1401 Clark Street, Stevens Point, WI
St. Stephen Parish
1853
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ST. STEPHEN IS THE PARENT
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF STEVENS POINT.
THE FIRST MASS WAS CELEBRATED
FOR THE CATHOLICS OF STEVENS POINT
IN MAY, 1853 IN A SCHOOL HOUSE
ON CLARK STREET.
During the following years a priest named, Fr. Godfrey attended the spiritual needs of the Catholics of Stevens Point by celebrating Mass at various area homes and later at a rented shop on North Second Street.
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In 1856, when Catholics, mainly Irish, became more numerous, funds were collected to purchase a site and construct a church. On November 18 of that year a one acre tract of land at the corner of Clark and Cross Streets was deeded to Archbishop Henni of Milwaukee and construction commenced immediately to erect a church. At that time, Fr. McGee was appointed the first resident pastor and remained for a year. On January 12, 1886, James Pollard and his wife deed two lots on the corner of Clark and Pine Streets. Rev. M Schwebach, having been appointed as pastor about this time, removed the rectory and erected St. Stephen Church, a wood frame building, 39x78 feet, on the site. In 1873, Rev. Louis Cornelius erected the first parochial schoolhouse, which contained four rooms and a residence for the sisters. In 1874, after Fr. Tanguary became pastor, the school was opened and placed in the care of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. In 1902 a new parochial school was built.
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On November 6, 1919, a fire completely destroyed the frame church. Preparations for a new church had begun, and the cornerstone for the present building was laid on October 17, 1920 under the leadership of Fr. James Hogan. The general architecture of the church is of English Tudor Goth. The altar is of Italian marble with the relics of SS Cosmas and Damian under the altar. The ceiling of the church represents an inverted boat or ark.
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In 1933 a stone school with nine classrooms, library, and gymnasium was completed under the direction of Fr. George Casey. During Msgr. John McGinley's pastorate, in the 1950's, a new stone convent, an addition to the school, and new stained glass windows in the church were completed. During the 1990's under the direction of Fr. Dennis Lynch, a complete renovation of the church and grounds was undertaken, culminating in what we see and use today.
PASTORS
Rev. John J. McGee
1856 - 1857
Rev. Nicholas Stehle
1858 - 1860
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Rev. Maurice Hens
1862 – 1863
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Rev. Matthias Schwebach
1866 – 1869
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Rev. John Gleeson
1869 – 1870
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Rev. Ferdinand Tangauy
1873 – 1874
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Rev. C. J. Alton
1888 – 1889
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Rev. Michael J. O'Brien
1890 – 1893
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Rev. James C. Hogan
1919 – 1927
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Rev. John R. McGinley
1939 – 1968
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Rev. Dennis J. Lynch
1987 – 1999
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Rev. John A. Potaczek
2003 – 2011
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Rev. Jeffrey W. Hennes
2019 –
Rev. John Stehle
1857 - 1858
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Rev. John Polak
1860 - 1862
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Rev. L. Lux
1863 – 1864
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Rev. William Mahany
1869 – 1870
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Rev. L. Cornelius
1871 – 1873
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Rev. Nicholas July
1874 – 1887
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Rev. Edward P. Lorigan
1889 – 1890
Rev. William J. Rice
1893 – 1919
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Rev. George A. Casey
1927 – 1939
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Rev. Thomas E. Mullen
1968 – 1987
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Rev. Daniel E. Kozlowski
1999 – 2003
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Rev. Jerzy Rebacz
2011 – 2019
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