For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 281
REV. BERNARD JOSEPH FITZSIMONS....Although comparatively a recent arrival at Nichols, Rev. Bernard Joseph Fitzsimons, pastor of the Catholic church, has gained an enduring place by the entire community. He was born in County Cavan, Ireland, December 24, 1870, a son of Bernard and Christina ( O'Farrelly ) Fitzsimons. The father was a farmer and business man and gave his son the advantages of education in the national schools at Mullagh, County Cavan. Having decided to consecrate his life to the work of the church, the subject of this review entered a seminary in his native county and there pursued a study of the classics. After graduating from that institution he became a student at All-Hallows, a theological college in Dublin, in 1888, and after pursuing various branches was ordained to the priesthood of the Catholic church, June 24, 1893.In 1903 Father Fitzsimons came to America and after arriving at Davenport, Iowa, was appointed by Bishop Cosgrove as assistant to the Rev. Father Nugent, of the Visitation church at Des Moines. After occupying this position for a little less than a year, in the course in which he showed himself eminently adapted for mission work, he was placed in charge as chaplain at Mercy Hospital, having also under his charge the academy conducted by the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary. His next appointment was as pastor of the Catholic church at Centerville and missions of the vicinity, then going to Bayard, Iowa, and from that place April 28, 1904, to his present charge at Nichols, Iowa. The various societies of the church over which he officiates are in good standing and his influence is felt as a powerful force in the moral development of the community.
Father Fitzsimons by his genial address and unselfish labors in behalf of others has greatly endeared himself to many people in Iowa to whom he has indeed been a wise friend and counselor. He possesses many of the best characteristics of the historic race from which he sprung and is qualified in a remarkable degree for the great work in which he is engaged, bringing to the attention to his fellowmen their duties in this life and their responsibilities for the life to come. Highly educated and possessing unusual ability for his chosen calling, Father Fitzsimons is now fairly started upon a long and useful career.
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