WEEKLY LIVING REFLECTIONS
Reflection for the Week of July 6, 2008:
History can mean many things to different people. Some people have almost no use for it. Other people think that the smallest historical detail is of utmost importance. For me history is important because in it we can see the hand of God. In it we can see God's will and how it was discerned and enfleshed by a diverse group of people in the various times of history. By looking at the history of Jamestown and St. James Basilica Parish, I have been able to see how God used the parish in building God's Kingdom. I can see the qualities and gifts of the parish that were developed at different times in its history. I have believed and have tried to keep those qualities alive and vibrant even as we need to develop some new qualities and gifts for the present generation. However, I know it will not only be for the present generation. It will be for the entire future of St. James Basilica Parish. St. James is like a person, a person made rich by all experiences, a person in whose presence people have a personal experience of Jesus. Yes, as a parish, we are the Body of Christ. Because we are the Body of Christ we need to be as HOSPITABLE as Jesus was and is and will be. So we take a quick look at Jamestown and our parish, a look which you can also find on the magnetic wall at the west entrance of the church.
The first Mass was celebrated in Jamestown on April 24, 1878 in a box car that served as an eating place. It was owned by Mrs. Kelleher. The priest was Fr. Lorenz Spitzlberger.
The Parish of St. James was established in 1881.
The first Mass in the first church in Jamestown was celebrated on January 28, 1883.
Miss Margaret Corbett was the first Catholic school teacher in Jamestown. She taught in 1884-1885.
Bishop Martin Marty was the Bishop of Dakota Territory. He dedicated the first church in Jamestown on May 13, 1883.
Anton Klaus, Sr. donated the land for this first Catholic Church.
Bishop John Shanley was the first bishop of the Diocese of Jamestown, North Dakota.
The first Catholic School in the Diocese is St. John's Academy. It opened in 1890. Mother Catherine McDonough, Sister Aimee Moosbrugger, Sister Gertrude and Sister Cyril McGuiness were the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet who started St. John's Academy.
The present church building was consecrated by Bishop O'Reilly on Nov. 29, 1914. On a postcard of the new church (given to us by Margaret Baumler of Casselton), it says that at three Masses that weekend they collected $1311.05 and the cost of the Church was $65,000. Fr.(later Msgr.) Edward Geraghty was the pastor when the present St. James Church was built. Ground for the church was broken on May 12, 1910.
Pierce Blewett donated the art glass windows at a cost of $5000.
Dr. Helena Wink, the first woman doctor in North Dakota, donated the hand painted Stations of the Cross.
Bishop James S. Sullivan elevated St. James Church to a Basilica on July 23, 1989.
The present renovation of the Basilica was done in 1993.
The geothermal heating and cooling system was installed in 2006.
July 6, 2008
