
Cathedral. Owing to poor crops and
financial stringency in North Dakota,
the foundation stood for many years. 4
During the Fargo fire in June, 1893,
the foundation caught fire several
times, but the fire was extinguished by
bucket brigades headed by the Bish-
OPP and some of the priests who were
III the city. In 1898, loan of $4,000
was made through Mr.. Robert of Mon
treal. Canada. On May so, 1899, Bish-
CD Stanley celebrated the silver jul
bilee OF his ordination and that date
was selected for the dedication of the
new Cathedral The Bishop pontifi-
Gated and Rev. P. j. Danehy of st.
Paul preached the dedication sermon.
The late Monsignor Considine was
deacon of honor and Rev. S. Maddox
of Chatfeld, second deacon of honor.
Monsignor Loughlin of PHILADELPHIA
preached the same evening at the yes
pers in the new Cathedral. The first
marriage in the Cathedral was that of
Fred Stanley, son Of the builder, and