St. Francis Xavier Church
Carlsruhe, Ontario, Canada
Our History
Summary
DATE PRIESTS FACTS OF INTERESTS
1848 - The Jesuit Missioners visited
1853-1861 - Fr. Caspar Matoga S.J. - a Missionary, stopped at Carlsruhe and celebrated mass in a private home. Carlsruhe continued to be visited by missionaries from Guelph, perhaps once a month.
1856 - Fr. William Blettner SJ - began a Baptismal Registry, a site for a church was purchased
1861 - Fr. Archangelus Gstir & Joseph Smith - Carlsruhe became a mission of the newly formed parish of Formosa
1863 - Fr. Gstir - purchased a plot of land for a cemetery.
1865-1887 - Fr. Francis Rassaerts - Founding Pastor, Neustadt was attached to Carlsruhe as a mission in 1872. Work began on a new church for Carlsruhe, brick for the structure was made in a local
brickyard, the church was modelled upon the cathedral in his native Roermund, Holland, it took two years to build and cost approximately $9000 of which Fr. Rassaerts personally paid a significant portion, 38 stained windows were imported from Holland, Rectory was built
1887 - Fr. FRANCIS RASSAERTS - THE FOUNDING FATHER BREATHED HIS LAST
1887-1891 - Fr. Eugene Laussie
1891-1892 - Fr. Louis Elena
1892-1895 - Fr. Michael Halm
1895-1898 - Fr. Rudolph Lehman - Neustadt was turned over In Deemerton in 1897, he started a mission at Hanover and a separate school at Carlsruhe
1898-1907 - Fr. Joseph Wey - Made improvements to the Church & Rectory, Constructed a church in Hanover when it became a separate parish
1907-1912 - Fr. Joseph Lenhardt
- Installed new pews in the church
1912-1931 - Fr. Isadore Hoffarth - Secured a new organ for the church
1930-1934 - Fr. Lawrence Dogorski - Administrator of the parish
1934-1935 - Fr. Edward Hartleib - During this second term, he personally assumed an outstanding parish debt of $500
1935-1936 - Fr. Michael Halm - He had the interior of the church redecorated in 1942
1936-1952 - Fr. Henry Brick - In 1947 Bishop Ryan celebrated a Pontifical mass on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the church, ln 1948 the parish hosted the 11th annual Diocesan Eucharistic Congress.
Tbe Sacred Heart Fathers from Holland took charge of Carlsruhe until 1970
1952-
1952-1955 - Fr. John Van Zekl SCJ
1955-1956 - Fr. Theodoras Schoeniaker SCJ
1956-1959 - Fr. J. A. De Jong SCJ
1959-1962 - Fr. J. Meeuderiuk SCJ
1962-1964 - Fr. Jolm Van Weid SCJ - A new separate school was opened in Carlsruhe
1964-1969 - Fr. Francis Keuser SCJ - Died suddenly in Dec of 1969
1969-1973 - Fr. Philip Sherratt
1973-1974 - Fr. Harry Englert - Carlsruhe celebrated tbe centennial of its church
1974-1975 - Fr. Edward Clark OMI - Was administrator of the parish. Kitchen and washroom facilities, provided for the hall
1975-1976 - Fr. Michael Myruniuk
1976-1977 - Fr. Joseph Bigonzoni
1977-1984 - Fr. Frank M. Chernish - Major repairs were made to the roof of the church
1984-1985 - Fr. Karunai Joseph
1985 June-Sept - Fr. Peter Hundt - Administrator pending the appointment of a pastor
1985-1993 - Fr. Placid Charles Nolan OP - He successfully carried out an impressive renovation of the church
1992-1995 - Fr. Thomas AP Kurudeepan OMI - Visiting priest, residential and administering, during tbe illness of Fr. Nolan