Christ-King Catholic Church, Stettler celebrated its 75th Anniversary on Sunday, September 21 with seating to capacity and overflow into the adjacent parish hall via livestream. A luncheon and program followed at the Stettler Community Hall.
Father Jim Corrigan presided over this Jubilee celebration along with our current pastor, Fr. RK (Rambabu Kanaparti), retired pastor Father Joseph Jacobson, former pastor Father Roger Niedzielski, former Pastor Father Mark McGee and Deacon Doug Tien. Notably present were members of the Catholic Women’s League and Knights of Columbus.
Christ-King Catholic Church replaced Our Lady of Perpetual Help which had been built in 1909. This previous church reached its capacity by the mid 1940s. My parents, Joe and Hilda Gendre may have been one of the last couples to be married in the old church on June 10, 1947. That same year, a group of volunteers worked to build the original Parish Hall which would then serve as the place of worship until a proper church was constructed. The cornerstone was laid in 1948. By 1949, Christ-King Parish was completed, and would be formally blessed November 1950 by Monsignor W. B. Carlton, VG.
In his homily, Father Jim said, “Christ The King has been the one consistent gathering point for all that is important in this community, for all that is important in our Catholic families. Jesus Christ has always been, and will always be the anchor, the rock of stability for us.”
At the conclusion of Mass, Father Jim asked if there were any original parishioners in attendance. Joan Rushon, Greg Beer and Maxine Rehman all stood.
Much of the church has remained the same over the years. In the early 2000s, the connected rectory was converted into office space and meeting rooms. In 2010, a wall was taken down between two rooms to create a children’s liturgy room. Recently, the church has received upgrades in the sanctuary including new paint, flooring and the respacing of pews for additional leg room among other enhancements.
Special highlights during our Jubilee Mass included blessings of our newly built adoration chapel, the cornerstone and new crucifix. Together with their families, parishioners at the celebration luncheon were asked to write an intercession that will be placed in the new blessed sanctuary crucifix.
At the luncheon, there was a release of a special song written and produced by Father RK in his native language of India, Telugu, which is also used for the Entrance Hymn in the Holy Mass in his home state. The program also included song and dance from our children’s liturgy group, songs from our choirs, messages from our pastors and members of our wider Christian community.
As in the words of Fr. Jim, “We are indeed entitled to celebrate with joyful hearts the blessing this parish has been to this community for seventy-five years. We are entitled. because we know that it is the giver of all that is good, our Lord Jesus, who has graced this Catholic community with many blessings over many years.”
-Joseph Gendre Jr., lifetime parishioner
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