The centennial, October 1977

Preparations began early in 1977 for the centennial celebration of St. Patrick's. A Centennial Committee was organized with Mary Lou Butts as chairperson and included Delta Tarnish, Jim and Blanche Corkle, Bob and Ed Hanley, Ed Dziowgo, Barbara Birmingham, Bob Shoemaker, Eileen Robertson and the priests of the parish. Invitations and napkins were printed. In June, Father Conley was reassigned to Norfolk and Father McCluskey was made pastor of Raeville, and Father Benedict LaRocque was appointed as eighth pastor of St. Patrick's. He attended St. Benedict's in Atchison and became a Benedictine monk and taught theology at Atchison. He then became a Trappist monk and lived at the Trappist monastery at Conyers, Georgia.

He came to the Archdiocese of Omaha in 1967 and was assigned to Norfolk. He was pastor of Spencer and Randolph before coming to O'Neill.

Research on the history of the parish was begun that summer by searching through the records of Biglin's Mortuary, the Holt County Records office and the Holt County Independent Archives which contained many of the newspaper clippings and write-ups which were used in the parish history. Mr. David Laplante, a fourth-year theologian, came to the parish in August. He purchased green material for the ten banners to be hung in the church on the ten pillars. These banners were designed and sewed by Sisters Antonella, Barbara, Debra, Marina and Toma, and the banners said: A Loving People, A Noble People, A Holy People, A Pilgrim People, A Chosen People, A Risen People, An Alleluia People, A Priestly People, A Kingly People, A Glory People. Also a green banner with the material coming from Ireland and with a large white Celtic Cross was made by Sister Antonella and which was to be hung on the bell tower from the opening of the tower to the ground.

The exterior of the church was sand-blasted during the summer by Mid Continental Waterproofing of Fort Scott Kansas. Dinner tickets were printed up and these were sold by the Knights of Columbus. The priests of the Archdiocese of Omaha were sent invitations to be celebrants at the Centennial Mass and also guests at the banquet. Invitations were also sent to State Senator John Decamp, Congressmen Virginia Smith, John Cavanaugh and Charles Thone, and to Senators Carl Curtis and Edward Zorinsky, and to Governor J. J. Exon and Lieutenant Governor Gerald Whalen. Invitations also went out to the Sisters who served in St. Mary's Schools and who were daughter-Sisters of the parish. The families of the parish began to get their pictures taken for the centennial book and many parishioners began to bring in their old pictures. Meal preparations were made with a catering firm in Norfolk so that the women of the parish could also be included in the banquet.

Hostesses for the dinner were Mary Lou Butts, Delta Tharnish, Marilyn Mattern, and Eileen Robertson. Decorations for the tables were arranged by Sister Antonella, Barbara Birmingham, Irene Slahlecker, Freda Beha and Jeanne Ramold. Many flowers were donated by various women of

O'Neill who had flower gardens. The St. Mary's Gymnasium was decorated the Saturday before the celebration, as was the church. The long green banner was dropped from the bell tower and could be seen for miles south of O'Neill.

The city of O'Neill put out the Welcome Flags and the United States Flags to set the town for both a church and civic celebration. Nancy Grady and Ruth McArville, who have for the past twenty years given much of their time and talent to the music in the parish, had the last practice with the student choir which numbered Lori Becker, Eileen Cavanaugh, Teresa Dugan, Laurie Fink, Mary Fox, Kate Gallagher, Linda Kallhoff, Ruth Krupski, Judy McKenzie, Mary Mattern, Lynette Peter, Ann Ramold, Bridget REmold, Terri Rohde, Barb Schaub, Patti Scheinost, Jeanne Shoemaker, Laurie Sobotka, Kathy Zakrzewski, Valerie Auen, Elizabeth Berigan, Kelly Chohon, Jean Cuddy, Julie Fink, Nancy Gaughenbaugh, Jackie Heimes, Joan Kauhoff, Peggy I+owe, Lori McLain, Susan Miles, Susan Pfeifer, Jean Pribil, Debra Scheinost, Liz Selting, Dianne Shannahan, Kathy Soukup, Rita Timmerman, hinda Ziska, Ellen Appleby, Natalie Auen, Valerie Hansen, Sharlene Tomjack, John Berigan, Brian Heimes, Jerry Miles, Mike Pfeifer, Daniel Schneider, Steve Soukup, Kevin Tharnish, Dan Gallagher, Tom Gleeson, Tom Bosn Richard Gokie, Dan Hershiser, Glen Kallhoff, James McArville, Terry Noonen, Jerome Rohde, Neil Ruzicka, David Schneider, David Tomjack, Gary Wanser, Bryan Ramold, Lynne Rezac, Rose Ramold, Alma Clark, John Boyle. Paula Lowe. The Dancing Group which was to perform at the dinner were doing the routine in the gymnasium. This group included Liz Berigan, Patti Ramold, Susan Miles, Kathy Kersenbrock, Debbie Scheinost, Lori McLain, Tracy Bazelman, Lori Becker, Terri Rohde, Mary Mattern, James McArville, Eileen Cavanaugh, Edward Donohoe and Patti Schienost. Their music was produced by the Shamrock Fiddlers.

Mr. David Laplante trained the altar servers for the big celebration. Candle bearers included James Berigan, John Bohn, A. J. Smith, Michael Bohn, Robert Grenier, and Robert Eby. Cross bearer was Michael Fink. The American Flag was carried by Bill Banks and the Papal Flag was carried by Robert Smith. The thurifer or incense bearer was Gregory Roby. The deacon for the celebration was Rev. Mr. Lloyd Gnirk, who was deacon at the Cathedral in Omaha and Mr. David Ijaplante the fourth-year theologian stationed at St. Patrick's and who was to be ordained a Deacon on the upcoming December 3, was sub-deacon.

Archbishop Daniel Sheehan was to be the main celebrant. Final preparations were being done in the sanctuary. Upon the altar was placed a corporal, the white piece of linen upon which the sacred vessels rest during the Eucharistic Prayer, and in the corner was the name "Msgr. Cassidy, O'Neill, Nebraska." A bouquet of 100 yellow roses was placed in front of the pulpit and these were a gift of Gil Poese and Radio Station KBRX.

The Centennial Day, October 16, dawned as a beautiful fall day with a Nebraska breeze blowing in the tree tops.

The huge green banner began to tear near the Celtic Cross and Father Dvorak and Father Potts made an effort to save the banner with a few "stitches in time" but the wind was too much for the banner and it fell to the ground right before the 4 o'clock Centennial Mass. The parish float, which on the previous day had won a first prize in the O'Neill High School homecoming parade, was parked in front of the church. Two children were dressed in a cassock and a Sister's habit to greet the parishioners, former parishioners, and guests. Mike Havranek and Kathy Wallen, children of the Don Havraneks and John Wallens, were first graders at St. Mary's School. Along with a statue of St. Patrick (which was taller than the children) this miniature "priest" and "Sister" rotated a scene which showed the first St. Patrick's church on one side and the present church on the other side.

The priests gathered at the rectory and vested for the occasion. Among those present were Fathers James McCluskey of Raeville, John Conneally of Emerson, Donald Stortz of Constance, Frank Dvorak of O'Neill, Benedict LaRocque of O'Neill, Frank Kubart of Stuart, Thomas Sellentin of Spencer, Melvern Wiese of Creighton, Terrence Finney of Butte, Francis Price of St. Isidore-Columbus, Kenneth Potts of O'Neill, Daniel Brick of Ewing, Paul Fangman of Primrose, Paul Peter of St. Cecilia-Omaha, William Wiedner of Lynch, James Bushelman of Scotus Columbus, Charles Oborny of Verdigre, Martin Conley of Norfolk, Kenneth Carl of Central City, Robert Steinhausen of Papillion, Michael Printy of Cedar Rapids, Allen Martin of Bancroft, Ralph Steffensmeier of Madison, Peter Dunne of St. Margaret Mary-Omaha, James Kramper, the Archdiocesan Vocational Director. Terry Noonan was first Reader and Sister Mary Carroll was second reader. There were 50 Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, including their Provincial Superior, Sister Geraldine Clifford of Denver.

Father Francis Price, a native of O'Neill. delivered the sermon at the Mass and quoted from the Holt County Centennial Book and "Maggie First," a recent book on early life in the area. He told of early life of St. Patrick's Parish when it wasn't unusual for persons to become lost in the wide open rolling hills of the O'Neill area. He praised the early people who kept on trying through suffering to build a community with faith in God. Fires, he said, played a major part in the growth of Catholic education with the first school burned to the ground before it was used and the grade school and convent which burned in 1965. He recalled the strict, stern Monsignor Michael Cassidy who was pastor from 1886 to 1933 and who was accompanied by a menacing looking cane should any ornery little boy or girl get out of line. "Each point in our history," he told those attending Mass, "complemented the other to make this a great parish." He called the cost differences in constructing the present church and rectory. "You parishioners are phenomenal," he noted in praise of the parish members generosity. As old-fashioned as he seemed, Monsignor

Cassidy's ideas were about fifty years ahead of his time, Father Price said. Many of his ideas were eventually reflected in Vatican 11, especially in devotion to the Sacred Heart and in education. "Monsignor Cassidy knew that the future of the children depends on their education,"

Father Price said. . “The dedicated Sisters were well prepared and helped lead the children from ignorance to God . . . Let us not forget how we got here," Father Price said, "As long as we are His people, thank Him for what He has done.

As the people were greeted by an elementary band made up of young students under the direction of Marya Lucca, when they went into church, they were greeted with patriotic music selections done by the O'Neill Public High School Band which also contained members from St. Mary's Junior High School & St. Mary's Senior High School. The priests and people then went to the St. Mary's Gymnasium for the special centennial dinner. There were 574 dinners served and special guests included Archbishop Daniel E. Sheehan and Lieutenant Governor Gerald T. Whelan (who was in O'Neill to also help dedicate the new Valley Hope Center) along with several former pastors and other special guests.

George Hammond, Master of Ceremonies for the evening, noted that the original church was built at a cost of $535 with the lumber hauled by oxen from Wisner. John Mayberry built that structure. The centennial was set in 1977, 100 years after the first permanent pastor, Father John T. Smith was assigned to the parish. "The dinner," Hammond said, "was to honor the memories of the clergy and the Founding Fathers of St. Patrick's Church who have gone on before us to be with the One that was the guiding light and the reason for the existence of St. Patrick's Parish for one hundred years. We also honor the presence of the clergy and Sisters who have worked in the vineyard of St. Patrick's Parish over the years. A parish is only as good as the clergy who guide it spiritually and physically. St. Patrick's has been blessed by God with tremendous quality and leadership over the century." Hammond noted that the parish has had several priests ordained from its ranks with Fathers Francis Price of Columbus and Allen Martin of Bancroft attending. Unable to attend the celebration were Fathers Thomas DeBacker of Howells; Basil Price of Seoul, Korea; and Eugene Gallagher of Omaha. Deceased priests from the parish are Father Richard Dwyer, Clement Ryan, and Peter Price. Seminarians from the parish now studying for the priesthood include Leonard Sagenbrecht, Ben Mattern, Kurt Fox, Mark Rohde, Jarrel KallhoH., and John Miller. Those who entered the brotherhood included Ivo Regan. Among those who graduated from St. Mary's and entered the Sisterhood include Sisters Maureen Murphy, Agnes Taylor, Elma Vifquain, Rosemarie Miller, Carmen Baumeister, Xavier Kirsch, Joy Peter, Faith O'Malley, Eileen Gran, Jeanine Hershiser, Elaine Arbuthnot, Colleen Mahony, Agnes Marie Slaight, Regina Boyle, Ellen McAbe, Immaculata McArthy, Patrice McArthy, George Shoemaker, Antonella Troshynski, Jolenta Troshynski and Marina Wernsmann.

Then, Mr. Hammond continued, are the many assistant pastors who helped the pastors with their work here at St. Patrick's. These included: Thomas Cullen, Patrick Brophy, Charles Mugan, Charles Kolin, Julius Delbove, Henry Hoheisel, M. F. Sheehan, William Rehbach, John Wall, J. Hancik, Thomas S. Moriarty, Adam Brass, Timothy O'Discoil, Patrick A. Flanagan, Michael E. Dolan, A. Heimes, James Dobson, John F. Moore, William J. O'Sullivan, Edward J. Flanagan, Edward M. Gleason, Thomas Carmody, M. L. Ballou, William Giblin, Joseph Lappan, Joseph E. Duhamel, Joseph R. Kohler, Jeremiah W. O'Sullivan, Martin J. Brady, Bartholomew J. Leahy, Walter F. Flynn, Peter F. Burke, Richard J. Parr, Daniel F. Brick, Raymond J. Lisco, Cyril J. Werner, Alex A. Onak, Kenneth Carl, Thomas P. Hitch, Robert B. Duffy, Anthony M. Milone,

Terrence R. Finney, Duaine Crick, William M. Rucker, George Cagni, Roger Steffen, James F. Buschelman, James F. McLuskey, Franklin A. Dvorak and Kenneth M. Potts.

During dinner Mrs. Frances Jirak Soukup recalled some of the early days of O'Neill Catholic life. She remembered going to church in a horse-drawn buggy at a time when it was unusual to see cars parked beside the old frame church. As a child, she lived in the southern ranch area and recalled Monsignor Cassidy and his cane. "He used to teach us catechism. He was the only one who could make me sit up straight. He threatened to use the cane on me if I didn't, but I don't really think he would have. He was a strict priest." Like many of the “old timers" of St. Patrick's Parish, Mrs. Sokoup's parents were married in the present church – which was new at that time. Her father even helped provide labor for the church building, digging the basement with other men armed with spades. "The older friends are dying off," she noted, "and that's hard to take."

Many persons were honored at the banquet program, including Earl Hersh of Denver, Colorado. He helped build the present church and lay the cornerstone. Quite a bit of nostalgia, spiced with Irish humor, filled the hour-long program.

Assisted both times by the Irish Shamrock Fiddlers, the O’Neill Irish Dancers performed a traditional Irish jig and later a polka for the 700 people in the school gym. A talented Renee Tomlinson sang "Try To Remember" as slides were projected onto a screen on the stage. The slides were pictures of deceased pastors and the early buildings of the St. Patrick-St. Mary complex.

Four pastors, present and past, gave tributes to the centennial celebration. Father John Conneally declared: "There are so many to whom I owe so much. The bonds of love survive." He read a poem he'd written, describing O'Neill as being God's country. "If I should ever write another poem," he concluded, “please don't report it over there to Rome." Fathers Peter Dunne and Martin Conley both said that it was difficult to follow an act like Father Conneally's. They expressed thanks for having been part of the parish for three and five years, respectively. "What more is there to say?" questioned the present pastor, Father Benedict LaRocque, "We are all celebrating something someone else gave us. With God's help, we'll go on." He stressed the continuing cooperation of the people and said, "We must continue to give in heart and material" to continue to teach the young and serve everyone Mr. Hammond then called upon Archbishop Sheehan to speak. "When the Son of Man returns to Earth will He find faith?" asked the Archbishop. "He will find it if O'Neill is any indication. Your faith is alive, hopeful and well." Fitting the O'Neill parish into a broad history of the Omaha archdiocese - but it wasn't called that one hundred years ago - Archbishop Sheehan said the settlers were hardy and strong in faith. At that time, he reminded, the bishop had only four priests to serve the diocese. As the Catholic population increased and the number of priests available to serve them also increased, the state was divided into three parts: The Omaha archdiocese, plus the diocese of Lincoln and Grand Island. When these counties (Holt & Boyd) were included in the Omaha archdiocese instead of the one at Grand Island, people must have suspected that Monsignor Cassidy had a direct line into the Vatican. "In a celebration like this," the Archbishop said, "you all gather to celebrate one hundred years of faith . . . strong, glorious living faith. It is a time to look back, examine our consciences and look forward to the time when the Son of Man will return to Earth." But the parish must be willing to assume the responsibilities of continuing teaching its faith to the younger generations, he concluded.

The program then turned itself to the voices of St. Patrick's Centennial Choir, dressed in period costumes. The choir consisted of Elaine McKenzie, Lorraine Becker, Viona Cuddy, Bonnie Lowe, Karen Ramold, Renee Tomlinson, Marya Lucca, Ruth McArville, Nancy Grady, Barbara Birmingham, Edward Tharnish, Joseph Janousek, Constance Miller, Robert Miles, Charles Scheinost, Tony Bosn with piano accompaniment by Nancy Berigan. To the tune of "Yankee Doodle," they sang "We Are Members Of St. Patrick's" with the words: We are members of St. Patrick's, Loyal members do or die. A real live parish for a hundred years, Born in the days long gone by. We're proud to say we're from St. Patrick's, Every woman, man and boy. Here's to pastors, past and present, Sisters of St. Mary's, One hundred years of faith and joy.

This group then led the community present in old favorite and meaningful songs: "My Wild Irish Rose," "The Bells Of St. Mary's," "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" and concluding with "God Bless America." All those present raised their voices in song and were thankful that God had been with them the past one-hundred years and was continuing to be with them as the present generation is carrying on what the forefathers of O'Neill-St. Patrick's started one-hundred years ago. Radio station KBRX, which aired both the centennial Mass and the Centennial Dinner for those who could not be present, help in a very special way so that those of the community who could not be present could purchase the tapes which recorded the centennial celebration. The closing benediction was given by Father Benedict LaRocque, the present pastor, who thanked Our Father for the gifts in the past, for the friendship present, and that He would be with all of us in the future.