| Parish
Information
|
 |
- In
the Beginning....
-
- LONG, LONG AGO
In 1836, Defiance was incorporated as a village. The estimated
population was 200. Five years later in 1841, Father Amadeus Rappe
celebrated the first Mass here in the home of Timothy Fitzpatrick.
There were two Catholic families and nine individuals living in
Defiance at the time.
In 1844, three years after this first Mass, Horatio G. Phillips -one
of two men who laid out the city of Defiance in 1822 - donated a
lot at the corner of Fifth Street and Jackson Avenue to the Catholics
of Defiance.
The first church was built at this site before the end of 1844, a
small log structure, and was named after St. John the
Evangelist. The first resident pastor, Rev. Louis J. Filiere,
was appointed to St. John in 1850. There were 15 families in the
parish. Our second pastor was Rev. Francis Westerholt and he
spearheaded the drive to build a new brick church 35x75 feet and twice
the size of the first church. The cornerstone was laid in 1856.
- THE 1870's
Almost from the beginning, St. John parish had a Catholic grade
school. For a time, the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood from
Minster, Ohio conducted classes, continuing until 1870. In April
of 1870, the Sisters of St. Agnes of Fond du lac, Wisconsin took
charge of the school. They continued in that capacity fro 115
years until 1985, helping to educate many hundreds of St. John
parishioners. We are forever in their debt.
In 1873, our congregation was divided into two smaller ones: St.
John and St. Mary. Since a majority of the early settlers of
Defiance were of German descent, that language had been used during
church services. By 1873, many Defiance Catholics spoke English
and Bishop Gilmour allowed this group to start the parish of St.
Mary. After World War I, the German language was discontinued in
St. John services.
- THE 1890's
Rev. Joseph Gloden (the one with the extremely long beard) became
pastor in 1891. He purchased another lot on Jackson Avenue
adjacent to the parish property and then set out to build a new
church. The cornerstone of this building whose birthday we are
celebrating this year, was laid in May 1895. The superstructure
was erected and enclosed during the summer. The church was
solemnly dedicated by Bishop Horstmann on September 13, 1896.
The new church had a cost of $24,000 and $16,000 was already paid.
Bishop Horstmann donated the statues of Mary and Joseph (now side by
side above the Holy Family altar) as a token of his appreciation to
the parish. Other special donations included the tower clock,
built by John Funck and donated by John Beez; the two side altars
given by the Young Ladies Sodality; the Stations of the Cross given by
Father Floden at a cost of $1000; Young Men's Society donated the
statue of the Sacred Heart; the large stained glass windows given by
St. Boniface Society and the Catholic Knights of Ohio; a 1700 lb. bell
given by the Dramatic Society; and a 1300 lb. bell given by the school
children. Both of these bells remain in the bell tower today.
- 1900-1980
In 1953, Msgr. John J. Vogel became pastor of the parish. One of
his first projects was to clear out the basement of the church and
convert it into a modern auditorium, complete with kitchen and
stage. Formal opening was in December 1954. During the
next year the north side confessional was recessed. Additional
renovation to the kitchen was done and equipment installed in 1970 to
construct a modern cafeteria to provide daily meals for the school
children.
When the church basement was converted into a hall in 1954, a cement
floor was poured and the side walls formed with cement blocks, but the
ceiling pipes and wiring were left exposed. It was determined in
1981, after a study was completed by Toledo Edison Company on fuel
economy, to again renovate the basement. Arnie Loeffler was
awarded the contract for the necessary construction. The ceiling
was lowered with suspended ceiling tiles; the windows were covered
over with wallboard, as were all the walls; then paneling was
installed on the bottom half.
There were many men from the parish who volunteered: Tony
Pignataro, Archie Steingass, Virgil Geiger, Nelson Okuley and Clarence
Meyer, to name a few. The wallpapering was headed up by Helen
Hetz with Dorothy Meyer, Phyllis Clemens and Joanne McDowell
helping. The floor tile was installed the next year and new
stage curtain in 1983.
Now---back upstairs to church.
In 1961 the sanctuary was enlarged by removing the steps across the
width of the sanctuary and the space added to the sanctuary floor.
The next project was undertaken in 1964 when an new fireproof
staircase was insatlled on the south side of the church which led to
the balcony. A small Cry Room replaced the stairwell located on
the north side of the church and extended part way into the
vestibule. The vestibules and baptistry were painted.
Sandblasting of the church began in 1967. This included the
front, north and south walls and the tower. All deteriorated
bricks were restored, mortar joints were tuckpointed, and windows were
caulked where needed.
The cupola was replaced and covered with 20 ounce copper. Bird
controls were renewed and broken and missing slates replaced.
Down spouts and strainer boxes were repaired.
1967 saw the completion of the ramp entrance on the north side of the
church. At the time, elecrtric heating mats were buried in the
concrete just beneath the surface to keep it free from ice and
snow. It is about 59 ft long and 4 1/2 ft wide, and is
conveniently accessible to the parking lot. The top of the bell
tower was once again reparied in 1969 and a new and larger cross made
of stainless steel replaced the old cross. The copper sheathing
of both tower and cupola was replaced , new louvres were installed and
the cupola was mounted with a stainless steel cross. The cupola
with its open louvres is not an ornament. The louvres are
necessary to provide proper ventilation for the church attic.
- 1980-1995
- Father
James Say was assigned as pastor of
St. John
in 1981. Early in his
pastorate, he instigated the 95 NOW fund drive to raise $95,000 to
give a facelift to this edifice – then 88 years old.
The remodeling included extending the sanctuary, making the
altar closer to the congregation “for greater liturgical
participation and enhancement.”
The tabernacle was reposed at the right side of the sanctuary.
A striking wall mural in the tabernacle niche was painted by
artist parishioner Michelle Mont.
- Left
of the sanctuary was placed the Holy Family statues above a new,
smaller altar. Walnut
pews and sanctuary furnishings were all new.
Shades of mauve and burgundy were carried out in the carpeting
and painting, chosen to compliment the beautiful church windows.
- Dedication
of the new altar and blessing of the redecorated church was July 10,
1983. Officiant was
Bishop James R. Hoffman.
- Members
of the redecorating committee were:
Jim Gillis, Elodie Steffel, Catherine Cline, Joanne McDowell,
Sandy Sucher, Barbara Delaney, Michael Roessner, Therese Daoust, Paul
Kroeckel, Joe Meyer, Rev. George Wenzinger.
- The
costs of $146,080 to cover the most recent overhaul of our beloved
building were donated to
St. John
in estates of parishioners.
- In
1994, repairs were made to the bell and clock tower again, the north
and south entrance wings, the west chimney, pilaster finials, and
clock faces. New clock
faces are 1.4 inch glazed acrylic with Roman numerals and minute
marks. Frame is
fabricated tee-section aluminum.
- Finally,
a new set of steps was installed to alter the former 100-year-old
approach to
St. John
the
Evangelist Church, Defiance, Ohio USA.
- 1995-2008
While the renovations were taking place at St. John (take a look at
the pictures), the parish was
temporarily relocated to the K of C Hall. Vacationers enjoy the
possibilities and excitement of the unknown! This certainly was true
for our church vacation at the K of C Hall this summer. We mingled
with our Catholic brothers and sisters from St. Mary. Enjoyed mass
celebrations with both Fr. George and Fr. Tim. And how about that air
conditioning? But there is always a subtle nagging in our hearts
yearning for a return to the routine and the comfortable. Our
homecoming has been worth the wait! Take a look at the photos
of the refurbished church!
|