St. Francis de Sales, Downtown

Fr. George Barry O'Toole, OSB

Fr. O'Toole was born, in the Old South End ( 887 South Street, to be exact ), in 1886. He attended St. John's College, in Toledo. One of many sons of Immaculate Conception Parish to enter the priesthood, he was ordained, in Rome, in 1911. Fr. O'Toole's activities in the Toledo Diocese included serving as secretary to Bishop Schrembs and as pastor of St. Aloysius, in Bowling Green.
After serving as an army chaplain for a time, during World War I, he became a professor of philosophy and dogmatic theology at St. Vincent's Seminary in my birthplace, Latrobe Pennsylvania. Somehow, he also found time to teach animal biology at Seton Hill College, a women's college in nearby Greensburg.
Possibly, the greatest achievement of Fr. O'Toole's busy life was his involvement in the founding of the Catholic University of Peking, of which he was the first president. He maintained ties to China for the rest of his life, and edited the publication China Monthly for several years.
After his return to the United States, in 1934, Fr. O'Toole taught philosophy at Duquesne University, in Pittsburgh, and at the Catholic University of America, in Washington D.C., where he died in 1944.

St. James, Old South End

A closed parish. Nothing fancy, but it was servicable.

The building was constructed, I believe, in 1913.

I haven't seen a picture of the interior, but I've been told it was very nice. The "people's altar", made by parishioners and one of the best I've seen, and the statue of the parish patron, are at Immaculate Conception.

St. Francis de Sales, Downtown

Cornerstones

St. Patrick's

Immaculate Conception.

St. Patrick, Warehouse District

A closer view of the odd dormers, which show the influence of Toledo architect Harry Wachter.
I hadn't noticed until now, but the keystones of the window arches are flat. That's rather unusual, too.

SS Peter and Paul, Old South End

Joseph Projectus Machebeuf, Bishop of Denver

Bishop Machebeuf ( 1812-1889 ), a native of France, was active in the eastern part of what is now the Toledo Diocese, throughout the 1840's. He served in Tiffin, Peru, and Sandusky, where he founded Holy Angels parish.
Machebeuf was made Vicar Apostolic of Colorado, in 1868 and first Bishop of Denver, in 1887. A mountain in Colorado is named in his honor. For a biographical sketch, click HERE.

St. Aloysius, Bowling Green

Immaculate Conception, Old South End

Details of the rectory mural.

Is there anyone out there in cyberspace who can confirm this as the signature used by William F. Matthews?

The Cathedral

Elsewhere in Ohio

St. Mary's, in Massilion.

Our Lady of Luxembourg … and Consolation

Earlier this year, some individuals with the Luxembourg American Cultural Society organized a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Consolation Shrine in Carey, bringing along statues of Our Lady of Consolation from other parishes and shrines having roots in Luxembourg.
One of the organizers, Rick Roder, has written a booklet detailing the veneration of Our Lady of Luxembourg throughout the United States. The booklet provides photos and history for nearly 20 images, located in Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota and Ohio.
An interesting note: not all images of Our Lady of Consolation have a Luxembourg connection. For example, here is one from Britain:
http://www.consolation.org.uk
Roder writes that the Luxembourg images are usually distinguished by a heart and key hanging from Mary’s arm. The heart demonstrates the love of the Luxembourg people for Mary, and the key is to enter the fortress city of Luxembourg. The Luxembourg devotion was initiated by Jesuit Fr. Jacques Brocquart in 1603, after he recovered from the plague while asking for Mary’s intercession.
“Veneration of Our Lady of Luxembourg in the United States” is available for $20 (plus $2 shipping) from Rick Roder, PO Box 2, Remsen IA 51050

St. Joseph, Vistula Historic District

St. Francis de Sales, Downtown

St. Patrick, Warehouse District

There's a nice, and very up to date, web exhibit on St. Patrick's, at Toledo's Attic.
Hat tip to commenter ShariYS for mentioning it.

St. Francis de Sales, Downtown

Patrick Keely, the architect of St. Francis de Sales, designed hundreds of churches, all over the East and Midwest. Here's a good BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. He's also covered in an article at WIKIPEDIA.
The real gem, where his online presence is concerned, is the website of the Keely Society, which is well worth exploring.
FYI: Later today, or tomorrow, I'll be posting on the artist who painted the Stations of the Cross, at St. Francis de Sales, William H. Machen.

SS Peter and Paul, Old South End

St. Patrick, Bascom

Built in 1915.
The parish's previous church building, located several miles outside Bascom, was struck by lightning and burned in 1913.

St. Patrick, Warehouse District

Like many of Toledo's older churches, getting a full facade shot is tricky. I wish someone would move that blasted dumpster.

St. Patrick, Warehouse District

The spire may be the most noticable improvement, but they've also done an incredibly good job with the grounds.

St. Francis de Sales, Downtown

A statue of the eponymous saint.

Mother Mary Adelaide

Foundress of Lourdes College. Interestingly enough, she was also an avid ameteur architect, and collaborated with Wilfred Holtzman in designing many of the college's buildings.
For a short biographical sketch, click HERE.

St. Patrick, Warehouse District

Monument to Margaret Kennedy Hays Tank, who bequeathed the funds to rebuild the spire. We all owe her a debt of gratitude. HERE'S an article about the spire, which includes a photograph of the fire which destroyed its predecessor.

A Nod Outside the Church

A commenter just mentioned Salem Lutheran, in the Vistula Historic District. It's a very nice building, with an uncommonly high spire. Not that spires are common around here, anyway.

St. Joseph, Monroeville

SS Peter and Paul, Old South End

St. Patrick's, Warehouse District

Immaculate Conception, Old South End

One wall of the rectory dining room holds a mural dated 1938.

It's a series of scenes from the introduction of Catholicism to the United States and bears the signature W.F. Matthews.

I believe I've tracked down the artist, but I'll wait for confirmation, before mentioning him.

Tomorrow, I'll post some detail shots.

Rosary Cathedral School

Though most people are too busy staring in awe at the Cathedral to notice, the adjacent school is a fine building, in its own right. Its decorative brickwork is worth looking at, if you can stop looking at all the sculpture next door.

The school was designed by the Pittsburgh firm of Comes, Perry, and McMullen, who were also responsible for the Cathedral. It was built in 1914.

Photos: Toledo-Lucas County Public Library