St. Mary (Waterloo, Iowa)

St. Mary (Waterloo, Iowa)

"The second parish in Waterloo Catholic history is Saint Mary’s, which began with the appointment of a pastor in 1898. “The German Catholic Saint Mary’s Building Association” was formed in 1894 to work toward a German parish. The German Catholics began building the first Saint Mary Church of the downtown location of the YWCA. When they asked Archbishop John J. Hennessy for a pastor, he appointed Father Henry J. Hemesath on January 18, 1898. Less than a week later Father Hemesath celebrated Mass in the basement of the church. When the church was completed, the basement was converted into a classroom. The following year three Franciscan Sisters arrived from Dubuque to take over teaching the 36 pupils. They were the first of over 200 Franciscans to serve the parish."

- Kurt, Rev. Msgr. Edgar, Parish Profile #125, The Witness, May 21, 1989.

The Archdiocese of Dubuque.
The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.

Burback, Emily. Burns, Daniel. Gibson, Michael. Oberfoell, Carol. Waldmeir, Helen. Waldmeir, John.

Various primary and secondary sources.

English.

Loras College
Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"

18 January 1898-15 May 2002
History of the parish over the span of 104 years, including information about its priests and parishioners.

Catholic Order of Foresters (1 document)
Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament (1 document)
Correspondance (19 documents)
History (2 collections)
Holy Childhood (1 document)
Knights of the Altar (1 document)
Ladies of the Altar ( 1 document)
News articles (21 documents)
Office of Chancellor (1 document)
Pastoral letter (1 document)
Pastor list (2 documents)
Petition (1 document)
Rosary Society (1 document)
School Safety Patrol (1 document)
Secretary of State (2 documents)
Sisters list (2 documents)
St. Vincent De Paul Society (1 document)
Third Order of St. Francis (1 document)

Bandy, Judith, “(Waterloo’s St.Mary High School) Former classmates find reunions match-making.” The Witness. ca. 1990.

Golden, Karris. “Jubilee A.D. 2000: Believers will open the door to Christ and spiritual renewal,” Courier Lifestyles, People & Religion. 3 December 1999.

Kurt, Rev. Msgr. Edgar. “Parish Profile #125: Saint Mary Parish, Waterloo. The Witness. 21 May 1989.

Schuster, David. “Black Catholics express church concerns, joys,” The Witness. Vol. LXVI No. 36. Dubuque, Iowa. 2 November 1986.