The Catholic bulletin., 1920-10-09
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF ST.
MICHAEL, MADISON, MlNN.

The Catholic Church of St. Michael
at Madison, Minnesota, had it's begin
ming at a meeting held under the di-
rection of the Rev. A. Kober in the
home of Jacobus Simon in the fall OF
1885, about a year after the establish
ment of the village. The first holy
Mass for the new parish was said in
the home of Daniel McDonough by
Very Rev. James c. Byrne, present
pastor of the Church of st. Luke, st.
Paul, Minnesota, who was at that
time secretary to the late Archbishop
John Ireland The first priest was
Rev. A. Kober, who visited the parish
once a month from his station at Bird
Island, Minnesota, and in 1886 frame
house of worship was erected on the
site of the present Church of st. Mich
ael, at cost of $1,S00.00. Father
Kober remained as. pastor from
1885 to 1887, and was succeeded by the
Rev. F. B. Reichl, who became the
first resident pastor, living in rented
house, and who remained from 1887
to 1889, he being succeeded by Rev.
H. J. McAvay, who remained part of
1889 and part of 1890. Then came the
Rev. P M. Schoenen, who remained
a little more than a year and under
whose pastorate the parish house was
erected in 1890 Then came the Rev.
John Pivo, who remained few
months. and was succeeded by the
M
later returned to his native land.
Father Kienlen remained at Madison,
Minnesota, during 1898 and was
succeeded by the Rev. B. Vonderlage,
who did not make his residence at
Madison, but came over from Morgan,
Minnesota, and held services once a
month, remaining pastor until 1895,
when he was succeeded by the Rev.
P. Rosen, who remained two years,
leaving in the summer of 1897 for
Wisconsin, where his last days were
spent. He was succeeded by the Rev.
Anton Vilman, who come from
Stewart, Minnesota, and who started
the first parochial school. Father Viii
man remained as pastor during 1897
SO and was succeeded by the Rev.
John n. Rohlinger, under whose pas
torate the first school building in the
parish was erected, a frame building,
at a cost of about $1,50000. He re-
mained until 1903 in August of which
year the church was destroyed by fire.
The Rev. James Klein then was
installed as pastor and in 1904, under
his pastorate, a new brick church was
erected at a cost of about $1S,0000O.
Father Klein remained until 1910 and
in August of that year was succeeded
by the present pastor, the Rev. Val.
Schiffrer. On September 10, 1913,
the Church of st. Michael was struck
by lightning and was destroyed by
fire, the congregation thus a second
time facing a serious loss. Immedi-
ate plans were formed for rebuilding
and the next year. 1914, the fine
church was erected at a cost of about
$25,000.00. The same year, the fine
new parochial school was erected, at
a cost of about $27,000.00, and the
Church of ST. Michael has now one
Ol lHe UeSL equlppeu OdtHoIlC PAL ISL
es in western Minnesota. In 1913
John Kemen, Sr., presented to the
parish a residence for the School
Sisters, adjoining the school, and the
same was remodeled at a cost of
$2,200.00. There are about lis fam
lilies connected with the parish and
different active organizations contrib
ute to the various activities of the
parish work.