St. Joseph Parish

Grafton Parish Will Be 100 Years Old Nov.6
extracted from the Ozaukee Press
November 3, 1949


Grafton - St. Joseph's parish of Graftonwill observe its one-hundredth year of its founding Nov. 6-7-8 with a Triduum inhonor of the Holy Eucharist.

Masses on Sunday, Nov. 6 will be at 7, 9, and 11 o'clock. The eleven o'clock Masswill be a solemn High Mass. Father J. E. Brasky will be the celebrant, assistedby Father Peter Hildebrand of St. Mary's Port Washington as deacon and Father BernardFelsecker of St. Augustine's Milwaukee as sub-deacon. Father Leo Brust, chancellorof the archdiocese of Milwaukee will be master of ceremonies. The sermon will bepreached by the most Reverend Roman Atkielski, auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese. Father James Huepper, Father John Sullivan of Wauwatosa, Father John Koenig of HolyCross and Father Leo Zingsheim of Cedarburg will be present in the sanctuary.

Evening devotions Sunday at 7:30 p.m. with a sermon by Father Cyril Volz of Saukville. Sermon Monday at 7:30 p.m. by Father A. P. Kraus of Menomonee Falls. Solemn conclusionTuesday at 7:30 p.m., the sermon to be delivered by Father Anthony Gundrum of PortWashington.

St. Joseph's was organized on Nov. 7, 1849. From that date to 1860 the parish wasattended by missionaries and priests of the neighborhood. The first resident pastorwas Father Wm. Storr. His successor in 1865 was Rev. Strauderbach, followed by Rev.Stricker in 1866. Rev. Durst became pastor. He was followed by Rev. J. M. Moesin 1869, when the second church was built.

Rev. Gstach was pastor from 1870 to 1873; Rev. G. Woelfl, 1873 to 1876; Rev. B. Korphage,1876 to 1880; Rev. A. Ambauen, 1881 to 1886 and Rev. Phil Hogg, 1887 to 1895.

Rev. Ig. Pronold was appointed pastor in 1895. The present church was built duringthe pastorate in 1898. The parish at that time consisted of 60 families. FatherPronold remained as pastor until 1908.

He was followed by Rev. Wm. P. Peil who remained as pastor from 1908 to 1926. Duringthe pastorate the school was built. Father Peil's successor was Father John Krieg,who remained as pastor until 1929. Father Krieg was succeeded by Father A. M. Zingen1929 until 1932. The present recotory was constructed during Father Zingen's pastorate.

The present pastor, Father J. E. Brasky, was appointed June 20, 1932. Accordingto the current census there are about 700 members in the parish.



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