Clear Creek: A Torrent of Grace
                      SS. Peter and Paul Parrish
                      1858-1958


Book Cover

               
                Pope Pius XII                                                      Bishop Ralph L. Hayes, D. D.       

May 28, 1958          

Rev. P. A. Kleinfelder
SS. Peter & Paul Rectory, Clear Creek R. R. 1
Harper, Iowa

Dear Father Kleinfelder:

I take this occasion to join with you and your faithful people in the Centennial Jubilee of SS. Peter & Paul's Parish, Clear Creek.

A tradition has been established in your parish throughout these hundred years — a tradition of strong faith and loyal attachment to the Church of Christ. For three generations the parishioners of SS. Peter & Paul Parish have given concrete evidence of that faith and loyalty; it has been a sacred heritage which they have handed down to their children and grandchildren. The life of the parish — indeed the life of the community has centered about the parish church and the parish school. They have been proud of their faith; they have lived their faith; and succeeding generations have walked in their footsteps.

On this Jubilee day, you and the members of your parish have reason to be proud and to rejoice and to be grateful to God for His innumerable blessings and graces. This Centennial celebration will strengthen them in their loyal attachment to Christ and His Church and coming generations will be assisted to carry on a long and glorious tradition.

With renewed felicitations to the pastor and the people of SS. Peter & Paul Church, I remain,

Sincerely yours in Christ,
RALPH L. HAYES         
Bishop of Davenport.      

August 19, 1958          

My dear Parishioners:

On the occasion of the parish centennial, I thank you good parishioners for the many courtesies you have shown your pastor during the past 28 years. I ask forgiveness for my many shortcomings. That the next hundred years may be as fruitful and prosperous as the past is my wish for all of you.

My thanks go also to our bishop, the Most Rev. Ralph L. Hayes, for his many acts of kindness.

I am grateful to my present assistant, Fr. Marvin Sieger, for preparing this celebration. To my former assistant, Fr. William F. Wiebler, also goes my thanks for preparing this historical sketch of the parish.

Not to be neglected are: Grace Heller, my housekeeper; the School Sisters of St. Francis; the choir; the servers; the officers of the Altar & Rosary Society, past and present; the trustees throughout the years, and, in fact, all who have been my faithful aides.

May God bless you all.

Fr. Paul A. Kleinfelder

Pastor                           


Rev. P. A. Kleinfelder, Pastor

              
         Fr. Marvin N. Sieger                                                            Fr. William F. Wiebler

A
centennial
historical sketch
of
SS. Peter & Paul Parish
Clear Creek, Iowa
compiled from primary sources, previous
histories and contemporary accounts
by
Rev. William F. Wiebler
Saint Ambrose Academy
Davenport, Iowa
August 19, 1958

1858                                                                                         1958

Dedicated
to
Grace Heller
Housekeeper Extraordinary
... of whose fullness we all have received

Cover design: symbolizes the torrent of grace which has ever flowed from the Triune God to the parish of SS. Peter & Paul. The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit; the red cover indicates the pentecostal times. Living stones of the temple of God, the members of the Mystical Body are represented by the parish church. Symbols of SS. Peter & Paul are the inverted cross, representing Peter's martyrdom, and the two-edged sword, representing Paul's writings.

Prologue:

History is people, not dates or inventories. But people are located in time. Therefore the centennial history of SS. Peter & Paul parish, Clear Creek, will be a semi-chronological account of the various parishioners as they appeared over one hundred years.

As the material preparation for the centennial celebration, the parish church has been tuckpointed and weatherproofed. High on their scaffolds, the tuckpointers looked down on the parish, viewing it from a lofty and yet intimate angle. Such a view we have tried to take in this chronology.

Such a view as the tuckpointers had could be seen only from the vantage. point of the steeple. Our view is one which could only be obtained by one who has lived in the parish and knows the people, That being the case, what is put forth in this booklet will be an attempt to evaluate the manifold activities of the parish, not in a proud listing of credits, but rather in a humble recognition of the great graces God has bestowed on this parish of SS. Peter & Paul.

The scheme of the booklet follows the hymn to the Most Holy Trinity; it is thus broken down into three periods. The first period, the early origins of the parish, reveals the creative hand of God the Father in its foundation. The second period, the growth of the parish, indicates the influence of God the Son through the sacramental life. The third period, the present, manifests the action of God the Holy Spirit as He fructifies the harvest being reaped from that which was sown and cultivated in preceding periods.

This book will culminate in the Mass of the Trinity which will be offered by our bishop, the Most Rev. Ralph L. Hayes, and in which the parishioners will worship God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

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Graciously provided by volunteer Becky Callahan. Thank you, Becky!