By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN
Special to Hays Post
Three area Catholic parishes all within 30 miles of each other have closed in recent decades because of declining population and/or priest shortage.
That hasn’t stopped the determined residents and past parishioners from keeping their remaining properties in good condition.
Led by that strong commitment and in honor of their ancestors – and energized by the persistence of a retired priest – those three groups of former parishioners celebrated Masses on consecutive Sundays in September.
And if Father Reggie Urban has anything to say about it, that will continue in years to come. Fr. Reggie is now retired, but just like these churches – he is still active.
“You can close a parish, but our faith is never closed,” Fr. Reggie said at the third Mass on Sept. 22 in McCracken’s St. Mary’s Church.
That former parish and St. Mary Help of Christians in Loretto, both located in Rush County, are part of the Diocese of Dodge City.
But Loretto actually is closer to Pfeifer, a member of the Diocese of Salina and just 4.3 miles northeast of Loretto in Ellis County.
Those two churches have a long history all their own, some of it controversial. But during a three-week period in September, Fr. Reggie brought everyone together “for the good of those who love God.”
Several people were seen at both the Loretto and Pfeifer celebrations on the first two weekends.
One couple, Glenn and Rhonda Stramel from Munjor, actually attended all three Masses.
Glenn grew up in Pfeifer, and Rhonda (Brenner) grew up in McCracken’s St. Mary’s Parish. And of course, if you were from Pfeifer, you have ties with Loretto as well.
“We are so grateful to Fr. Reggie for having these Masses,” Rhonda said, glancing around the interior of her hometown church after Mass. “… a lot of memories here.”
At all three well-attended Masses, folks could be caught glancing around at the beautiful stained glass windows as music wafted through the air.
After serving in the Grand Island Diocese of Nebraska for 25 years and the Diocese of Dodge City for 14 years, Fr. Reggie semi-retired in 2017 due to health reasons and moved to Hays.
He is still kept busy, filling in for several area parishes and says he is “semi-retired” because he “feels like a semi going down the interstate.”
Fr. Reggie is known as an upbeat priest, and he smiles a lot.
He couldn’t quit smiling on three weekends earlier this month.
Holy Cross, Pfeifer
The Gothic-style church stands tall and elegant against the wide- open sky, gracing the rolling river valley of the Smoky Hill basin with its elegance.
Holy Cross has been a staple of this small Ellis County community since it was built by German-Russian immigrants more than 100 years ago.
The church measures 165 feet high and 165 feet long. It was built in the form of a cross in 1918 and is known as The Cross in the Valley. It is also known as "the 2-cents church" because parish families paid 2 cents for each bushel of wheat they produced to fund construction.
While regularly scheduled Masses are no longer held in the magnificent building after the Diocese of Salina dissolved the parish 30-some years ago, several committed former parishioners and descendants of the original settlers, vowed to keep the church building in good condition and formed Holy Cross Charities, Inc.
The church is still open to the public all year long and for weddings and funerals as well.
Holy Cross annually celebrates its anniversary Mass on the Sunday closest to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which is Sept. 14.
Bishop Gerald Vincke often comes to Ellis County to celebrate this Mass, which well attended year in and year out.
“I love coming to this beautiful church in the valley,” Bishop Vincke said during his homily on Sept. 15.
Two of those present at this year’s Mass were Gary and Arlene (Urban) Stramel, who had attended the Mass in Loretto the weekend before.
They have strong ties to both towns. Gary grew up in Pfeifer and Arlene, in Loretto.
Gary met Arlene at a baseball game, and “I never dated anyone else,” he said.
“I crossed the county line – and the diocese, too,” Arlene said with a laugh.
They married and have been part of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Hays for nearly 60 years.
However, Gary is still heavily involved with Holy Cross Charities, which is working on two major goals: to repair the stained glass windows and get the church placed on the National Register of Historical Places.
Led by Gary’s sister, Janice Seib, board members have started that long, arduous process.
The church, located about 10 miles south of Victoria, is open from 8 a.m. until sunset every day.
Anyone wishing to schedule a tour can call Janice Seib at 785-623-7955. For general use or inquiries, contact Jerry Dreiling at 785-650-3863 or St. Fidelis Basilica, Victoria, at 785-735-2777.
St. Mary’s, Loretto
As a longtime priest in the Diocese of Dodge City, Fr. Reggie was well aware of the closing of Loretto, which hadn’t had regular Masses at its church in nearly 40 years.
And St. Mary’s is his ancestral parish.
About two months ago, Fr. Reggie asked Bishop John Brungardt, the shepherd of the Dodge City Diocese, about starting up a yearly Mass at Loretto, much like Pfeifer and McCracken.
Fr. Reggie also pointed out that the Sept. 8 weekend would be a good time to do so in conjunction with Pfeifer’s annual celebration the following weekend.
“I about fell out of my chair when he said, ‘Yes,’ ” Fr. Reggie said. “But, here we are.”
This one was near and dear to his heart. He grew up near Loretto, whose original church was founded and built in 1912 by numerous Urban relatives.
More than 100 years later, Fr. Reggie beamed during his homily in his home church.
“Being able to come here today for something other than a funeral is long overdue,” he said.
While disappointment obviously came with the church’s closing, Fr. Reggie urged everyone to be thankful on this day.
“Let go of any hurt or anger and concentrate on the present moment for the sake of the future,” he said.
“Let’s celebrate and have a great time together. Let’s remember the picnics, the baseball games, the two-room schoolhouse and the Christmas plays,” he said, concluding with the German word for “high time.”
“Let the hochste zeit (höchste zeit) begin!”
St. Mary’s, McCracken
Like many other parishes, St. Mary’s was established in the late 1800s. But this particular church building was not yet 75 years old when the parish was dissolved and merged with St. Michael’s Parish in La Crosse in 1998.
Susan (Thompson) Keith, who grew up in St. Mary’s, now lives in Ellsworth but wanted to make sure to participate in this particular Mass.
“When they talk about people having so much history with this church, I got to thinking I was baptized here, made my First Reconciliation and First Communion here, confirmed, married,” said Thompson, whose July wedding in 1993 was one of the last marriages consecrated at St. Mary’s.
St. Mary’s Heritage Association now maintains St. Mary’s church, rectory and cemetery.
St. Mary’s currently has four Masses a year: Thanksgiving weekend, one around Labor Day weekend, McCracken Rodeo weekend and Memorial Day weekend.
Fr. Reggie noticed an overhead light was not working and said he hoped it could be fixed by next year because he plans to be back in 2025 and several years thereafter.
“As long as I can, I will be doing this,” said Fr. Reggie, who turned 74 in August. “Hopefully into my 90s.”
And, of course, that statement came with a smile.