Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church
421 Sanborn Street
Reynolds, Grand Forks County, North Dakota 58275
421 Sanborn Street
Reynolds, Grand Forks County, North Dakota 58275
Records in the parishes of St. Michael's in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and St. Stephen's, Larimore, North Dakota, tell of baptisms and marriages of Reynolds people before the establishment of an incorporated parish. The Catholic life was not neglected. A unique example of this is the gathering together of neighbors on Sunday mornings at the Mrs. Flory home southwest of Reynolds. There the people prayed the Rosary, read the Scriptures, 32 and other spiritual readings, led by Mrs. Flory. In 1889 Father Connally, of the Larimore parish, moved to the Hatton, North Dakota, area and had the western part of the Reynolds parish under his jurisdiction. He attended spiritual needs, baptisms, and offered Mass in private homes, namely the Simon Turks, John and Matthew von Ruden. The homes of Michael Flory and Michael Berthold were used to hold Mass in the yet earlier days, when Fathers Spitzenberger and Albrecht came on occasional missionary visits.
During Rev. Edward Conaty's jurisdiction of Reynolds in 1893, the first small schoolhouse, then abandoned on the south side of town, was purchased for $300.00 and moved across the railroad tracks. Mr. Joseph Ackerman and his neighbors, with the use of a capstan, moved the little church. As the community grew, so did the necessity of a new and larger building. In May of 1895, Joseph Ackerman of Reynolds, and James McMenamy of Thompson, presented their people's plea for an incorporated parish and a resident Priest to the first diocesan Bishop, John Shanley. It was decided to locate the church where the Catholic people were in greater number. Reynolds had forty families; Thompson had twenty. The Iver Iverson home, then the temporary residence of John Murphy, was purchased for a Priest's residence. The cost of this residence was $700.00. Father Benno Kauer was appointed pastor of the new parish but spent only a short time here. He was followed by Father Bernard Fresenborg, who, during his pastorate of less than one year, saw the new frame church with tin sheet veneer, planned and nearly completed for the sum of $4,000.00. The next priest was newly ordained, Father Edward J. Geraghty, who saw the completion of the church, and celebrated its dedication June 11, I898. In the records of 1899, a list of the parishioners is given as follows: Michael Etienne, Charles Holinger, John von Ruden, Joseph Ackerman, Ferdinand Berthold, John Neubauer, John Ackerman, Philip Flory, Mrs. Flory, John Murphy, Mrs. McKenny, J. Ingram, P. 0'Neil, Charles Schabo, P.A. Schumacher, Budd Schumacher, H. Felings, George Berthold, Matthew von Ruden, Louis Ackerman, Joseph Schotthofer, Mrs. Kippen, Mike Donovan, John Schumacher, William Breidenbach, Martin von Ruden, Mike Angelsburg, Anton Leddige, N. Marx, Anton Linneman, S. Turk, S. Wilde, Tom Lavin, Anton Breidenbach, Joe Adams, Ferdinand Adams, Jacob Adams, George Ganajoski, Tony Schumacher, Jacob Flory, M. Reidy, M. Flory, M. Madigan, M. Fish, M. Hennessy, J. Hoi linger, M. O'Brien, Max Berthold, Simon Schaefer, John Zickgraf, and H. Schirtliff. Many of these early Catholic pioneers left descendents still residing in the parish.
In 1922, the church was enlarged and remodeled while Father Francis Meyer was pastor. In 1948 the present parish house was built. At that time, Father Joseph Bellerose was pastor. Father Bellerose is now the only living priest of all the priests who served this parish. He is retired and living in Texas. More remodeling was done in 1953. This was done in the basement, when new furnaces were added, bathrooms were installed, and the kitchen was redone. In 1954, the front entry to the church was added. A few years later, under the supervision of John M. Adams, the breezeway was constructed which connected the church and rectory. Then in 1976, the interior of the church was completely redecorated.
The parish lost three of their sons in the service of their country. In World War I, Thomas Mealy, son of James T. Mealy, gave his life for God and country in France. In World War II, Captain Joseph Hennessy, U.S.M.S., son of D.J. Hennessy, and PFC John McMenamy, U.S. Army, son of Joseph McMenamy, lost their lives.
In years past, religious instruction for the parish children was taught at vacation summer schools by the diocesan Sisters. With the shortage of Sisters to teach, it became necessary for the lay people to instruct their own children. A religious education committee was formed, and volunteer teachers from the parish began the weekly CCD (Confraternity of Chrisitan Doctrine) program. This program is still in practice today.
The women of the parish were active in many groups such as the Altar Society, the Martha's, the Liturgical Committee and the Christian Mothers, which is divided into four groups. These groups clean the church, serve for bridal showers, funerals, and other special occasions. The Christian Mothers were noted for their delicious fall suppers which were attended by many people from the neighboring communities.
The church's decision makers are the Parish Council members. The council consists of twelve members. Annual elections are held, and the current president is John Weber.
The church celebrated their 50th Anniversary on October 11, 1945, and also held a celebration for their 75th Anniversary on June 28, 1970.
One of the memorable highlights of this parish was the ordination of Phillip Ackerman to the priesthood. He is the only member of the parish, since its beginning, to become a priest. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Ackerman of rural Reynolds. His ordination took place June 11, 1978, at the Central Valley School gymnasium, with hundreds of people attending the ceremony.
Father Kenneth Knoke came to serve as pastor in 196. On September 1, 1970, the Thompson parish came under his jurisdiction. Father Eugene Connally was his assistant until June 1, 1971; since then, Father Knoke has served the two parishes alone. This year of the Centennial brings another special occasion to the parish, and that is the 25th Anniversary of Father Knoke's years as a priest. The parish helped him celebrate this event on June 22, 1980.
There are approximately one hundred twenty-five families in the parish at this time.
Information - Reynolds City Centennial 1880 - 1980 "Reynolds The Live Town"
During Rev. Edward Conaty's jurisdiction of Reynolds in 1893, the first small schoolhouse, then abandoned on the south side of town, was purchased for $300.00 and moved across the railroad tracks. Mr. Joseph Ackerman and his neighbors, with the use of a capstan, moved the little church. As the community grew, so did the necessity of a new and larger building. In May of 1895, Joseph Ackerman of Reynolds, and James McMenamy of Thompson, presented their people's plea for an incorporated parish and a resident Priest to the first diocesan Bishop, John Shanley. It was decided to locate the church where the Catholic people were in greater number. Reynolds had forty families; Thompson had twenty. The Iver Iverson home, then the temporary residence of John Murphy, was purchased for a Priest's residence. The cost of this residence was $700.00. Father Benno Kauer was appointed pastor of the new parish but spent only a short time here. He was followed by Father Bernard Fresenborg, who, during his pastorate of less than one year, saw the new frame church with tin sheet veneer, planned and nearly completed for the sum of $4,000.00. The next priest was newly ordained, Father Edward J. Geraghty, who saw the completion of the church, and celebrated its dedication June 11, I898. In the records of 1899, a list of the parishioners is given as follows: Michael Etienne, Charles Holinger, John von Ruden, Joseph Ackerman, Ferdinand Berthold, John Neubauer, John Ackerman, Philip Flory, Mrs. Flory, John Murphy, Mrs. McKenny, J. Ingram, P. 0'Neil, Charles Schabo, P.A. Schumacher, Budd Schumacher, H. Felings, George Berthold, Matthew von Ruden, Louis Ackerman, Joseph Schotthofer, Mrs. Kippen, Mike Donovan, John Schumacher, William Breidenbach, Martin von Ruden, Mike Angelsburg, Anton Leddige, N. Marx, Anton Linneman, S. Turk, S. Wilde, Tom Lavin, Anton Breidenbach, Joe Adams, Ferdinand Adams, Jacob Adams, George Ganajoski, Tony Schumacher, Jacob Flory, M. Reidy, M. Flory, M. Madigan, M. Fish, M. Hennessy, J. Hoi linger, M. O'Brien, Max Berthold, Simon Schaefer, John Zickgraf, and H. Schirtliff. Many of these early Catholic pioneers left descendents still residing in the parish.
In 1922, the church was enlarged and remodeled while Father Francis Meyer was pastor. In 1948 the present parish house was built. At that time, Father Joseph Bellerose was pastor. Father Bellerose is now the only living priest of all the priests who served this parish. He is retired and living in Texas. More remodeling was done in 1953. This was done in the basement, when new furnaces were added, bathrooms were installed, and the kitchen was redone. In 1954, the front entry to the church was added. A few years later, under the supervision of John M. Adams, the breezeway was constructed which connected the church and rectory. Then in 1976, the interior of the church was completely redecorated.
The parish lost three of their sons in the service of their country. In World War I, Thomas Mealy, son of James T. Mealy, gave his life for God and country in France. In World War II, Captain Joseph Hennessy, U.S.M.S., son of D.J. Hennessy, and PFC John McMenamy, U.S. Army, son of Joseph McMenamy, lost their lives.
In years past, religious instruction for the parish children was taught at vacation summer schools by the diocesan Sisters. With the shortage of Sisters to teach, it became necessary for the lay people to instruct their own children. A religious education committee was formed, and volunteer teachers from the parish began the weekly CCD (Confraternity of Chrisitan Doctrine) program. This program is still in practice today.
The women of the parish were active in many groups such as the Altar Society, the Martha's, the Liturgical Committee and the Christian Mothers, which is divided into four groups. These groups clean the church, serve for bridal showers, funerals, and other special occasions. The Christian Mothers were noted for their delicious fall suppers which were attended by many people from the neighboring communities.
The church's decision makers are the Parish Council members. The council consists of twelve members. Annual elections are held, and the current president is John Weber.
The church celebrated their 50th Anniversary on October 11, 1945, and also held a celebration for their 75th Anniversary on June 28, 1970.
One of the memorable highlights of this parish was the ordination of Phillip Ackerman to the priesthood. He is the only member of the parish, since its beginning, to become a priest. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Ackerman of rural Reynolds. His ordination took place June 11, 1978, at the Central Valley School gymnasium, with hundreds of people attending the ceremony.
Father Kenneth Knoke came to serve as pastor in 196. On September 1, 1970, the Thompson parish came under his jurisdiction. Father Eugene Connally was his assistant until June 1, 1971; since then, Father Knoke has served the two parishes alone. This year of the Centennial brings another special occasion to the parish, and that is the 25th Anniversary of Father Knoke's years as a priest. The parish helped him celebrate this event on June 22, 1980.
There are approximately one hundred twenty-five families in the parish at this time.
Information - Reynolds City Centennial 1880 - 1980 "Reynolds The Live Town"