ST. MAURICE PARISH HISTORY
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St. Maurice Catholic Church in Napoleon, Indiana, was founded in 1848. The parish consisted of 20 families and was served by a traveling missionary priest from Jennings County, Rev. Alphonse Munschina. The first church building was a plain 50' x 30' frame structure.
By 1866, the congregation had grown to 50 families, and the Rev. John Theodor Antoni was assigned as the resident pastor. Under his leadership, construction of our present church was begun in 1869. Fr. Antoni died suddenly, at the age of 34, before the building was completed. A marble tablet with his name was placed inside the church to commemorate his good work. The new church was opened in 1872, and officially dedicated on September 22, 1879, by Bishop Silas Chatard. The two-story brick parish rectory was built in 1909, and the St. Maurice School was built in 1911. A brick-faced cement-block Parish Hall was built in the early 1960s to accommodate the parish’s annual picnic. The aging School and Hall were demolished in 2011 to allow construction of our new Parish Center, which was dedicated in September 2012. Over the years, St. Maurice Church has been blessed with many dedicated pastors and administrators, all of whom helped shape the parish into what it is today. Fr. Adam Feigan was pastor for 16 years, beginning in 1880; Fr. Meinrad Toelle led the congregation for 30 years, beginning in 1879; Fr. John Rager served for 10 years, beginning in 1909; Fr. Cornelius Hall was here for 14 years, until his death in 1956; Fr. Michael Djubsz was our pastor for 18 years, until 1975. Then for 16 years, Msgr. Joseph Brokhage served as the Parish Administrator, aided by Sister Mary Cecile Deken, who was Pastoral Assistant and DRE; Sister Carol Leveque was our Parish Life Coordinator, with Fr. Joe Rautenberg serving as Sacramental Minister, from 1991 to 1995, until Fr. Bill Ripperger came to us as resident pastor for six years. Then the parish was ministered by a succession of recently ordained priests: Fr. Larry Borders in 2002 until his death in 2004, Fr. Todd Goodson, Fr. Rob Hankee, and Fr. Aaron Jenkins. In 2010, Sister Shirley Gerth became our PLC, with Fathers John Geis and Bill Turner serving as Sacramental Ministers. In 2016, St. Maurice Parish numbers over 200 families. The congregation is known for its warm and welcoming liturgies, a thriving religious education program, an active Parish Council, and parishioners working to ensure the vitality and stability of this family of faith. |
St. Maurice Church in 2011
Hall, Church & School in 2011
St. Maurice Church Today
2012 Parish Center
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ST. MAURICE CEMETERY
St. Maurice Catholic Church was established in 1848, and the following year, parishioner Blasius Gigos donated an acre of land to the church for use as the parish graveyard. Over the years, more bequests and/or purchases increased the Cemetery's size to its current 6.5 acres. Located about 1/4 mile west of Napoleon on Millhousen Road, the peaceful rural setting welcomes all and invites you to come in and visit awhile.
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Maintenance of St. Maurice Catholic Cemetery is overseen by a group of capable gentlemen who are dedicated to preserving the Cemetery and its records in honor of the many who are buried there; in respect for surviving loved ones who come to mourn, remember, and pray; and in commitment to future generations who will know of the past only what we hand on. The current Cemetery Committee members are Bill Wagner, Dennis Wagner, and Kenny Fry.
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The first burial recorded at St. Maurice's Cemetery was that of 27-year-old Daniel Mullen, who died July 2, 1849; and over the ensuing years, more than 200 souls have been laid to rest here. It is humbling and inspiring to read the old names and dates on the stones and in Mr. Wagner's record books. Who were these men, women, and children who lived and died in our community all those years ago? The Wagners, Kohlmans, Youngmans, and Gillands of yore, whose descendants remain parishioners today; and families of Gigos, Ebner, Schlight, Bouchard, Feeney, and Donahue, among many others, who either moved on or died out over time. We know "the story" of a few, but many are remembered only by names and dates carved on stone markers.
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The members of St. Maurice Church, however, gratefully remember all those buried in our Cemetery as our Ancestors-in-Faith and ask God to bless them for the courage, optimism, and generosity they lived by to establish, build up, and maintain a Catholic church in Napoleon that continues to nourish our souls in the twenty-first century. Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let Perpetual Light shine upon them! May they rest in peace.
The members of St. Maurice Church, however, gratefully remember all those buried in our Cemetery as our Ancestors-in-Faith and ask God to bless them for the courage, optimism, and generosity they lived by to establish, build up, and maintain a Catholic church in Napoleon that continues to nourish our souls in the twenty-first century. Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let Perpetual Light shine upon them! May they rest in peace.
| List of Veterans Buried in St. Maurice Cemetery |
ST. MAURICE LIBRARY
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Our Parish Library, located in the St. Francis Room of the Parish Center (big corner room facing both Hwy 229 and Harrison Street), is open before and after Mass and on Wednesday evenings during Elementary Religious Education hours.
There are a variety of books and videos on marriage and family, daily prayer and meditation, Scripture, Sacraments, saints, Church history, and more! Check out the links below the picture (at right) for the complete list. We urge you to stop in and pick up a book to read while you wait -- the lighting is good and the chairs are comfortable! Or take a book or video home to read or watch at your leisure. Materials can be checked out by simply signing the book (located on the bottom shelf) and listing the books or videos you wish to borrow. Our sincere thanks to Kay Koppel for organizing and cataloging all the materials in this growing collection! |
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