Immaculate Conception St. Mary, Luxemburg, Wisconsin 1864-2014

132 Pages·2014·18.533 MB·English

Immaculate Conception
St. Mary Church
Luxemburg, Wisconsin
1864 - 2014

ltntnaculate Conception
St. Mary
Lu xetnburg, Wisconsin
1864 - 2014

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Immaculate Mary
Pray For Us
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St. Joseph
Be Our Protector
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150 Year Celebration Committee
Rev. Milton Suess
Deacon Robert (Bob) Miller
John (Jack) Seidl
Merle Peot
Carol Simonar
Arletta Bertrand
Joan Feck
Anita Christoph
Glen Rueckl
Theodore (Ted) Stodola
Richard L. Dorner
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Pref ace
150 years have witnessed the presence of the Immaculate Conception Parish in
Luxemburg, Wisconsin. With the donation of land by the Kaut and Merens families, St. Mary's
began quite simply with a log church in 1864. The original four families from Luxembourg,
Europe, the Kauts, Merens, Arendts and Colles, were the founders of Luxemburg and the
original members of a small faith community.
With the mere passage of two decades, the increasing number of immigrants made it
necessary to build a new stone church in 1883. This parish community continued to grow and
in 1906, a new addition was added forming a cruciform church building. Its steeple became a
landmark for the early settlers and since 1883 has been the eye catching symbol for St. Mary's.
Once more in 1998, St. Mary's Church was increased in size with its much needed
spacious hall. The continued growth of St. Mary's in size and in membership has made the
Immaculate Conception parish a vibrant and active faith filled community.
It is with great appreciation to all those parishioners from the past to the present, that
we the 150 year celebration committee, have compiled the first book, which chronicles the
History of the Immaculate Conception Parish of Luxemburg, Wisconsin. Within these pages,
you will find in photographs and narrative, how our parish has grown and developed during
the last 150 years.
A special effort was made to enhance the book with a broad selection of photographs as
possible. This visual history was made possible by many generous members of St. Mary's, for
which the Committee is most appreciative. We are also appreciative of the many stories and
narratives provided to make this book possible. It is the hope of all our committee members,
that you will enjoy and treasure the History of the Immaculate Conception Parish of
Luxemburg, Wisconsin 1864 - 2014.
The Committee
June 2014
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH
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St. Mary, Luxemburg, Wisconsin
Photo courtesy: Carol Simonar
Immaculate Conception Board of Directors
President: Most Rev. Bishop David L. Ricken
Vicar General: Rev. Msgr John Doerfler
Vice President: Rev. Milton M. Suess
Trustee-Treasurer: Natalie Montie
Trustee - Secretary: Michael Raisleger (2012)
The History of Immaculate Conception Church
"St. Mary Church to Mark Centennial Next Sunday," as featured in the Luxemburg
News on May 23, 1963, was based upon "St. Mary's Luxemburg, Wis," The Catholic Church In
Wisconsin; Catholic Historical Publishing Company, T.J. Sullivan; Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1895
- 1898; copyright 1896, p.p. 680-681. This served as the primary source material for our early
beginnings as a Catholic parish conununity in Luxemburg. Our book will expand and build
upon this material with many photos and additional research materials to present a more
complete and meaningful story of the Immaculate Conception Parish of Luxemburg,
Wisconsin. It is our hope that tlu-ough this book, you will come to treasure and cherish our
heritage and that you will always feel at home when you visit and worship in our community.
The Early Mission Church Years
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Our Immaculate Conception church began as a Mission Church in 1862. Parcels
of land were deeded to the parish from tvvo of the original families settling in Luxemburg.
Nicholas Merens gave the land for the church and Johann Kaut gave the land for the cemetery.
Among the earliest parishioners were: Nicholas Merens, Peter Colle, Johann and
Nicholas Kaut, Nicholas Peot, Theodore and Frank Wunsch, Lawrence Daul, Michael and Peter
Arendt, John, Anton, Martin and Jacob Spitzer, Andrew Wahl, Michael Haen, Joseph Hartinger,
August Martin and Daniel Daul.
The early Mission Church was visited and ministered to by the following priests: Rev.
Albers (no personal information available), Rev. Albers was the first priest to visit St.Mary's
mission church; Rev. Francis Pfaller 1862; Rev. Edward Daems, OSC; Rev. Carnencind 1869;
Rev. William Boden 1869-1870; Rev. Anton Leitner 1869 -1870; Rev. Matthias Welbes 1870-
1875 and Rev. John Guentherscheid 1875.
Rev. Francis Pfaller, who was a pastor of the
German Congegation in Green Bay, attended the early
settlers once a month. He would offer mass in a small
school house situarted east of the present church.
Th rough the encouragement of Rev. Pfaller, a log
church was erected in 1864 on a site which he had
selected. Thjs is the only photo of the original church
of St. Mary's in Luxemburg. Courtesy of the Kewaunee
County HistoricaJ Society
Rev. PfalJer was folJowed by Rev. Edward Daems, who visited Luxemburg and would aJso
offer Mass in the home of Simon Thibaudeau, which was located in Scarboro. Rev. Daems, also
encouraged the settlers of Canadian birth, who settled in this area to build their own church.
This church, known as the Sacred Heart of Jesus was blessed by Rev.Daems in 1875.
Between the years of 1869 and 1875, Luxemburg was adminjstered as a Mission 01urch
by Lhe priests, who served St. Kilian's Church in New Franken, which is located in Brown
County. The firsl of these priests was the Rev. Camencind and he served in 1869. Then the
Reverends WiJUam Boden and Anton Leitner served the Mission in 1870. Rev. Matthias Welbes
served the Luxembmg Mission from 1870 to 1875. During hjs tenure, a church bell was
purchased for the sum of $329.00 and was dedicated in honor of St. John the Baptist. The Rev.
John Guenterscheid served only for a three month period in 1875.