Labor of faith

Ron Kirby, LaVern "Mick" Stiver and Grace Sullivan are historical detectives.

Ten years ago, the three parishioners of Old St. Vincent Church in downtown Cape Girardeau took on the task of uncovering the history of Catholicism in Southeast Missouri as well as the beginnings of several Catholic institutions in Cape Girardeau. They have searched for records, archives and photographs to gather the information for their soon-to-be-published book, "Old St. Vincent Church -- A Pictorial and Historical Sketch of Catholicism in Cape Girardeau."

What they have collected and written is not just the history of Old St. Vincent Church but also the beginnings of the missionary work of Catholic priests in this area and the histories of such Cape Girardeau Catholic institutions as Saint Francis Medical Center, St. Vincent College, St. Mary Cathedral, St. Vincent de Paul Church, the Knights of Columbus and Notre Dame Regional High School.

"It started out as a pamphlet to give out to visitors, but then it grew as we thought we should preserve stories and memories from the past, not just of Old St. Vincent but of the history of Catholicism in the area," Sullivan said. The full-color, 256-page hardbound book contains 285 photos, many of which date to the early 1900s.

As one of the oldest churches west of the Mississippi River, St. Vincent helped establish the roots of Christianity in the Louisiana Purchase region of the United States. The book includes stories about the early days of Cape Girardeau when Louis Lorimier helped the missionary priests who traveled throughout the area. It says he opened his home to them so they could celebrate Mass and baptisms. These circuit-riding priests ministered to all people, not just the Catholics, bringing medicine and food as well as the assurance of God's love. There were many orders of Catholic missionaries that served the area, but it was the Vincentians who established the first permanent church, St. Vincent de Paul, in 1839.

Mick Stiver, left, Rob Kirby, and Grace Sullivan discuss the trials, tribulations and tales of compiling the upcoming book "Old St. Vincent Church: A Pictorial and Historical Sketch of Catholicism in Cape Girardeau" on Sept. 16 in the sanctuary of the downtown Cape Girardeau landmark. The church holds publi tours from noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays. (Kit Doyle)

While researching the archives, the writers found that the Vincentian priests were able to acquire 1,500 acres around the church, which they used to grow food for the students of area schools including St. Vincent College and St. Vincent Young Ladies Academy.

"They weren't only providing for the spiritual needs of the people but also their physical needs as well," Stiver said.

Kirby, who has experience in writing and publishing, kept the book going. His pursuit of pictures and records led him to the archives of the Southeast Missourian, the archives at St. Mary and St. Vincent de Paul, as well as to St. Mary of the Barrens in Perryville, Mo., and DePaul University in Chicago.

"I'd just ask people I knew if they had any old pictures of Saint Francis hospital or St. Vincent or St. Mary church. I found lots of the photographs that way," Kirby said.

The book details the restoration of Old St. Vincent Church, its designation as a Chapel of Ease and its placement on the National Register of Historic Places. It is due out in October and is available for a donation of $30 to Old St. Vincent Church. Order forms can be found by contacting any of the authors or picked up at Old St. Vincent Church.