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Pictured: Bishop Peter Jugis greets St. Joseph parishioners after Mass on Sept. 11 in Bryson City. (Photos by Joanita Nellenbach, Catholic News Herald)

BRYSON CITY — Seventy years ago, on Sept. 10, 1941, two parishes began their lives.

Bishop Eugene McGuinness, bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh, left Waynesville, where he'd dedicated St. John the Evangelist Church that morning, to travel to Bryson City to dedicate St. Joseph Church as a mission of St. John.

There were less than two dozen parishioners at St. Joseph then. Now, Father Shawn O'Neal, the pastor, lists 85 families registered at St. Joseph and 20 families at its mission, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Cherokee.

In his homily Sept. 11 during the 70th anniversary Mass commemorating St. Joseph Church's dedication, Bishop Peter J. Jugis said that at one time he considered becoming a missionary.

"In traveling three hours from Charlotte to come here to be with you, I've certainly fulfilled my wish to be a missionary," he said, "and it was certainly worth it to be with you."

This is, he said, "a good day to rededicate yourselves to service to this church."

Deacon Carlos A. Medina Sr. from St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte and altar server Michael Oroz of St. Joseph Church assisted at the Mass.

In the day's Gospel reading, Matthew 18:21–35, Jesus tells Peter he must forgive, "not seven times but seventy-seven times."

Noting that this was the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Bishop Jugis said the most important line in that Gospel reading is the king's statement to the unforgiving servant: "I forgave you your entire debt."

"We must forgive because in lack of forgiveness our hearts become hardened," Bishop Jugis said. "When we can forgive, our hearts become free." He added that, from the cross Jesus asked, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing."

"We must share with others the love that God has lavished on us," the bishop quoted from Pope Benedict XVI's first encyclical, "Deus Caritas Est."

"On this anniversary of the dedication of this church," Bishop Jugis said, "renew your own missionary spirit at this altar to serve Christ and others."

Father O'Neal spoke at the end of Mass, mentioning a framed memento hanging on a wall at the rear of the church. A description of the church's construction, it contains "one of the funniest misprints ever," he noted. The church's interior walls and ceiling are of knotty pine – the description refers to the "naughty pine boards."

"May we have people," Father O'Neal said, "worshipping under these 'naughty pine boards' 70 times 70 years from now."

A picnic in the Morgan Pavilion at Swain County Recreation Park followed the Mass. Smoky Mountain Strings Dulcimer Club accompanied the potluck, hamburger and hot dog lunch.

"We're just so blessed with such great people who are willing to step up," said Joe Holt, parish council chair. "We're a small parish in a rural area. If everybody didn't step up, nothing would get done. Even new parishioners get involved. A lot of people come here to retire. They were active in their previous parishes, and we benefit from their experience."

— Joanita M. Nellenbach, correspondent

 Bishop Jugis accepts the offertory gifts from David Spears and daughter Kelly, with Jim Thomason presenting the collection basket, during St. Joseph Church’s 70th anniversary Mass on Sept. 11.

Pastors of St. Joseph Church

1941-1951 Father Ambrose Rohrbacher

1951-1955 Father Lawrence Newman

1955-1959 Glenmary Father Robert Healy

1959-1960 Glenmary Father John Loftus

1960-1962 Glenmary Father James Wilmes

1962-1966 Glenmary Father John Barry

1966-1968 Glenmary Father Frank Korzinek

1968 Glenmary Father John Brockman

1968-1981 Glenmary Father Donald Levernier

1981-1991 Glenmary Father Frank Gardner

1991 Glenmary Father Charles Hughes

1991-2000 Glenmary Father Tom Field

2000-2002 Father Ray Williams

2002-2003 Father Frank Seabo

2003-present Father Shawn O'Neal

Important dates

1930s: Father Ambrose Rohrbacher, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville, begins offering Mass in Bryson City in private homes and at the Fryemont Inn. He purchases a lot on Main Street on which to build a church.

1940: Father Rohrbacher begins construction of the church, using native wood and stone whenever possible.

August 1941: Church construction is completed. Cost to build: $11,567.95.

Sept. 10, 1941: Bishop Eugene McGuinness, bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh, dedicates St. Joseph as a mission of St. John the Evangelist Church.

June 22, 1955: St. Joseph becomes a mission of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Franklin.

Sept. 8, 1972: St. Joseph becomes a parish in its own right, with Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Cherokee as its mission.

1975: Glenmary Father Don Levernier, pastor, purchases property on Schoolhouse Hill as the site for a rectory.

May 13, 1983: Property adjoining the church is purchased. During the next several years, a fast-food restaurant on the property is converted into a thrift shop to serve the Bryson City community.

1981-1987: Parish doubles in size, necessitating the renovation of the church basement to provide more space for parish activities.

Sept. 11, 2011: Bishop Peter J. Jugis celebrates Mass commemorating the 70th anniversary of the church's dedication on Sept. 10, 1941.