The Catholic bulletin., 1922-04-15
ST. JAMES CHURCH

growing for the division of ST. Mary's
parish owing to the crowded cOndl-
ton of the church edifice. and the de-
sire of large number of the parish
toner's for an exclusively English
speaking congregation Nothing def
mite was done, however, until after
the division of the La Crosse diocese
in 1905, when the territory that in
cluded Wausau came under the jurls-
diction of the bishop of La Crosse.
Rt. Rev Bishop Schwebach of La
Crosse gave his appreciation to this
movement, and authorized the found
ing of the new congregation. In July,
1905, he sent Rev. j. j. Brennan to
Wausau to organize the new congre-
cation, and to become it's first pastor.
Father Brennan had been for some
years pastor of the congregation at
Necedah, and had been very success
full in his work there. At Wausau he
organized the new parish udner the
patronage of st. James the Greater,
and Incorporated it under the laws OF.
the state of Wisconsin as "The Cath
olic Congregation of st. James" The
old Methodist church building at the
corner of Second and Grant, along
with a dwelling house next to it, was
purchased Necessary Improvements
were made, the church building being
enlarged, and in a short time sub
stantial. comfortable and well-fur-
nished structure housed the new con-.
gregation, while the dwelling was fur
nished and fitted for a Rectory for
| the pastor. Along with the pastor
much credit is due DR.. B. H. Conlin,
| the first secretary, and to Mr.. Thos.
| F. Delaney, the first treasurer of the
congregation, for their Jealous work
| in the organization of st. James, and
| the conducting of it's business in the
| first years of it's history. The new
parish reached out to many Catholics
who had become negligent of their
duties, and had lost their identified
| tion with any parish church, and
| brought them back into active mem
bership in the fold Thus the parish,
starting with membership of about
1S5 families, increased in a few years
| to such an extent that the church edi-
| flee became crowded, and it became
evident that something must be done
| to provide better facilities for caring
for the large congregation that now
| attended st. James. In 1910 plans
We're drawn for a larger and more
beautiful church. In 1911 consrruc-
ton was begun on the present building
on the site of the old Delaney home
On the corner of Second and McClel-
accident befell the congregation dur
| ing the construction of this building,
| when with the church nearly complet-
ed, the great dome crashed to the
| ground, causing the death of one man
and the injury of several others, and
utterly running the beautiful dome and
much Of the structure which had been
completed. This disaster, which hap
pened in September, 1911, was a
| severe blow to the morale of the con-
gregatiOn and a great discouragement
financially. Father Brennan, however,
and the people gathered new courage
and went on with the work 1t was
pushed energetically the next year,
and on December II, 1912, the new
church was solemnly dedicated by Rt.
Rev. Bishop Schwebach, assisted by
Archbishop Messmer of Milwaukee
and thirty-three priests from the sur
rounding communities.
AS the accompanying illustration
shows, the new church is beautiful
and imposing building of majestic pro
portions, one of the finest in the do
cese, with ample accommodations for
many years to come. After the acci-
dent the dome was rebuilt under the
| best engineering advice with every
provision for safety.
The Rev. Father Brennan remained
at St James until July, 1917, COM
pleting a pastorate of twelve years.
He was succeeded by the present pas
tor, Rev. Edw. P. OToole who had
served for sixteen years as pastor of
the church at Ellsworth, Wis. During
recent years the congregation has had
a healthy growth, and has been busily
and successfully engaged in paying
off the debt contracted in the build
ing of the new church. This debt is
disappearing rapidly, and there is
every prospect that in the course of
another year it will be entirely liqui-
dated. This would have been accom-
plished before the present but for the
war with it's many calls for patriotic
purposes. However, st. James church,
like so many of it's sister-churches,
is proud of its war record. It's young
men, who in such large numbers en-
tered the service, and it's people, who
remained at home, responded nobly to
every call. 1t is interesting though
sad to note that the first from this
great county of Marathon to die in the
service was young man from St.
James parish, Arthur Colombo, who
passed away at Great Lakes, and the
first soldier from Marathon County to
give his life on the battlefields was
another young man from st. James,
James Burns, killed in France. Others
from this parish who were. killed in
battle in France were John Burns, a
brother of James. Laddie: Hlava, Roy
Gossage and Joseph .Koppa. May
these gallant boys rest in peace.
In connection with the church there
is a large and fourishing Sunday
school with an efficient staff of teach
ers under the supervision of the pas.
tor. The late Mrs. P. German is held
in loving memory in connection with