St.Mary Catholic Church, Carlyle, Illinois-History

beautiful appearance within and without. It is 130 feet long, 54 feet wide in the center, 82 feet at projections; with 60 foot spires each side of the original 160 foot tower; and a baptismal font under the west spire and a stairway to the choir loft under the east spire. The concrete floor was sloped instead of level to make it easier for people to see the main altar. Two side altars, donated by Julia Sparks and Mrs. Alexander, and a beautiful marble main altar enhanced the sanctuary. Three artistic memorial windows, formerly in the old church, were placed above the main altar. Communion railings and the baptismal font were donated by the Married Ladies and Young Ladies Sodalities. Seating capacity was almost 1,000, downstairs and in the choir loft. The walls and square pillars of the church are of rose-colored marble from St. Genevieve, Missouri. The floor of the church proper is covered with mastic tile, while the floor of the vestibule is of flexotile, similar to terrazzo. The steps of the sanctuary are of white carara (Italian) marble. The orange colored marble is of Tennessee tile and Spanish marble. The back walls of the Sanctuary are of Italian white and dark lined marble. The lower dark panels are from Africa and are irreplaceable.

-All the glass was made by the same family. It was originally ordered from Lewis Sealy, Sr., in Munich, Germany, and was installed in 1905. (After the fire of 1940 the broken parts were replaced by his sons, who were employed by the Frei-Art Glass Co. in St. Louis.) The pictures are of the Holy Family, St. Christopher (Patron of Travelers), St. Isador (Patron of Farmers), St. Bernard (Saint of Knowledge), St. Vincent de Paul (Saint of the Poor), St. Ann (mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary), and St. John with Christ as boys.

-All blocks holding the three large wooden statues are of Italian marble as are the smaller shrines of the Mother of Perpetual Help and the Infant of Prague. The two pedestals of St. Therese and the Guardian Angel are also Italian marble. The communion rail is of Italian carara marble with onyx pillars.

-The mosaic over the vestibule door depicting the four fountains coming from the mountain of the cross is a symbol of the four gospels coming from the mouth of Christ. The mosaics on the walls are titles taken from the Litany of Our Lady: Spiritual Vessel, Vessel of Honor, Tower of David, Tower of Ivory, House of Gold, Gate of Heaven. On the sanctuary walls, the mosaics are symbolic of the Seven Sacraments, with the exception of the first two on either end. These latter are in remembrance of the previous pastors of St. Mary's: Fathers Anton Demming, John Diepenbrock, John Bruns, Nicholas Dietrich, (although Fr. Dietrich wasn't a pastor, Fr. Hilgenberg wanted him remembered), and Bernard Hilgenberg. High on the side walls are the mosaics of our Flag, the State Flower, and the coat-of-arms of our Bishops: John Janssen, Henry Althoff, and Albert R. Zuroweste.

-The seats and woodwork in the church are of red Appalachian oak.

1907 - Large pipe organ installed, costing $1,700.

1910 - Fr. Diepenbrock was instrumental in establishing the St. Mary's Hospital and Home for the Aged in Carlyle. Mrs. Julia Sparks bequeathed $30,000 for that purpose and this sum was used to purchased the old Lucas mansion, to build the St. Mary's Hospital and Home. It opened to the public Aug 19, 1911, and was named St. Julian Hospital and Home for the Aged. It presently exists as the Carlyle Healthcare Center, Inc.

Apr 5, 1919 - Fr. Diepenbrock died from pneumonia. His funeral took place on April 9. A Solemn pontifical requiem high Mass was celebrated by the Rt. Rev. Henry Althoff in the presence of 74 priests, a large number of Sisters and an immense concourse of lay people. Every store and business house was closed on the day of the funeral. Such was the esteem and respect in which the late Fr. Diepenbrock was held by his own dear parishioners, as well as by all his friends and fellow citizens in this community.

-From April 5 until October 15, St. Mary's parish was again in the hands of the assistant pastor, Rev. Father Dietrich, who was assisted by Fr. J.M. Mueller, from June until September, and by Fr. E. Niess from September until the middle of October.

Oct 15, 1919 - Fr. John Bruns took charge of St. Mary's parish.

-Among his achievements since coming here were the rewiring of the church and the installation of new lights throughout, the erection of a beautiful shrine to our Lady of Perpetual Help, and the repletion of the sacristies with new and beautiful sacred vestments.

June 16, 1920 - Fr. Bruns celebrated his silver sacerdotal jubilee.

1924 - St. Mary's Convent was erected at a cost of $25,000 for the Ven. Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Sisters on the occasion of their golden jubilee-year at St. Mary's Carlyle.

July 7, 1926 - Rev. Gerard H. Netemeyer was appointed to St. Mary's church as assistant. He was ordained to the priesthood by Rt. Rev. Henry Althoff on June 6, 1926, at Belleville.

Continued

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