St. Mary’s Church is now St. Gregory Barbarigo
1923 History from Catholic Tribune Saturday, November 17, 1923
ST. MARY’S PARISH Corporate Catholic life in Nodaway County, Missouri, dates back to 1856, when the Rev. James Power, with a sturdy band of Irish immigrants from Reading, Pennsylvania, settled on these prairies which but a few years before had been the hunting grounds of the Ioways, the Sacs, the Foxes, and the Pottawatomies. Even before the coming of Father Power, a few Catholics had made their homes on land which today lies in and around the City of Maryville. But not until 1858 were their religious wants attended to by the zealous missionary who had established his colony at what is now known as Conception. After providing a house of worship for his own people, which was dedicated on June 9, 1860, Father Power assisted his scattered flock in Maryville in the building of a church which was dedicated to the Mother of God under the title ‹ of the Immaculate Conception, on the second Sunday of October, 1860. These churches hold the distinction of being the first houses of religious worship in Nodaway County. Through the period of the Civil War, old St. Mary’s, which was a brick structure 30x25x18, suffered greatly at the hands of despoilers, but continued to be a place of worship for the Catholic population, until in 1879 it was almost entirely demolished by a storm. Father Power, whose interest in the Catholics in and around Maryville was instrumental in uniting them into a congregation, continued to minister to them until 1869, when the Right Rev appointed him. Bishop Hogan to the Cathedral of St. Joseph. The next pastor of the congregation was the Rev. Constantine Hergenroether, who built a frame addition to the little brick church to start a parochial school. After only one year of service, however, Father Hergenroether was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Seybold, who was himself quickly succeeded by Rev. Father Philip, who built the first parochial residence and started parochial school work. At the earnest solicitation of Right Rev. Bishop Hogan, the Benedictine Fathers of Conception assumed charge of St. Mary’s Church on September 18, 1873, when the Rev. Father Adelhelm, O.S.B., became its pastor. In his zeal for Christian education, one of Father Adelhelm’s first concerns was building a strong parochial school. With this in mind, he negotiated with a community of Sisters in Switzerland, who ultimately came to his assistance. Meanwhile, the congregation was growing, and it became apparent that a larger church was sorely needed. In 1877, he began work on the new church, but owing to the poverty of his people, he decided to erect only the foundation and basement of the church he had planned. This was completed and dedicated on the second Sunday of October, 1879. In June 1881, Father Adelhelm resigned his laborious pastorate at St. Mary’s to fulfill a long-cherished desire to found a Benedictine Monastery on the Pacific Coast. His successor at St. Mary’s was the Rev. Father Anselm, who served the congregation for thirty-two successive years, and may in full justice be considered the Father of St. Mary’s. Even in the first year of his pastorate, with practically nothing more than a basement for a church and with his people weighted down by debt, Father Anselm witnessed a division of his congregation when, under the guidance of the Rev. Daniel Pembroke, a new parish was started in Maryville, which was placed under the patronage of St. Patrick. Nothing daunted by the diminution of his flock, Father Anselm set about to devise ways and means of paying off the debt that rested heavily on his parish. With the hearty co-operation of his people, this was soon upon, and work was commenced on the superstructure of the church. Accomplished, St. Mary’s as it stands today was formally opened for divine service and dedicated by the Right Rev. J. J. Hogan in June 1887, and stands as a monument to the zeal of Father Anselm and the devotion of his people. It is built in the Roman style of architecture, measuring 114 feet long by 52 feet wide, with a massive tower reaching 95 feet. All furnishings and decorations in the building are in keeping with the architectural style. On the occasion of the parish’s golden jubilee in 1908, the entire building was renovated and redecorated, and a beautiful set of stained-glass windows greatly enhanced the interior. In 1912, a new parochial school was built, which also contained living quarters for the Sisters who conducted the school. After completing the church, providing a suitable home for the priest, erecting a new school, purchasing a cemetery, and establishing a strong parochial and social life in his parishioners’ hearts, Father Anselm was relieved of the cares and burdens of his pastoral office in 1913. Since then, several Benedictine Fathers have had charge of the congregation, among them Fathers Willibrord, Odilo, Berthold, Leo, and Pius. Since July 5 of the present year, it has been administered by Rev. Father L L.
