St. Mary’s Church looks ahead to Labor Day Celebration

By Cheryl Allen
Posted 8/16/22

A pickup truck filled with plump ears of sweet corn from Larry Schott’s family farm is parked behind St. Mary’s Church in Riverside, and nearly a dozen parishioners are gathered …

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St. Mary’s Church looks ahead to Labor Day Celebration

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A pickup truck filled with plump ears of sweet corn from Larry Schott’s family farm is parked behind St. Mary’s Church in Riverside, and nearly a dozen parishioners are gathered around.  It’s a pleasant 73 degrees this August 8, and laughter and chatter fills the air as men and women husk the corn.

With 800 or 900 people expected to attend St. Mary’s Labor Day Celebration on Monday, September 5, the parishioners have to start their food prep well in advance.  Today they cut and freeze the corn; on August 30 they will roll and cut the noodles.  Most of this food will end up served with their smoked Iowa chop or fried chicken dinners; any left over will be sold separately.

When I ask the women gathered around a table about the Labor Day event, they chime in about the attractions – the farmer’s market, bingo, the kid’s tractor pull, the raffle – but they really want to get me inside the church. 

“We just redid all of the stained-glass windows,” one woman tells me. “And they painted all of the statues on the inside.”

When Dee Simon, who chairs the event committee, appears, the women encourage her to show me the organ.  It’s in need of repair, and the proceeds from this year’s Labor Day Celebration will help fund that work.

Dee graciously guides me to the interior sanctuary where mass is held on Friday and Sunday mornings, and it’s a stunning space of color and light. 

“This has all been repainted within the last three years.  We finished in 2019, and Christmas mass was our first mass back,” Dee tells me.

Completed in 1906, the original stained-glass windows and wooden altars have been lovingly maintained, and murals and frescos accentuate the high ceiling arches.  Elevated at the back of the space is the pneumatic Wangerin organ, a rarity, in its original condition.

When we find Father Bill Roush back outside with the corn, he tells me that each key of the organ has an individual leather that will need to be replaced.  The refurbishment will have to be done in three phases, so that they can continue to use it for mass, and will take three years to complete.  Dobson Pipe Organ Builders of Lake City will do the work, and it will cost the church an estimated $130,000. 

“We allotted $60,000 out of the capital campaign for it,” Father Bill says.  “So, I would say we’re going to go ahead and do it anyway.”

The parishioners’ affection for their church – and each other -- is apparent, and they are willing to put their own physical labor behind maintaining the gift left to them by previous generations.  They invite the public to join in their effort and celebrate with them on this Labor Day.

St. Mary’s Church Labor Day Celebration takes place Monday, September 5.  Dinners and kid’s meals are served 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; kids tractor pull at 1 p.m.; auction at 2:30 p.m.; crafts, farmer’s market, kids’ games, and bingo throughout the day.