St Monica, St. Elizabeth and St. Wenceslaus Pastors
Traveling Pastors:
Fr. Fitzgerald (1866 founding Pastor St. Elizabeth, Waterville)
Fr. P.P. Klaus (Establised St. Wenceslaus, Irving )
Fr. Aloysius Chial
Fr. Carolus Dragoon
Fr F.S. Havelka
Fr. Francis Kulisek
Fr. Hillar Rosenfeld OSB
Fr. Alphonse Filian OSB
Pastors in Residence:
Fr. Francis Kulisek (1901-1907)
Fr. Hilary Rosenfeld OSB (1907-1909) with Fr. August Redeker (1908) (Established St. Monica, Blue Rapids)
Fr. Francis Elast (1909-1012
Fr. M O’Leary (1912-1913)
Fr. David Hall (1913-1916)
Fr. Thomas McInerney (1916-1918)
Fr. Cowell O’neill (1918-1919)
Fr. Joseph Selting (1919-1921)
Fr. A.R. Portelance ( 1921-1927)
Fr. George Kuglmeier (1927-1929)
Fr. Sylvester Kolkiewicz (1929-1934)
Fr. James Mulloy ( 1934-1935)
Fr. Clement Nordhus OSB (1935-1936)
Fr. Romuald Fox OSB (1936)
Fr. Helidore Mejak 1937-1941
Fr. John Bauer 1941-1948
Fr. Charles Williams (1948-1961) (Closed St. Wenceslaus)
Fr. Edward Engel (1961-1964)
Fr. John Croughwell (1964-1967)
Fr. James Wright (1967-1970)
Fr. A. J. Lickteig (1970-1973)
Fr. Jim Shaughnessy and Fr. George Klasenski (1973-1978)
Fr. Frank Horvat and Fr. Paul Miller (1978-1982)
Fr. George Bertles (1982-1991)
Fr. Paul Hosler and Fr. Gary Applegate (1992-1993)
Fr. Bernard Mullen OSB (1995-1999)
Fr. William Brunning (1999-2004) (Merged St. Monica and St. Elizabeth)
Fr. James Shaughnessy (2004-2010)
Fr. Pat Sullivan (2010-2015)
Fr. Daniel Schmitz (2015-2018)
Fr. Anthony Chendumalli (2018-present)
St. Monica Waterville Events
1866- Father Fitzgerald from Lillis says the first mass in Waterville
1908- Father Redeker (Marysville) bought 3 parcels of land for a new church for $375.00
1909- Father Francis Elast was the first resident Priest. He lived in the Sacristy
1909- Land was purchased for a rectory for 775.00
1910- Rectory was completed
1911- St Monica was dedicated by Bishop John Ward on May 2nd.
1911- Father Elast was given St. Wenceslaus as a mission to Waterville
1961- St Monica was given St. Elizabeth as a mission for Father Bauer.
St. Wenceslaus, Irving
1889- First Mass was celebrated on July 4th. St Wenceslaus was created as a Mission from Annunciation.
1906- A new church was built in Irving
1906-1918- Mass was celebrated on the first and third Sunday. Second and Fourth Sundays were at St Monica
1918- Mass was celebrated every Sunday for the first time in Irving
1921- St. Wenceslaus was closed by Father Portelance
St. Elizabeth, (Irving) Blue Rapids
1912- Land was purchased to build a church for $2,900 and basement was dug.
1913- New church was built as a 36x75 foot structure
1913- June 5, Bishop Ward dedicates a new church in the area around Irving
1961- The church was moved from Irving to Blue Rapids due to Tuttle Creek
1961- Archbishop Hunkeler dedicated the new church in Blue Rapids