Father Michael Tarigopula Father Chris Gernetzke 2018-2023 2023-Present
HISTORY OF SAINT PHILOMENA PARISH BELMONT, WISCONSIN
The community of Belmont was given its name by the French fur traders who passed through this area. They called the Belmont Mound “Belle Monte” or the “Beautiful Mount”. The first brushings with the Catholic faith occurred here when the Dominican missionary Father Samuel Mazzuchelli was requested in 1836 to act as chaplain for the opening session of the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature at the site which is today First Capitol Park. Father Samuel in his ‘Memoirs’ writes “(I) had a small share in the diplomatic gatherings having been elected to make a speech to the house before the reading of the governor’s message.” Father Samuel opened the daily sessions with prayer but his more important obligations as a priest did not permit him to perform this office longer than a week.
Tom Welch was the first to settle in Belmont in 1827. However, one hundred and thirty years would pass before a Catholic Church was established in Belmont. Area newspapers record that over four attempts were made to start a parish notably in 1894 and in 1919, but for one reason or another, the hopes and dreams of a Catholic Church never became a reality.
In 1957 the dreams of Belmont Catholics became a reality when Bishop William P. O’Connor established a new parish in Belmont. The new parish would be a mission of Immaculate Conception, Truman, who had celebrated its one-hundredth anniversary in 1956. The parish boundaries would take in Catholics from Truman, Mineral Point, Platteville, and Elk Grove. Members of the building committee, who worked faithfully with Father Stack, pastor of the parishes of Truman and Calamine, were Vincent Martin, Phil Hottenstein, Leo McGowan and Elmer Fitzsimons. Land was purchased from William Eustice for the new church. About 252 members from about 65 households made up the new congregation. The new parish was placed under the patronage of Saint Philomena. One parishioner noted how excited her father was when he told her: “Belmont now has a Catholic Church, the Sacraments and a priest of its own.”
One of the first problems to face the newly organized congregation was where they would worship. Providence would have it that the operator of a grocery store on Main Street moved his business to Platteville. This left a vacant building that would give the parish its first home.
Women painted the interior and made altar linens, while the men made the communion rail and the kneeling benches. Neighboring parishes donated statues and altar cards. Finally, on May 5, 1957, after four attempts over a period of 130 years, the first mass was celebrated by Father William Stack. Over the grocery store was a sign that advertised its motto, “Best Quality Always”, Father Stack smilingly told his parishioners that this motto still applied.
Significant dates to remember in Saint Philomena’s history:
January 15, 1957: Founding of the parish
May 5, 1957: First Mass in vacant store
September 22, 1957: Ground breaking ceremony
June 4, 1958: Dedication of the new church
The ground breaking ceremony was conducted by Right Reverend Monsignor Jerome Hastrich on September 22, 1957. Monsignor turned the first shovel of dirt for the new parish with about 85 people attending the ceremony. The invitations and other publications indicate the dedication was on June 3, 1958. However, Bishop O’Connor attended the burial of Cardinal Stritch on the scheduled date and so the actual dedication took place on June 4, 1958, with about fifty priests and 300 lay people attending the Solemn Mass.
The following have served as Pastors of Saint Philomena Parish: + Father William E. Stack (founding pastor) 1957-1961 + Father Lawrence Clark 1961-1964 + Father Archie Adams 1964-1968 + Father Joseph Schlaefer 1968-1971 + Father James T. Higgins 1971-1975 + Father Thomas Schroeder 1975-1986 + Father Thomas Gillespie 1986-1995 + Father Charles Schluter June–October, 1995 Administrator + Father Monte E. Robinson 1995- 2016 + Father James R. Leeser 2015 - 2018 + Father Michael Tarigopula 2018 - 2023 + Father Chris Gernetzke 2023 - Present
In 1969, Father Joseph Schlaefer moved from Truman to Belmont to live in a trailer house. Saint Philomena then became the Mother Church with Truman and Calamine as missions. The rectory was built by Nodolf Brothers in 1978.
In September of 1959 a cemetery association was formed. Leo Staver, Jack Hoppenjan, Paul Snyder and Gilbert Ludlum were elected as officers. On August 25, 1959, land was purchased for the cemetery from Mr. and Mrs. Clay Mates at a cost of $1000.00. The name ‘Resurrection’ was given to the cemetery. On Memorial Day, 2002, a new black top road was dedicated. The funds for this project came from the making and selling of canned beef, a garage sale, a quilt raffle and many monetary donations. In 2006, a new crucifix in memory of Mrs. Doris Udell was placed in the cemetery by the Udell family. Also in 2006, new pillars and an archway were added to the cemetery. The archway and pillars were donated by the Willus Rehmstedt family in Willus’ memory. They were both dedicated at a field mass held in the cemetery on Memorial Day.
For the sake of history, it is good to write down the accomplishments of the parish. Some of the more recent accomplishments of the parish are
A new window in the narthex of the church in memory of Don Keyes (1996)
Father Robinson organized the Saint Raphael Council of the Knights of Columbus (1996)
Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary donated in memory of Barbara Clayton Wunderlin and the grotto built by the Knights of Columbus
North-west corner of the rectory was enclosed
Altar-piece of the Last Supper was added by Loretta Voigts
New boiler (2000)
Air-conditioning was added (2001)
A Johannus organ (2002)
Stained glass windows (2003-2005)
Saint Philomena became handicapped accessible with a new front entry way and lift (2004)
The 2005 statistical report to the Diocese of Madison recorded that there are presently 393 registered members from 164 families. Of the 393 parishioners, seventy-one parishioners are over the age of sixty-five and ninety-nine are the children and youth of the parish who are taking religious instructions. Saint Philomena Parish has more than doubled in size since it was established in 1957. It is an asset to the community and a blessing to the community of faith.
Presently, Saint Philomena is working with all of the parishes of the Diocese preparing for a future when there will be fewer parish priests. One-hundred thirty years without a church or pastor has instilled in Saint Philomena parishioners an enduring spirit of commitment and dedication to the parish. The shingle above the store front which read ‘Best Quality Always’ is still the motto of Saint Philomena Parish. This directory is part of the preparation the parish is making as we eagerly look forward to the arrival of our bishop to celebrate with us our Golden Anniversary as a parish.