Franklin County, Nebraska

For Another Day

Father John Birkel and his parish opened their brand new Catholic Church named St. Katharine Drexel in Franklin. The dedication was held Sunday, May 26, 2002.

But before we forget the old first church in Bloomington called Sacred Heart Catholic Church, I would like to tell you a little of the history of that small white church with beautiful stained glass windows setting in the heart of a once thriving town. On January 11, 1898 the Catholic people acquired three lots of land in Block 50 of the town of Bloomington. J. P. A. Black donated the lots with the condition that the corncribs and fences on that property be moved and rebuilt at a place he would designate. During that same year a church 40 feet long and 28 feet wide was erected on this property. It was named in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Father Harrington celebrated the First Holy Mass in this church.

The following excerpt was taken from the History of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Lincoln. “The town of Bloomington was incorporated on April 2, 1879. Catholics were among the first settlers in this vicinity. One of the first priests to visit them was Father George Glauber from Hastings. His first recorded trip was on May 15, 1879, when he baptized two children of the Thomas Mullaly family.

“The priests from Hastings continued to care for these Catholics until 1883 when the responsibility was given to Father John Fanning from Orleans. On one of his visits, Father fanning acquired two lots of land on which he hoped to build a church. In order to initiate a building fund, a fair was given with net proceeds of $200. However, no church was built, there fore the money had to be used to pay taxes on the property. Mean while Holy Mass was celebrated in the home of James Thompson or in the courthouse.

“Bishop James O’Connor made his first trip to Bloomington July 15, 1884. He administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to ten persons in the courthouse. Because the people had been plagued with a series of crop failures, the Bishop advised them to postpone building a church.”

On November 18,1911 Bloomington became an independent parish with father Maurice Downey as the first resident priest. One of the first projects was to supervise the construction of a pastoral residence that cost about $1,500.00. Many priests have been assigned to this church. Over the years the population of Bloomington gradually decreased. Then the church was made a mission of Alma in 1941. This history came from the History of the Catholic church in the Diocese of Lincoln.

This year in latter May was the last time the local people gathered at the church with the brightly painted door. This being the last active church of Bloomington to close, it was sad for me to see this happen, but progress is good and I know the parishioners are enjoying all the modern day connivances of their new building. I really didn’t think the new church would be done so soon.

I really wanted to attend the Catholic church in Bloomington just once and sit among the spirits of the saints and see what our ancestors seen from the pews. But time stops for no one and after 104 years Sacred Heart Church is no more. After all I had plenty of time to step foot in that door. Even though I do get a lot done, history wise, there is so much that gets away from me.

Father John Birkel tells me that us protestant people are more than welcome to attend their new Catholic church or on any Catholic church, we just can’t take communion. I intend on visiting their new church very soon and I pray for the Lord’s Blessings on this new church and its supporters for I have a deep respect for the Catholic Religion. Next week I will tell you of our Donovan connection to the vacant old church in Bloomington.

God, who through the word creates all things. John 1:3

Rena Donovan, For Another Day.

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