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

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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

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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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ativit of the Blessed irgin Mar Auburndale, Eight years after the founding of the Vil- lage of Auburndale, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish, popularly called St. Mary's, was organized. For a number of years previous, missionary priests had cared for the Catholics in that area, saying Mass in the home of William St. Thomas, first settler in what is now Auburndale. By 1879, the number of Catholics having increased, a congregation was formed and a small log church erected. The little mis- sion was served by the pioneer priest, the Reverend A, Schuettlehoefer, pastor at Med- ford, fifty miles away, and later at St. John's, Marshfield. lt was his self-sacrificing labors, that saved the Faith of the early settlers and laid the foundations of the flourishing par- ishes in the surrounding area. lt was he, too, that supervised the building of a larger church to accommodate the growing congre- gation. The first resident pastor, the Reverend N. Kils, appointed in 1883, remained less than two years. The second resident pastor, the Right Reverend Joseph Joch, who came to St. Mary's in 1886, organized the parochial school which still continues, under the able administration of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, to provide a Catholic education for the children of the parish and near-by districts. From the time of Monsignor Joch's trans- fer in 1892 until 1908, there were six pas- tors at St. Mary's, then came the Reverend J. Schumacher, who during his ten years in the parish erected a new school. His successor, the Reverend A. Muckerheide, built a rectory and a new home for the Sisters. The present pastor, the Reverend Joseph Steinhauser, has accomplished much during the past twenty-seven years: a new church erected in 1925, the establishing of a Junior High School in 1927, the building of two additional classrooms, the erection of a new convent for the Sisters in 1940, the installing of a pipe organ, as well as a new heating system in the church. And with this ma- erial progress, there has been a steady growth in the religious life of the parish. , ,WW iw, . 5 5:if5ff?ffi?5 -.1-rags!-:--: 1 ff-Q A Y: -'ff'-?. ,, , ., S mizywf s 5- -, '1s.,f 1 Jvgr. 1 ,gjf-.5 is :rg 5 sf- f EW 'T .Qs 2 -ft-is .. 'il V' 'fx t 7 1.5, 'fmvl' ., YR. ,N .fit W 9 I .4 g M'.,,,,,,-1-7 'A -as 'li C .,f , ,mwii .- 2 3 . Liv' 31 N -. 1 M Y x K 4 - 4 : v Y 5 1 it Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church Rev. Joseph A. Steinhauser PASTOR