Hartland Parish Celebrates 100 ... and a Little More
A sign at St. Patrick Parish in Hartland stands beside the church in a yard that will be landscaped this spring. A new sidewalk runs next to the church, leading to a side door near a new elevator for accessibility. (Observer photo by Amanda Hudson)
Parishioner Matt Weidner (right), buildings and grounds manager for St. Patrick in Hartland, talks with Bishop David Malloy and Father Thomas Doyle, parochial administrator. Weidner volunteered his time and talents as general contractor for the basement renovations. (Observer photo by Amanda Hudson)
Bishop David Malloy stands before a painting made by St. Patrick parishioner Theresa Malmgren. (Observer photo by Amanda Hudson)
Students in religious education class listen to Casey Porch, religious education coordinator, talk about the Stations of the Cross before the centennial Mass at St. Patrick Parish in Hartland, March 30. (Observer photos by Amanda Hudson)
By Amanda Hudson, News editor
April 4, 2014

HARTLAND—“The anniversary was, technically, last year,” says Father Thomas Doyle, parochial administrator at St. Patrick Parish, here.

“We were originally hoping to celebrate the anniversary last year … but we were waiting to finish the renovation of our basement before we did so. That became delayed.”

A Brief History of
St. Patrick Parish

Mass was said for the first time in McHenry County in the summer of 1837 in Hartland, then called Donnelley’s Settlement. A Chicago priest had traveled to the settlement, guided on the trails by Andrew Donnelley’s brother-in-law. Over the next few years, Mass was celebrated at intervals at various area homes, and according to the diary of Bishop William J. Quarter, Chicago’s first bishop, Donnelley’s Settlement was one of the most important missions of the diocese.
A pastor was assigned to Hartland in 1844, and a church was built in 1856. That church burned to the ground in 1913, and a new church was constructed across the road, on higher ground and visible from a distance. It was dedicated by Rockford’s first bishop, Bishop Peter J. Muldoon, on Aug. 15, 1913.
That church building was mostly gutted by a fire in 1941, but the exterior stood, Father Doyle says, noting that the building cornerstone says “1913.” In 1941, the parish had only 15 families because many had lost their farms in the Great Depression and moved to the city. In spite of those hardships, those families rallied, gave generously and rebuilt the church for $35,000. The small debt of $8,000 that remained was soon paid off. The new church was blessed by Bishop Edward F. Hoban in July 1942.
Since then, St. Patrick Church has been remodeled several times, including in 1986 as the parish celebrated its Sesquicentennial.

— Compiled by Amanda Hudson

The basement is now complete, so Father Doyle and parishioners joined Bishop David Malloy in marking the 100th anniversary of their church building during the 10:15 a.m. Mass on March 30, followed by a reception.

Saying he was “delighted with the opportunity” to make his first visit to this countryside church, Bishop Malloy called it a “particular pleasure” to come to the 185-family parish for Sunday Mass. Noting that the parish itself is over 170 years old, the bishop called it “a great reminder to us” to embrace the “long view” of history.

As Catholics, “our horizon is eternity ... with Christ,” he said, calling the congregation to think of the “100 years of acts of faith that have preceded” this gathering. “We are like links in a chain ... (to pass it on) we have to be the strongest links we can be ... How many souls have made their way to heaven” through the gifts and sacraments of St. Patrick Parish?

“How many people over 100 years have slipped into this church to be with the Lord, to ask ... to give thanks ... to give praise ... to put their heart in front of the Lord?” he asked. “We come here because He is here.”

Emphasizing their deep connection as Catholics, Bishop Malloy concluded by asking parishioners to stay together, with unity in faith and in Christ ... “standing together with the pope ... the bishop (and your) pastor, standing together with each other ... This parish is a place of grace.”

The bishop also dedicated and blessed the newly-renovated church basement. It used to take four men to arrange moveable walls to create rooms for religious education. Now, Casey Porch, coordinator of religious education, can move them herself, said business manager/parish secretary Jeanine Nowakowski who shares a new basement office with Porch. New flooring, new bathrooms and kitchen area make the bright space a welcoming place.

Before blessing the basement, Bishop Malloy called it “not just a place to gather,” but also a “place where we take the faith and live it with each other.” He told parishioners that they could take pride as they follow in the steps of the families who came before, noting that after the 1937 fire that the “small number of families at extraordinary expense” came together and rebuilt.

Current families were generous with this newest debt-free project. All the parish support “is a great sign of health and vitality,” Bishop Malloy said.

He added that he hoped there would be “loads of spaghetti dinners” and other good events to come.