1856
Corpus Christi Catholic Church - Fort Dodge

Parish History

   While Corpus Christi Parish was formally founded in 1856, the first religious service was held on the Lizard in the Michael Collins home sometime during the year 1855. It was the first parish formed in the Diocese of Sioux City. In the fall of 1856 Fr. William Emonds traveled to Fort Dodge in a "one horse buggy" with Bishop Loras where "divine services were held, lots purchased, and a congregation organized, this was the beginning of the present Corpus Christi Congregation" (Fuhrmann 41-2).
   According to Webster County Court House records, the first piece of real estate purchased by Corpus Christi in January 1857, cost $200. Father John William Vahey was sent to Fort Dodge in 1856 and served as the first pastor and first resident pastor of northwest Iowa (Roder 66). Prior to his ordination in 1854. Father Vahey had been a college professor and attorney (Duchaine 269). Father Vahey built the first church, a brick structure, unusual for the first church of a parish in Iowa, for which construction began in the fall of 1856 and was completed in 1857.
   The name for the parish had been decided by Bishop Loras before the first church was built (History of Corpus Christi 23). A four-room house for the priest, on the location of the present rectory, was built in 1857. The little Corpus Christi Church was replaced in 1881 by the present structure.
   The History of Corpus Christi Parish from 1923 tells how, in 1856, Miss Anna Ryan and her family immigrated to Fort Dodge by ox team and told of the first church built in northwest iowa:
   "When we came here Father Vahey already was here. Mass was being said in the John Haire log store, at what is now First Avenue South and Sixth Street. Plans for the building of the church were made that year and actual construction started in the fall of 1856, the structure being completed the following year. The first church was located just north of the site of the present church." (21-22)
   Father H.D. McCullough (1857), Father John Aylward (1857-1859) and Father John Marsh (1859-1865) all served Corpus Christi. Father Marsh served the pioneer people from Fort Dodge to Emmetsburg and Spirit Lake on the north to Sioux City on the west, often driving an ox team across the prairies in winter months (Pratt 186). Father Marsh constructed the first school soon after his arrival, the first Catholic school in northwest Iowa (History of Corpus Christi 32). The first Catholic school, a two-story frame structure with a cupola, was built in 1859 and was constructed on the site of what would become "The Academy." But before this building was completed, classes were held temporarily in the church. Enrollment reached 200 by 1877.
   The current church, built of red brick on a stone foundation, was a masterpiece in the world of liturgical architecture and construction for the year 1881. An Article that appeared in the January 22. 1880, edition of the German weekly newspaper Die lowa states "Mr.Fr. Heer, the architect, showed us a sketch of a church to be built by Rev. Lenehanand will eventually be put into plans in detail for the actual construction. With a church like this, Fort Dodge gets one of the finest in the west" (Burns "Corpus Christi") Fred Heer, Swiss born and trained Catholic church architect from Dubuque, designed the classic Gothic church (Roder 176: "Fridolin Heer"). The quarrying of stone was started in 1879, construction started in 1880, and the church was dedicated on New Year's Day 1883 (Roder 303). Total cost for the church was $37.892.59. paid for by about three hundred subscribers (History of Corpus Christi 44). The population of Fort Dodge the time of construction was in excess of 2,500 people. It is the oldest Catholic church standing in the Diocese of Sioux City.
   The body of its former pastor, Father Marsh, reposed under the altar of the old church. In 1881 a requiem Mass was offered, and then the body was moved to a vault in the parish cemetery. The procession to the cemetery was seen as the largest up until that time in Fort Dodge (Roder 177).
   In 1897 Corpus Christi Parish was divided with parishioners south of Main Street (Central Avenue) attending the new Sacred Heart Church (Roder 172). In December 1900, Mother Mary Catherine discovered a fire that completely destroyed the school. "The Academy of Corpus Christi Parish was built in 1901 and ready for classes by 1902. The cost of the new school was $20.000."The Academy" was torn down in 1975. High school classes ended there in 1956 and then students attended St. Edmond High School.
   The first sisters to come to Fort Dodge were Sisters of Charity. BVM. who arrived in July 1862. The sisters were recalled to Dubuque after the death of Father Marsh. From 1865 to 1873 the school was directed by lay teachers. The Sisters of Mercy came to Fort Dodge in 1873 and took over the school for the next 27 years. The Sisters of Charity. BVM, returned to Corpus Christi And took charge of Corpus Christi Academy in September 1902. For the next 100 years, they taught the youth of Corpus Christi Parish.
   Between 1909 and 1932, the convent, rectory and central heating plant were built. Many improvements were added to the church structure and the school. During this period, church membership greatly increased and was estimated to be at 2.200 members.
   In 1975 Msgr.J.L. Bauer started a fund drive for church renovations. Over 10.000 bricks were replaced (Roder 411). In 1981 the church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places Bishop Greteman blessed and dedicated Corpus Christi as part of the 1981 Jubilee ceremonies (Roder 411).

2000 - Start of Catholic Team Parishes of Webster County.

2006 - 150 years of faith in Webster County.

2006 - Bishop Nickless decrees that the Parish of the Holy Trinity be established.  Holy Trinity Parish is now the official name of our parish in Webster County while maintaining the existing names of each church worship site.

2020 - The last Mass at Corpus Christi is celebrated.