A final look at Corpus Christi Catholic Church
Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent
With Leonard Cash
In this week’s installment of “History on Main,” historian Leonard Cash will finish his series on the Corpus Christi Catholic Church.
Last week, we learned that the Rev. Cletus Prado arrived to take over the Newcastle parish, and in 1971, he brought some updates to the church. According to “A History of Corpus Christi And Its Missions” by Elizabeth Thorpe, Prado brought about the installation of folding doors to compartmentalize the rooms in the basement and repaired the leaking roof in 1972. There was discussion of carpeting the basement, but the plans weren’t developed.
According to the Aug. 17, 1972, issue of the News Letter Journal, Prado was
transferred to Lander to take charge of Holy Rosary Church, as well as the mission at Hudson and Jeffrey City. Thomas Fahey of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Cheyenne replaced Prado in Newcastle.
A later article says that Fahey was originally from Ireland (ordained in 1947) and he ministered in Cheyenne, Laramie and Sheridan. He also had experience as a chaplain of the DePaul hospital and in pastoral counseling at a college in New York.
According to the booklet, Fahey became the pastor in December, and in that month’s meeting, he announced that the bishop gave his
approval for the church to buy a new $2,050 organ.
“This, with the trade-in of the old one, was a good buy,” the booklet says. Additionally, in 1974, a new pump was added to the furnace.
An article from Feb. 22, 1973, reported that the Rev. James McBride, formerly of Newcastle, was retiring from Sacred Heart Church in Greybull on March 1, and Terence McGovern, also formerly of Newcastle, would succeed him.
McBride was a pastor for 50 years, the article says. He was raised in County, Ireland, and studied at St. Patrick’s College in Carlow. After moving to Wyoming in 1923 after his ordination, McBride served in Casper, Rawlins, Pine Bluffs, Thermopolis, Newcastle, Gillette and Greybull.
Five years later, in 1977, the Rev. Cornelius O’Connor died suddenly, according to the booklet, which “resulted in several changes in our
corner of the state,” including the parish in Newcastle because Fahey was sent to back to Cheyenne.
“We lost a wonderful spiritual leader (Fahey) as well as the glory of his summer gardens,” the booklet says.
Fahey was appointed to serve as pastor at Holy Trinity parish, according to the September 1977 News Letter Journal, and Bartholomew Svete of Lusk was to take charge of the Newcastle parish again (he had pastored here several years earlier). Because of the shortage in priests, Lusk was temporarily without a pastor, and Bishop Newell announced that the Guernsey pastor, the Rev. Patrick Trujillo, would take Lusk under his wing.
In 1978, a garage was built for Svete’s car, something that had been discussed for quite a while, according to the booklet. Due to poor health, however, Svete went to Ranchester in 1981 in “a status of semi-retirement.”
Father Jim Krah “was loaned to us for three years from his home diocese of Pittsburgh” to take his place. As recommended
in the Second Vatican Council, Krah made some changes that “small, isolated communities” had “largely ignored,” the booklet says.
“The altar had been moved so the priest faced the people and participation in the Mass was encouraged by congregational singing and responses,” the booklet says. “Father Krah swept through the sanctuary like a strong wind.”
Wallpaper, carpet, new lighting and easy chairs were added to the church, as well as a portable screen for privacy in the confessional room. Additionally, the partitions and old altars were removed, and the statues were replastered.
The church’s new altar boy benches, credence tables, president’s chair, ambo and baptismal font were all made of oak, the booklet says. There were many other changes listed, including the center altar, which had a polished rose quartz top with a base of uncut rose to fulfill the command in Exodus 20:25.
“Father Krah is implementing all resources for the instruction of everyone from the youngest to the oldest. Through him and with him the parish is experiencing the spiritual goals of Vatican II —‘the new spirit of Christian brotherhood and fellowship — a great religious community in the process of renewal and change,’” the booklet says.
The old rectory was sold, according to a booklet, and the June 18, 1981, edition of the News Letter Journal featured a picture of the Corpus Christi Catholic church members at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new rectory.
According to the June 3, 1982, paper, the Rev. Joseph Daley, associate pastor of Holy Name Church in Sheridan, was to take charge of the parishes in Newcastle, Sundance, Upton, Hulett and Moorcroft. A native of New Jersey, he attended the Xaverian College in Maryland. He did graduate work at Catholic University and went to St. Joseph’s Seminary in Washington, D.C. He was ordained in Haddon Township, New Jersey. Daley also served at a few medical centers in Maryland.
And that concludes Cash’s newspaper records, but according to his list of ministers, Daley (also spelt Daly) served until 1986, and Richard Hitt (also Hilt) succeeded him. In 1987, the Revs. Michael Hellman and Evan Shea came until they were replaced by Sam Hayes, who stayed until 1991. Following him was Charles Velasquez, who was succeeded in 1995 by Richard McClelland. In 1999, McClelland was replaced by Bruce Clapham, who stayed until 2005. Clapham was followed by Randal Oswald, and in 2006, and Phillip Wagner succeeded him.
Next week, Cash will include a small section about St. Albert’s Church in Four Corners.