Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 23, Number 246, Decatur, Adams County, 17 October 1925 — Page 12

LOCAL CATHOLIC CONGREGATION FORMED IN 1838 (Continued from Page Nine) parish had been shifted, first to the Rev. Alphoflse Monclna, then to the Rev. E. M. Failer. The latter bought the first church bell for SBO.OO. it X had to be shipped by canal from Cincinnati into Fort Wayne, and to be hauled from there to Decatur. At this time the church grounds consisted of six lots. The Succeeding Pastor*. The sixth priest, the Rev. B. H. Schulties. was the first one permanently stationed at Decatur. He built the first rectory in 1852 and remained until 1856. For almost a year. Decatur was left without a resident pastor during which time it waa visited by Father Faller and Father Rudolph. ■ From June. 1856, to May, 1857, Father Sebastian Gente* C. PP. S. ministered ; to the wants of the congregation. After him came Father L. Schneider who remained but a few months. 1 Father Jacob Greyer took charge of i the parish in 1858, and remained un- 1

til 1862. Again the parish was left without a resident pastor, and Father Meyers and Father Heitmann from St. Mary’s church, Fort Wayne, visited Decatur from time to time. Church Built In 1872. The Rev. Julius Becks came in Jan-1 uary. 1865, and remained one year.' The pastorate of the Rev. Jno. Wenthoff extended from 1866 to September, 1872. The congregation had. by this time outgrown its primitive place of worship, and Father Wemhoff set to work to plan for a suitable church. He remained long enough to see the foundation laid for the present St. Mary's church, which faces Fourth

A Monument of Learning x THE NEW Catholic School Building will stand as a monument of learning ... .. and congregational interest in the t welfare of the coming generations. Congratulations are extended to St. Mary's congregation C on the completion and dedication of / the modern and beautiful school building and the community feels justly proud of this new institution of learning. WEMHOFF Monumental Works 313-317 Monroe Street Phone 395 “Monuments to revere the / memory of the dear ones.”

street. Father Von Sehwedler was appoint- . ed pastor in 1872, and h‘e finished the ' church begun by his predecessor. He was succeeded by Father Jos. Uussbaum. who remained until 1880. In . the same year on July 23. Father H. Theodore Wilken took charge of the parish and labored with unremitting zeal until death called him to his reward. October 20 1913. Rev. Wilken's Noble Work. When Father Wilken took charge of the congregation. It was burdened with a debt of 15.000. His first care was to provide a school for life children pf the parish. In 1881. the building. facing Madison street was completed. and three Sisters of St. Agnes came to take charge of thte school of ninety pupils. The Sisters lived ou Fourth street until 1893 when a Sisters’ home was erected together with two new class rooms to accomodate the increased number of pupils. These latter buildings cost 17,500, and were paid out of the bequest of Henry Derkes. After this. Father Wilken turned his attention to a home for himself and his successors, which was completed in 1885.

In 1888, Rev. Wilken was made (•removable pastor, as a token of appreciation of his unremitting zeal in the care of his parish. In 1894. the congregation, in accordance with the advice of Father Wil- | ken. purchased a new cemetery west [ • of the city which is today one fff the finest burial grounds in the state. First Assistant Appointed. By this time. St. Mary’s parish had grown to such an extent that it became necessary to provide an assist- I ant for the pastor. The Rev. Jno. i Blum was the first priest to act in that capacity and he remained in this office from Nov. 1, 1896 to Nov. 1. i

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1925.

Assistant Pastor HI I ■ IHIII I \ \\ \ I 11111 I FATHER OTTO PETERS Father Otto Peters is assistant pastor of the Sh Marys Catholic ( church. He. also, serves as director, of athletics in the Catholic schoo’s. He has done much to promote athletics and physical training in the

schools. 1900. He was succeeded by the Rev. Jno. B. Steger who labored here from August 24. 1905, to r 15. 1906. He in turn was succeeded by the Rev. George Angermaier, who j served as assistant from the last men- I Honed date to April, 1910. From the time of his romoval to July, 1912, the . Rev. Wm Flaherty filled that position. | The Rev. Hermann Theodore Wil- I ken labored here with unremitting zeal | until his death. The parish in which | he spent his best years sincerely mourned his unexpected and untiirfely i death. ■

THE Congregation , I • -OF- • , X I St. Mary’s Catholic Church is to be congratulated on the -.co mple tio n and < dedication o f the rtew / t Catholic School Building We had the pleasure o f furnishing the ' ROOFING, SKYLIGHTS AND SHEET METAL WORK . . . required in the construction of this modern school building. WE ARE ALSO DEALERS IN * SLATE-TILE AND ASPHALT BUILT-UP ROOFING ~ ' METAL CORNICE-SKYLIGHTS AND STEEL CEILING " Gerding & Auman Brothers FORT WAYNE, INDIANA ' 415-419 Wallace Street Phone Harrison 1399