Saint Francis Xavier Mission (De Pere, Wisconsin) facts for kids

The St. Francis Xavier Mission was an important religious center built a long time ago in the 1600s. It was run by a group of Catholic priests called the Jesuits. This mission was located right by the fast-moving waters of the Fox River, close to a town now known as De Pere, Wisconsin.

St. Francis Xavier Mission: A Historic Place

Who Started the Mission?

The St. Francis Xavier Mission was started in 1671. A Jesuit priest named Claude Allouez founded it. His goal was to teach the native peoples living around the western Great Lakes about the Catholic religion.

What Was the Mission Like?

By 1684, a large church building, called a chapel, was finished. This chapel was quite big, measuring 70 feet long and 40 feet wide. It could hold up to 600 people inside. Father Verboort oversaw the building of this chapel. It was built to serve the growing number of Catholic people in the area.

How Was the Mission Used?

The mission also served as a starting point for explorers. A man named Nicolas Perrot used it as his base in the 1680s. From here, he explored the northern central part of America, known as the Upper Midwest. In 1686, Nicolas Perrot gave a special gift to the mission. It was a silver ostensorium, which is a container used to display holy items. This special gift was lost for many years. Then, in 1802, workers found it again while digging for a new building's foundation.

What Happened to the Mission?

Sadly, the St. Francis Xavier Mission did not last forever. In 1687, the mission was attacked and destroyed. This attack was carried out by the Iroquois people.