Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 419 Jones Street, Moville, IA 51039-0802 US - HISTORY OF ST. MICHAEL PARISH-KINGSLEY

Catholics of the thriving town of Kingsley and the vicinity were first served back in 1884 by Father Gilchrist, who was a pastor at Marcus. In 1885, Father W. J. Halpin of Early drove to Kingsley in horse and buggy and celebrated Mass in the skating rink once a month.

Finally in 1888, the parish was created in Kingsley with Father M. M. Tierney as pastor. Neptune and Moville were missions of the new parish. There were approximately 38 families in the parish. Five acres of land were purchased from the railroad company, and a frame church was built at a cost of $1,600. A rectory was also built at that time at a cost of $1,000. Father Tierney also purchased an acre of ground at the south edge of town for the cemetery.

Father Bernard O'Reilly succeeded Father Tierney in 1894, and Correctionville became a mission of Kingsley. At that time, Neptune became an independent parish. Father John Tohill succeeded Father O'Reilly in 1902.

On Sept. 20, 1902, the Catholics of St. Michael's Parish saw for the first time their own bishop, Bishop Philip J. Garrigan, who came to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to a class of 146 persons young and old.

In May of 1908, a fire started, but caught. The Kingsley newspaper reported "what might have proven a very disastrous fire occurred at St. Michael's Catholic Church here last Sunday. The origin of the fire is not known, but it supposed to have been started from a piece of burning charcoal falling to the floor while burning incense during benediction Sunday morning. There being no wind, the fire was supposed to have smoldered there all day. It was discovered in the evening and had then spread into the walls of the building. The fire department was called out and the fire subdued in a short time."

Father F. Wren (1912-1913), Father J. J. Murphy (1913-1918), Father E. F. Casey (1918-1922), Father Mathias Marx (1922-1947), Father Louis Anthofer (1947-1949), Father H. A. Janse (1949-1956), Father Gabriel Barry (1956-1957), Father George Schumacher (1957-1959) and Father Raymond Wieling (1959-1967) served St. Michael's over the years.

The present brick church was built in 1913. It is a Tudor Gothic structure of Sergeant Bluff brick and Bedford stone trim. A rectory was also constructed at this time. The cost of the church and rectory was more than $50,000. The beautiful stained glass windows depicting the life of Christ were imported from Czechoslovakia. They were donated by the parishioners as memorials.

Many repairs were made during Father Janse's time at St. Michael's, including the redecorating of the church. In addition, a school was constructed during Father Wieling's pastorate in 1964. Three Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Family came to teach. At this time, extensive remodeling of the kitchen in the church hall was made.Father Eugene Ceperley (1967-1970), Father Gerald Fisch (1970-1984), Father Joseph Nooney (1984-1985), Father Francis Staber (1985-1992), Father Gene Ulses (1992-1996), Father James Fangman (1996-2001), Father Thomas Topf (2001-2008), and Father Mark Stoll (2008-present) all served their pastorate in Kingsley.The church was completely redecorated in the 1970's, including air conditioning and a new Wicks pipe organ with six ranks.

St. Michael's School closed in 1972. It is currently used for religious education and for preschool classes. In 1975, more land was purchased from the Don Curley family for an addition to the parish cemetery.

Father Nooney supervised the building of the Reconciliation Room in the back of the church. Also, during Father Ulses's tenure, all of the stained glass windows were refurbished. The approximate cost was $69,000. The money for the project came from the donations of the parishioners.

Three ladies from St. Michael's Parish joined a religious community. In 1913, Mary L. McDermott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Barney McDermott, joined the Sisters of Mary. She was known as Sister Mary Bernadette. In 1954, Mary Ann Galles, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roman Galles, joined the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Family. She was known as Sister Michaela. She currently teaches Theology at Briar Cliff College. Mrs. Florence Spain, after the death of her husband, joined the Sisters of Holy Spirit in Sioux City.

St. Michael's has also had one priestly vocation, Father John Sheehan. He is the son of James and Rosemary Sheehan and was ordained in November of 1989.

Currently, there are 220 families in St. Michael Parish.

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