St. Joseph Catholic School, Hessen Cassel

Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, 11521 Old U.S. 27 South; preschool through eighth grade; the Squires; a parochial school connected with the parish since 1859, the oldest school root in this wave

1841, and a School by 1859: Hessen Cassel is the German settlement strung along the old highway south of Fort Wayne, and its parish is among the oldest in Allen County. The earliest published parish account, written by Thomas Helm and carried in the diocesan newspaper's anniversary history of September 20, 2016, begins the congregation in 1841 with twenty German families on U.S. 27. The same history states that a parochial school has been connected with the parish since 1859, and that Father Jacob Mayer built the first convent in that year. One diocesan account stands against the 1841 beginning: the newspaper's parish profile of December 4, 2012 opens, "Founded in 1851, the parish." The two years are printed here together, unresolved; neither is the school's year in any case. This entry keys the school to 1859, the documented connection year, and flags the choice: the sisters' takeover of 1868 stands beside it in the text, and an editor who prefers the staffed school's year will find it there.

The Sisterhoods: Three orders carried the school in turn. The Franciscan Sisters of the Poor taught from 1863 to 1866. The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ came in 1868 at Bishop John Henry Luers's invitation; the diocesan newspaper of October 28, 2014 counts eight sisters arriving on August 30 of that year, five to teach in St. Joseph School and three to nurse, while the order's own account has them arrive on August 28 and take charge of the school by September 10. The two arrival dates are printed as the sources give them. The Poor Handmaids served to 1877, and the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart followed for one hundred fifteen years, until June 1992. Between those comings and goings the parish built: a brick schoolhouse for one hundred students was completed in 1879. The old customs died hard here; pew rent was collected until 1936. When the parish marked one hundred seventy five years in 2016, it counted one thousand two hundred thirty five households.

The Squires: The school's teams are the Squires, and the diocesan newspaper's Catholic Youth Organization coverage gives them a dynasty to carry. On March 13, 2013 Today's Catholic recorded the Squires winning the Blue League title over Queen of Angels, 41 to 25, their sixth consecutive tournament championship. On February 23, 2016 the paper told the end of the longer run: Coach Jim Knapke's Squires had won the league every year since 2008 before Most Precious Blood stopped them in the 2016 semifinals. The paper's tournament history also names St. Joseph of Hessen Cassel champion in 1984, the year the tournament was cut to a two team format, and among the five champions of 1998. The school's motto, carried on its own pages, is "Learning for Life and Living the Faith!"

Principals, in Open Conflict: The principal's chair is documented, and at its most recent joint it contradicts itself, so the contradiction is printed. Louise Schultheis held the post from 2008, on the diocesan newspaper's profile of December 4, 2012, which counted one hundred twenty five students in kindergarten through eighth grade and six more in preschool, under the Holy Cross pastor Father Cornelius Ryan. The Indiana Department of Education's nutrition review for program year 2022 names Jeanine Skordos, as does the school handbook revised in the summer of 2024, and the review carries the school's state code, K023. For the present year the record splits: the school's handbook for 2026 and 2027, revised in July 2025, is signed in its welcome letter by Principal Abbey Bowers, while Today's Catholic of January 30, 2026 and the school's own wellness policy, revised March 23, 2026, name Katie Hoffman as principal. This entry prints both names with their sources and settles neither. The pastor named in January 2026 is Father Michael Ammer; Father William Kummer held the parish in 2016. The counts stand with their instruments: the federal private school survey counts one hundred ninety students; this history's group entry counts two hundred three in 2026.

Sources:

1. Today's Catholic, September 20, 2016, the 175th anniversary history: the earliest published parish account, by Thomas Helm, beginning the congregation in 1841 with 20 German families; a parochial school connected with the parish since 1859; Father Jacob Mayer and the first convent, 1859; the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, 1863 to 1866; the Poor Handmaids, 1868 to 1877; the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart for 115 years, until June 1992; the brick school for 100 students completed 1879; pew rent collected until 1936; 1,235 households in 2016; Pastor Father William Kummer.
2. Today's Catholic, October 28, 2014: Bishop Rhoades on the Poor Handmaids' arrival of August 30, 1868, eight sisters at Bishop Luers's invitation, five teaching in St. Joseph School and three nursing; and the order's own account, arrival August 28, in charge of the school by September 10.
3. Today's Catholic, December 4, 2012, the parish profile: "Founded in 1851, the parish," printed against the 1841 account; Principal Louise Schultheis, from 2008; 125 students, kindergarten through grade 8, and 6 in preschool; Pastor Father Cornelius Ryan, CSC.
4. Today's Catholic, March 13, 2013 (the Squires' Blue League title over Queen of Angels, 41 to 25, a sixth consecutive tournament championship) and February 23, 2016 (Coach Jim Knapke's Blue League run, every year since 2008, ended by Most Precious Blood in the semifinals; St. Joseph of Hessen Cassel champion in the 1984 two team format year and among five champions in 1998).
5. Indiana Department of Education, school nutrition review, program year 2022: Principal Jeanine Skordos; school code K023; and St. Joseph Hessen Cassel School handbook, revised summer 2024 (Skordos) and the handbook for 2026-27, revised July 2025, its welcome letter signed by Principal Abbey Bowers; the school wellness policy, revised March 23, 2026, naming Principal Katie Hoffman; Today's Catholic, January 30, 2026, naming Katie Hoffman as principal and Father Michael Ammer as pastor.
6. National Center for Education Statistics, as republished by Private School Review: 190 students, preschool through grade 8. St. Joseph Hessen Cassel School, its own pages (stjoehc.org): the school office at 11521 Old U.S. 27 South, phone 260-639-3580; the motto, "Learning for Life and Living the Faith!" This history's published group entry, The Catholic Grade Schools of Fort Wayne and Allen County: the school on U.S. 27, 203 students in 2026.