By Anne Marie Amacher
DAVENPORT — In 100 years, St. Paul the Apostle Parish has grown from 13 parishioners to around 1,100 families – or more than 3,000 parishioners.
The parish will celebrate its centennial with a concert, Mass and ice cream social July 5.
Father Mike Spiekermeier, pastor, said the adult choir will present a concert starting at 2:15 p.m. in the church that day. Its members will sing a prelude of favorite music and offer prayer and praise. Mass follows at 3 p.m. with Bishop Martin Amos as the celebrant. Priests who have served at the parish have been invited to concelebrate that day, Fr. Spiekermeier noted.
An ice cream social follows in Denning Hall. At the social, memorabilia will be sold including prints of the church with or without a frame, a pewter ornament, a book, “Praying with Paul,” and T-shirts.
With the closing of the Year of St. Paul, which Pope Benedict XVI initiated one year ago, Fr. Spiekermeier said the parish decided to add the conclusion of that celebration into the Davenport parish’s centennial celebration.
St. Paul Parish was established in March 1909, the cornerstone laid on July 4 and the first Mass in December, Fr. Spiekermeier said. Founding the parish were Bishop James Davis, Father Charles Donohue and 13 parishioners.
Upcoming events for the parish include a new parish directory, appreciation potluck picnic on Aug. 8 and the parish festival on Sept. 13.
The parish is welcoming a new principal at the school — Julie Delaney — who formerly taught at the school for 17 years. Fr. Spiekermeier noted he’s also hoping to wrap up interviews for a new youth minister for the parish soon.
