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Today, our #ThrowbackThursday will take us back to the time of past St. Mary’s pastor Rev. Charles Stehling. Rev. Stehling was born on August 21, 1872, the first of Joseph and Catharina Stehling’s eleven children, according to Find a Grave. Growing up in Milwaukee, Rev. Stehling followed the call to pursue the priesthood and studied in Innsbruck, Austria, most likely the Collegium Canisianum—an international Roman Catholic school for priestly formation. He also received a doctorate in Rome and when returning to the States, taught at St. Francis de Sales Seminary, according to “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein. After serving as the assistant pastor at Oshkosh’s St. Vincent’s parish, Rev. Stehling began his service at St. Mary Church in Fond du Lac in 1913. He was joined by his uncle, Rev. Adolph Wibbert, whom he had previously served with in Oshkosh. This time, Rev. Wibbert served as Rev. Stehling’s assistant, according to Wettstein. The priesthood was truly a family affair with the Stehlings as four of his brothers were ordained as well: Rev. Henry Stehling, Rev. Ed Stehling, Rev. John Stehling, and Rev. Joseph Stehling. During Rev. Charles Stehling’s tenure, the parish celebrated 50 years, 400 families, and 400 students enrolled at the school. He also oversaw the addition of side entrances to the church, the acquiring of property to build a school playground, the renovation of the church interior, and the construction of a new church organ, according to Wettstein. Unfortunately, during the church’s renovation and organ construction, Rev. Stehling passed away suddenly on October 20, 1925, at the age of 52. Hundreds of parishioners, religious sisters, and clergy attended his funeral, which can be seen in the photo provided by Wettstein. The bishop presided over the Mass, and bunting was hung above the altar per funeral custom In his memory, the parish dedicated the organ to Rev. Stehling when it was completed in December. Rev. Stehling is now buried in Calvary Cemetery here in Fond du Lac. #Throwback #History #Funerals #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #FDLHistory #Priests #Family #StMary

Our #ThrowbackThursday comes to us from the memory of one of our parishioners, Geneva Krebsbach! Many years ago, on April 25 as well as in the three days leading up to Ascension Thursday, parishes celebrated Rogation Days. The purpose of the Rogation Days was to “appease God’s anger at man’s transgressions, to ask protection in calamities, and to obtain a good and bountiful harvest,” according to Catholic Answers. As rogation means “to ask,” on these days, the faithful would “make their intentions known to the Lord,” Geneva’s daughter, Joan Stewart, shared. April 25 is known as the Major Rogation. It dates back thousands of years, and was “introduced to counteract the ancient Robigalia, on which heathens held processions and supplications to their gods.” It became an annual Christian festival under Pope Gregory I in 598. Minor Rogation Days were introduced in 470 and the festival days adopted by Rome around the year 800, according to Britannica. On the Minor Rogation Days, Geneva recalls processing through the cemetery and around the church. The priest sprinkled Holy Water to bless the people and the crops, as well as to “protect from calamities.” According to tradition, the days consisted of “processional litanies and fasting” and in the late 1960s “were changed to votive Masses,” according to Britannica. Do you remember Rogation Days? Share your memories in the comments! Photo credits: the Traditional Lay Carmelites of Fatima and A Catholic Life #ThrowbackThursday #history #Church #Catholic #RogationDays #Rogation #HolyFamilyFDL #HFFDL #HolyFamily

Mother’s Day Idea: Bring your mother to the Exhibit of Eucharistic Miracles on Mother’s Day weekend! Holy Family Catholic Community Fond du Lac May 10 – May 12, 2024, is the next parish to host the Exhibit of Eucharistic Miracles. Join us for a self-guided tour of 158 Eucharistic miracles collected from 22 countries, prayerfully gathered by Blessed Carlos Acutis before his death on October 12, 2006. All verified and approved by the Catholic Church, this is an amazing opportunity to delve deeper into your faith and witness the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Various parishes in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee have graciously offered to host this traveling exhibit at various times throughout the year. Find a hosting parish near you by searching the calendar, and plan to join us for this amazing opportunity! https://www.archmil.org/.../Eucharis.../Eucharistic-Miracles #hffdl Upcoming locations include: St. Mary's Visitation Elm Grove, WI St. Anthony of Padua Kenosha, WI

Mother’s Day Idea: Bring your mother to the Exhibit of Eucharistic Miracles on Mother’s Day weekend! Holy Family Catholic Community Fond du Lac May 10 – May 12, 2024, is the next parish to host the Exhibit of Eucharistic Miracles. Join us for a self-guided tour of 158 Eucharistic miracles collected from 22 countries, prayerfully gathered by Blessed Carlos Acutis before his death on October 12, 2006. All verified and approved by the Catholic Church, this is an amazing opportunity to delve deeper into your faith and witness the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Various parishes in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee have graciously offered to host this traveling exhibit at various times throughout the year. Find a hosting parish near you by searching the calendar, and plan to join us for this amazing opportunity! https://www.archmil.org/evangelization/Eucharistic-Revival/Eucharistic-Miracles #hffdl Upcoming locations include: St. Mary's Visitation Elm Grove, WI St. Anthony of Padua Kenosha, WI

What story do we try to tell in the design of a church? When perusing our archives for #ThrowbackThursday, we came across a booklet celebrating the dedication of Sacred Heart Parish on August 27, 1978. Inside, members of the parish described the inspiration behind the design for church, offering a new perspective on the building constructed in the late 1970s. Built to welcome 650 people for Mass, Sacred Heart Church features a great deal of wood in its design, all of which is solid oak, according to the booklet. One of the most notable design features of Sacred Heart is the skylight. “The skylight above the main altar accomplishes it’s purpose of bringing in Gods beautiful sunshine and daylight for proper mediation during daily visits by the parishioner,” the booklet reads. An innovation at the time of the church’s construction was the inclusion of an “audio-visual screen” behind the altar. The screen, hidden behind a wood door bearing the image of the cross, was used for enhancing the faith formation of children and adults. It provided an “excellent opportunity not only to hear the Word of the Lord but also to see.” When approaching Sacred Heart from the intersection of Western and Peters Avenues, one is greeted by a statue of our Lord. This bronze statue has been at Sacred Heart since the new church was built, and depicts Jesus with his heart glowing like other renderings of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The statue is six feet, eight inches tall, and reaches 13 feet off the ground, according to the booklet. What is your favorite part of Sacred Heart? Share with us in the comments! #Church #HolyFamilyFDL #HFFDL #SacredHeart #Design #History #Churches #Catholic

In this week’s #ThrowbackThursday, we are turning the clock back 54 years to April 30, 1970, when the Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter published the article “6 Catholic Schools Unify for Academic Administration.” That month, six Catholic schools in Fond du Lac and North Fond du Lac announced their intention to unify in the coming school year. The schools included Presentation, Sacred Heart, St. Joseph’s, St. Louis, St. Mary’s, and St. Patrick’s, which, through the work of 64 teachers, served 2,200 students across the community. Rather than operate independently as they had been, the change brought the six schools under the leadership of three administrators: Sister David Ennis, Sister Leanne Sitter, and Sister Reparata Ross, all of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes. While sharing the same administration, each school continued to have its own assistant principal, who also taught, according to the article. “This kind of professional unity insures strength, wisdom, and creativity. The possibilities for articulation, integration, and meaningful innovation are immense,” Sister Leanne said in the article. That same year, St. Patrick’s and St. Louis merged, and in 1974, St. Joesph’s and St. Mary’s followed suit. More than 20 years later, all the city’s Catholic elementary schools further unified to form the Fond du Lac Area Catholic Education System, better known as FACES. Through this system, St. Joseph’s School became the city’s Catholic elementary school and St. Mary’s served students in “intermediate and middle grades” according to Jenny Lukomski at The Clio. In 2008, FACES would join with St. Mary’s Springs to become St. Mary’s Springs Academy. Did you attend Catholic schools in Fond du Lac during this time period? What were your favorite memories? Article photo courtesy of Tim and Linda Holzman, school photos courtesy of The Clio & Jenny Lukomski #schools #Catholic #HolyFamilyFdL #HFFDL #history #education #nuns #CSA #newspapers

For this week’s #ThrowbackThursday, we are heading back to the 1920s to take a look at St. Mary’s Annual Report and Directory from 1926-1927. What has changed from 1927 to 2024? Many things, but here are some of the highlights we found in the booklet! In summer, the earliest Sunday Mass took place at 6:00 am and on Holy Days at 5:30 am. Baptisms took place in summer at 11:00 am and in the winter at 2:00 pm. Marriages could only be solemnized in the morning at a Nuptial Mass. It was advised that Funerals should not take place later than 9:00 am. Devotional articles could be blessed every morning after Mass when presented at the Communion rail. According to the seating chart included in the booklet, the layout of the pews was quite different than what we see today. When receiving Communion, parishioners were instructed to “always go as near as possible to the center of the Communion rial.” Per the booklet, “This will prevent crowding at the sides when there are many communicants and will do away with the unusual spectacle of two communicants kneeling at the extreme ends of the Communion rail when but few communicate.” What are your highlights from the report? Share with us in the comments below! #StMary #Throwback #Church #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #History #ChurchHistory #FDLHistory

Happy #ThrowbackThursday! Did you know that in just three years Holy Family has given out more than 10,000 books to parishioners at our Easter and Christmas Masses? We are thrilled to provide these books in the hopes that reading them will help you grow your love of Christ as well as of your brothers and sisters, and that they may help you open your mind and heart to the faith in ways that you haven’t before. Since 2014, we have gifted the following books: 2014: “33 Days to Morning Glory” by Michael E. Gaitley 2015: “Magnificat Resource for the Year of Mercy” by Matthew Kelly 2016: “Rediscover Jesus” and “Resisting Happiness” by Matthew Kelly 2017: “Joy to the World” by Scott Hahn 2018: “Beautiful Hope” by Matthew Kelly, et. all and “The Biggest Lie in Christianity” by Matthew Kelly 2019: “Rediscover the Saints” by Matthew Kelly 2020: “Salvation” by Michael Patrick Barber and “Do Something Beautiful for God – The Essential Teachings of Mother Teresa” by Saint Mother Teresa and Dynamic Catholic 2021: “The Wisdom of Fulton Sheen Daily Reflections” by Archbishop Fulton Sheen and Dynamic Catholic 2022: “Life is Messy” by Matthew Kelly and “The Art of Living” by Edward Sri 2023: “This is My Body: A Call to Eucharistic Revival” by Bishop Baron This Easter, we are excited to offer “Beautiful Eucharist” by Matthew Kelly, et. all, which offers reflections on the Eucharist and our relationship to it. You can pick up a copy of the book after Easter Sunday Mass. Please take only one copy per family. What “Holy Family Read” was your favorite? What lessons did you take from it? Share in the comments! #books #ThrowbackThursday #reading #Catholic #HolyFamilyFDL #HFFDL #gifts #Easter #Christmas

As we recognize St. Joseph this week, for our #ThrowbackThursday, we are taking a look at a piece of St. Joseph’s Church history: St. Joseph School. While St. Joseph’s Parish was established in 1847 (originally as St. Louis’ Parish), St. Jospeh’s School didn’t come to fruition until more than 80 years later. Back in 1917, Fr. John J. Collins began advocating to build the school, and Archdiocesan records state that at that time, he was consider purchasing/acquiring land to do so, according to “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein. However, it was not until 1928 that construction began on the school, built on the footprint of the former Sisters of Mercy convent. The cornerstone was laid on April 22, 1928, and that October, Archbishop Messmer presided over the dedication. The school was built for the cost of $200,000, the equivalent of $3,587,583.82 according to the CPI Inflation Calculator. Members of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes led instruction at the school for many years. In 1972, St. Joseph and St. Mary’s School merged, and in 1992, it consolidated with other Fond du Lac Catholic schools to become FACES. In 2008, the school became St. Mary’s Springs Academy, and educated students through 2017, when SMSA’s new campus opened on the Ledge. The school was then converted to apartments and became listed on the National Register of Historic Places, according to Jenny Lukomski at The Clio. Did you attend St. Joseph's School? Share your favorite memories in the comments below! Image sources: Jenny Lukomski/Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes at the Clio, and Wikimedia Commons #StJoseph #History #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #HolyFamily #CatholicSchools #Catholiclife #education

#ThrowbackThursday is getting colorful this week! Thanks to technology, we recently were able to colorize some old photos from our parish churches as well as from St. Mary's Springs Academy. These photos range in age from over 100 years old to about 50 years old. Here are seven of these images, many of which came from our archives. We hope to share more in weeks to come! 1. Cornerstone laying at St. Peter - May 13, 1915 2. Blessing of the St. Mary Grotto - May 30, 1948 3. Presentation School's first graduating class - 1931 4. Fr. Francis O'Shea at Presentation celebrating 25th anniversary of ordination - Date unknown (sometime between 1944 & 1957) 5. The steps of St. Mary's Mission, which merged to be part of what became Our Risen Savior - Date unknown 6. Groundbreaking of Sacred Heart Church - October 1977 7. St. Mary's Sanitarium - 1900s (courtesy of Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes) #Throwback #photos #color #history #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #vintage #tech #CatholicChurch #Catholic #catholiceducation

As we combed through a recent delivery of Sacred Heart records and artifacts, we found images from a very special celebration: the 25th anniversary of the ordination of Rev. Raymond L. Fox in 1967. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Rev. Fox attended St. Francis de Sales Seminary and was ordained on May 1, 1942. Within two weeks, he was appointed to be the Associate Pastor at St. Mary Church here in Fond du Lac. In the 1950s, as the number of Catholics in the city grew, Archbishop Meyer asked Rev. Fox to establish a new parish in the city to meet the need, particularly that of Catholics living on the west side of town. On the Feast of the Sacred Heart in 1957, Sacred Heart was officially incorporated as a parish. Rev. Fox guided the parish as it was built in steps. He oversaw the opening of the parish school in 1958, and construction of the convent and church in 1967 and 1978 respectively. For many years, Rev. Fox lived and worked out of a home on Highland Court until the rectory was built in 1961, according to Wettstein. As Sacred Heart celebrated its 10th anniversary in 1967, Rev. Fox celebrated his 25th anniversary as a priest. The celebration included a “Solemn High Mass of Thanksgiving,” a lunch for Rev. Fox, his family, friends, and fellow clergy provided by the women of the parish, and two receptions. More than 300 people turned out to pay their respects to Rev. Fox and congratulate him on 25 years of service, according to the Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter. People from throughout his family and the Catholic Church offered gifts, including a papal blessing from Pope Paul VI given by the parish’s sisters; a new chalice from the children of Sacred Heart; a gift certificate from the “young people of the parish;” and a six-week trip to Europe from the parishioners, according to the Commonwealth Reporter. Rev. Fox served the parish until November 1982, when he retired due to a decline in his health. He died two years later, and community members and clergy once again gathered at Sacred Heart to celebrate his life and service. #Throwback #ThrowbackThursday #HFFDL #history #ordination #HolyFamilyFdL #history #priests #SacredHeart

This week’s #ThrowbackThursday had the potential to be a disaster. On September 28, 1970, a gas explosion rocked Sacred Heart Church, then located within Sacred Heart School. The explosion took place after the morning Mass and caused significant damage to the boiler room, according to an article from that afternoon’s edition of the Commonwealth Reporter. The church’s custodian, Jerry Wagner, witnessed the explosion and said “the flash came out the front of the boiler and went right by” him. While the boiler did not explode, the gas within it did, causing damage to the electrical system’s burner and relay. In a blessing, no one was injured in the explosion, but significant damage was done to parts of the building’s interior. This included “cracking and bulging walls,” broken windows, and the pulling down of the ceiling, according to the article. The damage amounted to $30,000 – the equivalent of $236,000 today. All activities, including school, were suspended for a few days until the damage could be assessed. The necessary parts were air freighted in, and within a week, all were replaced, and the boiler was able to heat the school again, according to the Commonwealth Reporter. Did you attend Sacred Heart when the explosion happened? What memories do you have of it? Share with us in the comments. #Throwback #History #FDLHistory #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #churches #explosion #newspapers #vintagenewspaper

This #ThrowbackThursday is ultra fashionable! As we combed through scrapbooks recently donated by the Sacred Heart Altar & Rosary Society, we came across photos and other memorabilia capturing one of the society’s most creative fundraising efforts: their annual fashion show. The shows featured the newest fashions from the racks of the popular store, H. C. Prange Co., which also provided a fashion consultant to assist, according to the event programs. People from throughout Sacred Heart participated in the show, with individuals and families alike acting as models. Others volunteered as Ushers and “Usherettes” to help people to their seats in the Sacred Heart School Gym. Each year, the fashion show had a theme. In 1968—an election year—it was “Your Fashion Platform for 1968.” Inside the program shaped like an American flag (tiny flag pole included), the “fashion platforms for spring” were listed as the colors Americana, as well as “Discipline – The Younger Generation,” “Femininity – The Easy Life,” “Haberdashery – The Total Look,” “Persuasion – Cover-up Capers,” and “Accessories – The Great Society.” Featured in the show were outfits for spring and summer, as well as dresses for prom and formal dances, furs in pastel shades, a variety of accessories, sportswear, and outfits for children. Those who were looking for a spring ensemble could spot one that was described as a “belted look, dirndl skirt, patent leather and ruffles,” according to an article in the Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter. In 1969, the theme was “Fashion Fiesta,” utilizing colorful clothes, accessories, and decorations. “Travel with us to the colorful world of spring and summer fashion,” an ad in the Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter read. In addition to beautiful clothing, the show also featured hairstyling from Joanne’s Styling Salon. Admission to attend the 1968 and 1969 shows was $1.25, or the equivalent of just over $11 today. Did you ever attend one of the Sacred Heart Altar & Rosary Society’s fashion shows? Did you participate in one? Share with us your memories in the comments! #Fashion #Throwback #SacredHeart #HolyFamilyFdL #HFFDL #history #fashionshow #newspapers #vintage

This #Throwback is sure to ring a few bells for our parishioners! As you may know, when Holy Family Church was dedicated in 2008, bells from the closed churches of St. Louis and St. Patrick were added to the new Holy Family bell tower to honor the history of our parish, but also to symbolize its unity. The St. Patrick’s bell was forged in 1884 as construction on the church continued. The 2,000-pound bell came to Fond du Lac from the McShane Bell Foundry, traveling across the United States and arriving at Milwaukee’s Northwestern Depot. Named after the Irish King Brian Boru, the bell was blessed in a ceremony which invited parishioners to tap the bell with a small mallet. The bell first rang on January 8, 1884 for the funeral of parishioner Margaret Gallagher, according to Mary Ann Wettstein's "Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area." The St. Louis bell arrived at the church in 1941 during a period of revival at the parish. As the pastor, Fr. Esdras Gariepy, OMI, sought to redecorate the church, parishioners donated a new set of doors, a baptismal font, candelabra, tabernacle, and a new bell, according to Wettstein. The bell was forged in Watervliet, New York by the Meneely Company, according to an article in the Fond du Lac Reporter. In July 2006, crews used a construction crane to remove the bells from their respective towers. You can see the delicate process here in these photos. The bells—along with one of St. Peter’s three bell —were installed in 2008 and dedicated during in their new bell tower on September 7. Today, you can continue to hear the bells ring at Holy Family on the hour, for Mass, and other for other special occasions! #Throwback #bells #history #HolyFamilyFdL #Catholic #Church #HFFDL #FDLHistory

This Catholic Schools Week for our #ThrowbackThursday, we would like to share a story about St. Mary's Springs Academy and the decision that helped it become the school it is today. As we have shared in previous posts, in the 1930s, parents of boys in the Fond du Lac area petitioned the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to make St. Mary’s Springs Academy co-ed. North of Milwaukee, there were no Catholic high schools other than St. Mary’s Springs, which was up until that point, an all girls’ school. Although the Church did not allow co-ed schools, the Archbishop granted the parents’ request with stipulations, according to St. Mary’s Springs Academy. The school saw a significant increase in enrollment with the change. The trend continued for years and in the 1960s, leadership realized that in order to support this number of students, the school would have to undergo construction and renovation. Plans included either returning to individual schools for boys and girls—which would require building a new school for the boys— or expanding the school for both girls and boys to continue to attend. St. Mary’s Springs chose the latter. Plans called for the school to expand its footprint on the ledge, and the Congregation of Sisters of St. Anges transferred the land and property to the newly formed St. Mary’s Springs High School Corporation, according to Jenny Lukomski on The Clio. By December 1967, the new high school fund had received $1.53 million in personal pledges and $1.2 million in “corporation gifts and parish pledges,” according to the Fond du Lac Reporter. Fundraisers for the construction may have included a televised St. Mary’s Springs Telethon, as an image from that time was found in St. Mary’s Springs Academy archives. In 1968, crews broke ground on the new high school, which opened to students in fall 1970. School remains in session here to this day. Images courtesy of St. Mary’s Springs Academy archive, Fond du Lac Reporter, and Wikipedia #Throwback #History #Catholic #CatholicSchools #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #FDL #FDLHistory #Sisters #SMSA #StMary

After 41 years of service to Holy Family Catholic Community, this is Paul Thelen’s last full week as our Director of Liturgy and Music before he retires on Wednesday. Paul’s career with our parish began before Holy Family was formed. In 1982 when he and his wife, Julie, moved to Fond du Lac, Paul started as St. Louis Church’s part-time organist. The next year, he became the Director of Music at St. Joseph Church, and held that position until St. Joe’s merged with St. Louis, St. Mary, St. Peter, Sacred Heart, and St. Patrick’s parishes in 2000. Paul was integral to the merger process, and once it was complete, he took on a new role: the Director of Liturgy and Music for Holy Family Catholic Community. Throughout his time in our parish, he has led the music at thousands of Masses, directed the Holy Family Choir, accompanied the Jazz and Children’s Choir, coordinated all our parish musicians, and acted as an invaluable resource for all things technology, lighting, sound, and recording. You can see Paul’s fingerprints throughout Holy Family, found in our Prayer Garden, art and statue selections, Holy Family stained glass window, Living Nativity, and stellar liturgical music. For his dedication to our parish and the Catholic Church, Paul received the Holy Family St. Juan Diego Award in 2022 and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s 2016 Vatican II Award. It has been a blessing to have Paul as part of our parish for so many years, as well as to have his family grow up within it and share their incredible talents with us. It will be strange to no longer have Paul in this role after four decades, but we are excited for him to enjoy his well-deserved retirement. We look forward to seeing him at our Masses, where he will continue to lead the music, and around our community, bringing the joy of music to numerous events. In his honor, we would like to celebrate his impending retirement with some of our favorite photos of his time here in our parish for our #ThrowbackThursday! We invite you to share your favorite photos and memories with Paul in the comments. #retirement #music #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #history #Throwback #liturgicalmusic

For our #ThrowbackThursday, we wanted to shed light on the architects of one the oldest churches in the city: H. Messmer and Son, the designers of St. Mary Church. H. Messer & Son was founded by Henry Messmer. Born in 1839 in Switzerland, Henry attended Heidelberg University in Heidelberg, Germany—the country’s oldest university—and then became an apprentice in Europe. In his late 20s, he immigrated to Wisconsin, where he took positions as draftsmen in Milwaukee and Madison, according to the website Architecture of Faith Milwaukee. In 1873, he started his own architectural firm and designed hundreds of buildings, from homes to warehouses, breweries, and churches. Throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, you can see his firm’s work, found at Saints Peter and Paul in Milwaukee, St. Mary’s in Port Washington, and St. Hedwig in Milwaukee. After graduating from high school in 1887, Henry’s son, Robert, joined the firm and it was renamed H. Messmer & Son. Henry died in 1899, but Robert continued on his legacy, according to files from the National Parks Service. In 1900, the parishioners of St. Mary Church hired H. Messmer & Son to design their new church. The beautiful stone structure, which still stands today, was dedicated in 1902, according to “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein. The total cost was $21,196, the equivalent of more than $650,000 today, according to the Inflation Calculator. Have you visited any of the church’s designed by H. Messmer & Son? Share with us in the comments! Image source: The Clio - Jenny Lukomski #Throwback #architecture #churches #StMary #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #HolyFamily #history #FD

For our #ThrowbackThursday, we wanted to shed light on the architects of one the oldest churches in the city: H. Messmer and Son, the designers of St. Mary Church. H. Messer & Son was founded by Henry Messmer. Born in 1839 in Switzerland, Henry attended Heidelberg University in Heidelberg, Germany—the country’s oldest university—and then became an apprentice in Europe. In his late 20s, he immigrated to Wisconsin, where he took positions as draftsmen in Milwaukee and Madison, according to the website Architecture of Faith Milwaukee. In 1873, he started his own architectural firm and designed hundreds of buildings, from homes to warehouses, breweries, and churches. Throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, you can see his firm’s work, found at Saints Peter and Paul in Milwaukee, St. Mary’s in Port Washington, and St. Hedwig in Milwaukee. Other work can be found in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward, the Schwartz Ballroom in Hartford, the Audubon Inn in Mayville, and the home of William Gettleman, a famous brewer from Milwaukee, according to the Wisconsin State Historical Society. After graduating from high school in 1887, Henry’s son, Robert, joined the firm and it was renamed H. Messmer & Son. Henry died in 1899, but Robert continued on his legacy, according to files from the National Parks Service. In 1900, the parishioners of St. Mary Church hired H. Messmer & Son to design their new church. The beautiful stone structure, which still stands today, was dedicated in 1902, according to “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein. The total cost was $21,196, the equivalent of more than $650,000 today, according to the Inflation Calculator. The firm continued as H. Messmer & Son until 1910, after which Robert's brother joined the firm and it was renamed R. A. Messmer & Brother. Have you visited any of the church’s designed by H. Messmer & Son? Share with us in the comments! Image source: The Clio - Jenny Lukomski #Throwback #architecture #churches #StMary #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #HolyFamily #history #FD

PART ONE: Our most popular #ThrowbackThursday post of 2023 is actually two posts, both of which honored the same person: Fr. Edward Sippel. In July, our post featured photos from Fr. Sippel’s 101st birthday, when Fr. Michael and a group of parishioners gathered with him celebrate. A couple of months later, on September 27, we were sad to share that Fr. Sippel passed away. While his life as a dedicated servant to our Lord, and for many years, our parish, ended, Fr. Sippel’s memory continues to live on. This was seen in our October post, which told the story of Fr. Sippel’s chalice and paten. Given to him by his parents upon his ordination, the chalice and paten now live at Sacred Heart Church, where they are the principal vessels used at Mass. Please join us in praying for Fr. Sippel and all who loved him. ---- Our #ThrowbackThursday is a special one this week! Earlier this month, on July 2nd, The Holy Family/St. Patrick's Rosary Guild held a small reception at St. Francis Home to celebrate Fr. Edward "Ed" Sippel's 101st birthday with him! The Fond du Lac native was born in 1922 to Louis and Della Sippel, who raised him in a “Christ-centered” life, leading through example with their volunteer work such as at St. Vincent de Paul, according to The Fond du Lac Reporter. He attended St. Lawrence Seminary for high school, and during his time there, decided to enter the priesthood. Following study at Milwaukee’s St. Francis de Sales Seminary, he was ordained on June 7, 1947, according to “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein. Before arriving at St. Patrick’s in 1971, Fr. Sippel served throughout southeast Wisconsin. For 20 years, he served at St. Patrick’s. Many remember him for playing a prominent role in major milestones of their lives—weddings, baptisms, funerals, First Communions, and Confirmations. Even after his retirement in 1991, Fr. Sippel continued to guide people in their faith by offering Mass when called upon and acting as chaplain at the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, as well as helping to maintain the garden there. #Throwback #HolyFamilyFDL #History #HFFDL #priesthood #Mass

PART 2: Our most popular #ThrowbackThursday post of 2023 is actually two posts, both of which honored the same person: Fr. Edward Sippel. In July, our post featured photos from Fr. Sippel’s 101st birthday, when Fr. Michael and a group of parishioners gathered with him celebrate. A couple of months later, on September 27, we were sad to share that Fr. Sippel passed away. While his life as a dedicated servant to our Lord, and for many years, our parish, ended, Fr. Sippel’s memory continues to live on. This was seen in our October post, which told the story of Fr. Sippel’s chalice and paten. Given to him by his parents upon his ordination, the chalice and paten now live at Sacred Heart Church, where they are the principal vessels used at Mass. Please join us in praying for Fr. Sippel and all who loved him. ---- This week’s #ThrowbackThursday is particularly special for our parish and comes to us from the year 1947. On June 7th of that year, Fr. Edward Sippel was ordained into the priesthood at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee by the Most Reverend Moses E. Kiley. Upon his ordination, his parents, Louis and Della, gave him a beautiful gold chalice and paten to use while offering Mass. As you know, Fr. Sippel had a long life, with many years spent in the priesthood. During his more than seven decades as a priest, he brought the word of our Lord to people throughout Southeastern Wisconsin and here in his hometown of Fond du Lac, where he was pastor at St. Patrick’s Parish until his retirement. After many years of service to God and his community, Fr. Sippel passed away on September 27 at the age of 101. While his soul returned home to the Lord, that chalice and paten remain here in the parish. You will now find them at Sacred Heart Church, where the newly restored sacred pieces will become the principal vessels used at Mass. We hope that you treasure them and their story as much as we do. #SacredHeart #priests #HolyFamilyFDL #History #HFFDL #priesthood #chalice #Mass

When it came time to say goodbye to Fr. Justin and Fr. Edward this past June, you made our #Throwback post about their service to our parish our second most popular of the year. Photos shared included those from our annual Pet Blessing, Easter Vigil Mass, First Communion Masses, Summer Program, and more! ---- As we mark our final week with Fr. Edward and Fr. Justin, we wanted use #ThrowbackThursday to showcase some of our favorite photos of them throughout their time at Holy Family. From pet blessings to Confirmation, Fr. Justin and Fr. Edward have served our parish well and with great faith and love. We will miss them, and we pray for them as they take on their new assignments! What are some of your favorite memories with Fr. Edward and Fr. Justin? Share in the comments below! #priests #faith #throwback #fonddulacwi #archmil #hffdl #holyfamilyfdl

Our fourth most popular #ThrowbackThursday post of 2023 brought us images of St. Joseph Church and decorations past on July 6! Our comments were full of people sharing their memories of attending Mass at St. Joseph, seeing the decorations throughout the season, and in some cases, helping to decorate the church. ---- It's Thursday and you know what that means! It's time for a blast from the past with our #ThrowbackThursday post. Recently, as we went through our archives, we found a photo album created by the St. Joseph Church Arts & Environment Committee. As it does throughout our parish to this day, this committee decorated St. Joseph Church for seasons, both Liturgical and meteorological, enhancing the Sanctuary’s beauty while keeping the space reverent and one of worship. We wanted to share with you some of these photos so you can see—and remember¬—how the committee worked to make St. Joe’s a church for all seasons! Share with us which decorations you most like, as well as your memories of the church in the comments below! #Throwback #ThrowbackThursday #Churches #Decorations #Worship #Christ #Jesus #fdlhistory #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL

As 2024 approaches, we are celebrating the last Thursday of 2023 by looking back at our top five most popular #ThrowbackThurday posts from this year. Our fifth most popular post of the year came to us to from the bell tower of St. Mary Church! On June 22, we dove into the history of the “Immaculate Conception” bell, which has been a fixture of St. Mary’s since the original church was built in 1866. This year, we were excited to share plans to install an automated bell system that will ring on the hour, before Mass, and for weddings and funerals. Work to install the automated system is ongoing and we hope to be able to update you on its progress in the near future. ---- This week’s #Throwback has been providing Fond du Lac beautiful noise for more than 150 years—St. Mary Church’s bell—and will continue to for many more as our staff has been working with the Verdin Bell Co. to automate the bell system at the church. The bell named the “Immaculate Conception” was cast in 1866 as workers began to build the original St. Mary Church. Ordered by parishioners, the bronze bell was created in New York, according to “More than Brick and Stone: A History of St. Mary’s Parish” by John J. Schmitz. The parishioners had inscribed Meneeley’s West Troy, N.Y. 1866, Immaculate Conception. As the church’s congregation was comprised of German speakers, the bell was, too, mostly inscribed in German, including the prayer, “Maria obne Sunde empfangen, Bitte fur uns,” which translates to “Mary conceived without sin, pray for us.” Just a parishioners ensured the bell would continue to ring at St. Mary’s when the new church was built in 1902, we are as well by installing this new automated bell system. With it, the bell will ring five minutes before Mass and on the hour throughout downtown Fond du Lac—without having to pull the rope! Thanks to this remote setup, we will also be able to ring the bells for weddings or toll them for funerals. Please enjoy these photos taken by the Verdin Bell Co. The original photo of the bell comes from “More than Brick and Stone: A History of St. Mary’s Parish.” #bells #stmary #history #FDLhistory #HolyFamilyFDL #church #churchhistory #HFFDL

In honor of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe this past Tuesday, for our #ThrowbackThursday, we wanted to take a look at our parish's past celebrations of Our Lady. Please enjoy these photos which contain many familiar faces and many beautiful celebrations of Our Lady! Which is your favorite? Do you have images from Holy Family's celebrations of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe? Please share them in the comments! #Throwback #HolyFamilyFdL #Guadalupe #ourladyofguadalupe #HFFDL #FDLHistory

When we look back at the history of the Catholic Church in Fond du Lac, few have left their fingerprints on the Catholic community—and city—we know today like Henry and John Boyle. Growing up in New York, Henry Boyle got his start in business pushing wheelbarrows full of yeast. At the age of 22, Boyle and his brother, John, moved to Fond du Lac, according to the FDL Reporter. They opened a grocery store and in 1886, built a yeast factory named the Northwestern Yeast Co., per The Reporter. The business grew substantially and by 1898, it had become the largest of its kind in the United States. The two became millionaires and used their fortunes to do good. After St. Paul Hospital failed in the city, John and Henry Boyle, along with Fr. Joseph Keenan, and Dr. F. S. Wiley approached Mother Agnes Hazotte with the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes and asked her and the congregation to lead a new Catholic hospital. The Boyles and other local leaders helped to provide some of the funding, according to Jenny Lukomski on The Clio. St. Agnes Hospital opened in 1896. The Boyles continued their partnership with the Sisters. Knowing that Mother Agnes had purchased land on the ledge, John Boyle proposed that he would build a sanitarium there to serve those who were recovering from illnesses and donate it to the Sisters to operate, according to Lukomski. The Sisters agreed and the St. Mary’s Springs Sanitarium opened in 1902. Unfortunately, the sanitarium was not as popular as hoped. In 1909, John Boyle suggested a new purpose for the property: a boarding school for girls. Following renovations, St. Mary’s Springs Academy opened in 1909. The same year the sanitarium opened, Henry Boyle partnered with the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes to construct the Henry Boyle Catholic Home for the Aged and serve the growing number of elderly residents in Fond du Lac. Henry built the stone building on Park Avenue, and then gave it to the Sisters, according to Lukomski. #Throwback #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #Boyles #philanthropy #FDLHistory #Catholic #Sisters Photo credit: The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes – The Clio and “The Richness of the Earth” by Steven M. Avelia

This #ThrowbackThursday, we’re going back to school, Sacred Heart School that is! Sacred Heart School opened in September 1959 with the goal to develop the total child “through the process of Christ-centered education,” according to the Sacred Heart Parish 25th Anniversary Booklet. At that time, the property served the dual purpose of both a school and a church (the church we know today as Sacred Heart was not completed until 1978). The school and chapel included an excellent sound system and babysitting service. In 1959, the school enrolled 233 students in grades 1-6, according to “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein. In the next two years, students in seventh and eighth grade began to attend. During those early years, Sister Mary Robert Little led Sacred Heart School as its principal, according to Jenny Lukomski at the Clio. With the completion of Sacred Heart Church in 1978, the school converted the space previously used for the chapel into additional classrooms and a learning center. Other changes saw the library become a conference room and the nurse’s office the new faculty lounge, according Lukomski. Enrollment at the school decreased in the following years. Aided by an inability to pay competitive salaries to staff, the school closed in 1987. However, as we know, the life of Sacred Heart School did not end there. For a period of time, Fond du Lac Christian School rented classrooms, and later, the school became the home to Holy Family’s Faith Formation programs, including yearly program and the summer program, according to Lukomski. This year, the Sacred Heart School added a new chapter to its story. While Christian Formation continues to utilize the building, ADVOCAP Head Start also rents the building, promoting school readiness and education with children ages 3-5 who are from low-income families. What are your memories of Sacred Heart School? Photos: Sacred Heart Parish 25th Anniversary Booklet #SacredHeart #School #Catholic #FDL #FDLHistory #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL

As we have shared in our #ThrowbackThursday posts, St. Mary's Springs Academy first began as a boarding school for young women and girls looking to receive an education in the Catholic faith. When Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes opened the school in 1909, 17 girls were enrolled at the school—a number which quickly grew. Over the years, the school gained popularity, resulting in the need for an expansion in 1929. This addition included a new chapel, auditorium, and “eight-story tower,” according to the Clio by Jenny Lukomski. With this new space, the school not only was open as a boarding school, but also a day school. Students enrolled at the school were educated in a wide variety of topics and had opportunities for many experiences. As you can see in these photos found in an enrollment booklet from the 1930s (provided by SMSA), students developed their knowledge in their faith, science, mathematics, architecture, and English, as well as the arts, such as music, textile design, and painting. In preparation for future careers, they learned “telephoning, the completion of business forms, adding machine, and mimeograph operation,” according to the booklet. Taking to the stage, students performed in productions of “The Bethlehem Road” and “Smiling Through.” They also had the chance to take part in radio performances and one-act play contests. Through their work on the student publication, the women could flex their writing muscles, be they in journalism, essays, or creative writing. Athletics were promoted as well, including basketball, as seen in the photo of the Junior All-School Team. Which photo is your favorite? Share in the comments below! #SMSA #StMarysSpringsAcademy #History #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #CongregationofSistersofStAgnes #Catholic #throwback #school #vintage #theatre

Our #ThrowbackThursday is not new to our series, but this week comes with an update! Our story starts 75 years ago. In 1948, as the United Nations adopted a Universal Declaration of Human Rights and European nations began to rebuild under the Marshall Plan, St. Mary Church's Holy Name Society was beginning work on their own project: a grotto on the property of St. Mary Church that would honor Our Lady of Fátima. In 1917, three children—Lucia de Santos and Francisco and Jacinta Marto—saw apparitions of Mary near Fátima in Portugal. Our Lady asked for the children to pray for an end to World War I and world peace from May 13 to October 13, among other requests. She also shared three secrets with the children, which were later revealed to be “devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary,” “a vision of hell,” and “a bishop in white” who was attacked by soldiers, according to Franciscan Media. Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee, Bishop Roman R. Atkielski, dedicated the St. Mary Grotto on May 30, 1948. Fr. Raymond Fox, who served at St. Mary Church for 12 years, was also at the ceremony, according to “More than Brick and Stone: A History of St. Mary’s Parish” by John J. Schmitz. Today, the grotto continues to stand as a place of worship to Our Lady between the church and the old St. Mary School facing East Merrill Avenue. Just recently, the grotto received an update to help it become more visible in our community. Parishioner Jim Bomier installed a new light at the sight of the grotto, brightly lighting Our Lady for all to see in the darkness. With this light, may the message of Our Lady of Fátima continue to shine here in Fond du Lac. What memories do you have at St. Mary's Grotto? Photo credit: “More than Brick and Stone: A History of St. Mary’s Parish” by John J. Schmitz, “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein, and Jim Bomier #Fatima #Throwback #StMary #History #Grotto #Church #HFFDL #FDLHistory #HolyFamilyFDL

This week our #ThrowbackThursday comes to us courtesy of one our parishioners named Joan! Recently, Joan donated documents from St. Mary Church, one of which celebrated an important time in St. Mary’s history: its 125th anniversary! As part of their celebration, the parish created a calendar for the year 1991 which not only shared important feast days in the Catholic Church, but also important events from throughout St. Mary’s 125 years. Take the month of February for example: February 4th marked the 80th anniversary of the construction of the St. Mary’s Rectory in 1911, while February 13th was the day that in 1866, the land for the church building was purchased for $800. Each is marked on the calendar. What other intriguing bits of history can you learn from this calendar? March 13 – in 1982, the roof of St. Mary’s gym was destroyed by a windstorm March 21 – in 1880, the parish reopened with Rev. Sabastian Schwinn as pastor after fighting between the previous pastor and the parishioners April 25 – in 1902, the St. Mary’s Altar Society was established June 3 – in 1879, the Sisters of St. Agnes took over St. Mary’s School July 17 – in 1887, the new St. Mary’s School was built for $7,700 September 4 – in 1857, the first German-speaking, Catholic school opened in Fond du Lac September 9 – in 1937, the school lunch program began October 10 – in 1925, the new organ was built for $10,000 November 20 – in 1966, the first Festival of Faith Fond du Lac Christian Community was held with 900 people attending December 3 – in 1880, the capuchins bought land for the new parish on the corner of Merrill and Main Streets December 5 – in 1982, Loaves and Fishes began These dates are complemented by photos of St. Mary’s throughout its history, including shots of the church’s interior at various points, its Nativity scenes, the shrine to St. Mary, and the bell which still rings in St. Mary’s belltower to this day. All this was compiled by the 125th Anniversary Committee, which is thanked on the back of the calendar, and which we thank today for all this great information! #history #StMary #HolyFamilyFDL #HFFDL #churches #church #calendars

For this week’s #ThrowbackThursday, we wanted to share the story of the innovative efforts Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church parishioners and its pastors took to pay off its school debt. Construction on the brick Presentation School began back in 1928 on the corner of Minnesota and Garfield Streets—the site of its first church. To build the school was a costly endeavor—$44,000, or $782,815 in today’s money. Parishioners made pledges to fund the project, but when the Great Depression hit a year later, it became much more difficult for them to do so, according to Presentation’s 75th Anniversary booklet. As many of the parishioners worked in railroad shops which closed during the Depression, wallets tightened. However, this financial strain did not stop the parishioners from sacrificing their already reduced income to keep the school open. According to the booklet, “every kitchen had its own penny jar in which money was deposited throughout the year so that when September rolled around and school started, there would be money for books.” When Fr. J. J. Sullivan became pastor in the mid-1930s, he started the parish’s first annual picnic with the goal of paying off the school’s debt, according to the booklet. The picnic was quite the undertaking, especially as the school and church did not have a kitchen in the first year of the event. To feed 2,400 guests, parishioners who were farmers donated the chicken, which was then cooked in the local bakery kitchen. Families contributed salads and vegetables, and parishioners made coffee in wash tubs. All pans, dishes, and utensils were donated. Pretty impressive, right? Efforts to pay off the debt continued after Fr. Sullivan departed the parish. The new pastor, Fr. E. Wagner, called on parishioners to retire the debt, asking 100 members to each give $100 each—nearly $1,800 today—and other parishioners to give in smaller amounts. Before his service to the parish ended in 1944, the school was debt free. Photo credit: Presentation's 75th anniversary booklet #Throwback #Schools #NFDL #FDLHistory #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #debt #history #NorthFondduLac #Catholic #priests

This week’s #ThrowbackThursday is particularly special for our parish and comes to us from the year 1947. On June 7th of that year, Fr. Edward Sippel was ordained into the priesthood at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee by the Most Reverend Moses E. Kiley. Upon his ordination, his parents, Louis and Della, gave him a beautiful gold chalice and paten to use while offering Mass. As you know, Fr. Sippel had a long life, with many years spent in the priesthood. During his more than seven decades as a priest, he brought the word of our Lord to people throughout Southeastern Wisconsin and here in his hometown of Fond du Lac, where he was pastor at St. Patrick’s Parish until his retirement. After many years of service to God and his community, Fr. Sippel passed away on September 27 at the age of 101. While his soul returned home to the Lord, that chalice and paten remain here in the parish. You will now find them at Sacred Heart Church, where the newly restored sacred pieces will become the principal vessels used at Mass. We hope that you treasure them and their story as much as we do. #SacredHeart #priests #HolyFamilyFDL #History #HFFDL #priesthood #chalice #Mass

This #ThrowbackThursday, we wanted to share with you some old images from Presentation School. This photo album featured the photographs of the 1979-1980 First Grade class taught by Sister Joanita and Sister Naomi. The photos captured the first graders learning about the library, making paper flowers for the elderly, tracing each other for anatomy, visiting the Nativity, and getting ready for a singalong! Did you attend Presentation School? What are your memories there? #schools #nuns #NFDL #Presentation #CatholicSchool #FDLHistory #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL

For our #ThrowbackThursday this week, we are traveling to Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church to share a bit about one of its past priests, Fr. Joseph Bier! Fr. Bier was born in Janesville on January 10, 1910 to Frank and Mary Bier. He had four siblings—Robert, Charles, Francis, and Veronica, according to Find a Grave. After studying at St. Francis de Sales Seminary, he was ordained as a priest in 1936 by Archbishop Samuel Stritch, according to St. James Catholic Church. He celebrated his first Mass on the Feast of Corpus Christi in his hometown at St. Mary’s Church, an article from The Commonwealth Reporter in 1961 stated. Spending 32 years in active priesthood, Fr. Bier served at parishes around Southeastern Wisconsin, including at St. Mary Parish in Pewaukee, St. Rita’s in West Allis, St. Matthew’s in Milwaukee, St. Kilian’s in Hartford, St. Francis Xavier in Brighton, St. James Church in Menomonee Falls, and, of course, Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in North Fond du Lac. Fr. Bier arrived at Presentation in 1960 and a year later, celebrated his Silver Jubilee, marking 25 years in the priesthood. Assisting him at Mass were four of his relatives, all who were priests in the Catholic Church: his uncle, Fr. Charles J. Bier; his brother, Fr. Robert C. Bier; and his cousins, Fr. Edward J. Bier and Fr. Robert Gassert, according to The Commonwealth Reporter. After the special Mass, the parish celebrated with a buffet lunch and a program from Presentation School’s students. In 1967, Fr. Bier left the parish to work at St. James Church before retiring in 1968. He passed away on October 31, 1997 and is now buried in Brighton’s St. Francis Xavier Cemetery. #Throwback #NFDL #NorthFondduLac #Priests #PriestLife #history #Catholic #fdlhistory #HFFDL #holyfamilyfdl

Our #ThrowbackThursday is a special one this week! Earlier this month, on July 2nd, The Holy Family/St. Patrick's Rosary Guild held a small reception at St. Francis Home to celebrate Fr. Edward "Ed" Sippel's 101st birthday with him! The Fond du Lac native was born in 1922 to Louis and Della Sippel, who raised him in a “Christ-centered” life, leading through example with their volunteer work such as at St. Vincent de Paul, according to The Fond du Lac Reporter. He attended St. Lawrence Seminary for high school, and during his time there, decided to enter the priesthood. Following study at Milwaukee’s St. Francis de Sales Seminary, he was ordained on June 7, 1947, according to “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein. Before arriving at St. Patrick’s in 1971, Fr. Sippel served in West Allis, Racine, Milwaukee, and Waukesha, as well as taught high school religion at Racine’s St. Catherine’s, Milwaukee’s Pius High School, and Waukesha’s Catholic Memorial, according to Wettstein. For 20 years, he served at St. Patrick’s, becoming a much-beloved figure at the church and throughout the Fond du Lac community. Many remember him for playing a prominent role in major milestones of their lives—weddings, baptisms, funerals, First Communions, and Confirmations. Even after his retirement in 1991, Fr. Sippel continued to guide people in their faith by offering Mass when called upon and acting as chaplain at the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, as well as helping to maintain the garden there. Please join us in wishing Fr. Sippel a happy belated birthday! #birthday #priesthood #fonddulacwi #hffdl #holyfamilyfdl #fdlhistory

Recently, we came across a bundle of records from St. Mary Church—some of which you’ve seen shared here already. Among these were mementos of celebration, specifically the celebration of the parish’s centennial event in December 1966, or as they called it, their First Festival of Faith, according to “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein. One hundred years before, 21 German families founded the parish, obligated to “build upon the sound principles that had stirred them to provide a parochial school and a place of worship,” Bishop Roman R. Atkielski said at the “Solemn High Mass of Thanksgiving” celebrated by the parish, according to The Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter. Hundreds of parishioners, as well as nuns, former associate priests, and people from throughout the Fond du Lac faith community attended the Mass celebrated by Rt. Rev. Msgr. Henry A. Mauer, the church’s pastor. Of note were the leader of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes at the time, Mother M. Rosita, and Agnes Shafer, a St. Mary’s parishioner who, like the parish, was born in 1866. Agnes Shafer can be seen in a photo with Rt. Rev. Msgr. Henry Mauer and Fr. Frederick Schramm, smiling alongside a cake depicting the outline of the original church built in the 1800s and one of the current St. Mary’s Church. Following the Mass, more than 500 people went to the St. Mary School gymnasium to continue the celebration with food and drink. The Sunday afternoon banquet was presided over by Rev. John J. Schmitz, with Rev. Gerald P. Schmitz, Rev. Roger Zens, Rev. Phillip J. Rose, and Rev. Raymond Fox in attendance, according to The Fond du Lac Reporter. In addition to making it 100 years, the parish also celebrated the path of its parishioners to the priesthood. Between 1920 and 1965, nineteen “sons from the parish were ordained” into the priesthood, according to Wettstein. Did you attend the St. Mary Parish centennial event? What memories do you have of it? Share with us in the comments! #Throwback #ThrowbackThursday #StMary #FDLHistory #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #news #journalism #history #fonddulacwi #cenntenial

A new addition to our archives is the inspiration for this week’s #ThrowbackThursday. One of our parishioners recently donated a photo of Fr. Joseph Bittle to our collection. We weren’t able to find much information about the past St. Peter Church pastor, but with some help from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Archives, we were able to learn more about his life and would like to share it with you. Fr. Bittle was born on September 14, 1895 in Milwaukee, and attended St. Lawrence College in Mount Calvary, where he studied Theology and the Classics. On June 24, 1919, he was ordained at the Salesianum, and less than a month later, began his service as the assistant pastor of Holy Trinity in Milwaukee. In February 1922, he had to take a year of absence from his position due to illness, according to the archives. Throughout his ministry, he served at St. Victor’s in Monroe, St. Kilian’s in Hartford, Holy Angels in West Bend, and as pastor of St. Michael in Dane, Holy Trinity in Newburg, and St. Joseph’s in Grafton. Sixty-seven years ago, on June 26, 1956, Fr. Bittle became pastor of St. Peter Parish. For 13 years, he served there, and in 1969 celebrated 50 years as a priest—his Golden Jubilee (see the photos for a prayer card for his 25th anniversary as a priest celebrated in Newburg). Not long after this celebration, Fr. Bittle retired on July 1, 1969. Less than three months later, Fr. Bittle died on September 26. His funeral Mass was held on September 30. He is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery. #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #StPeter #priesthood #priests #fonddulachistory Images: Holy Family and Archdiocese of Milwaukee Archives

This week’s #Throwback has been providing Fond du Lac beautiful noise for more than 150 years—St. Mary Church’s bell—and will continue to for many more, as over the past two months, our staff has been working with the Verdin Bell Co. to automate the bell system at the church. The bell named the “Immaculate Conception” was cast in 1866 as workers began to build the original St. Mary Church. Ordered by parishioners, the more-than-2,000-pound bronze bell was created in West Troy, New York, according to “More than Brick and Stone: A History of St. Mary’s Parish” by John J. Schmitz. On the bell, the parishioners had inscribed Meneeley’s West Troy, N.Y. 1866, Immaculate Conception. As the church’s congregation was comprised of German speakers, the bell was, too, mostly inscribed in German, including the prayer, “Maria obne Sunde empfangen, Bitte fur uns,” which translates to “Mary conceived without sin, pray for us.” Noted by name on the bell are also Bishop John Martin Henni of Milwaukee, Fr. J. C. Perrodin, and two people who contributed to the bell, Maria P. Mengel Gotte and Anton Servatius Patte. Over its decades in Fond du Lac, the bell was there as the parish experienced much change and at one point helped to save the church. In 1878, a strong storm struck the area, sending a lightning bolt into the spire of St. Mary’s below its cross, the force of which rang the bell. The bell was the church’s built-in alarm system as the sound drew the attention of the local policemen, who in turn told the firefighters of Engine No. 5. Although the church was damaged, it could’ve been much worse if not for the bell and the quick action of local law enforcement, according to Schmitz. Just a parishioners ensured the bell would continue to ring at St. Mary’s when the new church was built in 1902, we are as well by installing this new automated bell system. With it, the bell will ring five minutes before Mass and on the hour throughout downtown Fond du Lac—without having to pull the rope! Photo credit: Verdin Bell Co. & Schmitz #bells #stmary #history #FDLhistory #HolyFamilyFDL #church #churchhistory #HFFDL

As we mark our final week with Fr. Edward and Fr. Justin, we wanted use #ThrowbackThursday to showcase some of our favorite photos of them throughout their time at Holy Family. From pet blessings to Confirmation, Fr. Justin and Fr. Edward have served our parish well and with great faith and love. We will miss them, and we pray for them as they take on their new assignments! What are some of your favorite memories with Fr. Edward and Fr. Justin? Share in the comments below! #priests #faith #throwback #fonddulacwi #archmil #hffdl #holyfamilyfdl

Our #ThrowbackThursday this week comes to us from the year 1967. What was happening back in 1967 you ask? Well, it just so happens we have the perfect source to tell you: a March 18th edition of “The Catholic Herald Citizen,” known today as “The Catholic Herald.” The front page shares news of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s Charities and Development Fund Campaign, which at just a week in, had raised $1,272,703.76. Other headlines from the archdiocese include those about a priest who was ordained ahead of his class due to the illness of his mother, the expansion of Bible use at daily Mass, seminars at Cardinal Stritch University, and a duplicitous group using the Archdiocese’s campaign to spread racial prejudice. Inside the newspaper were sections devoted to men and women at various stages of life. In the “Mod muse ‘n views” section, students in the Holy Angels Parish Senior CCD Program shared their thoughts on whether attending a public school helped or hindered their faith (their consensus was that it did not hinder it). In “Bible Themes for Modern Man,” the paper discussed how Christ’s death on the cross displayed agape love, “the greatest of three kinds of love.” On the back page, Fr. Martin answered questions regarding “Teenage Problems,” including whether we should hold onto confessed sins and if they should talk to a priest or counselor about plans for their future. The issue also had Fond du Lac touches, as seen in ads for Edith’s, Gilmore Beer Depot, Johnny’s on the Lake, and Kellett Service. Check out the pictures for a sampling of some of the most interesting headlines, as well as some of our favorites! What’s your favorite part of the paper? Did you get “The Catholic Herald Citizen” when you were younger? What do you remember from it? #newspapers #history #Archdiocese #ArchMil #HFFDL #holyfamilyfdl #FDL #fonddulacwi #vintage #faith #Catholics

For this week’s #ThrowbackThursday, we are spotlighting someone who not only played a large role in shaping Catholic faith in the Fond du Lac area, but also in shaping the city and the state. Who could this be? Mason C. Darling. Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, graduated from the Berkshire Medical Institution as a doctor and for 12 years, he worked in Greenwich as a doctor. During that time also served as the town’s representative in the Massachusetts’ legislature, according to the Wisconsin Historical Collections from 1857. Moving to Wisconsin in 1837, Darling first settled in Sheboygan Falls. A year later, Darling and his family were some of the first people to settle in Fond du Lac, and in the budding area, he made a name for himself as a “land speculator,” rivaling the Fond du Lac Co. and James D. Doty, according to the Wisconsin State Historical Society. While he resided there, Fond du Lac was a “Darling” of a town. Darling built the “first framed dwelling,” and constructed the “Darling’s Additions,” which at one time were “the most populous and principal business portion of the city,” according to the collections. Darling’s interests went beyond business. On April 28th, 1847, Darling and his wife, Naomi, sold a plot of land on the corner of Marr and Second Street to Fr. Florimond Joseph Bonduel for $130 to be the site of the first St. Louis Church, now the site of St. Joseph Church, according to the original deed. Continuing the public service he began in Massachusetts, Darling served in Wisconsin’s Territorial Legislature from 1840 to 1848. After Wisconsin became a state, he was elected to the United States Congress as the state’s first congressman. Back in Fond du Lac, he was mayor in both 1852 and 1855, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society. Darling resided in Fond du Lac until he moved to Chicago in 1864. Two years later, he died and returned to Fond du Lac to be buried in Rienzi Cemetery. #Throwback #FondduLacWI #HolyFamilyFDL #History #Darling #CatholicHistory #HFFDL Image courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society

This week, our #Throwback comes from the not-so-distant past of 2020. Yes, it was only three years ago, but amid the pandemic, looking back on that year feels like looking back on a different time period entirely. As people did throughout the world, we here at Holy Family adjusted to find ways to best serve our community, which can be seen in our Mother’s Day celebration that year. As we were unable to give our Mother’s Day blessing at Mass as we had in the past, we thought up another way to honor our parish’s mothers: a drive-thru blessing! Our priest team gathered at Holy Family Church to offer the blessings and beautiful carnations to moms who came through. To further extend the blessing, we also collected non-perishable food items to care for moms in our community, donating hundreds of items to the Oakfield Food Pantry. This Sunday, we look forward to celebrating Mother’s Day with our parish’s moms in person! We hope to see you at Mass! #Throwback #MothersDay #Mothers #CatholicChurch #FondduLac #HolyFamilyFDL #HFFDL

This week in our #ThrowbackThursday, we are going to highlight one of the early pastors of St. Mary Church: Rev. Louis Peschong. Born in 1858, Rev. Louis Peschong served in Marytown following his ordination, where he finished the parish’s church, according to “More than Brick and Stone: A History of St. Mary’s Parish” by John J. Schmitz. During his time in Belgium, Wisconsin at St. Mary’s Church, Peschong finished the church started by his predecessor, Fr. Lauthner, as well as added a parsonage, residence for sisters, and school, according to the website Ozaukee County Churches. In 1892, Rev. Peschong arrived in Fond du Lac to serve at St. Mary. The decade prior had been one of great tumult for the parish, facing fighting and disagreements between pastors and parishioners. Rev. Peschong made his time in Fond du Lac, albeit short, one of progress and impact. According to Schmitz, Rev. Peschong found the parish school in debt, but by the time he left in 1895, the school was in the black and considered to be “financially sound.” He also began to make plans for a new church but was never able to bring them to fruition as he was appointed as the business manager, also known as the “procurator,” at St. Francis de Sales Seminary in Milwaukee. He served at the seminary for the rest of his life, dying in 1939. Today he is buried in the Saint Francis Seminary Woods Cemetery, according to PeopleLegacy.com. #history #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #Catholic #priesthood #seminary #fdlhistory #architecture Image credit: “More than Brick and Stone: A History of St. Mary’s Parish” by John J. Schmitz

Today, we would like to share the story of Fr. John J. Collins who was the first resident pastor of Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church and served at St. Joseph Church for more than two decades. Fr. Collins arrived in North Fond du Lac in 1902 after eight years in Janesville. The parish was new at the time, and just over a year after his start in the village, the temporary, “small frame church,” was dedicated, according to “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein. In 1911, following the death of Fr. Taugher, Fr. Collins was reassigned to St. Joseph’s. The parish was in debt due, but Fr. Collins did not see this as insurmountable. Instead, he worked to pay off the debt. He kept careful track of the parish’s finances and a watchful eye over the pew rent, publishing a listing of renters each quarter and marking those who did not pay with an asterisk, according to Wettstein. Although from 1917-1919, there is documentation of Fr. Collins making plans for a parish school, construction did not get underway until 1928. They built the $200,000 school on the land of the former Convent of the Sisters of Mercy and Archbishop Messmer dedicated the building in October of 1928. The school was Fr. Collins’ “crowning achievement,” according to Wettstein. Fr. Collins died tragically on November 29, 1932, while traveling back from Beloit via Highway 151. After hitting a bridge, Fr. Collins went unconscious. Two men seeking to help him placed him “on the shoulder of the road behind his car.” However, another driver misconstrued the helpers for robbers and believed a holdup was under way. In response, he hit the guard rail and by extension, Fr. Collins, who died from the injuries received in this second crash. Fr. Collins’ funeral was held on December 3, 1932, and Archbishop Stritch offered the sermon. “Father Collins was above all a priest, and the priest in society represents Jesus Christ,” he said. Image: “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein #Throwback #History #Priesthood #churches #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #fdlhistory #catholics #catholicism

As we continue to celebrate First Communions in our parish, we are remaining on theme with our #ThrowbackThursday this week and traveling back to the First Communions of 1961! In November of that year, children gathered at St. Mary Church to receive the sacrament of their First Communion. Unlike this year where our parish’s First Communions take place over eight Masses, then it was more limited, occurring at only two Masses—one in fall and one earlier in the year. In the fall class, Fr. Henry Mauer distributed Communion to 115 children, according to the Fond du Lac Reporter! Yes, you read that right, 115 in one Mass! Like every First Communion Mass, this one was special! Hundreds, including parents, friends, family, and Baptismal sponsors, attended the Mass during which they got to hear the girls’ choir sing, accompanied by Sr. M. Felictas of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes on organ, according to the Fond du Lac Reporter. First Communicants entered and left the Mass in a procession led by seven flower girls and followed by acolytes. The fall class was the last of its time to consist purely of third-grade parochial students. The next year, second-grade students became the First Communicants, a tradition that continues to this day. Take a look at the photos of some of the 1961 Fall First Communicant Class. Do you see anyone you recognize? Photos and information courtesy of: The Fond du Lac Reporter and Fond du Lac County Historical Society #throwback #history #fonddulacwi #fdl #hffdl #holyfamilyfdl #church #catholic #firstcommunion #milestone #faith

As we continue to celebrate the Easter season and the joy of Jesus' resurrection, we wanted to share some photos with you of Easters' past at Holy Family, full of faces we know well and those we haven't seen in a while. We hope you enjoy! #ThrowbackThursday #Easter #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #Jesus #photos

It’s #ThrowbackThursday and do we have something beautiful to share! In our archives, we found this treasure: the “Centennial Souvenir” of St. Louis’ Church 100th Anniversary on Sunday, October 19, 1947. The program calls on those reading it to “stop a moment in our daily hustle and bustle of life to learn a little more about the history of our parish (we can never appreciate and love what we ignore) of its struggles, of its heroic efforts at times simply to keep living, of its successes and of its mistakes, that we may then render more heartful thanks to God for having created it so long ago and for having continued its life during these one hundred years…” It does a great job of presenting this history to its parishioners, beginning with the first visit of Catholic priests to Fond du Lac in 1847. The two French missionaries, Rev. F. X. Bonduel, and Rev. Fr. Godfert, arrived to care for the city’s Catholics. That year was a monumental one for Catholicism in Fond du Lac, as Rev. C. Rehrl, the newly appointed pastor of the area, founded the city’s first parish in a “small wooden church” named after “the holy king of France,” St. Louis, according to the program. Nearly 20 years later, the parish constructed the church that became a fixture of the Fond du Lac skyline until it crumbled in a fire in 2007. These images are just some that fill the souvenir, and include those of the parish’s leadership, both clergy and lay, as well as the changing interior of the church itself and the multiple rectories that served the priests during its history. Are any of these images familiar to you? Share your memories of St. Louis Church in the comments below! #Throwback #StLouis #FDLHistory #FondduLac #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #Churches #history

To continue our early celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, for our #ThrowbackThursday, we wanted to take a look back at the history of the church that bears his name in Fond du Lac and answer the question: why was it built with so many different colors of bricks? While St. Patrick’s Day today is associated with celebratory drinking, St. Patrick Church sprung out of the Temperance Movement of the 1800s, which was a campaign to reduce the amount of alcohol consumption nationwide. Irish parishioners from St. Louis Parish came together in 1854 to form the St. Patrick’s Temperance Society. Within a year, the group had more than 250 members and in 1855, with the help of Fr. Dael, the Temperance Society organized the parish, according to “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein. John B. Macy donated land for the new parish to build east of Main Street on Follett. It is believed that construction on the parish started sometime between 1855-1857 and didn’t wrap up until the late 1860s. While it is hard to find a specific date for when construction ended, we do know that Bishop Henni consecrated the altar on July 7, 1867. Why did it take so long to build the church to completion? Construction began just a few years before the Civil War, and once the battles started, resources and people were drawn away from construction. However, even after the consecration of the altar, the parishioners were not done building the church of their dreams. They began to work on the Follett Street entrances, adding new entrances to the side of the main doors, according to Wettstein. In 1911, the large “front tower” of the church we know today was finished, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society. This is why we see three distinct sections of brick on the edifice! With building taking place over such a long duration, the same bricks were not available throughout, leading to differences in color. Photos courtesy of The Clio "St. Patrick's Catholic Parish" by Jenny Lukomski and Google Maps. #stpatricksday #saints #churches #fdlhistory #HFFDL

For this #ThrowbackThursday, we're traveling to the not-so-distant past to explore a staple of the Lenten season not only at Holy Family Catholic Community, but throughout the Catholic world: the Way of the Cross. From the formation of the Catholic Church, people traveled to the Holy Land to follow Jesus’ path to Calvary, and after the Franciscans became “the guardians of the shrines of the Holy Land” in 1342, people received indulgences for visiting the stations, including Pilate’s house, and the locations where Jesus was stripped of His clothing and nailed to the cross, according to EWTN. After visiting the Holy Land in 1462, an English pilgrim named William Wey described the pilgrimage to these locations as “stations.” As it was difficult for most people to travel to the Holy Land, churches began to build their own stations, according to EWTN. The Way of the Cross as we know it can be traced back to the Franciscan of the Riformella Saint Leonard, who throughout his life, “erected more than 570 Stations of the Cross,” according to the university. One of his best known works was the Stations of the Cross placed in the Coliseum and blessed by Benedict XIV. The Franciscans took it upon themselves to spread the Stations. With the granting of indulgences to the 14 stations, they grew in popularity in the 17th and 18th centuries, and became the Way of the Cross we now know today, according to the University of Dayton. These images from ten years ago capture parishioners at Sacred Heart and St. Mary Churches, worshipping Jesus and praying on His sacrifice as follow the journey of His crucifixion. Do you see anyone you recognize? Don't forget! You can join us for the Way of the Cross every Friday night through March 31. Our priests will lead the Way of the Cross at 6:00 pm at Holy Family and 7:00 pm at Our Risen Savior, as well as in Spanish at 7:00 pm at St. Mary. We hope to see you there! #Throwback #WayoftheCross #stations #Jesus #Lent #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL

Like the Catholic Church, our church sites change and adapt with the times as well. For our #ThrowbackThursday this week, we invite you to take a look at these images and just see how much change has happened at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church over its nearly 110-year history. While the outside is a time capsule of the church’s construction in 1915, the interior has been renovated numerous times. As you can see in the earliest photo, the altar—and the church itself—was ornate, featuring many statues and spires. The altar was “intricately carved,” and surrounded by lush plants, according to “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein, the source of these archival images. At that time, wall stencils were also popular, as can be seen in the image. By the 1950s, while much of the altar and stencil work remained intact, you can see that the décor had been toned back, with the plants gone and fewer statues present. Just a couple of decades later, the interior had undergone a major transformation. The spires and the statues on the altar were gone, replaced by a simple mural and linework throughout the sanctuary. That simplicity has carried through today. Statues have returned and the mural is gone, replaced with a crucifix which is the focal point of the altar. Do you attend Presentation and do you remember these changes? Share your memories of Presentation with us in the comments! #Presentation #Blessed #Church #FDLHistory #HolyFamilyFDL #Throwback #HFFDL

Calling all former Sts. Louis and Patrick School students! This #ThrowbackThursday is for you! Does this brochure look familiar? The school used it to advertise a few decades ago, and although there is no exact date on it, some clues, including the fashion choices, point to the 1970s. With images of students at work with nuns and a priest (is that you, Fr. Ed Sippel?), the brochure tells readers about the school under the headings of Organization, Philosophy, Curriculum, and Staff. According to the brochure, the Sts. Louis and Patrick School was actually two buildings located a block apart and separated by Main Street. Children in grades one through four attended the St. Louis Building—equipped with a new learning center—and children in grades five through eight attended the St. Patrick Building—home to the gym as well as Phy Ed. and athletics for kids in all grades. Seventeen teachers, a mixture of religious and lay, taught at the school, instructing students with a curriculum that included daily religious education classes. On a weekly basis, students received instruction from St. Patrick and St. Louis parishes’ associate pastors and had the chance to meet informally with the pastors. While science and reading were taught to all, language arts, math, and social studies were taught “’under contract’ at various grade levels.” Students also enjoyed music and art, as well as electives like typing, elementary mechanics, folk dancing, bowling, community services, nature study, sewing, and cooking among others. #Throwback #CatholicEducation #Catholic #HolyFamilyFDL #HFFDL #FDLHistory

This week’s #Throwback comes to us from the year 1910 via the US Postal Service. That year, this postcard, featuring an image of St. Mary Church, passed through the Fond du Lac Post Office, and was stamped with the date July 27. Back then, a stamp was only $.01, which, when adjusted for inflation, is about $.31 today. On the back side, a local resident wrote to their Aunt Ella, “dropping a note” to check in and see if she was well. At the time of this photo, St. Mary Church was relatively new, completed just nine years before in 1901. Nearly 113 years after the sending of this postcard, while the landscape around it has changed, St. Mary Church is unaged. Like the Catholic Church, St. Mary’s has stood the test of time, remaining a bastion of solace and faith for generations. #history #churches #mail #postcards #FDLhistory #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #StMary #beforevsafter

Talk about a treasure trove! Recently, we came across a photo album full of images from St. Louis Parish during the 1960s. These small, black and white photos capture many joyous times at the parish, from Mass in the beautiful sanctuary to parish festivals offering fun for young and old alike. Today, we are going to share some of these images with you. As you will see, the majority are from one of these parish events, which had games, crafts, desserts, kids boxing, and lots of balloons for people to enjoy! We hope that you enjoy looking at them as well! Do you recognize anyone in these photos? Did you go to events like this at St. Louis? Share with us in the comments! #ThrowbackThursday #Throwback #StLouis #festival #games #boxing #history #HFFDL #FDLHistory #parishlife #1960s #vintage

Our #ThrowbackThursday comes to us all the way from the late 1800s. Found in the Fond du Lac Reporter, this photo was taken in the 1880s, after a fire burned through a building in downtown, its remnants seen between the Exchange Hotel and Conaghton House. However, if you take a look into the background of the photo, you are offered a glimpse into the Catholic Church’s past in Fond du Lac. There, on the lefthand side of the photo, is a tall light-colored structure, its steeple standing out in the skyline in front of the original Fond du Lac High School built in the 1870s. Its name? St. Mary’s School. This was not the first iteration of the school. That was a single-story building called “The Old Dutch College” built in 1857 to educate area German children. In the 1880s, the two-room school surpassed its capacity, and Fr. Joseph Fessler drew up plans to build a new school which could educate 200 children. The plans stated the school would have two stories containing four classrooms, a hall, a gallery, and a stage, according to “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein. Archbishop Heiss dedicated the new school on December 1, 1887 and, as it was made of red brick, it became known as the red Old Dutch College. The school stood for many years, until a new one was constructed in the late 1940s. You can also see different views of this school in images from “More than Brick and Stone: A History of St. Mary’s Parish” by John J. Schmitz. According to the caption printed in the Fond du Lac Reporter on Wednesday, June 25, 1986, you can also see the old St. Mary Church in the area, although we are having a difficult time finding it. If you can, please tell us where you see it in the comments! #Throwback #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #Catholic #History

With snow in the forecast for today, we wanted to share some snowy photos from the early days of St. Mary’s Springs Academy. Taken from the school’s archives, the pictures, we believe, were captured in the 1930s, back when only girls and young women were permitted to attend. SMSA would not become coeducational until 1939, when Archbishop Stritch signed off, recognizing a need for boys’ Catholic education in the area and a lack of funds to pay for it due to the Depression, according to the school’s “100 Years of Vision and Dedication” booklet. Life on the Ledge offered many benefits, including great terrain for sledding and skiing. In these photos, students all bundled up in their winter gear can be seen skating on the ice pond, racing one another and getting into “form for the Winter Carnival.” Did you or any of our family members attend SMSA and enjoy the skating pond or sledding hills? Share with us in the comments! #winter #CatholicEducation #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #FDLHistory #skating #sledding #history

Our #ThrowbackThursday comes to us courtesy of the year 1941. This photo captures the St. Mary’s School graduating class of that year, taken on June 8, 1941. No caps and gowns can be found in the photo. The 25 young women pictured wore pure white dresses, adorned with corsages, and topped off by brimmed hats of various sizes. The 26 young men were dressed to the nines in suits, ties, and boutonnieres. Back in June 1941, the United States was emerging from the Great Depression, and World War II had not yet breached the country’s shores. At St. Mary’s, morale was continuing on an upswing under the leadership of Fr. Gersbach (seen in the center of the back row), as the parish community prospered and progress was made towards building a long-sought new school, according to Mary Ann Wettstein’s book “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area.” The students seen in this photo did not get to experience the new school as the war pushed construction until the end of the 1940s. Instead, they attended the school built in 1887 to accommodate the growing pupil population. At the time, the school was fit with the newest technology—including electric lights that had only recently come to the city, according to “More than Brick and Stone: A History of St. Mary’s Parish” by John J. Schmitz. However, by 1941, the parish and technology had outgrown the school. Even with multiple additions, space was in short supply for students and with aging, came the need for frequent repairs at the school. Do you recognize anyone in this photo? Share with us in the comments! #ThrowbackThursday #graduation #students #FDLhistory #HFFDL

Our second most popular #ThrowbackThursday post for 2022 marked Deacon Dale Paczkowksi's 10th anniversary as a deacon! People loved seeing photos of from his reception after becoming a deacon at Holy Family! We hope you enjoy them again! --- Today, Deacon Dale Paczkowski celebrates the 10th anniversary of his ordination as a deacon! Working most of his life as a Registered Profession Engineer, Deacon Dale felt called to enter the Diaconate and began his studies in 2008. Ten years ago today, he was ordained by Archbishop Listecki at the Cathedral of St. John theToday, Deacon Dale Paczkowski celebrates the 10th anniversary of his ordination as a deacon! Working most of his life as a Registered Profession Engineer, Deacon Dale felt called to enter the Diaconate and began his studies in 2008. Ten years ago today, he was ordained by Archbishop Listecki at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. In Deacon Dale's honor, we thought we would take this #ThrowbackThursday to share a few photos from his reception at Holy Family 10 years ago after he first became a deacon, as well as a few others from throughout the years. Thank you, Deacon Dale for your service here at Holy Family, and that of your family's. We are blessed to have you! #ThrowbackThursday #Throwback #Deacon #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL

Our third most popular #ThrowbackThursday was in celebration of Fr. Sippel's '75th anniversary of his ordination and 100th birthday! --- As this Saturday, we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Fr. Edward Sippel’s ordination—and in less than two weeks, his 100th birthday—this week, we’ve found inspiration for our #Throwback in Fr. Sippel’s life and his past celebrations! The Fond du Lac native was born in 1922 to Louis and Della Sippel, who raised him in a “Christ-centered” life, leading through example with their volunteer work such as at St. Vincent de Paul, according to The Fond du Lac Reporter. He attended St. Lawrence Seminary for high school, and during his time there, decided to enter the priesthood. Following study at Milwaukee’s St. Francis de Sales Seminary, he was ordained on June 7, 1947, according to “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein. Before arriving at St. Patrick’s in 1971, Fr. Sippel served in West Allis, Racine, Milwaukee, and Waukesha, as well as taught high school religion at Racine’s St. Catherine’s, Milwaukee’s Pius High School, and Waukesha’s Catholic Memorial, according to Wettstein. For 20 years, he served at St. Patrick’s, becoming a much-beloved figure at the church and throughout the Fond du Lac community. Many remember him for playing a prominent role in major milestones of their lives—weddings, baptisms, funerals, First Communions, and Confirmations. Even after his retirement in 1991, Fr. Sippel continued to guide people in their faith by offering Mass when called upon and acting as chaplain at the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, as well as helping to maintain the garden there. As he celebrated milestones with our parishioners, our parishioners have celebrated Fr. Sippel’s milestones with him as well. In 2012, we celebrated his 90th birthday and 65th anniversary of his ordination, and in 2017, his 95th birthday. In June, we celebrated his 75th anniversary and 100th birthday. #ThrowbackThursday #HolyFamilyFDL #HFFDL #birthday #ordination #priesthood

As we reach the end of 2022, for our last #ThrowbackThursday of the year, we are throwing it back to our top five #ThrowbackThursdays of this year! In the number five slot is the history of the grandfather clock in our Holy Family Parish Office! If you ever come to the Holy Family Parish Office to meet with one of our priests, you may spot a beautiful grandfather clock along the north wall. Made of dark wood and accented with gold, this clock first came to Fond du Lac on August 4, 1927. The clock was made in Rockford, Illinois, by the Hanson Clock Company, Inc. and sold at the McKinney Furniture Co., in Fond du Lac for $205 – or $3,381 per the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to directions included with the clock, this fine work of craftsmanship features both Davina and Westminster Chimes, all of which were “carefully tuned by professional musicians before leaving the factory.” During the day, these chimes can be heard throughout Parish Office on the half-hour. See if you can hear them on your next visit! #ThrowbackThursday #clock #FondduLac #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #history #fdlhistory

This week for our #ThrowbackThursday, we are showcasing two images of this Advent and soon-to-be Christmas season: the Advent wreath and Christmas creche, specifically, the Advent wreath at St. Mary Church and the creche at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church. If you attended St. Mary’s up until the early 2000s, you may remember a large Advent wreath. Hung from the ceiling, the wreath was suspended over the main aisle, giving you ample opportunity to look up at it and its beautiful candles on the way to Communion. According to a newspaper clipping from “The Fond du Lac Reporter,” the Advent wreath weighed a staggering 150 pounds, and required the steady skill of an altar boy or girl to light the four candles with the assistance of a long candlelighter. “It’s a time of waiting for the birth of the Christ child, a time of waiting and hope,” one parishioner was quoted as saying of Advent. Another sign of hope comes in the form of the Christmas creche, also known as a Nativity scene. At Presentation, it is also one of longevity. Nearly 110 years ago, back in 1915, work was completed on Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church—a dream many years in the making. From the pulpit, the church’s pastor, Fr. Francis Shea, asked for the parishioners to direct their generosity towards donating a creche to the church. As always—and as continues to be true—the parishioners responded, going over and above to do what was asked of them, according to “Retracing the Steps: 150 years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein. The creche features Bethlehem as its backdrop, as well as an angel, farm animals, shepherds, and three kings bearing witness to the miracle of the birth of Jesus. What a beautiful sight! Do you remember seeing the Advent wreath at St. Mary’s or the Presentation creche? Share your memories of this season below! #Throwback #Christmas #Advent #HolyFamilyFdL #HFFDL #Nativity #FDLHistory

Have you ever wondered how our pianos and organs get into the choir lofts at our churches? In flipping through photos in our archives, we found the answer! In 1983, St. Mary’s received a new piano, donated by the St. Mary’s Altar Society, according to an inscription found in the St. Mary’s Choir photo album. To get it into its new home, parishioners worked together, using a system of ropes, lifts, grit, and teamwork to raise the piano from aisle of the church and into the choir loft. Through these pictures, you can see a step-by-step process of the piano’s journey—as well a view of what St. Mary’s looked like in the early 1980s. One change we noticed to the interior: the area beneath the choir loft—which is now the Gathering Space—was once fully open rather than enclosed by windows as it is today. Do you remember this piano or were you part of the team who lifted it? Share your stories with us in the comments below! We can’t wait to read them! #ThrowbackThursday #StMary #music #piano #HolyFamilyFDL #HFFDL #teamwork

This month, as we celebrate the 119th anniversary of the dedication of Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, we wanted to once again spotlight its origins in our #ThrowbackThursday. The village of Fond du Lac was first established in 1902, back when the roads were made of mud and sidewalks of wooden planks, according to “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein. It was that same year that the Catholic residents of North Fond du Lac approached Bishop Frederick Katzer and asked him to assign a priest to the “suburb” of Fond du Lac. Coming to the home of William Finnegan, more than 70 residents signed the petition to form a parish in the village. Before the bishop could do so, the people needed to rent rooms for worship, as well find a place for the priest to live and children of the soon-to-be parish to go to school. The final request was just one example of the bishop’s strong support for Catholic education. Within months, the parish had their first pastor: Fr. John Collins, who arrived from Janesville, according to Wettstein. While he had his first residence at 624 Michigan Avenue, the parish’s first baptism was held at the home Georgiana Driscoll in August 1902. Other Sacraments followed, the first funeral in April 1903 and the first wedding in June of that same year. Within a year of establishing a parish, the congregation built the first church on the corner of Minnesota and Garfield Streets—later the site of Presentation School. The small wood-frame structure had twenty pews, an altar, and a vestibule. The church was dedicated in November of 1903, according to Wettstein. The brick church we know today was built in 1915, the cornerstone blessed on August 15 of that year. With much to be grateful for, the parish dedicated the new church on November 25¬—Thanksgiving Day. As we celebrate Presentation this month, please share with us some of your favorite memories of the church in our comments. #throwback #church #Thanksgiving #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL Photo credit: “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein

If you ever have a chance to get up into the choir loft at St. Mary’s, you will see the organ that for decades has filled the church with beautiful music. Despite the joy it has brought, its origins are bittersweet. Installed in 1925, it is dedicated to one of the church’s pastors: Rev. Charles Stehling. Fr. Stehling came from a priestly family as one of five siblings who went on to become a priest. He studied at Innsbruck, an Austrian city situated in the Alps, and earned his doctorate in Rome before teaching at St. Francis de Sales Seminary in Milwaukee, according to “More than Brick and Stone: A History of St. Mary’s Parish” by John J. Schmitz. He started his ministry at St. Vincent’s in Oskhosh, serving with his uncle who at that time was the pastor. In 1913, he made his way down to Fond du Lac to take over the pastor role from Fr. Godfried Wuelffing. During his time in Fond du Lac, the parish had around 400 families and the same number of children at the school. St. Mary’s school was named one of the best parochial schools in the state in the year of parish’s Golden Jubilee in 1916. This was due to the “standpoint of character of the work accomplished there,” not because of any flashy equipment, according to Schmitz. The tenure of Fr. Stehling was one of expansion, with new entrances added on to St. Mary’s Church, and more land purchased beside it. At the time, this was done to provide space for a playground, but in the future, would offer the needed land for expanding the school. Of course, the new organ costing $10,000 was also built at that time, as the church underwent some renovation. However, when the organ and the renovations were complete, the parish’s pastor was no longer there. Fr. Stehling died suddenly at the age of 52 on October 20, 1925. Two months later, the organ was dedicated, and a plaque installed to dedicate it to Fr. Stehling. Much of this organ remains in St. Mary’s today, with the only updates coming to the keyboard and some of the pipes. Image credit: “More than Brick and Stone: A History of St. Mary’s Parish” by John J. Schmitz #FDLhistory #StMary #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #music #organs #history

If you've ever been in our St. Louis Room at Holy Family Church, which houses many pictures, paintings, and statues from the old church, you will have seen this statue. The statue, of course, is of the church's patron, St. Louis, King of France. Using his faith to guide his royal duties, Saint Louis cared for the sick through his founding of hospitals, brought peace to the nation, and fed the poor, welcoming them into his palace and offering food to those outside of it, according to Franciscan Media. The statue was added to St. Louis Church in the 1950s, more than 100 years after people in Fond du Lac began to celebrate Mass in the growing city. The statue was a gift to the parish "in memory of a wife and mother who had been a long-time member," according to "Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area" by Mary Ann Wettstein. As you can see from the photo of the church in the 1950s, the statue had a prominent place at St. Louis, right by the altar. Today, we are honored to continue to have this statue in our parish and carry forth St. Louis's message. Stop by the St. Louis Room at Holy Family if you'd like to see it! Photos courtesy of Mary Ann Wettstein #ThrowbackThursday #HFFDL #FDLHistory #StLouis #HolyFamilyFDL

Fredrich the Oktoberfest Squirrel wanted to check out some more local art after his stop at THELMA last week. But where is he looking among our local landmarks? Share where you think Fredrich is in the comments below and we will share the answer later today! #Oktoberfest #HFOktoberfest #HFFDL #holyfamilyfdl #art #squirrels

That squirrel's on the move! After making a stop at the Lakeside Park Band Stand to tell passersby about Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 8 at Holy Family, Fredrich decided to check out another Fond du Lac favorite location. Can you tell where he is? Post in the comments and we'll share the answer later today! #fonddulacwi #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #Oktoberfest #HFOktoberfest #art

For our #ThrowbackThursday this week, we wanted to spotlight a figure who is known by name in this community, but his story may not be known as widely: Fr. Mathias Zerfas. Fr. Mathias was born on May 27, 1908 in Kenosha County. While little could be found about his early life, we know that he came to Fond du Lac in 1934 to serve at St. Mary’s Church as the associate pastor with Pastor Fr. Philip Rose, according to “More than Brick and Stone: A History of St. Mary’s Parish” by John J. Schmitz. He served at the parish for many years, his tenure remembered by parishioners with “memories of kind respect,” Schmitz wrote. He stayed at the parish until World War II reached American shores, at which time Fr. Mathias enlisted in the United States Army as a chaplain and earned the rank of captain. He was stationed in the Philippines and caught in the fighting when the Japanese invaded. As bullets flew and bombs burst, Fr. Mathias did not run to safety, but stayed amid the battle to comfort injured and dying soldiers. For such work, he “received a citation of valor,” according to Schmitz. As the country began to fall to the Japanese, Fr. Mathias once again chose to stay. He was soon captured and is known as “hero of the Bataan Death March,” Schmitz wrote. On the march, the POWs suffered much abuse, and many were killed, according to Britannica. Surviving, during this time as a prisoner, Fr. Mathias cared for those who were sick, celebrated Mass, led the Rosary and prayer daily, and offered conversion classes, despite the fact he was starving and sick himself, according to honorstates.org. Sadly, Fr. Mathias never saw the end of the war. He lost his life when American planes erroneously bombed the Japanese POW ship he was on. He was one of seven chaplains who perished on the ship, according to Schmitz. Today, he is recognized in in the Philippines on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery. He is also the namesake of our local Knights of Columbus, Council #664, Knights of Columbus Fr. Mathias Zerfas Council. Photo source: honorstates.org. #HFFDL #FondduLacWI #FDLhistory #POWS #WWII #Faith #Army

Today, Deacon Dale Paczkowski celebrates the 10th anniversary of his ordination as a deacon! Working most of his life as a Registered Profession Engineer, Deacon Dale felt called to enter the Diaconate and began his studies in 2008. Ten years ago today, he was ordained by Archbishop Listecki at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. In Deacon Dale's honor, we thought we would take this #ThrowbackThursday to share a few photos from his reception at Holy Family 10 years ago after he first became a deacon, as well as a few others from throughout the years. Thank you, Deacon Dale for your service here at Holy Family, and that of your family's. We are blessed to have you! #ThrowbackThursday #Throwback #Deacon #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL

Let's start off this Wednesday with a game! Think you know your saints? Watch the video below and see if you can figure out who our selected saint is this week with the help of three clues. Post your answer in the comments below and we will reveal it later today! #CatholicChurch #Trivia #saints #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL

Our #ThrowbackThursday comes with some good news and a behind-the-scenes look at an integral part of Holy Family Church this week! If you have attended Mass at Holy Family Church recently you may have noticed that the organ sounds different. That is because it is currently undergoing a major renovation. The pipes are currently not playing, only the electronic part of the organ is functioning. Most of the organ pipes were built and installed in St. Joseph Church in Fond du Lac in 1916. In 1957 the organ underwent a major renovation. New pipes were added and a new organ console. 1995 was the year of the next major renovation. The organ electronics were upgraded with digital technology. In 2007 the organ was moved from St. Joseph Church to our new Holy Family Church. Because Holy Family Church is more than twice as big as St. Joe’s, a new electronic sound module was added to increase the sound enough to fill the new, larger church. That electronic module is the only part that plays right now while the pipes are being renovated and restored. This latest renovation should keep the organ working properly for decades to come. This renovation should be completed by this Fall. The total cost of the renovation is $27,000. Any contributions to this project would be greatly appreciated! #ThrowbackThursday #HolyFamilyFDL #HFFDL #organs #churchorgans #FDLHistory

As this Saturday, we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Fr. Edward Sippel’s ordination—and in less than two weeks, his 100th birthday—this week, we’ve found inspiration for our #Throwback in Fr. Sippel’s life and his past celebrations! The Fond du Lac native was born in 1922 to Louis and Della Sippel, who raised him in a “Christ-centered” life, leading through example with their volunteer work such as at St. Vincent de Paul, according to The Fond du Lac Reporter. He attended St. Lawrence Seminary for high school, and during his time there, decided to enter the priesthood. Following study at Milwaukee’s St. Francis de Sales Seminary, he was ordained on June 7, 1947, according to “Retracing the Steps: 150 Years of Catholic Faith in the Fond du Lac Area” by Mary Ann Wettstein. Before arriving at St. Patrick’s in 1971, Fr. Sippel served in West Allis, Racine, Milwaukee, and Waukesha, as well as taught high school religion at Racine’s St. Catherine’s, Milwaukee’s Pius High School, and Waukesha’s Catholic Memorial, according to Wettstein. For 20 years, he served at St. Patrick’s, becoming a much-beloved figure at the church and throughout the Fond du Lac community. Many remember him for playing a prominent role in major milestones of their lives—weddings, baptisms, funerals, First Communions, and Confirmations. Even after his retirement in 1991, Fr. Sippel continued to guide people in their faith by offering Mass when called upon and acting as chaplain at the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, as well as helping to maintain the garden there. As he celebrated milestones with our parishioners, our parishioners have celebrated Fr. Sippel’s milestones with him as well. In 2012, we celebrated his 90th birthday and 65th anniversary of his ordination, and in 2017, his 95th birthday. On Saturday, we will celebrate his 75th anniversary and 100th birthday at the 4:00 pm Mass at Holy Family. Please join us in congratulating Fr. Sippel on reaching these momentous milestones! #ThrowbackThursday #HolyFamilyFDL #HFFDL #birthday #ordination #priesthood

For this week’s #ThrowbackThursday, our subject is the soon-to-be-celebrated feast day of Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood Christ, also known as Corpus Christi Sunday. We can trace the origin of the feast day to Liège, Belgium, where in 1246, the Bishop of Liège, Robert de Torote, declared the festival of Corpus Christi, according to Britannica. This decision came after Saint Juliana of Cornilion had a vision during Eucharistic Adoration which asked her to plead for a feast day to celebrate the Eucharist, increase faith, “advance in the practice of the virtues and to make reparation for offences to the Most Holy Sacrament,” according to EWTN. It took nearly 20 years for it to spread beyond Belgium. When the Archdeacon of Liège, Jacques Pantaléon, became pope—taking the name Pope Urban IV—he ordered the entire Church celebrate the feast in 1264. The order was later confirmed by Pope Clement V at the Council of Vienne. Within two centuries, it was known as one of the principal feasts of the Church, according to Britannica. As we continue to celebrate Corpus Christi throughout the world, one of the most prominent traditions of the feast day is the procession. Many centuries ago, magistrates, members of guilds, princes, and sovereigns took part in the procession. In the 15th century, it was followed by mystery and miracle plays, as well. Today, we continue to mark Corpus Christi with processions. Please enjoy these photos of Corpus Christi processions from recent years - featuring some familiar faces - and join us this Saturday night for our Corpus Christi procession through Marian University’s campus beginning at 8:30 pm at Stayer Center. By candlelight, we will process to Dorcas Chapel with the Blessed Sacrament for prayer and benediction. #Throwback #Eucharist #HFFDL #HolyFamilyFDL #CorpusChristi #Catholic #Holy