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

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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

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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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M, SACRED HE RT OF JESUS Sacred Heart of Jesus Church In the fall of 1915 Father Hubert Stehllng was commlssloned by the most Reverend James Schwebach Bnshop ot la Crosse t organlze a new parlsh In Marshfield At a meeting on February 27 1916 of the pros pectlve parushnoners all members of St John s the name Sacred Heart of Jesus was chosen for the parlsh later the bushop rat: agreed upon so too were the plans for the much needed bulldungs There was to be one large structure housmg a school the Slsters residence and the church The rectory was to be separate The bulldmg commuttee went Into lmmedlate actlon the contract was glven In June Over 1500 panshloners and friends were present In August 1916 when the corner stone of the new church was land by the Very Reverend Joseph Volz dean of the Marshfield Deanery The Reverend Robert B Condon D C L of La Crosse preached the sermon the flrst delivered In Sacred Heart Parlsh When Father Stehlmg sang on Chrlstmas Da 1916 the first Mass ln the newly completed bulldung the Glory to God ln the Highest had added slgmflcance for the one hundred and fufty tamulnes who had taken on themselves at the word of thenr bushop the work of formmg thus new parzsh Classes un the new school began un Sep School Susters of Notre Dame After the death of Father Stehllng Chrastmas Eve 1922 the Very Kev Henry P Toeller was appomted pastor For nineteen years he served that capacuty So rapldly the parnsh expanded that an 1924 a convent was bunlt for the Susters thus making more classrooms available a two story addltnon of four classrooms was made an 1932 In that same year the present Church bullt In Tudor Gothuc style was completed Both Its exterlor and mterlor bespeak a humble yet subllme dlgmty that mduces to prayer and reminds one that thus ns Holy Ground rv ck 4 H 1 , ig ,,,-, . Y, I . . - I .. I I O fl l I 1 ' 1 I I ' I I . I I 'fled lf- The Slle, 1119 Pfesenl l0COllOf1, was tember, 1917, under the direction ot four i , ' . ' 1 I . I I ' - u . , . . I ' . I , in I u u 0 I . . I . 5 I - - . . I n I ' . . . ., , ' ' , . I . . . . I I