DID YOU KNOW?

1830

St. Stephen parish founded by German settlers.

1832

St. Stephen Church built on land purchased by Protestants for that purpose; led by Franciscans.

1854

New red brick church built around the old one; its ornate interior featured an elaborate carved altar, side altars, and raised pulpit.

1893

Transepts added to give the floor plan a cross shape.

1912

Tudor Gothic façade and tower, designed by Hamilton architect Andrew Benzing, added; stained glass windows from Zettler Studios in Munich installed.

1989

Renovation in St. Stephen Church begun for the new St. Julie Billiart Church, formed from St. Stephen, St. Mary and St. Veronica.

1990

Fire a month before the planned dedication destroys the church. Hamilton firefighters save the historic stained glass windows.

1992

Entirely rebuilt inside the original walls; St. Julie Billiart Church dedicated.

1999

Spanish-language community begins meeting. Spanishlanguage Masses offered.

2022

Parish Family of St. Julie, Queen of Peace, St. Aloysius, St. Joseph, and St. Peter in Chains created. A devastating fire in the newly named, renovated and combined St. Julie Billiart Church in Hamilton required a second renovation and delayed its opening by two years.

1 Central tower featuring clocks and copper dome

2 Cemeteries associated with the parish, St. Stephen (and St. Stephen Old Cemetery) and St. Mary’s

12 Vertical stained glass windows; additional rose windows

ST. JULIE BILLIART

Paralyzed after wtinessing someone try to murder her father, Julie was confined to bed for more than 20 years and had to be smuggled from her home town of Cuvilley, France, in a haycart during the Revolution. After a miraculous healing in 1804 on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, she and a friend founded the Sisters of Notre Dame in Amiens, but clashed with local priests over its then-unusual structure (lay and religious sisters were treated equally, and both served when and where they were needed). The growing congregation moved to Namur. Julie made more than 120 journeys to found convents and schools. She died in 1816 after only 12 years in religious life. “They built the new church [in 1854] around the old church! Records say people were coming to Mass in the old church while the new one was being constructed.” - Pam Long, parishioner

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe In this century the Spanishspeaking parishioners have made this day-long (and far into the night) celebration a local favorite, attended by more than 1000 worshipers.