George J.
Mehok, Research notes on Fargo Catholicism, 1880-1935
(Mss 26)
Biography
Father
George John Mehok Jr. was born on April 16, 1912 in Dresden, North Dakota
to Teresa and George Mehok. His parents were born in Czechoslovakia
and immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s. Father Mehok
was the oldest of three sons, all of whom went into the ministry. His
brothers, William and Charles, became members of the Jesuit order.
Father
Mehok attended school in Dresden and Langdon North Dakota and graduated
from high school in 1931 from Nazareth Hall in St. Paul, Minnesota.
After graduation, he attended St. Paul Seminary from 1931 to 1937 and
later pursued an advanced degree in history at Notre Dame and Columbia
University in New York.
On
May 22, 1937, Father Mehok was ordained at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fargo,
N.D., by Aloisius Cardinal Muench. The next day he offered his first
mass in his hometown of Dresden, N.D. Following ordination, Father Mehok
served at the St. Anthony of Padua, Fargo congregation from 1937 to
1938 and St. Mary's Cathedral from 1938 to 1941. While serving the two
Fargo congregations, he also taught courses at the Sacred Heart Academy
(now known as Shanley High School). From 1941 to 1948 he served as pastor
for St. Agatha's Church in Hope, N.D., and Sacred Heart, the mission
church in Aneta, N.D. Father Mehok ended his career at St. John's in
Wahpeton, N.D. where he served for 39 years (1948-1987). In addition
to his pastoral appointments, Reverend Mehok was Assistant Editor for
The Catholic Action News from 1938 to 1951. After his retirement
in 1987, he moved to Fargo, N.D. George Mehok died on May 28, 1994,
in Fargo.
George
J. Mehok, Research notes on Fargo Catholicism
| Religion
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