Everly parish to close
Final liturgy set for June 27

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
June 10, 2004

EVERLY - Just two years ago, parishioners at St. Mary's Church gathered for a joyous celebration that marked the parish's 100th anniversary. An upcoming event is expected to stir up just as much emotion and pride in the church community, but this occasion will inevitably be marked with sadness as the parish will close later this month.

According to Father Tim Fitzgerald, pastor at St. Mary's, a final liturgy is planned for 10:30 a.m. on June 27. Msgr. Roger Augustine, the diocesan administrator, will concelebrate the Mass. Former pastors have also been invited to attend.

The pastor explained that when the concept of clustering was first introduced in the Diocese of Sioux City in 1997, it was clear that the parish was under consideration for closure due to its "size and location, being so close to Spencer and to Royal."

Father Fitzgerald was assigned to the Everly parish along with St. Louis in Royal in 2000. On several occasions, the former bishop of Sioux City had mentioned to the pastor that St. Mary's should continue to examine whether it should remain open. Thoughts of the possibility of closure were never completely out of the minds of diocesan leaders nor parishioners.

"When we had the town hall meetings (about a year ago), they asked the people to look at ways we can best utilize the priests we have," he recalled.

A representative from the diocese suggested that Everly consider a self-assessment.

"As we did that, it became more and more clear to me and other people on the parish council that we were not very viable as a parish," said Father Fitzgerald.

On the parish books, there are 45 families registered but on a normal weekend there are only about 35 people at Mass, which is held at 8:15 a.m. on Sundays. The parish hadn't started any new programs for several years due to small numbers and the religious education program had been combined with Royal a few years because there were only about 12 to 15 children attending classes.

Closing, he noted, is "very, very hard because it is part of people's heritage. In a small town, where they have lost many other things due to population shifts, this is just one more example of something in the community that is leaving."

The pastor and current parish directors - Steve Clark and Kendal Thompson - said they believe the closure will be hardest on the parish's elderly members.

"I feel more concern for the elderly. The older generation of parishioners have been the ones who financially raised the funds to construct this church not that many years ago. That is the group who now at the age they are at, ought to have the benefits of a parish this close to them," stressed Thompson. "I feel worse about that than any other part of it."

Father Fitzgerald pointed out that the parish has a couple older women who don't drive, so they walk to church. Now they will have to rely on the goodwill of others to see that they get to church at either St. Louis in Royal or Sacred Heart in Spencer. Royal is located nine miles south of Everly parish and Spencer is about 10 miles east.

In most cases, people are selecting their new church based on where they live in the rural area. Some, however, are basing their decision on where their children attend school or due to a preference for a smaller or larger parish community.

"I am coming to accept this decision, but it is sad to see the parish close," acknowledged Clark, who is a lifelong member.

Some of his fondest memories of the present church that was built in 1966 include his wedding and the baptism of his four children.

"My parents have been here since 1956, but there are other people who have been here for several generations," he said.

Clark and his family plan to join St. Louis in Royal because the children have been attending religious education classes there and they go to school with kids from the Everly and Royal area. Having school ties already, Clark said the transition to a new parish will go fairly smooth for his family as they know the majority of the parishioners there already.

"It's not like you are moving somewhere with strangers and I feel welcome there," he noted. "We would also prefer a smaller parish."

Both Clark and Thompson said they liked belonging to such a small parish because it allowed everyone in the family to become involved in assorted ministries.

Thompson moved into the community and joined the parish about eight years ago. He pointed out that the former parish his family belonged to in South Dakota was very large compared to St. Mary's. The small size of the Everly parish, he added, afforded opportunities for his three children to become involved in things they possibly would not have in a larger parish.

While the family plans to join the Spencer church due to location, his youngest child may attend religious education in Royal.

"I think this is perhaps a typical course of things that are happening in many rural communities. There are fewer people in rural areas. You can't have a school in every place where there used to be a school and you can't have a grocery store in every place. It is a sign of the changing demographics," acknowledged Thompson.

Presently, discussions are underway with the city of Everly regarding a possible community use for the church building. The city is considering establishing an assisted living facility or a multi-purpose building that may include an extended library.

"This is definitely sadness, but I hope the parishioners will look at the future possibilities," said Father Fitzgerald.