St. Mary School History

A Catholic school was started at Our Lady, Help of Christians, Parish even before there was a resident pastor.  Fr. Krier, who traveled from Loose Creek, promoted a small school in the new rectory in the 1880’s. The school remained in the rectory until the time of Fr. Bachmeier. Our Lady, Help of Christians, Church has been built on four different sites over time. The current church is the fourth structure. Once the third church structure was built and dedicated in 1892, the school was also moved to that site.

In 1896, three Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi from Milwaukee arrived to take over the school. They opened the school with 79 students. The sisters remained at the school until 1901 when they returned to Milwaukee. They left because of the great distance and the income was not enough to pay for travel expenses.

The school was discontinued for two years. It reopened in 1903 with lay teachers. In 1907, the School Sisters of St. Francis, also from Milwaukee, were secured to take over the school. These sisters taught at the school for 57 years. The Sisters lived at the school until 1927 when the parish built a new rectory and the sisters moved into the old rectory.

For a short time, the school became a district school and was supported by the state. The Sisters, however, remained in charge. In 1952, the school became a parochial school again.

The school had a high school program beginning in 1937. At first, there was only a two-year program but later a full high school course was offered. In 1950, the high school program ended. The high school was consolidated with the Osage County R-III Fatima, district.

The old school had served the parish since 1892 and was in need of major repairs. The decision was made to build a new building. On April 29, 1963, school was dismissed for the summer. The parishioners immediately began to raze the old structure. From May 7 to August 31 the new building was built. On August 28, 1963, the first day of class was held in the new school building.

The School Sisters of St. Francis left in 1980. At that point lay teachers once again staffed the school.

Presently, there are four full-time teachers and a part-time principal.  Also as part of the staff, there is an art teacher, two cooks and numerous volunteers.   The student enrollment is currently at 16 students.  The school continues to be a vital part of the community. St. Mary School has a family-like atmosphere and support for each member of the school and parish community.  Fr. Dan Merz, a previous pastor of Our Lady, Help of Christians, described St. Mary School as “professional home-schooling”.  Students receive a lot of individual attention, but also have the opportunity to socialize in a school atmosphere.  Although St. Mary School is small, it still has all the technology and educational opportunities of the surrounding Catholic and public schools.

With the continued support of the parish and alumni, there can be a long and prosperous future for St. Mary School. The students of St. Mary School provide valuable service to the community and will become future adult members of the parish.