The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1910-12-29
SAINT CHARLES PARISH
MADE GOOD PROGRESS

The Catholic parish of Whitefish
is as old as the town itself. Father
Patrick Ryan, now of St. Paul's
church of Anaconda, built the pres
ent edifice, and though it is neither
costly nor magnificent, it is a coy,
comfortable building, seating more
than 200 people. The Catholics of
Whitefish are looking anxiously for
ward to the time when a modern
brick and stone house of worship
will adorn the site of the present
wooden structure.
After Father Ryan came the late
lamented Father McGlynn, who af-
ter two years of faithful service died,
mourned by his numerous parish
toner's, on the 18th day of August,
1909.
Father McGlynn was succeeded
by Father j. M. Venus, former prin-
cipal of St. Aloysius college of Hell
ena and chancellor of the diocese.
That his appointment to the White
fish parish would only be a tenn
porary one was expected Greater
things were in store for Father Ven
us. but for the short time of one
year that he was resident parish
priest, his congregation and the
people generally learned to love and
respect him for his many endearing
qualities, as a true priest, a kind
councillor and a progressive citizen.
On September II, of the current
year Father Venus, upon his ap-
pointment to Sacred Heart parish
present pastor, Father C. M Van
AIKEN, a Hollander by birth and an
American citizen by adoption. His
short stay of less than four months
among us has shown him to be a
man of broad, progressive ideas with
an eye to the intellectual as well
as the moral advancement Of St. |
Charles parish. Shortly after his
arrival he recognized the need of
strong educational movement in the
city and, assisted by the best ele-
ment of our citizens, organized the
Boromaeo club, whose object is to
give the people an opportunity to
get acquainted with the best minds
in the field of letters and econ omics
to be found in the country. Such
men as Opie Reed, Champ Clark,
Frank Dixon, Judge Lindsey, Jos.
w. Polk, and others are being in
duced to come to Whitefish in their
itinerary during the season of 1910
1911.
Father Van Aken's policy as out
lined by himself, consists of the
awakening OF genuine interest in
the spiritual life of the parish by
the indiidual efforts of all Catho-
lie parishioners, especially regarding
the frequent use of the Sacramento
of confession and communion, the
faithful attendance at all divine
services, and the complete absti-
nence from all Intoxicating liquors;
improving the mental caliber of the
church membership by the distribu-
ton of good sound literature, and
the instruction from the pulpit in
the tenets of the church of grown
ups and children alike, fostering
love of family life and obedience to
all the laws Of the community and
| society according to the old fash
toned, yet always new principle:
''all authority is from God" Mater
ial prosperity cannot but be the
result of such living; happiness and
contentment must be the necessary
consequence of an upright, Chris
tian life.
The Catholic parish of Whitefish
includes Columbia Falls, Eureka
and Libby. In all these places the
Catholics have erected commodiou
house of worship, clear of all incum
brance with the exception of Libby,
where the small debt will be paid
off before January 1912.