By Julie Godfrey Miller
Catholic Herald
Frederic parish celebrates 100th
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Several children of the parish played a special part in the Mass and in the enthronement of the centennial icon. They are Oliver Cohen, left, Connor McGinnty, Jillian Klatt, Grace Blevins, John D'Jock, Graham Hall and Ben Flanery. They are all 8 years old, except D'Jock, who is 7-1/2. (Catholic Herald photo by Julie Godfrey Miller) |
FREDERIC -- St. Dominic Church was filled to capacity for a special Mass celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the parish.
The Mass began with a welcome by Fr. David Lusson, pastor of St. Dominic Parish and Immaculate Conception Parish in Grantsburg. He noted that there were other causes to celebrate on that day. He was also celebrating the 24th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, and it was the 19th anniversary of the day Bishop Raphael M. Fliss succeeded Bishop George A. Hammes.
Lusson also explained that a special plaque, or icon, had been made to commemorate the centennial. It includes pictures of both the old and current churches, and the letter from Bishop James Schwebach of the Diocese of LaCrosse, granting permission to establish the parish. (See brief history on page 8)
He said, "With pride in our past and faith in our future, we celebrate 100 years of witness to Christ."
Fliss presided at the celebration Mass. Concelebrants were Lusson; Fr. Joel Cycenas, a Frederic native who is a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis; and two retired priests of the diocese, Fr. Virgil Heinen and Fr. James Dabruzzi.
Carrying baskets of flowers in the entrance procession were Oliver Cohen, 8, Connor McGinnty, 8, Jillian Klatt, 8, Grace Blevins, 8, John D'Jock, 7-1/2, Graham Hall, 8, and Ben Flanery, 8. Later in the Mass the children also took part in a procession with new centennial plaque.
In his homily, Fliss talked about the history of the parish. He noted that, when the bishop of LaCrosse sent the letter in 1904 forming St. Dominic Parish, "he must have already known that our diocese in northern Wisconsin was in its conception stage. Actually, the Diocese of LaCrosse gave us 14 of our 16 counties at that time. The other two came from Green Bay." The Diocese of Superior will mark its 100th anniversary in 2005.
Fliss said that faith was brought to the area originally by Franciscans and Dominicans. He added, "History teaches us further that St. Francis of Assisi and St. Dominic were contemporaries. They introduced a ... new era in religious life, that of so-called mendicants or beggars.
Rather than live in an enclosed monastery, they proclaimed the Gospel on the roads. ... These two founders knew each other and labored in the vineyard of the Lord way back in the early 1200s."
Fliss said, "Like these canonized saints, there have been many priests looking for holiness ... following God's invitation in serving your parish. The vast majority of them were diocesan priests. One was Joseph Annabring, who became bishop of Superior, one of my predecessors."
Fliss said, "I believe its my role at this time in the centennial Mass to tell all of us to continue our journey of faith. ... We have to keep our focus, always, and continue our journeys."
He added that the journeys have bumpy spots -- poor health, job loss or the sense of feeling distrusted, as many priests feel today. "Can any of you name a saint whose life was perfectly smooth and without troubles? I don't think so," he said.
Every journey can have unexpected graces as well, Fliss said. "The Lord's prompting and presence in our lives come when we least expect them," he said.
Following Communion, the centennial icon was blessed and taken in procession to its permanent spot on a wall near the entrance to the church.
Parishioners and friends of the parish concluded the celebration with a special lunch.
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2004