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report of the foundation of St. Mary's & Missions Churches is a
tribute to the dedication and perseverance of its early members and the
priests who served them.
It provides some interesting details and was printed in "Soapweeds, Sandburs, and Sod" 1976. Thanks to Jonathan Sorensen,
Webmaster,
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"In the early years in Thedford, Catholic
Church services were held in the court room of the court house. Services
were held infrequently, since the priest served five parishes including
Hyannis, Mullen, Seneca, Thedford, and Brownlee--- a very large territory,
especially in horse and buggy days.
In 1918, a church was built in Seneca, and the rectory was located there. The priest traveled by train between towns and to Brownlee via the Brownlee mail route. Many years later, the rectory was located at Mullen, and Seneca voluntarily gave up their church because the congregation had become so very small. After the court house in Thedford burned in the early twenties, Catholics then attended Sunday services in the Wendel Noel home. They began to make plans to build a church. On January 9, 1922, Mr. and Mrs. John R. Evans deeded the piece of land on which the church was built; It is the location of the church today [at Thedford]. John McNamara made the concrete blocks, and Bill Haumann set them up for the walls of the church with much volunteer labor. After the church was finished, John McNamara planted five small cedar trees at the front of the lot, and without much care, they grew. After more than fifty years of use, and because the church was not large enough and was badly in need of repair, the small congregation gave a great deal of though and discussion to the building of a new church. Finally, it was agreed to add twelve feet to the south end of the present building and completely remodel the interior. Much of this work was done by members of the church. Priests who have served these churches through the years were Father Albel, who was here at the time the church was built in Thedford, and Fathers Costello, Muldon Grace, and Maron. The present priest, Father Koprowski came soon after he returned from service in World War II and has served this large area well for over thirty-five years." NOTE: Since the time this was originally printed (1976), Father Koprowski has been succeeded by Father Bryan Ernst, Father Lou Nolette, and Father Jim Warner.
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