Sacred Heart parish celebrates 100 years

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
Sept. 20, 2007

Past and present parishioners of Sacred Heart Church in Sioux City gathered to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the parish on Sept. 16.

Longtime Sacred Heart parishioner, Lynn Hoffman, said the celebration of the parish's 100 years was "fantastic."

A parishioner since 1971, she said, "It is really tremendous that the parish is celebrating 100 years. I probably have a special edge because I worked here from 1975 to 1978. Then I donated my time as the parish bookkeeper for 18 years," she said. "It was great because I got to know most of the priests that were our pastors."

Former pastors, native sons of the parish and priests of Sioux City led the procession into the church for the 1 p.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop R. Walker Nickless. The priests were Msgrs. R. Mark Duchaine and Roger Augustine and Fathers Craig Collison, pastor at Sacred Heart, Jude Brunnert, M.S., William Overmann, Robert Brown, Bruce Lawler, Joseph Dillinger, Brent Lingle, Patrick Walsh, Jerome Cosgrove, Michael Erpelding and other priests of Sioux City. Deacon Mark Wyant assisted at the Mass.

"It is great to be here to celebrate 100 years of blessings at Sacred Heart Church," said Bishop Nickless. "A special word of welcome goes to those who have traveled far to be with us this afternoon."

During the homily, the bishop reflected on the history of Sacred Heart.

"The priests that join us today have already had a long day, but they are here because Sacred Heart holds a special place in their hearts," said the bishop. "I thank all of you for being here to celebrate the Eucharist, which in itself means thanksgiving. There is no better way to celebrate God's blessings among us - a century of blessing - than to celebrate the holy sacrifice of the Mass."

Many priests have played an important role in the history of Sacred Heart and the bishop thanked them - past and present - for their ministry and service.

He mentioned that the long version of St. Luke's Gospel was read during Mass for a reason. The Gospel was three stories about being lost and found - the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son.

"These three Gospel stories are about God's affection, God's compassion and God's generosity," said Bishop Nickless. "Most of all they are about God's mercy and love."

The lost son, after leaving home, finds emptiness. It is a story about being far from God and a desire return home. Many present at the Mass had returned home to Sacred Heart Church.

"In this house of prayer, in this parish community, you have experienced God the father's love in the celebration of the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, marriage and the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ," said the bishop. "You have experienced God's forgiveness and healing in the sacraments of confession and anointing of the sick. Sacred Heart Parish has been doing that for over 100 years. That is how blessed and how great God's love is."

The offertory gifts were presented to Bishop Nickless by Sister Margaret Hansen, former principal at Sacred Heart School; Sister Mary Lee Cox, ESL teacher at Sacred Heart; and Mary Lou O'Gorman, teacher at Sacred Heart.

At the conclusion of Mass, Father Collison thanked everyone who helped with the day. He also thanked the bishop for coming and presented him with the new Sacred Heart history book.

"This is a day we have been planning for quite a while," said Father Collison. "Over a year ago, I asked Joan Redding and Mary Lonergan to do two special things for us in preparation for our centennial. I asked Joan if she would take on the task of writing the history of the parish and put it into book form that everyone could take and enjoy. I asked Mary at the same time, with her artistic talent, to come up with a logo we could use for the centennial. She did so with great beauty and with prayer."

Redding used church archives and other sources to put together the history of the parish. She also visited the records room at the Woodbury County Court House to gather information.

"We have had quite a history," said the author. "I thought the celebration was beautiful. They did a nice job decorating the church and with the music. The bishop was wonderful as he always is."

A chicken dinner was held in the school gym following Mass. Activities were set up for the children such as face painting, musical chairs, football toss and many others.