Epiphany was founded in October of 2006 as a result of the merger of St. Francis Cabrini in Collins Center, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in New Oregon and St. Martin of Tours in Langford. Our three parish families came together and formed Epiphany of Our Lord. It wasn't easy, but we all realize we are better, stronger, and more vibrant because of it! Mary of the Immaculate Conception Pari
sh celebrated it’s first Mass on January 1st 1858 in a small frame building with dirt floors, 4 windows and a table for an altar. Heimbucsher was their first pastor, serving 82 families, many of whom were the first settlers in New Oregon, coming from Luxembourg, and the surrounding provinces of France. In 1866, through the efforts of Rev. Kofler, a Methodist Church was purchased, and was their worship site for two years. An addition was built in 1868 under Rev. Foegle, and constituted the parish worship space for the many years to come. Parishioners often referred to it as their “Country Cathedral”. Soon after that Fr. Foegle established a temporary school with one lay teacher teaching eight grades. This small school was used until 1884 when through the guidance of Fr. Schlee, a new school was constructed with two floors. Along with the new school, the parish welcomed two Sisters of St. Joseph to teach the eight grades. They lived above the classrooms until the rectory was transformed into a convent and a new rectory was built at the cost of $2,800. The nuns made their homes in the transformed rectory until a fire destroyed the entire building in 1944 during the pastorate of Rev. Stegmeier. He replaced the convent with a fire proof brick structure of one floor with basement. Although during the years of 1880 - 1909, St. Mary’s in New Oregon was a mission of St. Martin’s in Langford, Fr. Schlee, pastor, kept on the steady road of progress. By 1909 Rev. Linsmeier become the pastor and once again, the church was an independent parish. In the late 1940's, their church picnics started flourishing. The men would bring their stoves and tables from their own homes and set them up in a meadow across the street. Those stoves made chickens, biscuits, gravies, potatoes, vegetables and pies. Many hands were busy making sure everyone got a heaping helping of piping hot food. By June of 1952, enrollment for Catholic Education had dropped, so the decision was made to close the school. In 1985, St. Mary’s became linked once again, with St. Martin’s in Langford under a single pastor Rev. Joseph Paa. There were nearly 110 families in the parish. In 1991, Fr. Damian became pastor of all three of our neighboring parishes (St. Mary’s, St. Martin’s, St. Frances Cabrini). From the parish 2 men became priests, Fr. Charles Schaus and Fr. John Schaus. 6 women of the parish went on to become nuns of the Third Order of St. Francis and 3 women entered the Little Sisters of the Poor. Bertha Wagner (Little Sisters of the Poor) was held prisoner by the Japanese for 3 years during WWII and escaped to India. Alma Belscher entered the Maryknoll Order and Kathryn Gates took her vows in the Medical Missionaries of Philadelphia. The church is very proud of these men and women who dedicated their lives to God. The early history of St. Martin’s is closely linked with East Eden which was formed in 1835 when Catholics in Eden, Collins (present day Langford), and Hamburg, purchased land in East Eden for a Church and Cemetery. A separate parish in Langford was organized in 1847 for about 35 families, all German emigrants from Luxembourg. Mass was said once a month by Rev. Rudolf Follenius(1844-1849), the second pastor of East Eden. The first Baptism on record was June 1st 1851. In 1849 Rev. John Arendt, third pastor of East Eden purchased a site for a cemetery in Langford. When Fr. Francis Krautbauer was appointed assistant to Fr. Arendt, Fr. Krautbauer took charge and saw a need to meet the growing educational and social needs of the German Catholic Community of Langford. He erected a small frame church in 1855. Martin’s remained a mission with 20 priests serving there over a 28year period. In 1879 Rev. Francis Schlee became the resident pastor of St. Martin’s and St. Mary’s and he resided in Langford. He remained pastor of both parishes until his death 39 years later. In 1902, Fr. Schlee purchased an old brewery for $800 and built St. Martin’s, a much adored Gothic structure of brick in the midst of spacious lawn and trees. The church and furnishings cost $22,000. Schlee himself donated $1200 which paid for the foundation. The original church was used as the parish hall until a new hall was built in 1965. The original church was then demolished. The first school was built around 1855. It became known as the German School and it housed not only a classroom, but the residence of the school master. Shortly after the arrival of Fr. Schlee, the Sisters of St. Joseph came to teach at the school. A new school was built in 1882 and had two classrooms and a residence for the sisters’. The old school was used as a barn for the pastor’s horse and buggy and currently serves as the pastor’s garage. During the year of 1925 the church, school and rectory were wired for electricity allowing life to start happening indoors. Events such as weekly card parties, lunches, dances and more continued to flourish. Even before that, in the early 1900's, Sunday night dinners were held in the Theil Orchard located behind the present day green apartment building at Routes 75 and 249. Men would test their skill on a handmade bowling alley and the ladies would dress in their “Sunday best” and a great time was had by all... into the wee hours of the morning. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of St. Martin’s Church in 1951, a play “A Hundred Year’s Harvest”, written by Sister Mary Raphael, was presented by the students at the school. More room was needed for the schoolchildren so plans for a new convent were prepared and then built one year later in 1952. A third school-hall was built in 1966 to meet the needs of the growing parish which included 4 classrooms, principal’s office and nurse’s room. The Sisters of St. Joseph remained there until June of 1970. Their withdrawal forced the closing of the school. Once the sisters had left, the convent, built in 1952, became the rectory, the third rectory in parish history. Smaller changes were made throughout the years including a handicapped ramp and side entrance, but some things remained the same; the dedication of its members. Throughout all of St. Martin’s history growing in faith and expanding our resources was always a constant. We are thankful for all those who maintained such a grand worship space and grounds that we now all call our home. Frances Cabrini Parish was organized at a meeting held in the Collins Center Grange Hall on March 15th, 1955, presided over by Msgr. John Neylon, director of the Missionary Apostolate. Drawing from several surrounding parishes, the new parish was made up of about 150 families, living in a 45 square mile area. Ground was broke on May 1st 1955. It was in September 1955 that St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was designated as the patron. Everyone was deeply touched and honored to have Mother Cabrini, the first American citizen to become a saint, as their patron. Soon after that, December 18th, 1955, St. Frances Cabrini Church saw its first Mass celebrated by Msgr. John Neylon. Within a year, organizations were formed to help with fund-raising and upkeep such as Altar and Rosary Society(1955), Holy Name Society(1956) and Catholic Youth Organization(1955), to name a few. Some other groups formed through the years including a Bible Study Group(1973), Marriage Encounter(1973) and Cursillo(1972). The dedicated church community continued to raise funds for improvements and their efforts resulted in a finished basement to serve as the church hall. They also added such things as glass doors at the rear of the church, landscaping, enlarged the rectory and enclosed the front steps with a covered entry. On July 7th, 1963 Rev. Donald Trautman ceremoniously burned the mortgage and after only eight years, St. Frances Cabrini Church of Collins Center was debt-free. The church remained a Missionary Apostolate until 1966, when it become an independent parish with a resident pastor, Rev. Roy Crissy.
20 years down the road (1975), a Mass of Thanksgiving was held with a luncheon reception for parishioners and pastors. By that time the parish had added some 50 new families within the parish boundaries. In 1995 a pavilion was constructed for the very well attended Chattauqua Nights, now known as the Outdoor Music Series. And through generous contributors an elevator to better serve the handicapped parishioners was installed in 2005. Throughout the years, St. Frances Cabrini continued to be an active and charitable community. Parishioners held Roast Beef Dinners, an annual Chicken BBQ, quilt raffles, youth fund-raising. In 2005, St. Frances Cabrini Parish celebrated it’s 50th anniversary. Several activities were planned throughout the year including a Pastor Recognition Day (10/16/05) with a family potluck lunch held in the parish hall following the 11am Mass. Bishop Kmiec joined Fr. Peter Karalus (the then pastor) and former pastors in celebrating an Anniversary Mass on November 6th, 2005. There were many things to celebrate, especially that there had been people here for 50 years who had the courage to see their faith through. It never goes the way you expect it, but with faith in God’s promise, we endure.
