A celebration of 100 years as a parish is what Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Merritt wants to acknowledge during their centennial celebration on July 31.
“We’re not celebrating a building,” said one of the co-ordinators of the centennial celebration, Doreen Caines.
It’s about the community that exists within the building.
“There’s a lot of history there,” she said.
In August 1911, the church was first blessed as a parish by Father Le Jeune and Father Wagner under the direction of Archbishop Neal McNeil of Vancouver. In 1945, the parish became part of the Diocese of Kamloops with Bishop Ed. Quentin Jennings as the first Bishop of the diocese.
Caines has been a member of the parish for 50 years.
“We’ve seen a lot of physical changes,” Caines said.
“The old church was wooden – too flimsy.”
The church was rebuilt and fit many more people – it went from fitting about 70 people to 300 people. A hall was also added.
“When we were building the new church everyone said ‘why are we doing this, there’s not enough people’,” she said. “Now, we’re full.”
“[The old church] lasted us for about 75 years – that’s pretty fantastic,” she said.
Caines said at one point there were two masses to accommodate all of the people coming to mass, but these days, attendance is a little lower.
“There’s a long way to go I think,” she said. “In terms of spirituality.”
“We’ve had our ups and downs.”
“There are a lot of people who are Catholic who don’t attend [mass].”
Caines said members of the church occasionally go door-to-door trying to bring people back to the parish.
“It’s a sign of the times – they’re busy.”
Caines sympathizes with those trying to make ends meet who don’t have time to attend church. She remembers working for a monthly income of $125.
“People have to do what they need to do,” she said.
Caines will be welcoming those who don’t attend church to visit the parish at the centennial celebration.
“If they want, they can just come and see what we do,” she continued.
The celebration will take place on July 31 at Sacred Heart beginning with Sunday mass.
The mass won’t be typical, however, as it will take place in the parking lot of the church, on the corner of Coldwater and Blair Street, at 11 a.m. where other festivities will also take place throughout the day following the mass.
“[It will be held in the parking lot] as long as the weather permits,” Caines said.
Bishop David Monroe will be there to join in the celebration.
Tours of the facilities, informative displays on the history and accomplishments of the parish, as well as children’s activities, a brunch and a dinner will be included at the celebration.
“There will be entertainment for the kids,” she said.
SaySo Expression Society improvisors, as well as dancers and musicians will be among the entertainment with a few surprises to be discovered the day of the event.
“We’re hoping there will be a nice turnout,” Caines said.
Tickets for brunch and dinner must be purchased in advance by July 24 by calling Nellie Holluboch at 250-378-4664 or Doreen Caines at 250-378-2537.
