History of St. Louis Church in Glenrock 1920-1979

History of St. Louis Church in Glenrock
1920-1979

In 1920 the original mission church of St. Louis was built in Glenrock, a booming little oil town with a good number of Catholic families. The mission’s earliest trustees included Frank Popp, Simon McMahon, and the Cavanaughs, John, Maxine and Joe (Bus). In those days the pioneer Catholics in Glenrock, besides the families of the trustees, were the Hawkes, Lee, McCarthy, DeClue, Bartshe, Philbrick, Duncan families, as well as Anna Lee, Mrs. Charles Irwin, Mrs. Art Jeffries, Mrs. Tipton, Mrs. Myron Spencer, Mrs. J.O. Pierce, Julia Bruns, Paddy Burke, Ernest and Louis Jones, Annie Nelms, and Lila Todd. These Catholic pioneers sat on the first wood benches and their hearts helped the coal stove warm the church and each other. They donated work and time to the mission church and held uncounted card parties and bake sales to support the church. Simon and Anna McMahon were the only known donors of a stained glass window in the church.

The Franciscan Order of Friars Minor Conventual (O.F.M.Conv., later O.M.C.) were established at St. James in Douglas after 1909 with about six priests caring for the vast mission field in eastern Wyoming which included as many as twelve mission churches. Thus the Franciscans were only able to visit many churches once or twice a month. The first recorded priest to visit Glenrock was Father Adolph Bernhloz, O.F.M.Conv., who commuted from Douglas to hold Mass in the old hotel.

In 1956, eight lots were purchased west of the church for future building expansion.

Bishop Hubert M. Newell canonically established St. Louis as a diocesan parish on September 5/8, 1959, with Rev. Joseph Moroney as its first pastor. During Fr. Moroney’s tenure as pastor, the living quarters, which was an apartment in back of the church, were re-furnished and repainted. The parish hall was enlarged and a kitchen added to better serve the needs of the parish. Fr. Moroney immediately sought to find better living quarters and finally on March 14, l962, a parish house on property adjacent to the church was purchased for the sum of ^^^$11,000.00 from Mr. P.C. Norman. This house, which was long needed, was a great addition to the parish plant. Fr. Moroney, well loved by members of the community, served as pastor for three years and was transferred in September, 1962, to become pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Lovell.

Fr Moroney’s successor in Glenrock was Rev. Thomas O’Flannigan, a native of Wyoming. During the tenure of Fr. O’Flannigan, the debt of $18,000.00 on the parish house was paid making the parish free of debt. Fr. O’Flannigan served two years as pastor of St. Louis parish and was transferred in September of 1964 to Our Lady of Peace parish in Pinedale. His successor in Glenrock was F.J. Kimmett who had been pastor of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Cheyenne.

During Msgr. Kimmett’s tenure the sacristy was enlarged and rooms to teach religion classes were remodeled out of the apartment in back of the church. The church received a complete paint and cleaning job also at this time. Msgr. Kimmett served as pastor for 1 1/2 years and was transferred in July, 1966, to St. Edmund’s parish in Ranchester, Wyoming. During the remainder of the summer months the parish was in charge of Rev. John Cody.

The 1960s saw much growth in membership. Construction projects to better serve the pastor and parish were carried out. The church enjoyed a general re-furbishing with the building of a new altar facing the congregation.

Rev. Paul Hellrung became pastor of St. Louis in October, 1966. Prior to coming to Glenrock Fr. Hellrung served twenty-seven years as pastor of St. Rose in Torrington. Fr. Hellrung served only one year as pastor in Glenrock; he died in October, 1967.

Due to the shortage of priests after the death of Fr. Hellrung, Glenrock had no resident priest. Rev. Michael McBrien, pastor of St. James parish, Douglas, took care of the spiritual needs of the parish. Mass was held each Saturday evening for the next year.

In August of 1968, the Rev. James Doudican was appointed pastor. During Fr. Doudican’s tenure, the rectory was remodeled and repainted. Fr. Doudican served as pastor for little over a year and made many friends in the community. October 17, 1969, Fr. Doudican was transferred to St. Joseph’s in Lovell, Wyoming. Replacing Fr. Doudican was Rev. Thomas O’Flannigan who returned to Glenrock after an absence of five years.

Active organizations within the parish were Altar and Rosary Society, C.Y.O, Cana Club and the Knights of Columbus.

The seventies looked very bright for the parish with renewed oil and uranium activity in the area.

In the 1970s parish community growth was substantial. Financial struggles continued, but necessary repairs such as paneling and carpeting were done in the church. Additional exterior and interior repairs were made late in the 1970s.

Due to lack of growth in the parish, a number of parishioners requested a parish council and Father Terence McGovern helped them realize this goal in 1977. The first elected council included Hugh MacKay Duncan, Cliff Hunt, Claude Christian, Maxine Cavanaugh, Joe Popp, Shelly Bingham, Paul Sherwood and Frank Popp.

Another major contribution was the hiring of a parish secretary in 1979, who performed normal parish office activities, as well as assisting Father Tom Ogg with his vocational ministry.

The building of the new parish center was the focus of attention in the church for the last four years and the addition of a pastoral assistant, Sister Julianne Koch, has provided new inspiration for growth. It was hoped that a parish center would prove a major factor in the continued growth of the parish community.

Back to INDEX		History of St. Louis Church in Glenrock 1920-1979 In 1920 the original mission church of St. Louis was built in Glenrock, a booming little oil town with a good number of Catholic families. The mission’s earliest trustees included Frank Popp, Simon McMahon, and the Cavanaughs, John, Maxine and Joe (Bus). In those days the pioneer Catholics in Glenrock, besides the families of the trustees, were the Hawkes, Lee, McCarthy, DeClue, Bartshe, Philbrick, Duncan families, as well as Anna Lee, Mrs. Charles Irwin, Mrs. Art Jeffries, Mrs. Tipton, Mrs. Myron Spencer, Mrs. J.O. Pierce, Julia Bruns, Paddy Burke, Ernest and Louis Jones, Annie Nelms, and Lila Todd. These Catholic pioneers sat on the first wood benches and their hearts helped the coal stove warm the church and each other. They donated work and time to the mission church and held uncounted card parties and bake sales to support the church. Simon and Anna McMahon were the only known donors of a stained glass window in the church. The Franciscan Order of Friars Minor Conventual (O.F.M.Conv., later O.M.C.) were established at St. James in Douglas after 1909 with about six priests caring for the vast mission field in eastern Wyoming which included as many as twelve mission churches. Thus the Franciscans were only able to visit many churches once or twice a month. The first recorded priest to visit Glenrock was Father Adolph Bernhloz, O.F.M.Conv., who commuted from Douglas to hold Mass in the old hotel. In 1956, eight lots were purchased west of the church for future building expansion. Bishop Hubert M. Newell canonically established St. Louis as a diocesan parish on September 5/8, 1959, with Rev. Joseph Moroney as its first pastor. During Fr. Moroney’s tenure as pastor, the living quarters, which was an apartment in back of the church, were re-furnished and repainted. The parish hall was enlarged and a kitchen added to better serve the needs of the parish. Fr. Moroney immediately sought to find better living quarters and finally on March 14, l962, a parish house on property adjacent to the church was purchased for the sum of ^^^$11,000.00 from Mr. P.C. Norman. This house, which was long needed, was a great addition to the parish plant. Fr. Moroney, well loved by members of the community, served as pastor for three years and was transferred in September, 1962, to become pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Lovell. Fr Moroney’s successor in Glenrock was Rev. Thomas O’Flannigan, a native of Wyoming. During the tenure of Fr. O’Flannigan, the debt of $18,000.00 on the parish house was paid making the parish free of debt. Fr. O’Flannigan served two years as pastor of St. Louis parish and was transferred in September of 1964 to Our Lady of Peace parish in Pinedale. His successor in Glenrock was F.J. Kimmett who had been pastor of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Cheyenne. During Msgr. Kimmett’s tenure the sacristy was enlarged and rooms to teach religion classes were remodeled out of the apartment in back of the church. The church received a complete paint and cleaning job also at this time. Msgr. Kimmett served as pastor for 1 1/2 years and was transferred in July, 1966, to St. Edmund’s parish in Ranchester, Wyoming. During the remainder of the summer months the parish was in charge of Rev. John Cody. The 1960s saw much growth in membership. Construction projects to better serve the pastor and parish were carried out. The church enjoyed a general re-furbishing with the building of a new altar facing the congregation. Rev. Paul Hellrung became pastor of St. Louis in October, 1966. Prior to coming to Glenrock Fr. Hellrung served twenty-seven years as pastor of St. Rose in Torrington. Fr. Hellrung served only one year as pastor in Glenrock; he died in October, 1967. Due to the shortage of priests after the death of Fr. Hellrung, Glenrock had no resident priest. Rev. Michael McBrien, pastor of St. James parish, Douglas, took care of the spiritual needs of the parish. Mass was held each Saturday evening for the next year. In August of 1968, the Rev. James Doudican was appointed pastor. During Fr. Doudican’s tenure, the rectory was remodeled and repainted. Fr. Doudican served as pastor for little over a year and made many friends in the community. October 17, 1969, Fr. Doudican was transferred to St. Joseph’s in Lovell, Wyoming. Replacing Fr. Doudican was Rev. Thomas O’Flannigan who returned to Glenrock after an absence of five years. Active organizations within the parish were Altar and Rosary Society, C.Y.O, Cana Club and the Knights of Columbus. The seventies looked very bright for the parish with renewed oil and uranium activity in the area. In the 1970s parish community growth was substantial. Financial struggles continued, but necessary repairs such as paneling and carpeting were done in the church. Additional exterior and interior repairs were made late in the 1970s. Due to lack of growth in the parish, a number of parishioners requested a parish council and Father Terence McGovern helped them realize this goal in 1977. The first elected council included Hugh MacKay Duncan, Cliff Hunt, Claude Christian, Maxine Cavanaugh, Joe Popp, Shelly Bingham, Paul Sherwood and Frank Popp. Another major contribution was the hiring of a parish secretary in 1979, who performed normal parish office activities, as well as assisting Father Tom Ogg with his vocational ministry. The building of the new parish center was the focus of attention in the church for the last four years and the addition of a pastoral assistant, Sister Julianne Koch, has provided new inspiration for growth. It was hoped that a parish center would prove a major factor in the continued growth of the parish community. Back to Top