Waterloo Catholics

The Catholic Parishes in Waterloo
Historical Timeline
 

1837 -- Archdiocese of Dubuque created (July 28).
         -- Most Rev. Matthias Loras ordained first bishop of Dubuque (Dec. 10)

1854 -- First known Mass celebrated in Waterloo.

1861 – St. Joseph Parish founded as a mission of St. Mary Parish, Waverly.

1863 – Original St. Joseph Church dedicated on East Third Street.

1869 -- Fr. Nicholas F. Scallan appointed first resident pastor of St. Joseph Parish.

1872 – Our Lady of Victory Academy at St. Joseph Parish opens.

1880 – Cornerstone laid for second St. Joseph Church on East Third St. (Aug. 4)   
         -- Second St. Joseph Church dedicated on East Third St.

1893 -- Diocese of Dubuque made an Archdiocese (June 15).
         -- Bishop John Hennessy promoted to first Archbishop of Dubuque (June 16).
         -- Our Lady of Victory Academy adds grades 9-12.

1894 -- "German Catholic St. Mary's Building Association" formed to organize
             St. Mary Parish.

1898 – St. Mary Parish founded.
         -- Fr. H.J. Hemesath appointed pastor of St. Mary Parish.
         -- First Mass celebrated in the basement of the original St. Mary Church
            at Lafayette & Park (Jan. 23)

1899 – St. Mary School opens.

1900 -- Cornerstone laid for third St. Joseph Church at East Third & Mulberry Sts.,
             (Sept. 9)

1901 – St. Joseph Church dedicated (Oct. 6).
         – Original St. Mary Church at Lafayette & Park dedicated (Oct. 27).

1906 – Original St. Mary Church and School enlarged.

1908 -- West side Catholics petition Archbishop John J. Keane to establish
            Sacred Heart Parish.

1909 – Sacred Heart Parish founded.
         -- Fr. John J. Hanley appointed first pastor of Sacred Heart Parish.
         – Sacred Heart School opens (Aug. 24).
         -- Cornerstone laid for Sacred Heart Church on West 4th St. (Sept. 5).
         – First Mass celebrated in Sacred Heart Church (Dec. 25).

1911 – Sacred Heart Church dedicated (Oct. 8).
         – New building for Our Lady of Victory Academy opens.

1917 -- Fr. Henry Kuester OFM appointed first Franciscan pastor of
            St. Mary Parish.
         -- Land purchased for new St. Mary Church at East Fourth & Parker Sts.

1921 -- Fire damages original St. Mary Church.

1922 – Construction begins on second St. Mary Church at East Fourth & Parker
            Sts. (March 21).
         -- Second St. Mary Church dedicated (Nov. 12).
         -- New St. Mary School opens on East Fourth Street (Nov. 22).
         -- Planning begins for the creation of St. John Parish.

1923 – St. John Parish founded.
         -- Fr. Nicholas J. Lenz appointed first pastor of St. John Parish.

1924 – Cornerstone laid for St. John Church at 1701 Mulberry St. (April 6).
         -- First Mass celebrated in St. John Church (Aug. 10).
         -- St. John Church dedicated (Sept. 1).
         – St. John School opens (Sept. 3).

1930 -- St. John Parish Credit Union established.

1935 -- Beginning of evangelization effort in African-American community.

1936 -- First Masses celebrated in private homes of African-American
            Catholics by priests from St. Mary Parish.
         -- Family Benefit Society founded at St. John Parish.

1940 -- Dedication of St. Peter Claver Church at 1112 Mobile St. (Sept. 8)

1945 – St. Edward Parish founded.
         -- Msgr. John M. Fischer appointed first pastor of St. Edward Parish.
         -- First Mass offered for St. Edward Parish in Kingsley School (Palm Sunday,
             March 25).
         – St. Edward School opens (Oct. 1).

1947 – First Mass celebrated in basement of St. Edward Church at
            Kimball & Mitchell Aves.
         – Blessed Sacrament Parish founded.
         -- Fr. Louis Putz appointed first pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish.

1948 – First Mass celebrated in St. Edward Church (Dec. 25).
         – First Mass for Blessed Sacrament parish celebrated in Edison
            School Theater.
         -- Temporary Blessed Sacrament Church on Falls Ave. opens.

1949 – Present St. Edward Church dedicated.

1950 – First St. Vincent de Paul Society conference in the city organized at St.
            John Parish.
         -- Cornerstone laid for Blessed Sacrament church and school at 600
             Stephen Ave. (Sept. 17).
         -- First Mass in original Blessed Sacrament Church (Dec. 1).

1951 -- St. Nicholas Parish founded.
         -- Ground broken for St. Nicholas Church and School building at  Roosevelt
            Road and Central Ave. in Evansdale (July 19).
         – Blessed Sacrament School opens (Sept. 17).

1952 -- First Mass celebrated in St. Nicholas Church (Easter Day, April 13).
         -- Fr. Alvan Heuring appointed first pastor of St. Nicholas Parish.
         -- St. Nicholas School opens (Sept. 2).
         -- St. Mary Parish organizes St. Vincent de Paul Society conference.

1953 – Present St. Edward School building completed.

1954 -- Fr. Lawrence J. Klausen, a diocesan priest, appointed pastor of St.
             Mary Parish.

1955 -- St. Nicholas Rectory completed.

1959 – Columbus High School opens (Aug. 31).
            (Grades 9-12 transferred from Our Lady of Victory, Sacred Heart,
            St. Edward and St. Mary Schools.)

1961 – Addition to Blessed Sacrament School completed.
         -- New convent completed at St. Nicholas Parish.

1963 -- New St. John School building opens (Sept. 3)

1965 -- St. Peter Claver Church closed.

1966 -- Cornerstone laid for present Blessed Sacrament Church at 650 Stephen
             Ave. (March 21).
         -- First Mass in Blessed Sacrament Church (Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24).

1967 – Dedication of Blessed Sacrament Church (April 9).

1968 -- Our Lady of Victory Academy closed.

1971 – Team ministry appointed for St. John and St. Nicholas Parishes.

1975 – St. John and St. Nicholas Schools consolidated with attendance centers in
            Waterloo and Evansdale.

1982 -- St. John Parish Credit Union opened to the public as Metro Credit Union.
            (Later merged into Rath Credit Union, Heritage Credit Union and John
            Deere/Verizon Credit Union.)

1987 – Team Ministry at St. John and St. Nicholas Parishes ends.

1991 – Sulentic Parish Center completed at Blessed Sacrament Parish.

1993 – Hispanic Ministry established in Waterloo.

2001 – St. John, St. Mary and St. Nicholas Schools consolidated.

2002 – Queen of Peace Parish founded.
            (St. John, St. Joseph, St. Mary and St. Nicholas Parishes closed.)
         -- Fr. James Goedken appointed first pastor of Queen of Peace Parish.
         -- St. John and St. Nicholas attendance centers closed.
         -- Renovations completed on Sacred Heart Church.

2003 – Cedar Valley Catholic Schools system established.

2005 – Queen of Peace School closed.

2011 – Construction begins on Cedar Valley Catholic Schools system's Blessed
            Maria Assunta Pallotta Middle School.

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Posted 01.04.12  •  Last Update: 01.09.12