Cheyenne, St. Mary’s Cathedral
Bishop McGovern

[27] The history of the Church in Cheyenne in its early years is practically a history of the diocese; for after Fort Laramie it is one of the oldest settlements in the State. With the building of the Union Pacific railroad to this point in the fall of 1867, there was quite an influx of settlers, and Cheyenne grew up, so to speak, over night. The Rev. William Kelly was sent by Bishop O’Gorman, of Omaha, to organize the Catholics and build up a parish. His territory extended from Sidney, Nebraska, to Wasatch Canyon, Utah. There were no settlements north of Fort Laramie.

Father Kelly set to work with characteristic energy, and in 1868 was able to dedicate a frame church at the northeast corner of 21st and O’Neil streets, on lots donated by the Union Pacific Railroad Company. A few rooms attached to the church served as the parochial residence, and the entire cost of the building was $4000.00. Most of the congregation came from Camp Carlin, a government supply station situated between Cheyenne and Fort Francis E. Warren.

The following is an extract from a letter written by Fr. Kelly Jan. 18, 1883: “In the fall of 1867 the Union Pacific railroad having been extended to within [28] a short distance of Cheyenne, I was sent by Bishop O’Gorman to that town to take charge of the spiritual interests of the Catholics resident there and in the vicinity. For six months, besides holding services in Cheyenne, I visited the railroad camps lying westward from the town. In the spring of 1868, General Stephenson, commandant at Fort D.A. Russell, kindly and generously donated four lots of ground, thereon to erect a Catholic church.>This is clearly a mistake of memory: the donor was the Union Pacific Railroad Company, as may be seen from the records at the court house. Pioneer laymen have also borne witness to this fact.> The church (under the patronage of St. John the Baptist) and parochial residence were built and completed in the summer of the same year, 1868, at an expense of about $4000.00.

“At this time my missionary field extended from Sidney, Nebraska, westward to Wasatch Canyon in Utah, running north as far as Fort Laramie. With the exception of an occasional Sunday Mass at Laramie City and Fort Sanders, Mass was celebrated regularly every Sunday at Cheyenne after the erection of the church, the other days of the week being devoted to missionary work along the railroad. On these trips the section houses were converted into temporary churches.

“In the summer of 1869, Bishop O’Gorman, accompanied by Fr. Ryan and another priest, visited Cheyenne and Laramie City, and administered the sacrament of confirmation at both places.”

[29] The old records of the Cheyenne parish state that “on Sunday, July 11th, the bishop confirmed twenty children and adults. High Mass was celebrated coram episcopo and a sermon was delivered by Fr. Millany. On the following morning the bishop, accompanied by Fathers Ryan and Millany, went to Laramie and laid the corner-stone of the Catholic church. In the evening a sermon was delivered by Fr. Millany in the public school to a large audience.’’

As might be gleaned from Fr. Kelly’s letter, quoted above, the baptismal and marriage registers of those days have entries of every place along the Union Pacific from Sidney to Wasatch, including the long defunct town of Carbon. It is to be noted that Fr. Kelly was the first apostle of the Catholic Church in Wyoming; he was also the first priest to be ordained in Nebraska after the creation of the vicariate. Bishop O’Gorman was consecrated May 8, 1859, and he ordained Rev. William Kelly the 26th of the following month in Omaha.

Fr. Kelly remained in charge at Cheyenne until Oct. 9, 1869. He did general missionary work in Nebraska for another decade, and then lived in retirement at St. Philomena’s cathedral, Omaha, until his death Oct. 23, 1907. His was a belated vocation: for he had been a Christian Brother in Ireland, and was about 40 years of age when he received holy orders. Of ordinary ability, he was destined by divine Providence to perform [30] extraordinary work in the development of western missions; and the Lord fitted him for his task by endowing him with a robust constitution.

We knew Fr. Kelly for thirty years, and during the last nine years of his earthly span we lived together under the same roof. Let us endeavor to describe him, as we remember him during that period. Below medium height, his weight was somewhat above normal; his features were regular – neither long, thin, nor round; blue eyes, and a liberal amount of grey hair that was almost white. He was every inch a priest, although he never wore the Roman collar (during his early years in the priesthood it was not prescribed), but wore instead a white neckerchief under a clerical vest. His reputation was that of a “saintly priest”; he had an even disposition, and was never angry or impatient. At the end of every interview his parting salute was always: “God bless you !’’ Up to his last brief illness he enjoyed excellent health, which enabled him to take a daily walk of several miles. One word more: he died without a dollar, having devoted whatever he received to works of religion.

Rev. Philip Erlach was the second pastor of Cheyenne (Oct. 9, 1869, to Apr. 16, 1871), and during his tenure of office likewise had charge of all Wyoming. The baptismal register shows the vast area covered by his ministrations; for besides entries at all points along [31] the Union Pacific railroad, christenings are recorded in the northern country at Fort Laramie, Fort Fetterman, South Pass and Atlantic City. The discovery of gold had given birth to the latter two settlements. These long trips had to be made by stage, and naturally involved a great deal of hardship.

When Fr. Erlach was moved from Cheyenne, he was placed in charge of the oldest parish in Nebraska, St. John’s (now Jackson), near Sioux City. He was born in Austria April 27, 1839, and was raised to the priesthood by Bishop O’Gorman June 27, 1865.

The next incumbent of the Cheyenne pastorate was Rev. William Byrne, who remained until Sept., 1873. After Bishop O’Gorman’s death he acted as administrator of the vicariate. He died of tuberculosis while serving as pastor of North Platte. It was during his charge that Laramie was created a parish, thereby cutting off all the territory north and west of that city.

Then came Rev. John McGoldrick, who served as pastor until Oct. 18, 1877. Considering the old church property inadequate to the needs of the growing congregation, he secured two lots at the northeast corner of 19th and Carey avenue as the site for a new church. He also secured a plot of ten acres to be used as a Catholic cemetery. Through the good offices of Mr. Lawrence Bresnahen this ground was donated by the city. Mr. Bresnahen, as mayor, gave a bond to the [32] church authorities (Apr. 28, 1876), pledging the transfer of the property as soon as the city could get a patent from Washington.

Feeling that this plot was not sufficiently large for burial purposes Messrs. Lawrence Bresnahen and Tim Dyer later persuaded the city through Mr. Heck Reel, the mayor, to give another bond (September 25, 1885) whereby it pledged to convey ten acres more to Rev. F.J. Nugent as trustee.

On May 8th, 1888, the city deeded to Most Rev. Maurice F. Burke 18.32 acres for $45.80. Presumably the city did not get the full 20 acres from the United States government. On Nov. 23rd, 1903, Most Rev. John J. Keane and Most Rev. Henry Cosgrove, as administrators of the estate of Most Rev. Thomas Lenihan, transferred this property to the Church of St. Mary. These facts were secured from the records of the court house. Father McGoldrick died in Cheyenne of tuberculosis but was buried in Omaha.

Rev. John Jennette>Irish, notwithstanding his name> next guided the destinies of the parish from December, 1877 to August 4th, 1878. He laid the foundation of the brick church on the property purchased by Father McGoldrick, and the second church, like the first, was dedicated under the patronage of St. John the Baptist. The families of the congregation at this time numbered from 50 to 75, and the [33] only railroad in Cheyenne besides the Union Pacific was a spur to Boulder and Denver, known as the Colorado Central. All communication with the country to the north was by stage. During his incumbency at Cheyenne Fr. Jennette erected a church at Sidney, Nebraska, but was later given charge of the newly created parish of St. Patrick, Omaha, which he served for a number of years, beloved by everyone. For the last two decades of his life he served as chaplain at St. Joseph’s hospital, Omaha, and dean of the Omaha deanery. He passed to his reward August 25th, 1918.

Rev. John Hayes succeeded Fr. Jennette as pastor and governed the parish up to November 18, 1882. During the first year he was assisted by Rev. John T. Lee. The church begun by his predecessor was brought to completion and solemnly dedicated in May, 1879, by Very Rev. D.I. McDermott, V.G., the bishop at the time being present at the dedication of St. Patrick’s cathedral, New York. The other clergymen in attendance were Revs. Hugh Cummiskey, M.F. Cassidy, Daniel Hayes and the pastor. Father McDermott preached in the morning on Faith and in the evening on the Blessed Sacrament. Father Hayes died Nov. 18th, 1882, and was buried in Cheyenne. During Fr. Hayes’ pastorate a substantial brick parochial residence was built adjoining the church.

[34] Rev. Francis J. Nugent was in charge from Nov. 25, 1882, to June 20, 1886. He started a parochial school which was temporarily located in the old frame church, and placed it under the direction of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. It was shortly moved to the new brick building erected for that purpose at the rear of the church. He also secured the splendid school property adjoining the State capitol and superintended the construction of the present academy. A man of boundless energy, he founded and conducted, with the help of Mr. Joseph McGill, a weekly secular newspaper known as The Mirror, which however, was foredoomed to failure. After leaving Cheyenne Father Nugent served as pastor at Rawlins for a year and a half, but was again brought back to Cheyenne where he remained from January, 1888 to March, 1891. A very successful mission was conducted in the parish in Oct. 1888, by Rev. Arnold Damen, the famous Jesuit missionary. Father Nugent went from Cheyenne to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he was rector of the cathedral. He joined the Benedictine monks at Birmingham, England, where he was professed Sept. 8, 1902, and died in London, March 15, 1920. (He was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1859, and ordained at Baltimore, Md. by Cardinal Gibbons in 1882). Father Nugent was an indefatigable worker, but a poor financial manager. The bishop on his return from a prolonged sojourn in Rome, was [35] compelled to borrow money to pay various debts contracted by Father Nugent.

Rev. John T. Smith was pastor from July 9, 1886, to Nov. 23, 1887. It was in this latter year that Cheyenne was created a diocese, and on the arrival of the first bishop, Most Rev. Maurice F. Burke, D. D., Father Smith returned to his own diocese, and was stationed at Hubbard, Nebraska for a short time, then at Sacred Heart parish, Omaha, and finally at St. Patrick’s church, Omaha. He cleared this parish of a large debt, erected a beautiful new brick church and died there in February, 1915. At the advent of Bishop Burke a $6000.00 addition was made to the parochial residence for the accommodation of the bishop.

Rev. M.J. Carmody was in charge from May, 1891 to March, 1892.

Rev. Edward Fitzgerald from July, 1892, to November, 1893. He followed the bishop, on the latter’s transfer to St. Joseph, and later was appointed chaplain in the United States army and retired with the rank of major, residing in southern California until the outbreak of the World War, when he was drafted by the government to serve at Ft. Douglas, Salt Lake City.

Rev. Thomas Conway assumed charge in December, 1893, and remained until November, 1897, leaving for Colorado after the arrival of Bishop Lenihan. He did [36] effective work in Grand Junction, Colo., where he built a brick church and school, and lived to be more than three score and ten, although suffering from tuberculosis for forty years.

Rev. P.U. Sasse was in charge from Nov., 1897, to Dec., 1900. From Cheyenne he was sent to Sheridan where he built a brick church. Later he was pastor of various parishes in Colorado.

Rev. George J. Bryant served as pastor from Dec., 1900, to Jan., 1902; he was then sent to Casper, where he built a frame parochial residence. He passed away in San Francisco April 7, 1938.

Rev. Michael A. Kennedy served the parish from May, 1903, to Dec., 1903. He held other charges in the diocese, and died in 1911, pastor of Rock Springs.

Rev. James A. Duffy was in charge from Nov., 1904. to April, 1913, except during 1910, when he was in Kemmerer. He had been a curate to Bishop Keane in Minneapolis, and being invited to Cheyenne to work under his former pastor, proved of invaluable assistance in the building of the new cathedral and bishop’s house. His efficient work was recognized by his superiors, and he was appointed bishop of the newly erected see of Kearney (Nebraska), Jan., 1913.

One of the first objects of Bishop Keane’s pastoral solicitude was to provide a suitable cathedral and bishop’s residence. The buildings in use had been constructed [37] in pioneer days when there was no thought of Cheyenne ever becoming an episcopal see, and the congregation had long outgrown the modest brick church that had been erected late in the seventies. Owing to the growth of the city, the old church property had become valuable as a business site, so it was decided to sell > The property was sold for $16,000.00.> and seek a better location. A beautiful site was secured on Capitol avenue, not far from the State capitol, and adjoining the public library. Bishop Keane called on the cathedral parish to build the new church, while he pledged himself to secure funds for the episcopal residence from the diocese at large. Suitable plans were secured from an Omaha architect, and both of these improvements, involving an expenditure of more than $100,000.00, were begun at the same time. On the seventh day of July, 1907, in presence of a large and distinguished gathering of people, the corner-stone was laid by Bishop Scannell, of Omaha, the sermon being preached by Bishop Keane. An appropriate address was also made by Governor Brooks. Building operations were prosecuted with vigor until the cathedral stood complete in all its details. No such gathering of ecclesiastics had ever been brought together in Wyoming as that which assembled for the dedication ceremony, which took place Jan. 31, 1909, while a congregation of representative citizens, both Catholic and non-Catholic, [38] filled the large building to the very doors. Pontifical Mass was sung by Bishop Burke, of St. Joseph, and Bishop Carroll, of Helena, delivered the sermon. Present in the sanctuary were Bishops Matz, Garrigan, Lenihan (brother of the late bishop of Cheyenne) and Keane, besides a large number of priests. In the evening pontifical vespers were chanted, Bishop Lenihan officiating, and Bishop Garrigan in the pulpit. Thus closed the auspicious day to which Bishop Keane had looked forward from the time he assumed charge of the diocese: for it was the crowning glory of his zealous and fruitful career in Cheyenne.

The cathedral is a fine example of English Gothic style throughout, the one tower being on the southwest corner. It is built of Wyoming grey sandstone, is 135 feet long by 70 feet wide at the transept, and seats 650 persons. The large arches spanning the roof are of steel with oak trimming, the floor is slightly inclined, and there are no columns to obstruct the view of the altars, while a spacious sanctuary affords ample room for pontifical functions. The interior finish is of oak, with pews of the same material. The upper part of the transepts contains galleries, the lower, confessionals. A bishop’s chapel, a large-sized sacristy, a baptistery, and an ample vestibule complete the interior arrangements. Three double doors make it possible to vacate the building of worshippers within a very short space of time, [39] should necessity arise. Funds for the purchase of the main altar were provided by the ladies of the Altar and Rosary society, while the Young Ladies’ Sodality donated the Bl. Virgin’s altar. Two thousand dollars each were contributed by Andrew Carnegie and the members of the congregation for the splendid pipe organ which occupies the large gallery over the main entrance. The magnificent window above the organ, containing an excellent representation of the Sistine Madonna, was donated by the local Knights of Columbus. After the opening of the new cathedral, a mission was conducted by the Paulist Fathers of New York City.

It is only necessary to add a word about the bishop’s residence, which is a two and a half-story structure of grey pressed brick, with stone foundation, and with stone trimmings. It is admirably laid out, fronts lengthwise on Capitol avenue, and has dormer windows projecting through the slate roof. A sightly lawn extends from the street to the house, which is situated on the rear end of the lot adjoining the cathedral. The total cost of the cathedral was $80,000.00, and of the bishop’s residence $23,000.00. It need scarcely be said that these two beautiful buildings will ever stand as a monument to Bishop Keane’s episcopate. A career so full of labor and so marked with success as was his naturally merited the approval of the Holy See, and this was given by [40] bulls published Aug. 11, 1911 promoting him to the archiepiscopal see of Dubuque.

On the departure of Bishop Duffy, Bishop McGovern took personal charge of the cathedral until May 1, 1915, when he appointed Rev. James A. Hartmann rector. It was during the latter’s able administration that the small debt remaining on the cathedral was liquidated, the interior redecorated, three houses and lots on 21st street, adjoining the church property, purchased, and Cathedral Hall erected as a social center for the people of the parish. This last mentioned institution, with the ground on which it stands, represents an outlay of $120,000.00, and has no rival between the Mississippi river and the Pacific coast. With the building of a new episcopal residence in 1940, the parish bought from the diocese the bishop’s house next to the cathedral for $10,000.00. From its construction in 1907, it had been occupied jointly by the bishop and the cathedral clergy. Olivet cemetery was also improved by the addition of an iron fence, beautiful and substantial gates, by lowering the grave markers to the level of the ground, by placing the monuments in straight and parallel lines, and by getting most of the lots under perpetual care. The artistic Celtic cross of Barre granite in the center of the cemetery, erected in 1923 at an expense of $3,000.00, was the gift of Bishop McGovern. Olivet cemetery was named by Bishop McGovern, prior to whose time it had no specific name.

[41] The following legacies have been left to St. Mary’s cathedral since 1908:

From Mr. James Duffy, property valued at $2,500.00; from Mr. William Moffatt, $500.00; from Mrs. Nora Van Dyke, $1,000.00; and from Mrs. Ellen Conroy, $2,728.00, half of which, however, was voluntarily turned over to her niece, Miss Ellen Welch.

Among prominent members of the parish in the second decade of this century may be mentioned: Messrs. John F. Crowley, John Martin, P. Jacob Gauff, Dennis J. O’Connell, Joseph Cahill, Charles McGarvey, Thomas McInerney, Frank Bon, William E. Mullen, Joseph Bell, William E. Dinneen, John H. Smith, John T. McDonald, Joseph C. O’Mahoney, Walter Phelan, Doctors J.H. Conway and T.J. Henneberry; and Mesdames A.E. Roedel and Mary Schmidt.

Cheyenne had shown a steady growth through the years, and the congregation attending the cathedral had increased pari passu, until the people could no longer be accommodated with three Masses. The isolation of the south side, due to the railroad tracks, suggested the advisability of a church for that section of the city. Two lots, therefore, were purchased at Sixth and House avenue, and two more donated by Mrs. Mary Schmidt. St. Joseph’s church, an attractive brick building in Spanish Mission style, with a capacity of 300, was erected at a cost of $30,000.00. [42] It was solemnly blessed and set aside for divine worship Jan. 28, 1929. Solemn high Mass was celebrated by Rev. Jas. A. Hartmann, assisted by Rev. John Henry as deacon, and Rev. Leo Morgan as subdeacon. Bishop McGovern preached the sermon, and had as his chaplains Rt. Rev. Jas. W. Stenson, V.G., of Omaha, and V. Rev. John T. Nicholson, V.G., of Laramie. Thereafter Mass was said in the new church every Sunday at 9 o’clock. However, in the course of a few years, it was found that four Masses were not sufficient to provide for the ever growing flock, and on Nov. 29, 1938, the bishop created St. Joseph’s a separate parish, with Rev. Jerome Denk as pastor. From that date four Masses were celebrated every Sunday in the cathedral, and two in St. Joseph’s church. Before leaving this subject, we may remark that the new parish began its autonomous existence free from debt; but the erection of a parochial residence created an obligation of $3,500.00.

A few pages back we adverted to the starting of a sisters’ school during the pastorate of Rev. Francis J. Nugent. In view of the vicissitudes of this institute, and the ultimate withdrawal of the community, it will be in order to relate the story of this undertaking. Mother St. Michael and five religious of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus arrived in Cheyenne August 13, 1884. The old frame church at 21st and [43] O’Neil was to serve temporarily as a school, and the rooms in which the pastor had formerly resided, as a convent. The building having been vacant for several years, it was not fully ready for occupation. However, they were able to move in on the feast of the Assumption, and at once christened the place the “Cot” (cottage). The Bl. Sacrament was brought to the chapel on the feast of St. Rose.

The following week the school was formally opened, and within a few days the attendance numbered 100 pupils, 20 of whom were non-Catholics. The children were rough and ready, but quite satisfactory in regard to discipline, and proficiency in religious and secular branches. The net proceeds of a bazaar held by the parish that fall amounted to $1258.00. In 1885 the school was transferred to the new brick building that had been erected at 19th and Carey ave., to the rear of the church. At the opening of this scholastic year 174 children were registered, 64 of whom were boys and 29 non-Catholics. It was during this week that the school was honored by a visit from the ordinary of the diocese, Bishop O’Connor, of Omaha.

The prospects for the school were very promising: nevertheless Fr. Nugent had a more ambitious program in mind. Early in that same year 1885, he had purchased for $3,400.00 the square block bounded by [44] Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth streets, and by Central and Warren avenues, and had deeded it to the sisters on condition that they maintain a school; in the event that they failed to do so, it was to be returned to the diocese. Plans were drawn for an academy for day scholars and boarders; the cornerstone was laid Aug. 16th, and the building was finished by Jan. 1, 1886, at a cost of $50,000.00. Classes began Jan. 1lth, with 70 in attendance, while the number in the parochial school was 60. The debt on the academy was $35,000.00.

The following year witnessed the creation of Cheyenne as a diocese, with the Most Rev. Maurice F. Burke, D.D., as the first bishop. Up to this time the parochial church and school were known as St. John the: Baptist’s; the new bishop changed the name of both to St. Mary’s. He soon realized that the support of two Catholic schools was beyond Cheyenne’s resources, and in Feb. 1891, St. Mary’s ceased to function, and there remained only the Academy of the Holy Child Jesus.

Imbued with the tradition of Catholic schools, which he had brought from Dubuque, Bishop Lenihan (1897-1901), who succeeded Bishop Burke, took a deep interest in the academy, and constantly urged upon the people the necessity of a Catholic training for their children. As a result, the number enrolled surpassed that of any previous year.

[45] During the regime of Bishop Keane (1902-1911) it was necessary for the sisters to install a new heating plant, and, at his suggestion, an addition containing private rooms for boarders was included in the improvements. This raised the debt to $45,000.00; but no boarder ever requested a private room. The encumbrance on the property was held by the motherhouse in Philadelphia, where certain involvements made it necessary for the Cheyenne corporation to repay $35,000.00 without delay. However, since the sisters had only a conditional deed to their property, no one could be found to make a loan on such security. In order that they might borrow this amount Bishop Keane removed the explicit condition from the deed, leaving it only implied.

When Bishop McGovern became ordinary in 1912, he was quite disturbed when he learned the financial condition of the school; the more so, as the sisters expressed themselves quite satisfied with paying their expenses and meeting their interest. He suggested a campaign, and raising the price for boarding students, who were paying but $18.00 a month; and he volunteered to recommend the academy to the people on his confirmation trips. A new superioress, Mother Mary Stanislaus, came about this time, and entered into the plans of the bishop. Six thousand dollars were realized from a campaign. The pension for boarders was [46] gradually raised to $35.00 a month, while the number of boarders increased from 36 to 70. Under Mother Mary Stanislaus and her immediate successor, the $35,000.00 was paid in full, and the motherhouse canceled the remaining $10,000.00.

The outlook for the academy seemed promising ; but alas, the day of boarding schools was past! Country schools had improved their standards, and parents preferred to have their children with them. The religious of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus concluded that there was no future for them in Cheyenne, and decided to leave. At the time of their withdrawal in 1933, they had 258 day scholars and seven boarders. There was a great deal of regret at their departure; for they had a splendid record of forty-nine years of achievement to leave behind them. Let it be said to their credit that these women were ideal religious, possessing a very high degree of refinement, and well trained in the teaching profession. The impress of their culture will be reflected in this community for years to come. On their retirement from Cheyenne, the nuns deeded their property to the local parish, which paid them an equity of $20,000.00.

The Dominican nuns of Sinsinawa, Wisconsin, were now placed in charge of the school, and, as it had become parochial, the name was changed to St. Mary’s Academy, to correspond with the name of the [47] church. Bishop McGovern was familiar with the work of this community in Omaha, and knew that its members enjoyed a reputation as teachers, than which none ranked higher. Wishing to give no Catholic parent an excuse for not sending his children to St. Mary’s Academy, Father Hartmann eliminated tuition fees, and assumed the responsibility of paying the sisters from parochial receipts. The pastor’s generous policy, combined with the efficiency of the teachers, has resulted in an annual increase of 50 pupils, so that the present attendance is 643, of whom 143 are in the high school and 500 in the grades. So great indeed became the increase that it was no longer possible to accommodate the pupils in the old building. Fr. Hartmann had watched the progress of the school, and was not caught unprepared. A new high school was erected and ready for occupancy in the fall of 1938: it cost $100, 000.00, and was $50,000.00 in debt. Teachers who are familiar with such buildings pronounce it a model high school and thoroughly equipped. At the same time the old building was subjected to considerable alteration in order to provide the utmost possible capacity for the grades.

In 1939 the Legion of Mary, with ten active members, started their praiseworthy program of visiting careless and fallen-away Catholics in order to restore them to a fervent and Christian way of life. Under [48] the direction of the pastor, this organization is quietly accomplishing a tremendous amount of good.

During the last quarter of a century the following missions were given in the parish, each lasting a fortnight: In November, 1917, by Rev. P.B. Donnelly, D.D., an Oblate Father from London, England; September, 1922, Revs. John Cunningham and John McGuire, of the Society of Jesus; October, 1928, Revs. A.C. Pregenzer and Mathias Meyer, Redemptorists; March, 1932, Revs. J.B. Hegarty and F.L. Van der Heyden, Dominicans; January, 1937, Revs. William Cousins and Raymond Hillinger, of the Chicago missionary band; Revs. Robert J. Murphy and Russell Jackson, Paulists, in November, 1940.

The number of families listed in the parish at this date is 635.

Throughout Bishop McGovern’s regime, confirmation has been administered in the cathedral every two years.

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