By Mary Grieco
Catholic Herald correspondent

City marks 100 years of Catholic education

RHINELANDER -- Catholic education has a long history in Rhinelander -- 100 years to be exact. Throughout this school year, Rhinelander Catholic Central (RCC) is observing its centennial, and alumni have been coming forward to share memories and memorabilia.

Now a cooperative effort of St. Mary (Immaculate Conception) and St. Joseph parishes, the school began at St. Mary's, and the original school stood on the site of the current rectory. All eight grades were taught by the Franciscan Sisters from Manitowoc, the order that continues to serve the school.

"Our family values -- honesty, integrity, love of God and respect for others -- were cherished and reinforced by the nuns," recalls Jeanne (O'Malley) Hertzog, who with her six brothers and sisters attended St. Mary's from 1928 to 1946. "The Great Depression and then World War II were very much a part of our lives as our family, and St. Mary's, struggled through those difficult times to survive and endure."

In the very early years, tuition was 25 cents per month, and enrollment continued to grow. By the 1930s there were more than 400 students, creating a need for two classes of each grade. Mass was part of the daily schedule and was said on the stage of the auditorium, because it was too expensive to heat the church.

Teachers at first faced a language challenge. Many of the students were from Polish families and did not speak English, but their faith was strong, and the children persevered and succeeded.

Report card day was always a big event. Each student was called up to the front of class by the priest, who would present the good-or bad-news. A seventh grade report card saved from 1911 shows grades for the three "R's" and other common subjects, as well as for deportment, neatness, times at Mass, Bible history and Christian doctrine. There were also grades for domestic science (no doubt a home economics forerunner) and physiology.

By the late '40s, it became evident that a new school and convent were needed. The new school, with a convent attached, was dedicated in 1953. Three years later, St. Joseph Parish built a church and school, and additional classes opened there with a total enrollment of 200 in all eight grades taught by the Holy Cross Sisters of Merrill.

What is now RCC resulted from a consolidation of the two schools in 1969. By sharing resources, the school could provide a stronger curriculum and other opportunities for students. Today, the North Building (St. Joseph's) houses preschool through second grade, while the South Building (St. Mary's) has third through eighth grades.

When alumni get together, there are always plenty stories to share. Joe Kopp, who graduated in 1942, explained that he was a shy farm boy when he came to St. Mary's in the middle of third grade. The adjustment was hard, but things improved when he got to fourth grade.

"I volunteered to supply a Christmas tree for the classroom," he said. "My brother was in sixth grade, and since there were no school buses, he had a permit to drive to school.

"We rolled down the back windows of our big '29 Chrysler and put the tree inside so we wouldn't break it. But we ended up breaking one of the rear windows, and I caught holy heck at home...but the Sister was so appreciative, and I felt 10 feet tall."

He also remembers taking piano lessons from Sr. Eunice, and one day he got the shock of his young life. "I saw a wisp of black hair sticking out from her habit. I couldn't believe it; I always thought the nuns were bald!"

A common practice which taught Christian charity is often recalled by alumni. "We all remember as children bringing in our pennies to adopt a pagan baby in some far off country, which we then named, usually after one of the nuns," said Hertzog, who still gets together every year with Catholic school alumni. "So there are now a lot of grown-up babies out there named Fabiola, Claude, Perpetua and Anastasia."

Other fond memories of alumni include trading holy cards, being "picked" to pound the erasers, and smelling the fresh varnish on the first day of school.

Four Sisters still work with the students at Rhinelander Catholic Central, but most classes have lay teachers. "That has been a big change for Catholic education," said Marie Barfnecht. She graduated from St. Mary's; she and her husband, Don, sent all seven of their children to the school; and now six of her grandchildren attend RCC.

"I can't imagine our family's spiritual life without having that grounding in a Catholic school," Barfnecht commented. "It was certainly a bedrock for me, and I remember having such a strong sense of a common bond -- a sense of belonging. I think that is still true for my grandchildren."

The future of Catholic education in Rhinelander looks bright, according to Tim Gengler, president of the RCC Committee of Education. "We have a major commitment from both parishes and from parents to make our school continue to be successful," he said.

"Our biggest challenge is the future financial viability of the school," Gengler noted. "We have stepped up our fundraising efforts and are trying to reduce the burden for each of the parishes who subsidize our school. We would like to make Catholic education affordable to all in the community."

Several fund-raisers are held throughout the year, and a substantial annual contribution comes from the RCC Endowment Fund.

"We are proud of the academic education that our children receive," Gengler added. "Last year the top three Rhinelander High School graduates were RCC students. That is quite a tribute to our program and to the quality of our teachers. We are proud of the children and the teachers, and we are proud that we are able to contribute to the community."

Although the current enrollment of 240 in K-8 (plus nearly 50 in preschool) is lower than in earlier years, Gengler is confident that the 100-year tradition of quality Catholic education in Rhinelander will continue and expand in the 21st century.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2001