| East Dubuque Local Area History Project | |
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Menominee Nativity BVM by S. O.
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| In 1850 the church was built by Fr. Mazzuchelli where the present church stands it was named St. Mary's, Its first priest was Fr. Francis Kendler in 1864. In 1881 the Catholic school was built. In 1904 a new pulpit and alter was bought, also statues that are hand carved and stamped with the name Italy. In 1912 the church's name was still St. Mary's. In 1921 a robber broke in and stole some coins before he was scared away. The next day they heard a man had been hit by a train and coins were all over the tracks. In 1954 a new school was open and staffed by the Dominican Sisters. In 1963 a lot of changes were made in the church a lot of these were hard for the people to accept. These changes were two communion stations and a portable alter facing the parishioners. Fr. Fitzgibbons made more changes including taking out the side alter and using the wood to make the high alter, new carpet, and new frames for the stations of the cross. In 1968 a group of mothers formed to teach their kids in a Christ-like way. In 1968 Fr. Stringini started the C.C.D. and DRE programs he had the gym redone, new cabinets in the sacristies , and the communion stations removed. Now the number of students is between 70 and 100. | |
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Bibiography St. Mary's Celebrating 125 years |
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