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mm l|M«r' i -4%m4 r&g* *'*?*£ • in 'tWruiiy FATHER EUGENE BAUMHOFER St. Mary Catholic pastor and he assumed the position sometime in January of 1915. It was during Father Ber- thold's pastorate that fire struck twice in the church first, and then in the rectory. Ex­ tensive damage was done to the church. While the original brick work remains for the most part, the church otherwise required complete rebuilding and remodeling.New altars, pews, stain glass windows, organ and Stations of the Cross were installed. Stephen H. Freund, acting as superintendent of building, had the assistance of many of the carpenters and various tradesmen in the work. New roof, rebuilding of the steeple, somewhat modified from the original, floors and general woodworking went on and before too long, St. Mary's people were back in their beloved church again. This appears to have been around September of 1919. On Aug. 10, 1921, Father Charles S. Nix arrived as new pastor of St. Mary's. He was to hold the position until his death in October of 1960, a period of thirty-nine years. In 1935, Father Nix was named a papal chamberlain with the title of Very Reverend Monsignor. He was named a domestic prelate in 1945 and granted the title of Right Reverend Monsignor. Records show that in the year of 1921, there were 193Jfemilies in the parish. The old school building, obtained in 1896, was still in use. Staffed by the School Sisters of St. Francis, it served a pupil enrollment of 146 -- sixty-four boys and eighty- two girls. It is not definite as to 1894 ST. MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH 1403 N. Richmond Road McHenry The church of St. Mary of the Assumption became a parish with a resident pastor in 1894. Its culture was Germanic in origin and the early congregation was quite rural in character. It was first served by the resident priest at St. John the Baptist church, Johnsburg. German missionaries on their way to the church in Jopnsburg would stop in McHenry to care for the Germans at St. Mary's. During the time of Father H. M. Fegers, who came to John­ sburg in 1868, the German community in McHenry was considered a mission of that parish. As numbers increased, there was need for a resident pastor at St. Mary's. A committee requested of the Catholic Bishop that a resident pastor be assigned. Father R. J. Kirsch was appointed to the pastorate and the work of organizing a parish for the German speaking people of McHenry began. Parochial activity centered around a school building which stood on the site of the present Montini Middl^ school. Here, Aug. 15, 189<on the feast of the Assumption of Mary, Father Kirsch offered his first Mass as pastor of St. Mary's. Plans were started for setting up a complete parish plant. The first project was the church. Materials were ordered and shipped in by rail. Volunteer labor, horses and escavating implements were recruited and excavation began. Parishioners who were far­ mers gave their time and equipment in hauling all materials from the railroad siding to the site. Dedication of the church took place on Our Lady's Assumption, August 15, 1898, and for the first time, the Holy Mass was offered in the stately edifice which has served the needs of McHenry Catholics with few in­ terruptions since. The original This was the interim* of St. Mary Catholic church until changes were made in recent years. cost of construction was $16,750. After a suitable place of worship, priority was placed on a parish school. Classes could be conducted in the old school building. Atmosphere was not essential, learning was. The heritage of their faith was important as the Shrines of the area and their care through the generations make evident. The School Sisters of St. Francis operated the district school in Johnsburg. Their services were requested for McHenry. They answered the call readily and have ad­ ministered the educational program through the years. The pastorate of Father Kirsch ended in 1901 and Father M. Barth was charged with the care of the parish. He served in that pastoral office until 1907 when he was suc­ ceeded by Father Anthony Royer. Father Royer resigned in July, 1914, on account of ill health and he died Oct. 11, 1914. His signature in the baptismal register is found for the last time under the date of June 22, 1914. Bishop Peter Muldoon assigned Father Karl Ostenkoetter to the post of pastor and his signature is first found under the date of Aug. 2, 1914. It is found the last time on Jan. 2, 1915. Father Edward Berthold was next appointed where the original convent #as located. The cornerstone on the present convent dated original construction in 1910. There have been additions and alterations to it over the years. At the direction of Bishop Edward F. Hoban. Monsignor Nix undertook the erection of a new building in 1937 which was to serve as a common school for the children of St. Mary's and St. Patrick's parishes. This arrangement lasted until 1951 when the people of St. Patrick's built their own facility at the direction of Bishop John J. Boy lan. Through the years, the School Sisters gave devoted and ad­ mirable service in the staffing of the school. At one time the number of sisters was fifteen and classes were conducted in every available place. Even the church basement -- now the Mary chapel - housed two classrooms. With the population boom, the educational and religious services to the McHenry community expanded at St. Mary's. In 1956. four classrooms and gymnasium were added to the original facility. The school grew to a population of 640 Sister Andreella, O.S.F. has headed the music department for thirty-eight years. Her work with the children and St. Mary's adult choir has been outstanding in the community. Her senior choir ranks out­ standing among the choirs of thg" Rockford diocese. Sister Andreella is still in charge of music for the parish. Assistant pastors have (Continued on page 3) v, \ "» Of St. Mary Formed In RT. REV. MSGR. C.S. NIX (Served 1921-1960V St. Mary Catholic PAGE 2 - PLAIN DEALER CENTENNIAL EDITION AUGUST i, 1975 Parish m PS 9 Vi Mb - HARDWARE • Quality and Service Through The Years VYCITAL'S HARDWARE STORE IN 1908. LEFT TO RIGHT: FRED KARLS, HENRY SCHAEFER, HERBERT WEBER, JOHN VYCITAL AND FRANCES VYCITAL. Photo, courtesy of Frances Vycital, It u & from one of McHenry's finest family owned businesses. Always stocking our shelves with quality merchandise and serving our customers in a friendly, helpful way. With Charles Vycital at the helm,we hope to continue to grow and prosper along with the McHenry Plaindealer. VYCITAL'S PRO HARDWARE 1228 V. GREEN ST. McHENRY, ILL - 385-0098 PS (f f. u u &