Church of Our Lady Celebrating it’s 150th Anniversary

The Church of Our Lady in Manannah is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, and there will be special observances at the church the weekend of August 15th and 16th. There will be self-guided tours and displays starting at 2 p.m., and a mass with Bishop Chad Zielinski on August 15th at 4 p.m., followed by a meal and there will also be an open house on August 16th 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 was actually cut in the middle to make room for the expansion.

Laabs says the high altar with its gold tabernacle – depicting the Last Supper – and columned niches with various statues were installed around 1915. She says the Church of Our Lady is well-known for the various community meals it hosts, and for the August 15th 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 August 15th 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 the afternoon of August 15th.

Carlson says there will be an open house at the Church of Our Lady on August 16th 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 on Sunday, August 16th as they will have the special mass at 4 p.m. on August 15th with the Bishop.