History of Holy Family Catholic Church, Mason City, updates
CUNNINGHAM, DOUGHERTY, MURPHY, BREEN, SEDA, JOHNSON, KEMNA, NETTLETON, FLAHERTY, SCHOLL, GRIBBEN, NEIBAUER, ZOOK, HOGAN, SLEPICA, REMER, CAHILL, COOPER, BERRY, HANUS, ROTTINGHAUS
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 5/21/2011 at 18:36:36
The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Saturday, July 19, 2009
by Deb NicklayAll in the Holy Family family
MASON CITY The walls of St. Joseph Catholic Church were bursting at the seams in 1908.
It was time to build another church.
The story of how Holy Family Catholic Church was built and thrived is the stuff of "We 'R' Family Holy Family," a 100th anniversary history written by John R. CUNNINGHAM.
CUNNINGHAM, of Mason City, a native of Dougherty and a member of the Holy Family family, wrote the 213-page book with the help of newspaper articles of the day, maps, directories, diocesan archives, family scrapbooks, clergy and other sources. CUNNINGHAM has written several North Iowa histories.
The book is packed with information and pictures, including composites of all 32 graduating classes of Holy Family School.
"I think one of the most interesting things about the book was how the church was split," said CUNNINGHAM. "St. Joseph's was, at the time, very large."
State Street was set as the dividing line and the separation was not without some emotion. Generations of families had attended St. Joseph's, yet many were instructed to attend the new church.
A site on Second Street Northwest was finally chosen and the church, built in the mission style, was erected at a cost of about $25,000 and dedicated in 1910.
In the 1920's, a chapel was built on the northwest edge of Mason City to accommodate the growing population of Hispanic workers, many of whom worked in the city's Lehigh Cement Plant or at the American Crystal Sugar Beet Factory.
Holy Family served a growing population that went from 400 to more than 3,000 by the 1940's before the current church opened its doors in 1951 on North Adams Avenue.
Holy Family School was built in 1926. The "Maroons" provided plenty of rivalry for St. Joseph and Mason City public sports teams.
Much credit is given to the church's leadership, including the Rev. Edward J. DOUGHERTY, who oversaw the first church building and then, the much-beloved Rev. Richard MURPHY.
"MURPHY was known for his many kindnesses and his work among the poor," said CUNNINGHAM. "It has been said that two saints lived at Holy Family rectory, Monsignor MURPHY and Bruno, his St. Bernard dog."
His successor, Monsignor Arthur BREEN, was known for both religious and civic involvement. CUNNINGHAM tells a story about how BREEN, a rather portly man, would urge parishioners to move closer together on Sundays when the pews were full."Move over, move over, there is not a one of you as large as I am," he intoned. He also would say at collection time that he wanted a "silent collection" in other words, bills and no coins.
As with his other histories, CUNNINGHAM was fascinated by the research. The process reinforced his long-held feeling that "you cant move forward without looking back."
Those wishing a copy may obtain one for $20 at the church, 714 N. Adams Ave.
All are invited to celebrate with Holy Family today.
The annual Holy Family HeritageFest, this year celebrating the parish's centennial, will take place from noon to 10 p.m. today at the church parking lot at 711 North Adams Ave.
The HeritageFest provides a variety of live music, food and refreshments celebrating the many cultures that make up the community. The festival opens with concessions, bingo, games and a dunk tank.
Raiders of the Lost Art, a local Dixieland jazz band, will perform from 2 to 4 p.m.
At 4:15 p.m., the Meitner Band will provide the music for a polka Mass in the church.
Lending a distinctively Latin flavor to the upper Midwest's music scene, Iowa-based "Ashanti Latin Jazz" will take the stage from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Performing from 8 to 10 p.m. will be the Sweet Colleens, five multi-instrumentalists who perform Celtic folk-rock and alternative country/Americana with Cajun and Caribbean seasonings.
The "I Double Dare Ya" Dunk Tank celebrity volunteers are the Rev. Jon SEDA noon, Tim JOHNSON 12:30 p.m., Kim KEMNA 1 p.m., Tim FLAHERTY 1:30 p.m., Tammy NETTLETON 2 p.m., Tim SCHOLL 2:30 p.m., Jeff GRIBBEN 3 p.m. and Mark NEIBAUER 3:30 p.m.
Food choices have been expanded. Along with tacos, food will include enchiladas (after 4 p.m.), a slice of pizza and a fresh salad with homemade vinaigrette or ranch dressing, and a Greek dinner consisting of a Greek chicken breast on pita, Greek green beans and two Greek cookies. The big culinary hit of last years HeritageFest Mexican sundaes, will be back.
Something new this year, in honor of HeritageFest founder, the late Al ZOOK, will be Big Al's Pies and More which will feature two of Al's favorites: homemade pies and root beer floats. German brats, hot dogs and chips and beverages also will be available.
Admission to the HeritageFest is free and everyone is welcome.
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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Saturday, December 6, 2009
by John CunninghamA Holy Family history lesson
MASON CITY Mason City was a rapidly growing community in 1908 with many Catholic residents. As a result, a decision was made to create a second parish, named Holy Family, to relieve pressure on the city's original parish, St. Joseph's.
The Rev E. J. DOUGHERTY, a native of Dougherty and the first native-born son of Cerro Gordo County to be ordained to the priesthood, was appointed the first pastor.
Under his direction, a board of trustees was appointed and land was procured at the corner of Second St. N.W. and Washington Avenue to build a new church. While the new church was under construction, Holy Family Masses were celebrated in the Mason City Public Library Auditorium starting in October 1908.
The first Mass in the new church, designed in a mission style, was on Christmas day in 1909. The new church was dedicated May 22, 1910, by the Most Rev. John CARROLL, bishop of Helena, Mont.
In 1918, DOUGHERTY was succeeded by the Rev. Richard MURPHY under whose pastorate land was procured for Holy Family School, completed in 1925 at the corner of Seventh Street Northwest and North Washington Avenue at a cost of $125,000. The first Holy Family graduates formed the Class of 1930.
Holy Family School was staffed the Sisters of Charity, BVM, who lived on the third floor of the school until 1940 when a nearby home was purchased as a convent.
In sports, Holy Family School was known as the "Maroons" and was outstanding in many sports, especially basketball.
Holy Family's last graduating class was in 1961 (Newman High School opened that fall) and Holy Family continued as an elementary school, then a child-care center, until finally all educational services were consolidated on the Newman campus.
In 1923, the mission style Chapel of the Immaculate Conception was constructed by Holy Family parish at the northwest edge of Mason City to accommodate people of as many as 40 nationalities living in that area. Mass was offered and religious instruction was provided for the children of immigrant Catholic families who had come to work in Mason City industries.
MURPHY was known for his many kindnesses as he worked among the poor and underprivileged. It was said that two saints lived at the Holy Family Rectory, MURPHY and Bruno, his St. Bernard dog. While MURPHY was pastor, Holy Family witnessed parish growth from 400 members to more than 3,000. MURPHY also is credited with raising the funds for construction of the current Holy Family Church.
After 31 years, Murphy was succeeded by Monsignor Arthur J. BREEN in 1949. Under his direction, a new Holy Family Catholic Church and rectory were constructed in the 700 block of North Adams near the school. These buildings, designed in a modified Tudor Gothic style, were dedicated June 27, 1951. The church has a seating capacity of over 800.
BREEN was known as an area leader in ecumenical and civic affairs.
In 1972, after 23 years as pastor, he was succeeded by the Rev. Robert HOGAN, who served in the team ministry as administrator of Holy Family for 8 years.
In 1980, the Rev. Joseph SLEPICA, a son of Holy Family, was appointed administrator of his home parish.
In 1991, the Rev. John KREMER was appointed pastor. During his pastorate, a $250,000 handicap-accessible addition was made to the church.
In 1997, the Rev. Dennis H. CAHILL, a Newman Catholic High School graduate, was named pastor. In 2004, Cahill was transferred and the Rev. John SEDA was named pastor. He is assisted by Permanent Deacons Matt BERRY and Charles COOPER.
In 2007, the former Holy Family School Building was leveled and a new cement parking lot was poured in its place.
A 2008 parish history shows that 18 women from the parish have entered religious communities and 9 men, the priesthood and/or holy orders.
Currently there are more than 900 households in the parish.
Holy Family celebrated its 100th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 19, with a 11:30 a.m. Mass offered by Archbishop Jerome HANUS.
A book, "We 'R' Family - Holy Family," a 100-year history of the parish, was written by John R. CUNNINGHAM and paintings of the school and church were commissioned from David ROTTINGHAUS. Both book and prints remain available for purchase.
Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2011
Cerro Gordo Documents maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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