DECISION MADE: Maryhill church will not be rebuilt

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Nov. 23, 2006

MARYHILL - After months of input and prayer, Bishop R. Walker Nickless of the Diocese of Sioux City has determined that Visitation Church in Maryhill will not be rebuilt.

The rural church, located about seven miles from Cherokee, was leveled during a storm on Aug. 1.

The bishop's decision was delivered in a letter that was recently sent to all parishioners.

"Ever since the sudden storm that destroyed your church at Maryhill, I have been receiving letters from parishioners like you. Much of that correspondence contains elements of depression, frustration, anger and confusion; a sense of loss and pain has been the common theme," wrote Bishop Nickless. "But another part of that correspondence contains wonderful testimonies, fond recollections, and still-vivid memories of significant events that took place in Visitation Church over the past years."

In those letters from parishioners, noted the bishop, was a strong sense of faith and a determination to persevere. Those letters also acknowledged an appreciation for the struggle that the bishop was going through concerning discernment over the decision about the future of the parish.

Bishop Nickless called it the most difficult experience he has had to confront since his January ordination as bishop.

"But knowing how many of the good people of Maryhill understand the significance of what has happened, I feel confident that I have reached the right decision," wrote the bishop. "Having carefully considered all of the arguments pro and con, I have regretfully reached the conclusion that no new church will be constructed at Maryhill."

He acknowledged that the decision would create sadness in their hearts, but also trusts that their deep faith will serve as a strong consolation as they remember the past and look to the future.

Father Armand Bertrand, pastor at Maryhill and the cluster parishes of Immaculate Conception in Cherokee and St. John's in Quimby, pointed out that the reaction has been very quiet.

"Some have expressed openly that they are happy the issue has finally been resolved. Others are not saying anything but I know they are not happy," he said.

Father Bertrand said that said that since the storm, they have had several months to deal with the physical loss of the church. He referred to it as a mourning process similar to a death.

"This process will continue. People react to death in different ways and that is exactly what is happening here. We see people who are ready to move on into a new parish and some want to continue to hang onto the old," he said.

The priest said he continues to call upon the people to realize that "the bishop's decision is God's will for us."

Father Gene Sitzmann, retired priest who was pastor at Maryhill from 1970 to 2005, said the bishop's letter that was sent to parishioners "was most kindly, pastoral, and appreciative of the deep religious faith tradition of the Maryhill parish - a parish that has engendered 14 religious vocations. His letter also expressed the realism at hand regarding the future of a parish which is primarily rural in membership and the growing shortage of priests."

Insurance settlement funds will be held in trust until the formal steps are taken regarding the canonical status of Visitation Church in terms of formal closure of the parish.

Father Bertrand explained that presently Visitation Parish still exists and the 8:30 a.m. Mass that is held at Immaculate Conception is for Maryhill parishioners and utilizes parishioners from that parish for ministers of the liturgy - lectors, eucharistic ministers and so on.

Once the parish has been officially closed, each household will be given the opportunity to choose a new parish which most likely will be Cherokee, Quimby or Marcus. In his letter, the bishop stated that at point "an appropriate 'share' of the insurance settlement will follow you into the parish's accounts for continued pastoral care. In the meantime, I trust that you will continue to find a warm welcome at Immaculate Conception Church in Cherokee."

In the letter, the bishop said he has concluded that it would be spiritually meaningful for some type of memorial to be constructed on the Maryhill grounds. Bishop Nickless has asked Father Brian Hughes to serve as the architectural consultant for the project.

Students from the Maryhill parish enrolled in parish religious education classes have been attending a cluster program in Cherokee or the Marcus parish program.