“Holy Cross is one of several parishes that began about the same time. Bishop Mathias Loras mentions in an 1842 letter that he was called to the Sweeney home in Concord Township to minister to a dying man. While there, he was asked to bless some ground in which the man could be buried and directed the sons to prepare an oak cross. It was raised upon the hill where church and town now stand, and a monument in the cemetery commemorates that holy cross. In 1843 a log church was built. With a deed signed by President Zachary Taylor in 1849, Bishop Loras secured title to the 40 acres of land. It was the bishop’s policy to provide sufficient acreage for the pastor’s horses and cow in rural parishes of his young diocese.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #4: Holy Cross, Holy Cross.” Dubuque: The Witness, 21 December 1986.

]]> Centennial Booklet (1 document)

Centennial Holy Cross Church 1988 (2 documents)

Centennial Souvenir Church 1945 (1 document)

Earl’s Plumbing and Heating Proposal (1 compilation)

Fr. Wilke History Letter

Financial Statement (1 collection)

History (4 documents)

Letter to Parents regarding Catholic Education Fr. Augustine Bomholt ca. 1930-1940 (1 document)

Pastor Cards (1 collection)

Photographs Church Interior, Church Exterior, Way Teacher Residence, Rectory (4 documents)

Timeline Card (1 document)

Kurt, “Church Bells.” 20 July 2001.]]> The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.]]> Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"]]> History of the parish over the span of 174 years, including information about its priests and parishioners. ]]> “The events of the new parish’s first year (1989) were: In April ten acres in Hiawatha were designated as the site. On July 11 Father Gossman was appointed the founding pastor. On August 19 the community was formed when they gathered for Mass in Hiawatha Elementary School cafeteria. Also in August the parish purchased a rectory at 1045 Eisenhower Road. In September Father Gossman began celebrating weekday Mass in the rectory. During the next several months the parishioners met in small neighborhood groups to bring to the surface a cross section of ideas as to what the parish should be. In October the parish formed a consensus of all those recommendations.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #235: Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Hiawatha.” Dubuque: The Witness, 4 August 1991.]]> “Church Rising” Gazette Article and Photo (1 document)

History and Mission (1 document)

Our Commitment in Faith 1992 booklet (1 document)

Althoff, Fred. “St. Elizabeth Ann Seton breaks ground for church.” 7 September 2008, 3.

“Archdiocese’s ‘Rapid Relief 2008’: Teens serve as Christ’s hands and feet.” The Witness, 24 August 2008, 10.

Kucera, Most Rev. Daniel W., O.S.B., “Official Erection of a New Parish.” Dubuque: The Witness, Vol. LXIX No. 21, 16 July 1989. (2 documents)

Sladek, Sarah. “Service retreat helps teen see Christ in others.” Dubuque: The Witness, 15 September 2002, 2-3.]]> The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.]]> Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"]]> History of the parish over the span of 30 years, including information about its priests and parishioners. ]]> “Saint Joseph Parish began in 1855 with the building of a church at Paint Rock in the northeastern corner of the state in Allamakee County. The post office name of Paint Rock changed to Allamakee, to Adams Junction, to Waukon Junction, to Harpers Ferry, but Saint Joseph Church was out in the country. So there was reason to build Saint Ann Church in the town of Harpers Ferry in 1897.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #29: Saint Ann-Saint Joseph Parish, Harpers Ferry.” Dubuque: The Witness, 21 June 1987.

]]> Annual History (8 compilations)

Archive Organizational documents (4 documents)

Centennial Invitation (2 documents)

Financial Statement (5 compilations)

History (1 document)

Interparish Fund (1 document0

Letter Msgr. Wolfe from J.J. Costelloe (2 documents)


“Church Addition,” The Witness, 8 March 1987.

“Harpers Ferry Native joins VMM,” Dubuque: The Witness, Vol. LXV No. 44, 5 January 1986.

McMahon, Steve. “If something is usable, operable, he’ll haul it,” The Witness, 18 July 2004.]]> The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.]]> Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"]]> History of the parish over the span of 122 years, including information about its priests and parishioners. ]]> ]]> “When the railroad came to Marion, it brought the families of Irish workers. Recognizing the need for a larger church, Father Hartigan’s parishioners purchased property and collected funds. In 1905 a brick structure named for Saint Joseph was built on the corner of 5th Avenue and 10th Street. Although the parish had no school until 194., Catholic education was offered by the Cedar Rapids Sisters of Mercy in Saint Joseph Day School, which later became Saint Berchman’s.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #181: Saint Joseph Parish, Marion.” Dubuque: The Witness, 1 July 1990.

]]> Blessing (1 document)

Choir space plan (3 documents)

Financial Statement (5 documents)

History (5 compilations)  

New Church Invitation (1 document)

Pastor Cards (1 collection)

Pastor List (4 documents)

Photographs: Convent, School (2 documents)

St. Joseph’s School pages 150-152  

Kueter, Dale. “Lenten Sacrifice: Traditional concept, abandoned by many, being restudied in some churches.” Cedar Rapids: The Gazette, 21 March 1998.

Neumann, Douglas. “Marion gift hits speed bump,” The Cedar Rapids Gazette, 10 December 1994.

“St. Joseph’s Catholic Church,” Marion: The Marion Sentinel, 4.]]> The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.]]> Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"]]> History of the parish over the span of 150 years, including information about its priests and parishioners. ]]> “The first priests to visit the Catholic pioneers of the Maquoketa area in Jackson County came from Saint Patrick’s in Garryowen. Before the Maquoketa Catholics had a church of their own they went to the Garryowen or Otter Creek churches. After Father Joseph B. Gaffney was appointed the first resident pastor of Otter Creek in 1868, he visited the Maquoketa faithful and in 1871 bought four lots in the southern part of town from John E. Goodenow. The church was finished in 1873 and dedicated June 28, 1874.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #83: Sacred Heart Parish, Maquoketa.” Dubuque: The Witness, 24 July 1988.

]]> Annual History (1 document)

Bell from Sacred Heart Maquoketa (5 documents)

Church Building Project (1 booklet)

Confirmation Registry 1901-1911 (5 documents)

Dedication (2 documents)

Expansion Fund Campaign (1 document)

Financial Documents and promises for the erection of the church ca. 1873 (1 packet)

Mass of Rededication (3 documents)

History Posters and Art documents (9 documents)

History of Parish and Organizations (6 compilations)

Jackson Sentinel Files (2 documents)

Parish Manual and Official Guide, Jackson Journal Maquoketa Iowa (1 book)

Pastor List (1 document)

Pledge Payment Report (2 documents)

Sacred Heart Burials 1880-ca. 1919 (4 documents)

Sacred Heart Newsletter Heart to Heart (3 documents)

]]> The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.]]> Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"]]> History of the parish over the span of 146 years, including information about its priests and parishioners. ]]> “Father Michael J. Farrelly was appointed the first resident pastor in 1897. Beginning with his appointment, the pastor of Manly also cared for the mission church at Plymouth. About a year later the parish built a rectory, destroyed by fire after a few years and soon rebuilt. In 1900 Father Farrelly directed the building of the second frame church dedicated to a Sacred Heart. The original church was moved and served other purposes. In 1892 the parish purchased four acres for a cemetery.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #98: Sacred Heart Parish, Manly.” Dubuque: The Witness, 6 November 1988.

]]> Blue prints (1 document)
Centennial Celebration (3 documents)
Dedication (1 document)
History (2 documents)
Parish Plan Booklet (1 document) ]]> The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.]]> Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"]]> History of the parish over the span of 136 years, including information about its priests and parishioners. ]]> “When Father John J. Hanley became pastor in 1887, he saw to the building of a three-story frame school and convent, which was known as Saint Xavier’s for many years. Cedar Rapids Sisters of Mercy staffed the school until 1940; then the Dubuque Franciscans. Accredited in the 1920s, the school was reduced to eight grades in 1950. The present church and rectory was finished in 1963 under Father Cooney’s direction. The sanctuary’s north wall is a window 30 feet by 50 feet imported from France and believed to be the largest faceted window in the nation.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #59, Saint Mary Parish, Manchester.” Dubuque: The Witness, 31 January 1988.

]]> Anniversary 125th (1 document)

Cluster Documents (1 compilation)

Episcopal Certificates (3 documents)  

Fax Cover Sheet (1 document)

History of Parish and School (6 documents)

Joint Agreement for Cluster (1 packet)

Narrative and Outline History, Edgar Kurt (2 documents)

New Church Picture and Building Layout (1 document)

Pastor Cards (1 document)

Pastor List (1 document)

Pastoral Planning Documents (1 compilation)

Photographs School Postcard 1952, Parish Hall and Catechetical School 1961, Rectory 1961 (2), Church 1961 (5 documents)

Preparing for Chrism Mass (1 document)

School New Building Picture Witness Article (1 document)

Timeline (2 collections)

Welcome Packet including schedules, organizations, councils, school related information, marriage requirements (7 documents)

Blobaum, Harry. “A progress report on Seeds of Hope,” The Witness, 8 March 2009, 2.

“Greed or grace?” Manchester.

]]> The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.]]> Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"]]> History of the parish over the span of 147 years, including information about its priests and parishioners. ]]> “When John Plettchette died in 1859, he left six acres on condition that a church be built within two years. When Bishop Clement Smyth did not send a priest on the grounds that there was no church, John Heles and Joseph Friedman assumed leadership and a church was built in 1861 with Adolph Langel in charge of carpentry and John Maiers of masonry. Without a priest, the people gathered in the undedicated church on Sundays to be led in the Mass prayers and rosary by Anton Pfeffer, the schoolmaster. The parish school really existed before the bishop formally established the parish.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #32: Holy Trinity Parish, Luxemburg.” Dubuque: The Witness, 19 July 1987.]]> Actus Erectionis Stationum Viae Crucis (1 document)

Archbishop Mgr. Fernand Frank’s visit to those who wandered from Luxembourg to America: Compiled by Rev. Edgar Kurt (1 compilation)

Audit Letter (1 document)

Catholic Foundations of Luxemburg / History of Catholic Education in Archdiocese (5 documents)

Chapel Blessing Document (1 document)

Church Inventory (2 documents)

Collection Records 1913 (2 documents)

Convent/House Inventory (3 documents)

Dedication Invitation (1 document)

Election Ballots 1912, 1915 (2 documents)

Employee Payroll (5 documents)

Hennessy Letters 1871-1873 copies (2 documents)

History (5 documents)

Meisch Glass Letters 1881 (1 document)

New Holy Trinity School Building Picture 1926 (1 document)

Pastor Cards (1 collection)

Pastor List (1 document)

Photographs: Church 1961, Rev. Reiss, Rev, John Theobald (3 documents)

Fr. Ludovicus Theissling Sacred Theology Professor Official Document (1 document)

School Inventory (2 documents)

Summarium Indulgentiarum Soldalibus Confraternitatis (1 document)

Teacher Agreement Document (1 document)

Jerde, Lyn. “Luxemburg honored by namesake,” Dubuque:
The Telegraph Herald, 12 September 1994.

Kranz, Cindy. “Small boy makes big music.” The Cedar Rapids Gazette, 5 March 1988.

Rediger, Bill. “Luxembourg sends memento,” The Dyersville Commercia, 31 August 1994.

Schuster, David. “Eleven-year-old organist is music to Holy Trinity’s ears,” Dubuque: The Witness, Vol.LXVII No. 44, 3 January 1988.

Theobald, Rev. John. “History of the Luxemburg Parish and Community Commemorating the Parish Centennial Jubilee of Holy Trinity Church and the Golden Sacerdotal Jubilee of the pastor the Rev. John Theobald.”

]]> The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College.]]> Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"]]> History of the parish over the span of 158 years, including information about its priests and parishioners. ]]> “Under the leadership of Father James Nelson, the parish built a gothic style brick church in 1901 to seat 500. It was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title The Immaculate Conception, which is inscribed to the cornerstone. During the dedicated ceremonies Archbishop John J. Keane promised to obtain a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes for the parish and directed that the title of the parish be changed accordingly.”

- Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, “Parish Profile #64: Our Lady Lourdes Parish, Lourdes.” Dubuque: The Witness, 6 March 1988.

]]> Annual Parish History Update for the Archives (1 document)
Annual Report (4 documents)
Baptismal Certificate 1906 (1 document)
History (1 document)
History Notes (5 pages)
Jubilee Souvenir 1926 (1 book)
Pastor Cards (1 collection)
Photographs: Church, Convent, School (3 documents)
]]> The Center for Dubuque History at Loras College. ]]> Kucera Center for Catholic Thought
Frank and Ida Goedken Series: "Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley"]]> History of the parish over the span of 118 years, including information about its priests and parishioners. ]]>