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May 2008 Issue
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to Feature Articles
Three families celebrate five generations
of first Communions at St. Sebastian
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In
May 4, Adeline Steele, Michael Wolf and Dylan Bussa
celebrated their first Communions at St. Sebastian Church
in Byron Center. |
And
although it is only the second time that fi rst Communion
will be held at the parish’s new church, the ceremony marks
an important link between the new church, the old church and
the families that have worshipped there since the parish was
established in 1852. On that first Sunday in
May, Adeline, Michael and Dylan became the fi fth generation
of children to celebrate their fi rst Communions at St. Sebastian,
underscoring a rich history their families share with the
church. “My grandfather hauled bricks for the old church,
that’s holy ground to me,” said Keith Kiel, Adeline’s grandfather,
who now serves as the parish’s grounds director.
His grandfather
was one of the men who helped build the old church. In 1852,
a small group of pioneers from Germany, who had settled in
the woods 18 miles southwest of Grand Rapids, built a log
church on property donated by Fritz Endres. The log church
was used until 1890 when it became unsafe. In that year, the
Byron Center Parish united with St. Mary’s Church, which was
then in North Dorr. In 1896, the North Dorr church was struck
by lightning and burned to the ground. Bishop Richter and
Father Egge of Wright then reorganized the Byron Parish and
services were held in a hall near the former site of the log
church until 1901, when a church was built on Wilson Avenue.
That church still stands today. On April 22, 2007, Bishop
Walter A. Hurley presided at a Mass and dedication of the
newly constructed St. Sebastian Church, which is located a
short walk from the old church.
The link to
the old and new church and the families who have been parishioners
for generations remains a constant reminder to St. Sebastian’s
storied history, said Msgr. William H. Duncan, who is the
parish’s eighth pastor. “Whenever I walk up to our new church
from the rectory, I pass by our parish cemetery and see graves
a century old bearing the family names of parishioners who
still attend Mass here,” Msgr. Duncan said. “It’s a remarkable
sense of history and continuity with those who established
this beautiful country parish so long ago.” The fi rst Communions
of Adeline, Michael and Dylan also provide an important link
to the parish’s history and the community’s commitment to
the Catholic faith, Msgr. Duncan added.
“Out here in
the countryside, the parish is still an important part of
family life – a gathering place for spiritual growth as well
as fellowship. It will be very special to see another generation
of children come forward on fi rst Communion day – a day their
great-great-grandparents may have hoped for when they gathered
in the fi rst log church on this very site.” It was her family’s
generational Out here in the countryside, the parish is still
an important part of family life – a gathering place for spiritual
growth as well as fellowship. It will be very special to see
another generation of children come forward on fi rst Communion
day... link to the church that drew Adeline’s mother, Deborah
(nee Kiel) Steele, who received her fi rst Communion and was
married in the old church, back to St. Sebastian from St.
Michael’s in Coopersville.
“My husband
(Christopher) and I were at a session at St. Michael’s that
got us into a serious discussion about where we wanted to
be buried some day and we wanted to go back to St. Sebastian,”
Deborah said. “We like to call St. Sebastian our country church
with a big heart.” On a country Sunday afternoon in May, yet
another generation at St. Sebastian will be linked to those
who have gone before them.
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