"Footprints in History: Father Joseph Florimond Bonduel" by Tom Schampers
FATHER FLORIMOND JOSEPH BONDUEL
Father Florimond Bonduel was pastor at St. John the Evangelist Church from 1838 to 1843 and again from 1858 to 1861. He was born in West Flanders, part of the 1st French Republic, in 1799. West Flanders would become Belgium in 1830. Father Bonduel was the first priest ordained in the Diocese of Detroit in 1834. He was first assigned to the mission of St. Ann’s on Mackinac Island until 1838. Prior to coming to Green Bay in the summer of 1838, Father Bonduel returned to Detroit where he discovered the famous “Perrot Ostensorium” being used at St. Anne’s in Detroit. He purchased it for $26.00. (1)
Father Bonduel brought the Ostensorium with him when he came to St. John’s in 1838. He took over St. John the Evangelist Church, located in the NW corner of the present Allouez Cemetery, and a newly platted cemetery on the ridge about 250 feet east of the church. This area was formerly called “Shantytown”. On the night of April 14, 1838 three drunken soldiers from Fort Howard broke into St. John’s and stole several items including the “Perrot Ostensorium”. The Ostensorium was recovered the next day. (6) On November 16, 1838 Father Bonduel bought the first of five parcels of land south of St. John’s Church from Vitalis Soloman. Father Bonduel’s house was located on this property. (2) He also owned and maintained a large fruit orchard on the flat ground south of the present Mirmar Ave. fronting on the Military Road. He continued to purchase land from Joseph and Paul Ducharme to establish a cemetery. (1)
In 1839 Father Bonduel added two large wings to St. John’s Church for a seminary of learning. On March 20, 1839 he wrote a letter to Sec. of War Poinsett complaining about the unfair treatment of the Indians. He also worked to prevent the Menominee from being forced to leave Wisconsin.(3) His work with the Menominee Indians would lead Pope Pius IX to bestow on him the title “Apostolic Missionary to the Menominee”. Father Bonduel became a naturalized citizen on October 12, 1841. He left St. John’s in 1843 to open the St. Francis Xavier mission and school near the Menominee reservation on Lake Poygan. (1)
In the summer of 1858 the Bishop ordered Father Bonduel to take over St. John the Evangelist Parish once again. The church was now located on Milwaukee Street because the original church burned on December 24, 1847. (4)
One of the items saved from the church fire was the “Perrot Ostensorium” which Father Bonduel brought to St. John’s in 1838. (4) Father Bonduel served as pastor of St. John’s until his death on December 13, 1861.(9) Members of the congregation carried his coffin the entire distance from St. John’s church to Allouez Cemetery. (7)
FATHER FLORIMOND JOSEPH BONDUEL
Father Florimond Bonduel was pastor at St. John the Evangelist Church from 1838 to 1843 and again from 1858 to 1861. He was born in West Flanders, part of the 1st French Republic, in 1799. West Flanders would become Belgium in 1830. Father Bonduel was the first priest ordained in the Diocese of Detroit in 1834. He was first assigned to the mission of St. Ann’s on Mackinac Island until 1838. Prior to coming to Green Bay in the summer of 1838, Father Bonduel returned to Detroit where he discovered the famous “Perrot Ostensorium” being used at St. Anne’s in Detroit. He purchased it for $26.00. (1)
Father Bonduel brought the Ostensorium with him when he came to St. John’s in 1838. He took over St. John the Evangelist Church, located in the NW corner of the present Allouez Cemetery, and a newly platted cemetery on the ridge about 250 feet east of the church. This area was formerly called “Shantytown”. On the night of April 14, 1838 three drunken soldiers from Fort Howard broke into St. John’s and stole several items including the “Perrot Ostensorium”. The Ostensorium was recovered the next day. (6) On November 16, 1838 Father Bonduel bought the first of five parcels of land south of St. John’s Church from Vitalis Soloman. Father Bonduel’s house was located on this property. (2) He also owned and maintained a large fruit orchard on the flat ground south of the present Mirmar Ave. fronting on the Military Road. He continued to purchase land from Joseph and Paul Ducharme to establish a cemetery. (1)
In 1839 Father Bonduel added two large wings to St. John’s Church for a seminary of learning. On March 20, 1839 he wrote a letter to Sec. of War Poinsett complaining about the unfair treatment of the Indians. He also worked to prevent the Menominee from being forced to leave Wisconsin.(3) His work with the Menominee Indians would lead Pope Pius IX to bestow on him the title “Apostolic Missionary to the Menominee”. Father Bonduel became a naturalized citizen on October 12, 1841. He left St. John’s in 1843 to open the St. Francis Xavier mission and school near the Menominee reservation on Lake Poygan. (1)
In the summer of 1858 the Bishop ordered Father Bonduel to take over St. John the Evangelist Parish once again. The church was now located on Milwaukee Street because the original church burned on December 24, 1847. (4)
One of the items saved from the church fire was the “Perrot Ostensorium” which Father Bonduel brought to St. John’s in 1838. (4) Father Bonduel served as pastor of St. John’s until his death on December 13, 1861.(9) Members of the congregation carried his coffin the entire distance from St. John’s church to Allouez Cemetery. (7)