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■' - ■ ■ ■' .. '' ■ ; ■ ' ■- '; : . ■ / ' • - iplace of worship. The old church was small, had to be done,” she said. ‘‘I always like toand she recalls the times when the church was too crowded to accommodate all the peo-■ By Jody GarlockI The construction of the new St. Ann’s■ Catholic Church has meant a break in some■ long-lasting ties for many of the church’s■ older members, and Rita Claeys is no excep-I tion to this.I For nearly the past 60 years, St. Ann’s■ church has been somewhat of a ‘‘second■ home” for Claeys. The 63-year-old woman I received all her sacraments there as a young■ girl, and she has remained active in the■ church ever since then. But Claeys’ ties with I the church go deeper than that. In fact, it’s■ because of her ancestors that St. Ann’s is I where it is today.I In the mid-1800s, Claeys’ great-1 grandfather, Evo DeCock, came to America I from Belgium. He settled in this area, where I he acquired a large amount of land. When the I Catholic families in the area decided to build I a church in 1853, DeCock donated the land for lit. On that land two miles north of Long■ Grove, a small frame building was con-I structed and it became the original St. Ann’s I Catholic Church.I Now at that same site, but more than 100 I years later, another DeCock descendant has I played a part in starting a new chapter in the■ church’s history. Among the 13-member I building committee was Claeys — as well as■ several other people whose descendants■ played a part in organizing the original I parish. Those people include Ray and GeneI Loussaert, Jim Tobin. Jerry Noel and Lolita I Dierickx and George Claeys.I When Claeys was four years old, herI parents, Peter and Josephine De Schepper, I bought the original farm which DeCock lived Ion. The farm is just north of the church, and■ Claeys’ brother, Francis “Bud” De Schepper■ lives there. Claeys and her husband. Felix,■ also reside on the land originally owned by■ DeCock. Their farm is just east of the church. I Claeys considers the church to be a part of g her life, and she admits that it hasn’t always I been easy to part with the old church.I “I had mixed feelings when we moved into | the new church,” she said. “It was kind of likela death in the family.”J At the same time, however, Claeys said sherealized that the growing parish needed a newpie. So, Claeys said it helped to ease her mind to view the new church as a step toward the future — something that will be able to meet the needs of the growing parish.“Something can’t last forever,” she said. “We have to keep going on and moving forward.”But while the new church is a move toward the future, it also has been a time of looking back on the years of old St. Ann’s.Claeys says she doesn’t know a lot about her great-grandfather — except that he owned a lot of land and was a big supporter of the church. The idea of strongly supporting the church was carried down into the family’s other generations. Claeys remembers her mother’s involvement in St. Ann’s and that, in turn, caused her to become involved in the church.“I guess that’s where I got the idea that you get involved in your church,” she said.Gaeys also recalls the earlier years of the 1church. She remembers when there was a barn on the land and when the priests owned cows and chickens.She also recalls the earlier discussions that led up to the building of a new church. She credits Father Raphael Maher and Father Clifford Egert for saving money to put toward a building project. Without those two, she said, it wouldn’t have been possible to begin the project since they had managed to save about $500,000 for it.Today, when Claeys looks out her kitchen window, she has a clear view of the land that has played an important part in her family’s history. It may not be the same building, but the view has plenty of memories for her.“It’s really great to be able to look out the window and see it,” she said.But there’s been at least one instance when living so close to the church may have been a drawback. That time came at the end of August, when the old church was moved to Pioneer Village at Scott County Park. Gaeys watched as the church passed right in front of her house.“It just made me sick in a way, but I knew ithave a positive outlook.”Seeing the old church moved away may not have been the happiest moment of her life, but Gaeys says she is thankful that it could be moved to Scott County Park, rather than being torn down.Now that most of the work is over and the dedication for the new church is almost here, Claeys is anxious to begin the new chapter in the church’s history.“I’m looking forward to having things finally settled — to have a routine and to grow,” she said.though the members didn’t always agree on things, Claeys said she learned a lot from itand is grateful that she was chosen for the committee.“I just feel real proud to think I’ve been a part of this,” she said.And is she satisfied with the result?“Oh, very,” she said. “It really turned out better than I anticipated. I really am very pleased.”It may not be the same St. Ann’s that many of the people have grown with, but Gaeys is confident the parishoners can adjust to the change.Serving on the building committee, Gaeys “If I could part with the old church, I think said, has been a rewarding experience. Even anybody can,” she said.If-vK%rrr'.'yy•j.T’Y-y.I★'W★■v★r'•ac*r:-aProminentpaintingPAINTING OF PROMINENCE-Thls pain-ting of the old St. Ann's Church was done by amateur artist Kunhilde Blacklock of Eldridge. It is displayed in a prominent placein the church’s commons.NSP Photo
Newspaper Details
Eldridge North Scott Press
Eldridge, Iowa, US
Wed, Oct 23, 1985
Page 31
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
VA, USA 20 Dec 2021
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Eldridge North Scott Press
