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St. Bernard's is the oldest religious congregation in Watertown, Wisconsin. The history of the Catholic Church even outdates the City itself and the arrival of the first white settler, Timothy Johnson.
When Johnson came in 1836 to the site of what's now Watertown, he found a wooden cross on the ground. The cross was painted black, signifying that missions among the Indians had been held at this point by early French Missionaries. In 1849, there is a record of the Rev. Father Morrissey of the Diocese of Detroit making a missionary tour of Wisconsin visiting the little settlement here. Later, Fr. Kundig of Detroit came to Milwaukee and took charge of the Watertown Mission.
Near the close of 1841, steps were taken to raise funds to erect a little house of worship and the present site of St. Bernard's Church was selected.
With the completion of the little white frame church, the parish enjoyed a flourishing growth and soon had to be enlarged. It is the enlarged church which was built in 1873-74 that is still in use today.
The first school was built in 1857. Another in 1892 and the latest addition in 1961. Until the mid 1980's, the school was staffed by the sisters of saint Agnes, whose mother house is in fond du lac, Wisconsin.
The spiritual life of the parish was under the direction of the Holy Cross Fathers from 1872-1985. In 1985 the Diocese of Madison took over the administration of St. Bernard's. Change has been a vital part of St. Bernard's. In 1989 the Parish Pastoral Council drew up a Parish Vision Statement which is the charter for all commissions and activities in the Parish.
The Parish Vision Statement is a challenge as St. Bernard's continues to grow and change. Today several hundred families make up the parish community. The school serves over one hundred children of the parish.
Our Extended Day Care program provides a safe and rich place for children before and after school. And the Evangelization & Catechesis program teaches our faith to those children that do not attend the school.
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