History of St. Paul
History
Although it is possible that priests, accompanying De Soto’s expedition, passed the present site of Vicksburg as early as 1642, the first resident priest, Reverend M. D. O’Reilly, came to Vicksburg in 1839. He made rapid progress in the area, and by 1841 had purchased a lot on the east side of Walnut Street between South and Crawford Streets to erect a frame church. By 1843, plans were being made for a larger church.
In 1847, the lot on the northwest corner of Crawford and Walnut was purchased and a beautiful Gothic church, erected on this location, was dedicated on October 14, 1849. This edifice was severely damaged by a tornado in 1953 and had to be demolished.
The cornerstone for the present St. Paul Catholic Church was laid in 1956; the first Sunday Mass was offered in the new church on February 10, 1957.
St. Paul on Christmas Eve in 1953.
List of Services
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Rev. Michael D. O'ReillyList Item 1
1840-1846
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Rev. Stephen H. MontgomeryList Item 2
1847-1852
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Rev. R. B. HardyList Item 3
1853-1857
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Rev. J. O'ConnorList Item 4
1858-1859
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Rev. Francis Xavier Leray
1860-1874
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Rev. John McManus
1874-1878
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Rev. Herman Oberfeld
1879-1881
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Rev. Henry Picherit
1882-1899
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Rev. F. McConkey
1900-1904
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Rev. J. J. Mallin
1905-1917
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Rev. John Prendergast
1919-1941
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Rev. D. J. O'Beirne
1942-1960
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Rev. Michael McCarthy
1958-1967
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Rev. Eamon Mullen
1967-1970
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Rev. Michael Glynn
1970-1977
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Msgr. Joseph Koury
1977-1981
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Rev. John Egan
1981-1991
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Rev. Thomas McGing
1991-2003
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Msgr. Patrick Farrell
2003-2013
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Rev. Tom Lalor
2013-2018
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Rev. Rusty Vincent
2018-Present