From Father Dan Lange
Platteville
To the editor:
Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli influenced Wisconsin. He worked with its Indians for five years. In 1833 he published a "Winnebago Prayer Book" and in 1834 a "Liturgical Almanac in Chippewa."
He built and designed 20 churches, organized 30 parishes and built civic buildings and schools. In 1836 he was chaplain of Wisconsin's first Territorial Legislature in Belmont.
He admired America but wasn't afraid to criticize its shortcomings. He protested injustices against Indians and settlers, opposed slavery and condemned the Civil War's bloodshed.
In 1950 cholera struck New Diggings, Wisconsin. He buried the dead, comforted survivors and cared for orphans. When fire destroyed Benton's Primitive Methodist church, he sent money to help rebuild.
To settlers of many creeds, he was civic leader and friend. Irish miners affectionately called him "Matthew Kelly."
In 1847 he founded the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters who established schools and prepared teachers to teach settler's children. They influenced thousands of young people.
Contemporaries thought he was a saint. The Sisters have led his cause for canonization.
The sesquicentennial commemoration of Father Mazzuchelli's death will be celebrated from Feb. 23 to Nov. 4, his birthday. For more information, email Sister Betty at bkugi@sinsinawa.org or call Sinsinawa Dominican Archives, 608-748-4411.
Platteville
To the editor:
Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli influenced Wisconsin. He worked with its Indians for five years. In 1833 he published a "Winnebago Prayer Book" and in 1834 a "Liturgical Almanac in Chippewa."
He built and designed 20 churches, organized 30 parishes and built civic buildings and schools. In 1836 he was chaplain of Wisconsin's first Territorial Legislature in Belmont.
He admired America but wasn't afraid to criticize its shortcomings. He protested injustices against Indians and settlers, opposed slavery and condemned the Civil War's bloodshed.
In 1950 cholera struck New Diggings, Wisconsin. He buried the dead, comforted survivors and cared for orphans. When fire destroyed Benton's Primitive Methodist church, he sent money to help rebuild.
To settlers of many creeds, he was civic leader and friend. Irish miners affectionately called him "Matthew Kelly."
In 1847 he founded the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters who established schools and prepared teachers to teach settler's children. They influenced thousands of young people.
Contemporaries thought he was a saint. The Sisters have led his cause for canonization.
The sesquicentennial commemoration of Father Mazzuchelli's death will be celebrated from Feb. 23 to Nov. 4, his birthday. For more information, email Sister Betty at bkugi@sinsinawa.org or call Sinsinawa Dominican Archives, 608-748-4411.
