Plans for a new building were under way...

Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent 
With Leonard Cash
 
For the past seven weeks, local historian Leonard Cash has been covering the history of the original Corpus Christi Catholic Church building, whose humble beginnings began in 1890. This week he turns to a new stage when discussion began in the 1940s about replacing the 50-year-old building.
According to “A History of Corpus Christi And Its Missions” by Elizabeth Thorpe, the church was already starting to raise money for the new building. 
“By July they had collected $3,500 and decided to extend their efforts until Christmas to reach all Catholics not already solicited. By April 1941, it was reported that the cash in the building fund was $1,996.00,” the booklet says. 
Although it was not specified whether the money was either invested or used for repairs, by 1942, the building fund had reached $2,500. After consulting the bishop, church leaders decided to invest the money in war bonds, and the value soon increased to $4,400. 
When the church’s board of trustees met on Dec. 7, 1945, the war bonds amounted to $5,000. The board decided to construct a new building, according to the booklet. 
“The bonds were cashed, and the proceeds deposited at a Federal Savings and Loan at 3% interest to be delivered to the trustees when requested,” the booklet says. 
The May 9, 1946, issue of the News Journal contained a photo of the proposed structure, as well as an article describing the plans for the building as told by the Rev. Paul E. Foster (who came after Mullins around 1943-44). 
The building was to be constructed “as soon as materials are available.” It would be built right next to the old church, which would have to be torn down, and like many of the local, historic buildings, native sandstone would be used for the exterior. The landscaping would also be remodeled into something of “outstanding beauty.”
An architect from Denver by the name of John K. Monroe was going to draw the plans for the new church. Although not a Catholic, he drew many of the plans for the Catholic churches in the West and had “established an excellent reputation for his ability to design churches of extraordinary beauty.” 
The cost was estimated at $40,000, and while the funds weren’t raised yet, the trustees had plans to do so within the next month. 
“Inasmuch as this new building will be an asset to the whole community, everyone will be given an opportunity to make a donation,” the article says. 
In the late ‘40s, the booklet says that trustees discussed in their meeting rectory heating, which was being switched to a 1,000-gallon pressure storage tank using propane gas. The cost was around $600, with an additional $45 worth in radiant heaters for the second floor; however “a new church was not mentioned” in the meeting. 
Later, the booklet says that plans for a new church were at a “standstill,” so a proposal was made to use the Altar and Rosary Society funds over the next two years for a new parish hall to host the parish’s various functions because “they were worn out carrying equipment for bazaars and dinners to the Armory.” The trustees sent the proposal to the bishop, but Cash said he doesn’t think anything ever happened with this idea because a new church wasn’t built until the 1980s and 1990s. 
The Jan. 30, 1947, the paper announced a new pastoral appointment made by Bishop Patrick McGovern for the Newcastle parish. The Rev. James Ruddy became an assistant pastor, and like many of the ministers, he was also from Ireland. 
Ruddy was ordained at the chapel of the Seminary of Wexford by the Most Rev. James Stauton. He served in England for a year, and then came to Wyoming, where he served in Cheyenne, Rock Springs and Greybull before coming to Newcastle. 
A fun story about Father Foster’s generosity is shared in an article from June 19, 1947. The reverend owned a boxer dog name “Chief,” and he put his pet into the “seeing eye dog” program so Chief could become a service dog for the blind. The “philanthropic service” aided the World War II veterans who lost their sight during war.
“We are deeply grateful for your wonderful gift and want to say sincerely, “Thank You’,” the article concludes. 
That wasn’t the only noteworthy deed of the reverend. According to the Diocese of Cheyenne, Newcastle once had a hospital run by the “Catholic Sisters,” and Cash said Foster was instrumental in bringing them here. 
The Newcastle parish is rightly proud of the fact that it is the only parish in Wyoming in which a hospital is operated by Catholic Sisters,” the diocesan website says. 
In Dec. 3, 1947, the booklet reports, Foster wanted to replace the church’s organ, so Hugh and Marie Graham donated a new electronic organ. 
According to the booklet, the trustees decided in their 1948 meetings to keep a separate record for the building fund donations. This money was later invested in U.S. Savings Bonds, Series F. After a proposal from Foster, however, some of the funds were used to build a chapel in Sundance.
Foster arrived to start his ministry in Newcastle in 1944, but according to an article from June 22, 1950, it was time for him to start a new chapter of his life. He was leaving Newcastle to become a Navy chaplain, so Gerard Schellinger of Holland was replacing him. Schellinger, although from Holland, already had 38 years of experience in Wyoming. 
Foster’s assistant, Michael McBrien, was also leaving, but only temporarily. He was visiting his former Ireland home and was to return by fall. 
Shellinger’s experience included serving as an Army chaplain in Germany. He was also chaplain of the Rawlins penitentiary, where he was “instrumental … in freeing and rehabilitating the notorious train robber, Bill Carlyle,” who turned his life around and became a successful businessman in Laramie. 
Shellinger also spent some time in Europe, as well as San Diego, for health reasons before arriving in Newcastle. The article says he planned to start construction on a
new church building the following summer. 
“The fact that the building fund was started in 1940, the money added to and invested wisely over the years by far-sighted trustees indicated the dragging of some feet at the idea of a new church,” the booklet says. 
The war didn’t help the church building process, but by 1950, parishioners were finally ready to pursue the idea and take action, according to booklet. The church would seat 200 people and was to be made of brick, without a tower, costing approximately between $60,000 and $71,000.
According to a news report from Sept. 14, 1950, construction was to begin within the next year between the former building and the rectory. The building fund grew to around $34,000, according to the article (the booklet says that the cash value of the bonds totaled around $32,000).
On Sept. 21, 1950, James A. Piana, the general campaign chairman, announced that the campaign to fund the new building would start on Sept. 26, with a speech from Bishop Henry Newell to kick things off. 
The following issue of the paper (Sept. 28) overviewed the campaign, where the attendees heard from Newell, Father Schellinger, and various trustees. During the event, Schellinger said it was possible for the old church to “be moved on the church property and be converted into a parish hall.” The meeting ended with a benediction from Newell.