by Marc and Julie Anderson
mjanderson@theleaven.org
PAXICO — It’s rare for a parish to celebrate its sesquicentennial, or 150th anniversary.
But it’s rarer still for a pastor to celebrate two only weeks apart.
Father Ratna Swamy Nanaam, MSFS, currently pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Paxico and Holy Family in Alma, has done exactly that.
On Sept. 15, Father Swamy assisted Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann in the celebration of a Mass of thanksgiving for the Paxico parish’s 150th anniversary. On Aug. 25, the two celebrated a similar Mass for Alma’s 150th anniversary.
In addition to Father Swamy, two of Sacred Heart Parish’s former pastors — Fathers Michael Peterson and Anthony Williams — served as concelebrants, along with Father Francis Hund — the only native son of the parish to be ordained in the church in 1982.
Not only did the parish of some 100 families celebrate together, it also witnessed the dedication rite of its new altar.
After Mass, parishioners posed for a portrait, then filed over to the parish hall for a luncheon filled with fellowship and reminiscing as they viewed displays related to the parish’s history.
Prior to lunch, everyone read the meal blessing written by Father Hund, a prayer that invoked the phrase “Here in our holy land” at the beginning of all five paragraphs.
“Here in our holy land,” the second paragraph begins, “our community of prayer gathered this morning around the eucharistic altar to be nourished. The Sacred Heart of Jesus invites believers: Come to Me . . . I will give you rest. The gift of faith treasured today comes to us from holy Mary and the apostles, from the Pottawatomi Native American ‘Keepers of the Fire,’ from the Jesuit missionaries and pastors of this parish, from our ancestors to the families here today! May prayer and praise resound during this anniversary and with future generations.”
When asked why he considered the church to be his own “holy land,” Father Hund said it’s because his entire faith life, like that of many other parishioners, has revolved around Sacred Heart Church. He was baptized at the church, made his first confession and first Communion there and was confirmed there. Plus, he’s also presided over many weddings and funerals there for family and friends.
Like Father Hund, the Rush family also has deep roots within the parish. Justin and Hanna, along with their two children, Declan and Jocelyn, drive 30 minutes each week from Eskridge, mostly because Hanna, nearly 41, was raised as a sixth-generation parishioner. Her roots date back to the time of her great-great-great-grandparents.
“There’s so much I love about Paxico and the church,” said Hanna. “Everyone’s friendly and welcoming. I love our church. It’s beautiful.”
Of the anniversary itself, Hanna said, “I’m proud about it and everyone’s coming in to show their support.”
One parishioner showing her support was Lila Glotzbach.
At 92, she is the oldest woman in the parish.
Married in 1954 to her late husband Don she said until she turned 85, she was involved in the sodality and just about every parish activity one can think of, including teaching religious education and helping with the parish’s famous sausage suppers and fried chicken dinners.
“I was busy everyplace,” she said, adding she and her husband raised six kids in the parish. Now, her kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren belong and volunteer their time.
One aspect of the church she likes best is its ability to be seen.
“[People] are going to see the church from a distance, and I think that probably draws people in a little bit,” she said. “They see it from a distance, and I love that. I love that you can see the church from many miles.”
It’s a sight Merrill Glotzbach has enjoyed for 88 years.
As a boy, his parents dropped him at his grandmother’s house every day.
“My folks used to bring me up to her place, and I served Mass,” he said. “When Mass was over, I’d go to my grandma’s place and eat breakfast, then go to school. I went there for nine years.”
In 1956, he married his first wife, raising their family of seven kids.
After her death, Merrill remarried. Nowadays, the couple enjoys watching the generations behind them continue the legacy started 150 years ago.
In his homily, the archbishop said that he’s always amazed, particularly in rural areas, “to see these beautiful churches oftentimes were erected at times of economic struggle. They are physical expressions of the value of the faith of those who’ve gone before us.
“They sacrificed heroically to build these beautiful churches.”
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