p.43

    It was during the period of expansion that Father Leonard served as pastor of St. Matthias’. A large and beautiful sanctuary Father Laurent had built in the hearts of his people during the half-century before. And a refined, scholarly impression that same priest of God had given the Catholic Priesthood. No better work, of course, can ever be done by the parish priest. To most members of the community the priest is at once the Catholic Church in its concrete embodiment and the prototype of Catholic culture and education. In this field Father Laurent truly excelled. But, after all, Father Laurent was a pioneer priest. His great glory was in being just that type of God’s servant. But when the twentieth century began to open up its rich years, St Matthias’ Parish was in need of more than that. Years before Father Laurent sailed for France the last time, he felt keenly and often expressed this need of better facilities for his people. Wisely, though, he felt also that the younger and stronger shoulders of his successor could better bear the burden and responsibility of the new undertaking.

     Father Leonard became his successor. Before long the discerning eye of the new pastor observed the spiritual temples in hearts where God best loves to dwell. But a material temple, a structure whose grace and beauty and usefulness would embody the fine self-respect of his new parish, was immediately visioned by Father Leonard. In the fullness of time that vision became a noble reality. St Matthias’ House of God in 1911 was truly a fitting sequel to the hopes of 1903. He felt, too, that better educational facilities should be provided for the children of the parish if the men and women of the morrow were to be the embodiment of Catholic education. Before many years had elapsed the school of 1888 was enlarged to care adequately for parochial needs.

     In the broad, sweeping outline and statement of fact is seen Father Leonard’s glory as pastor of St. Matthias’. A fulfillment and completion of his noble hearted …

p.44

Monsignor Leonard Pastor 1903-1906

p.45

… predecessor’s work it really is. Since Father Leonard, like Father Laurent, will remain a treasured priest in the hearts of this parish, a somewhat more detailed narrative about him out to be given.

     Though born at Madison, Wisconsin, on June 5, 1865, Frank J Leonard was reared and received his early education in Des Moines, Iowa. With a heart rightly set on the sacred priesthood, he left his boyhood home to pursue higher education elsewhere. First at Columbia College (formerly St. Joseph’s) Dubuque, Iowa, for a short time, and then at Niagara University, New York, those studies were made. At the latter institution courses in the classics and philosophy were pursued. His final preparation-in theology- was completed in that historic seminary of St. Mary’s of the West, Cincinnati, Ohio. There, also, his ordination took place on June 14, 1891. Archbishop Elder was the ordaining prelate.

     Father Leonard’s first appointments were to St. Ambrose College and Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport. In 1893 the pastorate of Sacred Heart Church, Chariton, Iowa, was assigned to him. During the early part of 1896 Bishop Cosgrove placed him in South Des Moines where a new parish was contemplated. It was decided, after four month’s of effort, that conditions did not warrant the change, so the plan was abandoned as premature. Later- in the summer of that year, 1896- he was promoted to St. Mary’s in Oxford, Iowa, where he remained as pastor for seven years. During his stay at St. Mary’s, the property- Church and Rectory- was improved and modernized. The Church was painted and decorated, a furnace was installed in it, and the walls were strengthened. To the rectory Father Leonard built a comfortable addition.

     When the appointment to St. Matthias’ came to Father Leonard, there were but three rooms in the school for the holding of classes. The pupils were confined to narrow quarters and the Sisters were hampered in their work. In the Sisters’ own quarters some four classes were held. Father Leonard surveyed the situation, saw clearly and adequately the needs and, as a result, literally made over the old building. The pictures illustrating this sketch be- …

p.46

… speak the improvement. An entirely new second story was built and a new front and tower were added also. This improvement entailed the expenditure of about $15,000. It is in the beautiful St. Matthias Church, however, that Father Leonard effected his monumental work in the parish.

     For some time it was a question with the people of St. Matthias’ whether they would enlarge the old church or build a new one. A number of meetings were held and the matter discussed fully, with the result that finally at a meeting held on the 30th of January, 1910, they decided to build a new church. To decide with them was to act, for they immediately went to work dismantling the old building. During the tearing down of the old and building of the new church, services were held in the school. The corner stone of the new building was laid on the 14th of August, 1910, and, in a little less than eighteen months from the start the church was completed at a cost of about $90,000. It was ready for use when the first Mass was said in it on July 23rd, 1911.On October the twenty-second it was dedicated by Bishop James Davis. The officers at the Mass were the following, Celebrant, the Right Reverend James Davis; Deacons of Honor, the Reverends D.J. Flannery and W.P Shanahan; Deacon of the Mass, the Reverend W. L. Hannon; Sub-Deacon, the Reverend J. P. Stahl; Assistant Priest, the Very Reverend J. T. A Flannagan; Master of Ceremonies, the Very Reverend F.J. Leonard; Assistant Master of Ceremonies, the Reverend L. Heinan.

     The style of St. Matthias church is and adaption of the French Romanesque of the Transitional Period, involving details of the early Gothic.

     In form the building is that of a Latin cross, the arms being formed by the projection of large transepts. The height to the top of the tower cross is one hundred feet, and the bells are sixty feet above the ground. The tower, which carried the great bell and chimes, is at the southwest corner at the front, and contains also the clock, completely …

p.47

St. Matthias Church Erected in 1910-1911

… rebuilt, which marks the Agnelus, the hours, and the quarters upon the bells below. The main entrance is in the center of the front, and through a carved arched doorway, flanked by polished granite columns standing upon an easy flight of eight massive stone steps, and which is lighted by two electroliers mounted on the sides of the steps. This …

p.48

… entrance leads to a spacious vestibule nine feet deep, extending across the front and through the tower, from which is a carriage entrance with the steps inside.

     The Baptistery is lighted with five handsome stained glass windows, and a pendant fixture from the dome. It contains the Font and Sacrarium, and also a fire-proof closet secured by a vault door. The room is enclosed by a handsome oak grille door, which provides a grand entrance to it.

     The seating is arranged with a wide center aisle and double pews and a spacious side aisle at either side, and a set a pews along each side wall, which are double in the transepts, with still another aisle along the transept walls. There are 166 pews in all, making a total seating capacity of 664 on the main floor.

     The sanctuary is wide and deep, in apsidal plan, enclosed by a series if cluster columns, the two in the chancel being isolated and the other ten engaged with the piers of the arcade which opens into the ambulatory. These in turn connect the chapel on the west with the vestry and sacristy on the east side. At either side and front of the sanctuary are the side altars occupying vaulted spaces and niches. The floor of the sanctuary is elevated three steps above the chancel, which in turn is raised above the main floor. The communion rail, fifty –six feet in length, is placed upon the chancel floor, with carved ends and extends across the front of the auditory enclosing the sanctuary and two side altar spaces.

     Occupying prominent places in the front of the sanctuary are niches within the covered splay of the triumphal arch, which contain the statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the patron Saint of the parish St. Matthias.

     However, the concentration and focus of all the enhancements of the entire building tend to render a proper setting for the main alter within whose tabernacle is housed the true Body and Blood of Our Lord. The alter is a treasured memorial of the Second St. Matthias Church. Note the colonnade and arcade with the handsome decorative stained windows leading and assimilated kaleidoscopic …

p.49

Interior St. Matthias Church

… appearance of mellowed tone to the surroundings, the lower lunata containing the mural masterpieces representing beloved saints of the church, the work of the renowned painter. The chapel at the northwest, contains and alter, and pews, seating for sixty-four people. A confessional is built in an alcove, opening into the chapel.

     The building has concrete walls to grade, resting upon spread footings, reinforced in the lower course with …

p.50

… Bedford limestone. The roofing material is of the best genuine Bangor slates and secured with copper nails. Within as well as without the materials are the best.

     A wealth of beautiful paintings, drawn in colors chaste and subdued and breathing an atmosphere of religious devotion, the work of the talented artist, B. Mellerio, impart a quality of richness to the sacred edifice. In the great dome arching in wonderful symmetry appear life –sized portraits of the four evangelists, St. Mark, St. Luke, St. John, and St. Matthew. In the true dome, tinted with tender blue, four of Raphael’s angels, representing prayer, chalice, cross and censor, are portrayed. The paintings in the sanctuary are particularly beautiful. From left to right the subjects are St. Paul, St. Richard, St. Robert, St. Elizabeth, St. Margaret and St. Susanna. Statues of the Sacred Heart (on the left) and St. Matthias, patron saint of the church, are placed in the sanctuary. To the left in front is a beautiful chapel to the Blessed Virgin Mary, finished in onyx and burnished gold, and to the right is a chapel to St. Joseph, also finished in white and burnished in gold.

     In the high alter appear angels holding the candelabra. In bas relief at the base of the high alter the subjects of the Last Supper, Christ and the Samaritan woman and Christ and Mary Magdalene are chiseled with a delicate hand. Beautiful fluted columns of marble rise to stately height in the sanctuary.

     The Stations of the Cross, are enclosed in frames of burnished gold and white. The representations are taken from the older church; originally they came from France brought over by Father Laurent.

     All the furnishings are of beautiful design. The pews are of solid quartered oak.

     The large windows picture scenes from the life of Christ, the Nativity of Christ, Christ in the Temple, the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ giving the keys to St. Peter, the Resurrection of Christ, and the Ascension. The smaller windows represent St. Boniface, the …

p.51

… patron saint of Germany, and St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin, St. Cecelia, St. Agnes, St. Helena and St. Rufina. The seven stained glass windows above the sanctuary represent the seven sacraments.

     At the rear of the church is located the winter chapel, with the altar finished in white and burnished gold. This is a great convenience in winter, since it saves heating the main church. Two shrines are located here to St. Joseph and the blessed Virgin Mary. Adoring Angels, one holing a chalice and the other a censor, grace the altar here.

     In no uncertain terms St. Matthias Parish evidenced its love for Father Leonard, when on the occasion of his Silver Jubilee, June 12, 1916, highly appreciative addresses were made, and among other gifts, a thousand dollar purse was presented to him. Ten years later, June 6,1926, the same loyal people seized another opportunity of manifesting the same regard. The occasion was his appointment to the pastorate of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport. A friendship, begun at the very beginning of Father Leonard’s ministry, and one which endured throughout the following thirty-five years, found its natural consummation in this appointment. A closer union of two old-time friends was a mutual consolation in the Bishops’ declining years. Only briefly can we mention here the rapid changes affecting Father Leonard since then.

     When the Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport, the Right Reverend Edward Howard, was promoted to the Archbishopric of Oregon City, Oregon, Father Leonard became Vicar-General of this diocese. A little later, December 2,1926, after Bishop Davis’ death, the choice of Administrator fell to him. Then with the appointment of the Right Reverend Henry P. Rohlman to the See of Davenport, Father Leonard was his choice for Vicar- General. On February 5, 1928, a singular ecclesiastical honor was bestowed up on him. He was made a Protonotary Apostolic as instar participantium with title of Right Reverend Monsignor.

p.52

    In St. Matthias Parish, Muscatine, Monsignor Leonard rendered a fine service. His labors in erecting the present St. Matthias Church, his labors in improving the parochial school, and his generous, kindly service to all his people for twenty-three years shall not be forgotten.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

    During Father Leonard’s pastorate here he was assisted in the conduct of the parish by several priests.

     From March, 1910, until the early Fall of 1911 the Reverend James O’Reilly, a priest of the Diocese of St. Joseph, Missouri, helped him. A fine Compliment has …

Father Timothy J. Leahy Assistant, 1919-1923

… been paid him by Father Leonard: “I never had a more courteous priest in my house.”

     While Father Leonard was in Europe with Bishop Davis in the latter part of 1911, the Reverend H. Heinan was in temporary charge here.

p.53

    For six years the Reverend Timothy J. Leahy was Assistant to Father Leonard. The latter is one authority for the statement that Father Leahy held a large place in the affections of this parish. His piety, his love for the sick, his interest in the young folks, his work with the Knights of Columbus-all these endeared him in a very special way to everyone.

     Late in the Fall of 1919 he was appointed to St. Matthias’. In the preceding June he was ordained in the Chapel of All Hallows, Dublin. At All Hallows College and Dublin University he made his studies and other preparations for the priesthood.

     In July, 1925, Bishop Davis released him from service in this diocese. He joined the society of St. Columban for Chinese Missions. For a long time this pious priest of Holy Ireland will be affectionately remembered in St. Matthias’. St. Malachy’s, Ardon, will remember him. too, as that Mission was dear to him during his stay here,

     For a short time in the Fall of 1915 the Reverend Henry Corcoran served this parish as Assistant. He is now a professor at St. Ambrose College. From 1915 until the coming of Father Aloysius Cone in the summer of 1925 Father Leonard was helped by priests from St. Ambrose College. Father Cone remained here until June, 1926, at which time he became pastor of Eldon and Eddyville.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~