Laying the foundation

In the early 1920's, the NCH Catholic community was growing so fast, that in less than a year the "Mission House" had become too small to accommodate the increasing parish membership. Archbishop Moeller agreed that an expansion was needed and that land would need to be purchased. Parishioners accepted the challenge and through their determination, hard work and much sacrifice, enough funds were raised to acquire the land needed to build a new church. The services of an architect were employed and the location of the new church was decided.
 
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new church took place on October 30, 1921. Mr. Christopher Reiman and his team of horses took charge of the excavation for the basement walls and the men of the parish used their own picks and shovels to help with the digging. The spirit of cooperation and community was alive as it is noted in the archives that "all men in the neighborhood, both Catholic and non-Catholic, had an active part in digging for and building the foundation." They came every night for two weeks until the digging was completed. The new Church was completed at the end of January 1922 at a cost of $7,865.70 and on February 12, 1922, Fr. Joseph Albers celebrated the first Mass in the new Church building, offering thanksgiving to all for their hard work, dedication and monetary donations.
 
As the summer progressed, parish fundraising efforts continued in earnest towards paying off as much of the parish debt as possible. The parish house and land and nearly half of the debt for the new Church was paid off by mid-Summer 1921 when it was announced that Fr. Bernard Wellman was to become the parish's first resident pastor on September 1, 1921. Fr. Stein who had guided the parish through its first steps would not continue as pastor, but go on to become Auxilliary Bishop of the Archdiocese, returning often to St. Margaret Mary to confirm the parish children.