Columbus Catholic High School - Compass Yearbook (Marshfield, WI)

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BLE KER When the mission church was razed to the ground by fire in 1898, the parishioners with Father Brudersmann, pastor at Auburndale, set about immediately erecting a larger church for the growing parish. The Most Reverend James Schwebach, who laid the cornerstone, realized that St.KiIian's had out- grown its mission status. ln 1904, it became a parish with a resident pastor, the Reverend Anthony Billig, who promptly built the much- needed rectory. During the two years pastorate of the Reverend Theodore Fraling, 1907 to 1909, a new parochial school was built over which the School Sisters of Notre Dame presided until 1933, when the Franciscan Sisters of La Crosse assumed charge. The Reverend Alois Zinthefer, pastor from 1924 to 1932, redecorated the church and installed a modern heating system in all the buildings. Although his successor, the Rev- erend William Muehlenkamp, served the par- ish only three years, he was much loved by the parishioners. I For the next eleven years, 1935-1946, St. Kilian's prospered materially and spiritually under the wise guidance of the Reverend Leonard Stieber. Father Stieber's material improvements were many: the church was en- tirely remodeled--a heat.ng system installed, a pipe organ purchased, and redecorating of the interior done by o professional artist, the school, convent, rectory, cemetery were all greatly improved. But Father Stieber's best efforts were spent in enriching and strengthening the religious life of his parish- ioners, especially through his exhortations to more frequent reception of the Sacraments and through his zeal in having missions held at St. Kilian's. ' Father Stieber was succeeded by the Rev- erend Joseph Udulutch, in 1946. Three years later the present pastor, the Reverend Nicho- las Kreibich, was appointed to St. Kilian. Under his able direction, the parish continues to be a center of strong, active Catholic life. Rev. N. E.. Kreibich Pastor

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SAI T KILI The hlstory of St Krluan s parush a pansh which mcludes the surroundmg area as well as the yet unlncorporated town of Blenker has been ably sketched by the Reverend Nrcholas R Ashenbrenner O P a son of the parish Hrs opemng comment mdlcates the Splfll of the sturdy people who have helped buuld St Kalman s The country people of thus small com munity are largely of a common German an cestry an ancestry steeped In Catholrc tra dltlons They have remained to the present day true to thelr anclent forth and conse quently represent a umque Catholic communl ty IH the mldst of modernlstlc secularlsm The flrst settlers all German arruved a bout 1871 Devout Cathollcs thelr flrst concern was a place for attending duvune service This they found In near by Auburn dale and Junction Cnty When after thirteen years the Blenker commumty numbered twenty flve famllles they determined to bunld a church of thenr own Wuthm the same year the Most Reverend Kalman Flasch Bnshop of La Crosse dedlcated the small church whlch was designated a mxsslon of Junctnon Cnty Once a month servlces were held Two years later the care of the mlssuon was transferred to the pastor at Auburndale for the convenience of the German speakmg parishioners and from 1892 on services were held every other week Thoroughly Catholnc as the people were they recognized from the start that their chuldren must be In a Catholrc school A cordmgly they bullt a parochral school ln 1889 fuve years after the bulldlng of their church A layman was the sole teacher St. Kilian Church, Blenker

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CHRIST THE KI SPENCER ln l938, Christ the King parish was or- ganized by the Reverend Joseph Graf, then chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital, Marshfield. For some time before that, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass had been celebrated on Sunday in a rented hall. As the congregation in- creased, however, the need for a church was evident. With the zeal of pioneers, the Catholics of Spencer undertook the task of erecting a church. The building, designed entirely by Father Graf, was speedily completed by the sturdy parishioners. Made of stained knot- ted-pine, the church is unique in its beauty. Over the mosaic altar hangs an unusual pic- ture of Christ the King. Soon after the com- pleting of the church, the parish bought a house to serve as rectory for a resident pas- tor. In l945, Father Graf was succeeded by the Reverend Bernard Henry. Four years later, the Reverend Arthur Cramer was ap- pointed pastor. Because of his delicate health, Father Cramer was dssisted by the Reverend leo Novitt, O.F.M. and the Rever- end John J. Novak. When illness forced Father Cramer to retire, the summer of 1951, he was succeeded by the present pastor, the Reverend Paul Pitzenberger, who was re- called from sick leave to take over the care of the parish. During the past year, a number of im- provements have been made, among them, the installing of an electronic bell-system in the church. Although many of the first parishioners have moved to other towns, the membership of the parish has not decreased noticeably because of the many converts made since the founding of the parish. At present, the greatest need at Christ the King, one which Father Pitzenberger hopes to satisfy before too long, is a parochial school, where Catholic children can have the privil- ege of the education which the Church wishes them to have--a Catholic education. Christ the King Church, Spencer