St. Mary, Durand

The following is taken from The Diocese of Rockford, 1908-2008, Our History, 2007, p.166:
The first Mass was celebrated in what is now the Durand parish in 1836 in the Patrick Fenlon home at Fenlon Settlement, about three and one-half miles north of Durand. In all probability, Father Samuel C. Mazzuchelli, O.P. of Galena offered this first Mass. For the next several years Mass was offered once a year in private homes by priests from either Galena or Chicago. It is known that Father John Guiguen, who resided near what is now Lake Forest, used to travel out this way, even as far as Galena.

Until 1862, Mass was said at irregular intervals not only in homes at Fenlon Settlement, but also in the home of Matthew Doyle and also the Lennon, Fox and Ryan homes.

The cornerstone of St. Mary Church was laid in 1862 at Durand by Father Michael J. Hanley of Freeport. The church was opened for services sometime in 1863, although the deed was not transferred until 1867 to the Archdiocese of Chicago.

In 1872, Durand was attached as a mission to the parish in Pecatonica. This situation prevailed with the exception of four years, from 1885 to 1889, when Father Eugene Gray (1885-1889), was appointed pastor. He took up residence in Davis in order not to show preference for either parish.

Father Daniel A. Feeley (1909-1913) was appointed by Bishop Peter J. Muldoon as the first resident pastor on July 1, 1909 and was given St. Patrick, Irish Grove as a mission. He immediately set about building a rectory on a lot adjoining the church property. The rectory was completed in 1910 and reliable sources say it was dedicated by Bishop Muldoon in 1911. Father Daniel J. Considine (1913-1920) succeeded Father Feeley in November of 1912. He purchased the land for the present cemetery in 1917.

Father Edward A. Cerny (1925-1930) was appointed pastor in 1925. In May of 1926, the first shovel of dirt was turned to begin construction on a new church and the first Mass celebrated in the new church was Midnight Mass, December 25, 1926.

Due to the illness of Bishop Muldoon, the solemn dedication of the new church was postponed until October 28, 1928, when Bishop Edward F. Hoban, second Bishop of Rockford, came to St. Mary’s for the dedication.
 
Father Joseph A. Driscoll (1933-1960) was appointed pastor on December 8, 1933 and served for twenty-seven years.

During Father John J. Kilduff’s pastorate (1960-1965) the church was renovated in keeping with the liturgical changes of the Second Vatican Council.

Father Paul E. Fry (1965-1966) came in 1965 and began a program of remodeling the rectory and church that would continue for several years.

Father Alphonsus F. Harte was the administrator of the parish for one month until Father Aloysius J. Neumann (1972-1984) was appointed on September 20, 1972.

Father Karl P. Ganss (1984-1995), Pastor, dedicated a statue of the Holy Family on July 18, 1993. The statue was donated as a special memorial to Keron and Anne Walsh by their surviving 12 children.

Monsignor Eric R. Barr (2000-2014), oversaw the renovation of the 80-year-old church. Parishioners volunteered many hours helping with the renovations. On August 29, 2004, Bishop Thomas G. Doran rededicated St. Mary Church and consecrated its new altar.

Rev. Matthew M. Bergschneider is currently the pastor.

  
The original St. Mary Church, Durand

In loving memory of our parents Keron and Anne Walsh and our brothers David and Edward Walsh.
July 18, 1993
This statue was carved from a single oak tree taken from the farm of our parents Keron and Anne Walsh. Keron, a life-long member of this parish and Anne, formally of Beloit, Wisconsin, raised 14 children on a farm nearly four miles North East of Durand. Our brothers, Dave and Ed, succumbed to polio in 1956 and 1957. During the polio siege, St Mary/St. Patrick parish was remarkable with the outpouring of prayers, love and support for our family. Five members of our family remain in this parish-Bill, Bernie and Tom Walsh, Lorraine Vormezeele and Sue Cocoma.

The oak tree, from which this statue was carved, though felled by nature was trimmed to a respected size, nearly a ton, and moved to the studio of Mr. John Sharp in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. A contingent of Walsh boys and in-laws assisted in this difficult task. The large trunk of the tree was placed upright in Mr. Sharp's studio for nearly a year to complete the drying process.

Mr. Sharp was contacted to this work by our brother Tom through a friend who knew of Mr. Sharp's work. when asked if he would be willing to do this project, John was hesitant. He was a Mormon and had carved only Native Americans and horse projects. He was very familiar with western art subjects but knew little of the Catholic religion, let alone the Holy Family. After consideration, he agreed to do the project and considered it a great challenge.

Members of our family would travel to Mineral Point during the next year as the Holy Family was slowly emerging from the tree trunk. As we visited, John would have us pose putting an arm here, turning our heads there or just standing in a group. We smile and think of St. Joseph as our brother Bernie, the Blessed Mother as our sister Joan and Jesus as our niece Sarah Walsh. It took John over a year to complete the statue as you see it.

As the carving drew to a close, a dedication Mass and service were being planned by our pastor, Fr. Karl Gnass and our first cousin Fr. Jerry Walsh O.P. John Sharp was in charge of transporting the precious cargo to St. Mary church. The Walsh family was responsible for getting the lighter statue, now only 450 lbs, into the church. When tipped on its side you can see the base has been hollowed out and three large casters have been attached to the bottom making the statue movable.

On July 18, 1993, the remaining 12 members of our family and 36 of a possible 41 grandchildren witnessed the blessing and welcoming to our parish -the tribute to our parents and brothers. May this statue of the Holy Family inspire all of us to live a more faith-filled family life as we go forth to serve God and each other.