The following historical descriptions are transcribed from the book, The Catholic Church in Wisconsin, published by the Catholic Historical Publishing Company, T.J. Sullivan, October 9, 1896.

Ozaukee County Churches



Mater Dolorosa Church, Fredonia, Wis.

The Catholic church at Fredonia, Wisconsin, which was dedicated to the Mother of Sorrows, was first established about the year 1847. Prior to this time, the people of that vicinity were occasionally visited by traveling priests,and more immediately subsequent to its organization, at stated intervals, by resident pastors from adjacent parishes. The first that we have in the way of recorded facts regarding the pastors associated with this congregation were given in 1857 when the Rev. Simon BARTOSZ attended the congregation at Fredonia. He was succeeded by the Rev. J. STUCKY, who remained until 1859; the Father REHRL to 1860; Fathers HASSELBAUER and REIF to 1861; the Rev. C. REHRL to 1863 and the Rev. J. MEHLMANN to 1864. during Father MEHLMANN's administration, a mission was held by the Rev. Jesuit Father F.X. WENINGER, in August, 1863. The next pastor of this congregation was the Rev. M. RETZER, who remained until 1865 when the Rev. George STRICKNER replaced him. He was succeeded in 1866 by the Rev. J. WELTER, who conducted the pastorate until 1871. In 1868 the second church, a stone structure, was erected. After the departure of Father WELTER, the Rev. Father REHRL took charge again until 1878, when he was succeeded by the Rev. W.J. FRANTZ, who remained until 1880. The year preceding this, a parsonage was built, and it was at this time also the congregation received its first permanent pastor. After Father FRANTZ, the Rev. Seb. WEISS took charge. He was succeeded in 1881 by Father A.T. REININGER, who remained until November, 1883, when Father RAESS was appointed to the pastorate. During the latter's residence at Fredonia, which lasted until 1888, a commodious brick school-house was erected and the church frescoed throughout. Father RAESS was succeeded by the Rev. J.H. KORFHAGE, who remained until 1890, at which time, the present pastor, the Rev. P.J. DELLES, assumed the duties. The congregation now consists of about forty-eight families. There is one parochial school at Fredonia, which is in charge of two Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, and has a regular attendance of fifty-one scholars. Associated with this congregation is the St. Mary's Ladies' Society of the Rosary, of which the pastor is president; Mrs. Theresa MERTZIG, secretary, and Mrs. Walburga RETZER, treasurer. It has thirty-seven members.

The congregation of St. John the Baptist, at Waubeka, Ozaukee County, which is a mission to the congregation at Fredonia, was established about the year 1868. There are now about sixty families belonging to this congregation, where services are held every Sunday and all holy days. The members are all German. At one time, that is during the year 1878, a regular resident pastor was appointed to this congregation, but the expenses incident upon such an undertaking were too much for the little community to maintain and so, perforce, the congregation became a mission to the church at Fredonia. There is one Catholic organization, the St. Ann's Society of Christian Mothers, associated with the members of St. John's, of which Mrs. FRANTZEN is secretary and Mrs. Elizabeth WATRY is treasurer.


The Rev. P.J. DELLES was born in the town of Belgium, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, in the year1866. When by five years of age he removed with his parents to Port Washington, where he attended the parochial school until 1880. He then went to St. Lawrence College of the Capuchin Fathers at Mt. Calvary, taking there the five years classical course. In the summer of 1885 he entered the seminary of St. Francis, where he completed a course in philosophy and theology, and was ordained to the priesthood October 18, 1889, by the Most Rev. Archbishop Michael HEISS. Father DELLES celebrated his first holy Mass at Port Washington two days later, after which he was assigned to St. George's church at Kenosha as assistant, where he remained until July, 1890, when he was appointed to his present pastorate.