Casper 1941 St. Anthony Bishop McGovern

Casper, St. Anthony
Bishop McGovern

[57] The history of St. Anthony’s parish dates back to 1888, when a young Catholic couple, Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Dunn, came to Casper to make their home. Mr. Dunn was station master for the Chicago and Northwestern railroad.

Shortly after their arrival their first child, a girl, was born. Since there was no priest in Casper, the couple had to journey to the nearest priest, at Chadron, Nebraska, where their baby was baptized.

In 1890, Mr. Dunn, then a member of the legislature in Cheyenne, became a close friend of Rev. Francis J. Nugent. When a son was born to the Dunns, Father Nugent journeyed to Casper for the baptism.

During the years 1895 and 1896, Rev. P. Brophy, of Chadron, made Casper a station and occasionally said Mass there. Mass was celebrated in various places: private homes, the city hall, and once in the Episcopal church.

In 1897, a group of purposeful Catholic women met and made plans for the erection of a church. In the group were Mrs. John Trevett, Mrs. J.P. Smith, Mrs. W.F. Dunn, Miss Julia Mahoney (now Mrs. Jeremiah Mahoney) and Miss Margaret McDonald (now Mrs. Oscar Heistend). The plan was brought to the attention of [58] Bishop Lenihan, who later visited Casper and appointed a building committee.

In 1898 the first resident pastor, Rev. James Keating, arrived in Casper. He immediately proceeded to carry out the bishop’s plans relative to church building and called for bids. The contract was let to John Trevett for $1650.00. The church was built on the corner opposite the present Henning hotel.

In 1901, plans were drawn for a residence for the pastor. Father Keating had been succeeded in the meantime by Rev. George Bryant. The parish had been without a pastor for one year and during that time Father Bryant had come from Cheyenne in answer to a sick-call. Shortly afterward he was assigned to the Casper pastorate by Rev. Hugh Cummiskey, administrator of the diocese. Father Bryant labored on the parish house with great zeal, and on completion it was found to be one of the finest homes in the city.

June 22, 1903, is the date of a new form of temporal administration for the church of St. Anthony. During the episcopate of Most Rev. James J. Keane, D.D., bishop of Cheyenne, each parish of the diocese became a separate corporation. The church of St. Anthony was incorporated with the following directors: Most Rev. James J. Keane, bishop, president; Rev. Hugh Cummiskey, V.G., vice-president; Rev. George [59] Bryant, pastor and manager; Mr. John E. Schulte, secretary, and Mr. John M. Trevett, treasurer.

During Father Bryant’s tenure the steady growth in the town of Casper was evidenced in the increase in parish membership. As a step toward the building of a new church, which Father Bryant considered necessary, he bought two lots on the corner of Wolcott and Seventh streets for $1600.00.

Father Bryant was obliged to resign his charge August, 1915, due to ill health. He was succeeded by Rev. James McGee. Father McGee died November 27, 1915. During the time between Father McGee’s death and the appointment of a successor, Father Isidore, O.M.C., of Douglas, was locum tenens, and on December 38, 1915, Rev. John H. Mullin was transferred from Newcastle to take charge.

By this time the need for a new church was imperative. With the approval of the bishop, plans for a larger building were discussed. In December, 1916, the old site on Center street, including the residence, was sold to Jeremiah Mahoney and Michael J. Burke for the sum of $22,500.00. The old church was set on wheels May 1, 1917, and moved to the corner of Wolcott and Seventh streets, the site purchased in 1913 by Father Bryant. The old church was not ready for services until August 15th, and in the meantime the main floor of the house was used for church purposes.

[60] Another church site was purchased in December, 1916, from Charles C. Warner for the sum of $4,750.00. The church edifice which stands on the northwest corner of Center and Seventh streets represents an investment of $150,000.00. The building is of brick with a mottled tile roof and lime-stone trimmings. A graceful campanile becomes the structure. The beautiful altars are of Carrara marble and the woodwork is of oak. The main altar is the gift of the Altar and Rosary Society; the Blessed Virgin’s altar is the gift of John and Peter Tobin; the altar of St. Joseph is the gift of Patrick Sullivan; the shrines of St. Anthony and St. Patrick are the gifts of M. W. Purcell and William Swanton; the altar rail is the gift of the Schulte family; the children of the parish gave the magnificent sanctuary lamp; Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Adams gave the onyx candlesticks; Mr. and Mrs. Con. Shea gave the brass candle set; the sanctuary windows were gifts of Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Mahoney; Mrs. M. Slizeski, P.E. de Caplane, William Kyne and A.E. Biglin gave the windows of the transept, the four Evangelists. The rose window of the church is the gift of the choir. The windows in the main part of the church were the gifts of Mr. and Mrs. M.J. Foley, Mr. and Mrs. Angus McPherson, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Burke, Mr. and Mrs. M.J. Burke, Miss Elizabeth McDonald, Mrs. John Daley, Mr. and Mrs. M.W. Purcell, and Fred and Thomas Villnave. The sacristy windows [61] were donated by J. W. Bingenheimer, John J. Tobin, Jean Salabert, Miss Margaret Barrett, Miss Ella McGuire, Mrs. C.A. Holloran and Eugene McCarthy. The five windows in the chapel were the gifts of E.A. Slater and Father Mullin’s family. Other donations included the church bell from the Knights of Columbus, the stations of the cross from Mrs. Patrick Sullivan, the pulpit from Mr. and Mrs. P.J. O’Connor, the confessionals from the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Richard Tobin, the baptismal font from Joseph Wimsatt, the vestment case from W.F. Henning, the monstrance from John Heery, of Chicago, and the chalice from Mrs. A.F. Edmonds.

The corner stone of the new church was laid by Bishop McGovern late in 1918. Rev. William O’Ryan, of Denver, preached the sermon. The church was dedicated on August 15, 1920, by the Most Reverend P. A. McGovern, D.D., with Rev. John H. Mullin celebrant of the Mass, Rev. N.J. Endres, of Thermopolis, deacon, Rev. Thomas Nolan, S.T.D., of Chicago, subdeacon, and Rev. James Stenson, of Omaha, master of ceremonies.

The altars of the church were consecrated by Bishop McGovern, on July 4, 1921. He was assisted by Rev. James O’Connor, S.J., and Father Mullin.

Rev. Bernard Schneiders was appointed assistant pastor in March, 1922. He remained in Casper until the following January, when Rev. John F. Moreton replaced him.

[62] Two Jesuits, Rev. John McGuire and Rev. John Cunningham, gave a mission in the fall of 1922. In the fall of 1925 another mission was given by two priests of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, Rev. Jos. Boyle and Rev. Bernard Mulloy. A very beneficial result of the Holy Cross mission is an active Holy Name society, formally organized in 1926, by Rev. A.A. Durkin, O.P., of Denver, Colo.

One of the outstanding accomplishments of Father Mullin’s regime was the Young Men’s Social Club, founded in 1917. Realizing the need of supervised recreational activities in a growing community where many youths had no family restraint, Father Mullin conceived the idea of the club. The clubhouse was erected on one of the parish lots and called the Mullin club in honor of its founder and the donor of the building. During the World War the Mullin club was the headquarters for the local Red Cross organization under the direction of the Presbyterian minister. The Altar and Rosary society also conducts its social activities at the Mullin club. The Catholic Girls’ club, a sister organization of the Altar and Rosary society, radiates its social and welfare activities from the parish club.

From the time of Father Mullin’s advent in St. Anthony’s parish, the Catholic population in the oil fields grew steadily. The spiritual wants of these people were looked after by Father Mullin until 1923. At [63] that time the bishop assigned this responsibility to the Franciscan fathers of Douglas, who thenceforth said Mass once a month on an appointed Sunday.

Rev. Thomas F. O’Reilly, a newly ordained priest, was assigned to Casper as an assistant, October 22, 1926. Father Moreton was designated to look after the oil field mission and immediately began to say Mass every Sunday at Midwest in the recreation building of the Midwest Refining Company.

Father Moreton, under the supervision of Father Mullin, continued to serve the oil fields until his transfer to Rawlins, April 29, 1927. To replace him in Casper came Rev. Walter Nicholson. After Father Moreton’s departure the assistants alternated in attending the oil field mission for a period of three months each.

Early in 1927 negotiations were begun with Leon C. Goodrich, architect of Casper, for plans for a parochial school. Bids for construction were opened May 7, 1927, and the contract was awarded to Carson and Schultz, local contractors, for the sum of $35,580.00. The total cost of the building when finished and completely furnished was $45,000.00.

Ground for the school building was broken May 11, 1927. No special ceremony accompanied the laying of the corner stone. The new school was ready for occupancy in time to begin the fall term of school.

[64] The solemn dedication of St. Anthony’s parochial school took place September 10, 1927, with the Most Rev. Patrick A. McGovern, D.D., bishop of Cheyenne, officiating. The bishop delivered the sermon at the church after the ceremony.

A banquet was served in the evening at the Henning Hotel. Speakers for the occasion were Very Rev. Aloysius Breen, S.J., president of Regis College, Denver, Colo., Very Rev. Norbert C. Hoff, president of Carroll College, Helena, Mont., and Hon. Robert D. Carey, former governor of Wyoming.

The Sisters of Charity of the B.V.M. (Dubuque) had arrived in Casper in August. Sister Mary Leander was the superior. In order to house the sisters properly, it was decided to remodel the two story dwelling situated on lot 4, block 38, which had been purchased by the parish in May, 1925. When the convent was ready for occupancy it had cost an approximate $12,000.00. It provides an ideal home for the sisters. Each sister has her own room, equipped with hot and cold running water.

The first six grades of school were opened Monday, September 11, 1927, with a total enrollment of 200. The opening of the school, a signal event in the history of the parish, completed the organization of the parish of St. Anthony. From the beginning of his pastorate, Father Mullin had been constantly aware of the need [65] for a parochial school. With this thought ever in his mind and heart, and with the splendid cooperation of Bishop McGovern, his ideal was realized.

The opening of the parochial school had an edifying effect on the people of the parish. There was a gradual increase in the number of persons receiving the sacraments and in the number of persons attending daily Mass.

In the spring of 1928, the bishop visited the parish and the largest class in its history was presented for confirmation, two hundred and five.

In October, 1928, Rev. Bernard Mulloy and Rev. Richard J. Collentine of the Congregation of the Holy Cross came to Casper for a two weeks’ mission.

Sister Mary Leander, B.V.M., completed her three years as superior of the convent at the close of the school year in 1930. Her advanced years and ill health made her retirement from active school work advisable. She was succeeded by Sister Mary Kyrean, B.V.M., who came in August.

April 26, 1930, Bishop McGovern returned to Casper to administer the sacrament of confirmation to a class of one hundred and seventeen.

In April, 1932, Father Mullin was suddenly stricken ill while en route to Casper from Chicago. It was necessary for him to remain away from the parish for the summer. He returned in September to his pastoral [66] charge, but was handicapped by lameness, a result of his illness.

Father Nicholson and Father O’Reilly, assistants, were transferred in July, 1933, and were succeeded by two young men who were Wyoming’s first-fruits for the diocese>In 1924 Bishop McGovern had ordained Rev. Alonzo McHugh, a native of Cheyenne, for the Society of St. Sulpice; and in the early nineties of the last century Rev. Matthias Ternes (see Rawlins), who had lived in Cheyenne as a youth, was ordained for the diocese.> in Bishop McGovern’s regime. One was Rev. Leo Morgan, a native of Laramie, and the other Rev. Fred Kimmett who, although born in Colorado, lived from childhood in Powell, Wyo. Father Morgan left Casper in November and was replaced by Rev. A. Crann. Father Crann continued in the parish until the following September when for health reasons he found it necessary to take an extended leave of absence. Rev. Nicholas Endres, retired, came to Casper, as substitute for Father Crann, to remain until June, 1936.

During the winter of 1935-36, a recurrence of Father Mullin’s illness proved less amenable to treatment than his original attack and in May, 1936, the better administration of parochial affairs, to which he no longer found himself equal, urged him to retire from the pastorate of St. Anthony’s over which he had presided for more than twenty years.

[67] Rev. Thomas P. O’Reilly, former assistant of Casper, was recalled to the parish, this time to act as pastor. He assumed his new duties May 14, 1936.

Fr. Kimmett was appointed pastor of Monarch and Fr. Endres, who had retired from the active ministry during the summer, departed. With these changes, the year 1936 saw a completely new administration with a new pastor and a new assistant, the latter being Rev. Francis T. Penny.

Sister Mary Kyrean, B.V.M., beloved superior of St. Anthony’s school succumbed to pneumonia one week after the arrival of Fr. O’Reilly.

A class of one hundred and eighty-seven was confirmed by his excellency, the bishop, May 30, 1937. The appointment of a second assistant in June, 1937, made possible the addition of a fourth Mass on Sundays. Fr. Penny was transferred to Lander and the bishop secured two members of the Congregation of the Precious Blood, who, with various changes in personnel, served until August, 1940. On their departure Revs. William J. McCormick and Alphonsus H. Grannan were appointed in their stead.

During the year, 1938, there were eighty-two baptisms and twenty-four marriages performed in the parish.

The number of children attending the parochial school (8 grades) in 1938-39 was three hundred and thirty-three.

[68] The net debt on all the church property when Rev. Thomas O’Reilly took charge in May, 1936, was $101,000.00; by the end of 1940 this had been reduced to $60,000.00.

Back to INDEX		Casper, St. Anthony Bishop McGovern [57] The history of St. Anthony’s parish dates back to 1888, when a young Catholic couple, Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Dunn, came to Casper to make their home. Mr. Dunn was station master for the Chicago and Northwestern railroad. Shortly after their arrival their first child, a girl, was born. Since there was no priest in Casper, the couple had to journey to the nearest priest, at Chadron, Nebraska, where their baby was baptized. In 1890, Mr. Dunn, then a member of the legislature in Cheyenne, became a close friend of Rev. Francis J. Nugent. When a son was born to the Dunns, Father Nugent journeyed to Casper for the baptism. During the years 1895 and 1896, Rev. P. Brophy, of Chadron, made Casper a station and occasionally said Mass there. Mass was celebrated in various places: private homes, the city hall, and once in the Episcopal church. In 1897, a group of purposeful Catholic women met and made plans for the erection of a church. In the group were Mrs. John Trevett, Mrs. J.P. Smith, Mrs. W.F. Dunn, Miss Julia Mahoney (now Mrs. Jeremiah Mahoney) and Miss Margaret McDonald (now Mrs. Oscar Heistend). The plan was brought to the attention of [58] Bishop Lenihan, who later visited Casper and appointed a building committee. In 1898 the first resident pastor, Rev. James Keating, arrived in Casper. He immediately proceeded to carry out the bishop’s plans relative to church building and called for bids. The contract was let to John Trevett for $1650.00. The church was built on the corner opposite the present Henning hotel. In 1901, plans were drawn for a residence for the pastor. Father Keating had been succeeded in the meantime by Rev. George Bryant. The parish had been without a pastor for one year and during that time Father Bryant had come from Cheyenne in answer to a sick-call. Shortly afterward he was assigned to the Casper pastorate by Rev. Hugh Cummiskey, administrator of the diocese. Father Bryant labored on the parish house with great zeal, and on completion it was found to be one of the finest homes in the city. June 22, 1903, is the date of a new form of temporal administration for the church of St. Anthony. During the episcopate of Most Rev. James J. Keane, D.D., bishop of Cheyenne, each parish of the diocese became a separate corporation. The church of St. Anthony was incorporated with the following directors: Most Rev. James J. Keane, bishop, president; Rev. Hugh Cummiskey, V.G., vice-president; Rev. George [59] Bryant, pastor and manager; Mr. John E. Schulte, secretary, and Mr. John M. Trevett, treasurer. During Father Bryant’s tenure the steady growth in the town of Casper was evidenced in the increase in parish membership. As a step toward the building of a new church, which Father Bryant considered necessary, he bought two lots on the corner of Wolcott and Seventh streets for $1600.00. Father Bryant was obliged to resign his charge August, 1915, due to ill health. He was succeeded by Rev. James McGee. Father McGee died November 27, 1915. During the time between Father McGee’s death and the appointment of a successor, Father Isidore, O.M.C., of Douglas, was locum tenens, and on December 38, 1915, Rev. John H. Mullin was transferred from Newcastle to take charge. By this time the need for a new church was imperative. With the approval of the bishop, plans for a larger building were discussed. In December, 1916, the old site on Center street, including the residence, was sold to Jeremiah Mahoney and Michael J. Burke for the sum of $22,500.00. The old church was set on wheels May 1, 1917, and moved to the corner of Wolcott and Seventh streets, the site purchased in 1913 by Father Bryant. The old church was not ready for services until August 15th, and in the meantime the main floor of the house was used for church purposes. [60] Another church site was purchased in December, 1916, from Charles C. Warner for the sum of $4,750.00. The church edifice which stands on the northwest corner of Center and Seventh streets represents an investment of $150,000.00. The building is of brick with a mottled tile roof and lime-stone trimmings. A graceful campanile becomes the structure. The beautiful altars are of Carrara marble and the woodwork is of oak. The main altar is the gift of the Altar and Rosary Society; the Blessed Virgin’s altar is the gift of John and Peter Tobin; the altar of St. Joseph is the gift of Patrick Sullivan; the shrines of St. Anthony and St. Patrick are the gifts of M. W. Purcell and William Swanton; the altar rail is the gift of the Schulte family; the children of the parish gave the magnificent sanctuary lamp; Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Adams gave the onyx candlesticks; Mr. and Mrs. Con. Shea gave the brass candle set; the sanctuary windows were gifts of Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Mahoney; Mrs. M. Slizeski, P.E. de Caplane, William Kyne and A.E. Biglin gave the windows of the transept, the four Evangelists. The rose window of the church is the gift of the choir. The windows in the main part of the church were the gifts of Mr. and Mrs. M.J. Foley, Mr. and Mrs. Angus McPherson, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Burke, Mr. and Mrs. M.J. Burke, Miss Elizabeth McDonald, Mrs. John Daley, Mr. and Mrs. M.W. Purcell, and Fred and Thomas Villnave. The sacristy windows [61] were donated by J. W. Bingenheimer, John J. Tobin, Jean Salabert, Miss Margaret Barrett, Miss Ella McGuire, Mrs. C.A. Holloran and Eugene McCarthy. The five windows in the chapel were the gifts of E.A. Slater and Father Mullin’s family. Other donations included the church bell from the Knights of Columbus, the stations of the cross from Mrs. Patrick Sullivan, the pulpit from Mr. and Mrs. P.J. O’Connor, the confessionals from the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Richard Tobin, the baptismal font from Joseph Wimsatt, the vestment case from W.F. Henning, the monstrance from John Heery, of Chicago, and the chalice from Mrs. A.F. Edmonds. The corner stone of the new church was laid by Bishop McGovern late in 1918. Rev. William O’Ryan, of Denver, preached the sermon. The church was dedicated on August 15, 1920, by the Most Reverend P. A. McGovern, D.D., with Rev. John H. Mullin celebrant of the Mass, Rev. N.J. Endres, of Thermopolis, deacon, Rev. Thomas Nolan, S.T.D., of Chicago, subdeacon, and Rev. James Stenson, of Omaha, master of ceremonies. The altars of the church were consecrated by Bishop McGovern, on July 4, 1921. He was assisted by Rev. James O’Connor, S.J., and Father Mullin. Rev. Bernard Schneiders was appointed assistant pastor in March, 1922. He remained in Casper until the following January, when Rev. John F. Moreton replaced him. [62] Two Jesuits, Rev. John McGuire and Rev. John Cunningham, gave a mission in the fall of 1922. In the fall of 1925 another mission was given by two priests of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, Rev. Jos. Boyle and Rev. Bernard Mulloy. A very beneficial result of the Holy Cross mission is an active Holy Name society, formally organized in 1926, by Rev. A.A. Durkin, O.P., of Denver, Colo. One of the outstanding accomplishments of Father Mullin’s regime was the Young Men’s Social Club, founded in 1917. Realizing the need of supervised recreational activities in a growing community where many youths had no family restraint, Father Mullin conceived the idea of the club. The clubhouse was erected on one of the parish lots and called the Mullin club in honor of its founder and the donor of the building. During the World War the Mullin club was the headquarters for the local Red Cross organization under the direction of the Presbyterian minister. The Altar and Rosary society also conducts its social activities at the Mullin club. The Catholic Girls’ club, a sister organization of the Altar and Rosary society, radiates its social and welfare activities from the parish club. From the time of Father Mullin’s advent in St. Anthony’s parish, the Catholic population in the oil fields grew steadily. The spiritual wants of these people were looked after by Father Mullin until 1923. At [63] that time the bishop assigned this responsibility to the Franciscan fathers of Douglas, who thenceforth said Mass once a month on an appointed Sunday. Rev. Thomas F. O’Reilly, a newly ordained priest, was assigned to Casper as an assistant, October 22, 1926. Father Moreton was designated to look after the oil field mission and immediately began to say Mass every Sunday at Midwest in the recreation building of the Midwest Refining Company. Father Moreton, under the supervision of Father Mullin, continued to serve the oil fields until his transfer to Rawlins, April 29, 1927. To replace him in Casper came Rev. Walter Nicholson. After Father Moreton’s departure the assistants alternated in attending the oil field mission for a period of three months each. Early in 1927 negotiations were begun with Leon C. Goodrich, architect of Casper, for plans for a parochial school. Bids for construction were opened May 7, 1927, and the contract was awarded to Carson and Schultz, local contractors, for the sum of $35,580.00. The total cost of the building when finished and completely furnished was $45,000.00. Ground for the school building was broken May 11, 1927. No special ceremony accompanied the laying of the corner stone. The new school was ready for occupancy in time to begin the fall term of school. [64] The solemn dedication of St. Anthony’s parochial school took place September 10, 1927, with the Most Rev. Patrick A. McGovern, D.D., bishop of Cheyenne, officiating. The bishop delivered the sermon at the church after the ceremony. A banquet was served in the evening at the Henning Hotel. Speakers for the occasion were Very Rev. Aloysius Breen, S.J., president of Regis College, Denver, Colo., Very Rev. Norbert C. Hoff, president of Carroll College, Helena, Mont., and Hon. Robert D. Carey, former governor of Wyoming. The Sisters of Charity of the B.V.M. (Dubuque) had arrived in Casper in August. Sister Mary Leander was the superior. In order to house the sisters properly, it was decided to remodel the two story dwelling situated on lot 4, block 38, which had been purchased by the parish in May, 1925. When the convent was ready for occupancy it had cost an approximate $12,000.00. It provides an ideal home for the sisters. Each sister has her own room, equipped with hot and cold running water. The first six grades of school were opened Monday, September 11, 1927, with a total enrollment of 200. The opening of the school, a signal event in the history of the parish, completed the organization of the parish of St. Anthony. From the beginning of his pastorate, Father Mullin had been constantly aware of the need [65] for a parochial school. With this thought ever in his mind and heart, and with the splendid cooperation of Bishop McGovern, his ideal was realized. The opening of the parochial school had an edifying effect on the people of the parish. There was a gradual increase in the number of persons receiving the sacraments and in the number of persons attending daily Mass. In the spring of 1928, the bishop visited the parish and the largest class in its history was presented for confirmation, two hundred and five. In October, 1928, Rev. Bernard Mulloy and Rev. Richard J. Collentine of the Congregation of the Holy Cross came to Casper for a two weeks’ mission. Sister Mary Leander, B.V.M., completed her three years as superior of the convent at the close of the school year in 1930. Her advanced years and ill health made her retirement from active school work advisable. She was succeeded by Sister Mary Kyrean, B.V.M., who came in August. April 26, 1930, Bishop McGovern returned to Casper to administer the sacrament of confirmation to a class of one hundred and seventeen. In April, 1932, Father Mullin was suddenly stricken ill while en route to Casper from Chicago. It was necessary for him to remain away from the parish for the summer. He returned in September to his pastoral [66] charge, but was handicapped by lameness, a result of his illness. Father Nicholson and Father O’Reilly, assistants, were transferred in July, 1933, and were succeeded by two young men who were Wyoming’s first-fruits for the diocese>In 1924 Bishop McGovern had ordained Rev. Alonzo McHugh, a native of Cheyenne, for the Society of St. Sulpice; and in the early nineties of the last century Rev. Matthias Ternes (see Rawlins), who had lived in Cheyenne as a youth, was ordained for the diocese.> in Bishop McGovern’s regime. One was Rev. Leo Morgan, a native of Laramie, and the other Rev. Fred Kimmett who, although born in Colorado, lived from childhood in Powell, Wyo. Father Morgan left Casper in November and was replaced by Rev. A. Crann. Father Crann continued in the parish until the following September when for health reasons he found it necessary to take an extended leave of absence. Rev. Nicholas Endres, retired, came to Casper, as substitute for Father Crann, to remain until June, 1936. During the winter of 1935-36, a recurrence of Father Mullin’s illness proved less amenable to treatment than his original attack and in May, 1936, the better administration of parochial affairs, to which he no longer found himself equal, urged him to retire from the pastorate of St. Anthony’s over which he had presided for more than twenty years. [67] Rev. Thomas P. O’Reilly, former assistant of Casper, was recalled to the parish, this time to act as pastor. He assumed his new duties May 14, 1936. Fr. Kimmett was appointed pastor of Monarch and Fr. Endres, who had retired from the active ministry during the summer, departed. With these changes, the year 1936 saw a completely new administration with a new pastor and a new assistant, the latter being Rev. Francis T. Penny. Sister Mary Kyrean, B.V.M., beloved superior of St. Anthony’s school succumbed to pneumonia one week after the arrival of Fr. O’Reilly. A class of one hundred and eighty-seven was confirmed by his excellency, the bishop, May 30, 1937. The appointment of a second assistant in June, 1937, made possible the addition of a fourth Mass on Sundays. Fr. Penny was transferred to Lander and the bishop secured two members of the Congregation of the Precious Blood, who, with various changes in personnel, served until August, 1940. On their departure Revs. William J. McCormick and Alphonsus H. Grannan were appointed in their stead. During the year, 1938, there were eighty-two baptisms and twenty-four marriages performed in the parish. The number of children attending the parochial school (8 grades) in 1938-39 was three hundred and thirty-three. [68] The net debt on all the church property when Rev. Thomas O’Reilly took charge in May, 1936, was $101,000.00; by the end of 1940 this had been reduced to $60,000.00. Back to Top