Small town celebrates its Catholic heritage

~ Celebration of St. John's Parish 150th anniversary begins today.

LEOPOLD, Mo. -- In this small Missouri town, church and community often intermingle. It's been that way for 150 years, say residents, and it's still that way today. Beginning at 9 a.m. today, St. John's Parish in Leopold will celebrate its 150th anniversary with a parade and other activities.

"You come to this little town and see this magnficent limestone church out in the middle of nowhere," said Geri Elfrink, a Leopold native who helped organize the 150th celebration. "We have to thank our ancestors for having the foresight to build this building. It just seems like it has tied the whole community together all these years."

St. John's was established in 1856 in southern Bollinger County. The original church catered to just 12 families. The current limestone church is more than 100 years old. Cindy Wolpers, who works at St. John's, said the community was built around the church and is still centered on the church.

"The community is the church, really," Wolpers said. "For most of us, this is a big celebration."

The celebration begins with a parade at 9 a.m. today at Leopold's Knights of Columbus Hall. At 10 a.m., two museums open (one in the church basement, one in the grade school cafeteria), as well as craft and food booths and a quilt show. There will be a dessert-tasting contest at 11 a.m. At noon, a radio-controlled airplane show will take place. At 1 p.m., there will be a greased pig chase and greased pole climb. At 2 p.m., craft demonstrations begin. On Sunday, the church will have a special Mass at 10 a.m. with Bishop John Leibrechtof the Springfield/Cape Girardeau Diocese.

cmiller@semissourian.com

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