150 years of Catholic faith: Holy Rosary celebrates milestone
Posted 6/9/15
When the Gerringers bought a home and relocated to rural Warren County 10 years ago, they were looking for a quiet place to settle and enjoy their retirement years. The move also meant that the …
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150 years of Catholic faith: Holy Rosary celebrates milestone
Posted
When the Gerringers bought a home and relocated to rural Warren County 10 years ago, they were looking for a quiet place to settle and enjoy their retirement years.The move also meant that the couple had to find a new church home.After contemplating on what parish to join, Les Gerringer saw a similarity when he and his wife, Barbara, visited Holy Rosary Catholic Church for the first time. The church reminded him of one he frequented when he was a kid.“We came here and saw this church, I said this is where we’re going to be,” Les Gerringer recalled.It’s a decision he has not regretted.“I would not trade that for nothing,” Les said. “We have enjoyed it ever since.”This year, Holy Rosary is celebrating its 150th anniversary. The parish commemorated the milestone with a weekend full of celebrations Aug. 29-30.Check out the gallery from the event here: http://bit.ly/1NaccZsOn Saturday, Archbishop Robert Carlson visited the church and participated in that evening’s Mass, followed by a reception.The following day, the church hosted a barbecue and had live music, games and other activities as attendees were able to reminisce and share their memories about the church. Hundreds attended the celebration, exceeding organizer’s expecations.“Holy Rosary is special because of the great community spirit,” said Father John Mayo, who was assigned to the church in 2014. “Families have belonged to our parish for generations and it is home for them. They know how to get together and enjoy one another’s company. At the same time, it is a welcoming community that is open to new persons joining the community as well.”Church HistoryThe present church, located off Highway M near the Warrenton-Truesdale city limits, is the fourth facility to serve Catholics in the area. It was constructed in 1965.When Holy Rosary opened in 1865, property for the parish’s first church building was purchased in Truesdale, on the same property where the existing city hall is located. In 1868, construction was completed.New church buildings were later constructed in 1882 and 1920, both on the southeast corner of Pinckney and South streets in Truesdale.John Deutsch, a parishioner who has been compiling the church’s history for the past year, noted that twice the church purchased property from Central Wesleyan College.“The diocese always had a good relationship with the college here,” he said.Holy Rosary School was opened Sept. 8, 1952, in the building that was formerly known as the east cottage of the Wesleyan Orphan Asylum, Deutsch said. The school later relocated to its present facility in 1985. An addition to the school was completed in 2002, featuring a gymnasium, library, classroom and computer lab. It serves children in kindergarten through eighth grade.Having spent countless hours researching archives and seeking information from all sorts of places, Deutsch plans on writing a book about the church’s history.“I want to make sure all the information is in there,” he said.Home For ManyHoly Rosary Church is a home to many families who have been active members for decades. As some move on, other families move in. The parish’s numbers continue to grow over time.Currently, the church holds one Saturday evening Mass and has three services on Sunday mornings. A Spanish Mass also is held Sunday afternoons.The Sommer family is one who has been a member for a long period of time. Leo Sommer has been a member of the church since 1956 when his family moved to the area. At the time he was around 7 years old.Today, he still is an active member.“I think it’s a pretty close-knit parish,” Sommer said. “A lot of parishes have squabbles and stuff and I don’t think we have too many there.”It’s that type of camaraderie that is an attraction for many. Parishioners who attend Holy Rosary seem to know one another a little bit better compared to other churches, said Les Gerringer.“Like I was telling my daughter last night, everybody prays, everybody sings,” he said. “That is what church to me is about. It’s contributing and not just sitting there. That is what is good about a small church.”
Holy Rosary parishioners pose for a picture outlining 150 during the church's anniversary celebration Sunday, Aug. 30.
