ROME — “Gloria Dios en el cielo, y en la tierra paz a los hombres que aman al Señor. Glory to God in Heaven, and on earth peace to men who love the Lord.” With this introduction to the Gloria, English and Spanish voices joined together Sept. 25 in a joyful bilingual celebration of the 50th anniversary of St. Frances of Rome in Sparta as a mission church. The celebration continued with a catered picnic on the grounds.
In his homily, Bishop Peter Jugis reminded listeners that there are three reasons why the anniversary of a church is celebrated. “First, a church is the place where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is celebrated. This is the center of all parish life, where we are nourished by the Body and Blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Second, a church is dedicated to making you holy and to see that you get to heaven. All the priests who serve you are dedicated to this primary purpose. Third, a church is the center for evangelization, where we reach out to our communities to bring the truths of the Gospel to our friends and neighbors. Everything else a parish does is centered on these three purposes.”
The dedication of the church in 1966, the parish hall in 1986, and the cemetery in 2015 were landmarks in a long pilgrimage for Catholics in the community. The parish has grown from 17 original members to approximately 152 families, including year-round and summer residents and a sizable Hispanic community.
Among the priests present for the 50th anniversary celebration were Father Roland Hautz and Monsignor Gerald Lewis.
Father Hautz said he served St. Frances of Rome “for one-fifth of its 50 years.” He is celebrating his 63rd year as a priest. He proudly recalled two men he brought into the Church while he was serving in Rome. One was Father Fred Werth, who now serves as pastor of St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Mars Hill. The other was a Pentecostal evangelist.
Monsignor Lewis said that, when he first started coming to Sparta in 1961, there were only seven people at the church. He and other priests who came to this area celebrated Mass in the Sparta Community Center, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall, the cafeteria of the Blue Ridge Shoe Factory, and the homes of area Catholics, he recalled.
Over the years, parishioners have been actively involved in its evolution as a growing Catholic community in Alleghany County. The youth community created beautiful additions to the church. Elizabeth Flattery built the Life Garden, which is accented by a large Sacred Heart of Jesus statue donated by parishioner Ruth Stephenson. Eagle Scout projects include the Grotto of Mary beside the church by Paul Kovacich, and a fence, walkway and center crucifix pillar at the cemetery by Vincent Benish. Stained glass windows in the church are being commissioned from St. Frances’ homegrown artist, Vanessa Wright Hollifield. Hollifield also painted the uniquely-designed Stations of the Cross.
In the 50 years since the dedication of St. Frances of Rome, the Sparta community has come to know the generous and charitable nature of their Catholic brothers and sisters. Volunteers help out at the Solid Rock Food Closet, Alleghany Cares and Alleghany Pregnancy Center. Parishioners also serve in community leadership roles and help in organizing community events.
History of St. Frances of Rome Mission
The mission is named for St. Frances of Rome, a 15th century mystic, wife and mother who was remarkable for her charity to the poor and her zeal for souls.
Before the early 1960s, Catholics in this mountain county trekked over the hills to Elkin or to North Wilkesboro to attend Mass. In 1961, priests from North Wilkesboro began traveling to Sparta, just four miles from the Virginia border, to celebrate Mass.
Father (now Monsignor) Lewis first celebrated Mass in Alleghany County on the feast of the Assumption, Aug. 15, 1961, in the home of Mrs. J. Lee Johnson and celebrated Christmas morning Mass at the home of Joe and Mildred Savick.
Though small in number, the Catholic population was determined to spiritually reinforce its presence by building a church. In 1965, North Carolina Bishop Vincent Waters directed the pastor, Father Joseph Bumann, to begin searching for property in Sparta to build a church.
With a $10,000 grant from the Catholic Church Extension Society and $3,000 from Geraldine Payne Gilbert and her husband to decorate the church, the project was underway.
Julian Altobellis of Wilmington was hired as architect to design the church. Noted liturgical designer Ade Bethune directed the interior decoration.
Monsignor Lawrence Newman gave $500 for an altar in memory of his mother, and Ed and Marilyn Darr gave the stained glass “Jesus with the Children” window above the altar.
The church was built in memory of Frances Payne Darr.
On Sept. 25, 1966, Bishop Waters dedicated the church. Father Lewis, the pastor, Father Kenneth Parker and Father Leo McIlrath, who served the mission in previous years, were concelebrants for the dedication Mass.
In November 1966, the parish received a relic of St. Frances of Rome from Cardinal Francis Spellman, Archbishop of New York, to place in the altar.
In 1972, St. Frances of Rome became part of the new Diocese of Charlotte. It was served by priests from North Wilkesboro, among them Father Justin Pechulis, Father Francis Donahue and Father Bede Wattigny.
The church continued to be staffed by priests from North Wilkesboro until 1976. Priests of the Glenmary Home Missioners also arrived to serve at the churches in Allegheny and Ashe counties. These priests included Father Fid Levi, Father Tony Jablonowski, Father Richard Kreimer, Father Jon Otterbacher, Father Hautz and Father Patrick O’Donnell.
On Feb. 5, 1976, St. Francis of Assisi Church in Jefferson assumed pastoral care of the Rome mission.
In the mid-1980s, the St. Frances of Rome family began raising funds for a multipurpose parish hall/education building. Bishop John F. Donoghue blessed and dedicated the structure in October 1986 at a Mass attended by more than 200 Catholics, friends and clergy.
Glenmary priests served the mission church until 1998, when diocesan priests assumed pastoral care. Since 1998, Father Ronald Marecki, Father Wilbur Thomas, Father Mark Lawlor, Father C. Morris Boyd, Father Patrick Winslow and Father Joseph Dinh have served as pastor or administrator. Since July 2010, Father James Stuhrenberg has served as pastor.
In 2014, planning began for a cemetery at the church. Bishop Jugis dedicated St. Frances of Rome Cemetery on March 11, 2015.
— Patrick Hession, Correspondent
Pictured: Parishioners of St. Frances of Rome Mission in Sparta celebrated their church’s 50th anniversary Sept. 25 with Mass, offered by Bishop Peter Jugis, and a picnic afterwards. Among those at the celebration were Betsy Dillon, one of the oldest members of the church, and newly ordained Father Cory Catron and former pastor Monsignor Gerald Lewis. (Photos by Patrick Hession | Catholic News Herald; provided by Gerson Cuevas)