Days gone by

100 years ago – May 1924 

May 1, 1924, marked the first publication of “The Cathedral Bulletin,” an early publication by the Cathedral. The publication hoped to publicize the educational, financial, athletic, and social endeavors of the Cathedral and inform the parishioners of news and announcements through a written format. 

75 years ago — May 1949 

Mrs. Richard Nowinson, formerly Marie Louisell, of Chicago was awarded the second-place prize of $10,000 in the Christopher literary contest. Mrs. Nowinson was from Duluth and attended Sacred Heart Cathedral grade and high schools and attended the College of St. Scholastica in her freshman year. The Christopher movement endeavored to bring the world back to Christian principles and sponsored the writers’ contest. A Solemn Pontifical Requiem Mass was offered by the Bishop Thomas A. Welch for Father William J. Powers, pastor of St. Patrick in Eveleth. Father Powers was the first pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary in Duluth. The diocese also mourned the loss of Sister Margaret O’Mahoney. Sister Margaret made her triennial vows in 1902. 

50 years ago — May 1974 

The Duluth Natural Family Planning office was established in Duluth after David and Kay Ek of St. Cloud offered a workshop at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, explaining to couples the Ovulation Method of family planning. The office offered workshops every Monday evening or by appointment. Also, Bishop Paul Anderson celebrated his fifth anniversary of being ordained a bishop. 

25 years ago — May 1999 

Cynthia Zook was hired to be the diocesan coordinator of Catholic schools. The position would require her to work closely with the principals and teachers of all 13 Catholic schools in the diocese. Zook was previously principal at St. Michael’s Lakeside School and spent more than a decade teaching at Holy Rosary School. The diocese mourned the loss of Sister Viola Pianfetti, OSB, and Sister Maxine Erchul, OSB. Sister Viola, a Hibbing native, had entered the Duluth Benedictine community in 1927 and professed monastic vows in 1930. Sister Maxine, from Soudan, was in her 70th year of monastic profession when she passed away. 

10 years ago — May 2014 

The diocese continued to use its new website that was launched at the beginning of April 2014. The upgrade brought an updated design and the ability to integrate content from the diocesan site with parish sites automatically. Bishop Paul Sirba presided at the funeral Mass of Father Thomas Radaich at St. Michael’s Church in Duluth. Father Radaich, pastor of St. Michael’s, had passed away suddenly on Easter Monday. Other deaths in the diocese included Father Thomas Bouchard and Sister Mary Henry Landsteiner. Father Bouchard, a Duluth native, was ordained to the priesthood in 1952 by Bishop Thomas A. Welch and served at many parishes throughout the Duluth Diocese and as consultor for the Diocese of Duluth. Sister Mary Henry entered St. Scholastica Monastery in 1932. She was in her 79th year of Benedictine monastic life when she passed away.