Denison - St. Rose of Lima

The Catholic Church in Denison was a missionary church for the first 15 years of the history of the city. The missionaries who came to Denison during this period of St. Rose of Lima's history included Fathers Kelly and McMinome from Council Bluffs, Fathers Moore and Gerrihan from Dunlap and Father Pope from Carroll. Father DeSmet recorded a visit to Denison in 1867.

The first frame church was built in Denison in the fall of 1872. Father Roger McGrath, resident pastor at Vail, made regular visits to the church in Denison. In 1878, he was succeeded by Father Mathias Lenihan as pastor at Vail, with Denison as a mission. During this time, the congregation at Denison grew to such an extent that it was necessary to enlarge the church building.

Father Bart Lenihan was the first resident pastor at Denison, beginning in the spring of 1886. He served until the fall of 1887 when Father Michael Farrelly was installed as pastor to St. Rose of Lima, with a mission in Charter Oak.

The mission in Charter Oak lasted nearly 12 years until a resident pastor was assigned there. It was under Father Farrelly's leadership that the first frame school-convent was built in 1889.

German-speaking Brown Franciscan nuns from Dubuque went among the Irish parishioners asking for anything the people could give them to begin their school and convent. The present school was built in 1913 and new serves 84 kindergarten through sixth-grade students. In 1906, the Brown Franciscans were replaced by the Sisters of St. Francis from Clinton.

The parish continued to grow and in 1896 an even larger church was needed. It was then that the church [which is still in use] was built at a cost of $20,000.

Father Farrelly purchased the residence at 831 2nd Ave. South that was to be the rectory for many years. Father Farrelly died in Denison in 1919 after 32 years as the pastor of St. Rose of Lima.

For the next two years, Father William Veit was pastor. He was followed by Father John Phelen, who died shortly after being appointed. Father Michael Bradley was appointed in 1922. He remained until 1929 when Father Edmund Casey began his pastorate. During the 35 years that Father Casey was pastor, the parish continued to grow.

In 1952-1953, the first frame school-convent was torn down and a new brick convent was built on the site.

Father Casey died in 1979 and Father Jerome Koenig followed as pastor. During his time at St. Rose of Lima's, the church was redecorated and renovated. A new south entrance was constructed and the east doors were moved.

Father Lloyd White arrived in 1971 and stayed until 1980. During his time, the parish center was built. The Sisters of St. Francis withdrew the teaching nuns in 1977 and the school was staffed for the first time with all lay teachers. Since the convent was no longer needed, the old rectory was sold and the convent became the Rectory.

Father Gerald Hartz was pastor from 1985 to 1987. Father Michael Larkin followed until 1992. Father Andrew Hoffman (1992-1999) and Father Edward Murray (1999-present) succeeded him.

The "Emmanuel Garden" was formed with the clustering of St. Rose, Denison; St. Mary, Dow City; St. Boniface, Charter Oak; and St. Mary, Ute.