| Back to INDEX | History of St. Mary’s
Parish The historical restoration of the Cathedral, and the addition of new sacristy facilities and a large meeting room suitable for convert classes and parish society meetings was completed in conjunction with the formal celebration of the 75th anniversary of the diocese of Cheyenne after 18 months of work and at an expenditure of approximately $250,000.00. The re-dedication took place at a solemn pontifical Mass February 21, 1962 in the Cathedral. On that occasion dignitaries of the Church, the State and City joined together to observe and participate in the re-dedication of the Cathedral by the Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell, Bishop of Cheyenne, and Archbishop Urban J. Vehr, Archbishop of Denver. Two years later, on January 5, 1964 the newly constructed St. Mary’s High School Gymnasium was dedicated at impressive ceremonies at the Hall by Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell, Bishop of Cheyenne. The new gymnasium offered one of the finest physical plants in the Rocky Mountain region to students at the school and to members of the parish. It was built on a one-quarter block site directly across from the school itself and within 2 blocks of St. Mary’s Cathedral. The cost of the facilities in the amount of $354,000.00 represented one of the largest investments made in such a facility by any church in the diocese, and in the region. The gymnasium was used as a host site for a regional high school basketball tournament in 1966, and has been used continuously by the St. Mary’s school teams for their home basketball games. The decade saw both the peak in expansion of physical plant at St. Mary’s School and also the decline of the school both in enrollment and in financial resources. During the latter part of the decade the rising cost of operation coupled with a decline in the number of Sisters available to teach in the school caused a financial crisis which was met on a temporary basis through the generous donations of members of the parish and parents of children attending the school. The appeal was made by Rev. James O’Neill, pastor of the parish, in an announcement to the congregation on November 28, 1969. He told the parishioners that unless they increased their flow of donations substantially the school would be forced to close its doors at the end of the 1969-70 school year. Although the financial burden of operating the school did not decrease, contributions increased to the point that at the start of the 1970 decade Rev. O’Neill was able to report to the parish that their generous donations would permit the school to continue operating for an indefinite period. The decade saw other significant changes in the church and the Parish. During November 1964 the Diocesan Liturgical Commission released a set of general norms that established the constitution of the Liturgy as developed by the Second Vatican Council held at the Vatican during 1962 and 1963. The changes which permitted the presentation of the Mass in English, the use of a lay commentator, the participation of the congregation in the singing of hymns, and the saying of the Mass facing the congregation, were instituted in St. Mary’s parish during 1964. In April 1965 another event permitted after the Second Vatican Council was performed for the first time in St. Mary’s Cathedral. Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell and 10 priests concelebrated Mass on Holy Thursday. Participating with the Bishop in the Eucharistic Sacrifice were Rt. Rev. Monsignor James A. Hartmann, the Very Rev. John Meyer, the Rev. James O’Neill, the Rev. Cyril Hmelovsky, the Rev. Michael Butler, the Rev. William Delaney, the Rev. John Healy, the Rev. Lawrence Etchingham, the Rev. Leonard Wren O.F.M. Conv. and the Rev. Charles Taylor. The spirit of ecumenism reigned throughout the decade in the Church and in the Parish, as persons of all faiths attended annual open houses held at St. Mary’s Cathedral affording an opportunity for people of all denominations to acquaint themselves with the beliefs, practices and appointments of the Catholic Church. Also in the spirit of ecumenism, during the decade the annual men’s corporate Communion Mass was established. Started early in the decade the mens corporate Communion Mass became an annual affair at the Cathedral when Catholic .men and the guests of all faiths joined annually for a Communion Mass followed by a breakfast. Although it started in a small way the corporate Communion and breakfast during the final years of the decade was drawing close to 1000 participants. The Parish further demonstrated its leadership in interfaith activities by instituting the Cheyenne Interfaith Prayer Service for Peace and Unity in 1966. The Service has been conducted annually by the Parish since that time, and became a leading event in interfaith activities in the City of Cheyenne. Lay organizations related to or sponsored by the parish flourished during the decade. In March of 1960 the Eucharistic Guard for all three of Cheyenne’s parishes was established by members of Bishop P.A. McGovern Council 801, Knights of Columbus. Later in the decade the Council dedicated its new building which was acquired after a long period of time and a great deal of effort among the members of the organization seeking ways to construct or acquire suitable meeting facilities. In September 1964 the diocese established the Diocesan Office for the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine which directly and materially affected St. Mary’s Parish and the parishes throughout the State by coordinating all CCD programs. Scouting activities in the parish expanded during the decade and in 1965 St. Mary’s hosted the second annual Cheyenne Deanery Scouting program. The program illustrated the great value that the Catholic Church placed in scouting as a tool in developing religious and moral strength in young people. During the decade St. Mary’s School faculty and students received many honors. In 1967 Sister Mary Tomais [sic], O .P., was recognized as the Outstanding Biology Teacher for the State of Wyoming by the National Association of Biology Teachers. In 1968 two significant seminars were conducted at St. Mary’s School. The first was a panel discussion on sex education moderated by the Rev. Leonard Urban of the Newman Center, Colorado State University. The second was an area CCD workshop which was attended by 75 teachers and leaders from Southeast Wyoming. The theme of the workshop was the Role of the Teachers in CCD. Throughout the decade many students at St. Mary’s School received scholarships and awards which were an honor to themselves and to the quality of the education offered at the school. Only two Pastors served the parish during the decade. During the years from 1960 through 1963 the Very Rev. Frederick J. Kimmett served as Pastor. In 1964 Rev. James O’Neill was named as Pastor and served through the balance of the decade. Rev. Kimmett served the parish during its building program that saw the renovation of the Cathedral and the construction of the modern new St. Mary’s School Gymnasium. He was born in Colorado, but was raised and educated in Wyoming. He was ordained June 4, 1933 by Bishop P.A. McGovern and served as Pastor of St. Barbara’s Parish in Powell and Holy Name Parish in Sheridan. In September of 1964 he resigned as Pastor of St. Mary’s Parish because of failing health and took over the less demanding duties of Pastor at St. Louis Church in Glenrock. Father O’Neill was assigned to the Pastorate at St. Mary’s upon the resignation of Father Kimmett. Born in Ireland, he attended and graduated from St. John’s College, Waterford. After coming to Wyoming he served Kemmerer, Newcastle, and as Pastor in St. Joseph’s Parish in Cheyenne, before receiving the appointment to serve at St. Mary’s. During his service with St. Mary’s he also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Community Action of Laramie County, the Cheyenne Poverty Program Agency, Chairman of the Priests’ Senate, and organized the Parish Advisory Council in 1967, the first of its kind in the Diocese. Throughout the Decade the parish was blessed with many able Assistant Pastors, Sisters, and Extension Lay Volunteers. A list of all persons serving the Parish during the decade is attached, as is a chronological record of events in the parish recorded from the pages of the Wyoming Catholic Register, which has been the entire source of material for this history. Cheyenne 1970 Record of Events June 12, 1959 - The Very Rev. Frederick J. Kimmett, pastor of Holy Name Church, Sheridan, was appointed rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral to succeed the Right Rev. Monsignor James A. Hartmann, who retired after 47 years of service to the Church in Wyoming. 1960 - Marked the 75th anniversary of the purchase of the square block upon which the present complex of St. Mary’s high school, grade school and the convent now stand, at a purchase price of $3,400. February 16, 1960 - Bishop Hubert M. Newell dedicated the student chapel in St. Mary’s high school, Cheyenne, assisted by the Very Rev. Frederick J. Kimmett, pastor, and the Rev. Jerome Logue. The chapel was built at a cost of $4,500, which was raised entirely by voluntary contributions. March, 1960 - Members of Bishop P.A. McGovern Council 801, Knights of Columbus, established the Eucharistic Guard for Cheyenne’s three parishes. June 4, 1960.- The Rev. John Murray and the Rev. Gerald Chleborad were ordained to the sacred priesthood in ceremonies held at St. Mary’s Cathedral. October, 1960 - Extensive improvements and renovation of St. Mary’s Cathedral were begun with the awarding of contracts totaling more than $200,000 to local contractors. October, 1960 - 600 Catholic youths from nearly every parish in the diocese crowded into St. Mary’s Cathedral for the final Mass of a three-day Catholic Youth Organization Convention held in Cheyenne, and recorded an historic first when they elected officers for the first Diocesan Catholic Youth Organization board. 1961 - 250 men attended the first annual Men’s Corporate Communion exercise. February 21, 1962 - Dignitaries of Church and State, led by Archbishop Urban J. Vehr of Denver, eight members of the Hierarchy, Wyoming’s two United States Senators Joseph J. Hickey and Gale McGee, Gov. Jack Gage, Mayor Bill Nation, and a host of Monsignori, priests, and members of the laity joined in a Solemn Pontifical Mass to mark the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Cheyenne, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, and on this solemn occasion the rededication of the Cathedral took place. Pioneer Catholics who had been present at the dedication of the Cathedral in 1909 were honored. January 30, 1962 - Pope John XXIII extended his congratulations in a letter to Bishop Hubert M. Newell and the diocese of Cheyenne. April 1, 1962 - Bishop Charles A. Busevell [sp?], D.A.[sp?], of Pueblo, was the featured speaker at the second annual corporate Communion Mass for the Catholic men of Cheyenne, and Bishop Hubert M. Newell celebrated the mass and presided at the breakfast following, which was attended by nearly 600 persons. January 6, 1963 - Nearly 250 persons of various denominations attended an open house at St. Mary’s Cathedral where ceremonies and sacred instruments of the Church were described to the visitors. March 17, 1963 - The Most Rev. Joseph Lennox Federal, Bishop of Salt Lake City, gave the main address to the 800 men attending the third annual corporate communion Mass and breakfast. The Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell celebrated the Pontifical Mass in St. Mary’s and was assisted by the Very Rev. F.J. Kimmett, rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral. Summer, 1963 - Cathedral Hall, located across the street from and facing the Cathedral and adjoining rectory, was demolished to make way for the new Federal Building and Post Office which were subsequently erected on that site. January 5, 1964 - St. Mary’s high school gymnasium, with seating for approximately 1,000 persons, was completed at a cost of $354,000, and 675 persons were present for the dedication and formal blessing of the new structure by Bishop Hubert M. Newell. March 1, 1964 - The Cheyenne Cathedral was filled to capacity for the fourth annual corporate Communion Mass celebrated by Bishop Newell, with the Most Rev. Leo C. Byrne, S.T.D., Apostolic Administrator of the Wichita Diocese, as the featured speaker. September, 1964 - The Very Rev. F.J. Kimmett resigned his pastoral duties at St. Mary’s Cathedral because of ill health and was assigned to the pastorate of St. Louis Church, Glenrock, until his health should improve. He was succeeded by the Rev. James O’Neill, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church, Cheyenne, who immediately assumed the responsibilities of the administration of the Cathedral. November, 1964 - The Diocesan Liturgical Commission released a set of general norms effectively establishing the constitution of the liturgy in all the parishes and missions of Wyoming, changing the Mass to be offered facing the congregation, a lay commentator to be used in the ceremonies, and the entire congregation singing at all scheduled Masses. 1964 - Commensurate with the changes in the liturgy by the Second Vatican Council and proclaimed to the world by Pope Paul VI in December of 1963, the Mass in English, with commentator, was inaugurated at St. Mary’s Cathedral. April, 1965 - The Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell, Bishop of Cheyenne, and 10 priests concelebrated Mass on Holy Thursday in St. Mary’s Cathedral, which was the first time that a concelebrated Mass had ever been offered in the Cathedral. September, 1964 - The newly established Diocesan Office for the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine became a valuable asset to the clergy end religious throughout the diocese in coordinating all CCD activities and the progress and future plans of the Diocesan CCD program. Early in 1965 - Debaters and orators for the National Forensic League chapter at Saint Mary’s high school had established their bid for top honors in Wyoming and Colorado, by capturing their share of trophies, ribbons and superior ratings in regional and national competition. March 21, 1965 ~ The Most Rev. Raymond G. Hunthausen, Bishop of Helena, was the featured speaker at the fifth annual Corporate Communion and breakfast for men of Laramie County parishes, and more than 400 Catholic men attended the Mass, which was celebrated by Bishop Newell, and the breakfast. March, 1965 - The second annual Cheyenne deanery scouting program was held at St. Mary’s Cathedral. May 29, 1965 - Rev. Charles Hardy was ordained to the sacred priesthood by Bishop Newell in ceremonies at St. Mary’s Cathedral. January 9, 1966 - Open house was held at St. Mary’s Cathedral, and was well attended by people of all denominations to acquaint themselves with the beliefs, practices and appointments of the Catholic Church as an annual gesture of ecumenism on the part of the parish and the Catholic Church as a whole. March 13, 1966 - The Most Rev. Eldon B. Schuster, Auxiliary Bishop of Great Falls, was the featured speaker at the sixth annual Corporate Communion Breakfast, beginning with Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell, and followed by breakfast. March 1966. The 11th annual Wyoming Basketball Tournament was hosted by St. Mary’s school, and the occasion marked the first time a tournament was held in the new school gymnasium. May 25, 1966 - Robert Marko of Cheyenne was ordained to the sacred priesthood in ceremonies conducted by the Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell at St. Mary’s Cathedral. 1966 - St. Mary’s Hi-Lites, the school’s official newspaper, won five first and three second place awards in the annual Wyoming High School Press Association’s 1966 newspaper contest, with thirty-two Wyoming high schools participating in the event. September, 1966 - Father Gerald Chleborad, assistant pastor of St. Mary’s Cathedral since 1962, left Cheyenne to begin graduate studies in canon law at Catholic University, Washington, D. C., and at the same time the Rev. Patrick Trujillo was assigned as an assistant pastor at St. Mary’s Cathedral. November 10, 1966 - The Right Reverend Monsignor James A. Hartmann celebrated his 82nd birthday with members and friends of the Cathedral parish where he had served as pastor for more than 40 years. November, 1966 - Members of the National Forensic League Chapter at St. Mary’s High School won honors at two speech meets held at Fort Morgan, Colorado. December 4, 1966 - The White Mass of St. Luke was celebrated for the first time in the Cheyenne Diocese in St. Mary’s Cathedral, with His Excellency, Bishop Newell, offering the Mass for all Catholic doctors, dentists, technicians, registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses. December, 1966 - St. Mary’s high school received a Latin trophy for “summa cum laude” performance by three students who participated in the Auxilium Latinum nationwide Latin examination sponsored by the Nationwide Association for the Promotion of the Study of Latin. April 1967 - 600 Catholic men from the Cheyenne area attended the seventh annual Corporate Communion Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. Hubert M. Newell and the breakfast following to hear the Most Rev. Daniel E. Sheehan, J.C.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Omaha, give the main address. Fall 1966 - The Diocesan Religious Education Board was established and included representation of religious and laity from all five deaneries, under the patronage of Bishop Hubert M. Newell. Palm Sunday, 1967 - About 350 representatives of Cheyenne’s leading Catholic and Protestant Churches were present for the second annual Cheyenne interfaith prayer service for Peace and Unity, which was held in St. Mary’s High School auditorium. 1967 - Sister Mary Tomais, O.P., of St. Mary’s High School was named the 1967 recipient of the “Outstanding Biology Teachers” award in the State of Wyoming by the National Association of Biology teachers. She had distinguished herself by receiving several special grants for further study at Stanford. January 1968 - Two significant seminars were sponsored by St. Mary’s parish and school with the first a panel on sex education with The Rev. Leonard Urban of the Newman Center, Colorado State University, who acted as moderator and main speaker, and the second, an area CCD workshop which was attended by more than 75 teachers and leaders from southeast Wyoming. The theme of the workshop was “The Role of the Teacher in CCD,” to which the Rev. Jerome Logue addressed himself. February 12, 1968 - The Most Rev. James Albert Duffy, first Bishop of Grand Island, Nebraska. and rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral from 1904 until his consecration in 1913, died at Hot Springs, Arkansas. At the time of his death. Bishop Duffy was the senior Bishop in the United States in both age and consecration, and was one of the few remaining prelates in the entire world who had received their appointments from the late Pope St. Pius X. Bishop Duffy came to Cheyenne for reasons of health and except for a brief period at Kemmerer, he served as rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral and chancellor of the diocese until 1913 when he was appointed the first Bishop of the new Diocese of Kearney, later Grand Island, Nebraska. His consecration took place in the Cheyenne Cathedral on April 13, 1913. 1968 - Catholic men from the Cheyenne area attended the eighth annual Corporate Communion Mass and breakfast. March 3, 1968 - The financial struggle which the parish has faced concerning the operation of St. Mary’s school was shared with the members of the parish at an unprecedented parish meeting. St. Mary’s parish board, composed of nine lay parishioners, the three parish priests, and the two Sisters who are principals of the grade and high schools, gathered data for a parish report which was published in December of 1967. The response for increased support from the parish was very small as a result of this publication and the tuition was subsequently raised. It was pointed out that in the ten year period from 1957 to 1966 the ordinary income of the church including school revenues showed an increase of only 108.48 per cent, while during that same period, the total ordinary expenses increased a total of 205.45 percent. Significant increases were found in the cost of salaries alone, notwithstanding the presence during this period of non-salaried lay teachers. It was also noted that the salaries were not competitive with those in the public school system. Inflation was largely responsible for the increase in overall operating costs. The purpose of the special meeting was to place a greater burden of sharing the school’s financial crisis directly on the parish membership. The parish board also pointed out to those in attendance that the problem is not unique to St. Mary’s parish, but is common throughout the United States. May 29, 1968 - The Reverend Michael Carr was ordained to the sacred order of priesthood at St. Mary’s Cathedral. June 1968 - The Rev. Gerald Chleborad was appointed to serve as an assistant at St. Mary’s Cathedral. 1968 - Undoubtedly the most significant event in the ten-year history of St. Mary’s parish from 1960 to 1969 was the celebration by members of the parish, clergy and public of the 100 year anniversary of St. Mary’s Cathedral parish. October 2, 1968 - The centenary anniversary of the dedication of Cheyenne’s first Catholic Church, St. John the Baptist Church, the predecessor of St. Mary’s Cathedral, which was located at the northeast corner of 21st and O’Neill streets, a modest frame building first served by Father William Kelly and dedicated in 1869. Cheyenne’s first St. Mary’s was erected in 1879 on the northeast corner of 21st and O’Neill and the name was changed at that time from St. John the Baptist to St. Mary’s. A centennial committee, with the assistance of Bishop Hubert M. Newell and Rev. James O’Neill was formed to plan activities for the celebration of this historic event. September 27, 1968 - The Wyoming Catholic Register published a special 24-page color Centennial edition in honor of the founding of the Catholic Church in Cheyenne. Priests serving the parish at the time of the Centenary celebration were Rev. James O’Neill, pastor, assisted by Rev. John Wright and Rev. Patrick Trujillo. A concelebrated Pontifical Mass was offered in St. Mary’s Cathedral by Archbishop Urban J. Vehr of Denver; Archbishop James V. Casey, Denver; Bishop Joseph L. Federal, Salt Lake; Bishop Charles A. Buswell, Pueblo; Bishop David M. Maloney, Wichita; Bishop Hubert M. Newell; Monsignor James A. Hartmann, Monsignor Frederick J. Kimmett; and Rev. James O’Neill. The homily was delivered by Archbishop Casey. Guests of honor and special guests, including representatives of each of the non-Catholic churches in Cheyenne were present for the concelebrated Pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving offered in the Cathedral by the six neighboring Bishops. Federal Judge Joseph J. Hickey was the principal speaker at the Centenary dinner held at the Hitching Post Inn following the Mass, and Archbishop Urban J. Vehr of Denver (retired) spoke of the history of the Cheyenne diocese, in honor of this historic centennial observance. The Cathedral itself was erected under the authority of Bishop Keane and the Rev. James A. Duffy, pastor. The erection of the Church involved an original expenditure of more than $100,000, is constructed of Wyoming grey sandstone, and is an outstanding example of English Gothic architecture. The Cathedral is 135 feet long by 70 feet wide and has a seating capacity of 650 persons, and includes a Bishop’s Chapel, a large sacristy, a baptistery and an ample vestibule, in addition to galleries and confessionals, with three sets of double doors giving entry and exit to the worshippers. Today St. Mary’s Cathedral parish with its grade school, high school, convent and gymnasium complex represents an investment of over $3,000,000.00. December 27, 1968 -Rev. John F. Sullivan, a priest of the diocese of Cheyenne, who served as assistant at St. Mary’s Cathedral, before leaving the diocese on loan to the Archdiocese of New York, died and was buried December 30, 1968. February 28, 1969 - The Most Rev. David M. Maloney, D. D., Bishop of Wichita, was present as guest speaker at the ninth annual corporate communion mass and breakfast. Palm Sunday, 1969 - The 4th annual Inter-Faith Prayer Service for Peace and Unity was held in St. Mary’s Cathedral for the first time, with 700 persons attending the Holy Week service. June 6, 1969 - 64 seniors were presented their diplomas at the 36th annual commencement exercises held at St. Mary’s High School. August 8, 1969 - Rev. Charles Hardy was appointed diocesan director of education and assistant pastor at St. Mary’s Cathedral parish. 1969 - Rev. Patrick Trujillo, assistant at St. Mary’s was appointed to assist a parish in Rock Springs, and the Rev. Donn Shelly, C.S.Sp.[sp?], came to Cheyenne from Biafra as an assistant at St. Mary’s. November 28, 1969 - Rev. James O’Neill made public an appeal to his parishioners to increase their contributions to offset the grave financial problems of both the elementary and secondary school which are supported by the members of St. Mary’s parish, and that without this increase the schools would not re-open in the fall of 1970.
1960: The Rev. Jerome Denk was absent from the parish during this period
from 1960-1969. Cheyenne 1970 O’Neill biography The Rev. James O’Neill, pastor of St. Mary’s Parish, came to serve the Diocese of Cheyenne in 1954. Father O’Neill was born and educated in Ireland where he studied for the priesthood at St. John’s college, Waterford. He served as assistant pastor in Kemmerer, 1954-55; St. Mary’s, Cheyenne, 1955-58; St. Joseph’s, Cheyenne, 1958-59; Newcastle, 1959-62; and was pastor of St. Joseph’s, Cheyenne, 1962-64, before being appointed to head the Cathedral parish in 1964. Father O’Neill was elected chairman of the Priest Senate of the Diocese of Cheyenne in 1968. He also served as chairman of the executive board of Community Action of Laramie County, a division of O.E.G. (Office of Economic Opportunity). Under the direction of Father O’Neill, St. Mary’s parish formed a Parish Advisory Council in April of 1967, the first of its kind in the Diocese. The parish, which began in 1868, with most of the congregation coming from Camp Carlin, a government supply station near Cheyenne, St. Mary’s now serves nearly 1,200 families. |
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