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“Plans for the new parish in Marshalltown were in 1953 by Archbishop Henry P. Rohlman and Msgr. Bernard H. Skahill, pastor of Saint Mary’s. It was to be attached temporarily to Saint Mary’s. Property for the new parish was purchased in April 1954.…

“Readers need to remember that St. Anthony is the name of a town in Marshall County east of Zearing. St. Anthony is named for two men, Saint and Anthony. The Catholic church in St. Anthony is named for the Sacred Heart of Jesus. While Father Dennis…

"Foreseeing the need for a much larger church, Father Kortenkamp worked with his assistant, Father Joseph Brinkmann, to plan and construct the present Gothic style church with twin spires towering over 200 feet, until recent years the largest church…

"As early as 1891 Father James Mulligan, pastor of West Union, visited the Hawkeye area Catholics and celebrated Mass in the home of Michael Riley, the railroad section foreman. In 1893 under Father Mulligan’s direction, they built a small frame…

“In the fall of 1883 Father John W. Toohill became pastor and purchased a house to be used as a rectory. During his pastorate, Thomas Barry became the area’s first candidate for the priesthood. He was ordained Dec. 17, 1894, and served Iowa parishes…

"Saint Francis of Assisi Parish at Fayette began as a mission of Clermont in the 1870s. At that time Fayette County Catholics were visited by Father Eugene Sullivan, pastor of Clermont from 1876 to 1879. The Holy Name congregation at West Union was…

"Before the early settlers built their first church, Father James Harding from Cresco began to visit Ossian in 1858 and celebrated Mass in the railroad depot or the John Collins home. Before that it was not uncommon for the Catholic pioneers to walk…

"Before any Catholic church was built in Dumont, priests from neighboring parishes ministered to the Catholics of the area. Four Ackley pastors are especially remembered, Father Peter O’Dowd, D. H. Murphy, Lawrence H. Burns, and Michael A. Meagher.…

"Saint Francis Church is located in Barclay Township, Blackhawk County, near Waterloo. It began in 1862 with the decision to build a church on the Joseph Rittelmeier farm two and a half miles southeast of Dunkerton. Limestone for the building was…

“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…