The Church of Our Lady in Manannah is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, and many special events are planned at the church this weekend. There will be self-guided tours and displays starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, a mass with Bishop Chad Zielinski at 4 p.m., followed by a meal Saturday evening, and there will also be an open house on Sunday from 1-to-4 p.m.
Member Barb Laabs says the Church of Our Lady was officially established in 1876 with the church built in its present location in Section 31 of Manannah Township. She says the church was enlarged in 1900 and the high altar with its gold tabernacle – depicting the Last Supper – and columned niches with various statues were installed around 1915. Barb says the Church of Our Lady is well-known for the various community meals it hosts, and for Saturday’s dinner, the meal will be catered – and no RSVP is necessary.
Parishioner Sue Carlson says they plan to ring the church bell 150 times on Saturday in recognition of the special anniversary, and there is a painting of Our Mother of Perpetual Help that has been in the church since the 1800s and will return from being refurbished in the Twin Cities in time for the celebration. She says they will have self-guided tours and many items will be on display Saturday afternoon.
Carlson says there will be an open house at the Church of Our Lady on Sunday from 1-to-4 p.m. and they will have items on display at that time for people to see. She says the church is easy to find at the intersection of Meeker County State Aid Highways 3 and 30. There will be no mass at the Church of Our Lady this Sunday, August 16th as they will have the special mass at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The Songs of Summer Festival is coming up this Friday at Memorial Park in Litchfield. Gates will open at 4 p.m. and then the music will be from 5-to-11 p.m. with 3 bands performing.
Sarah Jones says Vintage Revival will perform from 5-to-6 p.m., South 40 will take the stage from 6:15 to 7:45, and then Shirts and Skins will perform from 8-to-11 p.m. She says between acts they will announce the winners of the cash raffle drawing and the recipients of this year’s scholarships which benefit non-profit, youth-related organizations. She says the event is free, but they accept freewill donations.
Jones says Red, White & Brews will be providing shuttle service from Lake Ripley Elementary School to Memorial Park. Troy Freidrichs says there will be several food and beverage vendors at the Songs of Summer Festival.
Tiana Freidrichs says they still have raffle tickets available and the top prize this year is $1,000. Tickets are available at Mid-Country Bank and if there are any left, they will be sold at the event. Freidrichs says the Songs of Summer Festival is a family-friendly event.
Freidrichs says they will fence off the splash pad and the playground at Memorial Park to make it secure for children on Friday evening. She says there are lots of great sponsors who help to make the Songs of Summer Festival possible. In case of inclement weather, there is a back-up plan and any changes will be announced on KLFD Radio.
The 16th annual Beno Blue Line Club golf tournament is coming up on August 22nd at the Litchfield Golf Course at 10 a.m., with registration starting at 9 a.m. The event helps to raise funds for youth hockey programs.
Jeff Woods says there’s still room for teams and you can sign up through the Beno Blue Line Club website or Facebook page, by calling Chuck DeWolf at 320-212-2846 or call Jeff at KLFD Radio at 693-3281. He says hockey is an expensive sport, but their fundraising efforts help to make it affordable, especially for those starting out in the Mites program as they are able to reduce their registration fees and give them a free hockey stick.
Woods says the Squirts and Pee Wees get a 25% discount on their registration fees and the Beno Blue Line Club also purchases used equipment with the funds they raise that can be used by the young people in the area who want to enjoy the sport of hockey. He says the event on August 22nd at the Litchfield Golf Club will also include a silent auction, raffles, door prizes and lunch.