A priest celebrates Mass upon the laying of the cornerstone for the first St. Charles Borromeo church in Stratton, Colorado in 1910. (Photo courtesy of Diocese of Colorado Springs archives)
In writing my story on the 100th anniversary of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Stratton, I did some research into the parish’s history. It’s impressive to think about how the hierarchy and lay people collaborated to make the Catholic Church a presence even in those small Colorado towns that were little more than railroad stops 100 years ago. St. Charles, like a lot of parishes in the Diocese of Colorado Springs, has come a long way from the days when local Catholics were lucky to have a Mass in town once a month.
One of the interesting tidbits that came up in my research was that, at one time, the pastor of St. Charles had to deal with opposition from the Ku Klux Klan, a group that counts the Catholic Church as one of its biggest enemies. Not a lot of details are available, but the pastor handled it well, apparently, and the parishioners were able to continue worshipping in peace.
These days, Catholics in the United States are generally free to go to church without harassment. But the reality is that Catholics in other parts of the world face the threat of persecution every time they go to Mass. In China, for example, Catholic priests and bishops face tremendous obstacles due to government oppression, so much so that there is an underground church. In the Middle East, ethnic and political violence is threatening the small Catholic minorities that remain. The situation in some African countries is also precarious for Catholics.
Let’s give thanks for the privilege of being able to practice our faith openly, and let’s continue to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.
VA