As the Nebraska population grew, so too did the need for priests and facilities to handle the growing Catholic community. In February, 1877 Father Ambrose Janssen, O.F.M (Order of Franciscan Friars), arrived in Columbus to select a site for a new Church. As money was scarce, Father Ambrose gladly accepted the donation of two blocks and the offer of two more by Mr. and Mrs. F. Gottschalk. There was a condition attached to the gift, however; unless buildings valued at a certain sum be erected by a certain date, the site including buildings reverted to the donor. The Franciscans prevailed however, and a church and monastery were built on time and with an even greater value than stipulated.
Later the monastery was built on Eighteenth Avenue between Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets. It was a brick structure, two stores high with a basement, eleven sleeping rooms, a library, kitchen and dining room. The bricks for the monastery were burned on the Franciscan grounds west of the monastery and the lime was slacked in the enclosed eastern garden. Clay was hauled by farmers from the bluffs near Shell Creek.
The first baptism in the new church was administered April 22, 1877 by Reverend P. Sebastian, O.F.M. He baptized Elizabeth Schulz, daughter of John and Catherine (Baja) Schulz., born on November 30, 1876. The sponsors were George Henggeler and Elizabeth Schulz. On the same day Father Sebastian also baptized Maria Steiner, daughter of Ignatz and Maria (Faustera) Steiner, born September 15, 1876. Her sponsors were Nick Adamy and Maria Wagner.
Entrance to the temporary St. Bonaventure’s Church seems to have been from the north side; the steeple was on the south side. When the brick monastery was ready to receive the Friars the winter of 1877-1878, the church was remodeled. On November 17, 1878 the Bishop dedicated the friary, school and church. At that same time, the Angelus Bells started ringing at St. Bonaventure’s Church regularly at 6 AM, 12 noon and 6 PM.
The first class of First Communicants on May 1, 1880 included Martin Karges, Joseph Berney, Joseph Schmidt, Mary English, Sarah Goodwin, Anna Held and Mary Regan.
The cornerstone for the new brick St. Bonaventure’s Church was laid by the Right Reverend J. O’Connor on July 8, 1883. The church, forty-two feet by fifty feet, was built north of the monastery. The old frame church was sold to Mr. Edward Schober who moved it to the lot south of the corner of Fifteenth Street and Nineteenth Avenue and remodeled it into a two-story residence.
Forty-two feet were added to the church in April, 1891. As planned, the winter chapel was added was erected in 1894. Reverend Cyril Mitera, O.F.M, the first priest from Platte County and St. Bonaventure’s Parish was ordained July 1, 1899 and celebrated his First Solemn High Mass on July 4, 1899 in the new winter chapel.
In 1907 more improvements were made in the facilities. A new boiler for steam heating, a vapor system was installed, and new sidewalks were laid. As the seating capacity of the church was only 394 and the parish was growing, the time was considered ripe for the completion of the church in accordance with the original plans. Another twenty-eight feet and a tower were added, which made the whole brick structure measure fifty by one hundred and fifty feet. The addition, finished in 1909, had a total seating capacity of four hundred and ninety.
Three new bells were installed in the church tower, one weighing 3,000 pounds, a second 1,700 pounds and the smallest 1,000 pounds.
On October 4, 1913, the Polish Catholics who wanted to preserve their ethnic identity were permitted to withdraw and form a parish of their own. Father Protase Kuberek, O.F.M. organized the parish of St. Anthony.
The first church organ was purchased from the Wick Organ Company in Highland, Illinois in 1915. In October, 1920 about 200 loads of dirt were hauled to the front premises of the monastery and church and covered with five carloads of gravel, to make a parking place for the automobiles of the parishioners.
The parish also bought the Presbyterian Church on 14th Street and 28th Avenue for the convenience of the parishioners living in the north and west outlying districts. The building was remodeled and November 27, 1920 dedicated to St. Joseph.
Soon after, the old winter chapel adjoining St. Bonaventure on the north, was converted into a parish hall for society meetings.
The first crib for Christmas liturgy was purchased in 1921. In September, 1926, the pastor signed a contract for 18 new stained glass windows to be imported from Munich and installed in the church. On November 27, 1949, the first issue of the parish bulletin was printed (1,100 copies).
On May 7, 1950, a grand opening was held for the newly remodeled parish hall and youth center. On Monday, June 26, 1950 at 7:30 PM, the first spade of dirt was turned for the elementary school, social hall and convent. Construction of the new buildings was completed in 1952. On April 18, 1952 the Sisters moved into their new Convent and Holy Mass was offered for the first time in the Convent Chapel on April 21, 1952.
On February 15, 1954, ground was cleared for the new rectory, a nineteen room brick structure with nine bedrooms, recreation room and library, dining room, kitchen, utility room, lobby, three consultation rooms, and two offices. Open house was held on December 26, 1954 and formal dedication was held July 14, 1955.
February 14, 1961 marked the first night the church doors remained unlocked and Perpetual Adoration, seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, was scheduled.
The fourteen original Franciscan Stations of the Cross were substituted for the seven Stations of our Sorrowful Mother on May 17, 1963.
Because of the continued growth of Columbus to the west and north, St. Isidore Parish was established to serve the Catholics to the west of Thirty-third Avenue and from Ninth Street to the north. The new church began services on June 13, 1963 with Father Francis Price as pastor.
Extensive changes in the liturgy were initiated in 1964. On November 8, the first laymen read the Epistle scripture. English language masses for Sundays, and Holy Days began on the first Sunday of Advent, November 29, 1964. On Monday, March 22, 1965, weekday Masses were changed to English.
On June 5, 1966 parishioners toured the newly constructed Cry Room, Youth Center and Maintenance Garage. They also inspected the newly remodeled sacristy.
In June, 1968 a Parish Finance Committee was created to study immediate needs, to propose and prepare for the future, especially long-range projects, to advise on ways and means of meeting commitment and to make recommendations for all parish financing. The following parishioners were appointed to the newly created Finance Board: Mr. W.L. Boettcher, Mr. S.E. Brenner, Mr. Leo Dowd, Mr. V.W. Hughes and Dr. Louis Sojka.
On June 7, 1970 the Most Reverend Archbishop Daniel E. Sheehan officially commissioned the laymen of the Archdiocese to distribute Holy Communion. The first four men from St. Bonaventure to become extraordinary ministers were: James Harris, Steve Jahn, William Merrill and Dennis Steiner.
During the summer months of 1970 the parish priests offered Holy Mass in the homes of parishioners who requested it, on days other than Saturdays or Sundays.
On Monday, October 4, 1970 the Most Reverend Daniel E. Sheehan commissioned two more members of St. Bonaventure, Richard VanDyke and Robert Weiler, as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion.
In June, 1973, air conditioning was installed in the church.
Since Valentine’s Day, 1961 the St. Bonaventure Church doors remained unlocked, but in 1973 the parish council found it necessary to recommend locking the front doors at 6:00 PM each evening, except Saturdays, Thursdays before First Fridays and other special evenings, when the doors will be secured at 9:00 PM. One side door is to remain unlocked for Perpetual Adoration.
In September, 1973 Sister Leola Zingg was commissioned as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist. At a special concelebrated Mass on Wednesday evening, November 28, 1973, at Norfolk, Archbishop Daniel E. Sheehan commissioned six more: Ben Determan, Don Dworak, Virgil Hughes, Art Spenner and Robert Voboril.
The coat-of-arms of the parish patron, Saint Bonaventure, Franciscan cardinal-bishop, was added to the sanctuary above the presidential chair in February, 1974. The tones are somber and represent the complete simplicity of the shield which was typical of St. Bonaventure. The gray represents the color of Franciscan bishops; the HIS emblazoned in golden rays represents the Holy Name of Jesus; the motto “To God Alone – Honor and Glory” is the dominating motive of all St. Bonaventure’s endeavors.
In February 1974 Mr. and Mrs. Paul Dohmen provided St. Bonaventure Parish a generous gift of a new Rodgers electronic organ and replaced the previous organ which had served the church for over thirty years.
On Sunday, February 6, 1977, parishioners and friends of St. Bonaventure gathered to observe the centenary of the parish and the coming of the Franciscans. Five hundred people attended the dinner-dance in the Scotus cafeteria which followed the 4 PM Liturgy of the Eucharist.
