Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/509

 HISTORY OF GOODHTJE COUNTS 435 services in the home of Leo Shafer. During Father Fitzgerald's pastorate was erected the imposing brick church whose Lofty spire can be seen for miles. In Cannon Falls the Catholic faith, and hope of the pastor and people, blossomed into the beautiful, commodious brick church t hat added so much to the prospects of the progressive city. The growing communities of Belle Creek, Cannon Falls, Cherry Grove and Zumbrota, being so widely separated, made the required services too difficult for the pastor. On the arrival of Father Gaughan in Red Wing, 1890, Zumbrota was detached, and made a mission of Red Wing; later on Cherry Grove was annexed to Pine Island. After thirteen years of devoted service in Belle Creek and its missions, one of the most important country par- ishes in the diocese, Father Fitzgerald, at the request of Arch- bishop Ireland, took up the work of higher education for boys in connection with St. Thomas College, Merriam Park. Immediately upon the transfer of Father Fitzgerald, Rev. J. H. Prendergast — that pious, active, young, assistant priest of the largest parish in Minneapolis, the Immaculate Conception — -was placed in charge. The zealous care of the pastor and thorough < Ihristian spirit of the people fostered development, so that Good- hue, the thriving and ambitious burg on the Chicago & Great Western railroad, secured the beautiful home and spacious grounds of John L. Davis for a new church home. A chapel was fitted up in 1902, in which service is regularly held since the pastor was relieved of Cannon Falls. As the good mother rejoices to see her grown daughter establish a new home and fam- ily, so did the congregation and pastor of Belle Creek rejoice at the advance of Cannon Falls from a mission to an independent parish in 1905. Though greatly reduced in territory, the pastor finds much scope for the exercise of his ministry in the two places, Belle Creek and Goodhue. The thrift and religious spirit of the parish is clearly shown in its zeal for the house of God. A fine hall has been erected, and the grounds and cemetery beautified and care- fully kept, while a cement walk, lately constructed, makes Belle Creek a veritable village gem ornamenting the prairie. Belvidere. From 'Red Wing, Father Knauf attended other parishes in Goodhue county. Among these was Belvidere, where some thirty Catholic families bought farms. Under his direction, forty acres of land were bought and a small, frame church erected thereon, which later on, in 1877, was replaced under the pastorage of Rev. J. N. Stariha by the present stone edifice. Rev. J. M. Meier succeeded Father Stariha in 1878, and was the first resident pastor of Belvidere, and established the second Catholic