Rock Springs Holy Spirit Catholic Community 1887-2001

ROCK SPRINGS
HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
1887 2001
(Anonymous)

OUR LADY OF SORROWS

Established in 1887, the original name of the parish was Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin and later given its present name of Our Lady of Sorrows. In 1894 the Slavic Lodges donated money to enlarge Our Lady of Sorrows Church. The first pastor was Fr. Delahunty.

In February of 1910, Rev. Francis J. Keller was appointed pastor, namely for the English speaking Catholics. To serve the Slavic speaking Catholics Rev. Anton Schiffrer was appointed as associate. A new Church, Sts. Cyril & Methodius, was to be built to serve those living on the north side of the railroad tracks.

The Bishop hoped to unite both churches into one parish. It was decided to sell the property of Our Lady of Sorrows and build a new church to serve both parishes. The church would be on the north side of the Union Pacific railroad tracks to serve the Catholics who resided on that side of town. The attempt to unite the two parishes failed. Instead, Fr. Schiffrer was to pastor both congregations.

A new priest was sent to be pastor at Our Lady of Sorrows, and he and Fr. Schiffrer shared the same rectory and church building for services until the Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church could be built. Our Lady of Sorrows Church was partially burned on January 14, 1911. Again, Fr. Schiffrer became pastor of both parishes.

After being ordained to the priesthood at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City on September 1, 1918, Sylvester A. Welsh was named pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows. Five weeks after his ordination, Fr. Welsh arrived in Rock Springs. In 1931, construction on the new church began. It was completed and blessed in December of 1932. In October of 1958, Fr. Welsh celebrated his 40th year as a priest.

The foundation for the school was laid during the autumn of 1950. The school and convent were dedicated August 24, 1952. The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Kansas came to teach. A new rectory was built in 1957. These improvements for the Church were accomplished during the lengthy service of Fr. Welsh. He died on February 12, 1959.

In 1967, the church in Superior was made a mission of Our Lady of Sorrows. Fr. William Delaney, a native of Rock Springs, became pastor. On March 15, 1978, the interior of the church was burned and needed renovation. In 1978, Our Lady of Sorrows acquired the mission at Wamsutter. August 1980 saw the dedication of the parish center. It also marked the demolition of the old parish hall, which was the original church of Our Lady of Sorrows. The last pastor was Fr. Bill Espenshade.

STS. CYRIL & METHODIUS CHURCH

By 1910, many people of foreign birth were coming to Rock Springs and settling on the north side of town near the mines. Only four percent of the Catholics remained on the south side of town near the church. Because crossing the railroad track was dangerous, especially for the children, the north side people were left without benefit of the church.

In 1912, Fr. Anton Schiffrer was made pastor of all the Roman Catholic people in Rock Springs. It was apparent to him that it was very necessary to build a church on the north side of town in order that all of the Catholic people could attend and worship. Construction on a new church building began on July 7, 1912. The first service was held on Christmas Eve 1912, in the basement of Our Lady of Sorrows church. It took 13 years to raise enough funds to complete the new church and it was not completed until December 13, 1926.

In 1920, the brick rectory was completed. Before that, Fr. Schiffrer had lived in a coal bin in the rear of the basement of the church. Fr. Schiffrer left Rock Springs in 1926 because of a heart weakened by long, hard work carried on in Wyoming’s high altitude.

In 1931, the Rev. Albin Gnidovec became pastor. He served until August of 1971. He was a native of Yugoslavia, ordained to the priesthood in 1918 and celebrated his 25th Anniversary in 1943 and his 50th Anniversary in 1968 - both in his service to Sts. Cyril & Methodius. He was elevated to Monsignor by Pope Paul VI on Nov. 7, 1964.

Through Fr. Gnidovec’s efforts, Camp Pilot Butte was purchased, including the enlisted men’s barracks, which later became the Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic School. The officers’ barracks were used as the convent. The school was dedicated on August 28, 1958. The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Kansas staffed it.

Work started on the Sts. Cyril & Methodius parish center in 1969. It was dedicated in 1970. Monsignor Gnidovec also served the Catholics in Pinedale 2-3 times a month from 1935 until 1954 when it became a parish. In 1958, St. Christopher’s Catholic Church in Eden Valley became a mission parish of Sts. Cyril & Methodius. It is now served by Pinedale. A fire damaged Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church in the late 1970s. Services were held in the Parish center until the Church could be restored.

In Sept. 1971, the two schools became Rock Springs Catholic School. The two parishes of Rock Springs have produced 6 priests, including the late Bishop Lawrence Welsh and numerous religious sisters for the Church of Wyoming. The last pastor of Sts. Cyril & Methodius was Fr. Fred Wendel.

In October of 1995, a long-held dream came true: the two parishes were combined into one. We became the parish of Our Lady of Sorrows/Sts. Cyril & Methodius. The first pastor of the combined parishes was Fr. Wendel. Serving as associates were Fr. Bruce Clapham and Fr. Tom Sheridan. In August of 1997, we received a new parish name, although the individual churches did retain their names. We became:

HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

At this time our parish school also became known as Holy Spirit. Fr. John Savio became the first pastor of Holy Spirit Catholic Community. His associate was Fr. Tom Sheridan.

From two parishes, we have developed into one parish with its own unique and wonderful identity. We have retained our two beautiful churches and still hold services in each. Our pastor and his associate say Mass at both churches, alternating on a weekly basis. We have three liturgies per weekend plus daily Mass, at each. Our parish administration is centralized in that we have one pastoral office, one rectory and one set of priests!

Our religious education, youth, campus and family ministry programs have grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years. We are also blessed to have a music minister and an RCIA coordinator. Our school has grown and is tremendously supported by the people of the parish. This is particularly evident in the annual Holy Spirit Catholic School Celebrity Auction. Reconciliation and healing have occurred as we have truly merged into one parish. It is especially evident when you hear the pride in someone’s voice, or see the joy on his or her face when the name of Holy Spirit Catholic Community is voiced.

Back to INDEX		ROCK SPRINGS HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC COMMUNITY 1887 2001 (Anonymous) OUR LADY OF SORROWS Established in 1887, the original name of the parish was Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin and later given its present name of Our Lady of Sorrows. In 1894 the Slavic Lodges donated money to enlarge Our Lady of Sorrows Church. The first pastor was Fr. Delahunty. In February of 1910, Rev. Francis J. Keller was appointed pastor, namely for the English speaking Catholics. To serve the Slavic speaking Catholics Rev. Anton Schiffrer was appointed as associate. A new Church, Sts. Cyril & Methodius, was to be built to serve those living on the north side of the railroad tracks. The Bishop hoped to unite both churches into one parish. It was decided to sell the property of Our Lady of Sorrows and build a new church to serve both parishes. The church would be on the north side of the Union Pacific railroad tracks to serve the Catholics who resided on that side of town. The attempt to unite the two parishes failed. Instead, Fr. Schiffrer was to pastor both congregations. A new priest was sent to be pastor at Our Lady of Sorrows, and he and Fr. Schiffrer shared the same rectory and church building for services until the Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church could be built. Our Lady of Sorrows Church was partially burned on January 14, 1911. Again, Fr. Schiffrer became pastor of both parishes. After being ordained to the priesthood at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City on September 1, 1918, Sylvester A. Welsh was named pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows. Five weeks after his ordination, Fr. Welsh arrived in Rock Springs. In 1931, construction on the new church began. It was completed and blessed in December of 1932. In October of 1958, Fr. Welsh celebrated his 40th year as a priest. The foundation for the school was laid during the autumn of 1950. The school and convent were dedicated August 24, 1952. The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Kansas came to teach. A new rectory was built in 1957. These improvements for the Church were accomplished during the lengthy service of Fr. Welsh. He died on February 12, 1959. In 1967, the church in Superior was made a mission of Our Lady of Sorrows. Fr. William Delaney, a native of Rock Springs, became pastor. On March 15, 1978, the interior of the church was burned and needed renovation. In 1978, Our Lady of Sorrows acquired the mission at Wamsutter. August 1980 saw the dedication of the parish center. It also marked the demolition of the old parish hall, which was the original church of Our Lady of Sorrows. The last pastor was Fr. Bill Espenshade. STS. CYRIL & METHODIUS CHURCH By 1910, many people of foreign birth were coming to Rock Springs and settling on the north side of town near the mines. Only four percent of the Catholics remained on the south side of town near the church. Because crossing the railroad track was dangerous, especially for the children, the north side people were left without benefit of the church. In 1912, Fr. Anton Schiffrer was made pastor of all the Roman Catholic people in Rock Springs. It was apparent to him that it was very necessary to build a church on the north side of town in order that all of the Catholic people could attend and worship. Construction on a new church building began on July 7, 1912. The first service was held on Christmas Eve 1912, in the basement of Our Lady of Sorrows church. It took 13 years to raise enough funds to complete the new church and it was not completed until December 13, 1926. In 1920, the brick rectory was completed. Before that, Fr. Schiffrer had lived in a coal bin in the rear of the basement of the church. Fr. Schiffrer left Rock Springs in 1926 because of a heart weakened by long, hard work carried on in Wyoming’s high altitude. In 1931, the Rev. Albin Gnidovec became pastor. He served until August of 1971. He was a native of Yugoslavia, ordained to the priesthood in 1918 and celebrated his 25th Anniversary in 1943 and his 50th Anniversary in 1968 - both in his service to Sts. Cyril & Methodius. He was elevated to Monsignor by Pope Paul VI on Nov. 7, 1964. Through Fr. Gnidovec’s efforts, Camp Pilot Butte was purchased, including the enlisted men’s barracks, which later became the Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic School. The officers’ barracks were used as the convent. The school was dedicated on August 28, 1958. The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Kansas staffed it. Work started on the Sts. Cyril & Methodius parish center in 1969. It was dedicated in 1970. Monsignor Gnidovec also served the Catholics in Pinedale 2-3 times a month from 1935 until 1954 when it became a parish. In 1958, St. Christopher’s Catholic Church in Eden Valley became a mission parish of Sts. Cyril & Methodius. It is now served by Pinedale. A fire damaged Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church in the late 1970s. Services were held in the Parish center until the Church could be restored. In Sept. 1971, the two schools became Rock Springs Catholic School. The two parishes of Rock Springs have produced 6 priests, including the late Bishop Lawrence Welsh and numerous religious sisters for the Church of Wyoming. The last pastor of Sts. Cyril & Methodius was Fr. Fred Wendel. In October of 1995, a long-held dream came true: the two parishes were combined into one. We became the parish of Our Lady of Sorrows/Sts. Cyril & Methodius. The first pastor of the combined parishes was Fr. Wendel. Serving as associates were Fr. Bruce Clapham and Fr. Tom Sheridan. In August of 1997, we received a new parish name, although the individual churches did retain their names. We became: HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC COMMUNITY At this time our parish school also became known as Holy Spirit. Fr. John Savio became the first pastor of Holy Spirit Catholic Community. His associate was Fr. Tom Sheridan. From two parishes, we have developed into one parish with its own unique and wonderful identity. We have retained our two beautiful churches and still hold services in each. Our pastor and his associate say Mass at both churches, alternating on a weekly basis. We have three liturgies per weekend plus daily Mass, at each. Our parish administration is centralized in that we have one pastoral office, one rectory and one set of priests! Our religious education, youth, campus and family ministry programs have grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years. We are also blessed to have a music minister and an RCIA coordinator. Our school has grown and is tremendously supported by the people of the parish. This is particularly evident in the annual Holy Spirit Catholic School Celebrity Auction. Reconciliation and healing have occurred as we have truly merged into one parish. It is especially evident when you hear the pride in someone’s voice, or see the joy on his or her face when the name of Holy Spirit Catholic Community is voiced. Back to Top