Reward
parish celebrates 100th anniversary
By Kiply Lukan Yaworski
REWARD, Sask. — Residents and former residents, their descendents and family members joined together at the site of the historic Holy Rosary Church south of the hamlet of Reward, Sask. July 10 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the parish.
Celebrations included prayers in the historic church building, eucharist
at the outdoor shrine, a program of speakers and entertainment and supper
on the site.
Serving the surrounding Saint Joseph’s Colony as the site of an
annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary
since 1932, the parish itself was established in 1910.
During the anniversary celebration, masters of ceremony Charles Boser
and Ernie Greter, along with speaker Al Greter presented the history
of the community and parish in poem and story.
“In the words of one pioneer, we often admired the wild flowers
and thought about the amount of dirt they had to go through in order
to blossom,” related Greter, reflecting on the hardships encountered
by the German-Russian settlers who came to the area after St. Joseph’s
Colony was established in 1905.
The first church building was a 40- by 28-foot structure built at a
cost of $1,300. The present church was constructed on 10 acres of donated
land in 1918 for $12,000. The “church on the hill” is a
designated historic site, and contains 15 paintings completed in 1928
by Berthold Von Imhoff, depicting the mysteries of the rosary.
In 1932 the priests of St. Joseph’s Colony were asked by Bishop
Prud’homme to arrange an annual pilgrimage in honour of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, with Holy Rosary Church at Reward chosen as the site because
of its central location. The first pilgrimage, on July 16, 1932 saw
3,000 pilgrims travel to the site. A wooden outdoor grotto was built
as the shrine in 1936, with the present shrine altar built in 1966.
Rev. John Zunti, OMI, who was born and raised in the area, presided
at the 100th anniversary mass, and was also guest speaker during the
afternoon program.
“We are all truly thankful for the legacy of faith, prayer and
way of life that our parents and grandparents, friends and neighbours
have handed on to us,” said Zunti. “The sacrifices that
many of them made and the hardships they endured were possible only
because of their faith and commitment to prayer.”
During the program, resident Agnes Sperle led a tribute to the priests
of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate who served Holy Rosary Parish throughout
the past century.
The day after the anniversary celebration, the 79th annual pilgrimage
to the shrine at Reward was held, involving parishes from throughout
the St. Joseph’s Colony area.
Rev. Gerard Cooper of St. Peter’s Parish in Unity officiated at
the July 11 pilgrimage, which included exposition of the blessed sacrament
in the shrine church, the sacraments of reconciliation and anointing
of the sick, praying the rosary, benediction, a parade of parish banners,
mass, and supper.
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