A New Church on the Hill—and a Promise of School and Hospital

St. Anthony's Catholic Church of Newport, the first church of that faith in eastern Stevens County, was dedicated Sunday, July 18. A large congregation attended the services, including not only the Catholics of the community but many of other churches, who came to participate in the dedication of the new house of worship.

Rev. Father Goller, president of Gonzaga College, Spokane, officiated at the blessing of the church and altar. He was assisted by three scholastics from Gonzaga College, Profs. P. Moore, P. Sauer and G. Bailey. He also blessed the large painting hung in the rear of the altar, entitled “The Adoration of St. Anthony,” depicting St. Anthony, patron saint of the church, kneeling in adoration before the Virgin Mary and Infant Jesus.

Solemn High Mass was then celebrated, in which Father Goller was assisted by the scholastics, Profs. Moore and Sauer.

In his sermon Father Goller dwelt on the needs of the present day. In his opinion what is needed more than the church building, school, etc., is the making of true Christians. In the present day courage is required to live up to religious convictions. A true Catholic should live up to his faith at all times and in all places. He spoke of the possibility of work to be done in Newport—the building of a school and hospital—and commended the congregation on its success in securing a fine new home. He also told of the work of Father Folchi in ministering to the wants of his people in this part of the Northwest for the past thirty years: his courage in undertaking to build the church at this time, and his untiring energy in carrying his plans to fruition.

A pleasing feature of the ceremonies was the singing of Latin and English hymns by a choir of twelve little girls and several young ladies, who were trained by Father Folchi and won many compliments for themselves and the reverend father. They were assisted by Profs. G. Gilbert, W. Fitzgerald and T. Flaherty.

The church is located at the corner of First Street and Warren Avenue, on a commanding site donated to the Jesuit society by the Panhandle Lumber Co. Its cost was approximately $3,500. Ample ground belongs to the society for the erection of a school and Sisters' hospital, which are possibilities of extension of the work. The building is of frame construction, with an audience room 32x48, vestibule 8x12, and sacristy 16x20, with living room for the priest above the sacristy. The walls of the audience room are handsomely finished in accordance with plans of Folchi. The altar was donated by the King Sash Door Co., the oil painting is the work of a student of Gonzaga College, and the frame enclosing the painting is the gift of Jas. Monaghan, of Spokane. B. L. Gordon, of Spokane, has tendered an 800-pound bell and a belfry will be erected to house it.

Up to this time Catholic services have been held in Newport but once a month, but it is now the intention to hold services on the first and third Sundays of each month at 9 a.m.

After the conclusion of the ceremonies the ladies of the congregation tendered a banquet at the Gladisch home to the visiting clergymen and the building committee of the church, Messrs. Appel, Neff and Hynes. Speeches of congratulation and felicitation were made by Fathers Goller and Folchi and Messrs. Appel and T. J. Kelly.

F. E. Lehmkuhl had the general contract for the building and turned over a job satisfactory in every respect to the building committee. G. R. Weeks did the painting.