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Week 1
Parishioners attended weekday Mass in the basement of the rectory. Sunday Mass, however was celebrated at Valley Funeral Home on North Richmond Street.
Week 2
Appleton was one of three Wisconsin cities visited on the whirl-wind trip across America of future Democratic presidential Nominee Senator John F. Kennedy (D Mass).
Week 3
St. Pius X School first opened its doors to students in September 1959, led by Sister Lyrine Putzer, Principal.
Week 4
“We’re the Falcons...we love St. Pius School.” These lines are taken from the St. Pius School song which was written by Julie Gardner-Bray in 1989.
Week 5
In 1971 the Congregation of the Sacraments granted a request of the American bishops to allow laypersons to assist priests in giving Holy Communion under certain, extraordinary circumstances. Thus Joe, John, Mark and George were asked to be St. Pius X’s first Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist.
Week 6
In the words of the late Bishop Aloysius Wycislo, “We need to communicate responsibly with each other, in and out of the home, in our neighborhoods, in our schools, everywhere, because it is Christian to do so.” With those words as their motivation, the Communications Committee presented their first issue of the parish newspaper October 31, 1971. Mrs. Vernon Ehike had won the contest to name the fledgling paper; the winning entry was Pari-Scope.
Week 7
The purpose of the Men’s Society is to “unite the men of the parish who help to promote spiritual and material undertakings”. The Society is open to all the men of our parish, and new members are invited to call chairperson Leroy Kohlbeck (739-2509) for more information. Thomas O’Hearn was honored to receive the first Man of the Year Award which has been presented yearly since 1966.
Week 8
In 1982 the Novel Group got its start under the guidance of Wanda Roehl. They started out primarily with members of St. Pius X Parish; today membership is extended to “people who love to read,” according to chairperson Rita DeLain. Members meet once a month on Saturday mornings to discuss the current selection. This month they will be discussing Night by Elie Wiesel. about three years ago, a second reading group, meeting once a month on Monday afternoons, was started by Evelyn Schroth. This month’s selection is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-TIme by Mark Haddone. Both groups are welcome to new members.
Week 9
Loaves & Fishes was introduced to the parish in November of 1994 by Carol Burns through the Social Concerns Committee. It began with a Christmas dinner Carol and her family coordinated in 1992 at St. Pius for the hungry or lonely which grew the following year with the backing of the Social Concerns Committee. In 1994, the committee visited a Loaves & Fishes program in Fond du Lac and by January 1995, St. Pius X parish began providing a meal once a month to the Emergency Shelter of the Fox Cities. (The Loaves & Fishes outreach has continued to grow, both in volunteers and people served. More about this St. Pius-rooted ministry will be in following segments of 50 Years of Faith and Service.)
Week 10
On November 2, the Feast of All Souls, our diocesan paper celebrated 50 years of publication. Its previous titles were The Register (1956), and The Spirit (1970). In 1978, the paper became known as The Compass, dedicated to “improving direction, education, and steering a correct course in keeping with the teachings of the Church.”
http://www.thecompassnews.org/compass/2006-11-03/news4.shtml
Week 11
On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX pronounced and defined that the Blessed Virgin Mary “in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the savior of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin.” Thus, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, December 8th, celebrates the blessing bestowed on her of being conceived without original sin. For a more thorough discussion of this dogma, please see the Catholic Encyclopedia online at http://www.newadvent.org
Week 12
Preschool Innovation Center was the name of the private preschool who at one time rented space on the St. Pius campus. In 1989 the decision was made for St. Pius to create its own preschool within the ACES system. The first two teachers were “Miss Sandy”, Sandy Oudenhoven, and “Miss Roxy”, Roxy Barker. You can meet the present-day staff, share a craft with your child, and explore St. Pius X Preschool this Thursday, December 14th from 12:00-1:30 at a special “Get Acquainted with Preschool” program for parents and their child not currently enrolled in the preschool or kindergarten program.
Week 13
After the establishment of St. Pius X, Mass was held at the Valley Funeral Home with a portable altar and communion railings while construction for the new parish was completed. In 1958 the new building opened, consisting of 12 classrooms, offices, cafeteria, and a temporary church designed for six future classrooms. The first Mass in the new church was celebrated 48 years ago, December 21st, 1958.
Week 14
The Ladies Society selected the first winner of the Appreciation Award in 1974; Mary Kohler was the recipient of the award. This past fall, a revitalized Ladies Society has regrouped under the name of the St. Pius Women’s Group, providing a setting in which to meet, socialize, share interests, provide services, and become involved in their parish and their faith. The group is reinstituting both the Appreciation Award and Woman of the Year Award. Make it your New Year’s resolution to show thanks and appreciation for the dedicated women volunteers of our parish by filling out a nomination form for each award, available by following the links on the Women’s Group page, and don’t delay-nominations are due January 31st!
Week 15
St. Pius has been blessed with musical talent throughout the years but it wasn’t until 1993 that the parish hired its first full time director of music and liturgy. That honor went to Peggy (Kaiser) Schwartz who served from July, 1993 until July, 1999.
Week 16
By 1987 the temporary church was overflowing with nearly 1500 families. The new church, which was actually a remodeling of the old, was completed in time for the first Mass to be celebrated on Christmas Eve, 1988
Week 17
Sister Katherine (Kay) Warning, daughter of Arleen and Milton Warning, was a member of the first St. Pius graduating class (June 4, 1961) and she also was a Xavier graduate (class of 1965). She was received into the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, making her final vows August 15, 1972 at Holy Family Convent in Manitowoc. Sister presently works at Silver Lake College.
Week 18
The first window can be viewed in the reconciliation room, from Father’s side. The sun here is the sun of righteousness and justice and also the light of the world (Jesus Christ) dispelling darkness. A dove carries an olive branch, representing both peace and affirmation of the covenant. The second window, displaying an outstretched hand releasing a butterfly, is in the sacristy. The butterfly is a traditional symbol of rebirth, resurrection, and victory in Christ. The butterfly and its stages of development also symbolize the journey of the soul. The outstretched hand in the window symbolizes the release of those in the priest’s care. The hand is thus a helper on the journey of the souls in its care.
Week 19
Teachers included Sisters Anne, Annina, Maria, Alida, Aurelia, Claretta, Bonaventure, and Mrs. Seybold and Mrs. Fischer. The staff were led by principal Sister Lyrine.
Week 20
Last year Mark Stoltz became only the 25th young man from our parish to earn the rank of Eagle. In 1967, Chuck Lang became the first to do so.
Week 21
Bishop Stanislaus V. Bona provided the recommendation for the new parish’s name; St. Pius X (the person) had recently been canonized.
Week 22
James L. Running and Shirley A. Jenneman, were united in holy matrimony on November 9, 1957.
Week 23
Heidi Ann Reisweber made her First Holy Communion, September 22, 1957.
Week 24
Sister promised to kiss Pearl if and when the students met their fund-raising goal, and indeed they did! Here’s a peek at next week’s question if you want to do your homework: who was Pearl and where did she live?
Week 25
Pearl lived with parishioner Jean Reed; Pearl was Jean’s pot-bellied pig!
Week 26
Erin is the life-long parishioner who serves as an interpreter for the deaf and hard-of-hearing at the interpreted 10:30 a.m. Mass 2-3 times a month. Erin has her associates degree in educational interpreting for schools and is also state certified as a free-lance interpreter. She interprets at Sunday Mass and also interprets for children in the Faith Formation program. The interpreted Mass assists St. Pius deaf or hard of hearing parishioners and also draws families from nearby communities who have a deaf or hard of hearing family member. To learn where in the Green Bay diocese other interpreted Masses are celebrated, contact Sue Perrault, 1-877-500-3580 ext 8306 in the office of Stewardship and Pastoral Services, a ministry made available through the Bishop’s Annual Appeal.
Week 27
Helen was the Appleton owner of land purchased March 13, 1946 by the Diocese of Green Bay. The parcel was eventually sold by the diocese on March 21, 1958 to the newly established parish of St. Pius the X.
Week 28
An off-shoot of the Loaves and Fishes ministry is the Community Meal, served to anyone hungry or alone, every Monday evening at Trinity Lutheran. This ministry is one of the many supported by our monthly second collection for the St. Pius Social Concerns Committee.
Week 29
Mystagogia refers to the final stage of the RCIA process (Rite of Christian Initiation). It is “the period of special instruction on the sacramental life immediately following the catechumenal formation and initiation in the Christian community”. Let us welcome Jason Barker and Amanda Hager, newly baptized, and Dawn Schmidt, Allen Dallman, Cheryl Hill and Valerie Revnew, who have come into full communion in the church, as they joyfully experience Mystagogia!
Week 30
We learned in Father Tom’s remarks 2 weeks ago that Father Brian is 35 years old and will be assigned to St. Mary Magdalene’s in Waupaca. Father will commence his first assignment as a pastor just one month shy of the second anniversary of his ordination, which took place May 21, 2005.
Week 31
According to the official diocesan record of pastoral appointments, the following priests have served our parish over the past 50 years: Founding pastor Fr. Richard Keller, Frs. Thomas Mortell, John Neuser, David Barrett, Ronald Colombo, Robert Lexa (temp. admin.), Robert Gulig (admin., then pastor), Donald Zuleger (temp. admin.), David Schmidt, Robert Stegmann (temp. admin), Donald Zuleger (pastor), and present pastor Fr. Thomas Farrell.
Week 32
Next year will mark 30 years of our school offering a kindergarten class; the first class of kindergarteners started school in 1978.
Week 33
Linda and David of Coventry Glassworks, are the designers and builders of our beautiful stained glass windows. If you haven’t taken the opportunity before, take a closer look at the windows which are rich in symbolism. More about their meaning can be found on our website: www.stpiusxappleton.com
Week 34
In 1959 Mr. and Mrs. Vernon De Bruin served as the first presidents of the St. Pius X Home School Association. Eventually the organization added the “&” to their name. Today’s president is Joelle Knauer.
Week 35
The graduating class of 1987 was the last class to have 8th graders. Thereafter, students attended St. Joseph Middle School.
Week 36
The raffle tickets, imprinted with the words “Printing Courtesy of Fox Tire, Herman Gives a Ripp for you”, were courtesy of the late Herman Ripp. By the way, only one more week until the grand prize drawing of a SUV, Harley Davidson, or $15,000 cash! Don’t miss out!
Week 37
Father Timothy Shillcox, son of parishioners Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Shillcox, was ordained June 3, 1987, at St. Norbert Abbey Church. Father is currently pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in DePere.
Week 38
On August 9, 1903, our parish patron saint, St. Pius X was elevated to the papacy.
Week 39
Both Fr. Tom and Fr. Quinn served at SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Green Bay immediately before coming to St. Pius X.
Week 40
If you chose Janet, Kathy, and Patti, you would be correct!
Week 41
According to the December, 1971 issue of the parish newspaper Pari-Scope, “The St. Pius X Parish Council was formed in the summer of 1969 after much deliberation and hard work by a steering committee formed in October, 1968… ”. The steering committee was headed by Father Mortell with Jim and Carol Vanden Heuvel as chairmen.
Week 42
The four graders of the class of 1976 brought in 3,150 labels to raise funds for audio-visual materials for the Learning Center. Thirty-one years later, the children continue to appreciate your assistance in saving your Campbell’s Soup labels!
Week 43
Since 1970 fourteen individuals have held the position of DRE. There were 3 people who tied for serving the longest: Barb Germiat, Judy Mayo, and Carol Burns each served 6 years. Note: Please help the Trivia Master! Neither the parish nor the diocese have records of religious ed before 1970. Can anyone fill in the blanks between the years of 1957 and 1970? Please email your answers to: webmaster@stpiusxappleton.com Thank you!
Week 44
Ellen Kort, the composer of the poem written for the class of 1979-80, was appointed Wisconsin’s first Poet Laureate in 2000.
Week 45
Our parish outdoor sign was designed by Theron Gorski in 1989.
Week 46
Since 1970, only 1 man has held that position; Allen Blicharz served from 1975 to 1976.
Below is a list of the people who have served our parish as Directors of Religious Education from 1970 to the present:
Sr. Audrey Gillings (1970-1974)
Kathleen Long (1974-75)
Allen Blicharz (1975-76)
Gloria Lang (1976-77)
Kathy Schultz (1977-78)
Barbara Germiat (1978-84)
Sr. Therese Rekowski (1984-86)
Judith Mayo (1986-92)
Mary Whitman (1992-93)
Sr. Carol Haanen (1993-98)
Therese Hebert (1998-99)
Laura Fiorello (1999-00)
Carol Burns (2000-06)
Erin Cencula (2006-present)
Week 47
Sister Mary Shawn Fagan, volunteer coordinator, made her vows on August 15. It was customary for the Sisters to make their vows on the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.
Week 48
August 22 is the feast of the Queenship of Mary and it is also the anniversary of Father Tom’s ordination.
Week 49
Pius X's feast day was changed from September 3 to August 21 by Pope Paul VI in 1969. The calendar reforms of the Second Vatican Council ensured that the sanctity of Pius X would always be celebrated in the universal calendar of the Church.
Week 50
The St. Pius Men’s Society named the following winners: Fr. Keller Award, Scott Schulder; Man of the Year, Mike Faucett; Youth of the Year, Patrick Casey. The St. Pius Ladies Society presented Helena Van Den Elzen with the Appreciation Award and named Susan Fassbender Woman of the Year.
Week 51
Next Saturday, Sept. 15, Bishop David Zubick will concelebrate the 5:00 pm Mass in celebration of our parish’s 50th anniversary. Please join him on this special occasion, reception immediately following Mass. All parishioners are invited.
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