Immaculate Conception Church

About this time a few German families settled seven miles north of Delphos along the banks of the Canal. All these were Catholics who had come from various parts of Germany: Alsace, Baden, Wuertemberg and Westphalia. Naturally during the early years of their pioneer life, the immigrants were obliged to attend to their religious duties at Delphos. This entailed many hardships not only upon the men and women, but upon the children as well, who under the adverse conditions of travel, had to walk to Delphos to receive their religious instruction in preparation for First Holy Communion. To obviate these difficulties, Father Bredeick decided to establish a new parish in their place of settlement.

Accordingly as early as 1845, Elias Everett, County Surveyor, platted for Father Bredeick a tract of land in the northeast comer of Section 30, Township 1, S. R. 5 E., Putnam County. Father Bredeick purchased 40 acres from the Government, and after retaining ample ground for church purposes, sold the remaining lots for the benefit of the church. In honor of him, therefore, the place was called Ottoville. It was not, however, until the year 1848 that Father Bredeick found his way clear to establish a special parish at Ottoville. We can easily imagine how busy he must have been throughout all those years, trying t o build up and consolidate his colony and parish at Delphos. This being accomplished he was able to do more for his little flock seven miles north. We find him, therefore, in the year 1848, gathering the few families and forming them into a parish.

As a result of the change, Father Bredeick had to ride horseback from Delphos to Ottoville and back. We learn from Mr. Grewe, now of Delphos, that he, as a boy, residing on what is now the Kortokrax farm, rode to Delphos, the horse upon which Father Bredeick then journeyed to Ottoville. After holding services and administering to the needs of the people, Father Bredeick would ride back, and the boy, who in the meantime had walked to Delphos, would return astride the animal. As yet they had no Church in which to hold their services, and for quite a number of years they had no resident pastor. But the first step had been taken which promised something better for the future. Father Bredeick came regularly once every month, holding services in a frame structure 20 by 36 ft. and two stories high, which he caused to be built in 1850, to serve the little community a double purpose. In the upper story Father Bredeick offered up the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and performed all other church services, while the lower floor offered temporary quarters for newly arrived settlers who has as yet no fixed place of abode.

At the present time Immaculate Conception Parish serves approximately 760 families.

We have approximately 2,607 people registered in the parish, but this number grows every day.

At the present time we have two weekend Masses. Saturday evening at 4:00, Sunday morning 10:30. Our pastor is, Father John Stites, Coordinator of Religious Education is Jean Byrne, Parish Secretary is Patty Koester, Parish Custodian is Dave Koester and our Youth Minister is Renee Kelch.

We are very lucky to be served by our curent deacon, Jose' Flores.

Volunteer Staffs of the Parish are: Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Liturgy Committee, Six Organists, Folk Band, Four Choirs ( All Mens Choir, Ladies and Mens Choir and Youth Choir), Flower Committee, Hospitality Committee, Grief Support Group, Adult Education, Rosary-Altar Society, Holy Name Society, Church Cleaning, Sacristan.