March 01, 2014
9:30AM Sunday Mass
The chilly, overcast, wintry weather that blew in from the West on Saturday carried on through Sunday morning. It was a brisk 9F (-12C) when we headed out for St Francis of Assisi, 23.3 miles south with light snow swirling about.
As we pulled into the parking lot, we got a sense that St Francis was a lot posher than other parishes we've been to in recent weeks. The views from the lot were pretty impressive - the church property was high on a hill. The light snow/ice encrusting the trees and shrubs reflected what little sun that was trying to break through the thick clouds.
Stepping inside felt more like we were entering the lobby of a well appointed lodge. On the one side was a very nice seating area warmed by a roaring fire place, a store to one side, and several rows of temporary seating and a number of really comfy looking rocking chairs for late comers and those with rambunctious kids. TV monitors aplenty to allow one to follow the action inside the actual worship space. The one thing that immediately caught my attention was the "Donation Kiosk", an ATM like machine. I wondered if one could buy indulgences but wasn't curious enough to actually check it out.
The Gospel today touched on worshiping God or Mammon. I found it a bit ironic sitting in such a lavishly appointed church with a Donation Kiosk prominently by one of the doors into the worship area. Then the celebrant started his Homily and within a few sentences said (I can't recall now what) that if you were (or were not?) some way or another, you didn't belong to his church!! A few minutes later he mentioned a few things that he couldn't tolerate! Hmmm ... even Cyn looked at me and I knew we both agreed that this homily out did the Denver Cathedral's homily as the Worst one we've heard in our church tour to date (11 churches.) Homilies like these are good times to play the "what hole-y adjectives best describe the priest" game, in alphabetical order.
After Mass was over and the congregation emptied out we went inside the church proper itself. It certainly is a beautiful building, the interiors were everything one would imagine how a posh mountain church should be appointed.
From the St Francis of Assisi website (http://www.stfranciscr.org/about/a-short-history-of-st-francis-of-assisi ):
A Short History of St. Francis of Assisi
The history of St. Francis of Assisi Parish is relatively long and colorful, going back to the Gold Rush years of 1858-59, when pioneers began pouring into this part of the country. In 1861 Congress created the Colorado Territory which is identical to the present state boundaries, and in 1887, railroads to Cheyenne connected the east and west bringing more people into the new territory.
One historian wrote:
A group of Bavarian Catholics, some with interfamily relationships, found the area south and east of Castle Rock to their liking and became known as the Lake Gulch Community…. If it had not been for these Germans, a few other Catholics and [the Irishman], William Dillon, there would not have been a church in Castle Rock until much later.
In Castle Rock, early meetings were held in the Lake Gulch schoolhouse and in private houses. It seems that the friars and Diocese of Denver were unable to help with finances to build a church. Eventually, the church was financed partly through the efforts of Henry Hart of Ireland who came to Douglas County in 1880 to visit his nephew, William Dillon. William was a lawyer, and his mother in Ireland left some money to him for a building fund. The family’s one request was that the church be named after St. Francis of Assisi in honor of William’s brother, Henry Dillon, who had become a Franciscan priest.
By 1887, other pledges amounting to $500, some from non-Catholics, were collected. The Castle Rock Journal of October 4, 1887, reported that, “It has been decided that the Roman Catholic Chapel will be built south of the courthouse square. Estimated cost $1,000.” Local parishioners, donating their labor, used native rhyolite stone from nearby quarries. By the 4 th of July 1888, the stonework was completed, and on December 16, 1888, the church was dedicated.
The Castle Rock Journal again note that, “The dedication of the new Catholic Church took place last Sabbath (December 16, 1888). Quite a large congregation were in attendance. Father Rivallier and O’Ryan of Denver officiated at the ceremony. The church having been blessed and dedicated, Father Rivallier said Mass, after which Father O’Ryan preached. A collection was taken up and $27.50 realized, the whole of which sum was handed over to Mr. Dillon by Father Rivallier to assist paying off the small debt still remaining on the church.”
Franciscan friars from Denver, carrying the things necessary for Mass and the Sacraments, made a month-long circuit by train and horse and buggy to the outlying communities of the plains. These “circuit riders” as they were sometimes called, visited such remote places as Cheyenne Wells, Elizabeth, Elbert, Stratton, Burlington, Calhan, Kiowa, Monument, Parker, and Castle Rock, saying Mass, baptizing and marrying in ranch houses, schools, and stores. Until 1930, St. Francis of Assisi had irregular services and no assigned priests. Priests from Denver, Littleton, and the Friars from St. Elizabeth’s in Denver ministered to these communities until 1911, when St. Francis became a mission of Colorado Springs (1911-1915). After 1915, Denver priests and friars came when they could. From 1024-29, Mercy Hospital provided priests. Finding priests to meet the needs of the people was an on-going challenge. A newspaper article stated that the priests said Mass with a pistol hidden among the statues.
From 1930 to the early 1950’s, Fr. Walter Steidle traveled seventy-five miles every Sunday saying Mass at the six churches in his territory, including St. Francis of Assisi. He was a rock hunter and mason by trade and added a back room and front vestibule to the church. It was Fr. Steidle who invited Sisters from Denver to come for one or two weeks during the summer in order to provide religious instruction for the children. An Altar Society was also established, and this group would sponsor dances and dinners to raise money for the church.
In the early 1960’s it was evident that the church had out-grown its original site. A new location was chosen overlooking the valley and Pike’s Peak to the south, while the original stone church became a restaurant that still operates on the town square. The new wood and stone church with its wall of windows behind the altar has been in use since its dedication in 1966.
In January of 1985, St. Francis of Assisi became part of the newly formed Diocese of Colorado Springs headed by Bishop Richard C. Hanifen. Having retired, Bishop Hanifen handed the reins of the diocese over to Bishop Michael Sheridan.
Several resident pastors have ministered to the people of this community since Fr. Steidle’s time. Some of them are: Fathers Thomas McMahon, Clement Gallagher, Emmanuel Gabel, William Vollmer, Dennis Dwyer, Herb Hayek, O.P. assisted by Fr. George Reynolds, O.P., and as of July 1, 2008 Father Brad Noonan has been installed as Pastor.
