Harold Stansell, S.J.

HUBERT MICHAEL NEWELL

A BISHOP ON THE MOVE

1951-1978

According to a provision in Canon Law a coadjutor bishop becomes the bishop of the diocese for which he had been appointed immediately upon the vacancy of the episcopal see. Consequently, Hubert M. Newell formally took over the administration of the diocese of Cheyenne when he learned about the death of his predecessor on November 8, 1951. After the final obsequies for Bishop McGovern, the fifth bishop of Cheyenne met with the diocesan consultors, namely, Very Reverend Thomas F. O’Reilly, Vicar General, Reverends James A. Hartmann, Chancellor, Sylvester A. Welsh, John J. O’Connor and Jerome Denk. After consultation, the bishop renewed the appointment of diocesan officials.>1951>1

The bishop was in a position to implement plans that he had formulated during his four years as coadjutor. Not the least of those plans was the determination to provide a diocesan newspaper for Catholics in Wyoming. His Confirmation tours during those years made him fully aware of the need of an instrument to create some kind of unity among widely scattered cities and towns in the State. His acquaintance with the members of the staff of the Denver Catholic Register, especially, Monsignor Matthew J. Smith, Editor and Manager, facilitated his efforts to make a diocesan newspaper a reality in Wyoming. He appointed Reverend James Ruddy, a priest who had recently come to the diocese after serving two years in the ministry in Cardiff, Wales, editor. Father Ruddy and his associates with, no doubt, the generous assistance of members of the staff of the Denver paper, prepared the first edition of The Wyoming Catholic Register, for publication April 11, 1952, just over five months after the death of Bishop McGovern.

The Wyoming newspaper was modeled after its Denver counterpart. The first issue consisted of two sections; one of eighteen pages dealing with developments in Wyoming; a second part of four pages, reported on national and international news, with special emphasis on the Vatican of interest to Catholics. Bishop Newell reminded his readers that April 11^th was a special day because it was the fortieth anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Bishop McGovern. He invited members of his flock to join him in dedicating the initial issue of the Register to his predecessor’s blessed memory.

The paper published a copy of Bishop Newell’s official letter explaining the reason for the publication. It stated that the Register was destined to become a powerful means for the advancement of God’s kingdom in the diocese. He added, “One of the greatest effects of the Register, however, will be the forging of stronger ties among the people of our own diocese. In Wyoming, with its great distances and its sparse population, a diocesan newspaper can be the means of uniting the faithful and bringing them into closer contact with the activities of other parishes and with the programs of the diocese.”>1951>2

In retrospect, it is clear that the objectives were achieved. Before the publication of the paper it was difficult for the average Catholic to know about the events taking place in the diocese. Certainly, parishioners in Gillette would know little or nothing about activities in Evanston; nor would Catholics in Laramie be knowledgeable about the state of the Church in Sheridan. The diocesan newspaper made possible a cohesion that had been sadly lacking among Catholics in Wyoming prior to April 11, 1952. Thereafter, there would be an exchange of news which made it possible for those interested to keep informed about developments in the parishes throughout the diocese. A very important aspect of the weekly newspaper was the fact that people were informed about the activities of their bishop. Routine reports about his travels in the diocese to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation and/or dedicate a new church, school, or parish hall were regularly reported.

A second project high on the list of Bishop Newell’s priorities was his intention to persuade Catholic women to take part in parish and diocesan activities. This matter was a concern of the bishops of the United States who, in September, 1919, had voted to establish a national council staffed with officers who would coordinate the efforts of Catholic men and women who wished to promote Christian life and further the cause of Christ and His church. The bishops chose to name the organization of the National Catholic Welfare Conference. The officers established a number of departments to facilitate their administration one of which was that of Lay Organizations. After a few months the founders decided to divide that department into two councils, one for men the other for women. The latter proved to be more prominent, probably due to the fact that Catholic men could be members of the Knights of Columbus and/or Serra International. The bishops envisioned a Council of Catholic Women in each diocese which would, eventually, affiliate with the National Council which was created to unite Catholic organizations and channel to diocesan information and material in the fields of religion, education, family life, social action and international relations.>1951>3

After the first of the year (1952) Bishop Newell invited a number of ladies living in Cheyenne and neighboring towns to attend a meeting on February 13, 1962 to consider the feasibility of establishing a Council of Catholic Women in Wyoming. At the meeting he outlined the background of and the need for such an organization in the diocese. He told the ladies that the purpose of such a council was to bring unity and harmony into the lives and works of Catholic women. Moreover, he indicated that such an organization would make it possible for the ladies to be active in their parishes and thus be of great assistance to the pastors. The ladies reacted enthusiastically and proceeded to organize a council in the Cheyenne Deanery, that is, a district of the diocese presided over by a dean appointed by the bishop after consultation with the priests who exercised their ministry in that part of the diocese. The Cheyenne Council served as a model for the other deaneries, namely, Casper, Rock Springs, Sheridan, and Thermopolis. In a short time councils were formed in those districts. On October 17, 1952, Bishop Newell announced that he would apply for affiliation with the National Council of Catholic Women. It must have been a source of great satisfaction for him to be able to announce on January 16, 1953, that there would be a State Convention of the Diocesan Council to be held in Casper on May 12^th. A necessary preliminary to the event would be a meeting of the members of each Deanery Council to make suggestions for a program for the convention and select delegates to attend that assembly. The ladies responded with enthusiasm; some seven hundred women attended the deanery meetings which were convened prior to May 1, 1953. Finally, on the twelfth day of May three hundred delegates attended the first State convention of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. The bishop and twenty-five parish priests attended the meetings, contributing their moral support and encouragement.

Following guide lines provided by the officers of the National Council of Catholic Women, the ladies elected members to serve on committees (later designated commissions) recommended by the national office, namely, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Apostolic, Spiritual Development of Home and Family, Legislative, Libraries and Literature Organization and Development, Community Activities, Youth, Home, and School, Civil Defense. In time, the members of the Wyoming contingent found it difficult to staff each of the ten committees, probably because the number of available women was quite limited in comparison with dioceses with a greater number of Catholics. Consequently, the officers requested the national office to sanction a reduction of the number of committees from ten to five.>1951>4

The highlight of the convention was the election of officers for the year 1953-1954. The delegates chose the following:

President…………………………..Mrs. Julian Carpender, Cheyenne

1^st Vice President………………….Mrs. L.F. Holscher, Casper

2^nd Vice President…………………Mrs. J.H. Trusheim, Thermopolis

3^rd Vice President………………….Mrs. Don Beaton, Sheridan

4^th Vice President………………….Mrs. Glenn Staunton, Rock Springs

5^th Vice President………………….Mrs. Earl Shawver, Laramie

Secretary…………………………...Mrs. Bard Ferrall, Cheyenne

Treasurer…………………………...Mrs. John Tripeny, Casper

Historian……………………………Mrs. J.J. Hickey, Cheyenne>1951>5

These ladies provided a solid foundation for the growth of an organization which was destined to prove of inestimable value for Catholicism in Wyoming. The delegates of the deaneries who attended the State conventions had an opportunity to make new friends and become aware of the activities of Catholic women throughout the diocese.

An interesting innovation in the activity of the council was the deanery tour, that is, a week during which the bishop and the president of the council, usually with a guest speaker, visited each deanery in the diocese. A random example of the tour indicates how exacting the trip could be. One such journey started with a meeting with the ladies in Cheyenne on a Monday followed by a drive to Saratoga and attendance at a gathering there on Tuesday. That afternoon the Bishop and his associates traveled to Douglas to attend an assembly there on Wednesday thence to Sheridan to attend a meeting on Thursday, finally, completing the tour at Greybull on Friday. Any person who is knowledgeable about the distances between towns in Wyoming can appreciate the Bishop’s dedication and his willingness to support the members of the council by the encouragement he gave the ladies to their endeavors. The presidents of the council expressed their appreciation of the Bishop’s support when they wrote the following in the dedication of the “mini-history” presented in the centennial year of the diocese, 1987,

To our beloved founder, Bishop Hubert M. Newell, who set us on this journey of faith in 1953, and who was our guiding light until your retirement. …Your faith in the Catholic Women of Wyoming helped us to make the Council a force to be reckoned with. …you will always have a special place in our hearts, and our undying gratitude for being our friend, as well as our spiritual leader…>1951>6

While the organization of the Council of Catholic Women was being developed, Bishop Newell petitioned the Holy See to honor three priests of the diocese by naming them Domestic Prelates, that is, honorary members of the papal household with the title Right Reverend Monsignor. It has been noted that Bishop McGovern thought that the honor was meaningless and did not ask the Holy See to bestow the honor on any of the priests of the diocese during his thirty-nine years as Ordinary. Bishop Newell’s request was handled expeditiously by the Roman officials. The announcement was made in March, 1952 that the three priests were so honored; they were Thomas F. Reilly, Vicar General and pastor of St. Anthony’s parish, Casper, John McDevitt, J.C.D., and pastor of St. Laurence O’Toole, Laramie, and James A. Hartmann, Chancellor and rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Cheyenne. After the necessary robes, the bishop presided at the investiture of Monsignor O’Reilly on April 13^th, Monsignor McDevitt, April 20^th, and Monsignor Hartmann, May 11^th, 1952. Henceforth, the presence of the Domestic Prelates at Liturgical and other functions enhanced the ceremonies and the occasions. It is quite certain that parishioners of the three parishes deeply appreciated the honor bestowed on their pastors.

The month following the investiture of the Monsignori was notable for the dedication of DePaul Hospital which took place on June 20, 1952. Bishop Newell was aware of the difficulties that had been encountered by his predecessor in his efforts to provide such a facility for the people of Cheyenne. He knew about the Bishop’s correspondence with Mother Francesca, the superior of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, which began in June, 1945. He was also acquainted with the transactions that had taken place regarding the acquisition of the necessary property. He shared Bishop McGovern’s concern about the delays made necessary by the shortage of Sisters in the community and the lack of funds in the treasury of the Sisters of Charity. The two bishops breathed a sigh of relief when workers started construction in 1950. The Sisters had finally decided that the hospital had to be built and staffed to fulfill the commitment they had made to Bishop McGovern. They provided the major portion of the finances. However, they were mindful and grateful for the financial assistance and support given by the people of Cheyenne. Their gratitude was duly recorded in the centennial history of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth in the words, “Never have residents been more generous in offering personal services in the erection of a building.”>1951>7 Construction progressed satisfactorily and was finished by June 20, 1952 when Bishop Newell presided at the dedication of the new hospital. The first patients were admitted on July 2^nd.

One of the more notable units in the hospital was the well designed and artistic chapel made possible by the generous contribution of Mrs. Nellie Derr whose son, Cloise, had been fascinated by the Sisters so much so that he wished to do all in his power to assist the sisters in making the hospital in Cheyenne a reality. However, the young man died in 1945. The mother wished the chapel to be a memorial in honor of her son, and his name is moralized on a plaque in the vestibule.

When Bishop Newell succeeded as the Ordinary of the Diocese of Cheyenne he automatically became the chairman of the Board of Directors of St. Joseph’s Children’s Home, a position that had been cherished by Bishop McGovern for twenty-seven years. By 1951 the Home had become an important establishment in Wyoming supported by the generosity of Catholic and non-Catholic citizens of the State. However, there was constant need for financial assistance. To meet this need the Bishop appointed a priest of the diocese and designated him Assistant Superintendent. The major task of this priest was to solicit funds by preaching in the parish churches throughout the State. During Bishop McGovern’s regime the sisters who staffed the Home prepared material describing the needs of the institution to help the fund raising efforts. Bishop Newell relieved the Sisters of this responsibility. He hired a professional advertising agency and commissioned it to prepare a printed brochure publicizing the activities of the Home and the dedicated work of the Sisters who cared for the children.

In the meantime, a number of Bishop McGovern’s friends contributed to a fund which made possible the purchase of an eight foot statue of St Joseph embracing two children to be placed on the front lawn of the Home as a tribute to the memory of the bishop whose vision and determination had made the institution a reality. The statue was ordered from a firm in Italy. Bishop Newell planned a fitting celebration for the dedication of the statue. He invited Archbishop Urban J. Ver to honor the occasion by presiding at the dedication. The ceremony took place on August 3, 1952. Seven hundred people from Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska attended the event. Later that evening a dinner was served to the guests; the Governor of Wyoming, The Honorable Frank Barrett, delivered an address.>1951>8

Four months later, November, 1952, Bishop Newell announced plans for the remodeling and modernizing of the kitchen facilities and providing new food preparation equipment as well as new dining rooms and storage space. Moreover, it was imperative that showers, wash rooms, and new laundry machinery be furnished. Those responsible for providing these important needs planned an addition which would be connected to the main building by an enclosed passageway. The architectural details were entrusted to the planning of John K. Monroe, the Denver architect who had designed a number of new buildings in the diocese. The contract for construction was awarded to the Fullen Company. The necessary funds were solicited throughout Wyoming. It is pleasant to note that a substantial bequest came from Harriet Thorne-Rider to the amount of $100,000.>1951>9 It would seem that Bishop Newell made a favorable impression on that lady when he visited the Thorne-Riders on a less auspicious occasion. The new facilities were ready for use by July 4, 1954 and were properly dedicated on that day which also commemorated the 25^th anniversary of St. Joseph’s Children’s Home.

The Wyoming Catholic Register fulfilled the purpose of making its readers aware of the activities of their co-religionists throughout the state as well as the contemporary status of their Church. For example, readers learned that their Church was alive and well; the total number of Catholics was almost 50,000, a gain of approximately 50% in a decade.

The building programs that had been launched after the Second World War included plans to provide for the educational needs of a growing population. New schools were constructed in a number of cities. Old St. Mary’s in Cheyenne was replaced and a new structure built providing sixteen classrooms. This school was dedicated by Bishop Newell, August 31, 1952. A catechetical center was constructed for St. Joseph’s parish in Cheyenne for the Sisters of Victory Noll.>1951>10 The parish of St. Laurence O’Toole in Laramie was graced with a school staffed by seven Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. St. Joseph’s parish in Rawlins was fortunate to have six Sisters of Loretta at the Foot of the Cross to staff the new parochial school. The Church in Rock Springs seemed to be thriving; the two parishes in that city opened schools; Our Lady of Sorrows with three Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth and Sts. Cyril and Methodius with four Sisters from the same congregation. The significant increase of the number of religious teachers augmented by the twelve hospital Sisters, Daughters of the Divine Redeemer who staffed the Weston County Memorial Hospital in Newcastle, enhanced the Catholic presence in the State. Catholic children in smaller communities were not neglected. Pastors invited Sisters to come to their parishes during the summer vacation to teach children for a few weeks. The Register, September 19, 1952, reported that 1,500 children had been instructed during the summer.

A number of other interesting items that were newsworthy were recorded in the paper during the first year, namely, the fact that the collection for The Catholic University in Washington D.C., an annual event throughout the United States in Catholic parishes, was taken up for the first time in Wyoming during the month of July, 1952. The officers of the fraternal order of the Knights of Columbus announced that the Knights had initiated some two hundred candidates. Bishop Newell published a letter declaring a crusade for converts to make readers aware of the opportunity they had to invite prospective converts to learn more about the Catholic Church. There were signs for a brighter future for the diocese in the announcement that there were sixteen seminarians studying for the priesthood.

It is evident that the diocese was not stagnant. Many of the accomplishments during the first year of Bishop Newell’s episcopate had their beginning during the last years of his predecessor’s regime. The fifth bishop of Cheyenne added his remarkable ability to capitalize on those beginnings and see them through to the desired end, while at the same time giving new impetus to projects that appealed to his pastoral sense and which had been developing for some time. One such project was the Newman Club at the University of Wyoming. The Club, an organization serving the religious needs of the Catholic students attending the University, had been established by the Very Reverend John T. Nicholson, V.G., pastor of St. Laurence O’Toole parish in Laramie, 1921-1935. His successor as pastor and chaplain of the Newman Club was Reverend John McDevitt, J.C.D., later Monsignor. He was a vivacious and dedicated priest who enhanced the status of the club by establishing, with the approval of Bishop McGovern, a Catholic School of Religion which with the approbation of the officials of the university granted nine hours of transfer credits to students who satisfactorily completed the course taught by Father McDevitt.>1951>11 The school began to operate in January, 1938. It furnished a good foundation for the further development of the Newman Club of the university. It was an interesting fact that about that time the Newman apostolate was entering a new phase of its development, gaining recognition and support that had been lacking due to a controversy challenging the movement as a threat to Catholic colleges and universities. In 1952 the Newman Club Federation was given a full-time executive secretary who was appointed to direct the activities of the Newman Clubs from a troubled past was made clear when national officers and regional chaplains held a three day meeting in Boulder, Colorado late December, 1952.One of the prominent speakers at the assembly was Monsignor John McDevitt of Laramie, Wyoming. A measure of the success of the Newman apostolate was indicated in the fact that thirty-four members were initiated into the club in February, 1953. In due time Bishop Newell would give eminent proof of his full support of the Newman apostolate.

A number of communities besides Laramie laid claim on the Bishop’s attention. Over the years cities and towns in Wyoming with a significant number of Catholics could expect to have a resident pastor. Other places had to depend on occasional visits from the nearest priest. In fact, a number of pastors in Wyoming were responsible for a Mission or Missions in less populated towns in their vicinity. In time, when an increase in the Catholic population warranted it, a resident pastor would be assigned to minister to the faithful in a given community.

A town that merited the attention of Bishop McGovern in 1949 was Superior, a coal mining town east of Rock Springs and a mission of Our Lady of Sorrows parish. The Bishop announced that Superior would thenceforth have a parish with Reverend William E. Delaney as pastor. This decision was made public in November, 1949 at a time when the building boom was well under way in the diocese. Sufficient funds to finance construction, however, were not immediately available. Father Delaney had the task of acquiring the necessary resources. The undertaking received support in the form of a donation from what would appear to have been an unlikely source, namely a check for $5,000 donated by Mr. Frank DeMarco of Little Neck, New York. The check was given through the good offices of the Extension Society as a memorial for Mr. DeMarco’s wife. Construction on the church in Superior was completed by the middle of December, 1952 when it was dedicated by Bishop Newell and placed under the patronage of St. Vivian. Eventually it became evident that due to the fact that coal mining was somewhat unpredictable, the Catholics of Superior were not able to support a resident pastor. By 1968 St. Vivian’s parish once again became a Mission of Our Lady of Sorrows, Rock Springs.

Catholics in Lovell fared better than their coreligionists in Superior; their church, under the patronage of St. Joseph, was raised to the status of a parish, in February, 1953, Reverend John Brady, pastor. Eight months later, in October, Our Lady of Peace in Pinedale was designated a parish with Reverend Charles Bartek, resident pastor. About the same time Bishop Newell and his advisers responded to requests of Catholics living in the vicinity of Clark, a town northwest of Powell near the Montana border, and designated Clark a Mission of St. Barbara’s parish in Powell. The petitioners reacted with enthusiasm and within a year a very practical chapel was built. Bishop Newell blessed the chapel on October 6, 1954 placing it under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin with the title of Our Lady of the Valley.

The final decision to establish a new parish or mission was the prerogative of the Bishop of the diocese. However, bishops of necessity, relied on reports and suggestions made by local pastors. An example of the initiative of a pastor in this matter was the action taken by the pastor of St. Anthony’s parish in Casper, Very Reverend Thomas O’Reilly, Vicar General of the diocese, and, later a Monsignor, who realized that there was a significant increase in the number of Catholics making their home in Casper. The need for a second parish became evident. To prepare for that eventuality he obtained ten acres of land on the south side of CY on 20^th street. He paid the reasonable price of $1,000 an acre. The transaction took place in July, 1949. No further action was possible at the time because the necessary funds were not available. Father O’Reilly was no stranger to Casper; he had been pastor of St. Anthony’s for fourteen years. It is not surprising that he was aware of the fact that the United States Government had adopted a policy of making war surplus obtainable by interested parties at a reasonable expenditure. It happened that a military chapel which had been located on the property of a base in Casper which had been used by servicemen stationed there during the second world war was being offered to whomever cared to purchase it. St. Anthony’s parish offered the government $17,050 for the chapel which was named Little Chapel of the Sagebrush. It then became necessary to move the building to the site that had been acquired earlier. The task of moving the chapel was a challenging one. However, Mr. Fred Trost, owner of Midwest Movers, Inc. was equal to the task. When the chapel was in place on its new location its name was changed to Our Lady of Fatima and was, temporarily, a mission of St. Anthony’s parish. In 1954 it became a parish with Reverend Alphonsus H. Grannan as the first pastor.>1951>12

It is clear that the Catholic Church became more visible in a number of cities and towns in Wyoming during the first two years of Bishop Newell’s episcopate. Many of the achievements of that period were the culmination of building projects that had been undertaken while Bishop Newell was coadjutor. It was gratifying that the momentum had accelerated and a number of goals had been attained, thanks to the cooperation of the laity and the leadership of the parish priests. It must have been noticeable that there was better rapport between the bishop and the priests of the diocese.

An event that enhanced the visibility of Catholicism in Wyoming was the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the fraternal order of the Knights of Columbus. It may be recalled that the order was not a favorite of Monsignor Hugh Cummiskey, early and long time pastor of St. Laurence O’Toole parish in Laramie, who requested the national officials of the Knights to revoke the charter of the Laramie Council. Sometime later the charter was restored and the order prospered. In fact one of the order’s more enthusiastic supporters was another Monsignor of Laramie, John McDevitt, J.C.D. The first Council of the Knights of Columbus in Wyoming was organized in Cheyenne and received its charter July 12, 1903. Subsequently, twelve more councils were charted in Wyoming. With understandable pride the members and their wives and supporters celebrated the 50^th anniversary of the introduction of the order in Wyoming for three days, September 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th, 1953 in Casper. The Order was honored by and grateful for the Bishop’s recognition of their existence and the services they rendered in support of Catholicism in the Diocese of Cheyenne.

Five months before the celebration of the jubilee of the Knights of Columbus Catholics in Wyoming were given a striking reminder of the debt they owed to the priests, European and American, who laid a solid foundation for Catholicism in their State. From the time of the establishment of the diocese the bishops necessarily recruited priests to minister to the faithful. Some priests came to Wyoming for reasons of health; others because they desired to serve the Church in what could be considered missionary territory. An example of the universality of the Catholic Church is found in the contributions of European priests who volunteered to come to the United States to exercise their ministry in newly established dioceses. The generosity of priests who came from Ireland to serve in many dioceses in the United States is legendary. The number of priests from other countries could not match the total from Ireland but many of those who did come served with distinction. One in particular became a legend in southern Wyoming in his time, namely, Reverend Henry Schellinger who came to Cheyenne in 1906 with a classmate, Reverend Nicholas Endres. The former was a native of Holland, the latter of Belgium. Both men studied for the priesthood in the American College at Louvain, Belgium, a seminary established and financed by some American bishops to train European seminarians for parochial service in what were considered the American Missions. Presumably, Bishop James J. Keane of Cheyenne recruited Fathers Schellinger and Endres to exercise their sacerdotal ministry in his diocese. A younger brother of Henry, Gerard, came to the diocese somewhat later.

Henry Schellinger’s first assignment was to the Cathedral in Cheyenne. Shortly thereafter, the Bishop sent him to minister to the Catholics in Carneyville and Dietz in the Sheridan area, towns which were sites of coal mining. Bishop Keane’s successor, Patrick A. McGovern, recalled Father Schellinger and appointed him pastor of Immaculate Conception parish in Green River, June, 1913. The faithful in that parish were used to seeing priests come and go over the years. In fact, there had been twenty-eight priests exercising the ministry in Green River in forty-five years, from 1868-1913.>1951>13 No one would have predicted that the newly appointed pastor would keep his position for forty years before announcing his retirement for reasons of health in April, 1953. During his tenure he remodeled and enlarged the church building, purchased property for future development, built a substantial parish rectory, and with an eye to a more comfortable existence, planned it so that he could offer the upstairs rooms to renters who were permitted to use the kitchen and dining room facilities, an arrangement that provided the pastor with his meals.>1951>14

In time, Father Schellinger made friends among those who were associated with the Union Pacific Railroad. The friends facilitated his travels in southern Wyoming. He used the railroad to go to Rock Springs to visit his close friend, Reverend Sylvester A. Welsh, pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows parish in Rock Springs. He also used the railroad to carry him to the Missions in Carbon County where he exercised his ministry taking the place of the priest whose duty it was to visit the places, namely, Reverend Joseph Conrath, pastor of St. Joseph’s parish in Rawlins. At times Father Conrath was too ill to travel to his Missions. Later, Father Henry Schellinger would visit Rawlins regularly to spend some time with his younger brother who was assigned to St. Joseph’s parish for a time. A Wyoming priest who knew Father Henry Schellinger quite well, Monsignor John Meyer, paid tribute to the Dutch priest when he wrote:

Father came to know the Union Pacific parishes and missions very well. He helped to all the way from Hanna to Evanston. He knew of side trips to Saratoga and Encampment, and he used to talk about a stage trip from Wamsutter to Bags on a July 3^rd; when the coach was caught in an out of season snow storm, that made for very hard going. Every place he was known, he was respected and loved. Plain he was, but ever the model kind parish priest.>1951>15

The priests of the Rock Springs Deanery hosted a testimonial dinner to honor Father Schellinger at the time of his retirement. No doubt, there were many words of praise and appreciation for his forty years of priestly service to the Catholics of Green River and the town along the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad across southern Wyoming. In an emotional response the veteran priest assured all present that he had been happy in their State serving his Church and the people of God for a total of forty-seven years. Father Schellinger retired to Florida where he spent the final months of his life serving as a chaplain to a group of religious women.

The announcement of Father Schellinger’s retirement was duly noted in the Register which served its purpose as a medium reporting newsworthy developments of interest to Catholics in Wyoming. Bishop Newell used the approaching first anniversary of the appearance of the diocesan newspaper to designate March 22, 1953 “Register Sunday.” All pastors were urged to encourage the members of their congregations to support the publication.

Readers of the diocesan newspaper were gratified to learn that their bishop was taking an active part in the annual meetings of the Bishops of the United States, later known as the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Bishop Newell’s experience as superintendent of parochial schools in Colorado and consultant to the education department of the National Catholic Welfare Conference qualified him to serve on the Episcopal Committee in charge of promoting the work of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. His qualifications were recognized by Most Reverend Edwin V. O’Hara, Bishop of Kansas City, Missouri, Chairman of the Committee who invited the Bishop of Cheyenne to become a member of that body joining Matthew F. Brady, Bishop of Manchester, New Hampshire, William P. O’Connor of Madison, Wisconsin and Joseph M. Gilmore of Helena, Montana. The members of the committee were responsible for promoting the work of the confraternity in a region covering the states of Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma.

The bishop’s involvement on the national level did not hinder his efforts to keep pace with developments in his diocese. High on the list of his priorities for the diocese was his determination to recruit seminarians. The number of those preparing to serve in Wyoming had been increasing since 1948. In that year the Official Catholic Directory recorded that there were six seminarians studying for Cheyenne. Three years later fifteen were enrolled. The number increased to twenty-six in 1954. Of the latter number, four were in a seminary in Ireland. They were Sean A. Farren, Patrick J. McGovern, Cornelius O’Connor, and James O’Neill. Father Farren was destined to serve in the diocese from 1954 to 1978 and continued his ministry in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Father Patrick McGovern met with an untimely death in an automobile accident in February, 1962. Father O’Connor served the diocese well from 1954 until his death in August, 1977. Father O’Neill, later Monsignor, started his ministry in the Cathedral as an assistant, and eventually, rector. He also served as Vicar General of the diocese succeeding his compatriot in that office, Monsignor Thomas F. O’Reilly who died in March, 1974. Almost ten years later Monsignor O’Neill was transferred from the Cathedral to Casper where he became pastor of St. Anthony’s parish. A fifth seminarian, Joseph E. Moroney, finished his studies and preparation in St. Thomas Seminary in Denver.

In 1955, Bishop Newell reviewed the accomplishments of seven and a half years of service in Wyoming with a certain amount of satisfaction. Much had been achieved. However, he realized that much more had to be done. In April, 1955, he announced that he planned to establish a third parish in Cheyenne under the patronage of The Holy Trinity; a parish that had been proposed for East Cheyenne by his predecessor who had purchased property for a church in that part of the city. Later, during the month of May, he announced that he was establishing a parish in Jackson to be placed under the patronage of Our Lady of the Tetons (later the title was changed to Our Lady of the Mountains). The first pastor, Reverend James Doudican, a native of Ireland, would have the responsibility of making the parish a reality.

The review of the status of the diocese made its financial limitations abundantly clear. Bishop Newell decided to establish a solid fiscal foundation by means of a fund-raising campaign. Late in April, 1955, he requested that pastors read a letter in all parishes and missions on Sunday, May 1^st, announcing that there would be a major campaign to provide the necessary revenue to finance needed building projects. The minimum goal of the drive was set at one million dollars.

Using techniques developed by fund-raising professionals, the Bishop established a committee and invited T. Joe Cahill of Cheyenne and Timothy J. Mahoney of Casper to serve as co-chairmen. Under their leadership 2,500 volunteer workers would be recruited and commissioned to visit the homes of Catholics and request parishioners to make pledges to contribute whatever they could afford to help meet the quota set for each parish and mission. This information was duly noted in the Register in the issues of May 6^th and 13^th.

An interesting aspect of the preliminaries of the campaign was the publication of an article in the May 20^th issue of the Register listing the needs of the parishes and missions. Readers were given a comprehensive view of the status of the diocese as well as knowledge of the more important needs of the churches. Catholics learned that thirteen pastors hoped to benefit from the campaign by receiving financial assistance to make it possible for them to reduce their indebtedness. The pastors were Monsignor James A. Hartmann, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Reverend James Ruddy, St. Joseph’s Cheyenne, Monsignor John McDevitt, St. Laurence O’Toole’s Laramie, Reverend Paul Hellrung, St. Rose’s, Torrington, Reverend Terence McGovern, Corpus Christi, Newcastle, Reverend Francis T. Penny, St. Anthony’s, Cody, Reverend Thomas Cleary, St. Helen (Mission), Clark, Reverend Adolph Pate, St. Margaret’s, Riverton, Reverend Cyril Hmelovsky, St. Mary Magdalen’s, Worland, Reverend John M. Meyer, St. Joseph’s, Rawlins, Very Reverend S. A. Welsh, Our Lady of Sorrows, Rock Springs, Reverend Aloys Diekemper, M.S.C., St. Vivian’s Superior.

Living quarters in a number of the parishes were somewhat less than adequate. Ten pastors hoped to be able to build suitable rectories. The article in the Register named the following: Monsignor John McDevitt, Laramie, Fathers, Paul Hellrung, Torrington, A.H. Grannan, Our Lady of Fatima, Casper, Bartholomew Svete, Hartville, James Powers, Buffalo, Terence McGovern, Newcastle, Frederick Kimmett, Sheridan, Philip Krass, Thermopolis, S.A. Welsh, Rock Springs, Francis T. Penny, Cody. Leonard Wren O.F.M.Conv. was a resident priest in Wheatland, a mission of Douglas; he hoped to be able to obtain a building near the church to be used as a rectory.

The revitalization of parish life in the diocese prompted twelve pastors to plan to build parish halls. These priests counted on the success of the fund-raising campaign to assist them to finalize plans for the halls. The parishes were: Douglas, Glenrock ( a mission of Douglas), Hartville, Buffalo, Gillette, Lander, Lovell, Powell, Thermopolis, Evanston, and Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Rock Springs. The recently established parish in Cheyenne, Holy Trinity, with Reverend William E.Delaney as pastor, hoped for a combination church and parish hall with classrooms if possible.

Seventeen pastors wished to obtain financial assistance to help them make necessary repairs in buildings that had deteriorated through the years. Five were resident pastors, namely, Frederick Kimmett, Sheridan, James Godley, Evanston, John Marley, Green River, Charles Bartek, Pinedale, and Bartholomew Svete, Hartville. The other churches were in towns designated as missions which were attended by the pastor of a parish in a neighboring city. The buildings were more likely to fall into a state of disrepair due to infrequent use. The Register noted that twelve mission churches needed renovation. They were: St. Raphael, Carpenter (Pine Bluffs), St. Joseph, Albin (Pine Bluffs, Our Lady of Lourdes, Glendo (Hartville), St. Louis, Wyarno (Ranchester), St. Albert, Four Corners (Newcastle), St. Paul, Sundance (Newcastle), St. Helen, Fort Bridger (Evanston), St. Dominic, Cokeville (Kemmerer), St. Anne, Big Piney (Pinedale), St. Joseph, Hanna (Rawlins), St. Philip, Basin (Greybull), Ascension, Hudson, (Lander).

Pastors with parishes with schools hoped to gain assistance to help them to improve facilities. For example, Monsignor Hartmann, rector of the Cathedral, indicated that he needed help to make possible the expansion of high school facilities to accommodate additional pupils. Monsignor O’Reilly, pastor of St. Anthony’s in Casper, hoped to be able to acquire land for school expansion and facilities for additional pupils. Monsignor McDevitt, pastor of St. Laurence O’Toole in Laramie, planned to build an addition to the parish school. Father Paul Hellrung, pastor of St. Rose in Torrington, envisioned a new parish school as did Father Adolph Pate, pastor of St. Margaret in Riverton. Father John Meyer, pastor of St. Joseph in Rawlins, planned to increase the school facilities.

Many teachers were members of religious congregations of women. Because of the increase of activity in Catholic education, the number of nuns in the diocese had increased from 55 in 1948 to 118 in 1955. It was understood that the pastor was expected to provide suitable living quarters for the religious women who taught in the parish school. The Dominican Sisters who taught in St. Mary’s in Cheyenne had recently been provided with a convent as had the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary who taught at St. Anthony’s parish in Casper. The pastors of Holy Name in Sheridan, St. Joseph’s in Rawlins and St. Laurence O’Toole in Laramie hoped that the fund-raising campaign would make it possible for them to build convents to house the Sisters who taught in their parish schools. Father John Marley, pastor of Immaculate Conception parish in Green River, hoped that he would be able to renovate a parish owned house so that it could be used as a convent.

Seven pastors realized that they could not support a parochial school. However, they wished to provide religious instruction for the children by establishing a catechetical center in which Sisters would teach religion on the elementary and secondary levels for Catholic children who attended public schools. Such a center had been established at St. Joseph’s parish in Cheyenne and had been blessed by Bishop Newell in September, 1953. Members of Our Lady of Victory Sisters, (commonly known as Victory Noll) staffed the center. It seems that the project prospered because Father James Ruddy, pastor of St. Joseph’s, hoped to obtain financial aid from the campaign to provide an additional classroom in the center. Pastors of Douglas, Gillette, Greybull, Powell, Worland, and Green River planned to establish catechetical centers in their parishes.

The people of St. Leo’s, Lusk, St. Ann’s, Saratoga, St. Anthony’s, Upton, and the station of Wamsutter (Rawlins), wished for nothing less than new churches. Reverend Leonard Wren, O.F.M.Conv. who attended the mission of Chugwater wished to enlarge the church and install a new heating system. Father James Doudican, pastor of recently established parish of Our Lady of the Tetons in Jackson, wished to acquire property for future use. A second new parish, not yet established in 1955, was planned by Monsignor O’Reilly who had purchased 3.2 acres on the eastern edge of the city of Casper on the corner of 4^th and Country Club Road. The Monsignor hoped that the campaign would make available resources to assist him in making a third parish in Casper a reality.

Over and above the needs of the parishes and missions the Bishop had two projects in mind that he hoped to be able to finance with money contributed during the campaign. The first was his plan to establish a fund to make it possible to provide financial support for seminarians preparing for service in the diocese. Secondly, he wished to prosper the work of the Newman apostolate by building a student center for members of the Newman Club near the University of Wyoming in Laramie.

The informative article in the Register publicized the goals of the drive to raise funds. After careful preparation the first phase of the campaign was set in motion when the 2,500 volunteers attended dinners on June 2^nd at which they made their pledges. On June 5^th workers visited parishioners and recorded the sum that each family pledged to contribute to the campaign fund. The success of the venture exceeded the expectations of those who organized the drive. The Register reported that the amount pledged on June 5^th totaled $1,314,662. A week later the total reached $1,728,444. The final published amount, June 24^th, was $1,840,392. Parishioners were given a period of thirty months during which they could contribute the amount they had pledged. The success of the campaign exceeded the expectations of all concerned. Catholics in Wyoming were just proud of their accomplishment.

In the meantime church related activities demonstrated that there was a healthy vitality in the diocese. For example, Sisters of various religious congregations conducted vacation schools in which they gave religious instruction to children who did not have an opportunity to attend parochial schools. A total of 2,789 boys and girls attended classes in their home parishes during the month of June, 1955. Two anniversaries gave evidence of stability in the diocese, namely the diamond jubilee, 75^th, of St. John the Baptist parish in Buffalo and the silver, 25^th, of St. Joseph’s Children’s Home in Torrington. The notable anniversaries were properly celebrated according to plans formulated under the leadership of Father James Power, pastor in Buffalo, and Father Leo Morgan, superintendent of St. Joseph’s Home. Another sign of vitality was the installation of Father James Doudican as pastor of the recently established parish of Our Lady of the Mountains in Jackson. A further significant evidence of vitality was the increase in the number of women who joined the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. The enthusiasm and dedication of the first members of that organization generated a lively response from women throughout the State. In the rather brief period of three years the officers of the Council counted 5,000 women who were active in their parishes working to achieve their goals.

For thirty months, June, 1955 to January, 1958, Bishop Newell kept a watchful eye on the progress of the efforts to collect the funds that had been pledged during the campaign. When that period expired, January, 1958, a total of S$1,5000,000 had been collected. That sum was over $300,000 short of the amount pledged. Hoping to collect some, if not all, the outstanding pledges the Bishop announced that he would extend the period six more months during which parishioners could contribute what they had promised.

Somewhat later, March, 1959, the Bishop announced that there would be another drive aimed at encouraging parishioners to assist the pastors in placing parish finances on a more solid basis. The goal of this drive was to instruct the faithful that they had an obligation to contribute to the support of their parish. The slogan for this drive was “Put the Church in Your Budget.” The Bishop made it clear that this campaign was not just another drive rather it was a prayerful approach on a spiritual plane to help every Catholic understand and live up to his/her obligation to contribute to the support of the Church. He emphasized the fact that there would be no quota or money goal set. April 26^th was designated “Parish Appeal Sunday.” As early as May 1^st the project was considered to be a major success.

Bishop Newell had reason to feel satisfied with developments in the diocese. The fund raising campaign was moderately successful. It made possible the achievement of important objectives. One of these, high on the Bishop’s list of priorities, was the building of a multi-purpose hall to be used by members of the Newman Club of the University of Wyoming in Laramie. The Bishop had also directed that a chapel be built, placed under the patronage of St. Paul the Apostle, to serve as a parish church for students, faculty members, and employees of the university and their families. The Newman apostolate had prospered under the direction of Monsignor John McDevitt, pastor of St. Laurence O’Toole parish in Laramie and his assistants, the latest being Father Joseph Moroney. The Bishop appreciated the endeavors of these dedicated priests. However, when the building of the hall and chapel was completed he decided that the Newman Club should have a full time chaplain. He appointed Father Charles F. Taylor, a native of Kemmerer, who had been ordained in 1953 for service in the diocese, chaplain of the Newman Club and pastor of St. Paul’s parish. Father Taylor had recently returned to Wyoming from Rome where he had studied at the North American College and earned his doctor’s degree in Canon Law.

The year 1960 was noteworthy for a number of events that indicated the growing maturity of the diocese. For example, the Catholic students attending the university were given an opportunity to broaden their knowledge of the world when Father Taylor invited the rector of Westminister Cathedral in London, England, Canon Francis J. Bartlett, to spend some time with the students. The year was also memorable for the ordination of two Wyomingites to the priesthood, Rev. John Murray and Rev. Gerald Chleborad. In September of that year the full time chaplain of the Newman Club in Laramie made his presence felt by adding seven new courses to the curriculum of the Catholic School of Religion. In October, the rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Rev. Frederick J. Kimmett who succeeded Monsignor James A. Hartmann, the perennial (1915-1958) rector of the Church, announced plans for complete renovation of the building which had fallen into a state of disrepair. The cost of the project was $250,000. A sad note was added to the events of the decade when the Conventual Franciscans informed Bishop Newell that they would withdraw from St. James parish in Douglas. The Franciscans had been active in Wyoming since 1910. The friars had made Douglas their headquarters from which they gradually branched out as they ministered to the faithful in four counties, namely, Niobrara, Platte, Goshen, and Converse. After 49 years of dedicated ministry to Catholics in those counties, the superiors of the order needed men in other parts of the country where their members were committed to staff schools and preach missions. By September 15, 1960 the Conventual Franciscans had relinquished all their parishes in Wyoming except St. Patrick’s in Wheatland where Father Leonard Wren, O.F.M. Conv. continued as pastor for ten years. The diocese had been fortunate to have had these dedicated men who gave the Catholics of significant part of Wyoming an ever memorable example of Christian devotion and service.

The year 1961 marked the tenth anniversary of Bishop Newell’s episcopate. In late April he had a heart attack and was taken to DePaul Hospital. The preliminary prognosis indicated that the attack was not as serious as it might have been. However, the Bishop would have to undergo a period of enforced rest during which he would have to lose weight and, incidentally, give up smoking his favorite cigars.>1951>16

Undoubtedly, during the period of his recuperation, he kept informed about diocesan developments. He had a special interest in the progress that Father Taylor was making as chaplain of the Newman Club in Laramie, a progress that was notable for innovation. For example, on April 21, 1961, Father Taylor announced that he was planning to provide an opportunity for Catholic students to learn more about their faith and their church by establishing a Newman School of Catholic Thought. He was in the process of inviting qualified educators to be members of the faculty of the school which would be in session June 5^th to the 10^th, 1961. The participating instructors were Rev. Bruce Vawter, C.M., renowned scripture scholar, St. Thomas Seminary, Denver, Rev. Edward L. Maginnis, S.J., Theology, Regis College, Denver, Rev. Bede Butler, O.S.B., Liturgy, Holy Cross Abbey, Canon City, Colorado, Rev. Harold L. Stansell, S.J. Church History, Regis College, Denver and Professor John Senior, Literature, University of Wyoming.

On June 4, 1961 some forty students assembled in Laramie ready to make the best of an opportunity to be enlightened about their faith. They were presented with an exciting schedule which assured them that they would be kept busy for five days. The schedule proposed an early start with morning prayer followed by a lecture at nine and one at ten, Mass at eleven, then lunch. Afternoon classes at one and two then free time until dinner at six. After the evening meal there was a plenary session of students and faculty from 7:30 to 9:30. The evening session offered participants an opportunity for lively discussion about perplexing problems. A high light of the week was an outing in a park in the mountains east of Laramie. This event provided students with an excellent chance to let off steam and revive their flagging spirits. The schedule was a product of a vivacious and very practical man who understood college students. No one could doubt that the week was an interesting one and the success that was achieved prompted Father Taylor to plan a program for the following year.

A cursory summary of the entry for the diocese of Cheyenne in the Official Catholic Directory for the year 1961 reveals the state of the diocese on the tenth anniversary of Bishop Newell’s incumbency. It is noteworthy that DePaul Hospital was measuring up to expectations. Ten Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth with the help of other nurses cared for over four thousand inpatients and two thousand outpatients. St. Joseph’s Children’s Home was efficiently administered by Father Leo Morgan, assisted by Father Michael Butler, who, with the assistance of eight Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, cared for over sixty dependent children. Three catechetical centers, St. Joseph’s, Cheyenne, Immaculate Conception, Green River, and St. Barbara, Powell, staffed by Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters assured young people opportunities for religious instruction. Thirty-seven parishes had resident pastors. Three, St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Anthony’s in Casper and St. Joseph’s in Rawlins were served by two assistant pastors. Nine parishes had one assistant pastor. Twenty-two pastors exercised their ministry in a neighboring mission or, in some cases missions, of which there was a total of thirty-seven.

Catholic education was high on Bishop Newell’s list of priorities. During the first ten years of his episcopate the number of parochial schools in Wyoming doubled from four to eight. Over, three thousand boys and girls attended these schools. Provision was made for students in public schools to attend special religious instruction classes. The entry in the directory for 1961 recorded that 930 high school students and 2,329 children in elementary schools attended such classes. A total of 7,114 young people availed themselves of Catholic instruction. The total Catholic population at that time was 48,500 in a state which claimed 330,066 people.>1951>17

During the period of the Bishop’s convalescence the governance of the diocese was in the capable hands of the Vicar General, Monsignor Thomas F. O’Reilly. Late in August, 1961, a trim and rested Bishop Newell resumed his responsibility as shepherd of the Catholic flock in Wyoming. While he recuperated he had an excellent opportunity to review his accomplishments during the first ten years as bishop. Moreover, he found time to make plans for the future.

A major impending event that required considerable amount of planning was the 75^th anniversary of the existence of the diocese. The period of preparation provided the bishop and the faithful, clerical and lay, an opportunity to rejoice and give thanks to God for the many blessings bestowed on the diocese. A highlight of the celebration was a Solemn Pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving on February 21, 1962 with 8 bishops in attendance. They were, Archbishop Urban J. Vehr of Denver, his auxiliary Bishop David M. Maloney, Bernard J. Sullivan, S.J., retired bishop of Patna, India, Joseph M. Gilmore of Helena, Montana, William T. McCarty, C.SS.R., Rapid City, South Dakota, Joseph L. Federal, Salt Lake City, Utah, John L. Paschang, Grand Island, Nebraska, and Charles A. Busell, Pueblo, Colorado. The gracious and grateful Bishop of Cheyenne delivered the sermon.

The year 1962 was memorable for a number of other noteworthy events. One was tragic, namely, the untimely death of Father Patrick J. McGovern who had come from Ireland in 1954 to serve in the diocese. After the conclusion of the activities of the jubilee Father McGovern drove to Colorado Springs to visit a parishioner who was ill. On the return trip he encountered a ground blizzard in the vicinity of Loveland, Colorado during which his car collided with a heavy Cadillac. The Wyoming priest was rushed to the hospital in Loveland. Efforts to save his life were futile; he died on the operating table.>1951>18

The Newman School of Catholic Thought was set for the week of June 4^th to the 8^th. This was the second venture for which Father Taylor had enlisted Reverend Eugene H. Maly, faculty member of St. Mary’s Seminary of the West, Norwood, Ohio to lecture on Sacred Scripture. Three veterans of the first endeavor repeated in the second, namely, Fathers Butler, O.S.B. and Stansell, S.J. and Professor John Senior.

Other happenings worthy of note included the establishment of a council of the Knights of Columbus. Officials of the Order granted a charter to Council 5291 of Holy Trinity parish in Cheyenne; the fifteenth council in the State.

Another highlight of the year 1962 was the celebration of the Golden Sacerdotal Jubilee of Monsignor James H. Hartman who had been recruited for service in the diocese by Bishop James J. Keane when he visited the Josephinum Seminary in Columbus, Ohio where James Hartmann was preparing for ordination to the priesthood. The young seminarian accepted the Bishop’s invitation. Shortly after his ordination he came to Cheyenne. In 1915 Bishop McGovern appointed him chancellor of the diocese and rector of the Cathedral. He was destined to serve 57 years as Chancellor, 1915 to 1972, and as rector of the Cathedral for 44 years, 1915 to 1959. In the course of time he acquired other responsibilities such as paying regular visits to the County Memorial Hospital and Veteran’s. Furthermore, he was treasurer of St. Joseph’s Children’s Home, superintendent of St. Mary’s grade and high school, teacher of religion and German in the high school, moderator of the Legion of Mary and Vicar General in the Matrimonial Court. Whenever there was a special pontifical celebration in the Cathedral Monsignor Hartman acted as master of ceremonies. Somehow he managed to conduct regular instruction classes for prospective converts and gained an enviable reputation for bringing them into the Church. On a more mundane level he was a successful gardener who provided vegetables in season and in abundance for the priests living in the Cathedral rectory.>1951>19 His accomplishments were duly recognized when his brother priests honored him at a luncheon held in the Plains Hotel in Cheyenne.

It has been noted that the diocese was indebted to the Catholic Extension Society for financial assistance which made possible the construction of churches in sparsely populated towns. The Society moreover sponsored a program of recruiting, training and assigning lay mission workers to lend assistance to hard pressed pastors in struggling dioceses. At the end of August, 1962, 20 volunteers came to Wyoming and were assigned to assist pastors in nine parishes.

While these developments were taking place in Wyoming greater ones were taking place throughout the Catholic world. This was the time that a major event was being planned, one that would affect the Church throughout the world. On January 25, 1959, Pope John XXIII announced his intention to summon an ecumenical council. A year and a half later, June 5, 1960 the Pope established preparatory commissions and secretariats. Pope John convoked the council on December 25, 1961 and designated October 11, 1962 as the day of the solemn opening. Bishop Newell left Wyoming for Rome, September, 1962. The Council opened on October 11^th. It took time to decide on procedures, in fact, eight weeks transpired without much progress being made. At the time the health of the Pope was deteriorating and on December 8^th he closed the first period. Little of a positive nature was accomplished during the first period of the council. When Pope John died on June 3, 1963 the Council and all its activities were suspended. However, Pope John’s successor, Paul VI, announced his intention to continue the Council and fixed the opening date for the second period for September 29, 1963.

Some ten weeks after his return to the diocese Bishop Newell and three laymen, Professor John Senior, Basil Imburgia and Fred Dreves, were honored for their contributions to the Newman apostolate at a banquet served in the Newman Center in Laramie. This public recognition was given on February 17, 1963. Seven Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, teachers at St. Laurence O’Toole school in Laramie were also honored. Father Taylor had succeeded in establishing a vibrant Newman Club and was not hesitant about informing people about the accomplishment and activities of the Club.

The next major event on the Bishop’s agenda was the dedication of the buildings of a new parish in Casper. The new church under the patronage of St. Patrick, was a tribute to the foresight and generosity of Monsignor Thomas F. O’Reilly, V.G., pastor of St. Anthony’s parish in that city. The Monsignor had purchased the property and initiated the building of the plant and it was fitting that he should be the celebrant at the dedication at which the Bishop preached. The Monsignor delivered the new parish complex to the first pastor, Father James J. Power, debt free.>1951>20

The first week in June, 1963, twenty-nine Newmanites came to Laramie to participate in the third annual Newman School of Catholic Thought. Father Taylor had publicized the event by disseminating brochures with photos of the faculty. The heading on the brochure read, “A week of stimulating classroom lectures and evening seminars, sponsored by the Newman Club at the University of Wyoming and underwritten by the Wyoming Knights of Columbus ‘Monsignor McDevitt Memorial Fund’”. Three members of the faculty of the first two “schools” returned. The new participants were: Reverend Berard L. Marthaler, O.F.M., Conv., Assistant Professor of Theology at Bellarmine College, Louisville, Kentucky, John H. Ford, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Philosophy at Bellarmine College, and Reverend John Dreese, S.T.D., lecturer in Sacred Scripture, St. Charles Borromeo, Columbus, Ohio. The students appreciated the opportunity made available to help them increase their knowledge of the fundamentals of their faith even though the schedule of classes was exacting. Father Taylor had the facility of making possible the achievement of just the right balance in the scheduling of events that resulted in making the week rewarding and memorable.

The decade of the sixties was especially notable for a number of dedications in the far flung diocese. In any given period of time Bishop Newell set a travel record that was impressive. Given a number of Confirmation tours and a series of dedications, he covered many miles in Wyoming. After dedicating St. Patrick’s Church in Casper, March 17, 1963, the Bishop blessed the Church of Our Lady of the Mountains in Jackson on May 1^st. On a more mundane occasion he dedicated the new St. Mary’s Gymnasium in Cheyenne on January 5, 1964. Five months later he had the satisfaction of blessing St. Brendan’s in Jeffrey City and Our Lady of the Woods in Dubois.

On February 21, 1964, prompted by the spirit of the ecumenical movement fostered by the bishops assembled in the Second Vatican Council, the Bishop entertained a group of Ministers, members of the Ministerial Association of Cheyenne and other non-Catholic clergy of Laramie County. The gathering took place in the parish hall of St. Joseph’s Church where a luncheon was served. This event prepared the way for a developing dialogue with clergymen of the various denominations in Wyoming.

It had been some time since Bishop Newell requested the Holy See to honor a number of his priests making them members of the papal household with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor. The Bishop decided to have this honor conferred on the following: Frederick J. Kimmett, Corpus Christi, Newcastle, James McBride, Sacred Heart, Greybull, John J. O’Connor, St. Patrick’s, Kemmerer, Philip Krass, St. Francis, Thermopolis, Alvin Gnidovec, Sts. Cyril and Methodius, Rock Springs, and John Marley, Our Lady of Sorrows, in the same city. Since Thomas F. O’Reilly, Vicar General of the diocese, had previously been honored with this title the Bishop requested the authorities in Rome to bestow the title of Proto-notary Apostolic on Monsignor O’Reilly, a dignity which entitled him to celebrate the liturgy endowed with certain ceremonial privileges.

A recurring news item during the decade of the sixties informed those interested about the activities of Father Taylor and the members of the Newman Club in Laramie. Father had joined the National Newman Chaplains’ Association. He attended meetings of the Newman Club Federation. In time he invited members of the federation to meet in Laramie. The officers agreed. They met in the Newman Center, December 27^th to 31^st. Bishop Newell attended as did Bishop James Malone, Auxiliary of Youngstown, Ohio, the Episcopal Moderator of the Newman Apostolate. That apostate was thriving in Wyoming under the leadership of Father Taylor who promoted a number of interesting projects which appealed to Catholic students attending the University of Wyoming. One program in particular was a source of great satisfaction to all concerned, namely, The Newman School of Catholic Thought which had become an annual event meeting during the first week in June. The chaplain was adept in recruiting professors well qualified in their academic disciplines. Of those who participated two outstanding lay professors, John Senior of the University of Wyoming enhanced the faculty for twelve years, and Ronald McArthur, Professor of Philosophy at St. Mary’s College, Orinda, California, added quality to the program for six years. Those in attendance were able to benefit from the learning of these two scholarly and dedicated Catholic gentlemen. Professor Senior transferred to the University of Kansas in Lawrence but returned to Laramie for the Newman School 1969 to 1972. Scripture scholars were in such demand that it was not possible to recruit the same authority more than once. There was one exception, however, Reverend Thomas W. Leahy, S.J., member of the faculty of the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California, participated in the school and lectured on the New Testament in 1966 and 1967.

Father Taylor, aware of the progress of the liturgical movement in the Church enlisted Reverend Bede Butler, O.S.B. of Holy Cross Abbey, Canon City, Colorado, and put him in charge of the liturgies during the week. Father Butler returned to Laramie in 1962 and 1963. In 1965 Reverend Kevin Seasoltz, O.S.B. of St. Anselm’s Abbey, Washington, D.C., joined the faculty as liturgist . No such authority in that field was available in 1966 and 1967. In the following year Reverend Robert J. Greenslade, Archdiocesan Director of Music for the Archdiocese of Denver joined the faculty and returned the following three years. Father Greenslade committed himself to present “The history of Church music, classical and modern, interpretation, and its use in the liturgical Mass settings will be highlighted throughout the entire week.”>1951>21 The Denver priest was the right man at the right time to present these matters to Catholics who most likely were bewildered by the changes in the liturgy initiated by the Second Vatican Council.

A notable member of the faculty, Reverend Claude Mussell, O.F.M., Conv., enlightened those attending his lectures. He was qualified by training and experience to impress those who came into contact with him. He had earned a doctor’s degree in Philosophy and one in Theology; one from the Gregorian University in Rome; the other from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. He also served in the army as a chaplain, achieving a rank of colonel. As an experienced seminary professor he was a stabilizing influence in the challenging times after the Second Vatican Council. As an eminent defender of orthodoxy he was an outstanding member of the faculty.

The Newman School of Catholic Thought was a bold venture and under the dedicated leadership of Father Taylor it prospered. The increasing number of Newmanites who attended demonstrated the reputation that the school had attained among those in the Newman apostolate. It is worthy of passing note that the total cost for the school, room and board, was $30.00 for the week. This charge did not change for eleven years. Finally in 1972, due no doubt to inflation, there was an increase of $15.00. This endeavor as an activity of the Newman apostolate had the full and enthusiastic support of Bishop Newell who came to Laramie during the sessions whenever his busy schedule permitted.

Bishop Newell’s itinerary kept him on the road a considerable amount of time. In 1965 he had the satisfaction of dedicating three new churches, one in Lovell, St. Joseph’s, another in Powell, St. Barbara’s, and a third in Lander, Holy Rosary. Later in September he traveled to Rome to attend the fourth and final session of the Second Vatican Council. Participation in the Council was the highlight of his episcopate. The experience was exhilarating, if demanding. It is tempting to outline the momentous changes initiated by the Council Fathers which required certain adjustments in the way Catholics lived as members of the Church, but this is not the place for such a summary. However, a few innovations introduced by the bishops should be mentioned because they effected the way they governed. The Council Fathers decided to temper the existing monolithic structure of governance by proposing that these should be shared responsibility between the bishops and their priests. This could be achieved by establishing a senate made up of priests representing their colleagues and which, by its counsel, would be able to give effective assistance to the Bishop in his government of the diocese.

Understandably, it would take some time before the provision of shared responsibility could be implemented. Gradually the priests formulated procedures for the selection of members of the senate. After due consideration they decided that the senate should consist of six men representing their confreres according to the number of years of ordination. The following men were elected: Very Reverend John Meyer, Laramie and Reverend Adolph Pate, Riverton representing those ordained twenty years or longer; Reverend Joseph Fraher, Lander, and Reverend James O’Neill, Cheyenne, for men ordained between ten and twenty years; Reverend John Murray, Cheyenne, and Reverend Angel Ornelas, Casper, representing priests ordained less than ten years.

A second momentous innovation was the decision of the Council Fathers to call upon the Catholic laity to participate in the Church’s mission. In an eloquent exhortation concluding the decree on the apostolate of the laity the bishops reminded lay persons that they are the Lord’s “coworkers in the various forms and methods of the Church’s one apostolate, which must be constantly adapted to the new needs of the times.”>1951>22

Involvement of the laity in diocesan administration was not new for the Church in Wyoming. Since the time of Bishop James J. Keane two laymen in each parish served as officers of the parish corporation. However, the bishops encouraged even wider participation of lay persons in diocesan activities. For example, they charted a new course in the field of ecumenism and called on Catholics to become involved. In 1967 Bishop Newell established a Commission on Ecumenism and appointed the following members: Right Reverend Monsignor Thomas F. O’Reilly, V.G., Very Reverend George Stoll, Reverends James Power, Thomas Cleary, Adolph Pate, John Corrigan, Charles Brady, James Godly, Sister Anthony Marie, S.A. (i.e., Franciscan Sister of the Atonement), Sister Placida, O.S.B., Mr. Houston Williams, and Mrs. Jan Wilkin.>1951>23

Moreover, the Bishop commissioned eight priests to supervise the implementation of the Council’s directives for the renewal and fostering of the liturgy, namely, Right Reverend Monsignor T.F. O’Reilly, V.G., Chairman, Reverends W. J. McCormick, James Ruddy, Very Reverend John Meyer, Cyril Hmelovsky, Michael Butler, John Corrigan, and Joseph Fraher. Four years later the Bishop made some changes in the membership of the Commission; he increased the number of priests and added a nun and two lay persons. Those who served were: Reverends Michael Butler, Chairman, W.J. McCormick, Secretary, Gerald Chleborad, Thomas Cleary, John Corrigan, William Delaney, William Gianola, Cyril Hmelovsky, Joseph Moroney, Thomas Ogg, Sister Dolora, O.S.B., Mr. Robert Tripeny, and Mrs. Royal Bock.>1951>24 Eventually Bishop Newell set up a Pastoral Council and appointed himself as chairman with a layman, Mr. James Applegate, Vice-Chairman and a priest, Reverend Charles Hardy, Secretary.

About this time the Bishop realized that the diocese should have a chancery, that is, an office for the Chancellor who, by definition, is a public notary and the authorized official whose chief function is to preserve in the archives the acts of the curia. It is somewhat surprising that the diocese did not have a chancery as such for seventy-nine years. Perhaps, the bishops were content to allow matters pertaining to that office to remain in the competent hands of Monsignor James A. Hartmann chancellor and rector of the Cathedral from 1916 to 1959. In the latter year the Bishop relieved the monsignor of his responsibilities as rector and appointed a Vice Chancellor to assist him. To accommodate the two officials the diocese made available the residence on 200 East 24^th street which had served as a base of operations for the volunteers sent by the Catholic Church Extension Society to assist those pastors who were in need of assistance. When the Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor moved into this building it became the temporary chancery for the diocese. The residence was not a professional office building but, finally, the monsignor did have an office far from the one he had used at the cathedral rectory for so many years as well as the one he occupied during the intervening period after his replacement on the staff of the cathedral. The Vice Chancellor, William J. McCormick, had the advantage of serving as an assistant under an experienced chancellor who had held that office for fifty-five years, 1916 to 1971. Age took its toll and the Bishop in recognition of the many years of dedicated service appointed Monsignor Hartmann Chancellor Emeritus in 1972. Father McCormick became his successor and Father John Corrigan was designated as Vice Chancellor.

Earlier, Bishop Newell decided that it was time to give public recognition to the contributions that had been made over the years by the Extension Society to assist needy pastors to establish fitting places of worship. In an effort to show his and the diocese’s appreciation for the sums of money disbursed to the diocese the Bishop designated September 25,1966 as Extension Sunday, a day on which pastors were requested to urge their parishioners to subscribe to the Extension Magazine. Somewhat later, January 21, 1969, Bishop Newell joined Bishop John L. May, President of the Extension Society in the dedication of the New St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Center in Evanston.

The decade of the seventies proved to be memorable in the history of the diocese especially regarding the manner in which pastoral assignments were made. Mention has been made of the Priests’ Senate which provided a forum for priests to make their concerns known to the proper authorities. The clergy in Wyoming were aware of the movement in many dioceses in the United States favoring important changes in policies governing the tenure of pastors and assistants as well as determining the age of mandatory retirement from the active ministry. These matters were on the minds of the priests of the diocese when they assembled in Saratoga to make their annual retreat, June 5^th to 8^th, 1972. They were eager to hear a report from Father John Corrigan, chairman of the Clergy Personnel Committee, about the study that had been authorized the previous January by the Priests’ Senate and the diocesan consultors regarding pastoral appointments and the age of retirement. After hearing the report the priests, by a vote of forty to fifteen, approved sweeping guide lines regulating the terms of pastoral appointments and the age of mandatory retirement.

Henceforth, pastors would be assigned to a parish for a term of five years with the possibility of a second tour of duty in the same parish. Priests would not be subject to a change after they reached the age of sixty unless the Bishop decided to use their talents and experience where needed. Assistants would serve in a parish for four years after which they would be given a different assignment. The age of mandatory retirement of all priests was set at seventy-five. However, a priest could opt for voluntary retirement at the age of seventy. Certain assignments were exempted from the general policy, namely, the rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral, priests, assigned to St. Joseph’s Children’s Home, and the directors of education and charities. Shortly after the acceptance of these guidelines Bishop Newell implemented the new policy and announced, in mid-August, 1972, that twenty-four were reassigned.

At this point it was quite obvious that a new era in the history of the Catholic Church in Wyoming was dawning while at the same time other happenings marked the end of an older era. For example, Monsignor Hartmann who had served the diocese as Chancellor for more than five decades and rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral for 44 years died at DePaul Hospital. Another stalwart veteran of the diocese, Monsignor O’Reilly, Vicar General for 39 years and pastor of St. Anthony’s parish in Casper for 37 years, tendered his resignation from both offices. He had been a very stabilizing influence as Vicar General and a person to be reckoned with in the environs of the city of Casper. Bishop Newell chose Father James O’Neill to succeed him as Vicar General and assigned Father Charles Brady pastor of St. Anthony’s parish.

An example of the new era unfolding in the Church at this time was the change that took place regarding the title of “Monsignor.” The designation Right Reverend Monsignor was changed to a simpler form namely, Reverend Monsignor, and there were significant changes in the garb that those so honored wore. To the surprise of some, Bishop Newell announced in January, 1974, that the Holy See identified eight priests of the diocese as honorary prelates of Pope Paul VI. Those so honored were: Monsignors Daniel Carroll, John Corrigan, W.J. McCormick, Chancellor, John Meyer, James O’Neill, Vicar General, Francis Penny, James Ruddy, and George Stoll.

NOTES

1951-1978

>1951>1 Newell, “Reminiscences”.

>1951>2 Wyoming Catholic Register, vol. 1, #1, p.1.

>1951>3 Mealey, Margaret J., “National Council of Catholic Women”, New Catholic Encyclopedia, (McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 1967), vol. 10, p. 233.

>1951>4 Anchors, Past Presidents of WCCW Present a Mini-History of WCCW, 1953-1987. Note: The name was changed, with the approval of the officers of the national office, to the Wyoming Council of Catholic Women in 1976.

>1951>5 Ibid.

>1951>6 Ibid.

>1951>7 Gilmore, op. cit., p. 434

>1951>8 Lefevre, op. cit., p. 67.

>1951>9 Ibid., p. 69.

>1951>10 The formal name is Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Victory, popularly known as Victory Noll. Bishop John F. Noll of Fort Wayne, Indiana, built Victory Noll, the Congregation’s Motherhouse and novitiate at Huntington, Indiana.

>1951>11 McGovern, op.cit., p.135.

>1951>12 Doherty, Linda L., An Irish Legacy, (Mountain States Lithograph Col, Casper, 1987), p. 91.

>1951>13 June, James William, History of The Green River Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Typescript copy, 1981, p.1.

>1951>14 ibid. p.8.

>1951>15 Meyer, op. cit., p. 15.

>1951>16 Information offered by the Bishop’s nephew, Msgr. William Jones.

>1951>17 Official Catholic Directory, 1961.

>1951>18 Meyer. op.cit., p.22.

>1951>19 Meyer, op.cit., p.34.

>1951>20 Doherty, op.cit., p.99.

>1951>21 Brochure, 1968.

>1951>22 Abbott, Walter M., S.J., General Editor, The Documents of Vatican II, (The America Press, N.Y.), p.521.

>1951>23 The Official Catholic Directory, 1968, p.145.

>1951>24 Ibid., 1972, p.160.