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The rolling terrain on the eastern shores of Geneva Lake proved to be an inspiring place for the growing Irish Catholic population to gather for worship. It was there, on "Catholic Hill" where our first church was built in 1844. St. Francis de Sales, originally named St. Martin's parish, was founded by Fr. Martin Kundig. Fr. Kundig was a frontier priest born in Switzerland, educated in Lucern and Rome, and ordained in Cincinnati Ohio. He spent 17 years in southeastern Wisconsin ministering to the needs of the growing Catholic immigrant population. Life was tough for a frontier priest in the 1840's. Fr. Kundig rode on horseback from Milwaukee to the various Catholic settlements in the area. During his monthly visits, mass was offered in someone's home with a simple table or wagon bed used as an altar. Fr. Kundig knew that the construction of a church was critical to uniting the Catholic community. The present site, on the eastern edge of Lake Geneva, was selected. The first structure, a rectory, was completed in 1844. This rectory was first used by Fr. Thomas Morrissey as a way station for trips between Milwaukee and the Janesville area. The first resident priest was Fr. Patrick McKernan, who was pastor from 1847 to 1849. Mass was held on the second floor of the rectory until 1852, when the first church was built. The new church was a frame structure constructed southeast of the present building. Fr. Pendergast was pastor at the time. Costs were estimated to be $1500. Much of the materials and labor were donated by parishioners. This first frame church served the growing parish well, providing a place of worship for nearly 50 years. It continued to be used as a parish hall and for storage until 1927 when it was destroyed during a wind storm. Construction of the current church began in 1889 while Fr. Eugene Reilly was pastor. The building was completed in 1892 at a cost of $18,000. It was enlarged and remodeled in the late 1950's while Fr. Harold O'Connor was pastor. The New Parish Center and St. Joseph Day Chapel opened in 1994 while Fr. David Braun was pastor. Fr. Braun also oversaw the remodeling of the front entrance in 1999. Few structures have had more impact on St Francis de Sales parish than its school. Constructed in 1952, the school has been the embodiment of the past, present, and future of the parish. A student body of 80 children started school in September 1952 instructed by nuns from Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother. Today, the school has nearly 200 students taught by a staff of lay teachers and educators. St. Francis de Sales opened with 33 families of mostly Irish descent. Today, over 1200 families belong to St. Francis with a growing number of Latino Americans joining the parish. In 1994, St. Francis de Sales was instrumental in a new outreach program which united other parishes in the area to introduce the very first Hispanic Catholic Ministry. The Sunday evening Spanish Mass provides a venue for the Latino community to share their rich heritage and deep devotion with the St. Francis de Sales family. St. Francis de Sales is unique in that it not only provides a place of worship for local Catholics, but also for a large number of visitors. Lake Geneva is a very popular resort community. Visitors from all around the world come to Lake Geneva to enjoy the beautiful lake and surrounding countryside. Several families actually reside in Illinois, but spend weekends in their summer homes on the lakeshore. St. Francis is "standing room only" on many summer Sundays as Packer fans compete with Bear fans for pew space. Visitors are always welcome at St. Francis de Sales. They are treated with warmth and hospitality. Growth and change have had their effects on St. Francis de Sales, yet the forces of faith have meant that the parish is still defined as it was in 1842. St. Francis de Sales exists today as a community of faith, with its members striving to be the expression of Christ and his church in Lake Geneva. This history of St. Francis is adapted from one compiled and written by Kevin Waldeck for the 1992 parish directory and reprinted in the 2000 parish directory. |