St. Anthonys of Ely, MN at 231 E. Camp St., Ely, MN 55731 US

History of St. Anthony's ...
Monsignor Joseph F. Buh came to Tower in January, 1887 as pastor of St. Martin's Church but he extended his zealous care to the souls of the 177 people of Ely. Buh visited Ely once a month, and the services were held at the Frank Lozar home on Camp Street until the first church was built. The first St. Anthony’s church was on the site of the present rectory. It was dedicated November 27, 1890, by the Most Rev. James McGolrick, Bishop of Duluth. Installed in the tower was a small bell weighing 665 pounds which was blessed that same afternoon. According to the inscription, the bell was cast by the McShane Foundry in Baltimore, Maryland, and was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. That first building was later used for meetings and religious instruction classes and was sold in 1924. Early missionaries and parishioners reported that there was a real spirit of living faith among the Ely people. The miners attended Mass nearly every morning on their way home from the night shift at the mines. Monsignor Buh was able to attend the rapidly growing mission only once a month, so he succeeded in getting the Rev. Mathias Bilban to assist with the work. Father Bilban had been among the number of Slovenian students whom Father Buh had brought into this country to work in the mission territory. Father Bilban came to Ely in 1893 and took care of the parish until 1897. In that year, the Rev. Andrew Smrekar was appointed resident pastor of the Ely parish. The congregation had grown to 1900, and the orginal church was unable to hold the crowds. Under Father Smrekar’s direction, funds were raised and the second church was built in the summer of 1900 and served the parish faithfully until 1958. It was one of the largest frame churches in the Northwest. Installed in the steeple was the small bell form the first church, and two larger bells weighing 2,500 pounds and 1,400 pounds respectively. (In 1958, the bells were moved to the present church.) The dedication of the second church took place on November 30, 1900. Shortly thereafter, Father Smrekar was transferred to Tower and Father Buh came to Ely as resident pastor. He paid off the parish debt and bought additional equipment including a new organ. In 1902, Monsignor Buh ordered a clock made in Jugoslavia for the church steeple. During July 1908, the Rev. John Schiffrer came to Ely to assist Monsignor Buh. He also took charge of the parish for eight months while the missioner returned to his home in Europe. When Monsignor Buh returned, Father Schiffrer left to do mission work around Carlton. In 1907, nine years later, Father Frank Mihelcic was appointed assistant to Father Buh who was then 85 years of age. In August of 1922, Father Mihelcic was appointed pastor. Missions in either the Slovenian or English languages were conducted almost yearly in the parish and when missions were not possible a Forty Hour Devotion was held. St. Pius X Parish in Babbitt was established and attached to St. Anthony’s Church as a mission on April 5, 1953, and continued as such until June 16, 1957. The spiritual duties, such as offering Mass every Sunday, first at a meeting hall and later at the school, were conducted almost solely by Father Mihelcic. Father George Krypsin was the first resident priest assigned to Babbitt and took over his duties June 23,1957. In January 1968, Father Mihelcic retired after 51 years of service and continued living in Ely until his death on April 16, 1980. During the years following the Second Vatican Council, Catholic parishes around the world were faced with many changes in worship and style, language, music and architecture and St. Anthony’s was no exception. Slowly but surly the changes, directed by the Council, were incorporated into the fabric of parish life. In the late 1960’s, a portable altar built of plywood by August Sustarsic, father of Father John Sustarsic, was obtained from St. Cecilia’s parish in Nashwauk and placed in the sanctuary so Mass could be celebrated facing the people. In the mid 1970’s the tabernacle was moved from the center high altar to the side of the sanctuary, and the communion rail which was no longer in use was removed, with the marble piece put in storage. Finally in 1988, the center high altar was moved away from the back wall to the front of the sanctuary where it would once again serve as the Eucharistic table, which was its original purpose. To elevate the altar for better visibility, a new step was constructed using marble pieces from the former communion rail which had been removed ten years earlier. At the same time the remodeling was taking place in the sanctuary, some changes were in process in the rear of the church. The marble baptismal font, hidden in a corner of the vestibule for over thirty years, was moved to the center aisle just inside the main entrance to the church. In this position, it functions very well for the Sacrament of Baptism, the blessing of the body and casket at funeral Masses, the special blessing of water and font at the Easter vigil each year, and as a holy water dispenser as the faithful enter and exit the church for worship. The font is made from the same kind of marble as the front face of the altar so there is a unity between these two beautiful pieces which stand at opposite ends of the center aisle, in full view of each other. The prominent position of the font and the altar within the worship space remind us very vividly of the prominent role of Baptism and Eucharist in our lives.

St. Anthonys of Ely, MN at 231 E. Camp St., Ely, MN 55731 US - History of St. Anthony's ...