Bishop Thomas John Paprocki | Diocese of Springfield

By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN Managing Editor

ISLAND GROVE — St. Joseph Church in Island Grove is commemorating its 150th anniversary, a milestone marked by the continued involvement of families who have been part of the church for multiple generations.

St. Joseph Parish, established in 1874, merged with St. Aloysius in Bishop Creek and Immaculate Conception in Dieterich to form St. Isidore the Farmer Parish in September 2004. The origins of this small-town Catholic church can be traced back to 12 founding families who settled in the area beginning with John Mammoser's family in autumn 1864.

The pioneers initially attended Mass in Teutopolis, served by Franciscans, but travel difficulties led Landelin Koebele to offer land for a local parish. With Bishop Peter Baltes' approval and Father Mauritius Klosterman's organization efforts, construction began on the church property in early spring of 1872. The first Mass was celebrated on March 25, 1874.

Over the years, the Franciscans played a significant role at St. Joseph, opening a school and expanding the church. Despite setbacks like fires and tornadoes, community efforts led to rebuilding and repairs.

In 1922, Bishop James Ryan appointed Father George Nell as the first resident pastor. Father Nell served for 39 years through challenging times including wars and economic hardship. His dedication earned him recognition from the Franciscan Order before his death on October 14, 1961.

Father Carl Schmidt succeeded Father Nell and led the parish through further developments until St. Joseph returned to Franciscan care in 1988. Today, Father Juan Carlos Ruiz serves as pastor.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki visited for a Mass of Thanksgiving earlier this year. Celebrations will take place from September 6-8 with various events planned by the Sesquicentennial Committee.

Sandy Meinhart, co-chair of that committee and descendant of one of the founding families stated: “Just off the top of my head I will say that we currently have children who would mark the sixth generation after the original immigrant/settler in the Meinhart family.” She expressed excitement about sharing information regarding their heritage and faith community.

Note: Thanks to Sandy Meinhart for providing historical material for this article.