Immaculate Conception celebrates 100 years

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
August 17, 2006

Immaculate Conception Parish in Sioux City celebrated 100 years on Aug. 13 with a 3 p.m. Mass followed by a light lunch in the Mater Dei-Immaculate Conception Center gym.

Bishop R. Walker Nickless presided at the Mass with Father Dan Guenther, pastor at Immaculate Conception in Sioux City; Msgr. Roger Augustine, Father Paul-Louis Arts, Father Gerald Feierfeil, Father Steve Brodersen, Father Dan Greving, Father Tim Johnson, Father Paul Kelly and Father Thomas Topf as concelebrants. Deacon Mike Hand was on hand as well.

The celebration began with the choir singing as people gathered in the church.

"It is a blessing to be here to celebrate 100 years of faith and worship at Immaculate Conception Parish," said Bishop Nickless. "What a wonderful opportunity it is for us to be together to celebrate our Catholic faith."

Father Guenther gave the homily. He recounted what life would have been like 100 years ago and the many changes that have taken place.

"As all of our parishioners here well know, this past year we have been celebrating in various places and at various events," said Father Guenther. "One hundred years, that is tremendous, isn't it? One hundred years is not only a long time for any institution but a wonderful milestone. It is a time for us to especially stop and acknowledge God's generous outpouring of graces upon us as a parish for 100 years."

He also explained how Immaculate Conception Parish came to be and who was involved in its beginnings. The first bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City, Bishop P.J. Garrigan was involved in making Immaculate Conception a parish. Father J. F. Kerby, an associate at the Cathedral, became the first pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish.

"Immaculate Conception Parish has grown beautifully and wonderfully over the years," said Father Guenther. "We have had many vocations - priesthood, religious life and diaconate - from this parish. Since our founding 100 years ago, three additional parishes have grown out of Immaculate Conception - St. Francis Parish in 1907, St. Casimir Parish in 1915 and Nativity Parish in 1965."

He pointed out that the lay participation in the parish has been "outstanding" over the years.

"When I came here as a pastor one year ago, right away what struck me was the great sense of pride and the great sense of ownership that you parishioners have," said Father Guenther. "The key uniting element in our parish is our strong participation in and our strong devotion to the holy Eucharist."

At the end of the Mass, Bishop Nickless blessed plaques that will hang in the church's two chapels - the Saint Francis Daily Mass Chapel and St. Casimir Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. These were two Morningside parishes that were closed in the 1990s.

Bishop Nickless also blessed each of the chapels with holy water while the choir sang "All are Welcome."

The bishop concluded the Mass with a few comments and a blessing.

"I, too, would like to congratulate the parishioners of Immaculate Conception Parish on your 100th anniversary as a parish community," said Bishop Nickless. "As father said, a lot has happened from the humble beginnings of this parish in 1906. Father Kerby had a vision of a parish community that would nourish and sustain the Catholic faith."

He thanked the people who were part of St. Francis and St. Casimir parishes.

"Today with these two chapels, we acknowledge that we are church, we are one," said Bishop Nickless.

Sister Joy Weideman, OSM, a former parishioner and vocation from the parish, attended the Mass and celebration.

"I grew up in this parish just two blocks down the street," said Sister Joy. "I was here at Immaculate Conception (once we moved). I had Sister James for third grade and Sister John for fourth grade who told me I was destined to be a Servant of Mary."

She explained that even when she went to school at East High School, she kept in close contact with the sisters at Immaculate Conception. She added that she knew from fourth grade on that she wanted to be a sister.

"This is my parish, I was baptized here," said Sister Joy. "It was really a wonderful experience for our sisters because we were here for over 80 years. We didn't leave until 1995."

While in Sioux City, Sister Joy took care of her mother and taught at Heelan for 11 years. She now lives in Omaha at Our Lady of Sorrows Convent.

Life-long and oldest Immaculate Conception parishioner, Loretta (Kirby) Neilsen, was also in attendance at the celebration Mass. She was baptized and made her First Communion in the old church.

"I think the Mass was wonderful. The most beautiful ceremony," said Neilsen. "It was very impressive. I thought that (having the two new chapels) was great."

She noted that she "wouldn't have missed it for anything." Neilsen attends Mass every Saturday night at Immaculate Conception.

Sister Suzanne Vandenheede, OSM, was principal at Immaculate Conception School from 1975 to 1981.

"We were invited and we were all thrilled to come," said Sister Suzanne. "There were about 16 of us. It was so nice to be invited because there are so many good people in this school and in this parish. It is great to see a lot of these people again."

She commented that the celebration was wonderful. She was touched about "welcoming those two parishes that were orphaned, sort of. I think that was a wonderful thing to do. That really moved me."

During the celebration in the school gym following the Mass, a table was set up to sell cookbooks, Christmas balls and DVDs about the parish. Magnets representing the parish were also given to those in attendance.