History

St. John Nepomucene Parish owes its existence to the arrival of Rev. Theodore Vanden Broek in 1836.

Rev. Vanden Broek had been a missionary, working with the people of Green Bay since about 1834. When the Bishop assigned three Redemptorist Fathers to the territory, Rev. Vanden Broek pulled up stakes and journeyed 24 miles up the Fox River to Little Chute. The early fur traders had named this place "La Petite Chute", because of the rapid movement of the Fox River. Along the river, the Indians built a bark-covered wigwam, which was used as a Church and parsonage. The present church is located a short distance form that original site.

After the death of his father in 1847, Rev. Vanden Broek returned to his native Holland to settle his estate. During his stay in Holland, Rev. Vanden Broek published a pamphlet where he described the area as follows: "The climate in Wisconsin is normally the same as that of the Dutch Province of Noord-Braband. One would find excellent fields of wheat, rye, barley, flax, tobacco, etc. In addition one could obtain a great many acres from government for ten shillings. In a few years, Wisconsin will be similarly populated as the other states ". - Rev. Vanden Broek convinced a number of his fellow countrymen to return with him to America and Little Chute.

The first church was erected in 1836, with additions in 1838 and 1851. This early church was torn down in 1871. The construction of the present church began in 1860 and was finally completed in 1868. The construction was delayed because the Civil War took all the volunteers who were helping build the church. If you look at the side of the church, you will see the different stone work. Construction was resumed after the return of the soldiers. The church tower, clock, sacristies, sanctuary, and stained glass windows were added in 1894. In 1962, the front entrance was enclosed, and in 1966 the entire inside was renovated with tile, the steeple covered with copper sheeting and the entire church was insulated.

The parochial school also had an early start, beginning in 1844. The first six pupils were Indians, since the Hollanders had not yet arrived. It was not until 1889 that the first school was built, with additions in 1908. By 1928 it was necessary to build a new school to meet the needs of the growing population. Additional rooms were added in 1940. The school at this time housed both the high school and the grade school. A new high school was built in 1957 across the street from the present grade school. In 1972 the high school was closed due to high operating costs.

The construction in 1985 of a new gymnasium began on the site of the Sister's convent. This building also provides additional classroom space, as well as a general purpose room for meetings and funeral dinners. In 1997 the grade school underwent a complete electrical upgrading with the classrooms being wired for the Information Highway.

When the present office complex was built in 1959, it was designed to house the offices of the parish as well as providing living quarters for the parish priest. The needs of a growing parish required additional offices and meeting rooms. In 1996 the construction began on a new duplex to house the pastor and his associate. This was completed by the early part of 1997. The project was constructed with donations and endless hours of volunteer labor. Also, in 1996, a much needed paved, lighted and landscaped parking area was added to the church property, thanks to another generous donation.

In Spring of 2003 St. John Nepomucene Parish began another stage of renovation which is now complete.