St. Mary's Parisn

Page 1

St. Mary's Church and parish buildings
1298 Main Street
St. Benedict, KS 66538

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Photos by Duane Osborn, Seneca, KS
Following from a 1973 booklet at the time of the 80 anniversary of parish

FIRST CHURCH, A MODEST BUILDING

Before beginning construction of the church in 1859, John Koelzer had gone to Atchison to see the Prior of St. Benedict’s Priory, Father Augustine Wirth, 0. S. B., in order to make arrangements to have a resident pastor in what was then known as the community of Wild Cat. The name Wild Cat was derived from the name of a creek that flowed in the area.

Even though a resident pastor was neither assigned nor promised, construction of the church began.

The first church was a very modest building, 12 x 25 feet. The costs for the building and furnishings totaled $92.20.

CHURCH IS NAMED

The newly constructed church was without a name. The community was known as Wild Cat but the newly formed parish found that inappropriate for the church.

Certain small items amounting to about $20 were still needed. Since the only individual in the community known to have any money was Michael Rogers, Mr. Koch and Thomas Carlin approached Mr. Rogers with this proposition: That if Mr. Rogers would cover the expenses of the small items, he would receive the honor of naming the church. According to reliable records, Mr. Rogers made the donation of the $20 gold piece and so named the church, St. Mary’s.

How primitive the first church must have been appears from the listing of the basic expenses: $2.00 for pews; $2.50 for a tabernacle; $5.55 for a confessional; $3.50 for a bedstead for the priest’s house.

After having finished the church, the people desired a resident or permanent priest, and, in spite of a drought resulting in a complete failure in the year 1860, a rectory was constructed. Work began in the spring of 1861 and was completed in June of the same year. The parishioners’ efforts and zeal were recognized by Father Augustine Wirth, O. S. B. who, on June 18, 1861, sent Father Severing Rotten, 0. S. B. as the first resident priest in Nemaha County.