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Rejoice! St. Stanislaus Kostka turns 125 honoring its roots as Idaho’s oldest Catholic brick church
By Lisa Ormond
ICR Correspondent
RATHDRUM — Over 150 St. Stanislaus Kostka parishioners and visitors joyfully gathered on Oct. 10, on a crisp, fall Saturday to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Idaho’s oldest brick Catholic church and to honor the longevity of this rural, faith-based community, which has stood steadfast since the turn of the twentieth century.
“The early founders of this church did not know our names or imagine us celebrating their legacy began 125 years ago,” said Mass celebrant Bishop Peter F. Christensen in his homily. “But in a sense, they were building this for us. They were handing something forward that they valued and trusted others would do as well.”
Bishop Peter presided over the special anniversary Mass with assistance from Deacon Vince Perry of St. Stanislaus and Deacon Mike Pentony of St. George and four altar servers. St. George pastor, Father Sleeva Madanu, St. Stanislaus sacramental minister, Father Bruno Segatta, and Father Sipho Mathabela of St. Alphonsus concelebrated with the bishop sitting in the first pew nearest the altar.
“Today is a tribute to the love of our Catholic faith which is everlasting,” said Father Sleeva. “Our living Lord is with us through our hearts and minds, sharing His merciful graces and blessings so we can continually serve one another and share the Gospel for His glory.”
Father Bruno, who currently serves as the St. Stanislaus priest, offered his reflection about the anniversary day.
“Ad perpetuam rei memoriam,” he said in Latin, followed by his loose translation: “What we are doing here on earth may resound in Heaven, always remembering forever.”
Angelic music sets tone
People of all ages filled the small, intimate chapel-church to its maximum to offer reverent worship and thanks to God on this commemorative day.
A robust, 20-member choir of St. Stanislaus and St. Joseph’s in Spirit Lake parishioners sang and played a special celebratory program of hymns. The sound wrapped radiantly around the Mass prayers, readings, Consecration and Communion.
“The music elevated and glorified the church service,” said five-year parishioner Sally Klumpe, who played digital piano. She helped create the anniversary program. “This chapel-church has wonderful acoustics, really, despite its smallness of size.”
At the end of Mass, Father Sleeva lauded the many people who gave their time and talents to honor this day in Idaho Church history.
“I’m so grateful for our united community in Christ and the parish people who work tirelessly to praise and share His mission and name,” he said. “This amazing, glorifying event is just one example of the committed love to God and each other.”
Prayer brings forth
The beautiful, historic Gothic-style church with its towering spire topped by a cross outside and its unique stained-glass windows, 42-foot mural painting and subtle ornate wood doors provided an ideal backdrop for praising the Lord, this rural community’s roots and the sacred building of strong Catholic origins. Community, connection and faith were central themes. Throughout his homily, Bishop Peter offered many historical perspectives mixed with spiritual contemplations.
“For 125 years, these brick walls have surrounded generations of faithful Catholics,” he said. “But before the first brick was laid, before there was an altar or a pew, there was a young man on his knees asking God to make possible the vocation He had placed within his heart. His name was Thomas Purcell.”
The bishop shared more about the history of how the building came to be.
“Purcell desired to become a priest but epilepsy seemed to make that vocation impossible. He turned to prayer to St. Stanislaus Kostka and reportedly promised that if the way to priesthood were opened, he would one day build a church in the saint’s honor,” he explained.
“God opened the way, and Father Purcell came to Northern Idaho and kept his promise. And now, we are sitting inside the answer to that prayer.”
History highlights
Purcell was ordained in 1896. His first pastoral assignment — given by the Idaho’s first bishop Alphonse J. Glorieux — was in Rathdrum, then a remote, growing northern Idaho town of about 500 people, mostly loggers, farmers and merchants eking out a tough living in the frontier West.
According to the bishop, St. Stanislaus was the first church Father Purcell built in Idaho; ten others followed from Rathdrum in the north to Idaho Falls in the south. “He was known as the ‘Builder of Churches,’” he explained. “For 125 years, this church has been a house of prayer and a place of encounter with the living God.”
Father Purcell designed the church’s altar piece and interior, which included 10 stained-glass windows, costing $40 each. The church was dedicated on Feb. 13, 1901, and it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1977.
‘We just roll up our sleeves and show up’
Stories flowed not only from Bishop Peter but from parish members also throughout the afternoon about the strength of their faith roots and connections.
“We are one of the last small country parish communities,” said Betty Mobbs, 46-year parish member, Mass lector and planning committee member for the anniversary celebration. “Because we have just one 9 a.m. Mass on Sunday, our gathering creates a community.”
Mobbs went on to describe what makes St. Stanislaus truly special in her eyes.
“This community shows up to welcome international priests, to meet people’s needs and to help the sick, for example. We just roll up our sleeves and show up,” she shared.
Longstanding parish member of 58-years, Jeri McDevitt, reminisced about loved ones and the important communal bonds forged between believers at St. Stanislaus Kostka.
McDevitt was born and raised in this church body and never left. She has been the church’s music director for 25 years. She started playing the guitar at 16 in the choir.
“The Church here is so gracious and helpful, and they look out for each other,” she said.
McDevitt said her mom, Betty Kiefer, was an extremely active parish member until her passing at 64 from a brain aneurism.
“I’m here because of mom and I stayed here because of Lee Mobbs and Jo Myers. They were my stand-in-mothers, basically, and my community when my mom passed,” she said with tears in her eyes. “Today, when the Mass music program finished, my brother Bret hugged me and said, ‘Mom would be so proud of you!’”
Following Mass and the taking of a 2026 historic group picture in front of the venerable 125-year-old church, guests enjoyed friendly fellowship around a Saturday buffet luncheon in the parish hall, built in 1980.
Bishop Peter offered prayer and words of remembrance before the meal. “Delight in this day and be grateful for those who came before us,” he said.
‘Our turn now’
From 1901 until 2026, the oldest brick Catholic Church in Idaho continues to be an ever-present rock of Catholicism in North Idaho, representing the Kingdom of God to others.
As Bishop Peter described in his homily, honoring and remembering those who came before us is more than recalling what they did but continuing what they began.
“The faith that built St. Stanislaus did not remain within these walls. It went outward; it became missionary. That is what living faith does,” Bishop suggested. “Each time we step into this church, let’s be mindful that we are stepping into an ever-growing personal relationship with Our God. Our Lord transforms us by His love when we place our confidence in Him.”
And Bishop Peter offered this closing reminder that the generation of today needs to witness our lived faith.
“The question Jesus asked Peter two thousand years ago is being asked again today, here in Rathdrum: ‘Who do you say that I am?’ Our ancestors answered it, Father Purcell answered it, generations within these walls answered it. Now it is our turn,” Bishop Peter acknowledged.
(Writer’s note: a special thank you to St. Stanislaus parishioners Jeanni Kaminski, Betty Mobbs and Jeri McDevitt who provided historical background for this article).
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