Parish/Church
St. Therese – Pilsen Site
http://www.stthereseonline.org/
Date and Mass time
March, 07, 2015 – 4:00PM Mass
Celebrant
Rev. Dennis G. Drury
Deacon, Robert J. Pribek
Weather
Today was like the first day of spring. Sunny and beautiful and in the lower 30’s! What a nice day for a trip anywhere, but a great day for a ride out to Pilsen!
The trip there and back
Nothing special on the way out other than it being such a gorgeous day. We arrive and took a look around the grounds and it was nice enough to take pictures.
After we headed to town to do some grocery shopping at Costco and then had a nice little “date-night” dinner together at Tucson’s. I had to bring my laptop because I was on-call and had work to do, but it worked out just fine.
We even stopped at Kay’s mom’s apartment on the way home to change her clocks.
Parish History
These parishes have a rich Bohemian/Czech history, so I must say we felt very much at home!
The parish history is a bit complex now due to the merger and linkages of various parishes. From what I can figure out, as of 2000 this is now St. Therese Parish which is compromised of the original parishes of St. Hedwigs, St. Joseph-St. John and St. Lawrence. These original parishes were in East Krok, Pilsen, Norman, and Stangleville respectively. I think… Quite honestly, I can’t quite figure it out… Check out the website for more info, but here are the histories for St. John and St. Joseph sites.
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN NEPOMUCENE
1860s-First mass said in area on the farm of J. Weiner by Father Daems who walked from Bay Settlement. Father Maly also said mass on farm of Mr. Melke.
1863-St. John Church built by and on the land of Leo Keppler. Church put under the patronage of St. John Nepomucene, the patron saint of Bohemia. Fathers Maly, Long, and Brunner visited the parish very infrequently.
1873-Father Adalbert Cipin, St. Joseph Parish, Norman, visited the parish on Holy Days.
1875-Sacristy added onto church. Sacristy and bell dedicated in 1876. Mass said every third Sunday. Father Videnka served parish for a short time in 1878.
1880-St. John administered to by the priests of the neighboring parishes: Rev. J. Maly (1880-82); Rev. A. Cipin and Rev. G. Brunner (1883); Rev. J. Kirpal (1884-88); Rev. A. Vychodil (1888-92); Rev. E. Kabat (1892-94); Rev. F. Till (1894-97); Rev. J. Verlicek (1898-1900); and Rev. J. Kirpal (1900-04).
1904-St. John becomes a mission of St. Joseph, Norman and is served by the following priests: Rev. W. Kubale (1904-08); Rev. V. Herback (1908-16); Rev. J. Decker (1916-17); Rev. R. Reindl (1917-19); Rev. J. Vondracek (1919); and Rev.Schimel (1919-20).
1920-St. John becomes a mission of St. Joseph, Pilsen and is served by the following priests: Rev. W. Koutnik (1920-23); and Rev. J. Kalisek (1923-28). 1928-St. John becomes a mission of St. Joseph, Norman and is served by the following priests: Rev. R. Hodik (_1923-28); Rev. W. Koutnik (1928-33); Rev. F. Svatek (1933-40); Rev. C. Kabat (1940-43); Rev. R. Kerch 1943-46); and Rev. W. Hemauer (1946-48).
1948-St. John becomes a mission of St. Hedwig, West Kewaunee and is served by Father Thaddeus Koczarek.
1949-St. John becomes a mission of St. Joseph, Pilsen and is served by Father John Johanek.
1962-On May 6, Norbertine Fathers from St. Norbert College began helping with Sunday masses at both St. Joseph and St. John until May of 1991.
1989-A 125th anniversary of St. John Nepomucene Parish was celebrated with Bishop Adam Maida as the celebrant.
1995-Father John Johanek retired after 46 years of dedicated service to St. John Parish. Father Mike Ingold becomes administrator on September 11.
1996-Merger of St. John and St. Joseph into St. Joseph-St. John Parish on July 1, Linked with St. Lawrence, Stangelville, on September 14.
1997-Closing liturgy of St. John, Krok was held on November 22 with Bishop Banks as the celebrant. St. Joseph-St. John Parish linked with St. Hedwig, West Kewaunee.
1998-Father C. Terry LaCombe becomes administrator of St. Joseph-St. John Parish on June 15.
2000- July 1st - St. Hedwigs, St. Joseph-St. John and St. Lawrence merged to become St Therese De Lisieux Parish.
2005- May 14-Deacon Bob Pribek was ordained. Deacon Bob is the first Deacon for the parishes and only the second Deacon in Kewaunee County.
2006- Reverend Dennis Drury named administrator of St. Therese Parish.
2008- May 25- St. John’s Monument dedication mass celebrated with Father C. Terry Lacombe as the celebrant. Deacon Bob Pribek assisted with the dedication.
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH PARISH
1863-First Czech settlers arrived in the town of Montpelier from the area of Pilzen in Bohemia. They named this place Pilsen and met for prayers at the Lawrence Kadletz farm. Settlers attended masses when held at Stangelville.
1874-St. Wenceslaus Church built 1.5 miles north of Pilsen on land deeded by Mathias Mleziva and Joseph Wessely.
1876-St. Mary Church built in Pilsen on present site on land given by Andrew Mahlik.
1892-St. Anna Church built 1.5 miles south of Pilsen on the land of Thomas Cherney. All mission churches served by priests that resided in neighboring parishes such as Kewaunee, Stangelville, Norman, West Kewaunee and Eaton.
1900-On August 15, Sister Mary Francis (Mary Cisler) and Sister Mary Rose (Ann Wavrunek) received the Benedictine Habit.
1910-Father John Rous sent to Pilsen to unite St. Wenceslaus, St. Mary, and St. Anna. On January 1, 1911 voted to unite into 1 parish under the patronage of St. Joseph. By October 1911 the rectory was finished. Father Rous was the pastor until 1917.
1917-Father James Decker became pastor on December 9 until 1920.
1920-Father William Koutnik became pastor until 1922.
1922-Father B. Chudacek became pastor until June 1923.
1923-Father Joseph Kalishek became pastor until February 1928.
1925-In June, Sister Hermana (Mary Paider) was received into the Sisters of St. Francis.
1928-Father James Decker became pastor until 1933.
1930-Father Edward Radey was administrator from November 1930 until September 1931, during a leave of absence for Father Decker.
1932-In June, Sister Germaine (Agnes Paider) was received into the Sisters of St. Francis.
1933-Father John Vorlicek became pastor on July 1 until his retirement in March 1946.
1939-On August 12, Father Roger (Wencil) Paider was ordained at St. Norbert Abbey and served the Norbertine Community.
1946-Father John Johanek was appointed pastor on March 28.
1958-A front and side entrance was added and the church hall was fixed with lavatories and a kitchen to better serve the parish.
1962-On May 6, Norbertrine Fathers from St. Norbert College began helping with Sunday masses at both St. Joseph and St. John, Krok, until May 1991. A 50th anniversary was celebrated with Bishop S. V. Bona presiding and Father Roger Paider, O. Praem, a priest son of the parish as the celebrant.
1963-On June 1, Father Milton Suess was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop S Bona. Said his first mass at St. Joseph on June 2.
1987-A 75th anniversary of St. Joseph parish was celebrated with Bishop Adam Maida as the celebrant. A monument dedicated to the priests that served the parish, donated in memory of Eva Schleis Mleziva, was blessed by Bishop Maida.
1995-On July 8 Father Joseph E. Dorner was ordained by Bishop Robert Banks and said his first mass at St. Joseph on July 9. On August 30, Father John Johanek retired after 49 years of dedicated service. Father Mike Ingold becomes administrator until 1998.
1996-Total renovation of rectory at St. Joseph. Merger of St. Joseph and St. John into St. Joseph-St. John Parish on July 1. Linked with St. Lawrence, Stangelville on September 14.
1997-Renovation of Father John Johanek Hall, Pilsen. Linked with St. Hedwig, West Kewaunee.
1998-Father Terry LaCombe becomes administrator on June 15. In addition he also serves as administrator of St. Hedwig, West Kewaunee and St. Lawrence, Stangelville.
2000- July 1st - St. Hedwigs, St. Josephs-St. John and St. Lawrence merged to become St Therese De Lisieux Parish.
2005- May 14-Deacon Bob Pribek was ordained. Deacon Bob is the first Deacon for the parishes and only the second Deacon in Kewaunee County.
2006- Reverend Dennis Drury named administrator of St. Therese Parish.
Reflections
What a beautiful parish! When we were deciding what parish to visit this month we knew it had to be close as I was on-call for work. So when we saw “St. Therese”, who is Kay’s favorite Saint, had a 4pm Mass on Saturday, the decision was made. The fact that the parishes are rich in Bohemian heritage just adds to the whole trip.
The look and feel of the church are quite wonderful. The art on the walls and ceilings are awesome as are the stained glass. It is an old style church, which we favor. The Rosary was being prayed when we entered, which is always a great way to come into Mass.
Father Dennis and Deacon Bob had a great Mass. Father’s homily really tied the first readings outline of the 10 commandments, the Gospel’s story of Jesus driving the money changers from the Temple, and the theme of Lent and our sinfulness together so well. The idea that almost all sin ties back to the first commandment and that our biggest folly is worshiping the idol of ourselves (selfishness) was not only deep and theology based, but so well tied back to our simple everyday life. Kay was especially drawn to it.
Mass was quite reverent and Holy and caught the theme of Lent so well. We both noted that we tired and especially noted that during Mass, but despite that there was an internal energy that superseded that. It was great.
We had a brief chance to talk to and thank both Deacon Bob and Father Dennis after Mass and that is always nice.
This weekend is between my CEW retreat last weekend and Kay’s CEW retreat next weekend, so we are both really on the spiritual “high” so to speak, so this was a rally great and wonderful experience.
Pictures
