First Holy Communion in Sheboygan
August 24, 1845
Holy Name of Jesus Parish was not conceived by the construction of an architectual monument but came to birth from the faith of its people. The first Holy Mass in Sheboygan took place on August 24, 1845. Father Caspar Rehrl and ten Catholic families gathered around the dining room table of Alban Kent that served as the altar of prayer. The table is preserved in Holy Name Church sanctuary.
Father Haider arrives
1862
Austrian-born Father Michael Haider arrives in Sheboygan to fulfill his assignment to St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church. He quickly purchases the plot of land that would become the site of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church for $2,200. With the parish’s finances exhausted, he’s given full access to the Pigeon River quarry by fellow Sheboyganite, business owner, and former Austrian acquaintance, Jacob Jung.
Construction on Holy Name Church Begins
1867
Construction of Holy Name begins. Over the next five years, limestone was hauled by horse-drawn wagon from the quarry two miles south to the site. While the original plan for the steeples was to have them reach 185 feet, the head carpenter warned against this due to the lakeside winds. Though shorter, their finished height of 170 feet still allowed sailors to use them as definitive landmarks of the port of Sheboygan.
Holy Name Catholic Church is complete
1872
Milwaukee Bishop, John Martin Henni, blesses the new parish under the patronage of Holy Name of Jesus in November. Parishioners start attending mass, kneeling on bare stone floors to pray.
Holy Name Church's Stations of the Cross
1874
The Stations of the Cross, donated by George Brickner of Sheboygan Falls, are installed.
Holy Name Church's first organ
1879
1879 – The church’s first organ, built in Milwaukee by Odenbrett and Abler pipe organ manufactory, graces the interior.
The bells are installed at Holy Name Church
1883
Four massive bells, known as the Angelic Quartet and individually named, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Guardian Angel, are installed. Weighing in at 9,000 pounds, the bells required thick, rough hemp ropes and great strength to make them toll.
New Pews for Holy Name Church
1889
After the passing of Father Michael Haider in 1884, Father Nicholas Thill installs new pews along with a new altar, pulpit, and efficient heating system.
The idea for St. Clement is born
1912
Father Francis Murphy, a curate of St. Johns' Cathedral Parish, Milwaukee visited Sheboygan at the request of community Catholics to evaluate the need for an English-speaking parish.
The Construction of St. Clement is Approved
1914
St. Clement Parish organized and church construction begins. The design was Low Gothic, 130 ft. long, 54 ft. wide seating 500. On October 25, 1914, the cornerstone was laid and Father David J. O'hearn, St Francis Seminary, gave the sermon.
St. Clement is Dedicated and School Opens
1915
Church dedication ceremonies were held on May 30, 1915. Archbishop Messmer officiated. Bishop Muldoon, Rockford, IL gave the homily.
St. Clement School opens with Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, WI.
St. Dominic First Mass
1920
St. Dominic Parish celebrates the first Mass and first Baptism.
St. Dominic Dedication and School Opens
1928
St. Dominic Church dedication with charter membership of 150 families and school classes start with 97 students in grades 1-7. Twenty-six children celebrated the first First Communion class.
The clocks are installed at Holy Name Church and St. Dominic Grade School Graduation and Confirmation
1929
The iconic clocks are installed into the steeples of Holy Name church – a donation from Sheboygan local, John Kroeff. This would mark the first of several renovations throughout the history of the parish.
The first 8th grade class graduates from St. Dominic School: Clarence Damrow, Virona Altenbach, Fredrick Ploetz, Monica Godfrey, Victor Paeglow, Margaret Wagner, Roland Fetterer, Father Knackert and Marius Birkle. Sr. Mary Olga was the class teacher and school principal. Fifty-four young confirmands celebrate as the first confirmation class in the new St. Dominic Parish.
St. Dominic Convent
1936
First portion of convent building erected with four rooms and a dormitory for seven Sisters.
St. Dominic Organ Installation
1938
St. Dominic Parish pipe organ installation.
St. Dominic First Assistant Pastor
1944
Fr. Ignatius Staskunas is the first assistant pastor at St. Dominic.
The Centennial
1945
Holy Name of Jesus celebrates its Centennial Anniversary.
St. Dominic Expansion and New St. Clement School Opens
1951
Excavation begins for north wing of the St. Dominic convent building. It is to include a chapel, and 8 bedrooms, as well as two temporary classrooms, for 1st & 2nd grades.
New St. Clement School building opens.
Schools Develop
1953
Construction of a new school building at Holy Name of Jesus is completed.
300 pupils are enrolled in the St. Dominic Parish School, in grades 1-8, taught by 6 nuns and 1 lay teacher and Parish membership has grown to nearly 400 families.
50th Anniversary
1964
St. Clement Parish celebrates its 50th anniversary at a Mass celebrated by Archbishop William Cousins.
St. Dominic New Church Construction
1965
Building of the new St. Dominic church commences. The architect is Lawrence Bray of Sheboygan.
Vatican II Changes at St. Clement
1966
New Altar facing congregation at St. Clement Church implements Vatican II changes.
Ministering to the Hispanic Community
1968
With the Hispanic population growing in Sheboygan County, Sr. Mary Helen Neenan, a Sinsinawa Dominican, began ministering to the area Hispanic community in Sheboygan.
The First Spanish Liturgy
1969
The first Spanish liturgy was celebrated in the St. Clement Convent Chapel.
The First Ordained Transitional Deacons
1976
Richard Mason and August Meyer are the first members of Holy Name of Jesus parish to be ordained transitional deacons.
St. Dominic Parish 50th Anniversary.
1977
St. Dominic Parish celebrates 50th Anniversary.
The First Ringing at St. Clement
1978
St. Clement Church bells were rung for the first time after being installed and dedicated.
The First Permanent Deacon at St. Clement
1981
Antonio Gamez becomes the first St. Clement member to be ordained a Permanent Deacon. In 1984, Baleriano Gonzalez was ordained.
St. Clement School Merger
1985
St. Clement Parish School closes and later merges with Holy Name School. The school would be named Holy Family.
Dominican Hall Renovated
1989
St. Clement Church lower level space renovated and named Dominican Hall.
St. Clement Stained-Glass Restoration
1992
St. Clement Parish begins restoration of stained-glass windows. Over the course of twelve years all ten windows were restored.
150 Years Old
1995
Holy Name of Jesus Parish celebrates its 150th anniversary.
St. Dominic Gym and Parish Activity Center
2006
Groundbreaking takes place for PAC construction and associated modifications to church and school. $2.3 million project.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School Opens
2012
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School opens. The school resulted from the merger of St. Dominic School and Holy Family School.
Northside Catholic Faith Formation Program begins in St. Dominic school building.St. Clement Centennial Anniversary
2014
On November 22nd, the Feast day of St. Clement, Archbishop Listecki presides at a Mass celebrating the Centennial anniversary of St. Clement Parish.
St. Dominic 90th Anniversary
2018
St. Dominic celebrates the 90th Anniversary with year-long activities.
Milwaukee Archdiocese approved the Sheboygan North Catholic Parishes. One Pastoral Council for North Sheboygan Catholic Parishes organized.
Holy Name 175th Anniversary
2020
Holy Name of Jesus celebrates its 175th Anniversary in 2021, a year delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a Mass celebrated by Bishop James T. Schuerman.