Voice spring 2017

V

Spring

oice

Of the Pend Oreille River Valley

Faith

Worship, fellowship and belief in a Higher Power Religion in the Pend Oreille River Valley A supplement publication of the Newport and Gem State Miner Newspapers

2017

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Editor’s Note

ne’s faith is a very personal aspect of life, but at the same time communal. There are a plethora of faiths represented in the Pend Oreille River Valley, some of which we highlighted in this issue of Voice.

From Christianity to Buddhism, people gather on a regular basis for fellowship, to share a meal, to study teachings and scripture, and worship.

The Newport area is home to a Buddhist monastery, one of the only ones of its kind in the United States. We visited the Sravasti Abbey, shared a meal and a Sharing the Dharma Day, to explore what is Buddhism.

The river valley is also home to a variety of Christian faiths: Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran and the United Church of Christ. These various churches often intermingle with each other, such as the Lenten Soup Suppers shared between the Catholic, Lutheran and UCC churches.

We explore the foundations of these faiths, in some cases how they came about, and what the local embodiment looks like. We talk with pastors and nuns, parishioners and priests, to find what faith life in the Pend Oreille River Valley looks like.

It’s been an interesting journey for us at The Miner, and we hope it will be one for you, our reader, as well.

-MCN

INDEX American Lutheran Church Page 4

United church of Christ Page 8

Baptists Page 12

buddhists Page 16

Catholicism Page 22

Voice Published: April 2017 Publisher: Michelle Nedved Writers & editors: Sophia Aldous and Don Gronning Design: Chuck Waterman Advertising: Lindsay Guscott, Cindy Boober and Micki Brass

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VOICE is published quarterly as a supplement to The Newport Miner and Gem State Miner, 421 S. Spokane, Newport WA 99156.

TELEPHONE: 509-447-2433 EMAIL: minernews@povn.com FAX: 509-447-9222 Reproduction of articles & photographs is prohibited without permission of the publisher. See all issues at The Miner Online: www. pendoreillerivervalley.com

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‘You may be the only Bible a person reads’ American Lutheran Church shows faith through service

By Sophia Aldous

Voice photo|Sophia aldous

Pastor Janine Goodrich leads a sermon.

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Courtesy photo|ALC Newport

The American Lutheran Church in Newport. The church was founded in the town in 1926.

W

hat is the role and importance of church in community? That is a question that has come up time and again in modern society, as technological, medical, and social norms progress.

The American Lutheran Church in Newport doesn’t claim to have all the answers for that particularly weighty inquiry, but it is quietly determined to play a part in the Pend Oreille Valley. The church builds fellowship with other denominations, like Lenten suppers with United Church of Christ and St. Anthony Catholic Church.

“We try, to the best of our ability, to expand our faith by showing people kindness through it,” says American Lutheran Church Pastor Matt Goodrich, who co-pastors the church with his wife, Janine.

American Lutheran Church (ALC) has been serving the people of Newport since 1926. The church was started by a group of Norwegian Lutherans who changed the name of the church to include “American” in the name so it would be more inclusive. It is a branch of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), which has nearly 10,000 congregations across the United States and its territories. The ELCA began ordaining women as ministers/ pastors in December 1970.

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The church traces its roots back to European immigrants who came to America in the mid 17th century. The Lutheran churches are a branch of Protestant Christianity, which identifies with the theology o Martin Luther (14831546), a German friar, ecclesiastical reformer, and theologian.

The ALC fosters camaraderie

through its women’s group, Wine, Women and Wisdom and its men’s group, Beer, Brats and Bibles, which meets once a month on a Thursday evening. There is also a group open to families called the Fabulous Faith Finders, and the Goodrichs host a youth breakfast at their home ever Tuesday morning during the school year.

In terms of its Good Samaritan work, the church works closely with Lutheran Community Services in Spokane and supports a prescription program through Rural Resources and Family Crisis Network, which provides free nonpain prescriptions for those who have trouble affording medication.

Continued on page 6

Voice photo|Sophia aldous

Volunteers help serve homemade soup at the annual Lenten Supper.

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From Page 5

Courtesy photo|ALC Newport

ALC member and former teacher Larry Sauer visits with some students during a mission trip in Jacmel, Haiti in April 2016.

In April, the church helped send 16 volunteers to Haiti to make repairs to a kindergarten school and work at an orphanage. The church also hosts an annual summer camp in partnership with the United Church of Christ and Camp Lutherhaven with an average of 50 to 100 kids attending. College and high school students are the camp counselors.

Another noted community event that the church spearheads is the Second Harvest food truck that pulls into the American Lutheran Church parking lot four times a year. Community members line up to receive free food doled out by volunteers. No appointments or documentation is required and the food drives happen regardless of inclement weather. There’s very little fanfare or fuss made over the events, but if they were to stop all together, there’s a good chance the food drives would be sorely missed.

According to Pastor Matt Goodrich, each food drive serves an average of 150 to 250 families in the area. About 9,000 to 11,000 pounds of food, mostly perishables, is given away at each drive.

However, Pastor Goodrich is quick to point out that the food drives have very little to do with

him. He credits his congregation and other community members for spearheading the drives. The Lutherans also spearhead other charitable activities “It’s not just a ‘Lutheran’ thing,” Goodrich says. “It’s meant to be more of a message that says people can come here and visit and share resources with one another. To let people know that they are loved, they care and they matter.”

The food drives are held in conjunction with Second Harvest and Thrivent Financial, which helps to fund the events. The drives began in 2007 and have taken place in the American Lutheran Church parking lot ever since.

“It (Thrivent Financial) is a way for church members to make sure their money goes into some type of charity work that benefits their community,” says church member Jean Oxerider.

Thrivent Financial is a Fortune 500 financial services non-profit organization that operates under a chapter system and offers services like life insurance, mutual funds, brokerage service and more.

He organization was started by Lutherans over 100 years ago.

Thrivent and its members also offer volunteer services to charitable organizations, schools, congregaContinued on next page

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Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

Pastors and husband and wife team Matt and Janine Goodrich leads the congregation through Lenten services.

From previous page

tions and individuals in need, and contribute funds to organizations and activities that benefit communities, like the food drives in Newport.

“A pastor from years ago in my youth once said to me, “You may be the only Bible a person ever reads,” Goodrich says. “I know that sounds churchy, but it has stuck with me. So when people come here, we want them to see a God that loves, that understands and is all in. We want them to see that they are a blessing to us, no matter where they are at in life.”

Church services are every Sunday at 10 a.m. For more information, check out ALC of Newport on its Facebook page or go to www. americanlutheranchurch.net.

Courtesy photo|ALC Newport

Camp counselors lead children through an activity during the church’s Eagle Kindergarten Camp.

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‘The church needs to be vibrant and alive’

The United Church of Christ has new pastor

By Sophia Aldous

Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

Pastor Becky Anderson.

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Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

INBC Phlebotomist and Team Lead Tammy Messina readies Jim Lyon for a blood donation at a blood drive last December. The UCC host the Newport blood drive every other month.

There’s a new face at the Newport United Church of Christ (NUCC) in the form of newly arrived pastor Becky Anderson. A former resident of Grable, Wyo., Anderson was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church and Shell Community Church and owns an antique store called Big Horn Antiques and More with her husband, Gary.

“I grew up in Davenport, and we always had interest in moving back to this part of the country because we do have family in Spokane, Moses Lake and on the coast,” says Anderson, smiling.

“Plus we’re all about the pine trees and the temperature. My husband wanted a place where he could actually have a gar-

members with Sunday service usually attended by around 60 and 75 people. More than 100 years ago, Hope Congregational Church was founded and many years later merged with Memorial Methodist Church to form Newport UCC. The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination, with historical roots in the Reformed, Congregational and Evangelical Protestant traditions. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC. The denomination places an emphasis on participation in worldwide interfaith and

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Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

Church members clean up at Lenten Soup Supper in the church kitchen.

den.”

Anderson started her new job in February and is looking forward to getting to know the community. She has already visited the Hospitality House.

“This year has been designated as the year of adventure with God,” says Anderson, chuckling.

“Really though, I feel that coming to this church has been a great match.”

The Newport United Church of Christ is currently at 116 Spring Voice

ecumenical efforts.

“The church needs to be vibrant and alive, not dead and condemning,” says Anderson.

NUCC is also involved in the annual Lenten Soup Suppers in partnership with the American Lutheran Church and Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church. During the six weeks of Lent members from all three churches, and any members of the public that want Continued on page 11

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Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

The NUCC worship hall.

Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

Choir members from the NUCC, Lutheran and Catholic churches come together to perform for Lenten service.

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Community Shuttle Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

Pastor Becky Anderson gives her Lenten sermon.

From Page 9

to attend, get together for soup and fellowship. NUCC, Lutherans, and the Catholics each host two Wednesday nights and serve soup, rolls and cookies, then follow the meal with a short service. The pastors of the churches get together and pick a theme for the services during the Lenten season that is the basis for the services after the

meals.

“It’s a good time for fellowship and to visit with friends and neighbors,” says Anderson.

“You don’t have to be a member of any church. It’s open to anyone who wants to attend.”

Services at the NUCC are every Sunday at 10 a.m.

For more information, visit www.newportucc.org or call 509-447-4121.

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Baptist Church: Motto through Christ

Courtesy photo|Rob Malcolm

An artist’s wood carving rendition of the original church. (Upper) Courtesy photo|Pend Oreille County photo archives

A photo of the First Baptist Church not long after it was built in 1910. The original structure now serves as the church’s fellowship hall where dinners and meetings are held. (Lower)

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Spring Voice

By Sophia Aldous

NEWPORT – When it comes to what it means to be Baptist, the details aren’t as important as the message, says Rob Malcolm, pastor at First Baptist Church in Newport.

“We’re Christian, first and foremost, and like all Christians we believe the Bible is the authoritative word of God and basis for how we should live our lives,” says Malcolm.

Baptists are individuals who comprise a group of Evangelical Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers, as opposed to infant baptism.

“We believe that person should be old enough to understand what is happening to them and make that choice for themselves,” explains Malcolm.

The Firs Baptist Church (FBC) is an independent church that is administered by a local council made up of church elders. The church was built in 1910 and the original structure still stands, but now serves as the meeting hall.

The current worship hall was added on in the 1960s.

FBC provides childcare during church services, which are every Sunday at 10:15 a.m. Sunday school is every Sunday at 9 a.m.

The Immortals Youth Group, which includes youth seventh grade to high school seniors meet every Thursday from 7 – 9 p.m. The Real 4 Life group, which teaches 18 to 25 year olds life skills with a biblical setting, is scheduled for May 15 and 22

at 6 p.m. Lunch Ladies Study is Thursday’s at noon. There is also a monthly Men’s Breakfast.

The church also has an internship program for those who are thinking of joining the church, but are unsure if it is the right fit for them.

“It’s a way for people to take some time and decide if this is what God has called them to do,” says Malcolm.

Continued on page 14

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voice photo|Sophia Aldous

First Baptist Church in Newport.

From Page 13

The church also collaborates with other ecumenical branches in the community to spearhead events like Church in the park on Rodeo Weekend, the Men’s Advance held every summer at

Bear Paw Camp and the annual Ladies Retreat, which is sponsored by House of the Lord.

Members and youth from FBC also conduct community service tasks like hospital visitations, visiting people who are homebound, and collecting firewood for those in need.

If there’s one misconception of Baptists that Malcolm says he would like people to reconsider, it’s that the church is not relevant in today’s modern society.

“Our church motto is, ‘Presenting Jesus as he is to people as they are,’” Malcolm says. “We’re here to introduce people to

Jesus, not to wait for them to come knocking on our door. We have to show his love by example.”

For more information, go to www.newportfirstbaptist.com or call (509) 447-3846. The First Baptist Church is located at 517 2nd St, Newport.

Courtesy photo|Rob Malcolm

The church hosts an Easter breakfast where all are welcome.

Courtesy photo|Rob Malcolm

Church in the Park during Rodeo Weekend. The service is open to the public.

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A place of refuge

Buddhist monastery unique in U.S.

This photo was taken in the Meditation Hall during Dharma Day April 2. This was the Abbey’s first public event of the year.

By Don Gronning

I

t’s a bright April morning and about 50 people are gathered in a log building listening to Venerable Thubten Chodron speak at Sravasti Abbey, a Buddhist monastery about 20 minutes south of Newport.

She sits at a desk in front of the crowd, wearing a head microphone to amplify and record her voice. The talk is being recorded by one of the Buddhist nuns. Most of the people sit in folding chairs, some sit on the floor.

The monastics are spread out on the floor around the Abbess.

The Ven. Chodron is speaking about compassion.

“We can trust others as human beings,” she’s saying. “There is a lot of kindness.”

16

Someone asks how the teachings of Buddha have helped her. She replies that she has been helped in many ways. It helped her get along with her parents, for instance, and tempering and subduing her selfish mind.

“It could apply to parents or politics,” she said. Diversity of thought is good, she said.

Compassion is not weakness, she says. “I work with inmates,” Chodron says, giving an example of another prisoner cutting in front of an inmate in the chow line. There are two different ways to handle that, she says. One is to let the person take cuts, thinking the other prisoner has the power, I don’t, go ahead. Another way is to hold your dignity and say, yes please, go ahead.

“The two ways give completely different messages,” she says.

‘Ven. Chodron had a dream of a monastery. We said maybe you should start looking for land now.”

Ven. Thubten Chonyi Buddhist Nun

Another person asks about how to deal with a friendly but unwanted mouse. Buddhism teaches not to kill other sentient beings, including vermin.

Thubten advises catching the mouse in a live trap, as they do at the Abbey and taking it far away, preferably across water, to release it.

The group breaks for lunch, a vegetarian meal without onions or garlic, which are thought to be too stimulating. After going

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Voice photo|Don Gronning

These prayer wheels lead the way into Chenrezig Hall. The words on the outside are Tibetan characters that translates to “Praise to the jewel and the lotus.” Inside the prayer wheels are thousands of small blessed paper scrolls with the mantra on them. When the wheels spin, the aspirations for compassion and wisdom are spun out into the world.

What is Buddhism?

By Ven. Thubten Nyima

Voice photo|Don Gronning

through a few chants – first in Tibetan, then in English – that express appreciation for the food, a gong sounds. People are to remain silent while they eat until the gong sounds again. The silence is to promote mindful eating, to appreciate the flavor of the food and to think about what it took to produce.

The meal is a vegetarian feast. The only food eaten at the Abbey is donated by others. Many people brought dishes to share. Once the bell sounded the group talked among each other a bit as they finished up and washed their plates before heading back to the meditation hall to hear Thubten speak.

This is the first public ‘Sharing the Dharma Day,’ of the year. Dharma is

‘There was nothing like that around. Just as I was about to give up, Ven. Chodron came and gave a talk at Coeur d’Alene.’

Tracy Morgan

Buddhism originated in India about 2,600 years ago, as a result of a prince’s quest for freedom from universal sufferings of birth, aging, sickness and death. His intense determination to overcome these unsatisfactory conditions inspired him to give up his princely life and wander the countryside in pursuit of spiritual fulfillment. The prince, whose name was Siddharta Gautama, explored the spiritual traditions of his time and eventually discovered a path leading to the state of freedom he sought.

After attaining full spiritual awakening he became known as the Buddha — the Awakened One — and taught for many years introducing a spiritual philosophy and form of practice that spread throughout Asia. Today, its practical methods have spread around the world.

Buddhism teaches methods to develop compassion and wisdom, which, when thoroughly perfected, culminate in a lasting state of happiness and peace. The essence of Buddhism is captured in the oft-quoted verse: Abandon negative action; Create virtuous actions; Subdue your own mind.

This is the teaching of the Buddha.

Abandoning negative actions refers to refraining from harming others or self through actions motivated by anger, pride, jealousy and other destructive emotions. Creating virtue entails the development of positive qualities such as equanimity, loving-kindness, compassion and joy. By avoiding negative actions and cultivating good qualities, a Buddhist practitioner creates space in his or her mind for generating clarity and wisdom. With compassion and wisdom, one can act for the benefit of others.

The Buddha’s teachings are not dogmatic and can be applied by anyone, even non-Buddhists. They include transformative techniques and practices that work at gross and subtle levels of mind to enhance happiness and joy. For that reason, Buddhist practice is not just about reciting prayers or going to the temple once a week. It involves integrating the teachings of the Buddha in every aspect of human life.

Through listening to teachings, contemplating their meaning and meditating on them, a Buddhist practitioner generates deep and lasting understanding. Such deep learning is a catalyst for changing behaviors and attitudes, thereby transforming one’s entire life experience.

Continued on page 18

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Voice photo|Don Gronning

Venerable Thubten Chodron, the founder of Sravasti Abbey, speaking during the Abbey’s Dharma Day. During Dharma Days, the public can take part in guided meditation, hear a teaching and share a vegetarian lunch.

From Page 17

the collected teachings of the Buddha. Sravasti Abbey hosts “Sharing the Dharma Day” events about every month, with the next one set for May 7.

The monastics have just come out of winter retreat. They meditated five times a day, “in noble silence,” during the month-long retreat.

The 13 nuns and one monk who live at Sravasti Abbey range in age from 32-66 and

have diverse backgrounds.

They come from Germany, Canada, Columbia, Vietnam and Singapore, as well as from various places in the U.S. Among other things, Ven. Thubten Jigme was a psychiatric nurse practitioner in private practice in Seattle before becoming a nun. Ven. Thubten Samten worked as a music teacher in Edmonton.

Ven. Thubten Damcho is a 2006 Princeton graduate, Singa-

Continued on page 20

Voice photo|Don Gronning

Venerable Thubten Chonyi sounds the bell to call people to the meditation hall.

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From Page 18

porean by birth. Ven. Thubten Nyima worked for Sacramento County’s Child Protective Services for 14 years as a manager.

Ven. Thubten Tsultrim spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy.

Their biographies are outlined on the Abbey’s website www. sravastiabbey.org, along with pictures of them as children and before they became ordained and shaved their heads.

Their names follow the Bud-

dhist tradition. Thubten is a lineage name and is taken from the teacher. The head shaving represents a commitment to a holy life, a celibate life.

The land Sravasti Abbey stands on was purchased in 2003.

“Ven. Chodron had a dream of a monastery,” remembers Ven. Thubten Chonyi, who was a lay person at the time. Chodron had come to Idaho for a Buddhist teach-in at North Idaho College. One hundred twenty people showed up.

“We said maybe you should start looking for land now,” says Chonyi. Chodron acquired the place – the Unruhs Ranch – in 2003. The Abbey was consecrated in 2013.

The Unruhs carried the mortgage, says Chonyi.

“It was a good deal,” she said, “Within two years it was paid off.”

Chonyi was ordained in 2007, following a career as a stage actor.

She says becoming a nun is

a gradual process. She said people try it out for about a year before committing.

The Sravasti Abbey is in the Tibetan tradition for western students and is unique in the United States.

While Buddhist nuns and monks don’t listen to music, watch television or do much online recreationally, Sravasti Abbey has a sophisticated online presence, complete with videos and about anything you want to know about the operation. That includes finances.

They post their annual report.

In 2016, Sravasti Abbey bought a $26,000 car. They operated the place on about $270,000 for the year. The buildings are

‘It’s not really a religion.

I call it taking refuge.’

Charles Marsh

Voice photo|Don Gronning

Venerable Thubten Yeshe vacuums after lunch. Before moving to Sravasti Abbey, Ven. Yeshe worked as a military police officer for the Canadian Air Force.

Courtesy photo|Sravasti Abbey

Ven. Jigme, Ven. Damcho, and Ven. Tsepal shaving the head of the new nun, soon to be named Ven. Nyima March 31. Nuns and monks shave their heads to represent a commitment to a holy, celibate life.

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worth about $2.8 million, according to the annual report.

How do monastics spend their day? You can find out on the website: they wake up at 5 a.m., meditate at 5:30, eat breakfast at 7:30, have a residents’ meeting at 8:15, and then got to work – called offering service – from 8:30-11:45 a.m. They eat lunch at noon, do the dishes and take a break at 1:30 p.m.

At 2 p.m., they start offering service again and work until 4:30, when study time starts.

They have a “medicinal meal” at 6, then engage in chanting and meditation from 7-8:15 p.m. Then it’s study time or personal time until 10 p.m., when it’s lights out.

Chonyi says they go out into the outside world periodically.

After something like the winter retreat, it’s a little overwhelming, she says.

The monastics at Sravasti Abbey work with Youth Emergency Services in Newport. Ven. Chodron and Jigme serve on the YES board of directors.

The Abbey also has a regular prison outreach, the Prison Dharma Outreach, which provides books, videos and spiritual counseling to incarcerated people.

Continued on next page

Spring Voice

Voice photo|Don Gronning

Sravasti Abbey is located about 20 minutes south of Newport on Country Lane, near Spring Valley Road.

From previous page

The Abbey has a worldwide reach, but it also has its local followers. There is a large group from Coeur d’Alene, as well as some Pend Oreille County people.

Tracy Morgan says she was here when Chodron picked up the key in 2003.

Morgan had been involved in Buddhism before that, she had been reading the Dali Lama.

But there were not many Bud-

dhists in the area.

“There was nothing like that around,” she said. “Just as I was about to give up, Ven. Chodron came and gave a talk at Coeur d’Alene.”

Charles Marsh is from the area.

He says he’s been involved with Sravasti Abbey for a few years.

“I’ve always been interested in Buddhism,” he says. “I’ve read a few Dali Lama books and ended up volunteering.”

He enjoys coming to the Abbey.

“It’s not really a religion,” he says. “I call it taking refuge.”

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21

Pend Oreille County home to several Catholic parishes

By Michelle Nedved

Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

A stained-glass window of St. Teresa of Avila at St. Anthony’s Church in Newport.

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F

r. Victor Blazovich is a busy man. As the resident priest at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Newport, he also serves as pastor of St. Jude’s in Usk, Our Lady of Sorrows on the Kalispel Reservation, St. Bernard’s in Ione, and St. Joseph’s in Metaline Falls.

“On the weekends I am one busy guy. I am running all over creation,” Fr. Blazovich says with a laugh.

Fr. Blazovich, affectionately known as Fr. Vic, has been in Pend Oreille County for about five years, coming from St. Mary’s Parish in Spokane Valley, following time at St. Patrick’s Parish in Hillyard, where he served as both priest and principal.

Since his arrival at St. Anthony’s, the church on First Street has undergone some renovations, including a new roof and chair lift for those who need it to get from one floor to the other. One of the biggest renovations was that of the kitchen.

“It’s wonderful. It signifies hospitality and (allows us) to celebrate as a family,” he said.

It came in handy in January,

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when St. Anthony’s hosted the annual Soroptimist Crab Feed, one of the biggest fundraisers in Newport.

“We loved hosting them,” Father said.

The Easter celebration signified the end of Lent, during which St. Anthony’s parishioners and Fr. Vic joined the United Church of Christ and the Newport Lutheran Church Lenten Soup Suppers. Each church hosted two weeks of soup suppers, prayer and fellowship.

That sense of community, along with the small-town community of Pend Oreille County, appeals for Fr. Vic. “We’ve all become friends. I like that, seeing people on the streets, you get to know people.”

St. Anthony’s celebrated its centennial in 2009. It spanned an entire year, with various events such as the Altar Society’s annual November luncheon, a retreat at Gonzaga University, and the Lenten Soup Suppers in March and April.

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Continued on page 24

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Catholicism

Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

Parishioners sing at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Newport during Lent.

From Page 23

Kalispel Reservation was the site of an April pilgrimage, and a Marian procession was led by a Knights of Columbus honor guard and Father Joseph Sullivan on Mother’s Day. A special mass was offered June 13 of that year, on St. Anthony’s feast day.

As Newport, Idaho, was being settled in the late 1800s, Catholic mass was held in private homes, but the congregation became too large and talk of a church began. As Newport, Idaho, jumped the state line and became Newport, Wash., plans were laid to build a church.

Father Aloysius Folchi, S.J., told congregants after Mass in September 1905 that a Catholic Church would be built as soon as a site could be chosen.

The Newport Miner, on July 9, 1908, reported that the work of fundraising would begin. The first attempt was a supper held in Kelly’s Hall.

The site for the church was donated by the Panhandle Lumber Company in the Blackwell additions, by president F. A. Blackwell, and deeded to the Pioneer Educational Society in 1908. It stipulated the church had to be built in one year’s time.

24

The dedication of the church was held July 18, 1909. A large congregation attended, including not only Catholics, but many members of the other churches and organizations.

Rev. Father Herman Goller, president of Gonzaga College, officiated at the blessing of the church and its altar.

The Ladies Altar Society, Ladies Aid and Sewing Society continued fundraising as money was still needed for the interior of the church and to finish the room above the sacristy in the back of the church for the priest.

In December 1920, Father John Callanan was appointed resident priest in Newport, following Father P.H. Moffat who was transferred to Valley, Wash.

In the summer of 1951, parishioners were fundraising again, this time to replace the wood burning furnaces in the church and rectory with oil burning ones.

On July 6, 1951, parishioners petitioned Bishop White for a full-time pastor.

From about 1959 to approximately 1971, the Newport pastor served only St. Anthony’s and St. Jude in Usk, as there was a resident priest in the north of the county.

What is Roman Catholicism?

The Roman Catholic Church is headed by the Bishop of Rome, better known as the Pope. It teaches that it is the one true church, founded by Jesus Christ himself, and that its bishops are successors of Christ’s apostles, and that the Pope is the successor of Saint Peter. Pope Francis currently heads the Church.

The Catholic Church is notable for its sacred tradition and seven sacraments, including: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist (communion), Reconciliation (confession), Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony.

The Virgin Mary is venerated in the Catholic Church as the Queen of Heaven and Mother of God. The beliefs of the Catholic Church are summarized in the Nicene Creed, originally adopted by the First Council of Nicaea in 325.

Voice photo|Sophia Aldous

Ted Kardos Sr. plays the violin during a Lenten service at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Newport.

Continued on next page

Spring Voice

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

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Fr. Victor Blazovich has been the pastor for the Pend Oreille County Catholic Churches for about five years.

From previous page

In 1952, Father Helfenstein celebrated his silver jubilee with many church and local dignitaries in attendance. Forty priests from Spokane, Boise and Yakima came to assist in the colorful ceremony.

Father James O’Malley in the 1950s commissioned three altars to be made. They were constructed by Wellington Beaudreau in his shop in Blanchard and made of birdseye pine.

Father John O’Brian became the resident priest in 1958.

In 1979, Father Morbeck hired Henry J. Swoboda, a Spokane

Spring Voice

architect, to draw up plans for a new church, which is the current St. Anthony’s Church, to replace the one built in 1909.

The cost was $234,000, and it was dedicated Jan. 19, 1980, by Bishop Lawrence Welsh.

The interior of the new church suffered much damage when it was struck by an arsonist on Jan. 29, 1984. Many artifacts from the old St. Anthony’s were lost, including the statues of the Blessed Virgin. Brother Carignano’s painting of St. Anthony also suffered damage.

Work was started immediately to repair the sanctuary, and ex-

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From Page 25

cept for the addition of stained glass windows, the church appears now as it did when it was dedicated.

The original St. Anthony’s building remained vacant until 1988 when it was opened for rummage sales to provide emergency help to burnout victims and those in financial need. It was so successful, a group of volunteers continued on with it, accepting clean usable clothing, bedding and other items for sale.

This activity continued until 2003 when the church committee had it inspected by Sewell Engineering, which deemed it unsafe with a cost of $100,000 to restore it. In 2004, the American Society of Medical Missionaries, a group that had been located in the Priest River area, was chosen by the church committee in charge of dismantling the building for demolition and removal. The plan was to transport the materials to Priest Lake where it would be reassembled.

Some items, including two pews, two full Italian rose glass windows, some siding, and the cross from the steeple were retained by the Pend Oreille County Historical Society.

On Aug. 21, 2002, the Marian and Christ Child Shrine in front of St. Anthony’s was dedicated.

The Knights of Columbus has been established in the state of Washington for 106 years.

St. Anthony’s Knights were formed four years ago as a round table under the council in Deer Park. On April 16, 2007, St. Anthony’s became the Pend Oreille Council No. 14268. The council serves all five Catholic churches in Pend Oreille County.

Editor’s Note: Much of the historical information in this story was compiled by Patty Geaudreau, the centennial committee’s historian and long time St. Anthony’s parishioner. The entire history of St. Anthony’s is available in the Centennial Collector’s Edition, compiled and written by Geaudreau with the help of Mary Ann Barton and Phyllis Kardos.

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27

Priest River’s Catholic settlers familiar names today

By Alice Booth

File photo

Bishop Michael P. Driscoll, center, says Mass during St. Catherine’s centennial celebration in 2003. Fr. Gooley, right, was the parish priest at the time.

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T

he community of Priest River dates back to the year 1891, when the Great Northern Railroad began building the railroad through the Northwest. The earliest Catholic settlers in the area included family names that are familiar to the area today: Keyser, Anselmo, Presto, Maio, Jachetta, Naccarato, Mauro, Veltri, Saccomanno, Bombino, Caprai, Pagnotta, Poirier, Runck (Runco), Guadanol, Low, Falsetto, Zimmer, Murray, Bossio and Rose, to name a few.

From 1894 to 1897, The Rev. Fintan A. Becker came up from Coeur d’Alene on monthly missionary excursions. Father Becker would celebrate Mass, instruct and baptize, usually in the little post office building in town.

In 1897, Father Thomas Purcell started coming to Priest River once a month on Saturdays. In the fall of that year, Father Purcell had a beautiful frame church erected in Priest River. The building was 60 x 26 feet and had a well-proportioned central tower. It cost $1,800 to build and could seat 120 people. There was a rather large wood-burning stove in the center of the church that the young people would gather behind during Mass.

The church was named for St. Catherine of Siena, and was dedicated on May 10, 1903. At the dedication, Father Purcell, Father James Kelly, Father Joseph Chianale, S.J., and Father Nicholas Cocchi, S.J., concelebrated with Bishop Alphonse Glorieux, the first bishop of Boise.

Initially, St. Catherine’s Church did not have a resident priest.

During this time, Italian Jesuits from Gonzaga traveled to the outlying mission churches of the area. From 1907 to 1909, Father Ernest Delpiano, S.J., came to St. Catherine’s Church to celebrate Mass.

St. Anthony’s Mission – The Settlement

Meanwhile, there had been a notable immigration of Italians to the area, and Father Purcell reported the mission had increased to 61 families.

The Italians had settled on land previously owned by the railroad, east of town. It was called the Italian Settlement, or simply Spring Voice

“The Settlement.”

In 1910, Father Michael Balestra, S.J., served the area. In that year he secured 2 acres in the Italian Settlement from the Railroad Company, to be the site of a new church. St. Anthony’s Mission Church was erected in 1914 and dedicated in February of 1915.

It was built with the aid of the Catholic Extension Society for $1,500.

There is considerable confusion concerning the name of the church. Various sources list the name of the church as being St. Anthony’s Mission Chapel, Immaculate Conception Mission Church and St. Mary’s Church.

Some older parishioners remember it being called St. Maria’s Church.

Father Aloysius Roccati, S.J., celebrated the first Mass and Father Aggeus Valpolini, S.J., came up on weekends thereafter, serving the church in the Settlement and St. Catherine’s on weekends from 1916 to 1923. Father Valpolini completed the living quarters that housed the priests.

In 1922, Bishop Daniel Gorman appointed Father Remi Pecoul to be the first parish pastor of St. Catherine’s Church. Father Pecoul secured a parish rectory at a cost of about $2,000. The church census reported having 67 families at that time.

New St. Catherine’s Church

In 1944, it was decided to close the Settlement church rather than institute much needed repairs. The families in the Settlement then went to Mass at St. Catherine’s, and the church soon became quite crowded.

After raising the required funds to build a new church, and with a donation from the Catholic Extension Society, the present church was built in 1948-1949.

It had a seating capacity of 240, and the final cost, including the basement, was $53,400. The new church was built with the help of donated and paid labor.

Mike Lamanna, Charles Bombino, Tony Jachetta, Fred LeBert and Philip Naccarato served on the building committee.

Bishop Edward Joseph Kelly dedicated the new brick building on May 15, 1949. It was said that Bishop Kelly was so unhappy

Continued on page 30

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From Page 29

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with a brick building that he would not allow the funds to pay for the bricks and labor. This had to be privately funded.

The old church was sold to the Mormon Church and moved from the premises to its current location on Fourth Street, across from Priest River Elementary School. The Church of Christ now uses it. The lot, across Third Street from the current church, was sold to the school district and is now used as a playground.

Father McCarthy, who oversaw the building of the new church, played the piano and sang, and had an excellent tenor voice. In 1950, he began celebrating Mass at Priest Lake in a little building that was formerly an inn. This building is currently the Lamb of God Lutheran Church. It also serves as a senior center for the community.

From 1952 to 1962, Father John B. Kunkel served at St. Catherine’s. He built the current parish house in 1957. Father Kunkel instituted several confraternities while he was at St. Catherine’s, including Blessed Sacrament, Holy Rosary and Christian Doctrine. He also revitalized the Holy Name Society, which was begun in the 1930s.

Organizations formed

St. Catherine’s Altar Society was formed early in St. Catherine’s history, in the 1920s. The altar society’s function was to maintain the church sanctuary and kitchen, supplying items as needed. They raised funds through parish dinners, garage sales, etc. The altar society also served as the social club of the era. Later named St. Catherine’s

Women’s Guild, the group was disbanded in 1998.

The Priest River Council of the Knights of Columbus was formed on April 15, 1959. There were 58 charter members.

St. Blanche’s Mission

As Priest Lake developed into a vacation paradise, the number of summer parishioners kept growing. Funds for a new building were donated by the Catholic Extension Society and additional money was raised through a building fund drive. On Aug. 23, 1959, Bishop James Joseph Byrne dedicated St. Blanche Mission Church at Priest Lake. In 1994 an addition was completed on the building, including a vestibule, a kitchen, and two bathrooms. A water well was also added at that time. The addition was dedicated on Aug. 27, 1994.

In 1994, both the St. Catherine and St. Blanche church buildings were in disrepair. In order to fund the needed repairs, it was decided to sell the property that Father Bargen had bought. St. Catherine’s was repainted, and the roof and furnace replaced. A handicap access was also completed at this time, and a seating area was situated near the altar.

At St. Blanche’s, work was begun to replace the foundation, which had been damaged by snow and freezing weather.

Improvements continued at both churches. St. Blanche’s foundation was replaced and new carpeting was installed at St. Catherine’s.

Also, the video and book collection was expanded to become the St. Catherine Library. The library also serves as a religious education classroom and meeting room during the week.

Spring Voice

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