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St. Theresa's Church, Jackson County

DALY, LORAS, DONAGHUE, TRACY, VAHEY, MCGINNIS, KENNEY, BRENNAN, MCCABE, OREILLEY, GAFFNEY, OFARRELL, ENGLISH, MCINERNEY, OMALLEY, HETERINGTON, BRADY, GARLAND, MULLEN, FRIEDMANN, NOSBISCH, BURKE

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 6/25/2008 at 07:39:52

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBUQUE,
Rev. M. M. Hoffmann, 1938

ST. THERESA’S CHURCH, JACKSON COUNTY

On August 8, 1853, James Daly and his wife Mary, gave to Mathias Loras, Bishop of Dubuque, the deed to 40 acres, more or less, of land for the sum of $60.00. This was the beginning of the permanent foundation of St. Theresa’s parish in Jackson County. The first churches were located on this land and the cemetery which was directly to the east of the first church is still in the same location.

The parish was founded in 1853 by Father Terence Donaghue of Dubuque. The first Masses were said by Father Jeremiah Tracy. The first resident priest was Father John Vahey. Then came the successors in the order named: Fathers McGinnis, Kenney, Brennan, McCabe, O’Reilley and Gaffney. Then for a period of some four years the parish was practically abandoned. Father John O’Farrell was appointed pastor and said Mass there for the first time Sept. 10, 1871. Under Father O’Farrell, as the records show, affairs of the parish were again put in order. In a short time he collected $2,100.00 in the parish and $1,100.00 elsewhere. Altars and pews, vestments and sacred vessels were procured. In the same years, under the direction of Father O’Farrell at a cost of a little over $3,000.00.

The successors of Father O’Farrell were in the order named: Father L. J. English, 1877-1885; Father M. F. McInerney, 1885-1892; Father Peter O’Malley, now pastor of St. Anthony’s parish, Dubuque, was appointed pastor in March, 1892. Due largely to the efforts of Father O’Malley, Holy Rosary Church was erected at Lamotte, Iowa. This church remained a mission of St. Theresa’s until October 28, 1903. The records show that during this time 20 acres of woodland were purchased for the parish.

After Father O’Malley, came Father M.J. Hetherington, who served as pastor from October 1898 to 1901. Then Father T. G. Brady was appointed pastor serving from October 26, 1901, to October, 1907. During the pastorate of Father Brady the mission holy rosary of Lamotte received a resident pastor and became independent of St. Theresa’s.

The present St. Theresa’s Church was built in 1903 under the direction of Father Brady. The new church was dedicated on October 15, 1903. Father Brady was succeeded by Father J. M. Garland who had charge of the parish from 1907 to 1912. Then came Father J. A. Mullen who served the parish faithfully and long, from 1912 to 1926. He is now pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Maquoketa. From 1926 to November, 1932, Father P. J. Friedmann was pastor of St. Theresa’s. He is now pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Church, Springbrook. In November, 1932, the present pastor, Father H. P. Nosbisch, came to St. Theresa’s parish.

The present mission to St. Theresa’s, that is, The Assumption Church, Sylvia, was organized under the leadership of Father Burke. He was pastor of St. Joseph’s parish, Dubuque County. The Sylvia church was built in 1896. For some twelve years Father Burke took care of it from St. Joseph’s

In the year 1909 the Sylvia parish was designated a mission of St. Theresa’s parish, and the pastors of St. Theresa’s from that year to the present time have had church of the Assumption parish, Sylvia.

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