Saying goodbye to St. Joseph's
Catholic church in Barnum is finale for local closingsBy EMILIE NELSON, Messenger staff writer
BARNUM - Bernadeen Ledford has been a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church for 60 years. She raised her children there, and celebrated many baptisms, first Communions and weddings at the church. Saturday evening, however, was the last time that she and her family would gather together at the church as it held its closing Mass.
"We go back a long way here," Ledford said.
During the Mass, the Revs. Sunny Dominic, Kevin McCoy and Lynn Bruch honored confessional, lectern, altar and baptismal font as having been the significant places within the church where everyone has gathered over the years.
"These are the places where we were restored, celebrated first Eucharists, and heard God's word," McCoy said. "This is where we have come together to witness brides and grooms, and to commend the dead. It's been a place of unity."
Past and present members of the church gathered together to worship, reminisce, and share laughter and tears one last time as they said goodbye to their church homes.
"This house of the Lord is familiar. Generations have gathered here. We mourn this loss," McCoy said as he address the parishioners.
Following the Mass, members shared a dinner together and watched a slide show featuring photos of the many special events that have taken place over the church's 111-year history.
For 78-year-old Eugene Lynch, saying goodbye to the church he grew up in was a difficult task. His parents were members of the church for many years. He was baptized, received first communion, raised his family and married his daughters in the church.
"This is sad," he said. "It's just a shame."
Ledford agreed with Lynch. "It's hard. "We've formed a lot of friendships here," she said.
St. Joseph is the final of three churches to be closed in Holy Trinity Parish. Holy Rosary, in Fort Dodge, saw its final Mass on Nov. 8, and St. Joseph, in Duncombe held its lass Mass Nov. 15.
The closings come as the result of a June 4 decision by the Holy Trinity Pastoral Council to end services at the churches due to a decrease in the number of priests available to serve the parishes.
Contact Emilie Nelson at 573-2141 or enelson@messengernews.net
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irishwoman78
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11-23-08 1:22 PM
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That group that wants the one BIG church in Fort Dodge it getting closer and closer to getting their wish. Closing one church at a time. Give it time and in 10 years they will want to close Sacred Heart too. Just my opinion.
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