Part 85 (2/2)

Rev. P. M. Loughnane, the present pastor of St. Joseph's, was born in County Kerry, Ireland. He received his cla.s.sical education at St.

Brendan's Seminary, Killarney, and studied philosophy and theology at St. Patrick's College, Thurles, where he was ordained to the priesthood on June 18, 1803. Coming to Dubuque, he was a.s.signed as a.s.sistant to Very Rev. E. McLoughlin, at St. Mary's, Clinton, Iowa. He was afterwards transferred to take charge of the parish at Sabula. Thence he went to State Center, in Marshall county, where he remained eight years. While at State Center he interested himself much in school work which he loved. Fr. Loughnane is a versatile scholar, a man of bright mind, and keen sense of discernment. His ability as a priest he has demonstrated by the beautiful new church which will ever remain a monument to his competency and the earnestness and worth of his people.

Bearing in mind that the congregation at Marion is not numerically large nor gifted with the possession of any too much of this world's goods, the sacrifices they made for the new church are much enhanced.

The greater number of the members of the charge are railroad employees and more or less of a fluctuating cla.s.s. But the Catholic heart is cold and callous, indeed, that cannot grow eloquent with faith when contemplating the visible, the material evidence of a great personal sacrifice for the faith.

Soon after his advent to St. Joseph's parish the pastor applied all his energy to collect for the new church, and by earnest and energetic effort raised about $5,000, each and every member of the congregation doing his or her duty in a manner truly admirable.

THE CHURCH AT LISBON

One of the oldest, if not the mother church in Linn county, is that at Lisbon. We have evidence of its existence and of early settlers for whose use it was erected dating as far back as 1854. Records show that Fr. Emmons, of Iowa City, the father of Catholicity in Linn county, made frequent visits to the little town, and baptized and ministered to the needs of the early settlers. Even farther back than 1854 it is on record that this pioneer of the faith offered the holy sacrifice and administered the holy sacraments in the home of Thomas McAllister, east of the town of Lisbon.

There are those living today who remember these times and conditions, and the fact is not questioned that some of the present members of the Lisbon congregation were regenerated by the saving waters of baptism in the home of Thomas McAllister, and it is even possible to meet occasionally those who well remember Father Emmons and his teaching.

It was through the efforts of this faithful pioneer shepherd, aided by the good will and support of the scattered few, that the old church of Lisbon was called into existence, and it is through veneration for the pastor and the pioneer that it is still allowed to stand, though no longer used for divine wors.h.i.+p. This old landmark was erected in 1854.

The site on which the little edifice was erected was donated by Jacob S. Pfautz, who also contributed to the present church building. Be it said to their eternal honor that among the contributors for the first church there are several names which are not belonging to the limited list of Catholics of those days.

Among the pioneers of those days we find such names as Peter h.e.l.ler, George Ringer, Mike Hoover, Samuel Bell, Fred Rabenau, William Andre, Thomas McClelland, I. G. Trigenfuse, Sam Ellison, John Walton, J. A.

McClelland, Joseph Owens, Thomas Andre, and others.

Father Emmons was only a missionary in Lisbon at the time his home charge was Iowa City, but as far as preaching and teaching the word and breaking the bread of life to the children of the faith his jurisdiction was not confined by any boundary or limitation.

The first resident pastor of Lisbon was Rev. W. Downey, who resided there for about three years after his term of service. Father Daly followed, and for a short time resided in Lisbon, and afterwards in Mechanicsville, and is spending the evening of his life in Atlantic, Iowa. After this time Lisbon was attached to Marion and was attended for a while by Father Laffin. When Father Hartigan succeeded to the charge at Marion he also attended Lisbon.

It was reserved, however, to the present popular pastor of Marion, Rev.

P. M. Loughnane, to add another laurel to his crown by replacing the old time-honored landmark with the present ornate and well designed church building.

The Catholic cemetery, which is a part of the property of this charge, was purchased in Father Downey's time.

THE SISTERS OF MERCY

The Sisters of Mercy came to Cedar Rapids on the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen, 22d July, 1875. They came from Davenport, which at that time was subject to Dubuque Bishop for there was only one diocese in Iowa.

Sister Mary Isadore and Sister Mary Gertrude were the first to visit Cedar Rapids, and in a few weeks afterwards Sister Mary Agatha and Sister Mary Francis came. These four formally took possession of the building which had been secured for school purposes, and in September, 1875, St. Joseph's Academy and parish school was opened for the first time in Cedar Rapids.

This community at Cedar Rapids remained subject to the mother house in Davenport until 1881, when the southern part of the state was cut off and made a new diocese. This new division of the Dubuque diocese necessitated the subjection of the Cedar Rapids community to the diocese of Dubuque and so the branch house became an independent community in November, 1881.

At this time the community at Cedar Rapids consisted of about ten Sisters, and there were about twenty-five boarders at St. Joseph's Academy at the time.

Previous to the installation of Father Quinn as pastor of Immaculate Conception church the parish school was independent of the academy.

After this they were united and the academic school became a free school for all those who were unable to pay for tuition.

[Ill.u.s.tration: QUAKER OATS TRAIN]

[Ill.u.s.tration: SCENE ON CEDAR RIVER]

[Ill.u.s.tration: ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH, CEDAR RAPIDS]

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