| East Dubuque Local Area History Project | |
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by K.H |
| Mathias Loras was born in Lyon, France on August 30, 1792. He was born into a wealthy family and devoted his time to family, religious duties, and discipline. His father died as a martyr and then he felt the call of a priestly life. He became a priest because there was a loss of priests in 1814. On April 21, 1839 Loras came to Dubuque. Loras was the first Bishop of Dubuque on July 28, 1837, at the age of 31. For 15 years he was the leader of a college in France. In Mobile, Alabama he led the church for 8 years. | |
| Five Sisters Of Charity Of The Blessed Virgin Mary came to Dubuque 1843. They came to Dubuque because of the hard work of Bishop Loras. A school named St. Bernard's College and Seminary was new to Dubuque and that had many problems and Loras solved them. Mathias controlled 47 missions, 52 churches, 37 priests, and 49,000 Catholics. Mathias Loras did such good things for Dubuque and America they named Loras College after him. Loras' grave sight stands at St. Raphael's Cathedral. | |
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Bibliography The Encyclopedia Of Dubuque |
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