SPRING GREEN — St. John the Evangelist Parish in Spring Green is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year with a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, April 17, at 10:30 a.m.
A reception will follow in the parish center.
Significant dates
Significant dates in the parish’s 150 year history include:
• 1866 — “Little white church” was built.• 1900 — Brick church was built.
• 1948 — St. John School opened with an enrollment of 129 students in eight grades.
• 1985 — St. Malachy in Clyde became a mission parish.
• 1988 — The brick church was destroyed by fire. Christ Lutheran Church members opened their hearts and doors to St. John to use their building while the new church was constructed.
• 1990 – Present church was built.
• 1991 — St. John celebrated its 125th anniversary.
• 2003 — St. John was linked with St. Luke Parish in Plain.
• 2015 — Fr. Scott Emerson, a son of the parish, was ordained to the priesthood.
The parish today
Today, there are over 500 family/individual units in St. John Parish. St. John School, grades 4K to five, has a current enrollment of 59 young people.
Our Religious Education Program offers Wednesday evening classes for public school students in grades one to 11 and outreach experiences in the area of youth ministry.
Adult Faith Formation includes the RCIA process and other opportunities for spiritual and educational renewal and updates.
Volunteers assist as liturgical ministers, helpers for parish activities such as the Fall Dinner, Funfest, and bake sales.
The Joint Parish Mission Statement says that members of St. John Parish, along with St. Luke Parish members, are a Eucharistic Community called together to celebrate our Catholic faith. As a welcoming community of God, our mission is to provide an environment that enriches our spiritual, personal, and social growth through prayer, education, outreach, and fellowship.
Serving the Church
God called men and women from St. John to serve in the Church.
Fr. Scott Emerson, ordained in 2015, had attended both St. John and St. Luke Schools.
Sr. Pauline Feiner and Sr. Grace Schauf responded to God’s call as well and continue to serve God’s people as members in Religious communities.
We are grateful for all those priests and women Religious, living or deceased, who grew up in our parish or served our parish in any way.
We have been blessed with many spiritual and compassionate pastors beginning with our first resident pastor, Fr. John Schumacher (1902-1907), to Fr. Mike Resop, who was appointed as pastor in 2003.
We look to the past with gratitude, live in the present with joy, and journey into the future with hope.
More information can be found on our parish website: www.stjohnspringgreen.com
Sr. Lynne Marie Simonich, OSF, is pastoral associate and director of faith formation at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Spring Green.