The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-04-07
CathOl jcist1l in Bismarck
Had Start With Pioneers
History Of St. Mary's Parish
Traced Back More Than
Six Decades

AOOuC 1910, C2C0ollc missionaries
traversed this region. Among them
were Rev. Father Keller Of st. Pau
and Father Joseph Buh Of Brainerd
MINI.
Rev. Father oenin, travelling all thu
way from Duluth, MINI, visited the
Indians here and celebrated mass at
tho homo Of Mr.. Nolan. who lived
ca tho south side.
Bome time IN 1874, Thomas TOR.
tune. resident Of Bismarck, turned
over to Abbot Martin Marty. o. 8. B..
later bishop Of st. Cloud, the pro
ceeds Of . picnic, 4l,400, with which
to build church. Lumber, from .
church which was blown down by the
wind ct Detroit Lakes, Mimi, arrived
here IN the spring Of 1875. Members
Ct the parish. assisted by non-C atho-
lies, began erection Of the church I'm
uediately.
Father Foffa First
About Christmas time in 1877 Rev
Father Chrysostom Foffa became the
first resident priest, and he made ad-
dittons to the pastors residence and
erected st. Mary's convent. At that
time al Of the buildings were In the
western end Of the present business
section Of the city.
During 1879 the first Sisters ar
rived and opened parochial school.
The church property was obtained
through squatter's rights, the govern
ment giving title to the occupants and
the city giving further title upon the
payment Of 80. One Of the bells
used in the present Procathedral was
blessed BY Rev. Father Foffa.
Rev. Father Toffa's SUCCESSORS were
Rev. Fathers b. Burning and Patrick
Keanan, who. Is pastor ana assistant.
offended to missions In the territory
extending from Valley City. N. D., to
Glendive, Mont.
In 1851, st. Johns Abbey Or Col.
legeville, Mimi, took charge Of the
parish. First priests sent to Bismarck
from the abbey were Rev. Fathers
William Eversman, william 0uenther
ara Paul Rettenmayer.
In January, 1885, Rev. Father Bede
Northman succeeded Father Paul. re-
naming until the next year, when he
vas followed by Rev. Father Wolf
gang Stetnkogler, who remained here
Until 1850. Then came Rev. Father
Alfred Mayer. who resided here until
August, 1880. It was Rev. Father
Mayer who transferred the school 60
the old st. Alexius hospital buildinR.
now the business college building at
tho corner Of Main Avenue and sixth
St
Rev. Father Martin Schmitt. who
succeeded Father Mayer, again opened
the parochial school in the former
buildings. At this time the mission
territory covered from Bismarck ex-
tended S. miles east, IS miles SOUTH
cast and about SO miles north. and
Masses usually were celebrated Ia
farm houses.
Church Built In 1919
Rev. Father Clement Dimpfl sue
oeeded Rev. Father Schmitt in 1899
and remained as pastor until 1910.
Il was during his pastorate that the
present church was built. It came
into existence - q frame structure
q the corner Of Broadway Avenue
and Eighth st. and was completed In
1853 Assisting Rev. Father Clement
were Rev. Fathers Louis Traufler.
Aoolph Ddngman, Bonaventure Han
sen. Peter Wollnick and Philip Bah
ner. ~.
Tho first part Of the present school
was built BY Father Clement In lo06.
the school block bounded BY Ninth
and Tenth streets and Broadway and
Thsyer avenues having been Obtained
from st. Johns Abbey. The initial |
cost was $36,O00.
IN 1910 the diocese Of FARO vas
divided and Bismarck was chosen as |
tho Episcopal See Of the new diooese
Et: Rev. Vincent Wehrle, o. 8. B.,
aonoe Of st. Mary's abbey ct Richard
ton. was consecrated bishop Of BIS
marck. On this occasion, with the
usual impressive ecclesiastical cere-
monies, the whole city Of Bismarck.
Catholtc and non Catholics, particle
pated In . great civic festival.
Rev. M. J. Htltner Of Mt. Carmel.
n. D.. then was appointed vicar een-
eral Of the diocese and pastor 81 Sc.
Matys Procathedral. the church a.
Stunning this dignity with the selection
q Bismarck . the diocesan zee. IN
1913 Rev. Father Hiltuer built the
beautiful rectory which stands near
tho Procathedral. He remained until
1927. when he was succeeded by ~.
Father John A. H. Stag, whose pes-
torate ended with his death March
10, 1888. In 1921, Rev. Father an
built the addition to st. Mary's SCHOOL
at cost Of 465y000. In 1923 Ia heran
tho brick veneer program On ~
church and started other imnrove.
ments. At the time Of the golden
jubilee . beautiful two manual pine
organ was installed. the gift az theI
children Of st. Mary,s school.
Esther Eeehan Now
Rev. FATHER Stag was succeeded hv
Rev. Father Robert A. Feehan. tn
present pastor.
FROM such . humble beginning. r.
Mays parish has erown 3 includeI
moro than 800 families.
Sisters Of st. Benedict. et. .foaen,,
Mmn.. since 1878 have cond,,cte6 ths
parochtal school here. The first inter. /
nent IN 81. Aarys cemetery, which
admits Catholics and non.Catholics
like. was that q IN infant child az I
0r. and Mrs.. P. MclIugh In septem- {
~, 1850. Great improvements have 4
'een made n this cemetery Ia half
J century.
Organizations Of ct. Marys parish
include Immaculate Conception Court !
g. -. Catholic Daughtery Of Amer- !
g; Council No. 1904 knights Of CO..
limnsis: Assembly No. 1904. Fourth Z
Jee1ee Knghts q Columbus: Junior s
5esnojc Daughters q America troops !
elent = number under direction o. 9
4lss alda Mcdonnell . chairman Of
rtani1atiou): 81. Mays dramatic b
hub: 81. Nary's mixed choir: eieht d
ni1Gto0afy groups With Mn, 3. IA. 4
goehle . general chairman and Mr..
larry J. Clark q eenersl secretary 4
Sacred Heart, 81 Theresa Of the It,
y Flower. Il Antl,nnv n nlka ~ I