The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-10-28
HISTORY OF ST. GATHERINGS
PARISH, VALLEY CITY. N. OAK.

The st. GATHERINGS parish Of Valley
1ity ranks easily among the earliest
Catholic congregations in North
Dakota. The first Mass was said in
the little village in November, 1879;
the section house of the Northern
Pacific served as church, and the
number of families who had gathered
for the occasion, and formed the
pioneer Catholic congregation OF
Valley City, was naturally very small.
Some of them deserve special men,
ton, inasmuch as they are active
members of the church still at the
present writing, and they and their
children form an essential part of the
st. GATHERINGS parish today; the
families .Gassmann, Cook, Mueller,
Heimes, Tullius, Gesellchen, and
Kaiser.
The first officiating priest was FIR.
Spitzenberg from Moorhead who at
tended few times the Catholics of
Valley City and surrounding country.
During a part of the year 1880 FIR.
Born of Bismarck said Mass at the
farm home of Phillip Gassmann. I'm
til 1888 the Mission was attended by
Father Hepperle, whose name and
memory is held in reverence by many
Catholic pioneers of North and South
Dakota, and who still has charge of
the parish of Big Stone, S. d. Father
Hepperle was the first resident priest
of Valley City, if having charge of
several counties and travelling in
wagons and oXcarts may be consistent
with calling a room in a pioneer hotel
home. Father Maddock's pastorate,
1880-18S6, is noticeable through the
fact, that during his administration
the first church was built, brick
veneered building which in those days
was no doubt the pride of the Cath
olics of Barnes County. Other priests
taking charge of Valley City and mis-
sions were Fathers Haule and Jas
pers, the latter doing much missionary
work.
Father Maddox was followed by
Father Schmitz, 1SS7-1890, and Father
Wilhelm, who remained until 1894,
and did much missionary work.
After Father Hoovenaarth, who was
pastor of the church for few months,
Father Heinzmann took charge of the
parish. The number of Catholics had
increased considerably, and a new
parish house, the present pastoral
residence, was built. It was consid-
cred the best priests residence in the
state for the time, and many were
the favorable comments of priests
and laity on the enterprising spirit
of the st. GATHERINGS congregation.
Father Buehler, the present efficient
pastor OF Harvey, N. Oak, resided at
Valley City from 1S9S-1900. In the
summer of 1900 Father J. G.. Sailer
took possession of the parish and for
Is years presided over the spiritual
welfare of the ever growing congre-
cation and missions. The GROWING
work of his long, efficient activities
in the parish was the erection of the
new brick church in 1905. On the
day of it's dedication by Bishop Shan
ley it enjoyed the rare privilege of
being free of debt. Father Sailer is
at present pastor of Linton, N. Oak
The present pastor, Father Baker,
V. c., took possession of the parish in
November, 1915. In the spring of
1916 the erection of the new parish
school building was commenced, and
on January 8, 1917, it opened its
doors to over one hundred pupils. The
total cost of the building is about
$4,000, and it ranks worthily with
the elegant public school build
ings Of the city. The Sisters of the
Presentation have charge of the
school. The st. GATHERINGS Church of
Valley City is the mother of five
prosperous parishes which in the
course of time became separated from
her, and have their own resident
priest. Today without missions, with
a resident priest, with a church and
school, it forms an ideal parish, and
its prospects of growth in the near
future aresbright.
VALLEY CITY GREENHOUSE.
There is noabetter way to express
sorrow or pleasure than with flowers.
LII