Our History

St. Mary Parish History 150^th Anniversary 1860-2010

One hundred and fifty years ago a number of Catholic settlers in the Oxford area desired to have the celebration of mass and the sacraments in their new home. In 1859 a committee of six journeyed to Iowa City to call upon the new pastor, Rev. Wilhelm Emonds. He was open to establishing stations or missions in the area around Iowa City where mass and the sacraments could be celebrated as often as circumstances would permit. The railroad had not yet reached this territory so Father Emonds made his rounds with a team of horses and an old-time lumber wagon.

The homes of the early settlers or a one-room school became the improvised place for worship. The first mass was celebrated at the home of Frank McGillicudy, Sr. and then at the Runnells residence south of Clear Creek. Mass was also celebrated at times in the Cork school east of Oxford.

Saint Mary Church, Oxford, was formally organized in 1860. The Diocese of Davenport had not yet been established, so the Oxford parish was established under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Dubuque. The McGuillicudy, Dalton, Reynolds, and Floerchinger families were among the first members. The people wanted a permanent, suitable place for worship. A lot was given by the Wilcox family and a building committee was formed. The committee purchased two additional lots and a parish site was established. It is believed it was located in the area where Town and Country Villa Apartments now stand. This first church, a frame building 20 x 40 feet, was erected in 1862. The lumber was brought from Iowa City by one of the parishioners “who could get credit,” as it was said. Although lumber was cheap, many sacrificed considerable to be able to provide the building materials. All pitched in to construct the building but with so few members, the structure was enclosed but was not finished on the inside until five years later.

It soon became clear that the church was too small for the growing congregation. An addition was built, but because the original building had never been painted, the contrast between the two was obvious. The parish women collected money and provided the paint. James Barney and Patrick Dalton did the painting. Now the people had a fitting place of worship.

Several months later Father Emonds received word that Rev. Walsh had been appointed to take care of Oxford and vicinity. It was decided that it would be best if he lived in Marengo and the Oxford congregation contributed one half the cost of building a parochial residence in Marengo. Shortly after a year, Father Walsh was succeeded by Rev. Hartin who died after serving the people for four years. Rev. Moynihan succeeded Father Hartin and remained pastor until 1878.

In 1877, it was decided that a larger church was needed for the rapidly growing congregation. This church, a 36 x 115 foot frame building, was located on the corner at the same site as the present brick church. Father Hollan was sent one month later as the first resident pastor. He remained until April 1880 and was succeeded by Rev. E. O’Sullivan. In the summer of 1881, Father O’Sullivan began to build a parochial residence next to the church. It was completed the following spring by Rev. James Davis who succeeded Father O’Sullivan in November of 1881. Father Davis would later become the third bishop of the Diocese of Davenport. It was in 1881 that the Davenport Diocese was separated from the Archdiocese of Dubuque. During his pastoral work in the rural areas of the Diocese, Father Davis acquired the nickname, “Cannonball” Davis because of his preference for “fast stepping” horses.

Father Davis was succeeded by Rev. F.A. McManus in 1885 and he served the parish for ten years. Rev. Dan Molyneaux filled in for six month after Father McManus left. [Our present pastor, Rev. Edmond Dunn, likes to point out that Father Molyneaux was his great uncle and it was while he was here that his younger sister, Julia, who was visiting, met and fell in love with and later married Frank McDonough, and they became the parents of Father Ed’s mother, Kathryn! All because of a temporary assignment!] Rev. James Dunnion then served for seven months and was succeeded by Rev. F. J. Leonard. With the appointment of Rev. R. J. Renihan in 1903, a new direction was given the parish. Plans began, and the cornerstone was laid in 1912 for a beautiful new red brick church to replace the smaller frame church on the same site. It was dedicated in November of 1913 and still serves the parish community today.

It remained for two succeeding pastors to reduce the parish debt left after the construction of the new church. Rev. H. Finefield served the parish from 1920 until 1932. It was the time of the great depression in America and it is told that Father Finefield would announce from the altar that he would not go on his summer vacation until the coal bill from the previous winter was paid. He offered an old pair of shoes to a passing tramp, but when the fellow complained that they did not fit well, he gave him his Sunday best shoes that seemed to fit well. Father Finefield also had several goats in the pasture behind the church (the present parking lot) and would provide milk for infants who were having trouble with the milk used in formula. It was a tough time for everyone and often times after Father had visited a parishioner in dire straights, they would find a $10 bill on the kitchen table.

The parish debt was over $19,000 when Rev. T.V. Lawlor arrived in 1932. He built up the parish spirits by organizing little social engagements – card parties and the like – and slowly, with the economic recovery, began to diminish the debt. He also had the foresight to purchase Saint Mary Hall. It had been built by a group of men from the community who thought it would provide a town center for social and educational functions. It has served the parish well. When Father Lawlor left to become the business manager of Saint Ambrose College, the parish was debt free. Father Lawlor was the last pastor of St. Mary to serve the mission parish of St. Procopius.

Rev. P.J. Ryan succeeded Father Lawlor and ushered in a twenty-seven year reign under which many of the older members of our parish grew up. Father Ryan could be charming, kind, understanding and generous. He had, at the same time, another side. He was a very effective preacher, but when the mood would swing, he could use the pulpit to put the parishioners in their place, and sometimes almost knock them out of their place. There was no television then, but often Sunday morning episodes became grist for the mill of discussions for the week. If someone or something in the parish did not please Father Ryan, he would rail, “I’ll get even ‘mit ‘jah!” And he often would. One of his priceless indictments was, “I don’t know what to do ‘mich ‘jah. You’re too dumb to understand your religion, you’re too weak to fight for it, and you’re too cheap to pay for it. You’re jist ‘tummin your way to heaven.” His greeting to mothers on Mothers’ Day: “They come in here with a big flower on their chest. They think they’re somebody.” Or his farewell to Mrs. Peter Rourke who was buried on Saint Patrick’s Day: “Mrs. O’Rourke never talked about the priest. Mrs. O’Rourke knew her place and stayed out of other people’s business. Mrs. O’Rourke kept the faith and supported the church. And I am sure that Mrs. O’Rourke is happy with Saint Patrick in heaven today!” And back in the sacristy, he turned to the altar boy and said, “That will make some of those Dutchmen think!”

When Father Ryan first arrived, he often would take the young fellows to a White Sox baseball game in Chicago. He was always organizing sports during vacation bible school. He redecorated the church and had the inside of the auditorium painted when he first became pastor. That was before his stringent saving on electricity. Only one half of the lights in church could ever be used, and when he would read the epistle at the high altar with his back to the people, he would switch off the light on the “epistle” side of the altar before genuflecting before the tabernacle and then switching on the light on the “gospel” side as he read the gospel in Latin. The light on that side would in turn be turned off before he came down to the pulpit and read the same scripture passages to the people in English. It was while Father Ryan was pastor that St. Procopius parish community began to worship at St. Mary. It was during the time that Father Ryan was pastor that the noted male choir was developed under the long and excellent direction of Helen Saxton. It was also under Father Ryan that the beautiful new rectory was built. There was one problem with the new rectory, however. There was no hot water heater and if you wanted to take a bath or shower, you would have to turn on the furnace and heat the whole house. Sometimes in summertime, it became more like a sweat lodge! Bishop Hayes once remarked to him, “Father Ryan, you have a beautiful view from this front window.” Father replied, “If you looked out the same window for twenty-seven years, Bishop, it wouldn’t look so good to you.” Father Ryan is the only pastor buried in our Mount Calvary Cemetery.

Rev. Robert Amborn became pastor when Father Ryan died in 1964. He was a master craftsman and builder. He restored and improved so much in both the church and the parish hall, working along side the parishioners and professionals. Father Amborn brought a quiet, stern leadership to the parish, instituting the changes of the Second Vatican Council and forming the first parish council. He became endeared to many in the broader community by his interest in civic affairs, including help in starting a community fireworks display for the fourth of July. After seventeen years at St. Mary, Father Amborn left to become pastor of his home parish in Fort Madison.

Rev. George Snell became pastor in 1981. He had been pastor of St. Peter in Cosgrove and brought with him a deep piety and gift of ministry to the elderly.

Rev. James Lawrence followed Father Snell in 1984. His jovial spirit and love for the Hawkeyes brought a more relaxed tenor to the parish. He was often seen riding his bicycle to “keep in shape!” The interior of the church was redecorated while Father Lawrence was pastor, and the lovely scene depicting the city of Jerusalem was once again painted behind the crucifixion atop the high altar.

Rev. Joseph Sparks became pastor in 1987. He had been in the Office of Religious Education at the Diocese and brought a special interest in that area, supporting Delores Scheetz in her many years of service as Religious Education Director and encouraging Michelle and David Montgomery (eventually Deacon Montgomery) to become certified Youth Ministers. Under their direction youth ministry has flourished in the parish. Under Father Sparks’s direction, the beautiful stain glass windows of St. Mary were refurbished in 1988.

Rev. Tom Mohr replaced Father Sparks and served St. Mary Parish during 1995-96. With his lovely voice he encouraged the people to participate more fully in congregational singing.

Father Mohr was replaced by Rev. Walter Helms in 1997. Father Helms was known for his fine homilies and he enhanced the beauty of liturgical celebration. He was the first pastor to serve both Saint Mary and Saint Peter parishes.

Rev. Rudy Berndt took Father Helms place in 2000 and served the parish for a year. He had a special concern for the little ones who needed special help. Under Fr. Rudy’s leadership, air-conditioning and a new heating system were installed.

Rev. Edmond Dunn followed Father Berndt in 2001 while continuing to teach at St. Ambrose University. Since he has been pastor the tile roof on the church has been refurbished, the parking lot enlarged, the lovely pipe organ has been restored and handicapped accessibility to both the church and the hall improved. The floor, carpet and pews project is currently in its final phase and the parish also successfully surpassed its goal for the Diocesan drive, Moving Forward in Faith and Hope.