St. Mary's Neighborhood Liaison Program
The purpose of this program is to create small communities within our wider parish community. Our hope is that these small communities will develop a social character that will create for our large parish the feel of a small, friendly and supportive community. We would like to find ways to be available to you beyond the Sunday Mass, in the midst of your busy lives. We want to find small opportunities to be present to you, to put a face with the name St. Mary’s.
We are actively looking for parishioners and families to serve as liaisons for their neighborhoods. If you would like to be a liaison or would like more information, please contact the parish office (337-4314, icstmary@icstmary.org) or contact Natalie Robinson (351-5630, nlrobinson@mchsi.com).
Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, Our Patron
Saint Mary's parish was founded in 1841 by Father Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli (November 4, 1806 - February 23, 1864), a Dominican priest who founded several churches in the tri-state area (Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin) and founded a community of Dominican sisters in Sinsinawa Wisconsin. He built a small wood frame church which was dedicated by Bishop Mathias Loras on July 12, 1841, under the title of Saint Mary of the Assumption.
In 1867, construction began on the present church building. It was built over the church founded by Father Mazzuchelli, which was later dismantled. Father William Emonds, pastor at that time, purchased the ornate high altar which contains the beautiful painting of the Visitation. The "new" church was dedicated on August 15, 1869, under the title of Saint Mary of the Visitation. The largest bell in our seventeen bell carillon is inscribed with the words (in Latin) Saint Mary of the Visitation.
Father Mazzuchelli is now being considered for sainthood, having received the title of Venerable. We have chosen Fr. Samuel as our patron for this program, as we are sure that he continues his pastoral care for our parish.