Fifty Golden Years Told in Story
St. Mary's
1914 to 1956
THIS PROGRAM BELOW WAS IN A BOX OF OLD NEWSPAPERS MY HUSBUND PURCHASED FOR ME AT A YARD SALE .
RESEARCHED BY : TINA EASLEY
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ar/county/greene/
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VERY REV. MSGR. JOSEPH M. HOLFLINGER
ORDAINED FEBRUARY 24, 1906
PASTOR ST. MARY'S CHURCH
JANUARY 6, 1914 TO 1956
PARAGOULD , ARKANSAS
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ABOVE - THE MOST REV. ALBERT FLETCHER , D.D. ----- BISHOP OF LITTLE ROCK
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FIFTY GOLDEN YEARS TOLD IN STORY
ABOVE - ORDINATION DAY FEB. 24, 1906 , VERY REV. MSGR. JOSEPH M. HOFLINGER
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THE RECORD COMPILED BY MSGR. JOSEPH M. HOFLINGER , 41 YEARS AS PASTOR OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH IN PARAGOULD IS AN ENVIABLE ONE , TO SAY THE LEAST . HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE MANY , BUT THE PROPER BEGINNING OF HIS STORY WAS IN THE "OLD COUNTRY " WHERE HE WAS BORN MAY 31, 1875 .
HE FIRST VISITED THE UNITED STATES IN 1890 AND RETURNED TO GERMANY TO STUDY FOR PRIESTHOOD . HE WAS ORDAINED A PRIEST IN MOEDLING ( NEAR VIENNA ) , AUSTRIA , ON FEBRUARY 24, 1906.
IN THAT YEAR , HE RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES AND WAS ASSIGNED TO WORK IN TECHNY , ILLINOIS. IN 1910 , HE CAME TO LITTLE ROCK AND WAS GIVEN THE UNIQUE ASSIGNMENT OF SOLICITING FUNDS " IN THE FIELD " TO CONSTRUCT DESPERATELY NEEDED FACILITIES FOR A CROWDED , INADEQUATE NEGRO CHURCH CALLED ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S .
IN 1913 , HE WAS SENT TO DEQUEEN , ARKANSAS , AND IN 1914 , HE CAME TO PARAGOULD . AT THAT TIME , ST. MARY'S SHOWED AN INDEBTEDNESS IN EXCESS OF $10,000 , BUT MONSIGNOR HOFLINGER IMMEDIATELY SET LIQUIDATION OF THAT DEBT OF HIS NO. 1 GOAL . SIX YEARS LATER , THAT GOAL WAS ACCOMPLISHED .
NEXT ON THE AGENDA WAS A BUILDING FUND , AND WITH THE BISHOP'S SACTION , HE BEGAN PLACING SAVINGS IN VARIOUS BUILDINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS IN ORDER THAT SUFFICIENT FUNDS WOULD BE AVAILABLE BY 1930 . IN 1929 , HOWEVER THE DEPRESSION DISRUPTED THOSE PLANS . BANKS AND LOANS ASSOCIATIONS CLOSED AND THE OUTLOOK WAS GLUM INDEED . THERE SEEMED LITTLE HOPE THAT MONSIGNOR'S DREAM WOULD BE REALIZED , SINCE THE PAPERS HE HELD WERE ALMOST WORTHLESS.
HE RECEIVED OFFERS TO SELL THE "PAPERS" AT 10 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR , BUT HE REJECTED THOSE OFFERS AND WAITED FOR BETTER TIMES . AND THE BETTER TIMES CAME , ENABLING MONSIGNOR TO REDEEM HIS "PAPERS" AT 100 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR - FULL VALUE . THAT WAS IN 1935 . THE PRESENT CHURCH WAS CONSTRUCTED AT SECOND AND HIGHLAND IN 1935 - 36 .
WHILE THAT CERTAINLY IS A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT , IT IS BY NO MEANS THE LONE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF MONSIGNOR HOFLINGER . AMONG OTHER THINGS , THE CHURCH HALL WAS ERECTED AND A NEW SISTERS' HOUSE HAS BEEN PURCHASED AT THIRD AND HIGHLAND . ALSO TO HIS CREDIT IS THE MISSION CHURCH OF ST. HENRY OF RECTOR.
ALTHOUGH HE WAS ELEVATED TO "MONSIGNOR " MORE THAT A DOZEN YEARS AGO , HE REMAINS "FATHER HOFLINGER " TO HIS LARGE NUMBER OF FRIENDS OF ALL FAITHS THROUGHOUT NORTHEAST ARKANSAS.
PASTOR OF ST. MARY'S , PASTOR OF ST. HENRY'S MISSION , SUPERINTENDENT OF ST. MARY'S SCHOOL YES , THOSE ARE HIS OFFICIAL TITLES INDICATING HIS POSITION. BUT MORE THAN THESE THINGS , MONSIGNOR HAS BECOME AN INSTITUTION IN THIS SECTION OF THE STATE LOVED AND RESPECTED BY ALL WHO KNOW HIM.
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PRIEST OF NORTHEASTERN DEANERY
BOTTOM ROW , LEFT TO RIGHT - REV. ROBERT DAGWELL , EDWARD HINCKLY , V.F. ; MSGR. HOFLINGER , MSGR. FRANK DONAVAN , REV. BENARD G. MALONE .
SECOND ROW , LEFT TO RIGHT - AMOS H. ENDERLIN , JOSEPH KING , BENARD ROBERSON , FRANCIS CALAVECHIO
THIRD ROW , LEFT TO RIGHT - EUGENE MAGUIRE , BENARD BOLDS , LAWRENCE MAUS
ABOVE - VERY REV. MSGR. JOSEPH M. HOFLINGER
JUBILARIAN
THE SOLEMN GOLDEN JUBILEE MASS
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JUBILARIAN CELEBRANT
VERY REV. MSGR. JOSEPH M. HOFLINGER
ASSISTANT PRIEST
REV. KARL BEIL
DEACON OF THE MASS
VERY REV. MSGR. EDWARD HEMMEN
SUB DEACON OF THE MASS
REV. OTTO BUTTERBACH
MASTERS OF CEREMONIES
VERY REV. MSGR. JOSEPH A. MURRAY
REV. JAMES P. REYNOLDS
CHAPLAINS TO HIS EXCELLENCY
THE MOST REVEREND ALBERT L. FLETCHER , D.D.
RT. REV. MSGR. FRANCIS A. ALLEN , V.F.
RT. REV. MSGR. JOHN B. SCHEPER
SERMON
RT. REV. MSGR. JAMES E. O'CONNELL
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
MR. ORIS COLLINS - FOR USE OF CAPITAL THEATER
MR. TED RAND - FOR RADIO NETWORKS
MR. OTIS JONES - FOR USE OF ORGAN
MR. JOHN MUELLER - BIG PICTURE
MR. WALLACE WHITE - GENE WIRGES - DAILY PRESS
MR. C.L. WHITE - WHITE PRINTING COMPANY
MR. JOHN PRUNISKI - NORTH LITTLE ROCK TIMES
BALLARD FLOWER SHOP - FLOWERS AND FERNS
MEMPHIS AND LITTLE ROCK TELEVISION NETWORKS
HEATH FUNERAL HOME
DE BONS METAL SHOP
MR. AND MRS. ALVIN SAMUEL
CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS
SISTERS OF ST. BENEDICT
ST. MARY'S CIRCLES NO. 1 AND NO. 2
CHOIR ALTAR BOYS - SCHOOL CHILDREN
MOTHER MARY PHILLIPA , O.S.B.
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