In his Jubilarian profile in 2015, Father Richard C. Kasznel
described the blessing of spending nearly three decades as pastor at
Immaculate Conception Parish in St. Mary — population 360, about 75
miles south of St. Louis and just west of the old Mississippi River
channel and Illinois’ Kaskaskia Island.
Father Kasznel called it
“a marvelous thing to be a pastor in a place almost 30 years and see
children that I’ve baptized become adults and get married. I’ve seen
them from the beginning of life and along as they’ve matured. It’s been a
privilege to be here in a great, wonderful community.”
Father
Kasznel’s assessment pretty much sums up the history of the parish,
which was founded in 1874. Over 144 years, generation upon generation
worshipped at Immaculate Conception and celebrated countless sacramental
events — Masses, baptisms, confessions, First Communions,
confirmations, weddings and funerals — at the small parish of 295
members in 105 households.
Bishop Mark Rivituso placed his hand in the holy water font at Immaculate Conception Church in St. Mary's. Immaculate Conception Parish celebrated its final Sunday Mass April 15. Bishop Rivituso walked around to different parts of the church, saying a brief prayer of thanksgiving for the blessing received in the church.Photo Credits: Lisa JohnstonAuxiliary Bishop Mark S. Rivituso
honored these sacramental moments, as well as parishioners past and
present, at the parish’s final Sunday Mass April 15. With Father
Kasznel’s retirement after 53 years as a priest and 31 years as pastor,
Immaculate Conception Parish has closed.
However, its story is
woven inextricably into the fabric of the community’s history. Just
before the conclusion of the final Sunday Mass, Bishop Rivituso paid
tribute to that rich history, visiting significant locations within the
1889 vintage church building and saying a brief prayer of thanksgiving
for the blessings received in these places:
Holy Water •
At the fonts, donated by “Parochial School Children” and “Married
Ladies,” congregants were reminded of baptism — the waters of baptism —
upon entering and exiting the sacred space, dipping their fingers in
holy water preceding the Sign of the Cross.
Confessional • Father
Kasznel and parish priests before him heard the faithful’s confessions
and, most importantly, offered absolution to wipe away the stain of sin.
Blessed Mother •
A statue of the Virgin Mary and the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
honored Mary, whose birth without sin — the Immaculate Conception — was
recognized in the naming of the parish.
Ambo • Through Scripture readings and homilies, the Word of God was proclaimed to the faithful.
Tabernacle • Jesus Himself inhabited this space, the True Presence in the form of consecrated hosts placed within a ciborium between Masses.
Altar • The centerpiece of worship, at which every sacrifice of the Mass celebrated the Resurrection.
With
the special areas visited and blessed, Bishop Rivituso then offered the
final blessing, of thanksgiving for the rich past and promise for
future, ending the final Sunday Mass with one last, “Go in peace.”
The
hymn, “Alleluia! Alleluia! Let the Holy Anthem Rise,” filled the church
one last time as Bishop Rivituso processed out, followed by 110 souls
at the final Mass. He stopped just outside the church doors to meet each
of them upon exit. With smiles, handshakes and hugs, they briefly
shared their special stories and universally gave him the thumbs-up for
recognizing the significant places within the church and giving them a
sense of closure.
Parishioners at Immaculate Conception in St. Mary received the Eucharist in the church’s final Sunday Mass with Bishop Mark Rivituso on April 15.Photo Credits: Lisa JohnstonFor instance, Bridget Griffard has been present
for two-thirds of the parish’s existence, 94 years in all — soon to be
95. Baptized at the church in 1923, a year short of parish’s 50th
anniversary, she received First Communion, First Reconciliation and
confirmation at the church. She graduated from the parish school, which
closed in 1969, and married her husband, John, at the church in 1946.
(John died in 2011.)
Similarly, Joan Marie Welker, nee Maloney,
spent significant life moments at the parish, including her engagement.
Husband Francis presented her engagement ring in front of the Blessed
Mother statue, and they were married in the church in 1961. Her parents
and brother also were buried from there.
“A lot of memories,” she said, simply. “It’s our life history.”
>> Future worship
Three neighboring parishes are
available to serve the parishioners of Immaculate Conception in St.
Mary: Sacred Heart Parish in Ozora (7.7 miles from St. Mary), Christ the
Savior Parish in Brewer (7.9 miles), and Ste. Genevieve in Ste.
Genevieve (9.3 miles).
More information • For a directory of archdiocese parishes, Mass and reconciliation times, visit www.stlouisreview.com/jfE
Stained-glass memorials
The stained-glass windows of Immaculate Conception Church memorialize parishioners:
• Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Friedman
• Mr. and Mrs. Louis Schaaf Sr.
• Louis E. Schaaf Jr. and Wife
• Mrs. Rose Tlapek
• Mary C. Bartels
• Married Ladies Sodality
• Mrs. Louise-Grither-Bartels
• Mr. and Mrs. John G. Jordan
• Rozier Family
• John Tlapek
• Our Deceased Pastors
• Young Ladies Sodality
• Mrs. Adelaide-Laville-Lawbaugh
Note:
The stained-glass windows and other liturgical furnishings were donated
to the parish for use in liturgical and/or sacred spaces, so that
original purpose will be honored. If the items don’t find a liturgical
home in the immediate future, they will be transferred to the
archdiocesan Reclamation Center, which safeguards and houses these types
of items and provides them to churches, religious communities,
missionaries and seminarians.