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Danbury church building celebrates 100th anniversary

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
(Email Katie)

DANBURY – St. Mary’s parishioner, Julie Clausen Boysen, recalled the founders of the parish in opening comments saying, “These early parishioners had a deep faith and an understanding of the spirit of sacrifice.”

“As we begin Mass today, let us all be thankful for the sacrifices made by parishioners then and now and renew our pledge to keep our faith ever strong for years to come,” she said.

St. Mary's Church in Danbury celebrated the church building’s 100th anniversary on July 11 with a Mass at 10 a.m. with Bishop R. Walker Nickless presiding.  Concelebrants for the Mass were Father Terry Roder, pastor; Father LeRoy Seuntjens, Father Ray Weiling, Father Robert Schimmer, Father Andy Sohm, Father James Tigges, Father Ed Tiedeman, Father Dale Koster and Father Bob Thiele. Deacon Ray Rosburg read the Gospel for the Mass and assisted the bishop.

As homilist for the Mass, Bishop Nickless said it was a privilege to be at St. Mary’s to celebrate the special liturgy “in remembrance of 100 years of this beautiful church building.”

“Your history as a parish family is long and rich in memory and faith,” said the bishop. “The church has played a very important part in sustaining and deepening this faith. Danbury St. Patrick’s and Danbury St. Mary’s planted the seeds of faith that, as you know, began in 1898.”

The cornerstone for the current building was laid in June 1910. The first Mass was celebrated in the church on Christmas Day, 1910. The church was dedicated by Bishop P.J. Garrigan in June 1911 and 57 people were confirmed that day. There were two sermons given at that Mass, one in English and one in German.

“Much has changed since 1910. Much has been accomplished and much still needs to be done,” said Bishop Nickless. “We give thanks today for the priests who have served you over the years and for the sisters and laity who taught and still teach in the school. We are so grateful for the many priestly vocations and religious vocations that have been produced by God’s grace and your prayer and support.”

The bishop talked about changes in life, some that people like and some they don’t. He said that as long as “we are living human beings, life brings change every day. It is because change is sometimes difficult that we need anchors to hold onto that will remain steady and firm.”

“For us as Catholic Christians, that firm anchor is Jesus Christ,” he said. “The beginning and the end, as St. Paul told us in the reading from Colossians today. Our worship of him in the holy sacrifice of the Mass is the anchor that we as Catholics hold onto so dearly.”

Bishop Nickless said that the Mass and the way it is celebrated or the church and how it looks might change, but the reality of who is worshiped stays the same.

“Your beautiful church here in Danbury with all of the beautiful images, the statues and reminders of our faith is certainly something to be proud of,” he said. “The most important thing we can do as Catholics is summed up in what we do each and every Sunday. We come to worship our God in this holy place, gathered as a community of the faithful, saints and sinners alike.”

At the conclusion of Mass, Father Roder thanked the bishop for being present to celebrate the anniversary Mass. He also thanked all the former pastors, native sons and religious sisters who were present, the Knights of Columbus and those involved in planning the Mass and celebration.

“Bishop this is a book of memories and pictures of us that have been put together the last few months representing some of the early families and some of our history these last 100 years,” said Father Roder as he handed Bishop Nickless a history book of St. Mary’s.

Honored guests who were present for the Mass included Kathryn “Kady” Petrositch, 107, who is the oldest living parish member, and Leone Welte Morgan, the first baby girl to be baptized in the church building in January 1911.

Clair Seuntjens, brother to Father LeRoy Seuntjens, and his wife, Madelon, also attended the anniversary celebration.

Clair has been a parishioner his whole life and remembers serving Mass for many years. He graduated from the former St. Patrick’s Academy in 1948. After serving in the Korean War, he returned to Danbury and married his high school girlfriend. They have seven children who grew up in St. Mary’s Parish.

“I think it [the Mass and celebration] was something to be proud of,” said Clair. “I was really impressed with everything. Someone put a lot of work into it.”

Also a lifelong St. Mary’s parishioner, Dennis Meier, mentioned that his grandfather was one of the founders of the church. He remembers having lunch in the church basement while in school and a lot of little things about growing up in the parish and going to church.

“I thought the celebration was fantastic. It was great to see all the old (former) priests back,” he said.

A catered meal was served in Danbury Catholic School following Mass.  The afternoon was filled with activities and games including the dunking machine. Bingo was played in Danbury Catholic's cafeteria and a pedal tractor pull was held outside. Many other events were planned for the afternoon.