Small
parish survives its first century
By Frank Flegel
STRASBOURG. Sask. —
St. Rita Parish is one of the smaller communities in this picturesque
town of about 900 people located at the foot of Last Mountain, a 300-foot
blip rising from the surrounding parkland a few miles east of Last Mountain
Lake, but its parishioners are active and faithful. That enthusiasm
came through when it came time to celebrate its recent centennial.
“Our church is a like
a big living room,” said parishioner Bobbie Racette. “It
has six pews and a few chairs and that’s why we’re like
a big family.” The
church will hold about 40 people and it’s always full for masses.
“We’re small in number,” said Racette, “and only about 60 people showed up (for the celebration) including a few from Regina,” but they had fun.
It was actually three celebrations in one: Pentecost, the parish centennial
and the feast day of St. Rita of Cascia, patron of impossible situations.
Archbishop Daniel Bohan said mass assisted by Rev. Ray Asis who came
to the parish as pastor in March. In his homily, Bohan said Pentecost
was an appropriate time to celebrate the birth of the parish as it is
the church’s birthday as well.
The parish was originally
served by priests who came from Grayson, Sask., and later from Southey.
Services were held in private homes, the local hotel and the town hall
until about 1936. A parish was established in 1936 in Govan, just up
the road on Highway 20 and St. Rita became a mission of Govan. The present
church was built about that time, but no one is quite sure of the date
because the only record is a report to the archdiocese from the then
parish priest, a Rev. Ruben. It is now a mission of Southey.
Organizing the centennial celebration was a year-long affair which began under the aegis of longtime parishioner Rose Fries and almost every member of the parish was involved in some way. Christel Hey and Jean Thomas, two of the most senior parish members, reminisced about past years. Others helped set up a display of artefacts that included old vestments and chalices, and several families provided music. Still others were involved in cooking the turkey supper.
Greetings and congratulations were read from Saskatchewan Lieutenant
Governor Gordon Barnhart and Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Local member
of Parliament Tom Lukiwski, MLA Glen Hart and Strasbourg Mayor Carol
Schultz also brought greetings.
“It is this kind of participation which has given ownership and
cohesion to our church over the past 100 years and fills us with hope
for the next 100,” said Fries.
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