SAINT MARY'S OF HANOVER TO CELEBRATE BOTH FIRST MASS AND GOLDEN JUBILEE

June 3, 2000, will be a special day for two families and the parishioners of Saint Mary's church in Hanover.
On June 3, 1950, a native son of Hanover, Maurice O. Gallagher, son of Maurice F. and Estella Gallagher, was ordained to the priesthood. This year he will celebrate his Golden Jubilee, fifty years of ministering to the spiritual and material needs of his parishioners. Also on that day, he will retire from active ministry.
As Father Gallagher's ministry ends, the ministry of another Hanover native son will begin. Jerry Blake, son of Mary and the late John Blake, will be ordained to the priesthood on June 3.
An open invitation is extended by the families and the parish, for all those interested, to join them in celebrating the events of this unique and special weekend.

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Father Gallagher will celebrate the day with Mass at Saint Mary's Church in Hanover at 5 p.m. on June 3. A reception will immediately follow the Mass on the church grounds.
Father Gallagher grew up in Hanover and graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in Lansing in 1939. In September, 1939, he entered the seminary at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, OH. As its name implies, the Pontifical College Josephinum operates under the direct sponsorship of the Pope and it was the Pope's Apostolic Delegate to the United States who ordained him. Prior to his ordination, he had volunteered for assignment to Pueblo, CO, the area of the country most in need of priests at that time.
Following his ordination, he was assigned as assistant pastor to Sacred Heart Cathedral in Pueblo. Subsequent assignments as pastor included Saint Joseph's Parish in Salida, CO, and Saint Mary's Parish in Walsenburg, CO. Since 1979, Father Gallagher has served as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Avondale, CO. with missions in Boone and Fowler.
For most of his career, Father Gallagher served in areas which were economically depressed. Closing of the coal mines and a military base in the area left many of his parishioners in financial difficulty. He was recognized by his community for his service to those in need. Truly, Father Gallagher’s service extended beyond the members of his parish to the hundreds of migrant workers and their families who annually toil in the fields around Avondale. A program he started over twenty-five years ago continues to aid migrants with food, clothing and assistance with housing when they are working there.
A parishioner, Lil Montez, was quoted in an article in the Pueblo Chieftain newspaper as follows, “He's a wonderful person...there's nothing too small or too big for him to do for people. When we had floods out here, he pitched in by using a shovel. He lets the Methodists hold services in our church and it doesn't matter who in the community is sick, he's there to visit them. He's a true priest.”
“All I do,” says Father Gallagher “is what I'm supposed to do. A priest has to be a servant of the people. If not, he's missing his calling.”

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Jerry Blake graduated from Waukon Senior High School in 1973. Upon graduation, he operated the family farm with his parents and two brothers. Over the years he was active in church activities, taught catechism classes at Hanover and was involved in CEW (Christian Experience Weekends) at Saint Patrick Church in Waukon.
In the early 1990's, the family sold their dairy herd. “The farming operation was changing” he said. “I had been thinking about the priesthood for quite a few years. With the dairy responsibility gone, I decided I wouldn't be happy if I didn't look into it.” He completed a three year lay ministry course, and in September, 1994, entered Saint Paul Seminary which is affiliated with the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN.
The six year program had classes year round. Jerry earned a B.A. in Catholic Studies and on May 20 of this year graduated with a Master of Divinity degree.
He will be ordained June 3, 11 a.m., at St. Raphael's Cathedral in Dubuque, Iowa.
Archbishop Jerome Hanus, Archbishop of the Diocese of Dubuque, will officiate at the ordination which will also include the ordination of four of Jerry's classmates from St. Paul Seminary. While in the seminary, Jerry was sponsored by the Archdiocese and the Archbishop of Dubuque.
Father Blake will celebrate his first Mass at St. Mary's church in Hanover at 12 noon on June 4. A picnic lunch will be served following the Mass. Father Blake's first assignment will be within the Archdiocese of Dubuque and will be announced following the ordination.
“I am very appreciative of the prayers and support I have received over the years,” he said. “I always enjoyed farming. I am looking forward to farming now in God's garden.”