St Bonaventure High School - Seraph Yearbook (Sturtevant, WI)

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ini: SIllfll'lIlS yn-sn-rllnp. 3? mu-: Il lens: Fl Vliaipi-I It sh-rdalp. 1-:ste-rilzl 3 S4-lmul lius 31-sh-rdzly. History of St. Bonaventure 1901-1951 by Fr. Cmisffmlinc Klizkowskf, O.F.M. 1. - Early Days When the Polish Franciscan Fathers lO.F.M.l settled in the northeastern part of Wisconsin at Pulaski in April, 1887, among their chief concerns was the es- tablishment of means whereby their con- tinued organized existence as a friary, as a commissariat, and later as a province would be assured, However, this natural means in the life of a Religious Order - the establishment of a preparatory school - could not receive their immediate at- tention due to other more pressing mat- ters. A friary building had to be constructed for the friars, and a parish church had to be erected to serve the spiritual needs of the local community which gave its gen- erous aid to both projects. One-hundred and twenty acres of land had been donat- ed tothe Fathers through the liberal grant of a well-known owner of a land company in Milwaukee, Mr. J. J. Hoff. who en- couraged the settling of Poles in the im- mediate area of Hofa Park, Pulaski. Chase, Sobieski, Kosciuszko, Krakow, Big and Little Suamico. and Flintville, Wis. lMr. Hoff was a Norwegian and a non- Catholic until his conversion shortly be- fore death, on October 17, 1910.l One- hundred acres were offered for the main- tenance of a friary and twenty acres for a parish church. Vzirs IVJll'lxt'tl uni Ilie- L:i'wui1ilS -- 1-sh-riluy.

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BlSHOP'S RESIDENCE GREEN sn. wus, IQ!!! men 16, 1951. Rev. Theodore Zarembe, O.F.l., Rector St.. Bonaventure lkinor Seminary lit. Pleasant Sturtevsnt., lie. Dear Father Rector, On behalf of the Diocese of Green Bey I ex- tend heartfelt congratulations to St. Bonaventure llinor Seminary on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee. lorthy of note is the fact that previous to its transfer to Sturtevant The Frsnciscan Fathers operated the 1 Seminary in the Diocese of Green Bay. It was founded in Pulaski, Headquarters of the ABBUIPZXOD of the Blessed Virgin Iery Province of the Franciscan Fathers, and continued there for twenty-one years. There is reason therefore for our diocese to share in the , joy and solelnity of this occasion. 1 5 To yeu es Rector, the Rev. Faculty, the 5 Frenciscen Fathers, the seninsriens and students et St.. Bone- 5 venture s, and to all its friends I tender the greetings and best. wishes of the clergy and feithful of the Diocese sf Green Bly. l With kuldest personal regards and best wishes, I ressin Very s ely in Zin, Bishop of Green Bay N 1 4 I ,

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S4-lmffl bus - today. On the land donated by Mr. Hoff, the pioneer Fathers built in 1887 a two-story frame building, the south wing of which constituted the parish church. while the center and north wing served the needs of the young Franciscan community. Debts incurred o11 this building, the small number of Fathers 135 and Brothers 4129, and the ever-present danger for the next 16 years 11894-19109 of the Com- inissariat losing its independence. pre- vented any further progress with regard to a school. Whatever students applied for admis- sion to the Fathers were, in the absence of a preparatory school at Pulaski. sent either to St. Joseph's College, Teutopolis. Ill., conducted by the Franciscan Fathers 1O.F.lVl.j of the Sacred Heart Province, or to St, Lawrence College, Mount Cal- vary. Wis., conducted by the Capuchin Franciscans qO.F.1Vl. Ca.p.j. The names of those definitely known to have attend- ed either of the above institutions for the first few years are: Frank Szczechowski, John Piontek, Cesar Krzyian, Stanley Przybysz, and Vincent Konopka at Teu- topolis. and August Brylski. Adolph Drob- ka, and Stanley Gapa at Mount Calvary. It fell upon the already overburdened but zealous Father Francis Manel to un- dertake the tremendous task of establish- ing a Franciscan educational institution at Pulaski. Through his heroic efforts and for the prime purpose of educating Polish-American youth for the priesthood in the Franciscan Order. The Seraphic School of Sf. Francis came into being and opened its doors to twelve students September 9, 1901. This first group was labeled the twelve apostles of the new Al4'l'IIllLi Stuilvnts lull vwrff an nn -' ' Urovv: llllillfvl lmlnp lla-Ion: Study hull tm