St. Columban Catholic Church Marks 150 years with Sesquicentennial Celebration Opening Mass
Published: Thursday, September 6, 2007 C-T

CAPTION: Members of the St. Columban Catholic Church will celebrate 150 years of history in Chillicothe with a Sesquicentennial Celebration Opening Mass on Sunday, Sept. 9 at 4 p.m. A catered dinner will follow the ceremony and everyone is invited to attend. Several former priests and deacons have committed to attend the celebration.

C-T Photo/Laura Schuler

Members of the St. Columban Catholic Church are preparing to celebrate the parish's Sesquicentennial and events are being planned throughout the next year. The first such celebration is set for Sunday, Sept. 9, beginning with a Sesquicentinial Celebration Opening Mass, which begins at 4 p.m., followed by a Gordon Smith-catered dinner reception.

“We hope to have many former priests and alumni in attendance,” Kim Murrell, church secretary explained this (Thursday) morning. A long list of priests that have served the church and its parishioners have already committed to attend the event. The list includes: Tom Hermes, current pastor, 2005-present; Paw Lwin, 2005; Matt Rotert, 1998-2005; Reginald Sander, O.S.B., 1995-1998; Allan Stetz, O.S.B., 1988-1995; Augustine Dreiling, O.S.B., 1981-1989; Lawrence Speichinger, 1964-1969 and 1956 to 1961; John McCormack, 1963 to 1967; Robert Cameron, 1963 to 1964; and Alexander Sinclair, 1957 to 1958.

Murrell also noted that two Chillicothe natives who later were ordained priests have committed to attend Sunday's celebration. They are: Fr. David Holloway and Fr. Richard Saale. Bro. Blaise Bonderer, who also grew up in Chillicothe, is planning to attend as well. Three retired deacons will also be in attendance: Lawrence Schneider, Joseph Crookshanks, and Jerry Davis. Msgr. Gary Applegate and Fr. Dan Reardon, both of whom grew up in the St. Columban Parish, will be unable to attend, Murrell said.

Murrell also submitted a brief history of the church, which reads as follows:

One hundred and fifty years ago, on Sept. 8, 1857, Father John J. Hogan left St. Louis, Mo., with the blessing of his bishop, Archbishop Kenrick, and a pioneering missionary spirit for Chillicothe. After traveling by train, steamboat and stage, he bought a horse and continued to travel west praying that he would be led to some place where he could do some good. At the end of a day's journey, he found himself entering a small town, situated in an open prairie surrounded by woods. It was Chillicothe, a place of about 1,000 residents. The next day after his arrival and after careful observation and inquiry, without disclosing his missionary purpose, he discovered that there was one Catholic in town, Elza Bell. . . . for more church history, click here.

SESQUICENTENNIAL OPENING MASS
On September 9, 2007, a special Mass was held at 4:00 p.m. with special music and special guests to kick off our 150-year celebration of Catholic faith in Livingston County. Paul Sturm, parishioner and CT Sports Editor and photographer took photos, which he shared with us. We welcomed back all former parishioners that were able to join us to begin our Sesquicentennial Celebration. We were honored to have with us so many former priests. Father Alexander Sinclair, Father Robert Cameron, Father John McCormack, Msgr. Lawrence Speichinger, Father Augustine Dreiling, O.S.B., Father Allan Stetz, O.S.B., Father Reginald Sander, O.S.B., Father Matt Rotert, Father Paw Lwin. Also with us were Fr. David Holloway and Bro. Blaise Bonderer who grew up in our parish along with Msgr. Gary Applegate and Fr. Dan Reardon who were unable to attend today. We hope to see them next year for the closing Mass with Bishop Finn on September 14, 2008.

You may click on these photos to see a closer view. You may also read more about the event on our News page.

Photos by Paul Sturm, processed and posted by BK Web Works.