Joseph Fessler, one of the original members of the community from Baden, studied for the priesthood in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Upon being ordained in November 1865, he was assigned to Immaculate Conception Parish in Clarks Mills. He asked 23-year-old Teresa Gramlich of St. Nazianz, to come and teach catechism. In June 1866, she arrived and took up residence in an old chicken coop across from the church. Teresa taught her pupils in the choir loft. By Christmas time she was joined by two others – twelve-year-old Mary Doyle, one of her students, and Magdalen Derler, who served as house-keeper.