ST. PATRICK 150TH CELEBRATION
We pause, we remember and we celebrate the accomplishments of our ancestors.
On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2024, the community of St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish did just that. They held a celebration to commemorate their first church built in Walnut in 1874. The original church sat on the east end of Highland Street.
The day began with Mass at the church. The Most Reverend William Joensen, Bishop of Des Moines, was the celebrant with current pastor Fr. Seth Owusu and former pastors Fr. Paul Monahan and Fr. John Frost, as concelebrants. There were about 200 people in attendance.
After Mass, the festivities moved to the Walnut Community Center, where a meal of corned beef and cabbage was catered by Cindy Suhr. The crowd was entertained with Irish music, a St. Patrick’s-related trivia competition and a silent auction. The reception was chaired by Aubrey Stuart.
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