Father Jeremiah F. Trecy
Missionary, Army Chaplain, Founding Priest & Pastor of St. Mary of the Visitation Church
This article, written by Lynda Walker published in the Spring 2016 The Angels Voice newsletter, is reprinted with the permission of the Huntsville Pilgrimage Association and the Angels of Maple Hill Newsletter Committee.

Father Jeremiah F. Trecy (1825-1888) was born in Drogheda, Ireland in 1825. He arrived in the United States with his parents in 1836 settling in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Jeremiah began his seminary studies at an early age, becoming an ordained priest in 1850 and receiving his first assignment at the Cathedral of St. Raphael in Dubuque, Iowa (1850-1851).
From 1851-1860 Father Trecy was actively performing missionary work in Nebraska and Iowa for the new settlers. This strenuous traveling and labors took a toll on Jeremiah's health. He requested and received permission from the Bishop to go where the climate was less harsh. He traveled South spending some time in New Orleans before continuing on to Mobile.
It is believed that Father Trecy arrived in Huntsville in late 1860 or early 1861. Bishop John Quinlan of Mobile sent Trecy to North Alabama to survey the needs of Catholics in Huntsville and the surrounding area. He found many Catholics who were scattered and neglected. He resolved to help them in building a church.
Father Trecy was able to secure financial backing for the church with the assistance of James J. Donegan and Huntsville citizens of every type. Protestants, Jewish rabbis, doctors, judges, lawyers, business owners, and farmers made monetary pledges of $3,048 for the building of the church. Property was acquired from John A. Erwin and construction of the church started in the summer of 1861as the Civil War began. The church cornerstone was laid in the fall of 1861 and work progressed to the windows on the main story before the rebellion caused a suspension of the work on the church.
During the Civil War, Father worked in hospitals, army camps, and on the battlefields to minister to the sick and wounded. He was kept busy hearing confessions, giving instructions, and attending to the physical and spiritual needs of the soldiers. On the battlefield he carried with him two canteens, one containing whiskey and the other water. The whiskey was for the poor soul who was preparing himself for eternity. The water was for the purpose of baptism. Father Trecy provided assistance to all wounded soldiers, regardless of their religion or allegiance in the war.
After the surrender of the Confederate Armies, Father Trecy returned to Huntsville where he set about repairing and completing Saint Mary of the Visitation Church. Because the funds (Confederate money) donated for the church construction were now worthless, Father was given permission in 1865 and 1866 to solicit funding from Catholic churches in northern states . Construction began again on the church in the summer of 1866.
Sometime in 1867, Father Trecy's family moved to Huntsville. Family members included Jeremiah's mother, uncle, sister and her husband, and two nephews. Several of these family members made Huntsville their permanent home and are buried in the Trecy family plot in Maple Hill.
Father Trecy continued to oversee the church construction and minister to the Saint Mary's parishioners from 1867-1872. He left Huntsville in 1872 before the completion of the church and served in several mission churches around Mobile. He was permanently assigned to the church in Bayou La Batre in 1873 until his health failed.
Father became a patient in the Alexian Brother's Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri in 1882. He remained there until his death on March 5,1888. His body was brought to Huntsville by train for burial in Maple Hill Cemetery (March 9,1888). The Trecy burial plot and monument can be found in (Block 15) of Maple Hill. This block has been referred to as the Catholic Section of the cemetery.
• More information about Father Trecy 's ministry and travels as an Army Chaplain during the Civil War can be found in A Mighty Fortress of Faith (A History of St. Mary of the Visitation 1861-2011)
From 1851-1860 Father Trecy was actively performing missionary work in Nebraska and Iowa for the new settlers. This strenuous traveling and labors took a toll on Jeremiah's health. He requested and received permission from the Bishop to go where the climate was less harsh. He traveled South spending some time in New Orleans before continuing on to Mobile.
It is believed that Father Trecy arrived in Huntsville in late 1860 or early 1861. Bishop John Quinlan of Mobile sent Trecy to North Alabama to survey the needs of Catholics in Huntsville and the surrounding area. He found many Catholics who were scattered and neglected. He resolved to help them in building a church.
Father Trecy was able to secure financial backing for the church with the assistance of James J. Donegan and Huntsville citizens of every type. Protestants, Jewish rabbis, doctors, judges, lawyers, business owners, and farmers made monetary pledges of $3,048 for the building of the church. Property was acquired from John A. Erwin and construction of the church started in the summer of 1861as the Civil War began. The church cornerstone was laid in the fall of 1861 and work progressed to the windows on the main story before the rebellion caused a suspension of the work on the church.
During the Civil War, Father worked in hospitals, army camps, and on the battlefields to minister to the sick and wounded. He was kept busy hearing confessions, giving instructions, and attending to the physical and spiritual needs of the soldiers. On the battlefield he carried with him two canteens, one containing whiskey and the other water. The whiskey was for the poor soul who was preparing himself for eternity. The water was for the purpose of baptism. Father Trecy provided assistance to all wounded soldiers, regardless of their religion or allegiance in the war.
After the surrender of the Confederate Armies, Father Trecy returned to Huntsville where he set about repairing and completing Saint Mary of the Visitation Church. Because the funds (Confederate money) donated for the church construction were now worthless, Father was given permission in 1865 and 1866 to solicit funding from Catholic churches in northern states . Construction began again on the church in the summer of 1866.
Sometime in 1867, Father Trecy's family moved to Huntsville. Family members included Jeremiah's mother, uncle, sister and her husband, and two nephews. Several of these family members made Huntsville their permanent home and are buried in the Trecy family plot in Maple Hill.
Father Trecy continued to oversee the church construction and minister to the Saint Mary's parishioners from 1867-1872. He left Huntsville in 1872 before the completion of the church and served in several mission churches around Mobile. He was permanently assigned to the church in Bayou La Batre in 1873 until his health failed.
Father became a patient in the Alexian Brother's Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri in 1882. He remained there until his death on March 5,1888. His body was brought to Huntsville by train for burial in Maple Hill Cemetery (March 9,1888). The Trecy burial plot and monument can be found in (Block 15) of Maple Hill. This block has been referred to as the Catholic Section of the cemetery.
• More information about Father Trecy 's ministry and travels as an Army Chaplain during the Civil War can be found in A Mighty Fortress of Faith (A History of St. Mary of the Visitation 1861-2011)