St Mary Central High School - Renard Yearbook (Menasha, WI)

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Fifsf Sf- MGYY SCl100l St. Mary School Present St. Mary Grade and High School History ol St. Mary School St. Mary School was the lirst school in the diocese ol Green Bay. lt was built in September ol the year 1868, and was a brick building consisting ol two stories. On the lower Floor were two classrooms while the upper floor was used as a parsonage. The Sisters ol St. Francis were then called upon to take charge ol the school. Four Sisters, three teachers and a sister who was to take care ol the domestic duties came to Menasha. Sister Mary l.udovicia was the appointed Sister Superior ol the school. She was a very capable and well- educated young lady. Her ability can be best made known in the statement that she was Superior General ol the Order lor lorty-six years. St. Mary opened with an excellent enrollment. Children came to attend from both the German and lrish parishes. Even Protestants confidently sent their children to this school. Only elementary subjects were taught because none ol the students intended to work lor a higher education. God blessed the labors of these good sisters and the school flourished successfully. ln 1872 Rev. J. Jaster took charge ol the parish. He invited the School Sisters ol Notre Dame to teach in this prosperous school. ln 1893 Rev. Father Andrew Seubert built a new and well-equipped school. Later, in 1921, Right Rev. Monsignor J. Hummel had it remodeled and the school received still better accommodations. ln 1926, a Final addition was made. For a lew years the students were only able to take a fully equipped commercial course. But in 1927 the classical courses were added. ln this year there were sixty students in the High School. Rev. Nicholas J. Langenleld was the lounder ol St. Mary Band which was formally organized on June 10, 1927. Thirty students pledged themselves to attend rehearsals weekly. A small beginning but what tremendous results. Our First lootball team was organized in 1928. There were no interscholastic competitions but the teams played the Junior l-loly Name gridders from the surrounding towns. ln 1929 the boys played their lirst football with other high school teams. The basketball team was also organized in 1928. Again there was no interscholastic competition and the boys were content to play among themselves. The new gymnasium and auditorium was added in 1930. Work began the 29th ol March and May 8, Right Rev. Monsignor John Hummel blessed the corner stone. ln 1929 the First graduating exercises took place. Two weeks later, on that memorable Friday, June 28th, 1929 Rev. Joseph A. Becker arrived to take over the work ol the school as its principal. With priestly zeal and energy he undertook the guidance ol St. Mary School which was to become the bul- wark ol Catholic education. Nothing was lelt un- done4Religion, academic courses, music, athletics- all received undivided attention so that St. Mary ranks topmost in the Field ol education. ln 1930, as a grand Finale, St. Mary High School was placed on the list ol accredited high schools by the North Central Association. Page 10

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The History of St. Mary Parish Upon the advice of Right Reverend M. Henni, Bishop of Milwaulcee, the German-spealcing Catholics of Menasha separated from St. Charles Congrega- tion now lcnown as St. Patricle Church and organized a parish of their own under the leadership of Reverend Father William Wilkens. At once they bought a church building with adjoining property from the Congregational Church of Menasha. After malcing the necessary repairs, the building was blessed by the bishop and dedicated to Our Blessed Lady. This was in the spring of 1867. The first resi- dent pastor of this beautiful new Church was the Reverend F. Uhlemeyer. The German Catholics, who now were in the possession of a sacred edifice in which to serve God, realized the need of a Catholic education. lmmediately they made plans to erect a parochial school and under the direction of the Reverend Father Uhlemeyer the First Catholic school was built in Menasha. It was placed in charge of the Fran- ciscan Sisters. ln 1871 Reverend Father Uhlemeyer left Menasha to be succeeded by Reverend Joseph Nussbaum. During his pastorate of eighteen months, Reverend Nussbaum organized the St. Joseph Society which is still in existence and now affiliated with the Central Society. Reverend J. Jaster became the pastor of the parish and in September 1874, he called the School Sisters of Notre Dame to talce charge of the school. These Sisters have been a great factor in building up the parish, both spiritually and intellectually. The death of Father Jaster in March 1875, brought to Menasha Reverend Father Andrew Seubert, a priest whose faith can be seen in the worlcs he left behind, a man universally beloved and whose coun- sel was often sought by bishops and priests. Little St. Mary Church was destroyed by fire on Ash Wednesday, 1883. Financially this disaster was a great blow to the people, most of whom were poor laborers. But this did not discourage Reverend Father Seubert. ln three days he had 514,000 sub- scribed towards a new Church and Bishop Kraut- bauer dedicated the newly constructed building in November of the same year. This present St. Mary Church with its well-proportioned steeple is an architectural ornament of the city. A splendid speci- Page 9 men of Gothic structure, it was designed by Archi- tect Druiding of Chicago. During the course of time a large sacristy was added to it which in by-gone days has often served as a chapel. ln 1893 Reverend Father Seubert built a new school with eight class rooms and a spacious hall. Again, the pioneers of St. Mary's showed a spirit of sacrifice and generosity. Soon, through the immigration of Polish-spealcing Catholics, St. Mary's became a mixed Congregation. Not being able to spealc Polish, Reverend Father Seubert built a combination Church and school for the Polish-spealcing members of his floclc. Thus it was that St. John Parish came into existence. By 1888, the names of seventy-five families appeared on the roster of St. John. ln March 1901, due to failing health, Reverend Father Seubert resigned as pastor of St. Mary's and retired to St. Elizabeth Hospital at Appleton. Reverend Herman Rogier, a Salvatorian priest, had charge of St. Mary Congregation until a resident pastor was appointed. Reverend N. Hens was then transferred from Kaulcauna to Menasha in November of the same year. After finding the pastoral duties rather arduous he was given an assistant, an able man in the person of Reverend Father V. C. Hugo. ln July 1905, responsibilities of the pastorate still being too great, he laid the pastoral staff into the hands of Reverend Peter Schmitz. The latter labored in the parish until the time of his death September 1914. Reverend Father John Hummel, then Rector of the Cathedral in Green Bay, suc- ceeded the late Father Schmitz. From the very be- ginning he has enjoyed the confidence of his people and they have helped him to build up the parish. The pastorate of Right Reverend Monsignor Hummel marlcs a glorious record in the history of St. Mary Parish. Present new school building was completed in 1920 Final addition was made in 1996 The Gymnasium was erected in 1930-1931 New Rectory in 1937 New Vestibule and entrance in 1940 Marble Wainscoating in 1941

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Assistant Pastors at St. Marys Rev. Emil Schmidt, Sacred Heart Parish, Appleton, Wisconsin. Served at St. Mary's 1916- 1918. Rev. William C. Willinger, St. Philip's Church, Green Bay, Wisconsin. Served at St. Mary's 1937-1939. Page 11 Rev. R. M. Schauer, St. Mary's Parish, Brillion, Wisconsin. Served at St. Mary's 1918- 1923. Rev. Gabriel, O.F.M. Cap., St. Felix Monastery, Hunting- ton, Indiana. Served at St. Mary'S 1939-1940. Rev. Joseph A. Becker. Served at St. Mary's since 1999. Rev. Hubert Nilles, Sacred Heart Parish, Oshkosh, Wis- consin. Served at St. Mary's Rev.AnthonyDaniel,Deceased. Served at St. Mary's 1993- 1924. Rev. George Weix, Wautoma, Wisconsin. Served at St. Mary's 1924-1926. Rev. 'Nicholas Langenfeld, Catholic University of America, Washington, D. C. Served at St. Mary'S 1926-1929. 1940-1949. Rev. Joseph Biegler, C.PP.S., Marshfield, Wisconsin. Served at St. Mary's 1936-1937. Rev. Benedict Marx. Served at St. Mary's 1942 . . .