By Julie A. Miller
Catholic Herald
Parish celebrates 100 years
Lake Nebagamon Catholics gather for centennial Mass
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Prior to the centennial Mass a procession was held through the streets of Lake Nebagamon. The parade of parishioners ended at St. Anthony Church. (Photo by Julie A. Miller) |
LAKE NEBAGAMON -- Deer dining on church floral decorations and the parish softball team's loss to a neighboring Lutheran Church did not mar the centennial celebration at St. Anthony Church.
In charge of the celebration was parish pastoral council member Eileen O'Meara, who has been a parishioner for five years. She is proud to be a part of St. Anthony's and noted how everyone "really came together to make this happen."
The centennial was a time for reflection. Long-time parishioner Irene Bridge, a member for 53 years, said, "We've come a long way. There are many more parishioners. When I first came here there were about five or six families in the winter." The parish now has over 115 families.
Altar Society president Janet Plunkett cherishes the friendships she has developed with other members and is pleased with the level of participation of parishioners. "People are getting more involved than they were 30 years ago. The younger people coming in want to get involved," said Plunkett, a parishioner for about 40 years.
The culmination of the weekend of activities was the Mass on Sunday, Aug. 15, with Bishop Raphael M. Fliss presiding. Concelebrants included Fr. Dean T. Buttrick, pastor, and Fr. Lee Flaherty, CPpS. Prior to Mass a procession made its way from the village auditorium to the church. Uniformed Boy Scouts, a Knights of Columbus fourth degree honor guard, and a long line of parishioners walked to the church with Buttrick and Deacon Philip L. Martineau of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Superior.
In his homily, Fliss recalled that as a child he prayed to St. Anthony when something was lost, and mentioned a little prayer that Archbishop Rembert Weakland of Milwaukee used as a child in Pennsylvania: "Tony, Tony, look around, something's lost and must be found."
Fliss mentioned the ups and downs, the joys and sorrows of the parish, and called the centennial weekend a time to reminisce and to take stock. "You have many things going for you, certainly, your weekend liturgy, your Wednesday (Eucharistic) Adoration, religious education, adult formation, Bible studies, parish nurse program, outreach programs. You also have a wonderful pastor," he said.
"You know the parish is very important," Fliss added. "That is the place from which you continue the very mission of Christ." He also noted the particular importance of St. Anthony's. "Other churches have joined you -- St. Anne of Blueberry, St. Benedict of Bennett. They have merged with you so that St. Anthony became the spiritual center, the parish, for the area Catholics."
In commenting on the day's Gospel (John 6:41-51), Fliss emphasized how shocked the listeners were when Jesus spoke of being the bread of life. "There was disbelief. People even accused Jesus of arrogance and more." Fliss added that he hoped it was not so controversial for the people of St. Anthony's to understand Christ as the bread of life. "It does remain a challenge for us. That challenge is what (the) encounter with Christ in the sacrament implies. What does that mean for us Christians who come to this altar? "
Fliss concluded his homily by wishing the parishioners well as evangelists, sharing the good news. "I'd like us all to be able to say, 'It is ... my relationship with Christ, my relationship with the Christian family and God's people that makes all the difference in the world.'"
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2000