02/05/2020
Interesting! I served at a lot of masses at that church. Attended school there K thru 8
The Building of a New Church and Monastery
With the arrival of Fr Anthony in October 1900 action toward the fulfillment of the Roman decree in regard to the building of a new Franciscan Monastery quickened. Some time before this as early as June 1900 the idea of building a new church also seemed to have been discussed. St Mary’s frame church was fast becoming to small for the increasing number of Poles who were settling in Green Bay
On Dec 2 1900 Father Anthony called a parish meeting to discus purchasing lots on the north east corner of Cass and 12th (Irwin) streets After this meeting Bishop Messmer advised the Franciscan Fathers to build a not only a new monastery but also a church connected with it on the east side of Irwin ave. Since they were still not a legal corporation at the time the bishop himself purchased the land for the Franciscan he eventually purchased the complete half of block 131 for the Franciscan Fathers.
Next the Franciscan Assumption Commissariat was incorporated in the state of Wisconsin on May 27 1901 under the Title “The Order Of the Franciscan Fathers of the City of Green Bay, Wisconsin,”
On the same date a contract was signed for the er****on of a combination church and monastery on what was still technically Bishops Messmer’s land. Sometime after May 27 1901 the ground breaking ceremony took place.
On Sept 1, 1901 the cornerstone of the new church and monastery was blessed by bishop Messmer who preached in English. One of the Franciscan Fathers preached in the Polish Language.
As the construction of the new church progressed donations for the necessary articles within were made by individuals, families, and church societies. The largest single donation was made by Father Vincent Lewandowski, pastor of St Vincent De Paul Church, Milwaukee. His donation of $6000.00 was a very impressive sum in those days of low wages and prices. Another friend of the Franciscan Fathers.
Father Szularecki pastor of St Stanislaus church, Milwaukee donated the old pews from that church He also paid the shipping charges and the cost to repair and revarnish the the pews. Those pews served St Mary of the Angels Parish until the remodel in 1976. At that time many of the old pews were then given to parishioners and they can still be found in homes around Green Bay.