Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 52, Number 126, Decatur, Adams County, 28 May 1954 — Page 9

Catholic Church To Be Dedicated Monday Morning

Dedicatory Program St. Mary’s Church MONDAY, MAY 31, 1954 The Most Rev. Archbishop John F. Noll, D. D. Bishop of Fort Wayne Solemn High Mass 10:30 a. m. (C. D. S. T.) Coram Episcopo Officers of the Mass The Rev. Vincent Ehlnger, Chicago, Celebrant. The Rev. Thomas Durkin, Fort Wayne, Deacon The Rev. Ambrose Heimann, Carthegena, 0., Sub-deacon. The Rev. Robert Hoevel, Pierceton. Master of Ceremonies The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Charles Feltes, Fort Wayne, Assistant to the Archbishop. The Very Rev. Msgr. J. J. Seimetz, Pastor. Archpriest. Sermon The Most Rev. Archbishop Noll. Choir St. Marys Men’s Choir The Rev. Lawrence Heimann, Rensselaer, Guest conductor. Lawrence Pursley, Director Sister M. Paul, C. S. A.. Accompanist Proper of the Mass^—Terribilis Est — Rossini Ordinary of the Mass—Missa Immaculata Conceptione , by Lucinio Refice Offertory—Benedlcimus Dorn file —Met tent let er Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament: 0 Salutarls —> Perosi-Helmann Tantum Ergo—Aiblinger-Helmann Recessional?—Magnificat — Neiland.

Msgr. Seimetz Sees Realization Os Church Plans

Universally recognized is the truth that a church is the House of God and becomes the place where the faithful gather to worship Him. On the material side no church “ever grew” and became a sacred edifice without planning .for its construction. In the heart of priest and minister pulsates that desire to build a House of God, a goal that they strive to reach in a lifetime of endeavor in the vineyard of the Lord. Monday, when the cathedral‘‘'like St. Mary's Catholic church is dedicated by the Most Rev. Archbishop John F. Noll, D. D.. bishop of Fort Wayne, the religious rite will climax a double achievement for the parish and the Very Rey. Msgr. J. J. Seimetz, beloved pastor and spiritual leader of the congregation. While not the,full attainment of his life's goal, formal opening and consecration of the church to the service of God, brings to reality a dream of Msgr. Seimetz, who in years past "built the church” in his mind and labored untiringly in creating its intrinsic beauty. Happiness of parishioners over their new church is overshadowed only by the gratefulness they have for their pastor in seeing that it was built. As a member stated, “We realize the great effort —Father Seimetz made to build the church.” and commenting, “He would be the last person to want praise for this noble work.” Lacking only a few weeks, 43 years of Msgr. Seimetz’s life has been in the priesthood. Born in Michigan City, Ind., Sept. 3, 1884 he completed his elementary schooling in tjiat city and then began his studies for the priesthood at St. Joseph’s college, Rensselaer. His theological studies were continued at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary, Cincinnati. He was ordained in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Fort Wayne, June 17, 1911 by the late Bishop Aldering. His first assignment was assistant pastor at St. Joseph’s church, Logansport, "where he served until 1920. _ * He was appointed pastor of St. Patrick’s church in Chestdrton in 1920, remaining there until 1933. On the death of his uncle, the late ißev. Julius A. Seimetz, Dec. 28, 1932, Father Seimetz was ap< pointed to the local pastorate. Appointed' ■by Bishop Noll, Father Seimetz came to Decatur. Jan. 28, 1933. During his first

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

JR -W ■h* BBUBB MSGR. SEIMETZ years as pastor he devoted time and thought to the development of the Catholic grade and high schools. The schools now have a first class commission from the state. In June, 1936, Father Seimetz’s silver jubilee as a priest was observed by the parish. A program was held in the school auditorium. Crowning his 34 years in the priesthood and in recognition of liis pastoral accomplishments, was his designation by Pope Pius XII as Papal chamberlain, with the rank of Monsignor. In solemnities held in old St. Mary’s church, Sept. 20. 1945, the investiture of the cape and mantellone was conducted by Bishop Noll. As a breather from his confining duties, the parish arranged a Holy year pilgrimage to Rome for Msgr. Seimetz in 1951. He had an audience with Pope Plus. He visited many of the famous Cathedrals and churches in 'Rome and other European cities. • » Stymied by war-time and national emergency controls on materials, Msgr. Seimetz did not launch the church building fund campaign until 1947. Since that time pledges of parishioners have been liquidated and additional gifts made to the church. The old brick church was vacated in June, 1948, and razed from the site early in 1949. Services were held In the Cathslic school auditorium until the first Sunday in May, thia year. Msgr. Seimetz broke ground tor the new church, March 12. 1953, and the cornerstone was laid Dec. (Turn To Pace Four)

Edifice Features Modern Design

The dedication Monday ot St. Mary's Catholic church will formally open one of the most beautiful churches in the midwest. Fine materials blended together in a strong contemporary design make it an outstanding architectural achievement. It was designed by Edward J. Schulte, noted architect of Cincinnati, Ohio. The church with a seating capacity of 750 persons is Joined to the 20-room rectory. The exteriors of both buildings are finished in striking Lannon stone, a limestone which comes from Wisconsin. Reaching 146 feet from the ground is the tower, which is topped with a modern cross. In the tower hang the bells of the old St. Mary's church which was razed five years ago. The main doors of Appalachaln oak decorated with fine hand carving face Fourth street. Above the door is a statue of the Blessed Virgin to whom the church is dedicated. This statue, also modern, is carved tn relief out of stone. The interior of the church includes the nave which is the body of the church with 28 pews, the sanctuary with the main altar, the transepts with the side altars and W pews each, the sacristies for priests and altar boys and the narthex or vestibule. Leudipg from the narthex are doorways to restrooms, baptistry and choir loft stairways. Focal point of the interior decor is the huge mosaic depicting the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. This outstanding piece of art forms a reredos or backdrop above and behind the main altar. A Venitian mosaic, it is formed with thousands of pieces of colored and gold glass. The main altar is of Tennessee

Dedication Will Mark Milestone In Local Parish

The completion and dedication of -the new Catholic church is another milestone in the history of St. Mary’s parish which has played an important part in the development of Decatur, The parish was formed in 1837 of the first Catholic settlers in Decatur, among them Henry Derites, Henry Minter, George Fettich, John Mueller, Joseph Smith. Anthony Kohne, Bernard Holthouse, George Spuller, Timothy and Daniel Coffee and others. The first Mass was offered in the spring of 1838 by the Rev. Louis Mueller of Fort Wayne in the George Fettich home which was located where Lee Hardware store now stands. The first Catholic church was erected In 1846 under the direction of the Rev. E. M, Faller. It was a small frame building made possible by the money and daily manual labor of the parishioners. A few years later in 1852, the Rev. B. H. Schulties became the first resident priest in Decatur and he built the first parish house. The first of the three bells which hang today in the new church arrived in 1848. The brick edifice w’hich was razed in 1949 was begun in 1871 under the Rev. John Wemhoff and completed two years later by the Rev. F. Von Schwedler. . . ~ \ After the Rev. H. Theodore Wilken became pastor of the parish in 1880, a new school was built to replace classrooms in the old frame church. Under Father Wilken, a new rectory was built in 1888, an annex to the school and sister’s home was erected in 1893 and forty acres of land west of the city were purchased for a new cemetery. _ Other high spots of Father Wlb

Decatur,* Indiana, Friday, May 28, 1954 '

green and gold marble.'lt features specially designed candlesticks, crucifix and tabernacle, all of bronze. In the transepts are the side altars of carved Appalachian oak and colors. The right altar is dedicated to St. Joseph and the left to the Blessed Virgin. The statues of these saints above the altars are modern artistic wood creations. The ceiling of the nave and transepts are decorated interestingly with Christian symbolic designs, most of which relate to the Blessed Virgin. The litany of the Virgin is carried out in these symbols. The interior surfaces of the church are Indiana limestone. Blending with this stone throughout the church is the natural lightcolored oak of the Communion rail, doors, pews i and other trim. The floors are of green terrazzo in a blaclj border design. Stained glass windows supply the strong color note and lend warmth and atmosphere to the interior. These windows, like the mosaic, are originals and will not be duplicated in another church since the patterns are destroyed upon completion. - Lighting fixtures especially designed by the architect include both downlight for reading and reflected light for general illumination. . The heating system is farmed by the distribution of warm air through the area of the church from underneath the pews. A summer exhaust system has been designed to take out the hot air during the warm season. Simplicity is the keynote of the entire structure and beauty wag achieved along with utility of design and permanence of materials.

ken’s pastorate were the frescoeing of the church In 1895, the appointment of the Rev. John Blum as first assistant in 1895, the purchase of a new pipe organ at a cost of 12,500 in 1898, the installation of a heating plant for the church school, parsonage and sisters’ home In, 1903, the installation of electric lighting in all of the buildings in 1904, the 25th anniversary celebration of Father Wilken's pastorate in 1905 and another addition to the school in 1907. The Rev. J. A. Seimetz, uncle of the present pastor, was appointed pastor of the“parish after the death of Father Wilken Oct. 20, 1913. One of Father Seimetz’ major accomplishments was the erection of the present school building begun in 1923 and dedicated in 1925. Following the death of Father Seimetz in December of 1932, his nephew, the Rev. J. J. Seimetz, was appointed permanent pastor of the local parish. Under him, the school received a continuous commission and this year a first class commission. He has been responsible for many improvements in the school building. In the fall of ,1948, Father Seimetz was raised to the rank of Monsignor in "recognition of the work he has done in the Decatur parish. His plans for building a new church go back several years before it became a reality. It is largely through his impetus thdt the modern edifice was built. Part of the history of the local parish is the growth of several organizations for both men and women. These groups which have contributed financially to the erection of the new church Include (Turn To Page Four)

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SECTION TWO