St. Michael’s Catholic Church will be celebrating its 75th Diamond Jubilee Celebration on Dec. 6 in recognition of the many years of faith, hope and gratitude.
St. Michael’s, located at 316 E Washinton, will kick off anniversary activities with a Mass of Thanksgiving at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Robert M. Coerver, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lubbock presiding.
Concelebrants will be the Reverends Jonathan Phillips, pastor, and Dennis Marcos, associate pastor. The Rev. Rudolf “Rudi” Crasta, former pastor of St. Michael Parish and currently the pastor of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Lubbock, will serve as the homilist. A reception will follow Mass in the Parish Hall that will be hosted by the parish’s ministries and organizations with a special photo presentation charting the history of the church.
“Our church community was founded on the pillars of Faith, Hope, and Gratitude,” said Father Phillips. “As we reflect on the 75 years of our parish history, we are invited to honor the faith of those who built this parish, to rejoice with gratitude for the blessings we share today, and to look to the future with hope as we continue God’s work together.”
St. Michael Catholic Church traces its beginnings as a mission of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Littlefield. Mass was said for the first time in Levelland in the American Legion Hall on Sept. 4, 1944. Father F. Michael Higgins was the celebrant and continued to say Mass every Sunday in Levelland for the next 10 years.
As the mission grew, Father Higgins began a sixyear task of garnering support for a new church building. World War II limited the availability of building supplies, but Father Higgins encouraged his parish to give full support, and though the men were few in number, they pledged money and time to do most of the building themselves. With financial help from the parish’s first organization, Saint Mary Altar Society and the Catholic Extension Society, construction on Saint Michael Catholic Church began in early 1950.
The church was dedicated Dec. 6, 1950, by the Most Rev. Laurence Fitzsimon, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Amarillo. Father Higgins, and later, Father Wilford Bosen, pastors of Littefield Sacred Heart Church, cared for the mission until 1956, when the first resident pastor, Father Richard H. MacLellan, was assigned. Almost immediately a rectory was built, and that was followed by a parish hall. Father “Mac” saw the need for a Catholic School, and in 1962 Saint Michael School opened its doors for instruction. It remained in operation for 22 years before it was closed in 1983.
“From its early years, St. Michael’s has been a place of hope, comfort, and spiritual nourishment for all who visit this place,” said Father Phillips. “Its presence in the wider community has fostered fruits of service, education, and outreach. In many ways, it has been a steady reminder of God’s enduring love in the midst of a changing world.”
Planning for a badly needed new church began in 1985 under the direction of Msgr.
Timonthy Schwertner, and ground was broken for construction in May of 1986. The new church was dedicated on Feb. 1, 1987. The original church has been renovated and now serves as Incarnate Word Hall. It is maintained for religious instruction. The current church underwent renovations in 2012 under the direction of Father Rudi Crasta.
“Over these seven and half decades, this parish church has invited all those who visit this place to come to know the God who loves us since the beginning of time,” said Father Phillips.
Invitations have been extended to former pastors and deacons of the parish. Over the past 75 years, St. Michael Parish has been pastored by 12 priests who have tended to the spiritual and temporal needs of the parish. The parish currently serves more than 600 families.
“I joyfully welcome all who have come to celebrate this milestone in the life of our parish,” said Father Phillips. “Today we give thanks for the faith we share, the community we have built, and the many ways God continues to work among us. May our time together strengthen our unity and uplift our spirits.”