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Logo by Ginger Cisewski

St. John the Baptist Parish of Peosta, lowa, traces its inspiring history to the permission given on July 14, 1874, by the Rt. Rev. John Hennessy, D. D., Bishop of Dubuque, for the Catholics of Vernon and Center Townships to erect a church at Centralia, 10 miles west of Dubuque. Peter Erschens and Nicholas Meyer became the organizers of the Christian community of the aforementioned townships. Peter Erschens immediately donated 7 acres of land for the new church. During the building of the church, Father B. W. Coyle, of West Dubuque, assisted the trustees by his advice and in the collection of funds. Father Coyle celebrated Holy Mass and administered the sacraments in a building owned by James F. McKeon. The Rev. R. Ryan, V. G., laid the cornerstone in the Fall of 1874.

The Rev. George W. Heer was appointed the first pastor of the parish Sept. 1, 1875. The parish debt was $5,000 on which an interest of 10% was being paid. Father Heer was forced to rent a couple of small rooms in the Klocker house as there was no rectory, later moving into one of Erschens' old houses. However, this was too cold in the winter, and the rain came through the roof in the summer, so he went back to Klocker's. In 1877, the people built a house for him. Father Heer's pastorate lasted 5 years, during which period, he made many improvements and reduced the debt by one half.

Subsequent pastors at Centralia were the following: Father Jos. Nacke who brought the Franciscan Sisters to the parish; Father Joseph Kuemper, who built the Sister's house and a parochial school and paid off many old and new debts; the kindly Father Hermengilde Rottler, with the briefest pastorate -- 12 days; Father H. J. Hemesath who zealously served the congregation for 10 years, improving the church and cemetery and also reducing the parish debt.; and Father Bauemler, who was an excellent pastor for 10 months. On Oct., 1898, the Rev. P. A. R. Tierney was appointed to Centralia, with the additional charge of the mission church at Lattnerville, which had cut loose and located a church for themselves. The Centralia pastors, beginning with Father Tierney, served Lattnerville as a mission parish after their only resident pastor. Until 1914, when Father Tierney resigned due to ill health, he was a zealous and vigorous pastor. One of his notable achievements was the complete reduction of the parish debt. The church was dedicated during his pastorate.

Father Luke Donlon was the next pastor. He worked hard for his flock at Centralia, but the mission church was served at this time by Father John Breitbach, a Professor at Columbia College, Dubuque. It was during Father Donlon's pastorate that the late Archbishop James J. Keane deemed it advisable to move the parish church from Centralia to Peosta. Five acres of fine land were purchased for $1,000. the contract for the fireproof combination church and school, and priest's house,was let for $54,000. When Father Donlon was appointed to Monona, the spiritual core of St. John the Baptist Church was placed for a time in the hands of Father W. Dostal. On Dec. 3, 1924, Father J. Fred Kriebs (later Monsignor) was assigned to the pastorate of the Peosta parish, which had a total indebtedness of $86,000. Father Kriebs by unique efforts and persistent labor reduced this debt of the small parish to $19,500 by the end of a I0-year period. Meanwhile, with the assistance of the newly ordained Father George A. Stemm (later Monsignor), Father Kriebs ministered to the spiritual needs of both the Peosta and Lattnerville parishes and maintained and developed the parochial grade and high schools which had been established there in Sept., 1923, and were staffed by the Sistefs of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Dubuque. Father Kriebs was appointed to the business management of "The Witness", official newspaper of the archdiocese, on Feb. 6, 1935. The Rev. B. W. Frommelt was assigned as his successor at Peosta. Between 1929 and 1936, Father Harold Ginter, Father Anthony Chihak (later Monsignor), and Father Louis White were assistant pastors.

Native sons of St. John the Baptist Parish, prior to the church being moved to Peosta, who were ordained to the Holy Priesthood were: Monsignor James Takes and the Rev. Joseph Quirin. There were 16 parishioners of this era who become Sisters.

The priestly tradition continued on into the Peosta era with the ordinations of the Rev. J. J. L. Breitbach, in 1935, and the Rev. J. J. A. Breitbach, in 1936. Both of these priests celebrated their First Solemn High Masses in St. John the Baptist Church in Peosta. Father J . J . L. Breitbach, the present pastor of his native parish, had his 25th Anniversary of Ordination in the church wherein he celebrated his First Solemn High Mass, in May, 1960.

Former students and parishioners who became Sisters are: Sister Mary Marcellita Brown, BVM; Sister Mary Serena Sweeney, BVM; Sister Mary Virginia Sweeney, BVM; Sister Mary Genevieve Spiegel, BVM; and Sister Mary Gertrude Ann Brown, OSF. The pastorate of the Rev. B. W. Frommelt began in 1935 and was terminated in 1938, when the Rev. Clair C. Drummy was assigned to St. John the Baptist Parish. In addition to the customary charge of Annunciation Parish, Lattnerville, the Peosta Parish has had the spiritual care of the County Home at Julien.

St. John the Baptist Church was beautifully redecorated along liturgical lines by Father Frommelt. Father Drummy made renovations in the rectory. Not to be overlooked as a most significant accomplishment of both Father Frommelt and Father Drummy was a notable reduction in the parish debt which was reached in the early 40's.

On the spiritual side, St. John the Baptist Parish was again blessed in another vocation to the Holy Priesthood in the ordination on June 7, 1941, and the First Solemn High Mass on June 8, 1941, of the Rev. Donald Sweeney.

Father Drummy left parish work to become a chaplain in the U. S. Navy in July, 1943. Until official appointment of the new pastor, Father J . Robert McDonald and Father John Sims administered to the needs of the two parishes. Designation of a pastor was made in Sept., 1943, the Rev. J. J. L. Breitbach, who continues to hold this joint pastorship.

Father Breitbach can take justifiable pride in the many noteworthy achievements of his pastorate. First, the parish roster increased from 60 to 90 families. The enrollment in 1969 of St. John the Baptist School was 113 against 38 in 1943. Many improvements were made and much modernized.

The cemetery is located at Centralia, and here annually, a Field Mass, weather permitting, is offered on Memorial Day. The burial plot is beautifully cared for, and its general appearance has been enhanced by the erection of an impressive Crucifixion Set. A beautiful memorial statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary graces the parish lawn at Peosta, a gift of the John Kalb family.

The balance of the parish debt in 1943 was $14,000. The mortgage was burned in April, 1945. Since then, it has been financially possible for the parish to purchase the Peosto Community Hall, and 7-1/2 acres adjoining the parochial property. The Rev. Donald Weydert was ordained in Dec., 1943, and celebrated his first Solemn High Mass in St. John the Baptist Church. April 16, 1960, brought the ordination of the Rev. William D. O'Brien, and his first Solemn High Mass in his parish church April 23, 1950.

The vocations of three Sisters of St. Francis came under the inspiration of Father Breitbach when, as students at Peosta High School, he taught them Christian Doctrine and other subjects. They are: Sister Dolores Fassbinder, OSF; Sister Lois Fassbinder, OSF; and Sister Rosemary Sweeney, OSF.

Priests who assisted Father Breitbach with the Sunday Masses and at other times were: Father Joseph Schendel, SVD; and Father Paul Grace. The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Daniel A. Gorman, a retired priest in Peosta, and Father Louis Ernsdorff assist in that capacity now. The parish choirs of both St. John the Baptist and Annunciation Churches are under the devoted and able direction of Mrs. Marie Roddy. Loyal trustees of the Peosta congregation were Mr. Francis Koetz and Mr. Fred V. McGovern.

Source: 1967 Atlas of Dubuque County
Compiled by the Title Atlas Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota