This is a true story that begins in 1931 and is still developing as we live and breathe. You will learn about a woman who served God and died too early. Her service and devotion to God and St. Joseph was almost eclipsed by her friend Father John J. Crowley, also known as the Padre of the Desert, a larger-than-life servant of the Catholic Church. Their stories are forever intertwined and with the help of special guest, Molly Hudson, we will share what happened to us after I mentioned Sister Irenita in Curious Cat Episode 14: Cemeteries. Woo. It's a doozy.
If you'd like to research their lives and fill in the gaps for yourself about what may have kept Sister Irenita discontent, haunting the St. Johns Cathedral and property for 91 years, please have a read.
This episode was recorded and is shared with the sole hope of wishing eternal peace and love to Sister Irenita Zimmerman and Father John J. Crowley. May they rest in peace.
**********
IF YOU LIKED THIS EPISODE, LISTEN TO THIS ONE NEXT!
**********
Additional Reading Materials:
https://kingsriverlife.com/12/18/holy-ghost-the-haunting-of-st-johns-cathedral/
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23634573/mary-irenita-zimmerman
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6881274/john-j-crowley
https://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=1576
Link to California’s God Episode 110 – Wedding of the Waters https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/1999/08/12/71
Additional Links:
https://www.stjohnsfresno.org
https://califolk.blogspot.com/2007/11/incorruptible-sister-irenita.html
https://www.ghostlyworld.org/tag/sister-irenita/
https://kingsriverlife.com/12/18/holy-ghost-the-haunting-of-st-johns-cathedral/
“Listening In.” Denver Catholic Register, Thursday, Aug. 13, 1931, p. 4. https://archives.archden.org/islandora/object/archden%3A6664/datastream/OBJ/view. Accessed Nov. 17, 2021.
White, Betty Lou. “The Ghosts of Fresno.” Fate, Vol. 20—No. 8, August 1967, pp. 83-85.
Crowe, John. “The Haunting of Fresno.” The Fresno Bee, Sunday, Dec. 17, 1978, pp. A1, A16.
Marinacci, Mike. Mysterious California: Strange Places and Eerie Phenomena in the Golden State. Los Angeles, California: Panpipes Press, 1988, pp. 63-65.
McCarthy, Charles. “Spirits Seem Willing to Stay at Cathedral.” The Fresno Bee, Thursday, Oct. 31, 1991, pp. A1, A16.
Branam, Chris. “BOO!” The Fresno Bee, Thursday, July 21, 1994. “Northwest Neighbors,” p. 3.
Branam, Chris. “Ghosts Said to Occupy Local Haunts.” The Fresno Bee, Thursday, July 28, 1994. “Northeast Neighbors,” p. 10.
Pollock, Dennis. “Dead Nun, Priests Seem Reluctant to Leave Church.” The Fresno Bee, Sunday, Oct. 30, 1994. “Life,” p. F1.
Send us Fan Mail
If you are searching for a fresh, binge-able podcast, this might be the one for you!
Support the show
Support Curious Cat, an independent, human-made podcast!
***Curious Cat Podcast on Substack!***
Buy Curious Cat Podcast a Coffee!