USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume I > Part 29
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IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.
by the removal of the old school in rear of the church, and fenced at a cost of $400. A new set of stations, costing $500, was bought and erected by P. Ferdinand, O. S. F., on March 24, 1882. The congregation numbers 360 families. The schools are attended by 350 children, under fifteen Sisters of St. Francis. Father Scheideler's assistant is the Rev. John Loibl.
Sunday, August 19, 1883, the silver jubilee of the church was celebrated. The exterior was newly painted, the inside newly frescoed, pews revarnished, etc., the members of the congregation having liberally contributed $2,583 for the purpose, which sum fully covered the expenses. Solemn pontifical high mass was cel- ebrated by the Right Rev. Bishop Chatard, and the occasion was indeed a joyful one for the congregation and its pastor.
Sunday, July 26, 1885, two beautiful statutes of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary were blessed. These were the gift of one person and cost $347. October 21, 1885, the pastor cele- brated his personal jubilee, and in this the entire congregation took part, donating many costly vestments and other gifts. October 15, 1886, a new furnace was placed in the church at a cost of $390. March 26, 1887, Mrs. Magdalena Maus had a new Brussels carpet laid at the feet of Our Savior, in the sanctuary, at a cost of $300. November 9, 1887, the congregation bought an additional lot, 39 x 185 feet, for $7, 500, and in the summer of 1889, a fine society hall was erected at a cost of $13, 350, and blessed August II. In May, 1890, a new Cortright metal shingle roof, new cor- nices, gutters, etc., were placed on the church, at a cost of $950, which amount was donated by seven members of the parish. In the second week of February, 1892, Mrs. Magdalena Maus sur- prised the pastor by stating, in a letter, that she would donate a new high altar; her daughter, Magdalena, a side altar, and her daughter, Josephine, another side altar. These generous acts induced other members to re-fresco the church, and within three days the pastor had sufficient cash in his hands for this purpose- ten members of the parish donating $100 each, several $50, and no one less than $25. Sunday, July 31, 1892, the new altars were blessed by the Right Rev. Bishop, and the pastor thanked God and the generous benefactors.
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The parochial schools of St. Mary's have always been first- class, and under the special care of the pastor, who has made the infant class free to all Catholic infants.
In 1894, the congregation paid $4, 125 to the city for sewers and asphalt pavements on and about the church property.
One night in October, 1896, burglars entered the sacristy, opened the safe, stole one chalice and two ostensoriums. The news spread rapidly, and the next morning a good and pious par- ishioner handed over to the pastor a roll of bank-notes, the gift of himself and sister, with the request to buy a new chalice, the only condition being that their names should not be made public. The next day, Joseph Renk declared himself ready to purchase and replace the small ostensorium, and Miss Magdalena Maus author- ized the pastor to go to New York and purchase a precious osten- sorium, the result being that St. Mary's is now in possession of the most beautiful Gothic ostensorium in the diocese. The congrega- tion is now entirely out of debt, and has a few thousand dollars on hand, as a fund from which a new church may be built. The earnest prayer of the grateful pastor is that God may bless and preserve the good and generous people of St. Mary's.
St. Patrick's Church, Indianapolis, was at first named St. Peter's church. The Rev. Aug. Bessonies, pastor of St. John's, built the old or first church in 1865, and opened it for divine service on the 29th of June. It is located near the southern terminus of Virginia avenue.
The Rev. Joseph Petit, assistant at St. John's, became the first pastor. In June, 1869, he visited Europe, and the Rev. P. R. Fitzpatrick took charge of St. Peter's. In the year following, 1870, the corner-stone was laid for the present St. Patrick's church, and the building completed and blessed in August, 1871. The old church was converted into school-rooms, in which the Sisters of Providence taught the girls of the congregation. In June, 1879. Rev. Patrick McDermott was appointed to the charge, but this worthy priest died in September, 1882.
In October, 1882, the Rev. Hugh O'Neill was appointed pastor of St. Patrick's church. He was born at Dungarvan, (320)
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH. INDIANAPOLIS, IND.
IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.
county Waterford, Ireland, on May 18, 1838. He received his classical education at Dungarvan; finished his theological course at St. John's college, Waterford, and was ordained priest at St. Mary's college, Oscott, Birmingham, England, by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Ulathorne for the diocese of Nottingham. He served part of his missionary life at St. Barnabas', cathedral. Eleven years he was at Ilkeston, Derbyshire, having charge of several missions. He spent four years at Hathersage, near Sheffield; in April, 1882, he landed in this country and was placed at St. Joachim's church, Frankford (Philadelphia), Pa. In October of the same year he was received by Bishop Chatard and given charge as above.
St. Patrick's church is a fine brick building, about 110 feet long, in the form of a cross, Gothic style, with a spire of neat design over the intersection of the transept.
IRELAND, DUBOIS COUNTY.
St. Mary's Church, at Ireland, Dubois county, was founded in 1890, when a number of Catholics, who had affiliated in St. Joseph's parish, at Jasper, Ind., concluded to establish a parish of their own in Ireland, as more convenient to their places of resi- dence. Consequently these few ardent and faithful members of the church purchased nineteen and one-half acres of land and burned brick to be used in the erection of a church-edifice, but, after further reflection, the trustees decided to sell the brick and apply the proceeds to the building of a frame church, which was completed in 1891, and dedicated to St. Mary, Father Fidelis being the first priest to read mass in the new edifice. The church- building is a neat structure and is well furnished, and an annex is devoted to school purposes. The church membership comprises about forty-two families, who worship under the guidance of Father Martin, and the school, which is under the direct control of the worthy pastor, has an enrollment of about thirty pupils, who are taught by Miss Lena Burger. The priest's house is a tasteful modern brick cottage, completed in 1895, and the entire valuation of the church property, including land and the buildings enumer- ated above, is placed at $3,000. Father Martin, the present
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pastor, is zealous and faithful, and prosperity and contentment reign throughout the parish.
JASPER, DUBOIS COUNTY.
St. Joseph's Church .- In 1834 only two or three Catholics were found at Jasper, but several Catholic families settled here soon after. Rev. Maurice de St. Palais, who was located at St. Mary's, Daviess county, was the first to visit the congregation in a clerical capacity. A small log house on the banks of the Patoka answered for a church. Father de St. Palais commended the young congregation to the special care of the bishop, who sent as the first resident pastor Rev. Joseph Kundek, and installed him at Jasper in 1838, the congregation at that time numbering fifteen families. During 1840 and 1841, he built the large brick church with hardly any money, but through donations of labor and mate- rial. During the Easter seasons, Father Kundek extended his labors into Madison, Ind., and into Illinois. In 1843, in order to restore his health, he took a trip to New Orleans, and in that city built the first German Catholic church. Returning in 1844, he laid out the town of Ferdinand and erected a stone church with the money brought from New Orleans. About this time he built a log church at Fulda and a small brick church at Troy. In 1845 he built the court house at Jasper at a cost of $6,000.
In 1851 Father Kundek was about to make a trip to Europe in the company of Bishop de St. Palais, when he stopped over at Madison and built the first German Catholic church there. In the autumn he followed the bishop to France, and about this time he was appointed vicar-general. During his trip he visited Einsiedeln, the great Benedictine abbey, and did all in his power to induce the abbot to send a colony of Benedictines to the diocese of Vincennes. He returned to Jasper in 1853 and labored most zealously until 1857, when his last illness came upon him, and where he died December 4, 1857. His memory in Jasper and the surrounding country will remain forever in benediction. The following Bene- dictine Fathers succeeded Father Kundek: Rev. P. Bede O'Con- nor, January 23, 1858, to November 20, 1860; Rev. P. Ulrich Christen, . November 20, 1860, to February 22, 1865; Rev. P.
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IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.
Wolfgang Schlumpf, February 22, 1865, to July 25, 1865, and Rev. Fidelis Maute, July 25, 1865, to June 22, 1897. Ill 1868 the congregation numbered 2,400 souls, with 370 school children.
On the 25th day of March, 1847, eleven families emigrated from the town of Pfaffenweiler, Gross Herzogthum, Baden, Ger- many, and came to the United States via Rotterdam and Havre, landing at New Orleans, La., and prominent among these were the Eckerts, Becks, Kieffers, Schmidts, Ecks, Schubles and George Bauman, a sculptor. The voyage was a perilous one, and during the first week of its progress the weather was so tempestuous that the destination of the ship, with its crew and passengers, promised to be more likely the bottom of the Atlantic ocean rather than the port of New Orleans. In this extremity, Mr. Bauman made a vow to erect a cross near the church built, or then to be built, by the congregation with which he might make his future home, and this vow he faithfully fulfilled after reaching Jasper, and to-day a beautiful specimen of the sculptor's art stands on the south side of St. Joseph, executed by this faithful son of the church, through the pecuniary aid of a Mr. Helm, of Tell City, Frank Beck and Joseph. Gramelspacher.
Father Maute was the builder of the new church, for which the corner-stone was laid by Bishop de St. Palais, September 14, 1871. The church stands on a conspicuous plat of ground and is built entirely of blocks of stone, parallelogrammatic in form, some of the immense blocks of stone containing sixty cubic feet. The dimensions of the church are 190 feet long, eighty-four feet wide and sixty-seven feet high. Father Fidelis Maute finished the church step by step, not desiring to incur a debt on his congrega- tion. Many a day P. Fidelis, in company with the trustees, espe- cially Martin Friedmann, of Jasper, worked in the stone quarry, taking their simple noonday lunch together like common laborers. The church is a magnificent and solid structure, and will stand as a monument long after the death of the builders, when other churches, built later, will have crumbled into decay. The beauti- ful statues and altars are chiseled out of the purest Italian mar- ble. The cathedral windows, which were donated by members of
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A HISTORY OF CATHOLICITY
the congregation, in 1898, are gems of the rarest beauty, and were furnished by American artists of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Father Stephen Stenger, the present priest, succeeded Father Fidelis in January, 1896, and is a gentleman who is widely known for his fidelity, his rare scholarship and priestly virtues, and is beloved and highly respected by his congregation, which numbers about 680 families, with an attendance of 2,800 or 3,000 souls. The entire church property of the Catholics in Jasper, accounting for money given, labor and material, and including all the build- ings and the church, may safely be placed at $225,000. Over $20,000 has been contributed within the last two years, 1897-1898, for main altar and memorial windows and school-rooms.
The parochial schools of St. Joseph were founded in 1840, have an attendance of 350 pupils, and are presided over by ten Sisters of Providence, and two lay teachers for boys, and are under the present supervision of Father Stenger.
JEFFERSONVILLE, CLARK COUNTY.
St. Anthony's Parish is the oldest in Jeffersonville, Ind., and, prior to the building of St. Augustine's church, included all the Catholics of that city and vicinity. In 1851 the corner-stone of St. Anthony's church was laid by Rev. August Bessonies, now vicar-general of the diocese of Vincennes. The church, located on Canal street near Maple, was a modest structure, built of brick, and remained the place of worship of the faithful of St. Anthony's parish until the present edifice was erected. Bishop Spalding, of Louisville, afterward archbishop of Baltimore, dedicated the church and Father Bessonies was the first pastor. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. Philip Doyle and the latter by Rev. F. Ostlang- enberg, who was the first resident priest, and resided in a small frame cottage, purchased for that purpose and situated on Maple street, in the rear of the church. Father Michael was the next pastor. For a time during the war there was no regular officiat- ing pastor, and priests from Louisville, principally from St. Boni- face church, held services at St. Anthony's.
Later on the bishop of Vincennes placed the parish in the (324)
IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.
hands of the Franciscans, O. M. C., the first of whom was the Rev. Father Bonaventura Keller, who remained until 1868. After him came Father Joseph Liesen, who remained until 1870 and who purchased the site on Maple and Wall streets where the pres- ent church is situated, as well as the Catholic cemetery, located on the outskirts of the city.
In 1871 Rev. Avelin Szabo took charge, and during his time did much in the way of reducing the indebtedness contracted in the purchase of the building site. In 1875 Father Leopold Mozy- gemba, who succeeded Father Clements Luitz, commenced the erection of the present place of worship. The church was built at a cost of between $8,000 and $9,000 under the supervision of Henry Nagle, Ferdinand Voigt, George Unser, Michael Reckten- wald, Engelbert Spinner and Theobald Manny, building committee. The priests after Father Leopold came in the following order: Cæsar Cuchiarian, 1877-78; Joseph Liesen (re-appointed), 1878- 79; Pius Koetterer, 1879-81; Anthony Gehring, 1881-83; Bernard Ettensperger, 1883-87; Avelin Szabo (re-appointed), 1887-96; Francis Newbauer, from February, 1896, to July, 1896; Lucius Matt, 1896.
Two school-houses, one for boys and the other for girls, have been built on the church lot, and the schools are flourishing under the supervision of the Franciscan Sisters.
The societies are the St. George's Benevolent, Roman Knights of St. George, and the Young Ladies' sodality and Altar society. The parish has furnished two members of the priesthood, both of whom have joined the Franciscans, O. M. C. One, the Rev. F. M. Voigt, is the pastor of Our Lady of Angel's church of Albany, N. Y., and the other, Rev. Otto Recktenwald, is assistant at the Assumption church, Syracuse, N. Y.
The present pastor of St. Anthony's, Rev. Father Lucius Matt, has had charge of the parish since July, 1896, and during this time has demonstrated his interest in the welfare and success of the church. He has added valuable and lasting improvements to the church property and has done much to improve and beautify the church-edifice, as well as to completely renovate the surround- ings. He has also extinguished the remaining indebtedness on the
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church, and under his administration St. Anthony's is prosperous in every sense of the word.
St. Augustine's Church, of Jeffersonville, although new in name, was founded, in reality, as far back as 1850, Rev. Daniel Maloney being the first to say mass in a three-story brick building on Front street, between Pearl and Mulberry streets, said building being a sort of hotel. A small brick building, a mere chapel, was put up, the corner-stone of which was laid on the 10th day of August, 1851, St. Lawrence day, by the Rt. Rev. John Martin Spalding, bishop of Louisville. October 18, 1851, the church, although incomplete, was blessed and dedicated to St. Anthony, and mass was celebrated by Rev. Otto Jair.
In 1852, Father Otto Jair, a Franciscan of St. Boniface's church, Green street, Louisville, was again invited to come and celebrate the first mass in the still incomplete chapel, for, although there was a chapel, the diocese of Vincennes was unable to send a priest.
On the 17th of March, 1854, Father Aug. Bessonies, late pastor of Fort Wayne (then a part of the Vincennes diocese), arrived in Jeffersonville. He was accompanied by the Rt. Rev. M. de St. Palais, and by him left in charge of the new congrega- tion. There being no dwelling built for him, Father Bessonies took his lodgings in the house of John Burke, a merchant, and the leading Catholic in the city. About 1855 or 1856, he erected a small brick building of two rooms for a residence as a wing to the church, and in 1860 these rooms were used as the parish school. He prepared for the future by purchasing with his own private funds two large lots at the corner of Chestnut and Locust streets, a far more eligible site than the small piece of ground occupied by the temporary church.
Father Bessonies left about the middle of November, 1857, being replaced by Rev. William Doyle, who himself was replaced in March, 1858, by his brother, Rev. Philip Doyle. February, 1861, Father Schafroth came and was succeeded by Father Abarth, who stayed until December of that year, when Father Ostlangen- berg was appointed. In the second week of October, 1863, Father
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IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.
Bede O'Connor, a Benedictine monk of the diocese, gave a mission which was very largely attended, many being actually crowded out of the little chapel. At once Father Ostlangenberg prepared for building a church on the lots bought by Father Bessonies. The corner-stone was laid October 18, 1863, this second time by Bishop Spalding, of Louisville.
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Scarcely one month and a half after Father Ostlangenberg left, Father Philip Doyle took his place, January 1, 1864. Rev. G. A. Michael succeeded him in a few weeks, and during his stay built the foundation. After him, Father Mougin, of New Albany, built the walls and enclosed the church, which was opened for serv- ice and blessed by Bishop de St. Palais, March 17, St. Patrick's day, 1868. From that time until November, 1868, the holy sacri- fice of the mass was celebrated in it Sundays for the whole popu- lation by the clergy of New Albany, oftener by a priest who could also hear the confessions of the Germans and address a few words to them in their own language. At the close of November, 1868, Father Fleischmann, heretofore only an assistant to the pastor of Holy Trinity church in New Albany, was placed in charge. He did not remain a week, Rev. E. Audran, of the cathedral of Vincennes, having been sent to take his place. After a consultation, in which the newly appointed pastor of the big church-now named St. Augustine's in honor of its benefactor, Rev. Aug. Bessonies, the first resident priest of the city-took part, it was resolved to try if a permanent German congregation could not be formed.
Franciscan Fathers of the Minor Observance (a branch of the order different from the Brown Franciscans of St. Boniface church in Louisville), had lately come to Louisville, Ky., and there started two small congregations. As they were desirous of undertaking to do more, one of them, an Italian who spoke some German, Father Joseph Liesen, was invited to come occasionally on Sundays to say mass for the Germans in the old church. He came, Sundays, from Louisville returning home every time, until, finally, the people taking heart, the succeeding priest, Rev. Avelin Szabo, ventured to reside in the city altogether. With a view to aid in providing funds by the sale of lots and graves, one member, Henry Nagle, bought, mostly with his own means, a piece of ground
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adjoining the city for a Catholic graveyard. A new lot, larger and more convenient for church purposes, was soon secured, chiefly by Mr. Nagle's efforts. In 1876, the priest then in charge, Father Leopold Moczygamba, resolved on building a temporary German church, with rooms attached in the rear for a residence.
As the preceding lines give the history of the congregation up to Father Audran's time, 1868, it will be necessary only to detail here what transpired in his day. Father Audran was confronted with not only an unfinished church, but with what was worse, a debt of $10,000. The openings in the front of the church were simply boarded up, and the tower was no higher than the walls. The following year (1869) he finished the tower at a cost of $3,000, and in five years paid $5,000 of the debt.
In 1869, Father Audran, being assured of the aid of the Sis- ters of Providence, gave up his residence to the Sisters, who began school work at once. In the meantime the good Father occupied the house of a neighbor in the rear of the church. The little school opened with Sister Gertrude as superior. It continued until the superior of the order visited Jeffersonville and determined upon the purchase of a residence opposite the church, which is now in use as the parish school for girls, 185 attending. The property cost $10,000, and was bought on credit at ten per centum interest.
In 1872 he built the two-story brick school for boys, at a cost of $3,000. It is 40 x 20 feet, and accommodates the ninety school boys of the parish. In 1873 the pastor was absent on a three months' vacation in Europe, during which time Father Szabo, of St. Anthony's church, Jeffersonville, attended to the wants of his people. In 1874, Father Audran finished the church at a cost of nearly $9,000, and February I of that year Bishop St. Palais cele- brated pontifical high mass and blessed the sacred edifice. The same year, January 4, 1874, the congregation was solemnly dedi- cated to the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. The pastoral residence, a neat two-story brick structure situated on a lot adjoin- ing the church, was built in 1884 at a cost of $4,200. The stone steps and platform extending the entire width of the church were laid in 1881. The church is 50x 120 feet, forty feet high, with
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IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.
arched ceiling of varnished southern pine, stained-glass windows, and plain design in fresco. The furniture is neat and the altars and sanctuary are quite attractive, inspiring devotion in the beholder. A good organ and a very tasty pulpit are other notable features in the church. The church property, at the corner of Chestnut and Locust streets, is 213 x 167 feet in dimensions. It is valued at $40,000. St. Augustine's Debt Paying society was organized August 1. 1886. At the initial meeting the following officers were elected: President, Patrick Herron; vice-president, Michael Connelly; treasurer, John Craig; secretary, P. C. Dono- van; assistant secretary, J. B. Murphy. The object of the society, as its name implies, is to raise by monthly contributions, voluntary donations, and other means, the necessary amount to pay off the entire indebtedness of St. Augustine's church.
Up to January 1, 1890, there had been received in monthly contributions and donations $2,722.30; from fair in December, 1887, $857.60; lawn fete, June, 1888, $59; river excursion, July, 1888, $171.35; fair, October, 1888, $1,414.18, making a total of $5,224,43. The amount of expenditures for the same period were, principal on notes, $3,477; interest, $1,203.55; insurance, $290; coal, $95; stationery and printing, $46.70, and incidental expenses, $29.50-the total amount of expenditures being $5, 141.75, leav- ing a balance in the treasury January 1, 1890, of $82.68.
The society at present is in a very flourishing condition, the voluntary contributions averaging about $55 per month.
JENNINGS COUNTY.
St. Ann's Church, Jennings county, Ind., dates its first records back to 1840, the name of Rev. William Chartier being the first to appear on the books, although a small log church had existed here since 1835. Whether the little church, in the center of an immense forest, was built by him does not appear. Rev. Vincent Bacquelin was here in 1842; Rev. P. Mueller, O. P., also in 1842. In 1843 Rev. Julius Delaune, Rev. Roman Weinzoepfel and Rev. J. N. Mullen, O. S. A. The church was attended by Father Delaune in 1845 and 1846.
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Rev. Alphonse Munschina was the first resident pastor from 1846 until 1854. He worked hard, in the literal sense of the word, to advance the interests of the mission. Rev. P. Kreusch attended in 1854 and 1855. In 8155 and 1856 Rev. A. Carius, Father Kreusch again, and also Rev. Leonard Brandt, visited the people. These priests resided at Madison.
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