St. Peter Cathedral
Belleville, Illinois
by Sister Carol Marie Wildt, SSND

October 5, 2009, marks the 150th anniversary of the School Sisters of Notre Dame ministering at St. Peter Cathedral parish in Belleville, Ill.

Twelve years after their arrival in the United States, the School Sisters of Notre Dame came to Belleville, Ill., in response to the request of Rev. Peter J. Baltes, pastor at St. Peter’s. Two years earlier, Rev. Baltes began a collection for the construction of a convent for sisters. He petitioned the School Sisters of Notre Dame to come and educate the girls of elementary and high school age. As the only Catholic parish in the city, St. Peter consisted of German, French, Irish, Bohemian and American parishioners.

On October 5, 1859, Mother Caroline Friess with nine sisters and two candidates arrived to staff the new boarding school, Immaculate Conception Academy, and to teach the elementary school girls and the boys from grades one through four at St. Peter School. A male teacher taught the older boys [Chronicle, Milwaukee motherhouse]. In 1905, the Brothers of Mary took over the responsibility of teaching the older boys. By 1930, the sisters taught all the students in all the grades.

In 1862, Mother Caroline wrote, “Belleville, beautifully located about 15 miles inland from the Mississippi River, justifies its name. The inhabitants made many sacrifices to erect a building combining a school and an institute for youth.” [Letter #28] She continued, however, to describe how there was not sufficient funds to pay for the building and it was offered to the sisters if they agreed to accept responsibility for the debt of almost $1,500. Mother Caroline prayed and stated that she did not decide quickly. “Finally, love and confidence triumphed over reason…For this purpose the sisters are saving in every possible way and depriving themselves of many things. May God bless their sacrifices.” [Letter #28]

In 1863, the deed to the building was transferred to the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

Due to increased enrollment, two large wings were added to the main building/convent by 1866. A kindergarten was opened in 1877. [S. Pacifica Funke taught in the kindergarten from 1913-1971]. In April 1881, a school for English-speaking children was opened and soon transferred to St. Luke, a mission parish of St. Peter. On January 5, 1884, a fire raged through the Academy building, resulting in the deaths of four sisters and 22 boarders and destroying the building. The parishioners and citizens of Belleville rallied around the sisters and rebuilding began at the same site. By December 1885, a new building/convent was dedicated. In 1922, the parish purchased the building and the Academy moved to a new site on West Main Street for the academic year beginning in 1925. St. Peter Cathedral Grade School moved into the old building. The present school building was dedicated in 1958. During these past 150 years, the sisters lived in several different parish residences including above the Chancery.

In addition to teaching, the sisters also served in parish ministry and as directors of religious education in the parish. For 149 of the past 150 years, SSNDs have served as principals of the grade school. Since 1859, there have been more than 270 SSNDs ministering in the parish and more than 50 parishioners have entered the congregation.

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