Search
St. Mary History
-
The original church, St. Joseph Catholic Church was built at Ross Prairie in 1855. St. Joseph's was relocated two miles up the road to a lovely hill top named Live Oak Hill in 1861. The small building was replaced with a new church in 1865. The Church remained on the hill, that had a striking resemblance to Hostyn, a pilgrimage place in Moravia. And so, the location was now referred to as "Hostyn."
St. Joseph's Church was replaced by a more elaborate, larger Church, blessed and dedicated under the new name of Immaculate Conception in 1879. On Easter Sunday 1905, this church burned. While trying to rebuild the church, a severe storm almost demolished all but the high tower. Undaunted, the parishioners had raised another, even more attractive, church by the autumn of 1906.
During the tenure of Reverend Francis Kolar, between 1950 to 1980, Immaculate Conception began to be called St. Mary Catholic Church, denoting the same patroness.
The Church was completely renovated in 2005. The intricate detail on the Altar and the well maintained grounds offer a peaceful sanctuary for all those who visit.
-
Photos of St. Mary
- St. Mary Catholic Church 0 Photos
-
-
-
For a full, more detailed history of St. Mary Catholic Church, click here.
-
In the 1850’s a few of the families were gathering together in private homes for the precious sacred services. As more and more families came to the area, the desire for a house dedicated only to the service of God became eminent.
Most Reverend John Marie Odin, appointed Bishop of Galveston in 1847, went to Europe to recruit priests. Among them was a theology student, Victor Gury from France, who was ordained in 1854 and founded many churches, especially in Fayette and Colorado counties. It was Father Gury and Father Anstaett before him and others who celebrated Mass in different private homes. It was during this period that the faithful of the Ross Prairie area decided to build a church on twenty-eight acres of land acquired from Carl Hillman and wife on May 10, 1855. A small log church was built at Ross Prairie that same year. The church was named St. Joseph and has the distinction of being the first Catholic Church in Fayette County.
In 1859 a small frame church was built to replace the log church. A cemetery was also laid out.
As the Catholic population grew, the decision was made to relocate the church. Charles Ehlinger moved the church from Ross Prairie two miles up the road to Live Oak Hill, a beautiful location with a view of the surrounding countryside. This was around the year 1861.
In October 1864, Charles Ehlinger, for a consideration of $275.00 and the 28 acres of land at Ross Prairie, sold approximately 33½ acres of land to the church at Live Oak Hill which is the present location of the church and cemetery.
The Catholic community continued to grow and the church was replaced by a larger church in 1865. In 1866 the first parochial school and home for Sisters was built and in 1872 the first rectory was built.
Soon, the local people began to call the place where the church was located “Hostýn” for the pilgrimage place in Moravia, the most revered of all their holy places, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The site had a striking resemblance to the original Hostýn in Europe.
In 1879 St. Joseph’s Church was replaced by a larger and more elaborate church. It was solemnly blessed by the Most Rev. Bishop P. Duffal, D.D. and was dedicated on Oct. 12, 1879 under the new name of Immaculate Conception at the request of the membership, especially those of Czech extraction. The Bishop remained in Live Oak Hill for seven days and upon his departure, his carriage was escorted by horsemen and many people as far as Columbus, miles away.
The church superiors (Bishops) held this Marian shrine in special love and esteem, as was proven by their frequent visits during the years up to 1883.
The feast of the patron of the church, Immaculate Conception, December 8, attracted large crowds every year. The following dates should be remembered especially: In 1868 the bell donated by Bishop Dubuis was blessed, on March 26, 1882, the Stations of the Cross were erected, and in the same year on November 2, Father Adelaar, with the permission of the Bishop, enlarged and blessed the cemetery. Another bell found in the belfry is inscribed Z Vule Bozi (By will of God) and bears the name Jos. Orsak 1887.
In 1882 a new school was built. This school was completely destroyed by a storm in 1924 and was replaced within the year by a two-room structure.
On Easter Sunday in 1905, the church built in 1879 (third church on the hill) burned. The same year construction was started on a new one. While still under construction a severe storm almost completely demolished the building, leaving only the high tower standing. Undaunted, the parishioners went to work with the aid of a local contractor, Mr. Anton Buxkamper, and by autumn of 1906 another, even more attractive church was finished.
Between 1926 and 1928 a new rectory was built during the pastorate of Rev. John Vanicek. In 1928 a beautiful shrine, St. Mary’s of Hostyn, was erected. This shrine was the exact replica of the fifth Station of the cross at Hostyn Hill in Moravia, Czechoslovakia. In 1930, Father Klobouk constructed a shrine to St. Boniface. He also installed a Delco system (an electric generating system) until electricity was available. During Rev. Anthony Gorek’s tenure as pastor, 1942 to 1950, the butane gas system was installed.
Rev. Francis Kolar followed the pastorate of Father Gorek from 1950 to 1980, the longest of any priest in the history of this church. Until this time the church had remained much as it was built in l905. The building needed refurbishing and Father Kolar also instituted some interior structural changes without changing the character of the church. The side altars and vestries were eliminated to give a feeling of openness. The painting of the altar remained white and gold and the ceiling above the altar was blue, Mary’s color. Though Immaculate Conception is the official name, it was during this period that the church began to be called by a simplified name, St. Mary, denoting the same patroness.
In June of l980, Father Kolar retired and Rev. Ben J. Mazurkiewicz from St. John in Fayetteville became the Pastor. In his 22 years at St. Mary’s, Father Ben had the statues, baptismal font and the altar repainted. Later renovations included carpeting in the church, new pews and pew cushions and a new organ. Another undertaking by Father Ben was the construction of a new parish center. The old two-room school was sold to make space for the 4,000 square-foot center completed in January, 1984 and blessed on February 12, 1984.
Fr. Ben retired in June of 2002 and continued to help in the parish until his death on May 23, 2010.
In June, 2002 Rev. Jack Maddux became Pastor of St. Mary. During his tenure the church underwent a total renovation and restoration. The newly restored church was blessed and dedicated by Most Rev. Gregory Aymond on October 23, 2005 celebrating its 150 year anniversary.
In January of 2007, Rev. Stephen Nesrsta was appointed Pastor of St. Mary. Under his leadership, a new fence was placed around the cemetery, a new security system was installed and the Ten Commandments monument, with the assistance of the Knights of Columbus, was put in front of the church.
In 2011, a shrine to St. Benedict was constructed in memory of Msgr Ben. A statue of St. Francis was placed on the church grounds the following year. Rev. Steve Sauser was named pastor of St. Mary in 2013, followed by Rev. Nock Russell in 2014. New entry doors were installed in 2015 and the church bells restored in our beautiful church on the hill.
As of July 2020, Father Steve Sauser was welcomed back to our parish as pastor.