75 years ago — May 1948
A new organ was installed at St. Mary Church in Marble. The organ was purchased by members of the parish Council of Catholic Women. On May 16, the Hon. E. J. Kenny, judge of district court, was the guest speaker at the Knights of Columbus initiation banquet, held in the Arrowhead Hotel. The banquet celebrated the initiation of 50 knights. Also, it was announced that Cathedral High School would graduate 91 seniors, and that Bishop Welch would ordain three priests for the diocese.
50 years ago — May 1973
The diocese received congratulations from Duluth Mayor Ben Boo on the recent city-wide Easter service. He called the event “magnificent,” and stated that the congregation was immensely proud of its church and its priests. The second annual event, held at the Duluth Arena, was attended by more than 5,500 people from Duluth’s 22 Catholic parishes. Also, Duluth Cathedral High School announced that Francis W. Lovett, an educator from Bethlehem, Pa., would be the new director of the school for the next academic year.
25 years ago — May 1998
The diocese mourned the death of Father Frank Melovasich, who died April 4 after a courageous battle with cancer. Father Melovasich was ordained in 1950 and served at many parishes throughout the diocese for 48 years, including St. John, Duluth; St. John, Biwabik; St. Andrew, Brainerd; Sacred Heart, Duluth; St. Joseph, Grand Rapids; and St. Michael, Duluth.
10 years ago — May 2013
The diocese announced several upcoming Year of Faith events, including a diocesan celebration of St. Kateri Tekakwitha’s feast day on July 14 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary and a diocesan pilgrimage to sites associated with Ven. Frederick Baraga in September. The diocese grieved the losses of Msgr. Lawrence O’Shea and Father Bruce Engen. Msgr. O’Shea, a former vicar general, died April 4. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 17, 1956, in Dublin, and came to the Diocese of Duluth on Sept. 4, 1956. He served at many parishes throughout the diocese and in many other capacities as well, and in recognition of all his labors on behalf of Catholics and non-Catholics, was named monsignor by Pope St. John Paul II on Dec. 23, 2005. Father Engen died April 9. His call to the priesthood came later in life and at age 50, he was ordained for the Diocese of Duluth on June 25, 1989. Father Engen served at St. Joseph, Grand Rapids; St. Charles, Cass Lake; St. Anne, Bena; St. Agnes, Walker; Sacred Heart, Hackensack; St. Mary, Deer River; St. Augustine, Cohasset; and the Lake Country parishes.
