“Saint Philomena Church was built in 1857 in the town of Asbury, a small community a short distance west of Dubuque. It was dedicated to a Roman martyr dear to the heart of Bishop Mathias Loras and his friend, the Cure of Ars. Over one hundred years…
“The beginning of Sacred Heart Parish is well described in the history of the Archdiocesan schools, “With Faith and Vision.” The authors wrote, “After nearly fifty years of getting to church by fording, by ferrying, and at last by crossing the…
"Seven pastors have served Dubuque’s Sacred Heart Parish during its 110 year history. Father Fredrick William Pape was the first. Many young families had settled in the northern part of the city in the 1870s and industry developed in that area. As…
"Foreseeing the need for a much larger church, Father Kortenkamp worked with his assistant, Father Joseph Brinkmann, to plan and construct the present Gothic style church with twin spires towering over 200 feet, until recent years the largest church…
"Father David J. Lonergan arrived in November of 1890 to found the parish, staying in the Gordon home until a residence could be provided. Pastor and parishioners chose high ground on the Military Road, near the small town of Fillmore and about eight…
"Green Island is a small Mississippi River town in the extreme southeastern corner of Jackson County and of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and named for the only patch of green showing during the high water. The town was first called Clarkestown or…
"Pioneer Catholic families settled in Grundy County in the late 1860s, during the hard times following the Civil War. Father Patrick Smith visited them from Cedar Falls almost monthly. His successor, Father Charles McCabe, continued to provide for…
“Before building a frame church in 1887, the Catholics of La Porte City in Black Hawk County gathered for monthly Mass in the home of Peter Trost whenever Father Thomas F. O’Brien visited them from his Eagle Center Parish. These pioneers built a…
"From 1872 to 1875 Father Michael Quirk, pastor of Elkport served the needs of the Littleport parish and the earliest records go back to his time.Father Edward L. Dullard next served as pastor from 1893 to 1898.In the fall of 1898 Father Daniel T.…