St. Michael centennial committee seeks photos of charter members

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
March 9, 2006

Preparations are underway at St. Michael's Church in Sioux City as the parish and its parishioners plan activities to mark 100 years of faith this spring.

A May 13 Mass and parish dinner is planned for the occasion. It was on May 13, 1906 that Bishop Garrigan celebrated and preached Mass in the I.O.O.F. Hall in Leeds. About 60 people from 25 families attended that Mass.

Along with the Mass and dinner, one of the highlights of the centennial will be a memory showroom. The room, to be set up in the day chapel at St. Michael Church, will house various historical photos, information and artifacts. The showroom will be open after weekend Masses on April 29 and 30, May 6 and 7 along with May 13.

Mary Kay Barkley and Judy Mahaney, chairs of the centennial committee with their husbands, pointed out that they would like to give special recognition to the parish's charter members. With that in mind, they are seeking photographs.

They have secured photographs for four of the charter families - Mr. and Mrs. Henry Clark and sons, Joseph, Temple, James and Leo; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gruber and son, William and daughter, Rose; Mr. and Mrs. Hank Barret and son, Miles, and daughter, Grace; and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Carraher and their 13 children.

The women are seeking photos for 21 other charter families including these couples and their children: Mr. and Mrs. Michael Rae, Mr. and Mrs. George Beck, Mr. and Mrs. Phil Parks, Mr. and Mrs. Pat Dunn, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Dunn, Mr. and Mrs. John Murray, Mr. and Mrs. J. Kelly, Mr. and Mrs. M. Hayden, Mr. and Mrs. J. Hamman, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Schmok, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Clancey, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kerby, Mrs. Melinda McDermott, Mr. and Mrs. C. Spring, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Giessler, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Muir, Mr. and Mrs. Dan O'Brien, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Dalton, Mr. and Mrs. H. Bourdelais and Mr. and Mrs. William Garvey.

"If anyone out there knows of any of these people, we would like them to contact us," noted Barkley. They have high hopes that some of the grandchildren are still in this area.

She pointed out that her mother-in-law Rose was a charter member, as she was the daughter of the Grubers. Rose died in 2002 at age 97.

"It's amazing how some of these same names are still around," noted Mahaney. "Some of the old names are intertwined with the newer ones through marriages."

Barkley explained that they would scan in the photos for display purposes, so the originals will be returned to the people right away. That way the photos are not at risk of damage.

In addition to gathering information for the memory showroom and making plans for a dinner on May 13, those involved in the centennial planning committee have begun to sell rosaries that features a commemorative medallion containing a picture of the former St. Michael's Church known as the "little church" on one side and the present church on the other.

"We wanted to have a religious item as a souvenir," noted Barkley.

Beads are available in a variety of colors and shapes such as oval, round and hearts. Along with crystals, there are wooden beads that they believe may be of particular interest to men.

There are 250 rosaries. The cost is $25.

Mahaney mentioned that if people are interested in purchasing a rosary, they should do so as soon as possible.

If there was high demand for the rosaries and time allowed, they may look in to reordering.

Also for sale are raffle tickets for seven items, noted Mahaney. The prizes include $500 cash, a week at Okoboji, a St. Michael walking stick carved by a parishioner, a three-piece Nativity set made out of glass from the old church, an oak hall tree made by a parishioner, an oak lamp with wall hanging and a patio bench with flower box.

"These were all either made or donated by St. Michael parishioners," noted Barkley.

Raffle tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. Each of the items will be raffled off separately. The drawing will take place on May 13.

The rosaries and raffle tickets are available for sale at the Friday Fish Fries and after some weekend Masses.

A couple of other activities are also in the works such as providing a special treat for students at Holy Cross School.