History of St. Irenaeus

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Photos by Mike Kearney

The oldest parish is St Irenaeus, which was established by Bishop Loras in 1848, and its firs t pastor was the Rev. Frederick Cyrillus, Jean, a native of France. Jean, thought by many to be a saint, died in Clinton 1890, at the age of 62, 18 years after he had been defrocked by Bishop Hennessy. The charges brought against Jean were varied and many, including offenses as refusing the last rites to parishioners he disliked, giving angry sermons, being inconsistent on the temperance cause; letting cattle overrun the cemetery, and misappropriation of church funds. In rebuttal, Jean accused Hennessey of slander and liable, forgery, fraud, collecting money under false pretenses, and employing liars and spies. Throughout the years, the priest, who fought his dismissal with numerous lawsuits naming the Bishop, continued to say mass in private homes. He even traveled to Rome to plead his cause, but all to no avail. He also took his case to the Iowa Supreme Court. The case eventually was settled, but Jean's funeral and burial was not allowed at St Irenaeus, the church he helped build. The bells of St Ircnaeus, however, tolled his death, as the burial was taking place in the St Boniface cemetery. In 1852 he built a brick edifice, costing about $1500, with much of the labor donated by the members of the parish. Prominent among the Catholics were Michael Daly, James Conlin, Herman Kahle, Martin and Patrick Daly, Henry Manemann, James Owens, Clemens Detterman, Benedict Detterman, Bernard McLaughlin, James Handy, James Doherty, Edward Babbington, Michael Linch and Patrick Hannaher. In 1856, Jean built a new large frame church on the same block on which the present building is situated. Before too many years had passes it was present building is situated. Before too many years had passes it was determined a larger church had to be provided. In 1864, Bishop Smyth laid the comer stone of the present beautiful church at 2811 N 2nd Street. It cost $45,000 at the time of construction, and seated between 800 to 1,000 people . It was built from limestone taken from quarries near the city. There was later erected, in conjunction with the church, a parochial school, that was in charge of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The school cost approximately $4,000.

Clinton, Iowa, Herald - Page I I, Friday, December 9, 1988

The Clinton County Historical Society Museum bought St. Irenaeus and has worked hard to restore it. Please stop by and visit sometime!