Keeping up with past and present happenings in a remarkable small town.
Friday, January 04, 2013
St. Paul Church ~ Built 1911
"Stand Fast in the Faith"
Words over the entrance.
10 comments:
Anonymous
said...
How many of us Butlerites had group pictures of first communion,or graduating classes here? I have at least three in my collection. Lots of water under the bridge but still a beautiful structure.
What a beautiful church. Even if you are not catholic you should go inside and gaze in wonderment at the artistry. So sad to see so many of its members going to the incredibly ugly St. Fedelis in Meridian. Are the suburbanites so dulled to craftsmanship and beauty from living in their overpriced cardboard houses on their cul-de-sacs that they now think that beauty is ugliness and ugliness is beauty. I guess for them it is just another "Pleasant Valley Sunday with rows of houses all the same and no one seems to care".
I remember looking out the window of Mr. Nitowski's art class in the yellow brick building and marveling at the beauty of this church. It rivals some of the beautiful cathedrals in Europe.
Off subject: Does anybody there in Butler have pictures they would like to send to Charles of the old Hot Dog location at Jeff and Main? I'd like to see what the new face looks like. Thanx
Seems to me I remember when those stone planters were added to each side of the steps...I want to say in the early 1960's. Among many memories, the Christmas creche, which was set up on one side or the other of the many altar, always had a fascination for me. So life-like...
Yes, I remember Christmas---they used either all red lights or all blue lights around the creche. I remember May Crownings, I remember the church being so crowded---before ac, very hot until Geibel Funeral Home donated tall standing fans. It is a beautiful church.
There's more to a church than architectural beauty. Where Biblical principals are being taught and the recipients actually leave the building with a desire to BE and ACT like the LORD should be the most important description of a church's "Beauty". In any church, not just this one, where there is intolerance of anyone who is not catholic there are parishioners who SAY they "love Jesus", while they judge and hate others.
1:28am Dec 25 2013 Dec 24, 1962: With the snow falling in those large, wet flakes, I stood across the street from St. Paul's church and waited for Christmas Eve Mass to finish. It was very quiet, virtually no traffic, no noise. Then the doors swung open, the people flowed out, dressed in their best, and everybody was smiling and wishing each other Merry Christmas. I saw dozens of friends and schoolmates with their families. I watched from a distance, just glad to see the happy people. It is a really nice memory of a really beautiful time in our home, Butler.
This place is etched into my brain cells. If I really want to, I can close my eyes and I'm there, hearing the echoes roll out from the music & the pulpit, smelling the exotic, mysterious incense, being dazzled by the jewel tones everywhere and the somber pomp that was Catholicism in the early 60's (& of course, before). Yep, I'm there.
10 comments:
How many of us Butlerites had group pictures of first communion,or graduating classes here? I have at least three in my collection. Lots of water under the bridge but still a beautiful structure.
Bob Dorcy
What a beautiful church. Even if you are not catholic you should go inside and gaze in wonderment at the artistry. So sad to see so many of its members going to the incredibly ugly St. Fedelis in Meridian. Are the suburbanites so dulled to craftsmanship and beauty from living in their overpriced cardboard houses on their cul-de-sacs that they now think that beauty is ugliness and ugliness is beauty. I guess for them it is just another "Pleasant Valley Sunday with rows of houses all the same and no one seems to care".
I see Judge Martin O'Brien in the picture!
I remember looking out the window of Mr. Nitowski's art class in the yellow brick building and marveling at the beauty of this church. It rivals some of the beautiful cathedrals in Europe.
Off subject: Does anybody there in Butler have pictures they would like to send to Charles of the old Hot Dog location at Jeff and Main? I'd like to see what the new face looks like. Thanx
Bob Dorcy
Seems to me I remember when those stone planters were added to each side of the steps...I want to say in the early 1960's. Among many memories, the Christmas creche, which was set up on one side or the other of the many altar, always had a fascination for me. So life-like...
Yes, I remember Christmas---they used either all red lights or all blue lights around the creche.
I remember May Crownings, I remember the church being so crowded---before ac, very hot until Geibel Funeral Home donated tall standing fans. It is a beautiful church.
There's more to a church than architectural beauty. Where Biblical principals are being taught and the recipients actually leave the building with a desire to BE and ACT like the LORD should be the most important description of a church's "Beauty". In any church, not just this one, where there is intolerance of anyone who is not catholic there are parishioners who SAY they "love Jesus", while they judge and hate others.
1:28am Dec 25 2013
Dec 24, 1962: With the snow falling in those large, wet flakes, I stood across the street from St. Paul's church and waited for Christmas Eve Mass to finish. It was very quiet, virtually no traffic, no noise. Then the doors swung open, the people flowed out, dressed in their best, and everybody was smiling and wishing each other Merry Christmas. I saw dozens of friends and schoolmates with their families. I watched from a distance, just glad to see the happy people. It is a really nice memory of a really beautiful time in our home, Butler.
This place is etched into my brain cells. If I really want to, I can close my eyes and I'm there, hearing the echoes roll out from the music & the pulpit, smelling the exotic, mysterious incense, being dazzled by the jewel tones everywhere and the somber pomp that was Catholicism in the early 60's (& of course, before). Yep, I'm there.
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