The Church of Quincy played and improtant part in the life and growth of the Church in the North, Northeast and East regions of Adams County. St. Lawrence Church in Quincy - now known at St. Peter's Church - was a spring board for the pioneer priest Father McGirr in organizing and the building of the St. Joseph Church and it congregation at Bloomfield. Sometime around 1860, a large group of Irish immigrants settled in the developed farms in this section of Adams County. Among these immigrants were parents of Father Peter McGirr. Father McGirr himself, was sent to St. Lawrence Church in Quincy in 1862 and immedieately started his work among these immigrants, and shortly thereafter he built St. Joseph's Church, rectory and cemetery. There are all the indications that St. Joseph's Church in Bloomfield was an outstanding parish. At the present time there is little left of the town of Bloomfield, and the Church was dismantled by Lawrence Carolan in 1941. The only remains of this little community church is a closed cemetery in which the remains of the poneer Priest, Father Peter McGirr, rest in peace. Bloomfield and the zeal of its priests served as another spring board for the spread and the organization of the Church in this region. Pioneer priests went as far east as Mt. Sterling and as far north as Warsaw to care for the new Catholic Families. One of the mission churches they built was St. Edward's Church in Mendon, Illinois.
In 1890, the town of Mendon and its surrounding farming area was "exceedingly prosperous." In twenty-five Catholic families at that time. All were too far from a church and from their priests and were in urgent need of spiritual guidance. Father Herman Gesenhues, at this time pastor at Bloomfield, saw and realized this need and on September 1, 1889 he opened a drive to collect funds (but in 1891 Father Herman Gesenhues, was transfered). His intentions were to build a frame church in Mendon, in order that the Catholics living in the northwestern part of the county might have greater facilities in attending church and in practicing their religion. Mendon, he thought, being a "prosperous" town and "blessed with a railroad" would grow and develop into a strong Catholic congregation.
So, the little group of approximately twenty-five families began their work. First they purchased two small lots for $400.00 from Mr. Crammers. Mr. Frank Tubessing of Quincy, architect, "of more than local repute" drew building plans for a fee of $10.00. James and Mathew Brady quarried rock for the foundation of the building for $25.00, Walter Nutt of Mendon built the church, on contract for $1,535.00. Catholics as well as non-Catholics contributed $1,062.00 for the new church, but an additional sum of $1,062.00 for the new church, but an additional sum of $1,484.00 had to be borrowed to complete the building. The new church was completed in 1890 and the first Mass was celebrated on June 20th, 1890.
This little but venerable Church has had its many ups and down. Around 1915 it congregation diminished frighteningly - it counted only six families. These alone carried on the struggled for its existence for many years. It was faith and hard work of a few and the zeal of their priests that helped this little congregation to survive.
About a year after the church was built, Father Dieterich, 1891-1894, was put in charge of three churches; St. Joseph at Bloomfield, St. Edwards at Mendon, and St. Joseph on Columbus road, where a residence for the priest was located. From that time until 1949, priests from St. Josseph's Church on Columbus Road took care of the St. Edwards Church and its congregation.
After Father Dieterich, the following pirest took care of St. Edwards.
Father George Pesh 1894-1896; Father T.J. Butler 1896-1898; Father Francis J. Hussey 1898-1899; Father John M. McVeigh 1899-1903; Father Paul Reinfels 1904-1918; Father Charles J. Flori 1919-1930; Father Anton M. Jashke 1930-1937; Father Phil J. Newman 1938-1939; Father Gerald Wiegand 1940-1947; Father Elmer Sanders 1947-1948; Father John B. Day 1948-1949;
St. Edward's congregation, in the late 1930's started to grow slightly and has been growing ever since. In the 1940's it developed into a larger congregation, and under the pastorate of Father John B. Day, it was thought to be sufficiently large and self supporting to be established as a parish with a resident priest.
It was in May of 1949 that His Excellence Bishop William A. O'Connor, Bishop of Springfield in Illinois, made St. Edward's a parish, and appointed its first Pastor, the Reverend Henry J. Knoedler, with residence in Mendon, Illinois.
The first Pastor was faced with a big problem: He had no rectory to live in. For awhile he lived in a private home and on October 8, 1949 he moved into a rectory. It was throught the zeal, organizational spirit and hard work of this servant of the altar that the idea of building a new church in Mendon was born. He started the St. Edward's Building Fund, organized and started parish socials and thus established a good source of income toward the building of the new church. At his leaving St. Edward's Building Fund had grown to $15,500.00.
On February 19th, 1957, Father Knoedler was transferred to Hardin, Illinois, as Pastor of St. Norbert's Church. Father Marin Kuvacis took possession of the parish on March 8, 1957, and found a well established and well organiozed parish, and he dedicated his efforts toward keeping its vigorous spirit alive, and helped it to grow.
In September of 1958 a parish meeting was called and held in the Legion Hall. At this meeting the Pastor and the people discussed and exchanged the ideas concering the building of a new church. All realized the need for a new church. They fully realized the old church could no longer accommodate the growing congregation. They lacked a hall or accommodations of any sort for meetings, parish activities, parish socials and most of all space to hold the religious classes for instructions of the children. In order to meet the needs in the parish, they agreed unanimously that some positive steps toward the goal should be taken. The results of this meeting were: ( 1.) With the permission of His Excellency, the Bishop, they would look into, and purchase a building site:
2.) As soon as the Building Fund reached $50,000.00 they would ask His Excellency the Bishop to allow they to plan the building:
3.) After the building site was acquired they would have a drive from home to home to raise the Building Fund to $50,000.00.
The parish followed this plan.
In April of 1963 the revised plans were completed and approved and they were ready to take bids on the project. The date for the official opening of the bids was set for April 29, 1963. Bids were opened and awarded to the following.
General Contract: R.L. Patton Co., Keokuk, Iowa
Plumbing Contract: Rowland & Sons, Rushville, Illinois
Heating Contract : C. & R. Heating, Maryland Heights, Missouri
Electrical Contract: Abel & Sons Co., Keokuk, Iowa
The total of all four base contracts amounted to $115,474.00. The contracts did not include grading, furnishings or equipment. Meanwhile the wounderful people of the parish wre doing their share. At the completion of the new church, the Parish's cash donations and earnings from parish socials amounted to over $80,000.00. This amount was saved by the parish since 1955. Work on the new church started in the latter part of May, 1963. Before midnight Mass, The Most Blessed Sacrament - Our Lord - was transferred to the new church. On our Lord's Birthday He was presented with this humble gift - His new Home.
The walls of the building are a combination of Indiana limestone on the outside with haydite blocks and brick on the inside. All floors are of concrete and the structure is topped with a built-up roof.
The building is one hundred and twelve feet long overall; fourty-four feet and eight inches wide. Its high portion, from footings up, is twenty-eight to thirty-one feet high and the low portion measures twenty-one feet high. The building consists of two parts: uper level of the building is the church proper and the lower part, the basement. In thw lower level of the building, and under the high portion, a spacious banquet hall, a kitchen and the heating plant are located. Under the lower portion of the men's and ladies restrooms and two classrooms are located. On the front of the Church proper is a triangular bell tower with tree bells. The two top bells are from the old St. Boniface church in Quincy, Illinois. The top bell is one hundred twenty-six years old, the middle one is one hundred twenty-five years old, and the bottom bell is the original bell from St. Joseph's Church and old Bloomfield, which was stored and kept in the school basement of the present St. Joseph's Church, and gbiven to St. Edward's. The bell tower is constructed of rectangular steel tubing. It is topped with a twelve foot stainless steel cross. The steple is about ninety-four feet high.
As the years passed and the congregation grew, many parish activities and parish socials wer being held. Improvements were needed and positive steps toward the needs of our church were rapidly taking place.
Father Marin Kuvacic dedicated his efforts toward keeping its vigorous spirit alive and help us grow.
In 1977, Father Kuvacic suggested a parish picnic as a parish social to be held. The parish picnic was held in the summer of 1977 at the Ursa Retreat House. Several years later the picnic was held on Saturday evening in the Ursa Park, with Mass being celebrated in the park, and a picnic following.
Before 1978, under the direction of Father Kuvacic the blacktopping of the parking lot was completed.
In 1978, four eager and voluntary parishioners, Mrs. Rita Frese, Mrs. Kathy Schwartz, Mrs. Mary Koch, and Mrs. Pam Shaffer organized the conducted our first Bible School at St. Edwards.
Green carpeting to beautify the church was laid before 1978 and with the arrival of Father Donald Werr, OFM in 1979, the carpet was changed from green to red.
A retirement party was held in May of 1979 for Father Kuvacic. Father Kuvacic later returnced to Yugoslavia. Father Kuvacic died on April 25th, 1987, in Gata (Cratia, Yugoslavia, his mohe town. After the departure of Father Kuvacic weekday Masses we no longer held.
Under the direction of Father Marin Kuvacic, a new organ was purchased in 1980 with the old organ being returned to the Adair family.
The first services conducted at North Adams Home were celebrated by Sister Loretta Sigler, CPPS, in 1979, with the first Mass being said by Father Marin Kuvacic, OFM, then by Father Finian McMillan, OFM, and presently by Father Louis Schlangen every first and third Tuesday of the month, with the "Rosary Services" being held every other Tuesday, by Mrs. Agnes Voss and Mrs. Mary HIlgenbrinck.
The 35th Anniversary Mass and reception was held in 1981 for Father Donald , OFM, headed by Mrs. Kathy Frese and Mrs. Marg Shank. Father Werr, OFM, established the first Parish Pastoral Council in 1981 and in 1982. IN 1983 Father Kuvacic was honored with a 50th Anniversary Mass and reception.
To help defray the expenses of Dioceasan Development Fund, Father Werr, OFM, suggested a St. Edward's Festival be orgaized, with all proceeds going to the Diocesan Development Fund. Appointed to set up the event in 1986, were Mrs. Kathy Frese, Mrs. Marge Shank, Mrs. Pat Koch and Mrs. Debbie Mealiff. The Diocesan Development Fund is now call the Annual Catholic Service Appeal.
In 1986, Mr. George Sackett was hired to place a new roof on the church at the cost of $14,000.00.
After the arrival of Father Michael Lanning, OFM, in 1986, the "St. Edward the Confessor, "Saint Day, October 13th was celebrated. A St. Edward Wood Carving was carved by Father Tom Brown, OFM, of Quincy College. The wood carving was completed a year later after the arrival of Father Louis Davino, OFM.
The image of our holy patron, Edward the Confessor, Saint and Sovereign, cousin of William the Conqueror, beloved of Thomas of Becket, guardian angle of the English nation. This great saind confessed, that is, professed the Catholic faith by an exemplary life, a life distinquished by reconcilliation of the hostile, charity for the needy, and good will toward all.
He rest today in London, at his beloved Westminster Abbey, nearly a thousand years after his death, in a tomb which thousands visit annually. There, in the greatcoronation church, in the chief resting place of English kings and notables, amid the pomp of centuries, a royal galaxy surrounds his shrine. Nearby the coronation chair is placed, surmounting the Stone of Destiny.
The destiny brings him from London to Mendon! Here you keep green his holy faith and his holy name amid field and pasture, in a small parish church, but a church his humble heart would have dearly loved. It is fitting to recall the noble prayer offered at the coronation of English kings:
God crown you with a crown of glory and righteousness, that having a right faith and maniford fruit of good works, you may obtain the crown of an everlasting kindom by the gift of him whose kingdom endureth forever.
This is our prayer in homage to the patron of this church. This is our prayer for one another, that we too may merit the crown of everlasting life in Christ Jesus, the Great King.
Father Michael Lanning,OFM, established our first Finance Council in 1986 and the same year the communion rails were removed from the church the Tabernacle was moved from the center altar to the right side of the sancturary. The wood altar build by Father Kuvacic was donated to North Adams Home in memory of Father Kuvacic and the outdoor Christmas Nativity Scene was also donated to North Adams Home. A new sound system was also installed that same year by Mr. Tim Bealor. Father Michael Lanning, OFM, also held Mass at North Adams Home. Under the direction of Father Michael Lanning, OFM, in 1987, Mr. Duane Shaffer was instrumental in designing the frame and stand for the bell and sign. Mr. Jerry Kuhn laid the stone with several parishioners volunteering their time to pour concrete. That same year the St. Edward Hall was named Kuvicic Hall in memory of Father Kuvacic. In 1987, two new trustees were appointed to serve three year terms, Mr. Duane Shaffer and Mrs. Mary Benz, Mr. William Hilgenbrinck was appointed to stay on one more year. In 1988, when Father Louis Davino, OFM, was appointed pastor, the Altar of Sacrifice was remived form the center wall and placed in the center of the sanctuary. A piano fund was set up in 1988 by the Liturgy Committee. An Italian Spaghetti Dinner was prepared by Father Louis Davino with all proceeds going to the piano fund. From July 1988 to July 1989, a parish Advisory Board headed by Mr. Tim Bealor was appointed by Father Louis Davino, OFM, under the supervision of Father Louis Davino, OFM, until Sister Lucile Gbur, OFM, came in July 1988. In July 1988 to January 1989, Sister Lucile Gbur was appointed Lay Pastoral Administrator. Father Louis Davino, OFM, was appointd Interim Administrator until July 1989. Father Louis Schlangen was apointed pastor of St. Edward's in July o f 1989 and is presently the current pastor. In just a short time a new car was purchased for Sister Lucile Gbur, OFM, and sold shortly after the arrival of Father Louis Schlangen. Weekday Masses wer reinstated as of July 1989 with St. Edward's now having a full time pastor. A 25th Anniversary Mass and reception was held that same year in honor of Sister Janet Voss, CPPS. A new Parish Pastorial Council was elected by the Parish and Finance Council appointed in 1989. Officers elected to the Parish Pastoral Council were: Chairman - Mr. Terry Ellerman, Vice Chairman - Mr. Carl Adair and Secretary - Mrs. Kathy Frese. St. Edwards was in need of more classrooms, so in 1989 Father Schlangen designed partitions for clasrooms in Kuvacic Hall and the classrooms were completed in 1990. The stained glass windows, a project discussed in prior years was finally completed. The windows were designed byh Sister Hiltrudis Powers, CPPS, of O'Fallon, Missouri. Each window top and bottom, representing the Eucharistic Prayers #1,2,3 and 4. The windows were donated in memory of adeceased family member or living family members. Money is also set aside for a window in memory of Father Marin Kuvacic. Blacktop repairs were started in the fall of 1989 and hope to be completed in the year of 1990. On Monday, May 28th, Memorial Day, Mass was celebrated at the Bloomfield Cemetery by Father Louis Schlangen. There were over seventy persons in attendance. A 33rd Anniversary Mass and reception was held in honor of Father Louis Schlangen on May 30th, 1990. Also a 100th Anniversary Mass was celebrated on Tuesday, June 20th, 1990 at 8:00 p.m. with a reception following in Kuvacic Hall. St. Edward's Festival was held Sunday, July, 1990, with all proceeds going towards our 100th Anniversary book. A Mass was celebrated on July 15th, 1990, for the Extra Ordinary Minister's with each receiving a certificate of appreciation for their time and effort. A Mass will be held at a later date by Bishop Daniel Ryan, at the closing of our 100th Anniversary in June of 1991. Under the direction of Fathere Louis Schlangen, several long and short term goals have been established. The finishing of the blacktop, more stained glass windows, painting of the steeple, reconstruction of the basement wall in the rectory and a new roof on the church. With faith and the hard work of the parishioners these short and long term goals will be accomplished.
This page maintained by: Pat Trautvetter -
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