Blumenfeld Church steeple to be refurbished
By Joan Janzen
The annual pilgrimage at the historic Blumenfeld church began in the 1930s and continues to this day. This year’s pilgrimage is scheduled for Sunday, June 12. It will start with a kids’ carnival at 1:00 p.m. The children’s game of chance is being organized by Kyra Strutt and Logan Duchscherer, with help from Lacy Strutt and Marlene Duchscherer. It will be held in the church basement.
At 2:00 p.m., the stations of the cross will be held at the outdoor stations on the south side of the church, followed by the rosary procession, led by flower girls and boys scattering flower petals. The outdoor Mass will be held at 3:00 p.m., followed by a supper put on by the executive committee.
“The executive committee consists of five individuals,” explained Karri Wagman, who is treasurer, “But we have representatives from all parishes for a total of about 15. A very generous couple from our area has offered to match all donations, up to $25,000.00!” Anyone who donates $250.00 or more will be permanently recognized at the church.
The money will be used to refurbish the steeple, which is in dire need, as the roof, supports, and the floor is all rotting. “We have a quote of around $40,000.00 from Ed Kornelson of Ed Korn & Sons Roofing from Bow Island,” Karri said. “We have accepted the quote and hope to begin the work soon.”
The Saints Peter and Paul Church was initially built in 1915 at the cost of $10,500 and was heated by a coal-fired furnace. This was an era when early settlers arrived from Romania, Krasna and Bessarabia. Some of the original family names are still familiar today ... Hoffart, Guckert, Drescher, Ziebert, Riffel, Weisgerber and Duchscherer. The once active church celebrated its last regular Mass in 1964.
The site is now a Municipal Heritage Property, located 16 km south and six km east of Leader just off Hwy. 21. Besides the annual pilgrimage in June and the occasional wedding and funeral, the church is open for tours Sunday afternoons in July and August.
Photo by Kate Winquist
