Chronological Highlights
These highlights are excerpts taken from:
Celebrating 120 years as a parish 1879-1999
-- compiled by Kay Thull, Cawker City, KS.
1873 Mass was offered by Father A. Weikmann of Hanover, KS Site:
Waconda School Middle 1870's the parish is served by missionary priests from Cloud County, KS (Cawker City Public Record Feb.
16, 1911)
1878 Cornerstone laid for stone church, defect in title delays building of church
1879-1882 Parish was organized and a frame church built. Fr. Clemens Niemann was the first pastor.
(Public Record, Spring supplement #1)
1880 Two acres of land south of Cawker City was purchased for a cemetery.
(Cawker Ledger, September 15, 1936)
1881 The frame church was destroyed by a cyclone. The church was renovated and used for 3 years.
(History of Mitchell County Churches, 1945)
1884 A limestone church was completed at a cost of less than $2,000.
(History of Mitchell County Churches)
1887 The Diocese of Concordia was established. The first bishop was Rt. Rev. Richard Scannell.
(Harvest of Faith, Lahey-Hake)
1901 The parish had grown and the church was extended twenty feet to the south at a cost of $995.
1909 Church services were held in German and English on alternate Sundays.
1909 A window was added to the choir gallery. Fence and beautification of the cemetery completed
(Public Record October 7, 1909)
1913 There were 29 families in the parish. (Cawker Ledger, Sept. 15, 1936)
1915 Fr. Louis Wahlmeier purchased the public school. It became a Catholic Academy staffed by the Sisters of St.
Joseph of Concordia, Ks.
1915 From this time on, all sermons were delivered in English.
1917 A brick 2-story rectory is built.
1917 In May, the first commencement is held at St. Theresa’s Academy.
1924 The church bell was cast in St. Louis. An entry, vestibule and bell tower was added to the stone church. Part
of the inscription on the bell reads: "When you hear my voice, know that it is the voice of God calling you."
(Northwestern Ks. Register, Dec. 12, 1986)
1938 The parish has grown to 88 families.
1940 A statuary memorial “The Crucifixion Group” is erected at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery. (Cawker Ledger May 20, 1940)
1947 A house was acquired and renovated to be used as a convent for the Sisters of St. Joseph. (Cawker
Ledger May 13, 1948)
1954 A groundbreaking was held for a new school building.
(Cawker Ledger Apr. 8, 1954)
1963 An addition was built onto the grade school for temporary church services, meeting room, school activities.
1964 March 8 a new church is dedicated.
(NW Ks. Register Mar. 12, 1964 & others)
1964 June 7 the new church is damaged by a tornado.
(numerous articles from local and regional papers)
1964 November 29 Mass in English begins. (NW Ks. Register Nov. 1964)
1965 The church cemetery is relocated to a site north of Cawker City due to construction of Waconda Lake. (Cawker Ledger Nov. 4, 1965)
1969 May St. Theresa’s School closed. (Cawker Ledger, November 4, 1969)
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