Remsen parish holds centennial celebration

September 30, 2004

REMSEN - St. Mary's Parish of Remsen celebrated 100 years in St. Mary's Church and culminated an eight-day devotion to the Blessed Mother on Sept. 12. The church was packed nearly to capacity as native son Msgr. Nicholas Ruba presided over Mass. An inspiring sermon was delivered by the administrator of the Diocese of Sioux City, Msgr. Roger Augustine, who spent time as a student in St. Mary's Grade School. Fathers Tim Johnson, Richard Frank, and Leo Riesburg concelebrated.

Mass opened with the German hymn, "Grosser Gott," or "Holy God," sung in the native language, followed by three verses in English. The long procession included 22 Mass servers and the Knights of Columbus. Ninety-three-year-old Hubert Nothem, representing the Founding Families of the parish, carried a bouquet of flowers for the Blessed Virgin. Father Johnson, pastor of St. Mary's, and the entire congregation raised one hand to bless the intentions placed before the Blessed Virgin during the weeklong Octave.

The Sisters of St. Francis, represented by Sister Florence Vaske and Sister Joan Stoffel, presented the Eucharistic gifts to Msgr. Ruba. One of the Communion songs was "Mamm Lei'f Mamm," or "Mother Our Mother," a popular Luxembourg Marian hymn, sung in the native Luxembourger language. Wendy Roder sang the Communion Meditation, "Ave Maria," in Latin as members of the KC's lifted Our Lady of Luxembourg on a platform.

Immediately following Mass, the statue of Our Lady of Luxembourg was carried outside in an impressive procession around the church block. The procession stretched for about two blocks. Prayers were offered to the Blessed Mother at each corner; for the Founding Families of the parish, for the Sisters of St. Francis, for St. Mary's Church building, and for the farms and businesses of the community of Remsen.

As the procession moved from corner to corner, the congregation prayed the Litany of the Blessed Virgin, directed by Father Johnson. From the last corner and until the statue was returned to the church steps, the tower bells peeled in jubilation. A group prayer ended the procession.

Following Mass, attendees enjoyed a parish picnic under a big-top tent, featuring roast hog, pies, and other goodies. Many perused a historical display that was set up in the rectory garage and selected from several collectibles. Others played kids' games or zing zu. Present at the celebration were native daughters of St. Mary's in the Sisterhood, such as Sisters Jeanette Homan, Shirley Waldschmitt, and Marilyn Freking, as well as priests who once served St. Mary's, such as Fathers David Hogan, Randy Schon, and Jim Tigges.

At 2:30 p.m. the parish council told the story of the extraction of a time capsule from the cornerstone to an eager crowd and revealed the items found within. Father Johnson and Msgr. Augustine then blessed the new items to be replaced in the cornerstone and rededicated the stone, the church and the parish to St. Mary.

As part of the celebration weekend, twelve bicyclists made a 23-mile pilgrimage ride to the "St. Donatus" historic site southeast of Alton on Sept. 11. The site was central to the first area of Luxembourger farms in Northwest Iowa and contained a church and cemetery.

The Octave and procession are to become annual events in the parish, with the next Octave planned for May of 2005. A movement is afoot to get all 14 locations in the United States with a statue of Our Lady of Luxembourg to hold annual processions and other devotions. St. Mary's Octave procession is only the third known procession of its type in the U.S. The event is modeled after an annual May event in Luxembourg that has been a part of that country's devotion to Mary for more than three centuries.