The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-11-26
ST. JosEPHs CATHEDRAL. LA CROSSE, WIS.

La Crosse. What is now the city OF
La Crosse had then about twenty-five
Catholic families. AS early as 1856,
a Catholic school was opened in a
building contiguous to the church.
This school, started with a small num-
Der and taught by the Sisters of No
tire Dame, has been kept up ever since
In 1868, the number of Catholics hav-
ing largely increased, the congrega.
ton of ST. Mary's was divided; st.
Mary's congregation retaining all of
the English and French speaking and
st. Joseph's all the German and Bo.
hemian speaking families. The latter
congregation bought several lots on
the southwest corner of Sixth and
Main streets and at once began the
erection Of a two-story brick building
for school purposes. in which school
was taught for both congregations.
Father Tappert was followed by the
Rev. F. X. Etschmann in the pastor
ate of ST. Mary's church. The Rev.
F. X. Etschmann was also a very
| Jealous, pious and Woodworking priest,
tended the Catholics of the city and
| county of La Crosse, but of at least
| six other counties in Wisconsin and
Minnesota. The two congregations of
| La Crosse still worshipped in the
same building. Father Etschmann was
succeeded, in 1863 by the Rev
| Charles Schraudenbach. From that
time until 1868, the Rev. NJ Mar
co was, pastor of the congregation.
| In 1868, the Right Rev. Michael
Heiss was appointed first Bishop
of La Crosse and took up his res
| ldence in the same wooden build
/ ing attached to the old residence
| at st. Mary's where he contin-
ued to reside until the year 1876.
From 1868 to the spring of 1869,
| number Of professors from st. Francis
Seminary, especially the Rev. Joseph
Moder, assisted by the Rev. Father
| Nicholas, attended to the two congre-
cations. In May, 1869, the Rev. P. M.
Abbelen came from Chippewa Falls
and took charge of ST. Mary's congre-
| cation, and the Rev. H. Kampschroer
| from Eau Claire, very Jealous and
energetic priest, became pastor of st.
Joseph's. Under the latter's pastorate,
the large and beautiful St. Joseph's
| church was built and dedicated. The
Rev. Father Abbelen could remain at
st. Mary's for only short time on ac-
count of failing health. Father Kamp-
| SchTnpr thnrnf0pn yx-h lob xry;th
| the Bishop, also attended to ST. Mary's
congregation until the ordination of
i the Rev. James Schwebach. Father
| SchWebach came to La Crosse in
| March, 1869, at the age of 81. as sub
deacon and took charge of the school
OF st. Mary's congregation as spiritual
instructor. In this capacity, he won
| the affection of all the children and
members of the whole parish, who
would not listen to his removal after
he was ordained priest and appointed
lpastor of Prairie du CHEN. Father
| SchWebach took charge of st. Marys
| in the summer of 1870. The church
edifice at that time had become old
and dilapidated and there was
debt OF $1,000 upon the property
besides. The members of the con-
gregation were mostly poor, and
| after few years determined strug-
gle, the debt was paid and in
| 1872, three more lots were purchas-
ed, and the erection of beautiful
two-story schoolhouse of brick and
| stone, was begun on the corner oppo-
site the church This school was
opened on September of the same
| year by the Sisters of st. Francis, La
Crosse. Early in the spring of 1874,
work was begun on the new church,
| TO take the place of the old building,
which had become entirely inadequate.
for the purpose. The new church was
completed as lar as it is now in 1876