Fr. Charles Bartek & Holy Family Catholic Church Extension Magazine - October 1978....The History of Holy Family Church...

Catholic Church history in Star Valley can be said to start in the early 1970’s. Previous to this time, it was very difficult for an outsider to purchase land and start a business.  One such family was Aub and Malene Wegmer, along with their six children, who owned the Lazy B Motel in Afton.  Aub was an avid hunter/fisherman and moved to StarValley from Pennsylvania. It was here, in the back office of the Lazy B Motel, along with acouple of other Catholic families, Mass was said periodically by a visiting priest from Montpelier, Idaho. 
 
These early “pioneers” providing the first Catholic presence in Star Valley were Aub &
Malene Wegmer, Gene & Becky Nelson (Gene was the manager of the ma-Bell
Telephone Company), Paul & Ginnie Foster (Paul was a logging truck driver for
Clarence Werner out of Omaha, NE), Farish & Sue Thompson (Farish was an
independent logging/lumber truck driver for Star Stud Lumber Company), and their
children.
 
In August 1972, under the direction of Bishop Newell, Father Charles Taylor was
assigned to Our Lady of the Mountains in Jackson.
 
Bishop Newell insisted that Father Taylor rejuvenate the mission church in Afton. Mass
in Afton, actually a mission of Kemmerer was infrequent, if ever by a Wyoming Diocesan
Priest.
 
In 1972, Father Taylor started having Mass in the upstairs area of the Veteran’s Hall
(now the Lincoln County Branch Office located at 61 East 5th Ave. Afton). It was during
this time, Holy Family was named for the handful of devout families in Star Valley that
attended the Sunday Mass. Every Sunday at 3 p.m., an Altar and chairs were set up,
Mass said, and then disassembled for weekly VFW affairs.
 
In January 1975, $500 was paid to Mr. Lee Eckman for an option to buy 19.5 acres of
land on Highway 89, approximately one mile north of the town of Afton.
In June 1975, the Diocese of Cheyenne bought the property for approximately $19,000.
In June 1975, Father Taylor went to St. Barbara’s in Powell and Father Eugene Sullivan
came to Jackson. He continued Father Taylor’s interest in the mission at Afton, and in
October 1975, at his request, Bishop Newell changed the boundaries of the parish and
gave the mission “officially” to the parish of Jackson.
 
In August 1976, under Bishop Newell’s direction, Father Charles Bartek became the 5th
Pastor of Jackson and Father Sullivan went to Our Lady of Sorrows in Rock Springs.
During Father Bartek’s tenure as pastor, his greatest achievement was the building of
the Church at the Holy Family Mission in Afton. He and Mr. Dale Motzkus designed the
30 ft. x 75 ft. Church, and Mr. Motzkus built it. The first ground was turned in June
1977, and it was dedicated in November 1978 by Father Bartek. The reason that it was
dedicated by Father Bartek was that on the day of dedication, there was a blizzard and
Bishop Newell as well as many Priests could not make it. Mass continued to be once
per week on Sunday at 3 p.m. It is a tribute to Father Bartek that Holy Family Mission
Church, which cost approximately $100,000, was paid off already in January 1979 by
means of donations from the Extension Society, the various parishes in the Diocese,
private donations and the financial astuteness of Father Bartek. Holy Family had
approximately 16 families at this time.
 
Bishop Hubert Newell retired in mid-1978 with Bishop Joseph Hart installed as the 6th
Bishop of Cheyenne on June 12, 1978. When Father Bartek was transferred to Pinedale in May 1979, the parish had no debts whatsoever.  In May 1979, Father John Wright succeeded Father Bartek as the 6th Pastor of Jackson.  He had not been here long when the Parish had a distinguished visitor.    In July, 1979,  Archbishop Jean Jadot the Apostolic Delegate to the United States was vacationing in Wyoming. He had said Mass on Sunday in Yellowstone Park for the visitors there, then came south to Teton Park where he toured Jenny Lake, then on to Jackson for the night. The next day Archbishop Jadot was the main celebrants of a concelebrated Mass
with Bishop Newell, Bishop Hart, and 15 priests in Our Lady of the Mountains Church.
He then went south to see the mission Church in Afton, the mission set in the heart of
Mormon country.
 
In 1984, Father Richard MacLellan succeeded Father Wright as the 7th Pastor of
Jackson. Holy Family Mission in Afton had approximately 21 families.
During the 80’s, Star Valley was beginning to be “discovered” by what locals called
Outsiders. A resort north of Thayne called Star Valley Ranch was under development
and began an influx of retirement people that also brought more Catholics.
As a Mission Church, Holy Family was financially supported by Our Lady of the
Mountains in Jackson. Throughout the 80’s and early-90’s, Our Lady of the Mountains
provided whatever was needed to keep the Mission Church steadfast. All financial
support was provided by Our Lady of the Mountains, whether it was new windows, new
roof, an installation of a sign for the Holy Family Church, or simply the Sunday hosts.
All minor maintenance and upkeep for the church was provided by the local
parishioners. Holy Family Church will always be grateful for the generosity and support provided by Our Lady of the Mountains in Jackson.
 
In July 1990, Father Gerald Chleborad became the 8th Pastor of Jackson replacing
Father MacLellan. By 1991, Holy Family, still a Mission Church of Our Lady of the Mountains had 34 families.
 
By 1994, Holy Family had 46 families. The Church was almost 20 years old and the
roof needed to be replaced. Father Chleborad asked Keith and Buck Levasseur, who
were in the construction business, to install a new metal roof. It was completed that
summer along with the installation of an illuminated wood carved Holy Family Church
sign placed on the front of the property on Highway 89.
 
In June 1995, Father John Putka and Father Joseph Fraher (9th Pastor) served as
Interim Pastors until Father Sam Hayes was permanently installed as the 10th Pastor of
Our Lady of the Mountains in Jackson. Holy Family Mission had 59 families.
By the summer of 1996, Holy Family had grown to 73 families. In the fall of 1996,
Father Hayes requested that Holy Family establish its own independent finances.
Father Hayes believed Holy Family could eventually become its own Parish and no
longer be a Mission Church to Jackson. The first Finance Chairman was Jere Kovach,
along with other finance members Mary Roger, Robert Christie, and Michael Undesser.
By the summer of 1997, Holy Family had grown to 80 families. Holy Family completed
the first year of independent finances from OLM (Our Lady of the Mountains) and had
built a savings of over $28,000.
 
During the year 1998, two major projects were undertaken. The parking lot was paved
and the Church interior was painted, re-carpeted, and an office built in the basement.
This year also marked the first time Holy Family saw a decrease in its parish registry.
With the closure of logging in the BLM and National Forest, many jobs were lost and
families relocated. Holy Family registry dropped to 78 families. Despite these projects, the
decrease in parishioners and normal expenses, Holy Family continued to add to its savings.


In the fall of 1999, Father Carl Beavers becomes the 11th Pastor of OLM in Jackson
and Father Sam Hayes was assigned to Casper. Holy Family’s registry rebounds from
1998 and grows to 86 families. The Church adds a sprinkler system to the property and our savings continue to grow.
 
It was in the summer of 2000 that Father Beavers continued with Father Hayes’ vision of
guiding Holy Family toward autonomy and formally created the Parish and Finance
Councils along with the associated Commissions. The 1st Parish Council Chairman
was Paul Nemetz, along with members Vince Zimmer – Vice Chairman, Jack Petty –
Secretary, Colleen Benson, Jamie Kallgren, & Charles Hardesty. The Finance Council
continued with Jere Kovach as Chairman, and members Mary Roger, Robert Christie,
and Michael Undesser. Additionally, Holy Family added an HVAC cooler to the Church
and doubled the size of the parking lot. Financially, Holy Family savings had more than tripled since 1997 and over $30,000 in Church improvements had been completed.
 
In the fall of 2000, Father Beavers, with Diocesan approval, directs the incorporation of
Holy Family Church and changes the Sunday Mass time to 1:30 p.m. From the longstanding 3:00 p.m. service. Holy family registry is 86 families.
 
On January 12, 2001, Holy Family Church Inc. Is officially filed with the State of
Wyoming and becomes the newest parish in the Diocese of Cheyenne. The first lay
Trustees are Farish Thompson and Michael Undesser. Colleen Benson replaces
Michael Undesser as a Finance Council member. The remaining Church Commission
personnel are established. Worship Commission Chairperson – Charmin Charlton,
Service Chairperson – Jamie Kallgren, Education Chairperson – Jack Petty.
As per Bishop Newell’s agreement with Father Bartek in 1978, ownership of Holy Family
Church plus the immediate four acres is transferred from the Diocese of Cheyenne to
Holy Family Church Incorporated.  Holy Family then purchases the remaining 15.5 acres in Afton, plus a diocesan bequest lot in Star Valley Ranch from the Diocese of Cheyenne for
$55,000. Our Lady of the Mountains generously donates $20,000 to help Holy Family’s
efforts to purchase the land.
 
On September 26, 2001, Bishop Joseph Hart retires and Bishop David Ricken is
installed as the 7th Bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne. In the summer of 2002, Holy Family’s registry continues to grow with 93 families. During the summer months Holy Family’s building is too small to accommodate the congregation with the influx of summer residents and visitors. A building fund is established for future expansion and/or building a new church. A formal building
committee is established, chaired by Vince Zimmer, to survey the parishioners and
acquire data on the demographics of Star Valley and the rapid growth of the Alpine/
Thayne area. The results of the survey prompt the Church to decide to proceed with
reestablishing Holy Family Church more central in the Star Valley, in the Thayne area.
Holy Family aggressively pursues purchasing property in the centralized Thayne area.
In June 2002, Holy Family purchases Lots 4 & 5 (6.25 acres) on Friesain Circle about a
mile north of Thayne on Highway 89 for approximately $155,000. Holy Family obtains a
loan of $100,000 from St. Mary’s Cathedral to help with the purchase.
 
In the fall of 2002, Vern Madsen, Al Redlin, and Vince Zimmer remodel the sanctuary
and with the generosity of Father James Krah back in Pennsylvania, additional pews
and a new crucifix were obtained. The new pews increased the seating capacity by 75
persons. The entire remodeling was donated and only $2,000 was spent by Holy
Family for shipping costs and minor purchases. Holy Family’s registry breaks 100 for the first time. This is a 4000% increase from the humble beginnings of four families in 1972, and over a 625%increase since the Holy Family Church was dedicated in November of 1978.
 
During 2003, Holy Family hires architect Ken Mahood (member of OLM in Jackson) to
design a conceptual church for the new Thayne property. All things considered, since
the rapid development of Holy Family’s incorporation, 2003 was relatively quiet.
 
The year 2004 saw Holy Family sell the Star Valley Ranch lot that had been purchased
from the Diocese in 2001 and half of the Afton property’s 19.5 acres to repay the
remaining interest and principal on the loan from St. Mary’s Cathedral. Holy Family is
once again debt free, owning the Church in Afton, the 9.25 acres surrounding the Afton
property, and the 6.25 acres at the proposed location for the new church north of
Thayne. In addition, the Building Fund has grown in excess of $150,000.
 
With the playing field set, in May of 2005, an official fund raising campaign, called “In
Faith We Build” with a goal of $500,000 is launched. Holy Family has a conceptual
design of the new church, it owns the land it will be built on, it still owns the Afton
property and Church, and has a building fund in excess of $200,000.
 
On August 19, 2005, Father James Krah becomes the 12th Pastor of OLM in Jackson
and Father Carl Beavers is assigned to Rock Springs. Fund raising activities continue
with the Building Fund steadily growing towards the goal of $500,000.
In the spring of 2006, Father James Krah returns to Pennsylvania and Father Cliff
Stevens is assigned as Interim Pastor.
 
In September of 2006, Father Joseph Geders C.M., a Vincentian priest, becomes the
13th Pastor of Our Lady of the Mountains in Jackson. Father Geders continues to support the fund raising activities of the Parish as the congregation continues to increase. The Mass time is changed to 10:30 a.m. and Holy Family begins to experience the Triduum, Midnight Mass at Christmas, and other liturgical celebrations. Realizing that the Parish is outgrowing the Afton Church, Father Geders decides in the fall of 2009 to aggressively pursue the construction of the new church north of Thayne. The Parish has grown to 150 families. He determines that a
design-build approach will result in the best value for the Parish and enlists the aid of
Peter Stewart of Stewart Construction to be the General Contractor and move the
project forward. Neil Zeren of CTA Architects, an OLM parishioner, is selected to
prepare the drawings for the new Church.
 
Bishop Paul Etienne is ordained and installed as the 8th Bishop of the Diocese of
Cheyenne on December 9th, 2009. Bishop David Ricken is assigned as the Bishop of
the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Immediately after Bishop Etienne’s ordination, Father Geders presents his plan for a design-build approach for the church in Star Valley. Bishop Etienne visits the StarValley in January 2010, and after visiting with parishioners, is convinced that the project should move forward. Realizing that the slow economy in the area will affect fund
raising, Father Geders determines that once again, the Parish needs to turn to Catholic
Extension for help. A grant request is prepared and submitted and the Parish nervously
awaited the response. Catholic Extension representatives visited the Star Valley in late
summer and then in early November of 2010, the Parish was notified that Catholic
Extension had challenged the congregation to raise $100,000 in exchange for Catholic
Extension providing $200,000. The fund raising activities had raised $430,000 and with
$300,000 from the challenge and the grant, the Parish would have adequate funding to
move forward with construction. Father Geders immediately organized a fund raising
plan and the Parish begins raising money to meet the challenge.
 
On January 6th, Father Geders departs from OLM to a new assignment in Rome with
the Vincentian Order. Father Florante Marcelo is assigned as Pastoral Coordinator for
OLM Parish. Deacon Bill Hill is assigned by Bishop Etienne to Holy Family Church. Deacon Hill is to be responsible for the day to day activities and to insure that the fundraising activities move forward, and that the construction begin as soon as $60,000 is raised by the Parish.  Father Marcelo asks Teresa Donnelly to coordinate a fund raising event at Our Lady of the Mountains in an effort to meet the Catholic Extension challenge.  Teresa organizes a successful effort that raises over $20,000 in one evening in Jackson.  The momentum from this fund raiser and fund raising challenges from Jere Kovach in Star Valley result in Holy Family meeting the $100,000 challenge by May 1st.  On May 18th, 2011, Bishop Etienne consecrates and breaks ground at the new church and construction begins.

On July 6th, 2011, Father Randy J. Oswald becomes the 14th Pastor of Our Lady of the Mountains in Jackson.  Fr. Randy was the Pastor in Kemmerer prior to being assigned to Jackson.

Sunday, July 3rd was the last day for both Fr. Randy and Father Louie at Holy Famiily.  Both were transferred to different parts of Wyoming.

Wednesday, July 6th brought the arrival of the 15th Pastor of Our Lady of the Mountains;   Pastor, Fr. Lucas Kazimiro Simango, as well as Fr. Brian Hess.  Father Lucas Kazimiro Simango, ,  a native of Zambia, is certainly no stranger to Western Wyoming. Prior to moving to Casper to be the Pastor of Saint Anthony Parish, he was the Pastor of Our Lady of Peace in Pinedale.  Fr. Brian Hess was raised in Cheyenne, he is the second of four children. He was ordained a priest in 2014, and has been serving in Sheridan, Wyoming for the last two years. He loves hiking and camping, so he's very excited to be over here in western Wyoming. You may remember him from his time as a seminarian in our parish in July of 2010. Along with all the "normal" stuff he's been doing since he's been a priest, he's really enjoyed getting to work with youth and young adults and he's excited to continue that work in Teton and Lincoln counties.