St. Patrick's Catholic Church designated a National Historical Place

It stands tall at the highest point in the town of O’Neill. It’s the town’s premiere church, and its latest nationally recognized historical place.

“You know, I think it’s still something we’re still letting soak in a little bit,” said Bernard Starman, pastor for the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. “It’s really exciting.”

It took two years for St. Patrick’s Catholic Church to be recognized as O’Neill’s 10th Historical Place. Catholicism has been a part of the town years before it was officially incorporated as a city.

“In 1877, the first resident pastor came to O’Neill. Established a small church on the same site this church is on,” Starman said. “1886, they outgrew that, so they put a second church. And then 1910, Monsignor Cassidy shared his dream. And this is part of it.”

The response to that vision was nothing short of phenomenal.

“In 1909, he made it known to the community that he wanted to build this church, and he expressed what he wanted it to look like,” Starman said.

“Between 9:00 in the morning and noon, he had the money in the bank.”

Father Starman has been a pastor for the church for five years, and he finds O’Neill to be a great place to practice.

“From the day that I moved it, O’Neill felt like home,” Starman said. “They’ve just been an amazing community to work with, and to work beside.”

St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and the Old Saint Mary’s Academy are the two pieces of Cassidy’s vision. The church that still stands continues to be a pillar of support for the community.

“There’s a lot of emotion when you think about the whole history, and that’s being honored,” Starman said. “They build these buildings to be signs of hope, and a place that people can call their own home.”

“And if you’re passing through, stop in. Take a look.”