 |
|
|
Englewood parish to mark 100th anniversary
By John Gleason
 |
| Photos by James Baca/DCR St. Louis Church is located at 3310 S. Sherman St. in Englewood. |
In 1911 in Englewood, Colo., a town that had been incorporated just seven years earlier, several Catholic families came together to form the parish known as St. Louis-King of France.
This year the parish, located at 3310 S. Sherman St., looks back at a century of service to the faithful and will mark the milestone with a series of events, including an anniversary Mass, picnic and carnival.
Preparing for the birthday has been part challenge, part labor of love, according to Cathy Darnell, coordinator for the anniversary celebration.
“A hundred years is a lot of ground to cover,” she said, “so we decided to celebrate right through the summer.”
Darnell said several things have been in the planning stage for the last year, including putting together a calendar with each month featuring different times in the life of the parish. Some of the parish photos can be viewed on the parish website.
|
St. Louis Parish 100th Anniversary Where: St. Louis Church, 3310 S. Sherman St., Englewood What/When: |
“Each month has photos from different decades,” Darnell said. “And we’re working on an updated directory containing new photos of families, scenes of parish life and a special history section.”
The parish picnic, which will be held on the church grounds and at the parish center, is set for 1 p.m. July 17. The picnic theme is “Back in Time.” The event will recall the early 1900s complete with carnival midway, games and rides, horseshoe tournaments and a three-legged race. It will offer something for everyone.
“From the handicraft fair to art displays to special events for the kids,” Darnell said, “we just want it to be all about families.”
The following Sunday, July 24, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., will celebrate Mass at St. Louis Church followed by a reception in William C. Cline Parish Hall. Darnell hopes that past parishioners will come be part of the afternoon’s festivities, meet old friends and share their memories.
“We’re planning on at having historic displays for people to look at,” she said, “and the school building will be open for tours with eighth-graders working the information desk and acting as tour guides.”
Father Robert Reycraft has been pastor at St. Louis for 12 years. He said the parish community of 600 families is a wonderfully diverse mix.
“Of course, we have people who’ve been coming here for years,” he said “along with an infusion of new families. “We have people from the Neocatechumenal Way who are very supportive of the parish. We have a large Croatian community that celebrates Mass here every month—many of them driving tremendous distances to attend. It’s simply a great cross-section of people.”
When the archbishop celebrates Mass at St. Louis on July 24, one of those serving as usher will be Austin Gomes, just as he has for decades. Gomes, 83, and his wife Sheila moved to Colorado from British Guyana in 1958, joined the parish and eventually put four of their children through St. Louis School.
Today, a widower and retired from business, Gomes can be found at 7 p.m. every Saturday working the bingo tables at the parish.
“It’s not a brand new or big church, but it is a beautiful one,” he said about St. Louis. “It makes for a close, personal relationship between people—an extended family. Folks come from all over town just to go to Mass here. They care for each other and love this little church of ours.”
Darnell said volunteers have been busy contacting as many former parishioners as they can locate to be part of the centennial celebration. She told the Register several workers have been busy for months compiling scrapbooks with photos and memories.
“We have one book that’s 12 inches thick,” she said, “and that one only goes up through the 1960s. There’s a lot of history that went into this parish.”
Father Reycraft knows that for every story from the past the parish has to share, there are more to be written in the future. He said he hopes for the best for the parish and those who it will serve.
“Its ready for its second century,” he said. “I won’t be here for the 200th anniversary, but I know the church will be.”
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||