September 16, 2009

Weldona parish celebrates 90 years

By John Gleason

On Sept. 27 in the town of Weldona, the faith community of St. Francis of Assisi will celebrate the 90th anniversary of their church with a Mass and dinner.  Everyone is invited. And in true small-town fashion, if you go, you’re asked to bring a side dish or dessert to share.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., will be the main celebrant of the Mass. Concelebrant will be St. Francis’ pastor Father Jason Thuerauf.

Vivianne Lorenzini, life-long Weldona resident and member of the parish council, said St. Francis is indeed a special place. 

“There is an overall togetherness of this community,” she said.  “Part of that comes from small-town atmosphere but it’s also because St. Francis is a home to all who worship there.”

The story of St. Francis of Assisi Parish begins in the late 19th century when a priest would travel by train from Denver to Julesburg, staying in homes along the route, including Weldona, and offer Mass at each stop. By 1904, the pastor of St. Augustine’s Parish in Brighton, Father Bernard Froegel, was in charge of these mission congregations in northeast Colorado. In 1915 he wrote Bishop Henry Tihen saying the people of Weldona Valley needed a church. A cornerstone was laid in June 1919.

The parish was a popular place for members of the farm community, many of them of Italian heritage, to meet and many families supported their church with dinners and dances.  In the ensuing years every member of the parish was called upon to work the annual ravioli dinner, the big fund-raiser that supported the church.  In 1961, the Union Pacific Railroad gave St. Francis a depot, which was moved by the men of the parish to its present site by the church and converted to a parish hall. 

Father Thuerauf, who has been pastor for the past four years, had many words of praise for his parishioners, explaining that they take great responsibility for their parish and what goes on there.

“They love their community very much and are well united with one another,” he said.  “There is a strength to their souls that comes from the union they have with one another; a strength that comes from the Holy Spirit.”

Over the years, the interior of the church received a face lift and the original stained glass windows were refurbished. Recently, new steps and a ramp were installed. 
St. Francis of Assisi Church is attended by descendants of the original members as well as by many newcomers and summer visitors.  Lorenzini expects the celebration to be a grand one.

“At our 75th anniversary, we had 175 people show up and take part,” she said.  “I think our 90th anniversary will be just as successful.”

The anniversary Mass is set for 11 a.m. Sept. 27. Dinner will be held immediately afterward in the Weldona Valley School cafeteria. For more information, call 970-768-1033.