Rev. J. H. Friedmann

FRIEDMANN, HENNESSY

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 3/15/2014 at 09:41:00

Bellevue Herald, November 26, 1925

REV. FRIEDMANN OBSERVES SILVER ANNIVERSARY

Rev. J. H. Friedmann Of LaMotte Was Ordained In 1900

On Tuesday Nov. 24, the people of LaMotte and surrounding territory gathered for the celebration of the silver jubilee of the ordination to the priesthood of Rev. J. H. Friedmann of the Holy Rosary parish of LaMotte. Father Friedmann came to LaMotte in July 1907, and has labored there for eighteen years.

Rev. J. H. Friedmann was born in Luxemburg, Iowa, April 10, 1868, being of a family of thirteen children. His parents were John Friedmann and Anna Gutankauf. He began his early education in the little public school near that place and with the completion of the first parochial school at Luxemburg, he continued his studies there. Always a diligent scholar and with a sense of devotion to his work the jubilarian merited a gold medal for perfect attendance at school and holy mass at the early age of ten years. He received his first holy communion at the age of twelve years and when nineteen he was confirmed by Archbishop Hennessy.

After completing his elementary training he remained at home for several years, delaying his pursuit for further education to assist his relatives in their work at home. In the fall of 1890, Father Friedmann enrolled at St. Lawrence College, Mt. Calvary, Wisconsin, completing his classical course there in June 1895. In September of the same year he enrolled at Columbia College at Dubuque and took up the study of philosophy graduating from that institution with exceptionally high honors in the year 1897.

A young man of deep religious convictions he then decided to prepare himself for the holy priesthood and at the instance of Rt. Rev. Hennessy took up his theological training at the Grand Seminary at Montreal, Canada. In the spring of 1899 he was ordained a subdeacon and in late 1900 the order of deaconship was conferred on him, Dec. 22, 1900, marked the culmination of his efforts and on that day he was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Paul Buschesie at the seminary chapel. His first mass was celebrated on Dec. 27 of the same year at the Holy Trinity Parish in Luxemburg.

Early the next year Father Friedmann was appointed as assistant to Rev. J. B. Zigrand at Worthington, Iowa, where he remained until November, 1904, after which he was named assistant to Rev. Sauter at Festina, Iowa. Late in 1905 he took charge of Holy Rosary parish at LaMotte.