February 3, 1900 Oshkosh Northwestern
As detailed in this blog before (http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2013/04/st-johns.html), St. John's was formed in February of 1888 after 75 families broke away from St. Mary's to form their own congregation. Why did this happen? The Polish immigrants had been a part of Wisconsin rural
life since 1860. However, because of the labor supply needs,
especially due to the Menasha Woodenware and John Strange Paper Company, a sizeable
migration of Polish immigrants from Milwaukee and Stevens Point moved into
Menasha proper in the early 1880's. Upon their arrival in Menasha, the new
settlers mostly joined St. Mary's parish. However, membership in this church did not last for long as feelings of alienation and not belonging set in. Since
St. Mary's was predominantly German, sermons were in that language, church publications were in German, and
church holidays were observed following German customs. It wasn't a good fit for these immigrants and they knew it.
(Reading the article above, I was curious about a few things. Despite the many celebrants of the consecration of this church, there wasn't mention of any Menasha St. Mary's priests assisting. Even though it had been over 12 years since the break, one wonders if there were still some bad feelings. And even though the Polish founded their own parish to feel more inclusive, the bishop still made sure to do a sermon in German at this festive occasion. I'm sure there was no choice in the matter...it's the bishop. But I still wonder if there was any resentment over that.)
What an interesting article re church history. Was such "alienation" the reason for the founding of St Pat's or St Mary's? Which came first? It always struck me that a small town like Menasha could have three Catholic Churches. Of course it had dozens of bars and four different pharmacies in the 1959s. Unique place.
ReplyDeleteJim Krahenbuhl
St. Patrick's was first, then St. Mary's around 1867. St. Pat's was originally known as St. Charles Borremeo. The St. Patrick's website has a wonderful description of its early history: http://stpatricksnm.org/history.php .
ReplyDeleteThanx David.
ReplyDeleteRe Twin City Catholics was there a deliberate preference for Catholics to live in Menasha? In my recollection, St Margaret Mary was the sole Catholic Church in Neenah until St Gabriel came along in 1960s.
I don't know that there was a conscious preference per se, but perhaps more just a circumstance due to the origins of the residents. Although both communities were founded by persons with New York/New England roots and likely were a bit more on the WASP-ish side, Menasha greatly benefitted from the later influx of German and, then, Polish immigrants who brought their Catholicism with them when they came to town to work in the factories and mills. Menasha was always the blue collar town and Neenah the white. And while that frames the Twin CIties in simplistic black and white terms, there IS a lot of truth to that.
ReplyDeleteActually St Gabriel was started in 1959. My parents were one of the founding members.
ReplyDeleteActually St Gabriel was started in 1959. My parents were one of the founding members.
ReplyDelete