Mary Immaculate Pastors:
1904: first entry for Mary Immaculate Parish, Kirksville, under the
Archdiocese of St. Louis. From 1899 to 1903, Fr. Muckerman, assistant to
Fr. Byrne at Edina, attended to the spiritual needs of the Catholics in
Kirksville. This would not have been the earlier pastor Dennis Byrne, but
Fr. Christopher Byrne, who was in 1918 made Bishop of Galveston, Texas.
1903-10 Fr. A.B. Gass, D.D., S.T.D.
1911 Fr. Alexander F. Mercer; during his pastorate St. Joseph's in
LaPlata became a mission of Mary Immaculate
1912 Kirksville transferred to the Diocese of St. Joseph
1920: Fr. J.J. Cafferky
1923 Fr. John A. MacTighe (part-time)
1924 Fr. James S. Ryan
1926 Fr. Francis A. Loftus
1931 Fr. Cornelius Curry (b. 1897, d. 1941) 1930-35
1936 Fr. Patrick J. Barrett
1948 Fr. John Kenny; during this time, the missions of the parish required
greater use of assistant pastors: Fr. William VanArx, Fr. Richard
Carney, Fr. William Ludwig, Fr. Alvin Herber, Fr. Michael Donlevy, Fr.
Norbert Adelman [until August 31, 1960] Fr. Paul Bobay
1956 July 2: Diocese of Jefferson City established; Mary Immaculate
under its authority.
1959: Fr. Frederick J. Yehle
Fr. John Buchanan
From August 1966, Fr. Luke Reichert assistant
Fr. Michael Flanagan (later abbot at Our Lady of Lourdes, Columbia)
Fr. Les Niemeier c. 1983
Fr. John Prenger
Fr. David Maher
Fr. Patrick Shortt
Others: Fr. Tom Dolan, Fr. Jim Schafer, Fr. Jerome Bestgen, Fr. Thomas Earhart, Fr. William McFadon
Priests at Adair:
according to diocesan directories
1876 first entry for St. Mary. Adair, under the Archdiocese of St.
Louis.
Pastor: Fr. J. Daly; another document says Fr. Ryan from 1870-1880
1878 Fr. Laurence Madden
1879: Fr. John Ryan
1889 Fr. John O'Shea (another document says 1880-1906)
1906-1914: Fr. McGovern
1912: parish transferred to the diocese of St. Joseph)
1913: Fr. C.L. Kearful
1914-19: Fr. Edward Connolly
1919: Fr. Vawter
1920: Fr. Augustine McNeill (another document: "McNeal")
1922: Fr. M.M. Grace (part-time)
1923: J.J. McTighe (part-time)
1924: Fr. M.M. Grace full-time pastor
1926-29: Fr. Stephen Carew
1930-32: Administrator Fr. Patrick J. Barrett
1932: administrator Fr. Edward Mallen (another document: "Mallon")
1932-36: administrator Fr. Frederick J. McEvoy
1938 (temporarily attached to Baring); Pastor of Baring Fr. Stephen
J. Carew
1939-42: Fr. Michael O'Donovan
1942-56: Fr. Mel Newman
1957: assigned to the newly created diocese of Jefferson City
1956-57: Fr. Joseph J. O'Rourke (b. 1915, ordained 1940, d. 1973);
farewell dinner August 25, 1957.
1958: (attended from Kirksville; pastor at Kirksville Fr. John F. Kenny).
From September 15, 1958, St. Mary's has been a mission of Mary Immaculate,
Kirkville;
1957-59: Fr. Aldeman
1959-62: Fr. Bobay
1962- Fr. Leon Allred
pastor of Mary Immaculate Fr. Frederick J. Yehle)
Fr. John Buchanan
St. Rose pastors and administrators:
April 1901: Fr. O'Hearn (pastor at Milan; Mass at Knights of Pythias
Hall)
1903: Fr. William McCormick (church finishedOctober 18, 1905)
Dec. 22, 1902, land acquired in Connelsville, small church built; in
service until 1921.
July 1922: death by eloctrocution of Father J.J. Germaine
1925: St. Rose becomes a mission of Mary Immaculate, whose pastors
and assistant pastors celebrate Mass there:
Fr. Michael Flanagan at the time of the addition until 1986.
Fr. John Prenger to August of 1993
Fr. Kevin Clohessy, the Newman chaplain,
Fr. Don Crosby.
Fr. David Maher
July 2000: Fr. Pat Shortt.
Newman Center Directors
and chaplains:
Fr. John Whitely
Fr. Kevin Clohessy
Fr. Bill Kottenstette
Mrs. Bettie Lescynski