The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-04-22
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

The origin of st. Mary's congrega-
ton dates back as far as the year
1851. From that time until "A perma-
nent pastorate was established, the
spiritual wants Of Catholics residing
i'll that locality had been fulfilled in
termittently by Visitant priests The
first number of Catholic families, liv-
ing in and about Wausau during these
early days is recorded as fifteen
Needless to say, these pioneer fam
lilies, living on the far borders of what
was then recognized as the civilized
Vest had been long debarred of the
privileges Of spiritual aid and comfort.
Efforts of an heroic nature were con-
sequently made by early missionary
Fathers to rescue this little army of
souls for God and, though beset with
hardships and pr1vations, these men
sought out this distant spot as field
Of charity and conformity labored for
the foundation of st. Mary's. Many
droughts of spiritual consolation
these men weathered, remote from ev-
erything pertaining to the comfort and
safety afforded by larger settlements.
Yet, Wausau was to be some day
larger settlement than it's own spir-
itual nurseries. Providence permit
ted and privileged st. Mary's church to
become the Mother Church" of Wau-
sau. Her history of growth IS inter-
eStlng, and her present accommodate
lions and vigorous life stand as an en-
viable monument to all who labored in
the making of this fiourishing parish
The first of the devoted missionary
Fathers to make an appearance here
was the Reverend l.. Dale, who visited
Wausau i'll the fall of 1851. He held
Divine services in the house of W. D.
Mclndoe. Again in the year of 1928,
Father F. X. Etschmann of Madison
made several missionary visits to
Wausau, after which, however, the
people were unattended until October,
1887, when the Reverend James
Stehle, then resident pastor at Stevens
Point, celebrated Mass in c.. Singles
Hall every second month He was
succeeded in 1858 by his brother, Fa-
'AASA ~ SICiIlC, WIN dlSO
services at similar periods in w. D.
McIndoe's storehOuse euntil the sum
mer OF 1860. Then the Reverend J.
Polack took charge of the Mission
During his encumbency, a church site
Was purchased on July 20. 1861. The
progress in establishing became very
slow, despite the efforts of succeed
ing visitant pastors in the persons of
Fathers G. Lux and NJ. Schwebach.
But services became more frequent,
they being held monthly in the engine
house. In 1866, the Mission was placed
in the charge of the Reverend CHI
Hengen, at that time resident priest
OF Marathon City. Under his direction
the congregation, now having thirty
families, took steps toward the cree
ton of a church, the cornerstone of
which was laid in July, 1867 From
that time until March %, 1875, when
the Reverend Theodore Richard be-
came the first actual pastor of perma-
.Hent residence, the parish struggled
in the cradle of its infancy Father
Richards work in putting st. Mary's
on firm footing deserves commenda-
ton His unceasing labors for twenty
years will be always an outstanding
epoch in the history of this parish |
His was a brain of organizing powers |
and heart Of priestly zeal. He did |
his work well for God at st. Marys. |
We're made in the be- |
ginning, additional church property |
was bought, a new large bell installed, |
and cemetery was got, all before
August, 1876. Not satisfied with a
work half done, Father Richard moved |
the people to erect a parochial SCHOOL,
in 1888, the first Catholic school in
The city. This is a distinction in it.
self. But in September, 1890, a new
vision came to the city of Wausau.
'rhe cornerstone for a new and hand
some brick church, Gothic in struc-
ture, was laid with quite some cere-
mony:' Completed in 1892, this church
stands today as well-known and oft
freuuented house of God in. the ethyl
of Wausau.z! Certainly there is none
larger and as stoutly built. Afterl