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St. Thomas Catholic Church

 

Le Sueur County. Minnesota

 

St. Thomas Parish is numbered among the pioneer Catholic Parishes in the State of Minnesota. The history of the Parish can be traced back to 1858. The Register's Office in Le Center has record of two deeds to fifteen acres of land which was given to Rev. A. Ravoux, Administrator of the Diocese of St. Paul, by Patrick Cassin and Patrick Ronan on February 2 and 3, 1858. Father Ravoux deeded the property to Bishop Grace on June 11, 1861, and the Bishop deeded it to the parish on February 4, 1884. The Parish was six miles square. There is a reference to St. Thomas Church, Le Sueur County, in the Catholic Almanac for 1860 but there is no further reference or mention of it in subsequent issues.

One of the first priests at St. Thoman was Rev. Cornelius Wittman, O.S.B., who came from St. John's College in 1857. Holy Mass was read in the houses in the community. Rev. D. J. Fisher was pastor at the St. Thomas Church up to 1861. There is a tradition that a log church was erected just in the rear of the present brick edifice. Later this structure was removed and stood in a neighboring yard and was used as a stable for many years. The log structure was replaced with a frame church, 36 by 60, without sanctuary rail or pews, built in 1867, under the direction of Rev. Alexander Berghold (1861-1868) and completed by Rev. Thomas C. Kennedy (1869-1881). The St. Thomas Church was incorporated in 1882.

The present St. Thomas Church was built in 1883 during the pastorate of Rev. M. Cauley (1881-1888) who also erected the priest's house, which was occupied until 1938. Father Cauley was succeeded by Rev. M. Joy (1891-1903), who later became the pastor of St. Thomas Jessenland, where he is buried. Rev. D. Sullivan (1903-1904) succeeded Father Joy. The church and old residence were modernized by Rev. Lawrence Carey (1904-1918). His successor,Rev. Wm. A. Dobbin (1919-1929) decorated the Church and new Stations of the Cross were erected. Father Dobbin died in January, 1929, while pastor. Rev. T. D. O'Connell (1929-1935) succeeded Father Dobbin as pastor of St. Thomas. The sacristy, razed by fire, was rebuilt during Father O'Connell's pastorate. Rev. Dennis Buckley (1935-1946) rebuilt and modernized the present Parish Rectory. The roof and steeple of the St. Thomas Parish were damaged by a storm in the fall of 1949. Repairs and redecorating made under the direction of Rev. Michael M. Foy (1946-1963) cost the Parish about $8,000, partly covered by insurance.

Rev. Albert F. Byrne (1963-1965) made additional church improvements, including new sidewalks and additional parking facilities. Rev. John P. Dunn (1965-1972) succeeded Father Byrne. While pastor at St. Thomas, Father Dunn changed the direction of the church alter and made church repairs, including window and door repairs. Rev. Wm. H. McGrade, while pastor of St. Anne's Church of Le Sueur, served as pastor of St. Thomas from 1972 until June, 1974, when Rev. John M. Siebenaler became the present pastor of St. Thomas. In days past, the St. Thomas Parish numbered more families than compared to the present 80 families. Numerous members have become priests and sisters from the St. Thomas Parish.

The early history of the St. Thomas Catholic Church of rural Le Sueur lends itself to a colorful addition to our Bi-Centennial year.

Information gathered from the following sources:

1.	James Michael Reardon, P.A. The Catholic Church in the Diocese of St. Paul, North Central Publishing Company, St. Paul: 1952. Page 621.
2.	Fifth Annual Home Coming of St . Thomas Parish at St. Thomas. Le Sueur. Hoppe and Brecht Printers, Minneapolis.
3.	church Records from the St. Thomas Church, Le Sueur, 1858-1975