Photos by Veronica Dewald, Prairie Girl Photography
Parishioners from throughout the surrounding area gather for the annual event. (Photo by Veronica Dewald, Prairie Girl Photography)
Mass is celebrated annually on the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua at the historic church at Grosswerder, SK. (Photo by Veronica Dewald, Prairie Girl Photography)
Historical society expresses thanks
By Carolynn Bichel, St. Anthony’s Historical Society- Grosswerder
We would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who attended the annual St. Anthony’s Celebration at Grosswerder, SK, on June 13, 2024. It was a special evening honouring the Feast Day of St. Anthony of Padua and our ancestors whose faith, foresight and sacrifices built this historical church and community.
There are many people who contribute to make this annual pilgrimage possible.
Thanks to Fr. Santhosh Thekkekulam, VC (Macklin, Denzil, St. Donatus), Fr. Edward Gibney (Biggar, Landis), Fr Greg Roth (Unity, Tramping Lake), Fr. Charles Nweze (Kerrobert, Major, Luseland, Dodsland), and Fr Rinesh Menambadath Chacko, VC (Wilkie, Handel, Leipzig) for their participation and support; to Aurelia Gartner for helping organize the pilgrimage and being a dedicated Sacristan; to Mary Lou Schachtel and the Denzil Sacred Heart Choir who inspired all those present with their beautiful singing voices; and to Anthony, Mathew and Daniel Witzaney for serving Mass.
As well, much appreciation goes out to all those individuals and families who participated in the Mass in any way.
Thank you to Dean Sieben for providing the sound system; to Pam Erker for supplying the flowers for the children to present; to Margie Scheck for her beautiful floral arrangements to decorate the church; to the Ed Sieben family for their generous donation of food and to those who brought food to share at the potluck.
Thank you to Veronica Dewald from Prairie Girl Photography for capturing beautiful photos to treasure; to Angie Steuerwald who prepares a delicious home-cooked meal each year for the priests prior to the pilgrimage; to Dale, Darlene and Mishaela Stang for the beautiful team of horses, and to Victor Scheck for supplying the carriage to carry the priests in the pilgrimage procession.
Thanks to Matt Warkentin and all the outriders and to Mike Schachtel who led the procession with the statue of St. Anthony to the cemetery and church.
Much gratitude also goes out to all those who came out and helped with preparing and cleaning the church and the cemetery.
We are extremely grateful to Jonathan Ollenberger and his brothers, to the Jamie Kreiger family, and to anyone else who helps with the maintenance of the cemetery and church grounds throughout the year.
Thanks to Ternan Farms for donating their tractor and mower and to the RM for cutting the ditches along the procession route.
To anyone else contributing or helping out in any way that we may have unintentionally missed: we sincerely thank you!
Thanks to all the financial donors throughout the community and beyond for their donations throughout the years. These contributions greatly help with the maintenance of the church and cemetery ensuring their historical value.
More Photos by Veronica Dewald, Prairie Girl Photography
The church was built in 1912. (Photo by Veronica Dewald, Prairie Girl Photography)
(Photo by Veronica Dewald, Prairie Girl Photography)
Parishioners from throughout the surrounding area gather for the annual event. (Photo by Veronica Dewald, Prairie Girl Photography)
(Photo by Veronica Dewald, Prairie Girl Photography)
(Photo by Veronica Dewald, Prairie Girl Photography)
(Photo by Veronica Dewald, Prairie Girl Photography)
RELATED: 2023 celebration at St. Anthony, Grosswerder – LINK
-30-
History of St. Anthony Church, Grosswerder
By Naden Hewko, St. Mary Parish, Macklin
The annual celebration Catholics at Grosswerder has been around since 1907 when the settlers arrived. These were brave souls who left their homes in southern Russia and immigrated to Grosswerder, SK.
These pioneers were part of a larger group known as St. Joseph Colony, which settled in the area from Leipzig, through Tramping Lake, to Grosswerder and across to the Alberta border.
This particular district of the St. Joseph Colony was named Grosswerder after the home village in southern Russia of some of the settlers. The families in the area were devout Roman Catholics who gathered in their homes to pray. As they wished to have a church to worship in they built a small, sod church and named it in honour of St. Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of settlers from another village.
The men hauled poplar poles from Sounding Lake with their wagons and oxen to build the roof. This was covered with sod and leaked when it rained. A lumber addition to the building was built, but that also became too small. The people realized they needed a proper church so they applied to their bishop for help. At that time this area was part of the Prince Albert diocese. With a loan from the bishop and many sacrifices on the part of the parishioners, enough money was raised to build.
On July 10, 1912, the cornerstone of the new church building was laid. Max Kasberger was the chief carpenter. St. Anthony church was built by volunteers who walked many miles from their homes to help with the construction.
The church was officially consecrated on Nov. 13, 1912. It still needed interior work but Mass could be celebrated. Three bells were ordered from the Bell Foundry of Fritz Hamm in Germany in 1913 and were hung on a stand for display until 1915 when they were raised with horses and pulleys up into the bell tower, firmly attached and covered with the steeple. Their special sound could be heard for over two miles.
The church became the centre of the district, with a rectory built for the priest. The first parish priest was Father Palm after whom the school was named. The school was moved closer to the church and a teacherage provided for the teachers.
This beautiful church served the district for 70 years until 1982, when it was closed due to a shortage of priests. The parishioners chose between attending Sacred Heart Church at Denzil or St. Mary Church in Macklin. But the people of St. Anthony parish wanted to keep alive the memory of those early settlers who brought the faith here with them.
It was decided to hold an annual Mass in memory of the pioneers and in honour of St. Anthony of Padua, on the patron saint’s Feast Day of June 13 if possible, or a date closest to that day. Local volunteers work hard to clean and prepare for this celebration.
-30-