Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shawano

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Notes

Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Shawano, Wisconsin

Did you know the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shawano is the third church on this site?

It is well to reflect on the importance of the growth of the church population, on what a vital part Its churches played in the progress of the community. It was indeed a great hardship for the people of the community to live without the comfort of a religious service. Many of the faithful often went on foot to Keshena to attend services, and during the 1860s, priests from that mission would minister to the Shawano Catholics.

It was not until 1867 that the Shawano Community began erecting its first church on land purchased, for $1 from Joseph Maurer. The land was then covered by a grove of virgin pine. Lumber for the building was hewn on the property of August Condor, and brought to Shawano by means of oxen.

Catholics and non-Catholics alike, contributed toward the erection of this building. It took 3 years to complete the small, rude clapboard structure. The pews consisted of planks laid across blocks of wood. It was dedicated to St. Odelia, and the first priest to say mass in the new church was Reverend P. Fidelis of Keshena.

In 1880 masses were said regularly each second and fourth Sunday by visiting priests. In 1888 Father Steinbrevher became the first permanent pastor. Subsequently the parish increased, and a new church had to be built, the work beginning in 1889.

Work began in April 1889 because membership had increased so much that a new church was necessary. In the early 1920’s funds were being set aside for a new, second, church with about $15,000.00 in the building fund by 1944.

By 1950 the old church was prepared to be moved to make room for a new church. On November 27, 1951, at approximately 9:15 p.m. fire was discovered in the old church. The fire spread so quickly that the church was a total loss as you can see in the third photo.

Under the guidance of the beloved Father Schaefer, the present structure was built. The parish met at the Community Hall after the fire. When the basement of the new structure us completed, mass was held there until the completion of the upper level and on August 15th, 1952, the congregation Joyfully met in the new church. The first wedding in the new church was that of Ivan Berndt and Dorothy Dillenburg on August 16, 1952, followed by the dedication of the new church on September 21, 1952.