History of Saints Peter & Paul Parish, Gilman, WI
Ss. Peter and Paul Parish was organized in 1910 as a mission of Weyerhauser. In 1912, it became a mission of St. Stanislaus, Lublin. In 1913 when the new grade school was built in Gilman, the school served as the first Roman Catholic Church in Gilman. By 1914, the first resident pastor, Father William Konwinski, oversaw the construction of a church and rectory. In June, 1915, Ss. Peter and Paul was dedicated and the first Mass was celebrated on July 11, 1915. Between the years of 1922 and 1966 many changes and renovations took place in that little mission church. Electricity was brought in to electrify Ss. Peter and Paul in 1926 and indoor plumbing was installed in the rectory in 1937. By 1940, the parish became debt free. In 1945, Father John Dzurko succeeded Father Kolman. More interior remodeling took place. Now we had an oil furnace, bathrooms, and an office. A building fund was started as the parish continued to grow.
In the late 1960's, a catechetical program for Grades 1-12 was instituted. Large fund raising events were held to raise money for the present facility which includes room for these classes. The first Mass in the present Ss. Peter and Paul church was celebrated on Palm Sunday, March 22, 1975, with a formal dedication on June 29, 1975, the feast day of Ss.. Peter and Paul. More renovations were added in following years; a large silver cross to the front of the building in April, 1978, and black topped parking lots in May of that year. The present bell tower was erected in August, 1983. It houses the original bell, named Philip, which was blessed on December 16, 1916, for the first church.
Along with Philip, which is a fully swinging bell, the 40 foot tower houses a computer based carillon amplifier. In January of 1984, the parishioners were informed of the priest shortage and how it would affect Ss. Peter and Paul. We, the parishioners, would have to take on more responsibility in the business aspects of running the church as well as the training of our youngsters. Part of the solution to the priest shortage would be to form parish clusters. Ss. Peter and Paul, Gilman, St. Joseph, Donald, and St. Stanislaus, Lublin, would be our first cluster under the leadership of Father Nowak. Neighboring priests would help out when needed. Meanwhile, our parish was becoming more like a business with the installation of a bookkeeper to implement the required accounting practices needed for the Diocese. We entered our parish census on our new computer and reorganized our Parish Council into a Pastoral Council and a Finance Council in 1986. We continued to have the parish cluster office here at Ss. Peter and Paul. A multipurpose building was added in the summer of 1988, a pipe organ in 1993. On December 31, 1991, St. Joseph's Church in Donald was officially closed and many of the parishioners joined our cluster. Then in June, 1999, we became a cluster of four parishes. St. John, Sheldon, St. Michael, Jump River, St. Stanislaus, Lublin, and Ss. Peter and Paul, Gilman. We have been fortunate to have two Religious Sisters guide our CCD program in the past several years. Sister Marianna Ableidinger F.S.P.A. is presently directing the program.
Since 2004, Ss. Peter and Paul had been planning a large remodeling project, some of it necessitated by age and wear, and some because of new roles the church plays in our lives. The renovations were completed in January 2008. Many dedicated people, both clergy and laity, stepped forward in the past years to build our parish cluster into the family we are proud of.
In the late 1960's, a catechetical program for Grades 1-12 was instituted. Large fund raising events were held to raise money for the present facility which includes room for these classes. The first Mass in the present Ss. Peter and Paul church was celebrated on Palm Sunday, March 22, 1975, with a formal dedication on June 29, 1975, the feast day of Ss.. Peter and Paul. More renovations were added in following years; a large silver cross to the front of the building in April, 1978, and black topped parking lots in May of that year. The present bell tower was erected in August, 1983. It houses the original bell, named Philip, which was blessed on December 16, 1916, for the first church.
Along with Philip, which is a fully swinging bell, the 40 foot tower houses a computer based carillon amplifier. In January of 1984, the parishioners were informed of the priest shortage and how it would affect Ss. Peter and Paul. We, the parishioners, would have to take on more responsibility in the business aspects of running the church as well as the training of our youngsters. Part of the solution to the priest shortage would be to form parish clusters. Ss. Peter and Paul, Gilman, St. Joseph, Donald, and St. Stanislaus, Lublin, would be our first cluster under the leadership of Father Nowak. Neighboring priests would help out when needed. Meanwhile, our parish was becoming more like a business with the installation of a bookkeeper to implement the required accounting practices needed for the Diocese. We entered our parish census on our new computer and reorganized our Parish Council into a Pastoral Council and a Finance Council in 1986. We continued to have the parish cluster office here at Ss. Peter and Paul. A multipurpose building was added in the summer of 1988, a pipe organ in 1993. On December 31, 1991, St. Joseph's Church in Donald was officially closed and many of the parishioners joined our cluster. Then in June, 1999, we became a cluster of four parishes. St. John, Sheldon, St. Michael, Jump River, St. Stanislaus, Lublin, and Ss. Peter and Paul, Gilman. We have been fortunate to have two Religious Sisters guide our CCD program in the past several years. Sister Marianna Ableidinger F.S.P.A. is presently directing the program.
Since 2004, Ss. Peter and Paul had been planning a large remodeling project, some of it necessitated by age and wear, and some because of new roles the church plays in our lives. The renovations were completed in January 2008. Many dedicated people, both clergy and laity, stepped forward in the past years to build our parish cluster into the family we are proud of.
Centennial Celebration
On Oct. 17, 2010, SS. Peter and Paul Church, Gilman, Wisconsin, celebrated its centennial. Bishop Peter F. Christensen presided at Mass with Father John Long, pastor of SS. Peter and Paul. Many people came from various towns to join in the celebration and the St. Agnus choir sang the Jubilee Mass composed by Father Brian Pryzborowski, former pastor. The Fourth degree Knights of Columbus were honor guards at the Mass and the church was beautifully decorated with religious artifacts belonging to the parish. Following Mass Bishop Christensen blessed the new Memorial Garden.Continuing in the celebration, a dinner was then served. Our honored guest, Lucille Butek, the oldest parishioner, was in attendance. Both the Diocesan Chorale, directed by Kathy Turba, and the community choir, directed by Pat Schultz, presented concerts of sacred music in the afternoon.