St. Joseph's Catholic Church |
Rev. Fr. P. J. O'Connor |
Rev. P. J. O'Connor
The pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic church. Father O' Connor was
born in Ohio June 2, 1854. When a small child of two years his
parents moved to Iowa locating in Ottumwa where our subject
attended the public schools. He was educated for the priesthood
at Salesianum College. Milwaukee and Niagara University, Our
Lady of Angels. From the latter institution he was ordained in
1878 the same year he was assigned to the parish at Monticello
where he was continued until 1884 when he was removed to this
city. He succeeded in completing a new edifice which is beyond
doubt one of the finest churches to be found in Iowa. It has a
seating capacity of nearly eight hundred. The congregation
of St. Joseph's consists of about one hundred families.
Father O' Connor has also charge of the parochial school
assisted by St. Franciscan Sisters. There are about one hundred
pupils enrolled and their parents may rest assured that their
spiritual and classic education will be well cared for under
these directions. |
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