Save St. Boniface Church. Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

Team fundraiser

John Maurer and Emily Baumann are organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Calling all those who seek to help preserve St. Boniface Church in Manitowoc Wisconsin

We need your help!

General information about St. Boniface Church:

Due in part to the historical nature of this case, St. Boniface has been a topic of interest amongst many people in Manitowoc Wisconsin and beyond. It has continued to build interest as the case to save St. Boniface has recently gone to the courts in Vatican City, Rome Italy.

St. Boniface was built in 1885 by German immigrants in the heart of downtown Manitowoc. It was built with a firm stone foundation allowing it to withstand many centuries, just as the message of Christ has endured for over 2,000 years. After 140 years, It now stands in peril of being razed by those who do not appreciate this historically and structurally strong edifice that embodies quality craftsmanship, beautiful ornate aesthetic and most importantly reverencing Christ and his Church right in downtown Manitowoc. The proximity of building St. Boniface in downtown Manitowoc next to the civic and controlling offices of the city's central affairs was in no mistake; rather its founders desired that the church be erected there as a reminder of the eternal and transcendent for the citizens of Manitowoc.

Why we need your help:

Currently, the funds are being raised to cover the costs of St. Boniface's defense attorney in the courts at the Vatican. There have been numerous good faith attempts to solve this very important case over the last four years at the local parish and diocesan level, but unfortunately, a need has arisen for a higher authority to step in to help resolve this case. Although the diocesan authority desires a win - win - win situation, no such agreement was reached and the case was sent to the courts at the Vatican which deal with such serious matters as these. The case has resided there for the past two years, first going from the court at the Dicastery for the Clergy and then to the Supreme Tribunal at the Apostolic Signatura at the Vatican.

Further information about the St. Boniface Case at Vatican City in Rome Italy:

Although there has not been a satisfactory verdict with the decisions from the Dicastery for the Clergy and the Supreme Tribunal at the Vatican, we are now presented with the option to take recourse of the case at the court of the Congresso at the Vatican. This court requires an Italian procurer - advocate (canon attorney) to litigate and defend St. Boniface in order to reach a satisfactory outcome. There is the hope that this is successful, but if this should not procure a satisfactory outcome we will then have the option to lodge an appeal against the next court at the Vatican.

Argument from those that seek St. Boniface’s destruction:

The local parish administration in Manitowoc has argued that St. Boniface has fallen into disrepair in recent years and is therefore a fiscal burden with no need or desire from the Manitowoc community to make use of the church. This is a falsehood.

In response to those arguments, it is clear from visible evidence, both externally and internally that St. Boniface is as strong as it was when it was built with a firm foundation 140 years ago. In addition, in 2007, Mike Howe Builders resealed the roof of the church, ensuring yet another 30 years of security to the structure, keeping the interior dry and completely intact. Furthermore, it is no secret that there are many people within the community that desire to see St. Boniface restored to its original grandeur and who have been and currently are willing to help finance this undertaking.

If you were to be allowed to walk into St. Boniface Church today, you would be surprised at what remarkably adequate condition it is in, despite the deceptive narrative the local administration has proclaimed.

The future of St. Boniface:

I truly believe there is a God given reason St. Boniface is still standing after being in limbo for the past two decades, despite the attacks against it to be razed. If the historically and structurally strong St. Boniface is to be razed, it will be a great error by those placed in charge to care for it, as well as a great loss of beauty, faith, and history for the community of Manitowoc. Once St. Boniface is gone, it will never be back. The generosity and hard work of this city’s ancestors and founders will have been for nought. It is time to appreciate and honor the rich gifts from previous generations and to invest in them in order to give back to the community for future generations to come. There have been a plethora of sacraments, celebrations of life, and memories for families that have been possible because of the 139 years St. Boniface has stood. The vision for this initiative is for a full restoration of St. Boniface to take place which will restore it to its original beauty. Our hope is that future generations can benefit from this investment just as previous generations have done.

Questions?

John Maurer

[email redacted]

Below is a history to bring you up to speed with what has been going on with St. Boniface over the centuries:

1853 - St Boniface Parish was founded.

1885 - St. Boniface Church was built by German immigrants for $30,000.

1896 - St. Boniface rectory was built to house the parish priests and to serve as the parish office for $6,400.

1953 - New school was built. (The Haven currently utilizes this space to combat homelessness in our community).

2005 - St. Boniface was merged with other local churches in Manitowoc. Although there was a merger, St. Boniface was still used for services on special occasions.

2015 - Petition by St. Francis Parish to the Green Bay dioses to reduce St. Boniface Church to profane but not sordid use. Bishop responded and granted the request by proclaiming a canonical decree to reduce St. Boniface from it’s status as a church. With their canonical right, parishioners struck down the decree and St. Boniface was not allowed to be reduced.

2015 until 2023 - There were many good faith attempts amongst upstanding well known citizens in Manitowoc who have been involved with other restoration projects like the Capitol Civic Center to raise the funds and orchestrate a full restoration of St. Boniface Church. This was all offered to take the fiscal burden off the local parish of St. Francis. No agreement was reached due in part to the failed agreement that the funds would never be used for purposes that contradict preserving St Boniface Church.

January 15th of 2023 - After no resolution, Bishop Ricken of the Green Bay decreed St. Boniface to profane but not sordid use. Essentially reducing the title of the church, giving the parish the option to raze St. Boniface.

January 15th 2023 - A group of young, like minded individuals came together to write a letter in accord with canon 1734 §1, requesting Bishop Ricken the revocation of his decree.

February 16th 2023 - Bishop Ricken sustained his decree. According to canon law, parishioners aggravated and not in agreement with this decision have the canonical right to seek recourse at the Vatican.

February 24th 2023 - With assistance from American canon attorneys, a formal letter of recourse was lodged in accord with canon 1737 §1, at the Dicastery for the Clergy at the Vatican against Bishop Ricken’s decree.

May 10th 2024 - After 15 months of the case being examined at the Dicastery for the Clergy there was the verdict to uphold Bishop Ricken’s decree of January 15th 2023 to reduce St. Boniface to profane but not sordid use. We were then presented with the option to lodge recourse against the decision to the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura at Vatican City.

August 10th 2024 - With the help again from the American canon attorneys, a new letter of recourse was lodged at the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura of the Vatican.

October 18th 2024 - The appeal was rejected In Limine (which means at the door) and was not reviewed but instead sustained the decision from May of 2024 decision of the Dicastery for the Clergy that sustained Bishop Ricken’s decree from January 15th of 2023. However, there was the option presented to lodge recourse against this decision to the Congresso of the Apostolic Signatura.

November 10th 2024 - The process was started to seek recourse to the Congresso at the Vatican. The appeal for help was sent out to the greater Manitowoc community to cover the costs associated with the Italian advocate to defend St. Boniface at the Vatican. It is our hope and prayer that the St. Boniface case will be successful so that we can give St Boniface Church the respect and care that is due to it.

Additional pictures of St. Boniface: