In 2017, St. Mary Parish in Platteville celebrated its 175th anniversary.
That was when parishioner Diane Drefcinski, began writing the history of the parish.
It was not something she had planned on doing, it just fell her way.
Helping with the project
Fr. Faustino Ruiz, SJS, was the parochial administrator at St. Mary at that time and requested a DVD of parish photos to be made.
When Drefcinski heard about the project, she suggested a book instead. A book would allow for more explanation of photos.
Thus began the project that ended up taking six and a half years to complete.
Many photos and materials were collected from around the parish, including previous parish history books.
She met with people and wrote their stories of events at the parish.
Drefcinski’s inquisitiveness led her to ask questions about past events and people.
She contacted archives with Religious Orders and dioceses. She did Internet searches and looked at materials at the Southwest Wisconsin Room at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville for answers.
Telling the story
But where does one begin with telling the history of a parish?
Drefcinski chose to start with Jesus’ call to the apostles in Matthew 28:19, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.”
Bishop Loras of Dubuque, Venerable Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP, and Fr. James Causse were some of the first priests to minister in southwest Wisconsin.
They traveled from community to community to minister to the growing number of Catholics who came to the region to mine or farm.
St. Mary Parish was formally organized in the fall of 1842 as a mission parish of Potosi.
Major John Rountree bought up most of the land around Platteville and had the city platted.
He respected all faiths and sold St. Mary a lot on the corner of North Court and Cedar Sts. for $1.
Since that time, St. Mary has purchased most of the block and built three church structures.
Father Mazzuchelli’s architectural talents were used in the design of the first St. Mary Church.
The cross from that first church building, was mounted on the outer north side of the present church building to connect past parishioners with the present.
St. Mary was part of the Diocese (later Archdiocese) of Milwaukee in 1842.
It was in 1856 when Archbishop John Henni made St. Mary an independent parish and assigned Fr. Francis Di Valdi as the resident pastor.
St. Rose Parish in Cuba City became a mission Church of St. Mary during this time.
In all, there have been 57 priests who have ministered at St. Mary’s in 181 years.
Besides linear history, Drefcinski interjected other information that helps a reader get to know the community better.
Think of how family stories get shared from one generation to the next. That is what this book does.
Closing the book
Wrapping up a history book is the final challenge.
As a result of the Diocese of Madison’s Into the Deep and Go Make Disciples initiatives, St. Mary Parish is now in Pastorate 2.
The pastorate also includes St. Rose Parish in Cuba City, as well as the parishes in Benton, Hazel Green, Kieler, and Dickeyville.
Fr. Greg Ihm along with Fr. Peter Auer, Fr. Bernie Rott, and Fr. Dave Flanagan, rotate around the pastorate to minister to the Catholics of the area.
With the transition of individual parishes to one pastorate, the end of the era seemed like the appropriate bookend.
The St. Mary history book is 210 pages and is loaded with photos.
Books can be purchased by contacting Diane Drefcinski at [email protected].