Issue of Sept. 28, 2014
Ransom parish celebrates 125 year anniversary aug. 31, 2014 (scroll down)
Fiesta De Colores, Sept. 7, 2014
Mexican village celebrates reunion, Aug. 30, 2014
Fiesta de Colores
On Sept. 7, 2014, hundreds of people gathered in Garden City for the annual Fiesta de Colores. The day-long celebration included good food from several vendors, metachina dancers, music, presentations, and a Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. John B. Brungardt. Click on the thumbnail photo for a larger version. These photos are free to download. If you'd like a larger resolution version, send the photo to [email protected].
On Sept. 7, 2014, hundreds of people gathered in Garden City for the annual Fiesta de Colores. The day-long celebration included good food from several vendors, metachina dancers, music, presentations, and a Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. John B. Brungardt. Click on the thumbnail photo for a larger version. These photos are free to download. If you'd like a larger resolution version, send the photo to [email protected].
ST. aloysius, Ransom, celebrates 125 years of Catholic presence
By DAVID MYERS
Southwest Kansas Register
RANSOM -- They made it look easy: First there was a Mass, honoring the faith and fortitude of St. Aloysius Parish’s forefathers and mothers, and all those who have continued to be transformed by Christ in and around Ransom over the last 125 years.
There was the reception under a big tent: delicious barbecued dishes ready to serve all comers, two bands drawing couples to the dance floor, and to top it off, a clear blue sky inviting meals on the grass, games of horseshoes, and plenty of memory-sharing.
Celebrating the opening Mass was the Most Rev. John B. Brungardt, Father Henry Hildebrandt, pastor, Father Myron Flax, OFM Cap., and Father Stephen Shuler, SVD.
During his homily, Bishop Brungardt called the children forward; to one child he gave a small, yellow toy car, which the boy quickly unfolded into a “Transformer” as he smiled proudly.
“St. Paul in the book of Romans tells us to be transformed by renewal of your mind, not conformed to this present age,” the bishop said after the children took their seats. “This is key to our understanding of our Catholic Christian faith, that we aren’t satisfied by the way we are. We want to be transformed into something very different. We want to be transformed in the image and likeness of Christ.”
St. Aloysius Parish sprouted from the Kansas plains 125 years ago, when west-bound homesteaders were slowly making their way across the barren countryside in search of a home.
The first Mass was celebrated by Father John Disselkamp, whose chalice Father Disselkamp used that day more than a century ago, was once again held before the congregation, this time by Bishop Brungardt.
The church would undergo many changes over the years, from a warehouse with donated pews and stations in 1901, to a structure built by locals after the hearty parishioners rented a machine for making cement blocks.
On Dec. 5, 1935, fire gutted the church, but the cement frame and the roof were left intact. Parishioners once again put their hearts on their sleeves and worked so hard to repaint, refinish and replace whatever was needed, that the church was ready for Mass in time for Christmas.
In 1945, after successfully appealing to the War Production Board (which restricted the use of building materials), the church was enlarged to double the seating capacity.
Much of this information came from Tim Wenzl’s history of the Diocese of Dodge City, “A Legacy of Faith.”
Southwest Kansas Register
RANSOM -- They made it look easy: First there was a Mass, honoring the faith and fortitude of St. Aloysius Parish’s forefathers and mothers, and all those who have continued to be transformed by Christ in and around Ransom over the last 125 years.
There was the reception under a big tent: delicious barbecued dishes ready to serve all comers, two bands drawing couples to the dance floor, and to top it off, a clear blue sky inviting meals on the grass, games of horseshoes, and plenty of memory-sharing.
Celebrating the opening Mass was the Most Rev. John B. Brungardt, Father Henry Hildebrandt, pastor, Father Myron Flax, OFM Cap., and Father Stephen Shuler, SVD.
During his homily, Bishop Brungardt called the children forward; to one child he gave a small, yellow toy car, which the boy quickly unfolded into a “Transformer” as he smiled proudly.
“St. Paul in the book of Romans tells us to be transformed by renewal of your mind, not conformed to this present age,” the bishop said after the children took their seats. “This is key to our understanding of our Catholic Christian faith, that we aren’t satisfied by the way we are. We want to be transformed into something very different. We want to be transformed in the image and likeness of Christ.”
St. Aloysius Parish sprouted from the Kansas plains 125 years ago, when west-bound homesteaders were slowly making their way across the barren countryside in search of a home.
The first Mass was celebrated by Father John Disselkamp, whose chalice Father Disselkamp used that day more than a century ago, was once again held before the congregation, this time by Bishop Brungardt.
The church would undergo many changes over the years, from a warehouse with donated pews and stations in 1901, to a structure built by locals after the hearty parishioners rented a machine for making cement blocks.
On Dec. 5, 1935, fire gutted the church, but the cement frame and the roof were left intact. Parishioners once again put their hearts on their sleeves and worked so hard to repaint, refinish and replace whatever was needed, that the church was ready for Mass in time for Christmas.
In 1945, after successfully appealing to the War Production Board (which restricted the use of building materials), the church was enlarged to double the seating capacity.
Much of this information came from Tim Wenzl’s history of the Diocese of Dodge City, “A Legacy of Faith.”