150 Years of His-Story: The Legacy and Future of Saint Patrick Parish

“All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.” – James 1:17

We began last weekend a 13-week celebration of 150 years as Saint Patrick Parish. I was thrilled to speak with many people after the weekend Masses who were inspired by the story I shared about Fr. Peter Rice and the parishioners of 1926 standing with Jesus and encountering the blasphemous claims of the Ku Klux Klan. 

I was reminded also after the 8:30 a.m. Mass that I left out another alarming detail from the parish’s history of persecution by the Klan. At some point in that era, tensions were so high that as a matter of protection there was a tall chain link fence with barbed wire atop it that was placed around both Saint Patrick school and the church rectory at 4^th and St. Croix Streets.

As Catholics we are deeply historical people. We are people of stories. History for us is in many ways His-story as in the story of how God is drawing his scattered people back together into one body, the Church. History is God’s story but it is also our story. It’s the story of our setbacks, the story of our strides forward, the story of relationships, and the story of freedom in Christ Jesus.

In organizing and documenting historical items and stories over the last year, I’ve been reminded of how true it is that the history of our parish and the future of our parish is in the hands of the laity. This statement is not meant to overlook the mission and labors of the 70+ clergy and religious sisters who have served our parish and school. But, the reality is that the influence of Saint Patrick Parish in the Hudson community and beyond belongs to the initiative and the missionary zeal of those in the pews, in our neighborhoods, and in the public square.

With that being said, I would like to make another call (as I’ve done before here in the bulletin) for the contribution of the faithful to the work of detailing and sharing our parish history. Specifically, I would like you to consider the last 33 years of our parish’s history since we moved to the new church at 1500 Vine Street. What have been the moments of grace and unity? What have been the challenges that we have faced together with faith and hope? Where and when have you encountered the Lord Jesus present in our midst these last 33 years?

If there is something particularly notable from our parish’s last 33 years that you would like to see highlighted in our display case, on our website, or elsewhere, I invite you to call or send me an e-mail and we can explore the best means of telling that story now for our parishioners and visitors but also how to preserve that story for the future. 

Gracias a Dios.

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