Le Mars - St. Joseph

LE MARS - The first Mass in Le Mars was offered at the home of Peter Gehlen on the first Sunday after Easter, April 24, 1870. At this gathering, a collection was taken up to construct a church. Some $150 was spent to purchase a block of land, and the new church was completed by June of 1870 at a cost of $1,000. Father B. C. Lenihan served as the pastor from St. Mary's in Sioux City.

Father Herman Joseph Meis was invited to be St. Joseph's resident pastor after a Christmas Mass. Once approved, Father Meis boarded with the Gehlen family who donated 8 acres of land for part of the Gehlen, Cavalry, and St. Joseph's campus. From Le Mars, Father Meis ministered to people as far east as Storm Lake, as far north as Sibley and as far south as Onawa.

The church was expanded in 1876 at a cost of $4,000. The new construction included a home for the priest and a school room. In 1879, the Community of the Sisters of Christian Charity from Wilkes-Barre, Penn., took charge of the school.

In 1893, the parish of St. Joseph was divided with English-speaking parishioners obtaining a pastor, Father J. P. Barron. The new parishioners laid the cornerstone of the present church in May of 1884 at a cost of $7,000. The superstructure was completed in 1885, costing $23,000.

The high altar was constructed at a cost of $3,500 and each side altar cost $400. The Stations were supplied by Meyer's Art Institute of Munich, Germany, for $2,300.

Father Meis was succeeded by Msgr. F. X. Feuerstein. Msgr. Feuerstein was a man of formidable stature, and once gave a backhand swat to a potential thief and set him tumbling as he attempted to rob the priest of renovation funds.

The next priest to work at St. Joseph's was Msgr. W. A. Pape. In 1925, the church was remodeled at a cost of $20,000. Msgr. Pape continued a hospital project started by Msgr. Feuerstein. The Sisters of St. Francis from Dubuque took over the new hospital in 1921, and it was named Sacred Heart.

Msgr. Joseph Fisch took over the parish in 1932 during the depression. He lifted the parish out of debt and Gehlen Catholic School was erected. Also, Msgr. Fisch had the church interior refurbished in 1957.

Msgr. Dean Walker succeeded Msgr. Fisch in 1966, and also restored the church at a cost of $33,000. A new rectory was constructed and Msgr. Walker also served as editor of The Globe.

Father Francis Staber was appointed pastor in 1975 and managed to have the organ rebuilt. Father Dale George followed Father Staber and renovated the parish church in 1986 and 1990 at a cost of $360,000.