HISTORY OF OUR LADY OF THE LAKE PARISH

              HISTORY OF OUR LADY OF THE LAKE PARISH

     Before 1907 the Catholics who lived in and around the Village of Green Lake had to travel some distance in order to attend mass.  Many of them went to St. Patrick's Church in Ripon, some went to St. John the Baptist Church in Princeton, and others to St. Stanislaus Church in Berlin.

     In the spring of 1907 George Ross talked with Fr. Thomas Cosgrove, pastor of St. Patrick's, about conducting Catholic services in Green Lake during the summer months.  He celebrated the first holy mass in this area in July, 1907 in the cottage of Dennis McCarthy.  Fr. Cosgrove encouraged the families at Green Lake to build a church.  A building fund was started, and $824.42 was raised that summer.

     In September, 1907, a meeting of Catholic men was held at Pleasant Point Hotel.  Present were Dennis McCarthy, Thomas A. Collins, George O'Callaghan, John O'Callaghan, Matthew DeMoss, Joseph DeMoss, John Broder, John Hoffman, and Thomas Keenan.  As a preliminary step to establishing a permanent church, they voted to purchase a plot.  Two lots on the corner of Lake and Ruth Streets were bought from Wilkie Walker for $600.

     During the winter months of 1907-08 no services were held at Green Lake.  The following summer masses were celebrated in various homes and cottages.  In the fall and early winter of 1908 Fr. Cosgrove conducted services in a vacant house on Illinois Avenue, later owned by Matthew DeMoss.

     Meanwhile work had been started to build the new church.  Its corner stone was laid by the Most Reverend Sebastian G. Messmer, Archbishop of Milwaukee on Sunday, August 23, 1908.  The church was built by a local carpenter, Charles Butler, at a cost of $2,800.  It was located approximately where the steeple now stands in the Garden of Prayer, and looked across Lake Street to Dartford Bay.

     The first official meeting of the parish was held October 27, 1908, at the home of John Broder and was called to order by Fr. Cosgrove.  Thomas Collins was elected secretary and Matthew DeMoss treasurer.  The Articles of Incorporation were signed November 6, 1908.

     On Sunday, January 10, 1909, the new church was dedicated to God under the patronage of the Immaculate Virgin Mary with the specific title of "Our Lady of the Lake."

     Beginning in January, 1909, Our Lady of the Lake was a mission dependent on St. Patrick Church.  In the fall of 1910, Fr. Cosgrove was transferred to Fond du Lac, and Fr. James Condon became pastor of St. Patrick's and Our Lady of the Lake parishes.  In 1912, Fr. Condon was succeeded by Fr. Michael Norton.

     In 1921 Fr. Norton resigned St. Patrick's pastorate and took up residence in Green Lake, thereby making Our Lady of the Lake an independent church.

    
Money was raided by raffles and card parties held in private homes.  A fee of 25 cents was charged at the card parties, and first, second, and booby prizes were given.  Smear, Five Hundred and Euchre were played.  In winter two wooden stoves set up in the church provided heat.

     In June, 1923, Fr. Norton resigned his pastorate, leaving Our Lady of the Lake without a pastor.  Through negotiation the Capuchin Fathers of Mt. Calvary near Fond du Lac agreed to minister to the spiritual needs of the parish, and Fr. Andrew Neufeld, O.F.M.Cap. became the pastor.

     Upon assuming pastorate of Our Lady of the Lake, Fr. Andrew called attention to various needs of the church.  The exterior of the church was painted, a new metal cross decorated with gold leaf was placed on the spire, and the wooden shingled roof was stained a moss green.  The interior was also painted.  New furnishings were added; two side altars, an organ loft, a set of stations of the cross, a sanctuary lamp of onyx and gold, a confessional of quartered oak, a statue of St. Anthony and a Pieta.  Two electric lights were installed in the sanctuary.  A pipeless furnace was installed underneath the church floor.  Last but not least a five hundred pound bell was hung in the tower.

     To celebrate these improvements the first Solemn High Mass in the church was celebrated on Christmas, 1924.  The mass was made possible by Mt. Calvary furnishing two extra priests, the necessary vestments and some college students to play the organ and sing the mass.

     During 1924 and 1925 a series of card parties netted around $2,000 to pay for these improvements.

     Fr. Andrew not only improved the tangible assets of the church but he also worked for the spiritual improvement.  Special devotions were held in honor of the Sacred Heart on the first Fridays, and in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary during the month of May.

     In preparation for the Silver Jubilee of Our Lady of the Lake parish the interior of the church was newly decorated.  Ornate borders were painted around the windows and ceiling.  Six symbolic pictures were painted on the ceiling.  In the peak above the arch to the apse was painted an eye in a triangle surrounded by a circular border.  This was the traditional "Eye of God" Who knows all things.

     On Sunday, August 6, 1933, the parish observed its Silver Jubilee with a 10:00 Pontifical High Mass with the Most Rev. Joseph Francis Rummel D.D., Bishop of Omaha, officiating.

     Fr. Andrew served as pastor of Our Lady of the Lake until 1937.  Beginning in 1937 a series of other Capuchin priests administered to the needs of the parish.  They came from Fond du Lac to Green Lake by train on Friday night or Saturday morning, and would go back by train Sunday night or very early Monday morning, ready to teach that week.  In the summer they stayed at the Patrick Kelly home; in winter at the home of John Broder or at Gurdy's Hotel.  For almost 21 years (1923-1944) the Capuchins came on week ends and holy days to take care of the religious needs of Our Lady of the Lake parish.

     In February, 1944, Our Lady of the lake was placed under the care of Fr. Julian Bieniewski with his assistant Fr. Alphonse Popek, pastors of St. Michael's parish, Berlin.  They gathered the vital statistics of the parish and transcribed them into a permanent church record.

     On March 23, 1945, Fr. Stephen Szczerbiak was appointed resident pastor of Our Lady of the Lake by Archbishop Moses E. Kiley of Milwaukee.

     On March 12, 1946, the Diocese of Madison was canonically erected and Our Lady of the Lake parish with its pastor, Fr. Steve, was transferred from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to the newly formed Diocese of Madison with Most Rev. William P. O'Connor as its bishop.

     Under the pastorate of Fr. Steve new vestments, linens and other sacred articles were acquired.  He arranged for the School Sisters of Notre Dame, assigned to St. Stanislaus School in Berlin, to come to Green Lake to hold catechism classes in the church every Saturday morning.  Under the direction of Conrad L. Naparalla a choir was formed and an organ was purchased.  The trustees, Delbert Formiller and Daniel Jankowski, worked with Fr. Steve to build a rectory.  Fr. Steve had been living in rented quarters.  The full basement built under the priest's home was planned to be used aa a parish hall where catechism classes, parish meetings, social activities and money making events could be held.  The rectory was completed in March, 1951 at a cost of about $17,000, but Fr. Steve did not enjoy it for long.  On April 21, 1952, he passed to his heavenly reward.

     Fr. Roger Idzikowski succeeded Fr. Steve.  A strong Chi Rho Club was developed, new altar boys were trained, catechism classes by the Sisters of Notre Dame were continued, a Holy Name Society was organized, a Discussion Club was formed.  These activities took place in the rectory basement, as also did card parties, poultry bazaars, bake sales, funeral dinners, children's Christmas and Halloween parties.  A porch-like office was added to the rectory to serve as an office where the pastor could keep records and hold private counseling.  A much needed parking lot was built east of the rectory and a building fund was started for the purpose of erecting a new, larger church for the growing Catholic population.

     In June, 1956, Bishop Wm. P. O'Connor transferred Fr. Roger to the parishes of Markesan and Kingston, and Fr. Francis S. Karwata from St. John the Baptist parish in Princeton to Our Lady of the Lake.  Fr. Karwata conducted a Catholic census, visiting all the parish homes and blessing them.

     On Palm Sunday 1957, the parish began publishing a Sunday bulletin.  The church and rectory were painted.  The wooden shingles of the steeple which had acquired a weathered gray were painted white.

     In June, 1958, Fr. Karwata celebrated his fortieth year in the priesthood and on August 24 of that year the parish celebrated its Golden Jubilee with Bishop O'Connor presiding and preaching at the 11:00 o'clock Solemn Jubilee mass.  A 1:00 o'clock dinner was served in the Green Lake High School where tables were set up in the gymnasium.

     On October 4, 1959, Fr. Karwata began his eternal life.  He had suffered greatly from cancer.

     On January 12, 1960, Fr. Carl J. Wagner was assigned to Our Lady of the Lake parish.  Plans moved rapidly ahead to build a new church that would be large enough to serve the growing Catholic population.  Fr. Wagner was the general contractor, carpenter and  mason.  He urged the parishioners to help build their church by contributing their time and skills as well as money.  The walls were constructed of cement blocks tied to bricks on the outer side.  The metal roof trusses were left exposed.  The new church was built and furnished (building, altars, communion rail, confessional and pews) for around $64,500.  Statues of the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph, The Sacred Heart, Stations of the Cross, and Pieta were brought from the old church.  Fr. Wagner donated the crucifix which hung over the main altar.

     On June 4, 1961, a double celebration was held.  Fr. Wagner celebrated his Silver Jubilee in the priesthood at a 10:00 o'clock mass.  In the afternoon Bishop O'Connor blessed and dedicated the new church to God with a Solemn Blessing at 4:00 o'clock followed by a dedication mass.

     The parish hall activities were then held in the old church with the rectory basement reverting back to the private quarters of the pastor.  The church had been built on the parish's first parking lot, so a new parking lot was made on the lot across Ruth Street from the church.

     In 1967 a Parish Council was formed according to the request of Bishop O'Donnell

     In June, 1978, Fr. Wagner retired and Fr. Lawrence Clark was assigned to Our Lady of the Lake parish.

     The needs of the parish were many: a decent church hall with kitchen facilities, catechism class space, a more aesthetic environment in the church, and better insulation in the church and in the rectory.  Plans were drawn.  In 1981 the church was remodeled.  Walls were insulated and finished with plasterboard, the overhead exposed roof trusses were finished, carpeting was installed, the altar was moved to the side of the church and the pews re-arranged into a modified semicircle.  A multi-purpose family room with kitchen facilities was created from the original areas of the sacristy, sanctuary, choir room and storeroom.

     Fr. Clark began his eternal life on September 29, 1981, having succumbed to a sudden heart attack.  He had done much to encourage a spirit of dialogue and cooperation within the parish and between Our Lady of the Lake parish family and other Christian parishes in the community.

     On November 1, 1981, Bishop O'Donnell assigned Fr. Leo A. Joyce to Our Lady of the Lake parish.  Fr. Clark had not seen the completion of all the improvements he had helped plan.  It was up to Fr. Leo to "jump into the middle of the stream."

     Fr. Leo immediately set about to affirm the people of the parish in their own ministries of service, to inspire a better spirit among them to work closely with the parish council and to set short and long term plans.  The practice of serving "coffee & donuts" between Sunday masses during the summer was started.  An active Social committee planned numerous "get-togethers" for people of all ages.

     The rectory was remodeled giving it a more efficient heating system, more insulation and weather stripping.  The basement underwent water-damage repair and received an office to be used by the parish secretary and the coordinator of religious education.

     The most difficult decision confronting Fr. Leo was what to do with the old church.  Much of it was salvaged; wainscotting was used in the rectory basement; the stained glass windows were eventually incorporated in the newer church; the steeple was lifted to a new foundation in the Garden of Prayer; and the bell was reinstalled in the steeple.

     In 1983 Our Lady of the Lake parish celebrated its Diamond Jubilee.  On July 2 & 3 masses were celebrated in Latin, the language used when the parish was formed.  An open house was held July 8 including tours of the church and the remodeled rectory, displays with pictures and architects drawings of the proposed east entrance and the utilization of the remaining stained glass windows.  On Sunday, July 10, the climax of the celebration was an 11:00 o'clock mass with Bishop George O. Wirz the principal celebrant.  Confirmation was celebrated, a big picnic with a pig roast ended the festivities.

     Fr. Leo loved flowers and was an enthusiastic gardener.  It was his ambition to create a garden where everyone could go to pray, meditate, or just rest.  He inspired others and the Garden of Prayer grew.  The old church steeple was placed approximately where the old church had been.  The church bell originally hung in 1924 was replaced in the steeple.  A chancel area which contains an altar fashioned from two huge stones was backed by a wall of juniper trees.  Opposite the white trellised entrance is a life sized white marble statue of the Virgin Mary, patroness of Our Lady of the Lake parish.  Lighted stations of the Cross created by Mike Breister wend their way around the garden.

     On the Feast of Mary's Assumption, Saturday, August 15, 1987, the Garden of Prayer and the new entrance to the church were dedicated.  These improvements were possible by the very generous contributions of money, labor, trees, park benches, plants, paint, and flowers.

     The parish was growing.  The shortage of adequate catechetical classroom space became critical.  On Monday evening February 27, 1989. a general meeting was held to hear and see plans for a new addition to the church to provide four classrooms, offices, a larger social area, kitchen improvements, and more storage space.  The building committee under the chairmanship of William Boesch were Tom Caestecker, Al Klaver, William Leupold, Terry Kohlman, Diann Semrow, Sharon Chier, Marcella Brightman, Barb Eddy, Rose Roberts, Jane Piernot, Michael Stagg, Shan Kramer, Mary Jo Smith and Mary Ellen Boesch.  This Learning Center could not have been built without the gifts of Tom Caestecker and many others who gave of their time, talent and treasure.  The crucifix which now hangs in the Learning Center is the same one that hung above the main altar when the church was first built in 1960.  On Sunday, September 24, 1989, the Caestecker Christian Learning Center was dedicated by Bishop George Wirz.

     With the new facilities the parish was able to expand much needed services (religious education, social events, and community causes such as blood drives etc.)  At the same time Fr. Leo's health was deteriorating.  The parish council hired Carol Kasuboski as an administrative assistant to relieve the work load and stress on the pastor.  Beginning on Monday, December 11, 1989, the parish office maintained regular business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 every Monday through Friday.  Many priests, retired and otherwise, celebrated mass and other sacraments for the people of Our Lady of the Lake parish when Fr. Leo was unable.  They included Fr. Dale Grubba, Msgr. Andy Breines, Fr. George Gibbons, Fr. Al Esselman, Fr. Campion Baer O.F.M.Cap., Fr. Ambrose Holzer and others.

     In the summer of 1991 Al Klaver, Elmer Anderson and Al Cederholm replaced the church's original amber glass windows with thermopane.  This made the light coming through the stained glass windows clear and bright.

     Fr. Leo struggled to provide the parish with the needed spiritual services, and it bothered him greatly that he was unable to give more than he did.  Reluctantly he asked for retirement,  June 6, 1993, was his last Sunday as pastor of Our Lady of the Lake.

     Fr. John R. Dowd was assigned as pastor and moved into the rectory on June 8.  The transition went smoothly.  Fr. John continued the existing practices such as mass schedules, parish personnel, Sunday hospitality, Thanksgiving clothing drive and ecumenical services, St. Nick's brunch, etc.  In the fall of 1993 he began to visit the homes of all who signed up for his visits.  He wanted to become acquainted with the people and where they lived that he might understand them better, be more helpful to them, and find their home more easily in case of an emergency.  He was most interested in visiting the sick and shut-ins, especially on First Fridays.  He actively associated with the town people, making himself available to them.

     On Sunday, October 3, 1993, the parish helped celebrate Fr. Wally Kasuboski's 25th jubilee of his priesthood.  It continued to support his mission in Panama.

     May 18, 1994, Mary Therese Gallagher conducted a one day retreat speaking on "Spirituality in Our Daily Lives."  She is an individually vowed person with a masters degree in spirituality.  In November the parish council voted to hire Mary Therese as a spiritual assisstant.  She helped implement an RICA program, a prayer line, and catechism and scripture gatherings.