Days gone by

75 years ago — October 1948 

The Catholic Action institute was held at Cathedral school, with 725 delegates attending from parishes and schools throughout the diocese. Rev. Daniel A. Lord, S.J., a nationally prominent author and youth leader, was a speaker, along with Rev. F. L. Zimmerman, S.J., and Dorothy Willman. In the same weekend, in an unprecedented ceremony with 900 in attendance, 27 priests from Duluth were received by Bishop Thomas Welch into the Cure of Ars sodality of Duluth, the first priests’ sodality in the country. 

50 years ago — October 1973 

Dominican sisters from Springfield, Ill., celebrated 50 years of serving in Duluth at Holy Rosary School and St. Michael’s Church. The Springfield Dominicans came to Duluth in 1923 at the invitation of Bishop John T. McNicholas, the second bishop of the Duluth Diocese. The year 1973 was significant in that it marked a century of service by Dominican sisters, and Bishop Paul F. Anderson was invited to attend the public celebration of the centennial in Springfield, Ill. Holy Rosary School also celebrated its 50th anniversary with former teachers and alumni, as well as current staff and students, who were invited to a special Mass and open house event. 

25 years ago — October 1998 

Pope John Paul II dedicated 1998 to the Holy Spirit and the virtue of hope, and Bishop Robert Schweitz wrote a pastoral letter, “Call to Hope,” continuing those themes. In the letter, he reminded those in the diocese that true hope lies with God and his promise of everlasting life. Bishop Schweitz also visited Rome for his mandatory five-year ad limina visit to discuss the diocese with Pope John Paul II. The pope sent his greetings and blessings to all the people of the diocese, and also gave Bishop Schwietz a message for all the bishops of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. 

10 years ago — October 2013 

About 60 people from the Diocese of Duluth joined Bishop Paul Sirba in a diocesan pilgrimage that traced the footsteps of Ven. Frederic Baraga. The pilgrimage began in Duluth and traveled to St. Joseph Church on Madeline Island and Marquette, Mich. Bishop Robert Brom, former bishop of the Diocese of Duluth, retired from the Diocese of San Diego at the age of 75. Bishop Brom served as bishop of the Duluth diocese from 1983 to 1989.