History of the Angels Parish, Green Bay, WI. Golden Jubilee 1898-1948, p. 7- 51 CAP at Orchard Lake.

POLISH IMMIGRATION TO GREEN BAY Up to the year 1840, Green Bay had been predominantly populated by French and English residents. From that year, however, large groups of other nationalities from Europe began to arrive. They were the Irish, the Germans, the Belgians and the Hollanders. The Poles did not come to Green Bay in any large numbers until after the Civil War although some Polish families made a brief stop here earlier. The first Polish immigrants arrived here by sailboat in July, 1856, and numbered six families. They were the families of Jacob Werechowski, Michael Kozyczkowski, Adam Klesmit, Joseph Szufler, Joseph Daczyk and John Zynda. But their stay in Green Bay lasted only a few days. They left Green Bay for Stevens Point, probably by stage-coach or on foot, and made the near one hundred mile trip over rough roads in one week. Near Stevens Point, they formed the nu- cleus of the first Polish settlement in Wisconsin at Polonia. First Poles Reside in Green Bay in 1864 Because St. Mary of the Angels parish was originally established for the Poles of Green Bay, it is fitting to devote more space to their settlement and growth in this city. The first Poles to reside permanently in Green Bay came here in 1864. In 1868, they were visited by a certain Father Szulak, a Polish Jesuit missionary. Traditionally, a larger arrival of Polish immigrants at Green Bay is said to have occurred around 1870. They came from Western Poland, then under German occupation, from such regions as Cassubia, Pomerania (Pomorze) and Posen (Poznan). Compulsory military service, oppression of the common people by the rulers in Europe, and excessive taxes exacted by the monarchs were some of the causes listed by the early Green Bay Poles, such as Frank Aland, as prompting them to leave their homeland and to seek a better fate in America. In the early 1870's, the Kulturkampf and May Laws of Chancellor Bismarck of Germany were an additional reason for the Poles of Western Poland to seek elsewhere free- dom of religious worship and the preservation of their national character. Finally, and this was probably the most cogent reason, the prospects for economic betterment in the old country were very poor. 1 Greater Polish Immigration to Green Bay in 1874 A second greater surge of Polish immigration to Green Bay took place in 1874. A contemporary newspaper account gave the following report in that year: "It is expected that there will be a considerable Polish immigration to this city within a few months. This nationality already has quite a footing here and are now preparing to build a Catholic church on Crooks street." (Green Bay Daily State Gazette, March 11, 1874). In 1876, the Polish settlement at Green Bay was large enough to be included in a statistical survey of Polish settlements in the United States. The number of Poles attending the Cathedral must have been impressive enough to prompt Bishop Krautbauer of Green Bay, in 1879, to seek a Polish assistant for that parish. The early Green Bay Poles settled on Walnut and Main streets, on the east side of the Fox river, and in the north end of Fort Howard. The wave of Polish immigration to Green Bay continued at a speeded up tempo in the 1880's. Many of the charter members of the future St. Mary of the Angels parish came to Green Bay during this period. They now began to settle in greater groups further south of E. Walnut street. Many also overflowed into Preble and on the farms south and southeast of Green Bay. "The Polish King of Green Bay" An outstanding figure arises from the growing group of Polish settlers in and around Green Bay during the 1880-1892 period. He was John Gajewski, operator of a grocery store and a saloon, a notary public, a real estate and steamship agent. He operated his business on the northwest corner of Madison and Main streets. Because of his prominent role in settling and representing the Poles in the Green Bay area, Gajewski was called by Poles and nonPoles alike in this region the "Polish King of Green Bay." Besides German and Polish, he knew the English language very well, a rarity for a Polish immigrant in those days. As a railroad and steamship agent, he would meet the incoming Poles at the Green Bay depots and docks and would lodge them at his home until they could settle on their newly purchased farm or city property. He was deeply interested in the welfare of the Polish immigrant. He would handle all business and legal transactions for his troubled and confused Polish countrymen. This attitude in return gained for him the great confidence of the Poles in the Green Bay area. He died of a stroke on the night of August 13, 1892, at the age of forty-two years. His premature death ended the career of a very wholesome person who loved and helped his own people and at the same time commanded the respect and good will of those not of his nationality. Other Polish Business Places in Last Quarter of 19th Century Four types of business places were operated by the Poles of Green Bay in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. They were saloons, grocery stores, small hotels and land agencies.

2 In 1874, Thomas Wyrzykowski operated a saloon located on Crooks street in the first ward. Similar places were owned by John Gajewski and John Kitt on Main street. John Gajewski also operated the first known Polish grocery store in 1883. In 1898, Stanley Lukasiewicz began a grocery store and meat market at Mason and Twelfth (now Irwin) streets. In the 1890's, a group of small hotels was operated by Poles on Main street. The Cooperstown House, or Hotel (now Allen Hotel), located at 617 Main street, was run from 1889 by the Tho- mas Kolocheski family. The Milwaukee House, directly across the street from the Cooperstown House, was in the hands of Joseph Piaskowski and was built by Phillip Kluth, a Pole of Green Bay. There was also the Polonia House between Monroe and Quincy on Main street. Michael Budzisz owned a saloon and hall on the corner of Madison and Main prior to the year 1898. He later transferred to the northwest corner of Washington and Main streets. After John Gajewski had first spurted real estate sales to Poles in this area, he was followed by Edward Koldrowicz and his agents Drwenski, Faikel and Liberski. Another Polish real estate agent during this period was John A. B. Olejniczak. In 1898, Casimir Owocki was junior partner of the Shepeck-Owocki real estate firm. These were some of the early Polish busi¬ness men of Green Bay. The limited space in this book does not allow for their complete listing. Green Bay Poles Holding Political Offices For a small national minority in Green Bay's multinational makeup, Green Bay Poles were quite active in the field of politics. The Polish element of Green Bay was represented in the aldermanic post by Maximilian Ziol kowski in the years 1894 and 1895. Two aldermen then represented a ward. Ziolkowski was one of the two representing the fifth ward in the above years. In 1898, a Polish political organization ex¬isted and was known as the Kosciuszko Club. Its first officers were Casimir Owocki, president, Michael Jalowiec, vice-president, M. Fruzyna, secre- tary, Anton Slupinski Sr., treasurer, and John Faltynski, marshall. Political views of this club were Democratic. In 1898, this club sponsored Julius Kolocheski for alderman of the fifth ward, but he was defeated. The influence of the Kosciuszko Club waned and it ceased to exist about the year 1905. Brown County Sheriff, a Pole In 1904, Edward Koldrowicz was appointed deputy revenue collector, a post he held for over ten years. Brown County had a Polish sheriff in the person of George J. Kolocheski for the two- year term of 1912-1913. In the latter year, Frank Gabryszek was an unsuccessful candidate for the office of Brown County treasurer. Joseph P. Novitski, originally from the town of Eaton, but later living on Green Bay's west side was superintendent of schools in Brown County for a number of years prior to and including the year 1913.

3 Stanley Szalkowski contested unsuccess¬fully for the aldermanic position in the second ward in 1915. In 1918, Theodore Chlebowski ran on the Republican ticket for sheriff of Brown County but was defeated. Dominic Olejniczak, First Polish Councilman Since 1895 Since Max Ziolkowski's tenure of office as alderman in Green Bay in 1894-1895, all later attempts of Polish candidates for this position had failed for a period of about forty years. Finally, Do- minic Olejniczak, a member of St. Mary of the Angels parish, broke the ice in 1936 and emerged as councilman representing the fifth ward. He was re-elected in 1938, 1940, 1942 and 1944. Also in 1936, Michael F. Kresky was elected for a four-year term as State Senator of Wisconsin from the second senatorial district comprising Brown and Oconto counties. He, too, was a member of St. Mary's parish. Representing the second ward of Green Bay, Anton Slupinski Jr. was elected councilman in April, 1941, and continued in office until April, 1953. First Polish Mayor in Green Bay History The record of the longest tenure of office as mayor in the history of Green Bay belongs to Dominic Olejniczak. He was also the first and only one of Polish descent to hold this office in the history of Green Bay. Elected mayor for the first term in 1945, Olejniczak was re-elected for four more successive terms till April, 1955. Councilman-alderman Joseph Gryboski represented the eighth ward of Green Bay dur¬ing the years 1950-1954. National Consciousness of Poles for the Country of Their Birth The Poles, as other immigrants coming from the Old World to this country, quite naturally main- tained a divided allegiance to two countries : to the United States of America, their country by adoption, and to Poland, the country of their birth. Though striving always to be wholesome and exemplary American citizens, they also preserved a nostalgic adherence and pride in honoring their own national heroes and in observing momentous periods in their Polish history. Thus, the anniversary of the adoption on May 3, 1791, of the Polish Constitution, which among other things granted greater rights to the burgher and peasant of Poland, was annually observed by Green Bay Poles. These celebrations first took place in the Hagemeister Park clubhouse, later at St. Mary's school hall. Next, the luckless and bloody November, 1830, and January, 1863, Polish Insurrections in the struggle for independence from Poland's partitioned were annually observed with patriotic fervor and manifestation by the Polish element of Green Bay. Social affairs in the early days, such as the annual Polish Ball, were held in the Turner Hall at the northwest corner of Monroe and Walnut streets.

4 World War I and Polish Relief With the beginning of World War I in 1914, a Central Committee for Polish Relief was orga- nized by the Poles in the United States. Members of St. Mary's parish, Green Bay, had a local branch of this national committee. Next, on behalf of the formation of an auxiliary Polish Army in 1918, Polish Americans all over the United States were asked to volunteer for the Polish Army units which were being trained in Canada. The total result of this and other appeals was the volunteering of nine young men from St. Mary's parish who served in the Polish Army from 1918-1920. St. Mary's monastery was represented by a chaplain in the Polish Army in the person of Father Ray¬mond Sonnek, O.F.M. On the other hand, a second sacrifice was made by the parish in its sympathetic answer to the despairing cry of suffering brethren in the three Polish partitions under the occupation before 1918 of Germany, Austria and Russia. A total of $5200.00 was donated by St. Mary's parish in one drive during the Autumn of 1918, as part of the ten million dollar campaign of the National Fund for Poland. Polish White Cross at St. Mary's Parish Alongside the American Red Cross unit, a Polish White Cross also existed at St. Mary's parish during and after World W?r I. It was formed sometime before August 4, 1918. After the end of World War I and the regaining of Poland's independence, national ob¬ser- vances of historic moments in Poland's struggle for independence quite naturally diminished. In addition to this, new generations of Polish descendants born in this country became more Americanized and generally lost interest in the old country, its culture and history. Polish Exhibit at Neville Public Museum, 1939 Nevertheless, enough cultural interest survived among the older elements of the Green Bay Polish population to stage a Polish exhibit of national art, dress, folklore, etc., at the Neville Public Museum in May, 1939. Miss Anne Slupinski was in charge of the programs and was aided in organizational work by Mrs. Louis Dudkiewicz and Mrs. Frank Heitzke. World War II Revives Interest in Poland When the armed might of Nazi Germany attacked Poland on September 1, 1939, interest in the welfare of the Polish nation and its citizens revived among Poles in America including Green Bay. Masses for Poland were frequently celebrated in the month of September, 1939, at St. Mary's parish. This interest and sympathy was also exhibited on the visit of General Joseph Haller to Green Bay on Tuesday, March 19, 1940. Heroic leader of Polish armies in World Wars I and II, General Haller became a member of the provisional Polish government in France after the defeat of

5 Poland in 1939 by Germany and Russia. Haller received a very warm welcome in Green Bay. Memorable Visit of General Haller Mayor Biemeret of Green Bay proclaimed March 19, the day of Haller's visit, a "Polish Relief Day." Escorted with all honors from the North Western depot, Haller was accorded an official civic welcome by the mayor and the city council assembled in extraordinary session. After a visit to the residence of Bishop Rhode and a luncheon with former officers of the American Forces in World War I at the Northland Hotel, "Poland's grand old man" addressed an overflowing crowd which came in the evening to hear Poland's tragic story at Columbus Auditorium. During the day, about forty Green Bay girls from Polish families, attired in the folk costumes of the country of their ancestors, were stationed everywhere about the city selling little bouton- ieres as part of Polish Relief Day. The proceeds of $618.00 were turned over to General Haller in the evening. All in all, it was an occasion of renewed Polish patriotism, enkindled by the tragic events of World War II. Polish Relief at St. Mary's Parish Periodic Sunday collections continued to be gathered throughout World War II at St. Mary's church. In June, 1945, and September, 1948, clothing drives for Poland were held in the parish. From the years 1946 to 1954, the Catholic League for Poland collections were taken up, at first on a monthly basis, then annually during the Summer. In 1954, the Summer collection was consigned to support two Polish seminaries in Rome, Italy, and a third in Paris, France.

THE FIRST POLISH CHURCH IN GREEN BAY Poland being a highly Catholic nation, most if not all of the first Polish immigrants who first came to Green Bay in 1864 were Catholics. In addition to this, the earliest Poles who came to this city originated from German- occupied Western Poland and hence were conversant with the German language. Since their number was too small immediately to organize a Polish parish of their own, the Polish pioneers of Green Bay joined Old St. Mary's church, the future Cathedral. Whenever they could, the pastors of the German church at Green Bay periodically procured Polish priests for the Poles for yearly Confession and an occasional Polish sermon. Bishop Melcher Purchases Lots for Polish Church on Crooks Street Gradually, the amount of Polish families settling at Green Bay increased. By the year 1873, their number must have seemed sufficient to Bishop Joseph Melcher to warrant the organization of a Polish parish. On September 29, 1873, the first bishop of the Catholic diocese of Green Bay purchased two lots (16 and 17, Block 128, Astor) just off the northwest corner of Crooks and Baird streets. The Washington Junior High School gymnasium presently stands on this site.

6 The gathering of funds for the first Polish church at Green Bay began on September 25, 1873. Although the financial ledger which was used to record these early donations survived to our day, its mutilated condition offers no help in regard to the amount of money that was gathered. This ledger is preserved in the archives of Holy Trinity church at Pine Grove, Wisconsin. From this early record and from other sources we learn that the name of the first Polish church in Green Bay was St. Stanislaus Kostka. The First Polish Catholic Society at Green Bay Some beginning of the construction of St. Stanislaus Kostka church might have been made in the Autumn of 1873. A contemporary record refers to this church in that year as "in the progress of building" (Sadlier's Catholic Directory, 1874, p. 206). But it was first on Sunday, June 7, 1874, that the cornerstone of the first Polish church in Green Bay was laid. A Green Bay newspaper of that time informs us that there was a Polish Catholic society in charge of the arrangements for the laying of the corner stone. No particular name of this socie- ty is given. On Sunday, June 7, 1874, shortly after 1 o'clock, this society formed in procession and headed by Mannebach's band marched to St. Patrick's church in Fort Howard where St. Patrick's Total Abstinence society joined them. Marching next to the French Catholic church, they were joined by St. John's society. Finally, at the German Catholic church, their ranks were augmented by the St. Boniface Verein. In procession, then, these various Catholic societies led Vicar- General Daems and five other priests to the site of the Polish church. Blessing of the Cornerstone of the Polish Church Since Bishop Melcher had died previously, Father Daems was the administrator of the Green Bay diocese and as such blessed the cornerstone of the new Polish church. A scroll containing the names of the officiating priests, leading members of the Polish parish and other material was placed in the stone. Father Walsh, pastor of St. Patrick's church, preached for the occasion. A large assembly of Green Bay people of all faiths attended this ceremony. At the time of the blessing of the corner¬stone, the mason work was covered by a temporary flooring and a cross had been erected at the north end of the foundation. Most of the materials for the church were on the grounds, the Green Bay reporter claimed. The dimensions of the church were 35x76 feet. It was to be a frame structure, veneered with brick (Green Bay State Gazette, May 30, 1874, and Green Bay Daily State Gazette, June 8, 1874). Dedication of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church Progress on the building of the Polish church was slow. The cause of this tardiness was a fi- nancial one. On March 3, 1875, a Mechanics Lien was rendered against the two lots and the church structure. Father Daems was named as the Defendant. Despite the lack of finances, some agreement must have been reached, because the church was eventually blessed by the bishop of the diocese.

7 In July, 1875, Green Bay welcomed its second bishop in the person of the Most Rev. Francis X. Krautbauer. One of his first official acts was to dedicate St. Stanislaus church on Sunday, July 18, of the same year. The bishop was again led to the new church by the German brass band, the benevolent societies of the Catholic parishes and by the assisting clergy (Green Bay Daily State Gazette, July 19, 1875). Only Polish Church in Brown County in 1875 In 1875, St. Stanislaus Kostka was the only Polish church not only in Green Bay but also in Brown County and in the whole northern half of the state of Wisconsin. By its organizational date, September 29, 1873, it was the ninth Polish parish established in Wisconsin, and by its dedication date, July 18, 1875, it still was only the eleventh Polish parish in the state. Charter Members of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church From the financial ledger and the first and only census taken of St. Stanislaus parish, the names of the charter members of this parish were gleaned. They were the families of John and Peter Bartkowiak, August Berendt, Frank Błochowiak, John Bobrowski, Frank Bujarski, John Gajewski, Frank Guza, Frank Jagodziński, Martin Janusz, Frank Kalczewski, Stanley Kibulowski, Thomas and John Kintop, Adalbert, Andrew and Valentine Klimek, Peter Koniarski, Joseph Krol, Michael Kubasiok, John and Valentine Marczyński, Valentine Mikolajczyk, John Niezgodzki, Andrew, Jacob, John and Joseph Nowak, John Pawlak, Frank Rewolinski, Simon Rosik, John Rozek, John Roznowski, Anthony Smarzynski, Joseph Szatny, Anthony Tomas, Thomas Wyrzykowski and Maximilian Ziolkowski. A total of at least thirty-eight families belonged to this parish. There is some evidence however that this census was mutilated since certain pages are missing. Each family averaged four children. Judging by the ages given in the census, the predominant number of married couples were in the early twenty and thirty year old bracket. A total of about 225 souls com- posed St. Stanislaus Kostka parish. Not all Poles of Green Bay joined this parish, however. Poles such as the Aland, Szrekowski, Latomski and other Polish families are on the Cathedral parish registers but not in the census of St. Stanislaus church. Evidently distance was a factor with some of them. Marriage with German wives or husbands was another. St. Stanislaus Kostka Church Sold at Sheriff's Auction, 1875 Scarcely two months after the dedication and almost two years to the day on which Bishop Melcher first purchased the two lots on Crooks street, St. Stanislaus Kostka church was sold in a public auction at Sheriff Gerhard Bong's office on Sept. 25, 1875, to Charles E. Vroman and L. B. Sale for $460.00. A writ of execution was issued out of the Circuit Court of Brown Coun- ty on a judgment of foreclosure of a Mechanics Lien which was rendered on March 3, 1875. Nevertheless, Bishop Kraut- bauer must have still held out hope for the possibility of reviving the Polish parish because on November 1, 1875, he repurchased the property at Crooks street, church and all, for $680.00 from Charles Vroman and L. B. Sale.

8 When no greater support was mustered up, the bishop through Paul Fox, a German merchant of Green Bay and the father of the future bishop of the diocese, sold the church to the Poles of Pine Grove, in the town of New Denmark, sometime before July, 1876. However, Bishop Krautbauer still envisioned a Polish church in Green Bay at the same location on Crooks street. He did not sell the two lots there until June 22, 1881, when Antone Kox purchased them for $120.00. In the meantime, the Poles of Green Bay returned to the Cathedral parish. Transfer of St. Stanislaus Church to Pine Grove, 1876 The financial records of Holy Trinity church, Pine Grove, contain whatever little written infor- mation there exists in regard to the transfer of St. Stanislaus church to Pine Grove. However since the whole matter of the purchase and transfer of the Green Bay church seems to have been left in the hands of the lay people of Pine Grove themselves, without any leadership of a priest, the exact dating of the transaction is absent. Nevertheless from the financial records bolstered by the oral tradition of the parishioners of Holy Trinity church, the following general facts about the transfer of the Green Bay church to Pine Grove can be established. St. Stanislaus church was bought by the Poles from Pine Grove some time before July 10, 1876. Partial payment was made to Paul Fox and a note was given to him for the balance of the debt. Exactly how or when the father of the future bishop of Green Bay came into possession of this church is not known. This much is definite : Fox only sold the church. The lots on Crooks street were still owned by the bishop of Green Bay until the year 1881. Dismantled St. Stanislaus Church Hauled to Podlasik Farm After the Poles of Pine Grove bought it, they insured the church for six months and left it at Green Bay for that period of time, In July, 1876, they took it apart piecemeal and hauled it to Pine Grove to the Podlasik farm. An eyewitness of this event, Joseph Siudzinski, then a resident of Pine Grove, helped as a young lad of twelve years in the transfer of the church building. Siudzinski was ninety years old in 1954 and has been a parishioner of St. Mary's church since 1919. He supplied much of the information in regard to St. Stanislaus church at Green Bay and Pine Grove. The dismantled church lay on the Podlasik farm for three and a half years. The site was a low and almost constantly muddy terrain. For this reason many of the Poles preferred a higher and drier location. In the early months of the year 1880, a token sum of $10.00 was paid to Antone Nachtwey, a German Catholic farmer of Pine Grove, for a little over three acres of land for the church site. St. Stanislaus Church Rebuilt at Pine Grove, 1880 On March 20, 1880, the note o4 $320.00 on the old St. Stanislaus church was paid by the Poles of Pine Grove to Paul Fox through John Gajewski of Green Bay. By June, 1880, the church was rebuilt and Holy Trinity parish came into being at Pine Grove. With the exception of the sanctuary and sacristy addition in 1907, the old St. Stanislaus church, or material from it, still 9 serves Holy Trinity congregation at Pine Grove today. Other improvements and periodic repairs have of course been made through the years. Thus ends the story of the first Polish church at Green Bay. The causes of its failure to endure are not known definitely. Foremost among them, of course, was the lack of finances. The financial panic of 1873 could have been a contributing cause. It is claimed that this was the only serious financial setback that the city of Green Bay suffered next to the great economic depression of the 1930's. Was it the small number of families attempting to organize a Polish parish? Evidence shows that the Cathedral, St. Willibrord and St. Patrick parishes began with approximately forty families. One Polish source claims that disagreement among the early members of St. Stanislaus Kostka church caused its failure to exist longer. A predominant factor seems to have been the scarcity of Polish priests in the area at the time. Mysterious initials, "X.J.Sp.", appearing in the financial ledger of St. Stanislaus Kostka church indicate that some Catholic priest signed portions of this book. Its title, "Benevolent Contribu- tions for the Building of a Roman-Catholic Polish Church at Green Bay, 1873-1875," was written in the ledger in the Polish, German and English languages by this priest. There is no indication this priest was and whether he was Polish. If he were not of the Polish nationality, this could have been a factor to the early Polish patriots for their lack of support of him and the first Polish church in Green Bay. The Catholic Directories of the years 1873-1880 fail to list any semblance of a name of a priest similar to the above initials.

SECOND ATTEMPT AT THE ORGANIZATION OF A POLISH PARISH When the first attempt to establish a per¬manent Polish parish at Green Bay failed, the Poles of Green Bay returned to the Cathedral to remain there for the next twenty-three years as its parishioners. Spiritual care of the Poles in their own language was provided once or twice a year during this period by Polish priests from close and distant locations. On December 21, 1879, Father CI. Ragozinski, pastor of St. Michael church, Beaver Dam, Wis., attended the Polish parishioners of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. Franciscan Fathers Care For Poles at Cathedral, 1888-1898 During the years 1880 to 1888, Fathers Cho- waniec and Victor Zarenczny as pastors of SS. Cyril and Methodius church in the town of Eaton periodically offered spiritual aid to the Poles at the Cathedral. With the coming of the Polish Franciscan Fathers to Pulaski in 1888. the occasional care of the Poles at the Cathedral was delegated to them. Notable among these Franciscan Fathers who ministered unto the Poles at Green Bay was the Vy. Rev. Jerome Schneider. It was he who encouraged the Green Bay Poles to unite and to form their own parish. His advice met with the approval of Bishops Katzer and Messmer. Cathedral records show that in 1893 this parish was composed of 215 German, 48 Polish and 4 Bohemian families. In 1894, about the same number, 210 German, 50 Polish and 8 Bohemian families, constituted the Cathedral parish. 10 First Organizational Meeting Held, October 10, 1894 There is some indication that the Poles of Green Bay had begun to consider the organization of a parish of their own in 1892. A benefit picnic to raise funds was supposedly held in August, 1892. No immediate action however was taken in this year. It wasn't until the Autumn of 1894 that any direct attempt at the organization of a Polish -par ish was again made. On the evening of October 10, 1894, a meeting of interested Poles was called and the following men were elected to the "parish committee": Anthony Slupinski Sr., president, Stanislaus Gabryszek, vice-president, Francis Walczak, recording secretary, Andrew Szczechowski, treasurer. Appointed as guardians of the treasury were: John Jachiem and John Olejniczak. Anthony Slupinski, Thomas Kołodziejski, Max Ziolkow- ski and Francis Walczak were to select various possible sites and to purchase lots for a church. Members of the social com- mittee which was to stage a benefit dance were: Michael Jachiem, Thomas Kołodziejski and John Budzisz. Fifteen dollars were collected at this meeting. Purchase of Site for Polish Church at Crooks and Twelfth Streets Further meetings were held on October 21 and November 7, 1894, the latter at the Peter Ro- szkowski residence. A total of $59.00 was collected at the first three meetings. That these meetings were being conducted with the knowledge and approval of Bishop Messmer is evident from the purchase of a site for the Polish church. On November 16. 1894. three lots (1-3 in Block 122, Astor) each measuring 53x240 feet were bought on a land contract by the bishop of Green Bay from John and Victoria Olejniczak for the sum of S575.00. Bishop Mess- mer is styled in the land contract as the "Trustee of the Polish Roman Catholic Congregation of Green Bay." The lots were located at the southwest corner of Crooks and Twelfth (now Irwin) streets. A down payment of $150.00 was made, and the balance was to be paid in two years at seven per cent interest annually. There was a stipulation in the contract that the building erected should not be used for any other purpose than for a church, school and parsonage. Bishop Messmer Defines Parish Limits in Green Bay On November 16, 1894, the same day that Bishop Messmer purchased land for a Polish parish in Green Bay, he also defined the parish boundaries for this city and Fort Howard. His letter directed the following : "The Cathedral parish comprises the German, Bohemian and Polish families of Green Bay and Fort Howard and the adjacent parts of the town of Preble. "St. John's parish comprises the English and French speaking families of Green Bay on this side of the East river, and those of the adjacent part of the town of Preble, south of the southern line of section 32s; also the French families of Fort Howard.

11 "St. Willibrord's parish comprises the Hollandish families of Green Bay and Fort Howard and the adjacent parts of the town of Preble. "SS. Peter and Paul's parish comprises the English and French speaking families north of the East river. The German and Hollandish families on that side north of the southern line of section 32, town of Preble, may also join there. "St. Patrick's parish of Fort Howard comprises the English speaking families of the city of Fort Howard. French families may also join there." (Green Bay Weekly Gaxette, November 21, 1894) Second Attempt at Building Polish Church Fails Evidently Bishop Messmer judged that the building of a Polish church in Green Bay was still not imminent since he included the Poles as members of the Cathedral in the above letter and did not define any territory for the Polish parish as yet. His judgment is borne out by events which followed. Although another meeting of the Poles was scheduled for December 10, 1894. none was held until July 27, 1895. This and the meetings of August 4 and October 6, 1895, were held at the Anthony Szlotalla residence at Chicago and Twelfth streets. It seems that a rift arose among certain factions of the Poles after the three lots on Crooks and Twelfth streets were purchased. Difference of Opinion in Regard to Site One faction favored the Crooks street site. Another group insisted on having the new Polish church constructed farther south of Crooks street. They claimed that the Crooks street site was too close to the already existing three downtown churches of the Cathedral, St. John's and St. Willibrord's. A third group, probably those living on the north side and in Fort Howard, favored the idea of building the Polish church nearer the Cathedral. This resulted in a stalemate lasting from October 6, 1895, to January 15, 1898. Despite this temporary obstacle to the construction of a Polish church, Bishop Messmer still owned the lots on Crooks street. On November 16, 1896, he sold lot 3 to the Olejniczak family, but on December 15, 1897, the bishop of Green Bay paid the balance on the two other lots and received a deed for them. It would thus appear that Bishop Messmer still hoped to build a Polish church on Crooks street. Conspicuous by its absence is the leader¬ship of a Polish priest at this time who would gather and unite the Poles. Apparently, there was still a scarcity of Polish priests. Bishop Messmer thus had no one to appóint for the period of 1894-1898. The Franciscan Fathers had only four priests and these were even too few to care for the missionary, parochial and administrative assignments of the Assumption Commissariat.

12 Joseph Rene Vilatte and the Old Catholic Church in the Green Bay Area While the ranks of the Poles in Green Bay were split wide open, a completely extraneous per- sonality entered the picture who ultimately and indirectly settled the site of the second Polish church at Green Bay. This man was Joseph Rene Vilatte, a complex and many-sided personali- ty, to say the least. As a representative of the Old Catholic religion, he was the cause of many decisive religious events both in the Green Bay area and in other sections of the United States. ogma of Papal Infallibility, 1870 In 1870, the dogma of papal infallibility was proclaimed during the Vatican Council of the Roman Catholic Church. This meant that the Holy Father, the visible representative of Christ on earth and the successor of St. Peter, when speaking officially on faith and morals was assured of the assistance of the Holy Spirit and could not err. Those who denied this dogma and fell away from the Catholic Church were called "Old Catholics." In Germany, they became an instrument which Bis¬marck favored to tear away Catholics from Rome and to help set up a German National Church. In America, although some disapproved of the declaration of papal infallibility, there was no inclination toward schism. American waves of bigotry at the time depicting the Pope as the most despicable of monsters caused American Catholics to revere him all the more. The Belgian Settlement in Northeastern Wisconsin The stage for the Old Catholic movement in America was the Belgian settlement in Wisconsin embracing about a dozen townships between Green Bay and Sturgeon Bay. To this area, the Belgians began to come in the years 1853-1854. Most of the immigrants from Belgium busied themselves with farming. After the Civil War, they worked in the many saw mills of this peninsula in northeastern Wisconsin. But just when the future looked bright, the fire of 1871, possibly connected with the famed "Peshtigo Fire" of the same year, reduced most of their possessions to ashes. The problem in regard to the religious care of the Belgian immigrants as well as with those of other nationalities was the scarcity of Catholic priests. Nevertheless, several churches were erected and their location was the cause of much disagreement. Disagreement over Location of Churches In 1860, a church was erected at Delwich, now Fairland. Later, one was built near Ro- siere and a quarrel resulted in another church at Misere, only two miles away. In 1866, St. John's church was opened at Gardner, but the fire of 1871 destroyed it. When it came to rebuilding, a quarrel over its location resulted in two structures, both of which eventually were acknowledged by the bishop. Upon this stage "strutted the grandiose actor, Joseph Rene Vilatte, who being little thought himself great". 13 Birth and Early Education of Vilatte Vilatte was born in Paris, France, on January 24, 1854. He lost his parents at a tender age and was raised in an orphanage conducted by the Christian Brothers. In 1878, Vilatte went to Canada and entered St. Laurent College, near Montreal. He soon left the Catholic Church. In succession, he became a Methodist, then he joined the Congregationalists for a few months; next he studied Calvinistic theology in a Presbyterian seminary and shortly became the pastor of a French Presbyterian congregation in Green Bay. His church occupied the site of the present county sheriff's home, across the street from St. Willibrord's church. Vilatte Becomes an Old Catholic Priest Around the year 1884, Vilatte became acquainted with a certain Father Hyacinth, propagator of Old Catholicism in France. The latter advised Vilatte to make contact with the nearest Epis- copalian bishop in Wisconsin. This Vilatte did, communicating with Bishop Hobart Brown, who in 1875 had come to Fond du Lac as its first bishop. Brown directed the young Frenchman to the Episcopalian divinity school known as Nashotah House, at Nashotah, near Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. At the close of the term at the divinity school, Brown sent Vilatte to Berne, Switzerland, with commendatory letters. There Vilatte was ordained by the Old Catholic bishop, Herzog, in the Old Catholic cathedral on June 7, 1885. Returning to the United States Vilatte began his labors for the Episcopalian diocese of Fond du Lac in the area commonly called 'the Belgian Woods." First Old Catholic Congregation in the United States Planting himself in Door County, Vilatte formed an Old Catholic parish at Little Sturgeon, a parish that was located between two Catholic churches. Being well supplied with means by the Episcopalians, he erected a church and a presbytery there with practically no money outlay on the part of the people. Thus arose the first Old Catholic congregation in the United States. From Door County, the schism spread to the neighboring county of Kewaunee, where two churches were built. Another was erected in the city of Green Bay which later became the cathedral of Vilatte as the heretical archbishop of the Old Catholic Church. Vilatte Consecrated Archbishop of Old Catholic Church The few parishes that Vilatte held were ridiculously small. Yet, in his opinion, the Belgians needed a bishop and he was the man for that office. To attain this dignity however was not an easy task for Vilatte. The Episcopalians opposed his consecration to the episcopate. The Anglicans of Europe brought pressure upon the Old Catholics and Jansenists there to refuse consecration to Vilatte. Next, Vilatte turned to the Russian schismatical bishop of Alaska but was not successful there either in his hope to become a bishop.

14 Finally, on May 29, 1892, he was consecrated by the schismatical archbishop, Francis Alvarez, at Ceylon, Goa, India, for the church of the Mother of God in Dyckesville, Wisconsin. His con- secration was witnessed by W. Morey, the United States Consul at Ceylon. Vilatte now referred to himself as the Archbishop of the Old Catholic Church of the United States. He first returned to the original site of his labors as an Old Catholic clergyman, to Door and Kewaunee counties. Because of the withdrawal of financial aid and the opposition of the Episcopalians, some of his congregations deserted Vilatte. Vilatte's Cathedral at Green Bay On February 23, 1894, Vilatte bought three lots (15, 16 and 17, Block 120, Astor) in Green Bay at Cass and Twelfth streets from Francois Francart for the sum of $750.00. He gave Francart a mortgage for two of the lots for $500.00. On this site he built a small frame structure, his ca- thedral. Green Bay city directories in 1894 list it under the name of St. Louis church. However, on December 11, 1895, a Mechanics Lien was served on Vilatte for a debt of $46 .39 by the Green Bay Planing Mill Company which evidently supplied the materials and perhaps even built this church for Vilatte. On January 17, 1896, Vilatte mortgaged the church and the two lots to the Green Bay Planing Mill for $850.00 and mortgaged the third lot to Francart. Different Names for the Cathedral The Green Bay city directory of 1894 lists Vilatte's church as "American Catholic". Its officials in that year were: "His Eminence J. Rene Vilatte, archbishop metropolitan and primate, the Vy. Rev. Kolaszewski, vicar-general, the Rev. Kaminski, consultor, and the Rev. Brother Nicholas, church manager." In 1895, the Rev. C. Basil, S.P.B., and in 1898, the Rev. A. A. Mueller were listed as rectors of this church. Its name in the latter year was changed from St. Louis to St. John church. Thus, Vilatte's cathedral was never known as Blessed Sacrament cathedral, as some claim. The Episcopalian church by that name in Green Bay was first established by the Fond du Lac diocese in 1908. Premonstratensian Fathers Battle with Old Catholic Heresy Besides having financial troubles, Vilatte began to have his worries in his own flock. The Episco- palian church at Duvall was lost by him about 1898. Apparently shared by the Old Catholics and the Episcopalians, the Gard¬ner church remained the property of the dio¬cese of Fond du Lac. To undo the damage of the Old Catholic heresy among the Belgians, Bishop Messmer upon the advice of Father Alphonse Broens of Sturgeon Bay enlisted the aid of the Premonstratensian Fathers from the Abbey of Berne, Holland. On November 13, 1893, three members of the Premonstratensian, or Norbertine, Order, landed at New York. They were Fathers Bernard H. Pennings and Lambert R. Broens, and Brother Servatius Heesackers. Father Pennings, the later Abbot, was designated as the superior of this group and was made pastor of the Delwiche church. He also attended the missions of Brussels, Gardner, Little Sturgeon and Marchant.

15 So well had Father Pennings and his confreres labored during the first five years (1893- 1898) that "Vilatte was left flockless, churchless and landless." These Norbertine missionaries did the work of conversion not by attacking Vilatte and his fellow renegades, but by preaching the Gospel in the French tongue which the people understood. Reconciliation and Death of Vilatte Vilatte was excommunicated on three different occasions by the Roman Catholic Church: in 1900, 1906 and 1925. On June 6, 1925, he settled near Versailles, at Pont Colbert, France, in a cottage on the grounds of a Cistersian monastery. In 1926, he returned to the Catholic Church retracting all his errors publicly in the French La Croix, a Catholic newspaper. In July, 1929, he died suddenly of a heart ailment having passed his seventy-fifth year of his life. He was buried at Versailles. Although Rome never passed judgment on Vilatte's ordination or consecration as a bishop, no less a man than Cardinal Merry del Val was of the opinion that Vilatte was a genuine bishop.* *) All the information on Vilatte was based on the following material: Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph A. Marx and Rev. Benjamin Blied, "Old Catholics in America," The Salesianum, XXXVI (October, 1941), 155-61, "Joseph Rene Vilatte," XXXVII (January. 1942), 1-8, "Archbishop Vilatte," XXXVII (April, 1942), 59-67, "Vilatte and the Catholic Church," XXXVII (July, 1942), 112-120; Memorial of the Canons of St. Norbert Abbey, West De Pere, Wis. (Milwaukee, 1936), pp. 59, 65.

SECOND ESTABLISHMENT OF A POLISH CHURCH AT GREEN BAY In all his activity towards the creation of religious confusion, it is not known definitely how much influence Vilatte had upon the Poles of Green Bay. He established his cathedral on the southeast side of Green Bay in 1894. Was he, then, partially responsible for the rift that arose among the Poles between the years 1894-1898? Only one source seems to arouse the suspicion that Vilatte did have some effect upon the Green Bay Polish element. But it is admitted that only a handful of outcasts adhered to the Old Catholic archbishop as long as he proclaimed that his was a free church. When he changed this policy and demanded contributions for his support, Vilatte was abandoned. Poles Propose to Build Church, 1898 On January 15, 1898, a Green Bay newspaper announced that the Poles of Green Bay will build a church in the Spring of the year and that a committee was already soliciting for the necessary funds. St. Stanislaus society of the Cathedral took the lead in this project and called several meetings. The men appointed to collect funds were Andrew Szczechowski, Stanislaus Gabryszek, Frank Lipski and John Olejniczak. With the permission of Bishop Messmer, these men collected funds in the Polish parishes of Brown, Kewaunee, Oconto, Shawano and Manitowoc counties and in the cities of Menasha, Berlin, Beaver Dam and Milwaukee. 16 The original intention of the St. Stanislaus society was to build the church on the Crooks street site. At the time, according to the Green Bay newspaper, there were about one hundred families in Green Bay. (Green Bay Gazette, January 15 and 17, 1898). Nevertheless, in January, 1898, Bishop Messmer had complete information on Vilatte's financial plight. The Green Bay Catholic bishop did not wish to see Vilatte's Old Catholic cathedral pur- chased by any of the non-Catholic sects. He therefore appointed Father Theophil Małkowski, pastor of Holy Trinity church at Pine Grove, to lead and convince the Poles of Green Bay to buy the Old Catholic church edifice instead of building their own church on Crooks street. Thus, help came from Pine Grove where the first Polish church of Green Bay was transferred in 1876. A close historical relationship therefore exists among the defunct St. Stanislaus Kostka church of Green Bay, Holy Trinity church of Pine Grove and again in 1898 St. Mary's church of Green Bay. Poles Agree to Purchase Vilatte's Church Immediately after his appointment, Father Małkowski called a meeting of the Poles at the Ca- thedral hall. Bishop Messmer's plan of buying Vilatte's church was at first met with the bitter opposition of one group which did not want an Old Catholic edifice to serve as their church. But final agreement to the bishop's plan was reached around 11 o'clock that night. Immediately after the meeting, Father Małkowski reported to Bishop Messmer who then lived at the Cathedral rectory and was anxiously keeping vigil to hear the results of the meeting. Congratulating Father Małkowski, Bishop Messmer donated $25.00 for the purchase of Vilatte's church. Over $1000.00 was needed within two weeks to purchase the Old Catholic church, to remodel it, to buy vestments, sacred utensils, etc. Besides the other collectors, Father Małkowski him- self visited Green Bay stores, saloons, breweries and other merchants and families, Polish and non-Polish, to raise the required amount. He revisited certain wealthier non-Polish people, such as the Hagemeisters and Rahrs, to beg for additional large contributions. Collecting the required money, Father Małkowski took it with a great sense of triumph to Bishop Messmer. Dedication of St. Mary of Częstochowa Church On February 10, 1898, Vilatte signed over the church, its contents and two lots (15 and 16, Block 120) to the Green Bay Planing Mill Company which had foreclosed on him. On the following day, February 11, 1898, the Green Bay Planing Mill, represented by J. S. Chase and James Robb, sold the church to Bishop Messmer for $1025.00. Included in the sale were the above mentioned lots, the altar, pews and the church bell. Since St. Mary's parish was not yet incorporated in the state of Wisconsin, Bishop Messmer made the purchase and signed as "Bishop of Green Bay and Trustee of the Polish Catholic Congregation of Green Bay." (Warranty Deed. Deeds. Vol. 82, pp. 286-87) Next, the Old Catholic church was remodeled and decorated and necessary purchases were made for it. It was dedicated by Bishop Messmer on Tuesday, February 22, 1898, and given the

17 patronal title of St. Mary of Częstochowa, after the famed miraculous shrine in Poland. Participants in the Dedication On the morning of the dedication of the first St. Mary's church, all the Catholic societies of Green Bay with St. Stanislaus at the head gathered in front of Bishop Messmer's residence at Madison and Doty streets. Led by the parade marshall. August Kamelski, and accompanied by music furnished by a city band, the procession began at 9 o'clock on its way to the Polish church. Upon arrival there, Bishop Messmer with the assistance of Father Fox, the Vicar-General of the diocese, and a large number of the clergy blessed the church and spoke in the English language to those assembled. Next. Solemn Mass was celebrated by Father Anthony Wisniewski, O.F.M. from Pu'aski. Wis. During the Mass, a Polish sermon was delivered by Father Małkowski, the first pastor of St. Mary's parish. The choir of St. John's church, Green Bay, under the direction of Father Ricklin, its pastor, sang during the Mass. (Green Bay Gazette, February 22, 1898. and Kuryer Polski, February 28. 1898). St. Mary's Church — a Mission to Pine Grove St. Mary of Częstochowa church was the fifty-eighth Polish church established in the state of Wisconsin. Because it had no residence of its own for a priest as yet, it was established as a mission church affiliated with Holy Trinity church, Pine Grove, and attended by its pastor, Father Małkowski. The first parish meeting of St. Mary's congregation took place on Sunday, February 27, 1898. Permanent parish committee members were then elected. They were Anthony Slupinski Sr., secretary, Andrew Szczechowski, treasurer, Stanley Gabryszek, Andrew Marshall, Joseph Hyska and Casimir Owocki. consultors. First Mission, May 6-8, 1898 A three-day mission, the first in the parish, was conducted at St. Mary's church by Father M. Mozejewski, a former Franciscan. This mission began on May 6 and ended on May 8. 1898. On Sunday, July 3, 1898, fifteen children of St. Mary's parish received the Sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time in the frame church. Poles at Other Green Bay Parishes in 1898 Not all the Poles of Green Bay joined St. Mary's parish after a church was provided for them in 1898. Some in the north and west sections of the city evidently considered the distance to St. Mary's church too far. Thus, some Polish families remained at the Cathedral. Others were found belonging to St. Patrick's and SS. Peter and Paul parishes.

18 Bishop Messmer Offers Green Bay Church to Franciscans Shortly before April 20, 1899, Bishop Messmer offered the Green Bay Polish parish to the Pol- ish Franciscan Fathers of Pulaski, Wis. After receiving the consent of the diocesan consultors, Bishop Messmer sent the necessary documents to Rome on June 25, 1899, for approval. In the meantime, Father Nicholas Kolasinski, successor to Father Małkowski, remained as pastor of St. Mary's church until December 1. 1899. From that month, Father Stanislaus Jeka a Franciscan from Pulaski, became the administrator of the Green Bay parish. Since there still was no residence at Green Bay, Father Stanislaus attended St. Mary's parish on weekends and stayed over night at the Bishop's residence until a temporary monastery would be provided. Assured of the regular care of the Polish parish at Green Bay by the Franciscans, Bishop Mess- mer began to buy more land for them around the little frame church on Cass and Twelfth streets. On December 23. 1899, the Green Bay bishop bought from Francis Francart four lots (18-21, Block 120), the northern 65 feet of lots 15-17, and the southern portion of lot 17. The Franciscans could not purchase any land at Green Bay until the Roman decree arrived. Besides, they were still not incorporated in the state of Wisconsin. Bishop Messmer's purchase of land for the Franciscans in Block 120 seems to indicate that the original site for the Franciscan monastery at Green Bay was planned to be on the west side of Irwin Avenue. Arrival of Roman Decree, or Beneplacitum Apostolicum On June 12, 1900, Bishop Messmer had received the beneplacitum apostolicum from Rome. The Roman decree giving the Franciscan Fathers perpetual administration of St. Mary's parish at Green Bay was dated May 23, 1900. Sometime before June 15, 1900, Father Jeka purchased the frame residence of Francis Fran- cart situated on the northern part of lot 15 and facing Twelfth street. This residence was just north of the first St. Mary's church. Towards the end of June, 1900. Father Jerome Schneider, O.F.M. came from Manitowoc to Green Bay. He was the first Franciscan to reside permanently at the frame monastery. Nevertheless, Father Jeka still came on weekends to hold services at St. Mary's church, while Father Jerome performed chaplain services daily at St. Mary's hospital and the Good Shepherd Home at Green Bay. No Mass was thus offered on week days at St. Mary's parish. The provision of the frame residence for the Franciscan Fathers was only a temporary one. A condition for the acceptance of the Polish church in the Roman decree stipulated the construc- tion of a monastery according to the General Constitutions of the Franciscan Order and the current laws of the Catholic Church. Plans for the monastery were being discussed already in June, 1900, but nothing definite was accomplished until the Spring of 1901.

19 Father Wisniewski, First Resident Pastor of St. Mary's Church On September 15, 1900, Father Anthony Wisniewski, O.F.M. was appointed pastor of St. Mary's church and superior of the Franciscan residence. He arrived to take over his duties on October 9, 1900, and thus became the first resident pastor of the Polish church. Father Jerome Schneider remained to aid Father Anthony and to serve the above-mentioned institutions. Name of St. Mary's Church Changed With the permanent settlement of the Franciscan Fathers at Green Bay, the title of the church and monastery was changed from Our Lady of Częstochowa to St. Mary of the Angels in 1900. Besides being easier to pronounce by non-Poles, St. Mary of the Angels is the title of a little church at Assisi, Italy, called the Por- tiuncula (little portion) and is the cradle, or first church, of the Franciscan Order in the whole world. It was the beloved church of St. Francis of Assisi. Sobieski and Little Suamico Churches, Missions to St. Mary's Church St. John Cantius church at Sobieski and St. Pius church at Little Suamico, Wisconsin, were -at tended by the Franciscan Fathers as missions of St. Mary of the Angels church from October, 1900, to June, 1902. St. John Cantius church at Sobieski was organized by Fathers Jerome and Anthony in 1897. Mass was celebrated at these missions by the Fathers from Green Bay twice a month from 1900 to 1902 : once on a Sunday and the other time on a week day. St. Pius church, Little Suamico, was again a mission of St. Mary's church during the years 1929- 1934 and 1936-1937.

THE BUILDING OF A NEW CHURCH AND MONASTERY With the arrival of Father Anthony in October 1900, action toward the fulfillment of the Roman decree in regard to the building of a new Franciscan monastery quickened. Sometime before this, as early as June, 1900, the idea of building a new church also seemed to have been discussed. St. Mary's frame church was fast becoming too small for the increasing number of Poles who were settling in Green Bay. St. Stanislaus Society Purchases Lots for New Church On June 13. 1900, the St. Stanislaus society of St. Mary's parish purchased two lots (25 and 25 Block 131) on the northeast corner of Twelfth Streets for the sum of $550. the society in this transactionwere its tree trustees: John Faltynski, Joseph Piaskowski and Julius Kolocheski. Evidently the sentiment for the erection of a larger church on a new site was growing stronger. On Dec 2. 1900, Father Anthony called a meeting to discuss the purchase of the two lots by the parish. Bishop Messmer himself presented at this meeting. Due to the poor finantial position of the young parish. However, it appears from these meetings that - was to build a 20 larger church on the corner of Cass and Twelfth streets. The Franciscan Fathers, under this ar- rangement, would then buy from the parish lots 15 and 16 on the northwest corner and build the new monastery there. More Lots Bought by Bishop Messmer for the Franciscan Fathers It seems that after the parish meeting of December 2, 1900, Bishop Messmer advised the Fran- ciscan Fathers to build not only a new monastery but also a church connected with it on the east side of Twelfth street. Since they were still not a legal corporation at the time, the bishop himself began to purchase lots in Block 131 for the Franciscans. Between Feb. 20 and May 15, 1901, the following lots were purchased by the Green Bay bishop; on February 20, lot 24 from Julius and Stella Kolocheski for $425.00; on February 23, lots 21, 22 and 23 from Henry F. Hagemeister for $575.00; on March 7, lots 25 and 26 from the St. Sta- nislaus society for $550.00; on April 8, lots 18, 19 and 20 from Edward and Gertrude Lawrence for $450.00; and on May 15, lots 14, 15, 16 and 17 from Henry F. Hagemeister for $1000.00. Thus, within a period of not quite three months, Bishop Messmer bought the complete south half of Block 131 for the Franciscan Fathers. Contracts for Building of New Church and Monastery Next, the Franciscan Assumption Commis¬sariat was incorporated in the state of Wiscon¬sin on May 27, 1901, under the title "The Order of the Franciscan Fathers of the City of Green Bay, Wisconsin." On the same date on which the Franciscan Commissariat was incorporated, a contract was signed for the erection of a combination church and monastery on what was still technically Bishop Messmer's land in Block 131. Joseph H. Servotte was the local general contractor. His bid for the construction of the new church and monastery, excluding plumbing, heating, gas piping, electric light wiring and art glass windows, was for the sum of $48,523.00. The architect, previously selected, was W. E. Reynolds, also of Green Bay. Ground Breaking Ceremony, Spring, 1901 Sometime after May 27, 1901, the ceremony of the breaking of the ground for the new Fran¬- ciscan edifice took place. Another contract was drawn up and signed oji July 27, 1901, to install a system of plumbing, heating, electric wiring, gas piping and bell work in the new structure. The Sanitary Construc- tion Co., Green Bay, represented by J. E. Jackson and G. F. Reeke, received the contract on a $7000.00 bid. Blessing of Cornerstone, September 1, 1901 On Sunday, September 1, 1901, the cornerstone of the new church and monastery was blessed by Bishop Messmer who also preached in English. One of the Franciscan Fathers preached in

21 the Polish language. The cornerstone was donated to the Franciscan Fathers by the John Pep- linski family of Pulaski, Wis. All the Catholic societies of Green Bay participated in this event witnessed by approximately eight hundred people. Seven months after the construction of the new Franciscan structure had been in progress. Bishop Messmer sold lots 14-26 in Block 131 to the Franciscan Fathers on January 3, 1902. He also assured the parishioners that he would offer them the first choice of purchase of lots 17- 21 in Block 120. Donations of Various Items for the New Church As the construction of the new church progressed, donations for the necessary articles within it were being made. Between September 1 and December 22, 1901, a beautiful sanctuary lamp was donated by the Stanley Gabryszek family, the Stations of the Way of the Cross by the John Olejniczak, Joseph Hyska and Michael Marshall families and two confessionals by Father Urban Raszkiewicz of Otis, Indiana. In addition to the confessionals, Father Urban also paid for the oil painting of Our Lady of the Angels ($240.00) and for two reliquaries ($75.00) containing the relics of the True Cross and of Sts. Francis of Assisi, Anthony of Padua and Clare. The oil painting graced the rear arch of the sanctuary above the main altar for forty years (1903-1943) until it was removed before the redecoration of the church in 1943. In 1902 and the following three years, more articles for the church were donated by various parishioners: the first baptismal font by the Michael Jałowiec family, statuary of Our Lady of the Rosary for the B.V.M. altar by the Peter Roszkowski family, a new pulpit (at a cost of $200.00, removed in 1955) and green carpeting for the sanctuary by the St. Stanislaus society, statuary for the Sacred Heart altar by the Vincent Skudlarek family, and the Blessed Virgin Mary altar by the Holy Rosary society. Largest Single Donation The largest single donation towards the new church and monastery was made by Father Vincent Lewandowski, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul church, Milwaukee. Father Lewandowski donated $6000.00, a very impressive sum in the days of low wages and prices. He was a former confrere of Fathers Jeka and Schneider in Poland. Another friend and benefactor of the Franciscan Fathers, Father Szularecki, pastor of St. Stanis- laus church, Milwaukee, donated the old pews from that church. In addition, he paid the freight charges and the cost of repair and revarnishing of the pews to the amount of $300.00. These same pews still serve St. Mary of the Angels parishioners today. Franciscans Transfer from Old Residence to New Monastery In July, 1902, the interior of the new monastery and the basement chapel in the church wing were sufficiently completed to allow for the transfer of the Franciscan Fathers from the old 22 residence to the new monastery. On July 21 and 22, the women of the parish swept and cleaned the new monastery from attic to basement and washed all the windows in the new building. Next, the furniture and other contents of the old residence were transferred by the men of the parish to the new monastery. On Thursday, July 24, the altar, pews, cabinets and the organ were carried to the basement chapel. Mass Celebrated in New Chapel, July 27, 1902 Holy Mass was celebrated for the first time in the basement chapel of the new church on Sun- day, July 27, 1902, at 10 a.m. on the feast of Blessed Cunegunda. As yet, however, the Blessed Sacrament was not reserved in the "new chapel. On Monday, September 1, 1902, the bell from the old frame church was transferred to the steeple of the new church. Some confusion existed in the past in regard to the origin of this bell. It had been claimed that this bell was formerly found in the tower of a French National cathedral, thus leading some to believe that the bell had its origin in France. St. Mary's Church Bell Not from France Nothing could be further from the truth. The bell was forged at the McShane Bell Foundry, Baltimore, Maryland. It was ordered by Vilatte for his Old Catholic cathedral in 1895. Since Vilatte was French and his parishioners were mostly French or Belgian, his church could also have been known as a French cathedral. That is as far as the analogy extends. Weighing about five hundred pounds, it has a cross engraved upon it and the following French and English words inscribed: "A la Gloire de Dieu (For the Glory of God) — Catholic Church — 1895." First Holy Communion in New Church, May 31, 1903 In February, 1903, Father Jeka, successor as pastor to Father Anthony, announced to his pa- rishioners that the blessing of the new church and monastery was scheduled for July 2 of the same year. In the meantime, on March 1, 1903, the Stations of the Way of the Cross in the basement chapel were blessed. On Sunday, May 31, 1903, twenty-three children of St. Mary of the Angels parish received their first Holy Communion in the new church at the 10 a.m. Mass. This was the first time Mass was celebrated in the new church. Arrival of the Apostolic Delegate at Green Bay A record breaking storm assailed Green Bay just days prior to the dedication of St. Mary of the Angels monastery and church. Beginning on Tuesday afternoon, June 30, a wind storm accom- panied by torrents of rain and hail blew at a speed of fifty-seven miles an hour, as recorded by the weather bureau at Green Bay.

23 The greatest impact of the storm was felt in the southern part of the city, from east to west. Barns were blown down or toppled over. Windows at the new St. Mary of the Angels church and in that vicinity were blown in. All over the city, wooden sidewalks were torn up, trees up- rooted and flagpoles and cupolas blown down. Upon the heels of the storm came the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Diomede Falconio. His arrival and stay in Green Bay to dedicate the St. Mary of the Angels church and monastery is recorded as one of the most colorful Catholic events in the history of Green Bay. Greeted by Bishops and Catholic Societies Arriving at Green Bay, Tuesday evening, June 30, at 8:45 p.m. on the Milwaukee Road, Arch- bishop Falconio was greeted by Bishops Messmer of Green Bay, James Schwebach of La Crosse and Frederick Eis of Marquette and by a number of resident and visiting clergy. He was then escorted to his carriage and later to Bishop Messmer's residence at Doty and Madison streets by between five and six hundred men of the Green Bay Catholic parish societies marching in line with torches, two music bands and thousands of people standing along the streets and on the sidewalks. After the societies were seated in the Cathedral, other people were allowed to enter. Then the procession from Bishop Mssmer's residence began. Accompanying the Apostolic Delegate were bishops, priests and acolytes. Solemn Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament was given by the Delegate, from Washington, D.C. Excursion and Grand Reception for Falconio On Wednesday morning, July 1, an excursion on the steamer Denessen was arranged for Arch- bishop Falconio. The steamer took the Apostolic Delegate and the visiting bishops and clergy out on the bay, up the Fox river as far as De Pere and back to Green Bay. At 3 p.m. on the same day, special street cars transported the visiting dignitary and his atten- dants to De Pere. There, at the end of the line, carriages were provided to drive the group of distinguished visitors to St. Norbert College where the Delegate was entertained and a light luncheon served. In the evening, a public reception was held for the Apostolic Delegate at Bishop Messmer's residence between 8 and 9 p.m. Bishop Eis Confers Sacrament of Confirmation On the morning of July 2, 1903, Bishop Eis of Marquette, Michigan, confirmed seventy-two boys and girls of St. Mary of the Angels parish in the basement chapel after the 8 o'clock Mass. At 9:30 a.m., the St. Stanislaus society marched from St. Mary of the Angels church to Bishop Messmer's residence. Shortly before 10 a.m., Archbishop Falconio emerged from the residence in the company of Bishops Messmer, Schwebach and Eis and all entered the carriages which

24 were designated for them. With an orchestra at the lead, the procession wended its way to the Franciscan monastery, a distance of thirteen blocks. Dedication of St. Mary of the Angels Church and Monastery Arriving at the monastery, the Apostolic Delegate, himself a Franciscan, was first greeted by the Franciscan Fathers. Proceeding next to the front entrance of the church, Archbishop Falconio first blessed the exterior of the church and monastery, passing around its walls while the Litany of all the Saints was sung. Then the Delegate entered the church and blessed the interior. After the blessing ceremonies, the large crowd of people was allowed to enter the church and the Pontifical Mass, celebrated by Bishop Messmer, began. Seated in the sanctuary besides the Apostolic Delegate were Bishops Eis and Schwebach and about one hundred priests. Officials of the Dedication Mass Father Schinner of Milwaukee was the Assistant Priest of the Mass to Bishop Messmer. The Milwaukee priest represented the ailing Archbishop Katzer in accompanying the Apostolic Dele- gate. Honorary deacons to Archbishop Falconio were Fathers Francis Albers and Sigismund Peron. Honorary deacons to Bishop Messmer were Fathers Pennings, O.Praem. and Czyżewski, C.S.C. Fathers J. Kempa and W. Polaczyk were deacon and sub-deacon of the Mass, respectively. Masters of ceremonies were Fathers J. Sprangers and Joseph J. Marx. Father James Meagher was the mitre bearer. St. Patrick's church choir of Green Bay with Miss May Salvas at the organ sang during the Mass accompanied by Heynen's orchestra. Two sermons were preached on this occasion: one in En- glish by Father Antonine Wilmer, OF.M. Cap., superior of the Capuchin Franciscan monastery at Mount Calvary, Wis.; the other in Polish by Father Joseph Szukalski, pastor of SS. Cyril and Methodius church, Milwaukee. After the Pontifical Mass, the Apostolic Delegate together with the bishops and priests withdrew to the monastery where dinner was served by the Franciscan Fathers. There is no doubt but that the dedication of St. Mary of the Angels monastery and church was one of the most notable religious celebrations Green Bay had seen up to that day. Blessing of New Wing at St. Joseph Orphanage At 3 o'clock on the same afternoon, special street cars conveyed the Delegate and other clergy to St. Joseph Orphanage. There at 4 p.m., Archbishop Falconio blessed the new wing of this venerable Catholic institution. There, too, supper was served for the Apostolic Delegate and visiting clergy. Friday morning, July 3, was spent in conducting the visitor from Washington about the city of Green Bay and in calling upon the principal Catholic parishes and institutions. A considerable part of the morning was spent at St. Vincent's hospital where the Apostolic Delegate visited and blessed every patient. It was reported that a special interest in this hospital was taken by Archbishop Falconio. 25 The Apostolic Delegate bade farewell to Green Bay at 3 p.m., Friday afternoon. A supper in his honor, specially prepared at the order of President Whitcomb of the Wisconsin Central Railroad, was served on the trip to Milwaukee in Whitcomb's private coach. Description of New Church and Monastery In 1903, the newly dedicated Franciscan monastery and church, both in size and structural beauty, was an impressive addition to the Catholic churches of the city of Green Bay. The church wing itself measured 148x50 feet, while the monastery's measurements were 153 x60 feet. The monastery was built three stories high with a full basement. The style of the combined structure of church and monastery was Gothic in design. Although the actual cost to Joseph Servotte, the contractor, for all mason, carpenter, painting and plas- tering work on the building was $48,699.57, the total cost of the building when finished was approximately $60,000.00. Number of Families in St. Mary's Parish in 1903 About eighty families belonged to Saint Mary's parish in 1903. Of these seventy-six were Polish; the others were Bohemian, German and French. Thus, it is readily evident that this small number of families would never have been able to build by their own meagre financial resources a church such as the Franciscan Fathers provided for them in addition to a monastery for themselves. Shortly after the dedication, the new Stations of the Way of the Cross, donated by three fa- milies of the parish mentioned previously in this chapter, were blessed in the upper church on Sunday, July 12, 1903.

GROWTH OF ST. MARY'S PARISH On November 28, 1903, Bishop Messmer, who for eleven years shepherded the Green Bay di- ocese, was appointed archbishop of the archdiocese of Milwaukee. After appropriate farewell services, Archbishop-elect Messmer accompanied by 'many Catholic dignitaries from the Green Bay diocese left Green Bay on February 10, 1904, to assume his new duties in- Milwaukee. Succeeding him as bishop of the Green Bay diocese was the Most Rev. Joseph J. Fox who was consecrated to the episcopate on July 25, 1904. Bishop Messmer Sells Lots to Franciscan Fathers Before his departure for Milwaukee, Bishop Messmer sold the lots he owned in Block 120, Green Bay, to the Franciscan Fathers on January 27, 1904. This transaction included lots 17 to 21 and the northern 65 feet of lots 15 and 16. Because St. Mary's parish was financially unable to purchase these lots, the Franciscan Fa-thers were to own them for the next forty-seven years. The total parish income for the year 1903 was listed at $1201.65. Of this amount, $1108.25 was composed of pew rent. Listed as expense for the same year was the sum of $1214.60, or

26 a deficit of $12.95. In addition, there was an outstanding loan of $300.00 made to cover the cost of remodeling the old frame church into a school building. Thus, it is easy to see why the parish could not purchase the lots from Bishop Messmer. Further Donations for the Church In March, 1905, the statues of St. Louis and St. Elizabeth, still standing in their niches on the main altar today, were purchased at a cost of $32.00 and donated by the John Strenski family. In May of the same year, the St. Stanislaus society provided complete carpeting for the sanctuary at a cost of $293.95. A group of Polish business men of Green Bay purchased the carpeting for the church aisles. The provision of a bell for the rear steeple above the sanctuary of the church was also made in 1905. Its cost was listed at $56.00. It was blessed on Sunday afternoon, October 15, 1905. Godparents for the bell were the Anthony Slupinski and Stanley Gabryszek families. No single donor was responsible for the bell. It was forged by the C. W. Van Duzen Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. Engraved upon the bell were the words: "In honorem Sti Antonii (In honor of St. Antho- ny) — 1905." It was made of brass and weighs about two hundred pounds. Incorporation of St. Mary of the Angels Congregation On Dec. 9, 1900, Father Anthony urged the parish to be incorporated in the state of Wisconsin. For some reason, no action was taken on this matter immediately. St. Mary's parish was first incorporated on November 23, 1906. The signatories to the articles of incorporation were: Bishop Joseph J. Fox, president of the corporation, Rev. Peter J .Lochman, Vicar-General of the Green Bay diocese, Anthony Slupinski, secretary, Rev. John Hummel and Messrs. Joseph Kaster and W. J. Gabryszek, witnesses. Father Anthony Wisniewski was listed as pastor, Anthony Slupinski, secretary, and John Kwaterski, treasurer- of St. Mary's congregation. When a corporate seal was made for the congregation, the year 1907 was erroneously given as the year of the incorporation. Second Mission at St. Mary's Parish The first mission was held at St. Mary's parish shortly after the dedication of the first church in 1898. Eleven years later, the second mission began on Sunday, August 22, 1909. Contemporary records do not list the name of the missionary nor the length of the mission. In 1910, St. Mary's parishioners witnessed the first ordinations of Franciscan clerics at St. Mary's church. This event took place on Wednesday, February 9. Receiving Minor Orders from the hands of Bishop Fox were Fraters Lawrence Konieczka and Florian Żuchow ski.

27 Stained Glass Windows Purchased for Church From the time of its construction until the year 1911, St. Mary of the Angels church was not adorned with stained glass windows. Instead, white frosted glass panes brightened the interior of the church with abundant light. Between January 8, 1911, and July 7, 1912, eleven stained glass windows were donated and installed in church. The scenes depicted on the windows and the donors were: "The Annunciation," Stanislaus and Catherine Gabryszek; "The Nativity," Joseph and Pauline Kościuk; "The Presentation," M. Grabia- nowski and J. Kriescher; "Saint Peter," Anthony and Catherine Slupinski: "The Good Shepherd," Peter and Theodora Jelinski; "The Resurrection," John and Victoria Olejniczak; "St. Anne," Rev. Joseph Horbaczewski and Paszkowicz family; "Assumption of the B.V.M.," Peter and Alexandra Mierzejewski; "Baptism of Jesus Christ," Anthony and Emilia Nowicki; "Gethsemane," Holy Ro- sary society; "Death of St. Joseph," Thomas Pacholski. Later more windows were donated or purchased by the parish or the Franciscan Fathers. "The Betrothal of St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary," was donated by Martin and Catherine Łukaszewicz and Francis and Stella Adamczewski. All told, by 1954, there were fifteen large and five small stained glass windows in St. Mary's church. Only the choir and the vestibule were without them. Anti-Clerical Newspapers Stir Trouble in Polish Parishes For some years prior to 1912, certain superpatriotic and liberal Polish newspapers in the United States, such as the Kuryer Polski of Milwaukee and Ameryka Echo of Toledo, Ohio, and others began their attacks upon the Catholic Church and its clergy. Added to this was Kuryer's agitation for the creation of Polish bishops in the United States and for the increased control of church affairs by the laity. Even after the first Polish bishop was appointed in 1908 in the person of the Most Rev. Paul P. Rhode as an auxiliary bishop in the archdiocese of Chicago, the Kuryer still kept up its antagonism against the Holy Father and the Catholic hierarchy in the United States. As a result, on February 11, 1912, the Catholic bishops of the state of Wisconsin in a joint pastoral letter condemned the Kuryer as greatly injurious to the Catholic faith and discipline and falling under the rules and prohibitions of the Roman Index. In retaliation, Kuryer filed a $100,000.00 suit against the bishops for boycotting the paper. The case reached the supreme court of Wisconsin and the Catholic bishops won. American Federation of Polish Catholic Laymen In addition to the anticlerical attacks of the Polish newspapers, an organization calling itself "The American Federation of Polish Catholic Laymen" was formed at this time. It incited Polish Catholics to rebellion against their pastors and the Church. This federation was also included in the condemnation by the bishops in 1912.

28 No one who read or subscribed to the condemned Polish newspapers or federation could receive the sacraments. Trustees of a Polish parish who read or subscribed to the forbidden newspapers or belonged to the federation were asked to cease the reading, subscription or membership. Otherwise, they could no longer be trustees. Catholics who were guilty of the above acts could not serve as sponsors for the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. Effects on St. Mary's Parish A spirit of disunity and rebellion, in a lesser or greater degree, entered every Polish parish in the United States. Neither did St. Mary's parish escape this fate where this state of affairs lasted as late as 1926. Large deficits in the payment of pew rent and other collections appeared in the Polish parishes over the country. At St. Mary's parish, there was a deficit of approximately $1000 in pew rent for the year 1911. In 1912, seventy out of two hundred families did not fulfill their obligation towards the financial support of their church. This situation was practically the same in 1916, although some of the misled parishioners were reported returning to the fold and meeting their obligation. Death of Father Anthony Wisniewski In August, 1914, Father Anthony was transferred from Green Bay to the pastorate of St. Casi- mir's church, Krakow, Wis. While visiting with the Sisters of St. Mary's school at Green Bay on Thursday, November 19, 1914, he suffered a heart attack. Help was summoned and the beloved former pastor of St. Mary's parish was carried to the monastery where he expired on the same day. He was only forty-five years old -when he died. A Solemn Funeral Mass was celebrated by the Most Rev. Paul P. Rhode, then auxiliary to the archbishop of Chicago, at 10 a.m., Monday, November 23, in St. Mary's church. Bishop Fox, Or- dinary of the Green Bay diocese, attended in the sanctuary. Father Ricklin, pastor of St. John's church, Green Bay, preached the eulogy in English while Father B. Celichowski of Milwaukee did the same in the Polish language. Approximately sixty priests were present at the funeral. On Tuesday, November 24, another funeral service was held for Father Anthony in Pulaski. The combined choirs of the Sisters of St. Joseph from Pulaski, Krakow and Green Bay sang at both funeral Masses. First Franciscan Priests Ordained in St. Mary's Church Father Anthony's funeral was practically the last public function attended by the Most Rev. Joseph J. Fox. On Dec. 4, 1914, he resigned as bishop of the Green Bay diocese due to ill health and passed to his eternal reward on March 14, 1915. With the See of Green Bay vaca.nt, Archbishop Messmer of Milwaukee returned to Green Bay on Friday, July 3, 1915, to ordain three young Franciscans to the priesthood. These were the first

29 Franciscan products of St. Mary of the Angels Theological Seminary and the first Franciscans to be ordained to the priesthood at the Green Bay church. They were Fathers Celestine Wisniowski, Hyacinth Kuliński and Stephen Działdowski. Bishop Rhode Named to Head Green Bay Diocese On July 5, 1915, the Most Rev. Paul Peter Rhode, the first Polish Bishop in the United States, was transferred from Chicago to serve as the sixth bishop of the diocese of Green Bay. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 17, 1894. and consecrated as auxiliary to the archbishop of Chicago, July 29. 1908. In 1918, all of the United States was held in the grip of the Spanish flu. This general epidemic made itself felt also in Green Bay. In January of that year, the health officer of Green Bay ordered all schools to be closed. The epidemic also had its effects on public services in the churches. Particularly severe was the period in the latter months of 1918. No M asses were held at St. iVlary's church from October 14 to November 4, 1918. On the three Sundays of October 20. 27 and November 3. Masses were celebrated outdoors at the monastery entrance at 9 and 11 a.m. During this time, too, classes in school and all parish society meetings were suspended for a month. New Sanctuary Lamp Donated by St. Joseph Society On November 28. 29 and 30, 1922, Bishop Rhode conferred Minor Orders and the Major Orders of the Subdiaconate and Diaconate upon the Franciscan theologians at St. Mary's church. After Mass, on November 30, the Green Bay bishop also blessed the new sanctuary lamp donated by the St. Joseph society of the parish. The cost of the lamp was approximately $600.00. Silver Jubilee of St. Mary's Parish In July, 1923, preparations were made to observe the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establish- ment of St. Mary's parish. Besides the special religious observance in the morning, an afternoon parish picnic and an evening banquet were staged. Bishop Rhode celebrated the Pontifical Jubilee Mass on Sunday, July 29, 1923. Father Theophil Małkowski, organizer of St. Mary's parish, came from Two Rivers, Wis. to preach the jubilee sermon. Apparently an effort was made to publish a brief history of the parish for this occasion. For this purpose, Father Małkowski had written an account of the organizational years of the parish and had sent it to Father Piontek, pastor of St. Mary's church. For some reason, however, nothing was published on this occasion. Interior Decoration of Church When St. Mary's church was built in 1903, it was not decorated interiorly, For twenty years, the walls and ceiling of the church were bare except for an oil painting above the main altar in the sanctuary. On October 22, 1923, the contract for the painting of the church was given to John

30 L. Kitslaar of Green Bay and the church was painted by Christmas of the same year. Two more canvases were placed on the right and left inner arches of the sanctuary at this time. The left arch was adorned with a canvas entitled "The Glory of the Franciscan Order" representing fourteen principal Franciscan saints. It was donated by the Holy Rosary society. On the right inner arch of the sanctuary, another canvas entitled "Glory of the Polish Nation" was placed. Headed by the image of the Miraculous Madonna of Częstochowa, the Patroness of Poland, twelve Polish Saints are depicted. The canvas was donated by the St. Stanislaus society. Polish and English Mission, 1923 A Polish and English mission was held at St. Mary's parish in December, 1923. On Wednesday, December 26, Father Bieda, S.J., a Polish Jesuit, began the Polish mission at the 9 a.m. Mass in the upper church. At the same time, Father Rybrook, O. Praem. carried on with the English mission in the basement chapel where Mass was also celebrated at 9 a.m. each morning. On Sunday, December 30 and on New Year's day, an English sermon was preached at the 8 and 11 a.m. Masses in the upper church. A mission cross was purchased at this time for the sum of $60.00. Church Rewired to Electric Lighting When the Franciscan church was built in 1903. it was originally wired for electricity to serve as an auxiliary to the gas lighting which was principally used. In April, 1924, all gas piping and fixtures were completely removed and the church was rewired for electric lighting. The cost of the project amounted to $986. Franciscans Observe Silver Jubilee of Residence in Green Bay On Sunday, October 4, 1925, the Franciscan Fathers observed the silver jubilee of their residence at St. Mary's church. The Very Rev. Jerome Schneider celebrated the Solemn High Mass and Bishop Rhode preached the Polish and English sermons. In the evening of the same day, the Rt. Rev. Abbot Bernard Pennings, O. Praem. officiated at solemn vespers, and the Rev. Dr. C. C. Rybrook, O. Praem. preached the English sermon New Organ Purchased in 1929 For over thirty years, the music in both the first and second churches of St. Mary's parish was furnished by a reed organ. An electric pipe organ was installed by the M. P. Moller Pipe Organ Co. of Hagerstown, Maryland, during the Summer of 1929. It was blessed on Sunday, September 29, 1929. The program on the day of the blessing consisted of the Mass in the morning at which the organ was blessed and an organ concert at 7:30 in the evening. Admission to the Mass and concert was only by tickets. Donations for the tickets were set at fifty cents and netted the sum of $633.00 31 towards the payment of the organ. Designed by Father Theo. Wojak, pastor of St. Michael's church, Wausau, Wis., it is the largest two-manual organ in the city of Green Bay. The entire organ was enclosed in two. separate wooden chambers built by the men of St. Mary's church. The complete cost of the installation of the new organ amounted to $9.384.00 The debt on the organ was cleared in 1933. Effects of Great Economic Depresson on St. Mary's Parish With a general economic depression gripping the whole country since the year 1929, financial conditions in St. Mary's parish were also in a poor state. As of January 7, 1933, the parish debt stood at $20,918.91. In February, 1936. Father Daniel Wisniewski, then pastor, announced that $500 were needed that month to cover current expenses. Later in the same year, in September, an appeal was made by the pastor for a loan of $1100. One of the devotions which has survived to our day at St. Mary's parish is the novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. It was first begun on Tuesday, May 3, 1938, by Father Ferdi¬nand Paw- lowski, the pastor. Loss of Territory by St. Mary's Parish In 1939, St. Mary's parish was assessed the sum of $2000 towards the construction of St. Phillip's church in Preble. At the same time, the East river was established as the eastern territorial line of St. Mary's parish. About thirty families were thus transferred to the new parish in Preble. In August, 1939, Father Angelus Stunek succeeded Father Ferdinand as pastor of St. Mary's church. His first concern was replacing of the old carpeting which covered the sanctuary floor in church since 1905. By Christmas, 1939, the sanctuary floor was completely tiled. Lease and Purchase of Lots from Franciscan Fathers On Dec. 15, 1940, Father Angelus and the parish trustees notified the Franciscan authorities at Pulaski that St. Mary's parish wished to purchase the two lots needed for the construction of the Sisters' convent. As a result, the northern 65 feet of lots 15 and 16, Block 120, were sold outright for $1000 to St. Mary's congregation on February 27, 1941. Previous to this, on February 17, 1941, lots 17-21 in Block 120 were leased by the Franciscan Fathers to the parish for a term of ten years at a rental fee of $10 per year. A two-week mission was held at St. Mary's church from October 19 to November 2, 1941. The first week of the mission was conducted in English, the second in the Polish language. Church Redecorated in 1943 In February, 1943, the task of redecorating the church was begun by the firm of Burke and Adams, interior decorators from Chicago, 111., and was completed by Easter. At the same time, new floor tile was laid in the church aisles.

32 The old Stations of the Way of the Cross, present in the church since 1903, were replaced by new ones in 1943. During the same year, two more stained glass windows were purchased and placed in the vestibule of the church. They were donated by the Louis and Bernard Dudkiewicz and the Edward Bluma families. Parish Contributions to War Effort St. Mary of the Angels church contributed its share to the war effort during the years of World War II, 1939-1945. Women of the parish affiliated themselves with units of the Red Cross. En- couraged by their pastor, parishioners took full and energetic participation in paper, salvage, War Chest and War Loan drives. A list of servicemen from St. Mary's parish appears in a succeeding chapter. The Service Club of St. Mary's parish, composed of mothers, wives and sisters of men serving in the armed forces, inaugurated a Victory and Peace Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary on Tuesday, June 29, 1943. Radio Broadcasts of Masses and Sacred Concerts Christmas Eve, 1946, marked the first radio broadcast from St. Mary of the Angels church. A one-hour sacred choral concert composed of Christmas carols and followed by Midnight Mass was carried over radio station WTAQ (now WBAY). From 1947 to 1953, the Christmas Eve sacred concerts and Masses have been broadcast by radio station WDUZ. In 1948, radio station WJPG broadcast the 7:30 a.m. Mass each Sunday from St. Mary's church during the months of June, July, August and September. The Sunday Mass broadcast terminated with the Summer of 1952 inclusively. Growth of Par'sh since World War II St. Mary of the Angels parish experienced a rapid growth after World War II. Whereas in 1929, there were 288 families in the parish, in 1939, there were 300. in 1945, 400, and in 1948, 600 families or units affiliated with this parish. Nevertheless, a great turnover was developing also. Many new families moved into the parish, but a goodly number also transferred to other sec- tions of the city. In 1954, sixty children received their first Holy Communion. Of these, sixteen were baptized at St. Mary's church, thirty in other Green Bay parishes and fourteen in parishes outside of Green Bay. This is evidence of the attraction that the southeastern area of Green Bay has held in the postwar era for settlement and homebuilding. Polish Character of Parish Diminished As a result of this postwar growth, the Polish character of St. Mary's parish was also propor- tionally diminished. Many families of various national descent moved into the parish. At any rate, by the end of the year 1954, there still were 402 pew rent contributing units of which the

33 husband's surname was of Polish descent. In addition, Polish maiden surnames of eighty-four wives married to non-Polish husbands appear on the cards of the parish census in the same year. Thus, about forty-eight per cent of the total membership of the parish in 1954 was of Polish or mixed-Polish descent. In 1947, the remaining parish debt of $9500 was cleared. This was the first time since 1905 that the parish was free of debt. Polish and English Missions in 1947 A three-week mission was conducted for parishioners of St. Mary's church from October 12 to November 2, 1947. The first week was reserved for the Polish membership of the parish. An English mission preached by a Dominican missionary followed. In March, 1948, kneeler cushions were installed in the pews of St. Mary's church. On Ju'y 11, 1948, Father Cornelius Liss, the pastor, introduced the parish bulletin which replaced the written Sunday announcements. Since December 11, 1949, the cost of the four-page bulletin has been covered by advertising fees from the merchants of the parish. A Second Curate Provided for St. Mary's Parish Although the golden jubilee of the existence of the parish occurred in 1948, it was postponed until a new school would be built to provide accomodations for a more solemn celebration. It was scheduled to be celebrated with the ded¬ication of the new school. Because of the rapid growth of the parish, a petition was sent to the Franciscan authorities of the Assumption Province on June 13, 1949, to obtain an additional curate. The request was honored and on June 29 of the same year the second curate arrived in the person of Father Chester Osowski. Balance of Lots in Block 120 Sold to Parish After owning lots 17 to 21 in Block 120 for forty-seven years, the Franciscan Fathers sold them to St. Mary's congregation on November 10, 1950, for the sum of $4500. In 1950, the parish was debt-free and was raising a building fund to erect a new school. In June, 1952, a public address system was installed in St. Mary's church for the convenience of both the priests and the parishioners. During the next month, the church interior was redeco- rated by the Julius Wergin Co. of Manitowoc, Wis. The walls and altars of the church were only washed since the church had been painted in 1943. Partial Basement Dug Under Church In April, 1953, the old school building of St. Mary's parish was razed to allow space for the building of the new school. While the new building was under construction, temporary provision had to be made to provide classroom space for the children of the parish during the 1953-1954 school year. For this reason, arrangements were made with Monsignor John Loer- ke, pastor of St. John's 34 church, Green Bay, to hold five classes in the church hall there. Two other classes were held in the basement chapel of St. Mary's church, while the first grade was sent to the public school. To provide lavatory facilities for the school children of the two classes held in the basement chapel and to accomodate parishioners on Sundays, the northwest section of the basement underneath the church was excavated. Other utility rooms were also provided in the partial basement as part of the same project. Furthermore, the north stairway to the choir was eliminated from the church vestibule. In its stead a mothers' room, glassed in and supplied with a loud speaker connected to the interior of the church, was substituted. The cost of this necessary remodeling completed in the Summer of 1953 amounted to approximately $10,000.

35