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| St. Kilian, 1942 | 1935 fire | Interior St. Kilian, 1995 |
St. Kilian, Mars
St. Kilian was founded in 1920. The beginning of the parish can be traced to 1917. In that year a mission church was established in Mars at the request of the local Catholics. This mission was served by priests from the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. Initially masses were celebrated once a month in Robertson Hall, a former hotel.
In the spring of 1920 the congregation purchased an abandoned Free Methodist Church. The building was renovated and repaired and was dedicated on December 5, 1920. However, the parish was still served by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine until August of 1924 when the first resident pastor arrived in the parish.
On July 4, 1935, fire struck the church. Quick work by the local fire department saved the building, although it was heavily damaged. While repair work was done on the church, Masses were held at Mars High School.
Over the years the church has been renovated and enlarged. But the same building serves the Catholic community of Mars to this day.
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| St. Kilian, 1942 | 1935 fire | Interior St. Kilian, 1995 |
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