A Year of Celebration

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Bishop Anthony Pilla was principal celebrant and homilist for the 150th anniversary Mass For several years a committee of parishioners had worked on a Year of Celebration for the parish's sesquicentennial anniversary.

The year began with an opening Mass on March 17, 1997, with Bishop Anthony J. Quinn as celebrant and Fr. Howard Hansen, O.F.M.Conv., the second son of the parish to be ordained a priest, as homilist. On the same day banners celebrating the anniversary were hung from the telephone poles in the area.

The celebration was also marked by a parish pictorial, a memorial garden, and the repair of the statue of St. Patrick. On May 4, 1997, a Mass was held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of the church. Fr. Bill Seetch, C.S.C., another son of the parish, was the homilist.

During the summer months, a group of parishioners marched in the Kamm's Corners Fourth of July Parade, honoring the parish's oldest lifelong members - Coletta Carl and Maureen Malone were born in the parish in 1905 and 1915, respectively. The parish picnic was held on church grounds for the first time in many years. It was preceded by a dance the night before and a collection of memorabilia was displayed during the weekend.

Current and former parishoners packed the church for the 150th anniversary Mass During the year, the parish cemetery was refurbished, with stones and monuments being reset and re-cemented as needed. The cemetery was rededicated on November 2 at the 12:30 Mass, with Fr. Dan Begin as the homilist. Fr. Joe Hilinski, another son of the parish, preached at an ecumenical thanksgiving prayer service on November 23.

The 150th anniversary Mass was celebrated on March 17, 1998, with Bishop Anthony Pilla as homilist and Abbot Roger, O.S.B., as principal celebrant. As usual the Drill Team added to the St. Patrick's Day festivities along with many other elements of celebration. The Year of Celebration concluded with a dinner/dance at Brennan's Party Center on Sunday, March 22, at which many former assistants, teachers and parishioners joined in celebrating the parish's anniversary.