St Edward's Church, Miller Co, AR

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Submitted by: William A. Sweeney <zeitwanderer@earthlink.net>
        Date: 23 Mar 2001
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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From an old newspaper clipping recently found. It tells
about St. Edward's Catholic Church, Texarkana, Arkansas.
The article is from the "Daily Texarkanian".  1917

Texarkana

St. Edward's Church

For more than a quarter century, the catholic families of
Texarkana, Ark. attended divine services in the Sacred
Heart Church(Texas) the first temple of worship erected
to Almighty God in the promising city of two states.

By the permission of the Rt.Rev. Edward Fitzgerald,D.D.,
Bishop of Little Rock, the new parish of St. Edward,
King and Confessor, was founded, June 20, 1903, by Rev.
E.W. Fowler. Mass was first celebrated in the Miller
County Court house, awaiting the completion of the
chapel on 4th and Hickory. The parish was served by the
E.W. Fowler, Rev. M.J. Delaney and by Very Rev. Fintan
Kraemer, O.S.B., then Vicar General of the Diocese.

On December 25, 1903, commemorative of the Saviour's
birth, the first mass in the new chapel was celebrated.

On March 4, 1904, Rev. M. Dougherty, O.S.B., took charge
of the new parish and faithfully served his people until
he went to Fort Levenworth, Kansas. He was succeeded by
the Rev. Patrick Boyle, Aug 26, 1906, the first pastor
of the church appointed by the new Bishop, Rt. Rev.John
B. Morris, D.D.

During Father Boyle's Administration, the parish estab-
lished its parochial school. It was a source of genuine
regret to his many friends when Father Boyle accepted a
parish in Little Rock about two years ago.

On June 7, 1913, the present pastor, Rev. M.J. Enright,
assumed charge and has been untiring in his efforts to
advance the interests of the church, the congregation,
and the community. Like his predecessors, Father Enright
and his band of laborers in the vineyard are striving
for the erection of a permanent and more spacious home
of worship.

For a number of years the members of this congegation
have owned desirable lots on Fourth and Beech streets,
where they hope to erect a church at the cost of about
$50,000 which be a credit to the city as well as to the
parish. A new rectory will also be built and the school
enlarged.

Father Enright is much encouraged with the progress made,
and this zealous pastor and his flock take much pleasure
in the promise that the future St. Edward's Church will
be one of the most beautiful and imposing of the many
Christain edifices that bless our thriving city.

Miss Francis Roregs, in the Daily Texarkanian.