| Back to INDEX | History of St Patrick’s
Parish In the mid fifties it became apparent to Msgr. Thomas F. O’Reilly, pastor of St Anthony’s parish in Casper, that because of the continued growth of Casper eastward that a new Church building and Parish would be almost imperative. Accordingly he acquired a three acre tract on the corner of Country Club Road and 4th Street for future expansion. Plans for a new Church and school complex were prepared by Goodrich and Wilking, a Casper architectural firm, and by 1961 everything seemed ready and propitious to finalize all the preparatory requirements for the new buildings. Groundbreaking took place and the Northern Construction Company, whose bid seemed most acceptable, went into full operation. It was the great expectation of Msgr. O’Reilly that the dedication of the new Church should, very appropriately, take place on St. Patrick’s Day, 1963. Despite many delays occasioned by strikes in 1962 and other difficulties it looked like, in the fall of that year that his hopes might be realized. Boundaries were set for the new parish and a survey made by the Catholics living in the area indicated that there would be around 350 charter families within its confines. A group of Sisters from St Louis gave evidence that they would be interested in opening the six classroom grade school but this later did not materialize. New houses began to mushroom up all around the area of the Church and Msgr. O’Reilly purchased one of the most convenient and beautiful ones as a future residence for the priests who would minister to the new facility. Modern Romanesque in design, St Patrick’s is a cruciform structure, traditional especially in Ireland, in Church construction. A side altar dedicated to the Blessed Mother is found in the north transept, and in the south is a corresponding altar dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The work of skilled hands of several nations is apparent in the building. The marble in the altars, the Communion rail, the baptismal font, the holy water fonts and the reredos was quarried and worked in Italy. The stained glass windows were fashioned according to specifications in Cologne, Germany. The beautiful tabernacle, the Sanctuary and Baptistery gates, all wrought bronze were worked by craftsmen in Holland. Overall seating in the Church is about 1,000. The Mother’s Chapel in the northwest comer is completely soundproofed and is equipped with a public address system. It affords an unobstructed view of the altar. Over 200 cars can be accommodated in the parking lot. St Patrick’s School consists of six classrooms, gymnasium with stage, kitchen, custodian’s quarters, and office area. The architectural design permits easy expansion of two additional classrooms on the ground floor and eight more classrooms on a second storey which could be provided as needs dictate. The first pastor, The Rev James Power, a native of Dungarvan [Dunraven sp?] County, Waterford, Ireland was appointed on January the 15th, 1963. Ordained in 1939, at St. John’s College in Waterford he came to the Diocese of Cheyenne that year and had served as assistant in Sheridan and Rock Springs and as pastor in Monarch, Gillette, and Buffalo in succession before taking up his new assignment. Father Power set about organizing the parish shortly after his arrival. An Altar and Rosary Society was established as well as a men’s club, a CYO, CCD, and altar boy club. The first president of the Altar Society was Mrs. Tony Hartzell and the first president of the men’s club was Mr. George Reitemier; Mr. Michael Waters and Mr. Michael O’Brien were of great assistance with the young group of the parish. Mrs. Tony Pojman organized the altar boys and Mr. Leo Malsom, the Choir. Though there were many worries that the structure would not be ready for dedication on St Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1963, the Patron Saint of Ireland to whom many prayers were offered, did not disappoint the Monsignor, the Pastor or the people. A violent blizzard on the 16th provided considerable misgivings but the next day dawned sunny, mild and beautiful as if it were ordained by providence. At 4:00 p.m. on March 17th, 1963, the procession was formed to begin the dedicatory ceremonies. Leading were the altar boys followed by the clergy, a guard of honor of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, Monsignor O’Reilly, Celebrant of the Mass with the other Monsignori, the Pastor and M.C., Father Power. Bringing up the rear were the Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell, D.D., Bishop of Cheyenne, the Most Rev. Joseph Federal, Bishop of Salt Lake City, Utah. In the ancient and colorful ceremonial of the Church the sacred edifice was officially blessed and dedicated to the service of God by Bishop Newell, assisted by the 35 members of the clergy of the Diocese. About 1,000 of the laity of Casper attended the first Mass at St Patrick’s. The day ended with a banquet for 600 guests in the auditorium of the new school. The new pastor sought Sisters to run the school everywhere but it was an inopportune time since a great transition in the Catholic School system and in the Sisterhoods was taking place all over the country. However, in 1964 Mother M. Romaine of St. Martin’s Benedictine Priory in Rapid City, South Dakota, volunteered two Sisters to work with the CCD program. A beautiful new home situated conveniently was procured for the Sisters in 1968 and Sister Romaine herself with Sister Rosemary were the first occupants and to this date are still directing the CCD work in the Parish. About 500 students are registered for religious instruction in the CCD program. The parish began to grow and in 1965 it reached its 10 year peak with close to 500 families. The first Assistant Pastor appointed in the fall of 1966 was Father William Gianola, a native of Kemmerer, Wyoming. He was followed in 1967 by Father John Cody who retired because of ill health the following year. Father Cody died in New Jersey on August 7, 1969. Father Hardy succeeded Father Cody in 1969 and worked with the CCD program and with Catholic education in the City of Casper. He was followed in 1970 by Father Gerald Sullivan, a Casper native, and was appointed pastor of Glenrock in 1972. Father Vincent Langfield succeeded him until Father Frank Mahler, from the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, loaned to the Diocese in October 1972, came to assist Father Power in St Patrick’s until this writing. June 11, 1973 St Patrick’s Parish
|
||