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 The Very Reverend William L. Hannon 1903 - 1928 |
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 The Right Reverand Henry P. Rohlman Bishop of Davenport |
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A newly-born Village
A sprinkling of Catholic Pioneers
A cultured Dominican Priest
These cryptic sentences give us the dimly romantic setting of the first stirrings of Catholicism in Muscatine,
Yes, Muscatine was a newly- born village! As a matter of fact, the larger political unit, namely, the Territory of Iowa, was only three years old. And there was only a sprinkling of Catholic Pioneers! When the year1841 began there were but ten Catholics in that new village to recall found memories of the Mass of the Circumcision of our blessed Lord. Alas, that only memories of blessed things gone could have been theirs!
A cultured Dominican Priest! Yes, emphatically so! A Milan born, a scion of a famous Italian family this lovable pioneer priest was. Yet not too much insistence need be laid on the blood that his forebears gave him. His life and achievements are Catholic culture. Even a casual glance at his Memoirs will convince the skeptical that the author was a pious and learned consecrated servant of God. Or look toward the Old Capital at Iowa City. See in that long cherished building its architectural grace and dignity. Even today, though it nestles in a grove of magnificent structures, it remains the beautiful creation of our University buildings for discerning eyes. How really it reminds one, when primitive conditions of the forties are recalled, of a sentiment expressed in My Unknown Chum: “ The Chateau-like farm houses, looking as stately as if they had strayed out of the city, and, getting lost, had thought it beneath their dignity to inquire the way back.” Be that as it may, the State of Iowa has seen fit to preserve this beautiful creation of Muscatine’s first priest. Without doubt our pioneer Dominican was a cultured gentleman- Father Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli.
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No matter where the man with Catholic faith in his breast penetrated, the Catholic priest must not lag far behind. On Columbus’ second voyage to America a Franciscan friar accompanied him. An Italian Jesuit recently carried a cross on his dirigible journey to the North Pole. That is the venturesome, teach-ye-all-nations philosophy in action of our holy Mother the Church. And there was another Italian priest who in 1830 left the highly institutionalized civilization of his Milan home to venture forth into the wilds of America- on the very fringe of Catholic civilization. Full of romance and chivalry were his journeys during that decade of years before reaching our then little city. It was winter time- January- in the year 1841 that this Dominican, white-frocked we may presume, aroused the curious glances of our Muscatine pioneers. Thrown over his shoulder like a knapsack he must have had his roll of Mass vestments and chalice. But he wasn’t bashful in asking the whereabouts of his Catholic brethren. In Muscatine our Catholic people never did feel that they were “the adherents of the old religion, moving silently and sorrowfully about, as memorials of what had been.” As a matter of fact Father Mazzuchelli had pointed out for him a “ little home over there” where lived a Catholic woman. It was the home of Mrs. Hannah McCrow on Cedar Street near Second.
Our catholic pioneers relate with an air of finality the tradition that in her home was celebrated for the first time in Muscatine the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Father Mazzuchelli, in his Memoirs, gives us the date: January 25, 1841. We are grateful to him too for his reassuring word regarding the place of the first Mass. “At that time the Mercy of God called to the bosom of His Church the husband of that good woman in whose home the Divine Mysteries had been celebrated for the first time.” The stately cathedrals of Italy were replaced in Father Mazzuchelli’s priestly life by the tiny homes of poor, pioneer families. Not his were the gorgeous robes of full ceremonial, nor rich altars that centuries of Catholic piety had erected. And yet the grace of Almighty God followed him. Those great transforming words at the awful moment of Conse- ,,,
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 Father Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli, O. P. |
… cration that change the fruit of the vine into the red life of Christ also touched the heart of the Protestant man who gave his home to Christ for the “half-hour Mass.” His reward was the light of faith, and let us hope, a happy death. One other consolation that came to Father Mazzuchelli on his first visitation to Muscatine ought to be mentioned. Out of the ten adults attending the first Mass, eight came forward to receive in Holy Communion their Eucharistic Christ. May we not reasonably conjecture that …
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… this reception was the first accorded them in many months, perhaps years?
Nor did the saintly Dominican forget his Muscatine. He assures us that “several times in the years 1841 and 1842 the Missionary (a hidden way of referring to him- …
 Matthias Loras First Bishop of Iowa |
… self) preached in the town of Bloomington (now Muscatine).” And he was militant in his conduct, for, in the same sentence he assures us “with the full liberty of speech enjoyed in that section he (meaning himself) undertook to defend publicly the truth of Catholic dogma against the …
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… errors of the religious sects.” The catholic Directory for the years 1840, 1841, and 1842 carries the same assurances. That publication for the year 1841 gives such a sweeping resume, in a few words, of his activities during that year that it ought to be quoted. Father Mazzuchelli is there given as pastor of St. Paul’s, Burlington. Immediately this information is added: “ There are four stations attached to this parish (St Paul’s, Burlington): 1st Madison, Lee Co., 2nd Half-breed tract (Keokuk and vicinity northward), same county; 3rd Iowa City, Johnson Co.; 4th Bloomington (the name was changed to Muscatine in 1849), Muscatine County. The number of Catholics in this parish and its stations, is about twelve hundred.” Our first priest was a man of many interests and of many localities. Above all things, we must not limit him to Muscatine. If he served Muscatine, remember, too, that about the same time he was building churches at Iowa City and Burlington.
How happy we are to recall that the most beloved Churchman of all Iowa blessed our parish with his presence and ministrations. It was his keen eye that surveyed the situation here in Muscatine. And it was his vision that brought a little church here in 1842. But more about that later. The writer has been told that Bishop Loras said Mass in the Becke home, on East Fifth Street, sometime before the first St Matthias was built. It is said, too, and no doubt correctly, that he baptized four of the Becke children.
The next certain evidence we have is found in the Catholic Directory for the year 1843. We are told that Bloomington was then served “by a clergyman from Davenport.” He was no other than the thrice –blessed Abbe J. A. M. Pelamourgues. In August, 1839, he had been appointed to “ Davenport and environs.” Strange to say, his territorial jurisdiction had not diminished by 1843, but rather had increased. There is a record that his circuit took him even as far west as Iowa City. With affection the old pioneers, including especially Father Laurent, recalled his services to our forebears. It fell to the holy …
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 Abbe J. A. M. Pelamourgues |
… Abbe to care for this charge until the appointment of a resident pastor came. Father Laurent, writing in the Catholic Messenger in 1894, mentioned Father Alleman, a Dominican priest, as having stopped off at Muscatine in the early days. So quaint is Father Laurent’s recital about it that it should be quoted: “They tell of him (Father Alleman) watching boats and from the shore asking the captain, ‘Is this a Christian boat?’, meaning one which did not charge priests, and, if in the affirmative, he would go to his next mission along the river. Passing Muscatine one day on a Christian boat he saw an Irishman ashore whom he knew, and, after greeting him, told him naively, ‘Look at the fine coat I have on, it is a Christian coat.’ ” Then Father Laurent added, lest we should not otherwise learn the lesson: “ Christian boats and coats were welcome in those days and what they saved went into new churches and schoolhouses.” It is not of record, however, that Father Alleman ever at- ,,,
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… tended the Catholics in Muscatine. The following priests are often mentioned as having served the Catholics here: The Reverends A. Godfert, Henry Herzog, and B. M. Poyet. They came from Burlington and Iowa City.
Late in 1850 the Reverend F. C. McCormick was appointed St Matthias’ first resident pastor. His first recorded baptism is dated November 9, 1850. Unfortunately that record cannot be deciphered with certainty today. Although Father McCormick returned to St. Matthias’ for a major part of the year 1854 and 1855, his first stay was not of long duration. Shortly before Father Laurent’s coming in November, 1851, he had been removed.