Parish History: An Illustrated Chronology

 

TIME LINE: 1800-1875

 

1830 -- The Jesuit Fathers from St. Louis established the Osage Indian Mission and traveled through the Pittsburg territory and rendered spiritual services to Catholics who lived in the territory from St. Paul to Baxter Springs, Kansas.

 

drawing of old Osage Mission ca. 1930 (from WCA)

 

 

 photograph of old Osage Mission (undated from WCA)

 

 

1855 -- A few Catholic families were living in the Pittsburg territory. Pittsburg was then known as Warrentown.

 

1856 -- Father Paul Ponziglione, S.J., from the Osage Mission, now St. Paul, said the first Mass in Warrentown, Kansas. Mass was said in this locality once or twice a year by Father Ponziglione, S.J. and by a number of his conferees from the Osage Mission whose names are: Father John Schoenmakers, Father John Setters, Father Philip Colleton.

 

The Osage Mission was founded by Fr. Schoenmakers, S.J. on April 28, 1847. Called the "Father of Civilization" in southeast Kansas, Fr. Schoenmakers served as "spiritual director, steward, lawyer, judge, catechist, and preacher" for the Osage Indians. He is buried in St. Francis Cemetery.

 

image undated from WSA, information extracted from brochure of St. Francis Hieronymo Church, St. Paul, Kansas

Leaving his life as an Italian Count to become a Jesuit, Fr. Ponziglione, S.J. arrived at the Osage Mission in 1851. He became a circuit rider, for 38 years, traveling by horse and establishing missionary stations. Many of these grew into the cities of the region. Fr. Ponziglione was also an historian who left many written documents.

 

image undated from WSA, information extracted from brochure of St. Francis Hieronymo Church, St. Paul, Kansas

Mother Bridget Hayden was a member of the Sisters of Loretto, the first teaching order in the United States. She arrived at the Osage Mission in October 1847 and ministered to the Osage girls and settler's daughters for 43 years. She was called "Medicine Woman" by the Osage. Mother Bridget is buried in St. Francis Cemetery.

 

image undated from WSA, information extracted from brochure of St. Francis Hieronymo Church, St. Paul, Kansas