St. Paul's (Belgian) Catholic Church.
St. Paul's Church, located on Twenty-fourth Street and Eighth and a
half Avenue, was opened for services for the first time on February 5,
1905. On that occasion the choir rendered beautiful music and the pastor,
Reverend J. B. Ceulemans, delivered the sermon, in which he spoke of the
many previous attempts which were made to organize a parish in which the
Belgian Catholics of Rock Island could worship together in a congregation
all of their own people.
Although their place of worship is very modest, it is quite attractive
inside. The Reverend J. B. Ceulemans was born in Belgium, where he was
educated and ordained a priest. In 1907 Father Ceulemans took charge of
Sacred Heart Church in Moline, and left Rock Island.
He was succeeded by another priest from Belgium, Father Leon E. VanStoppen.
This is the present pastor, and who built the parsonage house, which is a
fine improvement to the church property.
Churches of Rock Island County
Source: Historic Rock Island County, pub. Kramer & Company, Rock Island, Illinois, 1908