The history of Saints Peter & Paul Parish, Virgil, began in 1879.  Up to this year, catholics in the territory belonged to Saint Mary's Parish, Lodi, now Maple Park. 

There were about 15 catholic families.  Nicholas Keifer arrived with his family in 1861 and attracted others of similar background over the years.  

A committee of three  men, John Schneider, Nicholas Schramer and John Keifer, went to Chicago to see Father McMuller, Administrator of the Diocese of Chicago, before the coming of the Archbishop Freeham, about having a Church of their own.

With his consent, they bought two acres of land and built the first church of SS Peter & Paul.  Father Paul Halbmaier was the first pastor for the joint parish of Lodi and Virgil.  The parish kept growing and many families with it.  

Bishop Muldoon laying the cornerstone of the new SS Peter & Paul Church on June 6, 1909.

1879:  First church built with Father Paul Halbmaier as our first Pastor of joint parish of Lodi and Virgil.

1881:  A school was built which was used until 1913.

1883: Father Otto Groenebaum becomes second Pastor.

1884:  Father F. O. Sullivan becomes third Pastor.

1885:  Father J. A. Coughlin becomes fourth Pastor, and Father W. J. Revis fifth Pastor.

1886:  The sixth Pastor is Father James Hagan.

1890:  The seventh Pastor, Father Hugh McQuire.

1891:  The eighth Pastor, Father Anthony Rayer.

1897:  The ninth Pastor, Father M. Orth.  The tenth Pastor Father F. G. Hartman.

1900:  Rev. John Reuland was ordained in Rome.

1908:  Shortly after the diocese of Rockford was separated from Chicago, a delegation left Virgil for Rockford to see Bishop Muldoon, first Bishop of Rockford.  They convinced the Bishop to form a parish in Virgil.

1909:  Rt. Rev. Msgr. Charles S. Nix (1909-1921) is first Pastor of the new parish. Four acres of land was donated by John Sauber for the new church.  The cornerstone for the new church was laid on June 6, 1909.  A rectory was also built.  Bishop Muldoon dedicated the church on November 4 (pictured at left).

1910:  Barbara Keifer entered the convent, Sr. Mary Leutfreida, O.P.

1913:  A new school was built.

1921:  Father Edward Berthold became the second Pastor.

1924:  Bernice Keifer entered the convent, Sr. Eugenia Clare, O.P.  Father John C. Then was ordained on June 15.

The first Christmas Mass being celebrated in the present church - 1909.
Fran Berens and Fr. Neumann at Fran's retirement party - July, 1999.

Story on the history of  S.S. Peter & Paul Church 

Father Esser's  Silver Jubilee, 1949

50th Jubilee of S.S. Peter & Paul Church, 1959

Another story on S.S. Peter & Paul's  50th year, 1959

1926:  Father Stephan Wolfgarten became the third Pastor.

1928:  Father William N. Deutsch was ordained on May 26.

1929:  Father Arthur Schmid became the fourth Pastor.  He died on March 18, 1934.

1934:  Parish Silver Jubilee was celebrated. Father Schmid died suddenly and Father Ivan Esser became Pastor.

1935:  A house was purchased with 5/8 acres of land across from the church from the Reines Estate for a home for the Sisters.

1940:  The church was redecorated.  Father Clement P. Petit was ordained on May 18.

1941:  Loretta Petit entered the convent, Sr. Mary Donna, O.S.F.

1942:  February 9 a fire destroyed the sacristy and the contents, a $10,000 loss.  The church was redecorated.  Marie Petit entered the convent, Sr. Clement Marie, O.S.F.

1946:  The rectory was remodeled.

1953:  The old school was torn down.  A new school was built and opened in September.  Cost $120,000.  The cornerstone was laid in July by Rt. Rev. Msgr. Charles S. Nix, first Pastor of the new church.

1954:  The new school was dedicated by Bishop Raymond P. Hillinger on May 24.  The Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, Milwaukee, staff the school.  Father John C. Then, Father Clement P. Petit and Father Ivan A. Esser were participants of the dedication.

1956:  The convent was remodeled.  Mary Louise Schramer joined the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi.

1959:  Father Ivan Esser celebrated 25 years as Pastor of SS Peter & Paul.  March 15 was the 35th anniversary of Father Esser's ordination.  The church was redecorated.  Bishop Loras T. Lane was present for the celebration.

1964:  Kathryn Keifer joined the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi.  Two classrooms and an office were added to the school.

1967:  Father Ivan A. Esser died on April 9.  He was Pastor from 1934 to 1967.  Father Joseph Kaiser became pastor in May.

1971:  SS Peter & Paul School closed in June.

1972:  Father Kaiser left in February, and Father Vaughn became the Pastor.

1981:  Father Vaughn died on March 4.  Father Albert Rennell was appointed Pastor.

1982:  The school was turned into a Youth Center.  The heat system was overhauled and a bathroom was installed in the church.

1983:  The Renew Process Program was formed.  Judith Probst was appointed coordinator for the CCD Program.

1984:  Father Rennell celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his ordination in June with a Mass of Thanksgiving and a potluck supper for all the members of the Parish.  A Finance and Administration Committee were established.  Father Rennell was transferred to Elburn, and Father Michael Librandi was appointed administrator of the Parish.  The Parish celebrated the Diamond (75th) Jubilee on November 4 with Bishop Arthur J. O'Neill as principal celebrant.  Celebrating with the Bishop were former pastors and priests ordained from the Parish. Father Thomas Neville becomes Pastor.

Fr. Thomas Neville

1989:  Father Michael Librandi left in July, taking a medical leave of absence.

1990:  Judith Probst resigned in July as coordinator for the CCD Program.  Mary Clare Zielinski was hired as the new coordinator for the CCD Program.

1991:  Present parish enrollment includes 150 families.

1992:  Clark Reynolds was ordained Deacon on March 28.

1998:  Father Thomas Neville retires.  Father Aloysius Neumann becomes Pastor. Jim Newhouse was ordained Deacon on May 2.

1999:  Father Neumann leaves. Father Les Suberi Echevia becomes administrator. Leila Rivers was appointed Director of Religious Education.  Organist Fran Berens retires after over 30 years of service.

2001:  Father Les Suberi Echevia is ordained Pastor.  Parish enrollment is approximately 230 families.

2002:  Father Thomas Neville celebrates the Silver Jubilee of his ordination on March 19.  Co-celebrants of the mass were Fr. Les Suberi Echevia and Msgr. from St. Mary's Maple Park. Dinner followed at the Parish Center.

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