St. Peter ROMAN

VOLO,

150th Anniversary Edition

A of the Canons Regular of John Cantius

First and second church building at St. Peter

JUNE 24, 2018 Page 2 Office 5 MISSION PASTORS OF ST. PETER (36 years)     27551 Volo Village Road St. John of Johnsburg     Volo, IL 60073 1968 1883 15 yrs Father Hubert Fegers     (815) 385-5496 1883 1884 1 yr. Father Otto Groenebaum 18841889 5 yrs. Father Henry Mehring Email address: [email protected]    St. Mary of Freemont [email protected] 18891901 12 yrs. Father Joseph Rohde Website: www.stpetervolo.org 19011904 3 yrs. Father George Thiele 9 RESIDENT PASTORS  Holy Mass 19041911 7 yrs. Father Joseph Rempe Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 19111913 2 yrs. Father Arthur A. Riss  6:15 a.m. , 8:00 a.m.  19131916 3 yrs. Father Francis J. Epstein Wednesday 8:00 a.m., 6:30 p.m. Latin 19161959 43 yrs. Father George L. Schark SaturdayN8:00 a.m. Latin, 5:00 p.m. Vigil 19591973 14 yrs. Father Edmund L. Slingerland SundayN8:00, 9:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Latin, 1973  1983  10 yrs.  Father Charles Heaney  1:00 p.m. Spanish 19831994 11 yrs. Father James Lyons  19941998 4 yrs. Father James P. Doyle Holydays (subject to change) 1998 2007 9 yrs. Father Donald Dietz, OMI     7:00 p.m. Vigil, 2007 2010 3 yrs. Father Dennis Kolinski, SJC     8:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. (Latin) 2010 2011 10 mos Father Eduardo Garcia 2011 2015 4 yrs. Father James Isaacson, SJC 2015 present  Father Anthony Rice, SJC Confessions 6 GROUPS OF SCHOOL TEACHERS (68 years) Before weekend Masses and after 8 am Mass 18921910 18 yrs. Sisters of St. Francis M-F and before 8 am Mass Sat (when a priest is 19101915 5 yrs. Lay teachers 19151927 12 yrs. Sisters of St. Francis, Milw available) and by appointment.      1927 1951 24 yrs. Sisters of the Divine Savior, Milw 19511952 1 yr. Father Schark and  SACRAMENTS    housekeeper Louise Bloom To receive the sacraments of Baptism, First 19521960  8 yrs. Sisters of St. Casimir,  Confession, First Communion, Confirmation, and/or Matrimony, it is necessary to be an active PRESENT BUILDINGS  registered member of the parish for 6 months St. Peter Church 1926 St. Peter School 1926 before contacting the parish. Old Rectory, now office St. Therese House 1904 Baptisms take place Sat. at 1:00 p.m. Old St. Joseph House July 2000 made…. All Baptismal requests must be accompanied by Guardian Angel Parking Lot October 2001 an original Birth Certificate. St. Henry House donated by Henry Diedrich, Sacrament of Matrimony should be arranged at  April 2001 least 6 months in advance. St. Mary House, current rectory, October 2003  St. Joseph House August 2010 Parish Staff and Contacts AGE OF PARISH As mission 18681904 (36 yrs) Pastor...... Fr. Anthony Rice, SJC As parish with pastor 19042018 (114 yrs) Associate ...... Fr. Nathan Caswell, SJC St. Peter Church 18682018 (150 yrs.) Office...... Jackie Gammel Catechism ...... Connie Ballantine BELL BAPTISM & BLESSING Liturgical Music ...... Stephanie Brune The old bell was found on the property and placed in a place of honor in front of the Church Spanish Contact ...... Altagracia Reyes  in December of 2004. Office Hours On May 15, 2018, the bell was baptized Mon., Wed., Thurs...... 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Margaret and blessed by Joseph N. Perry. On June 5, 2018, the bell was hoisted up Tues., Fri………………………….8:30 a.m.—noon into the tower and put in place.  VOLO VILLAGE & ST. PETER CHURCH There is nothing in the history of Volo like St. Peter Catholic Church. The village is officially 25 years old, St. Peter is 150 years old. Father James Lyons and Representative Al Salvi were main forces in rerouting Highway 120 from Volo Village Road and in forming the village officially. The Village which numbered 180 people in 2000 was poised for dramatic growth. Page 3 “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the House of God; this is the Gate of Heaven.” Genesis 28:17  These words were spoken by the Patriarch Jacob after he had the dream of the stairway to Heaven. And so he names that place Bethel, the House of God. Why did he say those words and why did he name that place the House of God? Because in his dream he saw the presence of God standing above the place. In a more real and concrete way, all Catholic churches are truly, in the fullest sense of the word, the Domus Dei, the House of God. For in the Tabernacle is Jesus Christ Himself, the Real Presence of God, veiled under the appearance of bread. The House of God is also called the Porta Caeli, the Gate of Heaven. Once we have entered into the doors of the church, we have left the strife filled world outside and we have entered into a foretaste of Heaven. As Catholics we identify very closely with the church building itself. We go into the House of God and Gate of Heaven for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, to receive the Sacraments, to pray, and to adore our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.  The shape of our parish church is a cross. It is here that Christ gathers us and speaks to us. It is here that our Lord nourishes us with His Sacred Body an Precious Blood. In this house there are images in the form of statues, paintings, and stained glass windows. High on the ceiling in the apse of the sanctuary is a painting of Jesus and the Four Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Christ is portrayed as King, Priest, Prophet, and Lord in the Gospels symbolized by a man (Matthew) , a lion (Mark), an ox (Luke), and an eagle (John). The Son of God teaches us with His word. Above the high altar are windows showing the Agony in the Garden, The Scourging and Crowning with thorns, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and the Ascension. We are nourished with the Body of Blood of Christ and under the high altar is the scene of the Last Supper. On the altar is the Tabernacle with the Blessed Sacrament and above the Tabernacle is the altar crucifix. Jesus loved us at the Last Supper and on the Cross. Truly present in the Tabernacle, He continues to love us. On the altar rail or communion rail are images of the Paschal Lamb, a Host over a chalice, and a monstrance.  The two side altars are dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary the Mother of God, and to St. Joseph, the Virgin and Foster Father of Jesus. Above the altar of Mary is a painting of the Annunciation when Mary gave her “yes” to God and Jesus was conceived in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. Nearby is a statue of the Pieta; Mary holding Jesus after He was taken down from the Cross. Above the altar of St. Joseph is the painting of him leading Jesus and Mary in the flight into Egypt. As Joseph protected and guarded and defended the Holy Family, so too does he protect, guard, and defend the Holy Catholic Church and our parish. Nearby is a statue of the Holy Death of St. Joseph.  There are statues of angels in our parish church. The angels pray for us and with us; they protect us, they fight for and with us, and they guard us. St. Michael the Archangel leads us into battle and protects us from the wickedness and snares of the devil. Above the high altar are statues of St. Peter and St. Paul. St. Peter, the patron of our parish, has the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. St. Paul has the sword of God’s word to bring us to salvation. St. Anne, St. Anthony, and St. Therese teach us to be in our everyday lives. The angels and the saints are our intercessors and by their example, their prayers, and their love they help us on the path to holiness.  There are stained glass windows. The window above the Pieta depicts the Crucifixion. Christ dies on the Cross to redeem us and to save us from evil and sin. The window above the Death of St. Joseph shows St. Peter in chains and being set free by an angel. The windows on the two sides of the church are devoted to different saints. On the side of Mary’s altar are St. George, St. Peter, St. Nicholas, and St. James. They represent the virtues of hope, faith, love and fortitude. On the side of Joseph’s altar are St. Matthew, St. Leo, St. Henry, and St. Anthony the abbot. They represent the virtues of humility, prudence, justice, and temperance. Along the walls in the nave of the church are the Stations of the Cross. Here we remember the Via Crucia, the Way of the Cross, while meditating on the suffering and Passion of Christ and we unite our sufferings with His. Jesus helps us to carry our crosses and He leads us to resurrection.  In the vestibule of the church the baptistry is located to the right. Four windows are devoted to St. John the Baptist preaching, the Baptism of our Lord, Jesus baptizing some Apostles, and St. Peter baptizing a household. The baptismal font depicts Jesus being baptized by John. Through Baptism we are set free from original sin and we become children of God and heirs of Heaven; we become members of the Church. At the doors of the main entrance there are holy water fonts with blessed water to help us remember our Baptism. The confessionals inside the church are where we go to be forgiven of our sins; our souls are made clean and we receive grace to continue to battle against the attacks of the devil. In the vestibule is a statue of the Infant of Prague and Jesus crucified. Over the main entrance into the nave are words exhorting us to enter with joy and reverence to be with our Lord and Savior. Jesus is always truly here for us.  St. Peter‘s is blessed to have such a beautiful church which has been preserved over these many years. It is interesting to note that the church we see today, is the same as it would have been in 192526. There have been no major architectural changes. Let us come into this House of God and Gate of Heaven with much joy and thanksgiving and with the highest respect and reverence for God.   Page 4     St. Peter History  The organization of St. Peter’s, Volo, dates back to 1868, when the first steps were taken by the pioneers to obtain a fund of $2,000, to erect a small wooden structure to serve as a church for Volo, in order to be free of the necessity of driving eight to ten miles to the nearest Catholic church, Johnsburg, Illinois. Considering the lack of facilities of those days, when the products of the farm were hauled from Volo to Waukegan, a distance of 18 miles in carts drawn by oxen, and from there to be shipped in sailing vessels to Chicago, we can easily imagine, with the low prices of those days, which left very little to be squandered, that not many farmers were fortunate enough to own a convenient buggy, or even a horse. Walking, therefore, to church, a distance of nine miles, and, especially, in winter, a distance of nine miles back again, was quite a hardship, and to ride behind the ox not much better. The efforts to procure the necessary sum mentioned above were welcomed all around, and the little church structure, 30 by 60 feet, was soon the pride of the Volo Catholics. The day of its dedication drew near, and preparations were made to enjoy the Holy Sacrifice for the first time in their own building, when to the great horror of all, the church was swept away one morning by fire. With sad faces the parishioners turned away from the charred ruins of what had been their “beautiful church,” and resumed their long walks to Johnsburg to attend to their religious duty.  The fire, however, did not destroy their hopes nor their spirit of sacrifice, for in the following spring a new structure, a copy of the one destroyed, was ready for services, and the pastor of Johnsburg appointed to attend Volo as a mission. With service on a weekday not much was gained, however, and accordingly new efforts were launched to obtain the bishop’s consent and help for services on Sundays. The bishop graciously responded to their wishes, by sending Rev. Joseph Rhode, toward the end of 1889, as pastor of St. Mary’s at what was then called Rockefeller, Illinois. Although residing at Rockefeller, Father Rhode was to attend both parishes on each Sunday, an arrangement satisfactory to all concerned. Things progressed so well that thoughts were turning to a further necessary improvement, namely, a school taught by sisters.  A building consisting of two classrooms and a twostory dwelling for the teachers was soon in evidence. The Sisters of St. Francis of St. Francis took charge, remaining until 1910. For the next three years the school was conducted by lay teachers, until in 1915 the Sisters of St. Francis of , Wisconsin, took charge. Rev. Rhode continued as pastor of Volo until succeeded by Rev. George Thiele, in the summer of 1901. Residing at Freemont Center, of which he was also pastor, he continued to attend Volo on each Sunday.  A desire often expressed, began to grow stronger about this time, and it took form in a petition addressed to the bishop, signed by the parishioners with the consent of Rev. George Thiele to have a priest to devote himself to their parish exclusively, and to reside therefore in Volo, and so to have him also always near. Very little encouragement was necessary from the bishop, and the plans were already under way for a fitting parsonage to house their own, as they called him, pastor.  Rev. Joseph Rempe was the choice of the bishop for Volo, and accordingly in August, 1904, he became the first residing pastor. In 1911 a change was made and Rev. Arthur Riss took charge of Volo; owing to sickness, however, his stay was not to be long, so in the summer of 1913, Rev. Francis J. Epstein appeared in Volo as the new pastor. He soon won the hearts of the people, and a spirit of rejuvenation took hold of the parish, which evidenced itself in many improvements, both spiritual and material. After the lapse of two years, another change was made by the new Archbishop, Most Rev. George Mundelein, who placed Rev. George L. Schark here.  The religious activity of the parish was supplemented by societies for the young and old: namely St. Aloysius and St. Agnes Societies for the youth, and St. Anne’s and the Holy Name for societies for married folks. A branch of the catholic Foresters was also established.  The opportunity to celebrate the golden jubilee of St. Peter’s was passed in quiet on June 29, 1919, for very good reasons. The old spirit of the parishioners reasserted itself, in the resolution not to celebrate until the completion of a grand new church, a modern new school building, and new sister’s dwelling, all to cost in the neighborhood of $60,000. A fund was rapidly accumulating, and in the spring of 1920 the great work for Volo was begun. Further delays were caused when Father Schark disapproved of the architect’s plans for the new church. Finally, on July 5, 1925, ground was broken for a permanent church. The old buildings were sold to Edward Lusk who moved them from the parish property.  Father Schark recalled that men from the parish hauled more than a million bricks, a few thousand loads of gravel, several car loads of cement, and several cars of lumber from the siding of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad to the church site, a distance of five miles. The 1926 financial report of St. Peter Church contained the information that: The parish also undertook to save the money for excavating, and the men of the parish, with their teams and shovels made the ground ready for their new church and new school. The pastor things back with pride and pleasure to the days, when in the hot summer sun, he dug with his shovel, or drove the teams of his parishioners.  The cornerstone of St. Peter Church was laid on October 24, 1925. By then construction was well underway on a combination schoolconvent. Mass was celebrated in the new Gothic church for the first time on June 20, 1926, the opening day of the XXVIII International .  On July 3, 1927, Auxiliary Bishop Edward F. Hoban dedicated St. Peter Church and the school building. The New World noted that: “Volo is a little town located on the Rand Road, and with its new, beautiful church is serving the religious needs of many Chicago Catholics who come to the country for the Sundays in the summertime.” According to the parish’s 1926 financial report, the cost of constructing St. Peter Church and school was nearly $100,000. This was an enormous undertaking in any parish in the Chicago Archdiocese, but especially so because St. Peter parish numbered only 44 families!  For decades, St. Peter parish remained a small community of dairy farmers. According to a 1942 Directory published by The New World, enrollment in the parish school then numbered only 41 children. St. Peter parish boundaries were listed as Fox Lake on the north; Wauconda on the south; Lily Lake on the west: and Fox Hill Rd. on the east. Page 5

 The Sisters of the Divine Savior of Milwaukee, Wis. Staffed St. Peter school from 1927 until 1951. Following their departure, Father Schark and his housekeeper, Louise Bloom, instructed the children of the parish for one year. Miss Bloom served as housekeeper at St. Peter parish from 1916 until her death in July 1973. In 1952, the Sisters of St. Casimir from Chicago were placed in charge of the parish school. This order of women religious staffed the school until it was closed in 1960.  Father Schark died on October 21, 1959 at the age of 77. In November 1977, Rev. Edmund L. Slingerland was named pastor. He continued to serve the Catholic community in Volo until July 11, 1973.  Rev. Charles J. Heaney was appointed pastor effective August 15, 1973. In addition to his work at Volo, Father Heaney was appointed Archdiocese Director of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference in December 1974. He remained pastor until his death in 1983. In 1980 the family count was still 45 families. St. Peter became an intentional as well as a territorial parish during the pastorate of Father James Lyons 19831994, 11 years. Father sought and welcomed people not of Volo to be members of the parish. He kept the school open as a parish center. He had a very high percentage of the members contribute to the Annual Catholic Appeal and caught the attention of the diocese. These measures assured St. Peter would not be closed. The October attendance report numbered about 350 the average weekend attendance for the one Saturday evening and two Sunday morning Masses. Father James Doyle was pastor at St. Peter for 4 years, 1994 M 1998. The office was expanded and computerized and the first official church bulletin was printed for Sunday, September 11, 1994. He welcomed to St. Peter at Volo the Tridentine Latin Mass which had been asked to move from St. Peter at Antioch. The Tridentine Latin Mass was at St. Peter the last month of his pastorate in 1998. He started the restoration of the present church and planned a 3year campaign for funds. He also looked for a new parish center. The October attendance report numbered about 320 for the average weekend attendance at the one Saturday evening and the two Sundays morning Masses. Father Donald Dietz OMI was the resident priest at St. Peter between 19982008. The church was replastered and repainted. The boiler that heated the church and school was retooled inside. The church roof was redone. New gutters were installed. The window frames were replaced and painted. The wooden doors at the entrance were refinished. The church was air conditioned. New school windows were installed. The school roof and walls were repaired. The garage was reroofed and sided and painted. During these years 3 new properties were added: that next to the school was purchased from Joan and Jerry Evans and was first made a catechism house and then Guardian Angel parking lot, that across the street bequeathed to the parish by Henry Diedrich and made St. Joseph catechism house for high school and older elementary school youth, and a house across the street purchased from Joyce Grattan and made St. Mary House as parish office and priest home. The former parish office and priest home was made St. Therese catechism house for younger children; other younger children are also taught at St. Peter school. There are 5 weekend Masses, one Saturday evening in English, two Sunday morning in English, one Sunday in Latin, and one Sunday evening in Spanish. The October attendance report of 2003 numbered about 700 for the average weekend attendance at the 5 Masses. July 1998 the Tridentine Latin Mass, here about a month, had a very small congregation and was given until after Christmas to increase or to cease. The congregation increased significantly. July 1998 there were many younger children but not many teenagers and high schoolers. That has changed. Now there are many teenagers and high school schoolers and they are active. January 2002 the Mass in Spanish started with 6 youth and has grown. St. Peter is both for people living in Volo and for other people choosing to make us their parish. This is a territorial and intentional parish. On June 26, 2004 we celebrated 100 years as a parish and 136 years as a mission and a parish with a Mass offered by Cardinal OMI.  In 2007 the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius were given St. Peter Church as their new home. Their main home was St. John Cantius in Chicago. The Canons Regular of St. John Cantius is an order started by Fr. Frank Phillips, CR, in 1998 with the approval of Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., and the approval of the Congregation of the Resurrection to preserve and foster the devotional, musical, catechetical, and artistic traditions of the Catholic Church. Fr. Dennis Kolinski, SJC was assigned as Pastor. A number of measures were introduced into parish operations to bring the parish into compliance with standard archdiocesan procedures. The parish website and bulletin were also redesigned. The Knights of Columbus formed here in 2009. Summer boys and girls camps were offered every summer. Confession hours were expanded and now hundreds of souls each week are sanctified. The quality of sacred music increased. Liturgical & devotional practices were introduced into parish life such as the chanting of the “O” Antiphons, the Epiphany blessing, observance of Lenten Stational Churches, covering of statues, processions…..and much more. Electrical, brass items, the organ, new church boiler were restored or purchased new.   While Fr. Dennis Kolinski, SJC was commissioned to take care of the Canon seminarians at Holy Apostles in , Fr. Eduardo Garcia took over for 10 months.   Fr. James Isaacson, SJC, became Pastor in 2011 and continued the work of the Canons. Fr. Jim learned Spanish so he was able to celebrate the Spanish Mass.  In 2015 Fr. Anthony Rice, SJC took his place, also learning to celebrate the Spanish Mass. In 2017 there was a pledge drive for the To Teach Who Christ is Campaign. Fr. Anthony oversaw the reconstruction of the bell tower and the raising of the original bell to be rung on a daily basis. The first time the bell is rung is on June 21, 2018, the beginning of the novena to St. Peter. The parish picnic was June 24, 2018 and the biggest picnic in it’s history complete with German food, Mexican food, American food, obstacle courses to entertain the children, a new horseshoe pit was put in on the grounds, and live music and dancers.  And this is just the beginning…………………………………. Page 6 Did you know……. * Did you know that there were three church buildings? A fire destroyed the first, and the second one was torn down after the existing church was complete. * Did you know that there were two school buildings? The first school was cut in half. One half is three houses down from the existing school, and the other half is six houses down from the existing school. The building had to be removed before the new school could start. * As records have it the first mass in the new church was on the first Sunday in May of 1926, for First Communion. * For years there were no stained glass windows, murals, or painted walls, just plaster walls. The stain glass windows were added in 1941 and the decorations you see today were done in 1948. * Farmers hauled all the bricks, steel and lumber from the Round Lake Rail Yard. Horses hauled it from the rail yard to the location of the new church. * Church members helped dig the foundation with horses, plows, and scrapers. They also assisted as laborers during the construction.  * The bell in the bell tower was last rung in 1938, before it broke. The chimes were installed in 1941 and from speaking to former parishioners, 1959 was the last time they rang.  * In 1961 the church bell tower was struck by lightning. The damage was so great that the upper part of the tower had to be taken down for structure and safety restrictions. It was replaced with a tower you saw until 2018. * The church was repainted in the mid sixties, and the mid nineties, but the church left the beautiful murals, and details. * Did you know that the church had two boilers, one for the church, and one for the school? The boiler for the school was taken out about 1961 when the school was closed. * Did you know that the well for the church is completely in the basement of the church? * Prior to 1939, a shovel fed the boiler. In 1939, a stoker was added to feed the boiler, and natural gas was added in the late 50’s. * Did you know a railcar full of coal could fit under the sanctuary with a lot of shoveling? * Did you know that the parish members hauled and shoveled coal in the basement every year? * Did you know that if the kids had to go to the bathroom, they had to use an outhouse? * The first organ was a hand pump organ. It was replaced with an electric organ from a Chicago theater in 1941. This organ posed a problem though when it was installed. Only half the lights could be used when it was in use, or it would blow a fuse. This problem was fixed in 1961when the church was rewired. The organ existing today was installed in 1995. * Did you know families took turns mowing the cemetery, until a cemetery association took over? * Did you know that there were beautiful wrought iron gates, and pillars when you entered the cemetery? These were removed in the 60’s when the cemetery association took over for there large equipment would not go through. * Did you know families had to pay rent for their pew in church? * Did you know that there was a Sunday envelope race, to be the number one donator to the church? It was called The Gold Star Package. * The only history of a Holy Name Society, 1914, and a St. Anne Society, 1914, were found  * The Christmas Crib was purchased, according to records, in 1925, with all new furniture. * Here are a few other items donated by parishioners: Altar Chair, 1928; and the Gold Tabernacle  (Repository) used on Holy Thursday, 1947,electric candelabra 1925, and the two electric sanc  tuary lamps 1925 just a note these item been removed from the church but are in pictures. * Did you ever wonder why the first 4 pews on either side and so close together?  The pews were made smaller to accommodate the children when they went to daily Mass before school. Trivia Therese Tonyan recalls that the Sundays were set aside, as the following groups would get together once a month in the first few pews to attend Mass and receive Holy Communion as a group as follows:  Week 1Nyouth Week 2NHoly Name Society Week 3Nchildren Week 4NSt. Anne Sodality ORGANIZATIONS OF ST. PETER SAINT JOSEPH MEN’S PRAYER GROUP ALTAR SERVING Contact: Erik Klebosits CHURCH CLEANING SAINT MARTHA’S GUILD Contact:Rita Meinhardt / Phone (847) 2700661 Contact: Marie Dudzik @ [email protected] KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS SPANISH  Contact: Michael Kearns Contact: Altagracia Reyes LITTLE FLOWERS TEEN / YOUTH GROUP Contact: Stephanie Brune Contact: Fr. Nathan Caswell, S.J.C. NEW MOMMIES GROUP [email protected], Beth Widhalm Contact: Elisa Johnson VOLO CRUSADERS FOR LIFE PROLIFE Contact: Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/volocrusaders Contact: Pietrina Probst Email: [email protected] PRAY & PLAY GROUP Website: www.lifeballoons.com Contact: Jeanne Luminiello YOUNG ADULT GROUP SAINT ANNE SODALITY Contact: Pierre & Maria Lareau Contact: Marta Kiss