Post Falls, Idaho: In the Footsteps of Fr. De Smet

by Pat Elgee

The Catholicity of northern Idaho was established with the Indians before the arrival of the white man after great success by the Jesuit Fathers DeSmet, Father Ravalli, and Father Point, to name only a few. The Flathead Indians of Montana; the Coeur d'Alene, Nez Perce and Pend d'Oreilles Indians of Idaho, supported successful missions at Cataldo and St. Maries as early as the 1840's.

These missions perhaps would not have existed had it not been for a band of four Catholic Iroquois Indians who departed from the Caughnawaga Mission near Montreal between the years of 1812 and 1820, to an unknown destination of the West. Ignatius La Mousse, called by the Indians 'Old Ignatius' since he had a son; 'Young Ignatius,' was perhaps fulfilling a destiny as chief of this mission—to perhaps unconsciously serve Divine Providence in bringing the faith to the Indians of the West. Old Ignatius imparted to the Flathead Indians everything he knew of the faith, which they accepted gratefully, and regulated their lives by his teaching. He appealed to them constantly of their great need for the Black Robes. The Pend d'Oreilles and Nez Perce were also eager to be instructed. Four Indians braved many hardships to reach St. Louis where they were unsuccessful in their efforts, as they could not be understood, and died before returning to their tribes. Old Ignatius set out himself with his two sons and reached St. Louis. With his ability to speak French, he explained their great longing for the Black Robes. After returning, no Black Robes were forthcoming, and he set out once more with four Indians, but they were killed by three-hundred Sioux whom they encountered. The third attempt with Young Ignatius and Peter Gaucher touched the heart of the Superior General, and he mandated that Father DeSmet should "go west" to instruct the Indians in their beloved faith. In these few Catholic Iroquois, we see the instruments of Divine Providence.

Fr. Rizzo and Fr. Hunter posing with some of the school children on the playground of the Immaculate Conception Academy in Post Falls, Idaho.

On a knoll in a panoramic setting thirty miles east of Post Falls, Father Ravalli, with the aid of two Brothers and a band of Indians, built the Cataldo Mission, completed in 1853. The students of Immaculate Conception Academy and our parishioners have oftentimes attended Holy Mass offered there by Father Couture, and later Father Rizzo. Following, there would be a picnic on the knoll overlooking the valley. The church has been painstakingly reconstructed by the State of Idaho where tours are conducted and movies shown giving accounts of the joys and difficulties in the lives of these first Jesuits in the northwest.

The scenery and panorama of the valley where Post Falls, Idaho is located on the Spokane River with its spectacular falls, inspired the early Indians to fight desperately for their beloved hunting grounds. Frederick Post located in this area and built a sawmill early in 1880. We now see a village which grew from its inception in 1880 of only a couple families, with the name taken from its founder Frederick Post, who purchased his mill site from Chief Seltice. This village now boasts of around 7,000 residents.

In 1903 Father Purcell, a Redemptorist, covered most of the territory around Post Falls, traveling to Priest Lake, Ronners Ferry, Leonia, Hope, and Sandpoint, and at times to B. R. Lewis Lumber Camp. Then he was assigned to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. In 1906, Father Patrick Purcell established a Catholic Church in Post Falls which was called St. Lawrence, built in the style of the missions, much like the beautiful mission church at Cataldo. It was also served by the Jesuits from Gonzaga since Fr. Purcell was oftentimes at the outlying missions. These early priests had much success with the Indians. Protestant ministers competed with the Jesuits, being salaried officials distributing tracts to inquisitive members of the tribe to win them. It was not difficult for the Indians to discern that the missionary priests devoted body and soul to their salvation, and the Indians had no difficulty in making a choice.

In 1923 Father Daniel McElligott received a grant from the Catholic Extension Society, which is still a missionary organization, to complete a new church and rectory. There were 25 families in 1926. The church was perhaps renamed St. George after George Cardinal Mundelein, who was the first cardinal west of the Appalachians. One can still see St. George's name above the door of the entry way. In 1972 this church was purchased by lay directors from the State Highway Commission in an auction and moved intact from its location between William and Henry Street in Post Falls to the present location. The church was renamed "Immaculate Conception Church" under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1975 the Immaculate Conception Academy was instituted in the basement of the church, beginning with a small number of families who enrolled their children in the school. We recall that Fr. DeBusschere, the first pastor, occasionally enjoyed playing volleyball with the children of this first school, even though he was somewhat advanced in age.

Ordained in May, 1930, Father DeBusschere served his priestly duties in Saskatchewan and Alberta, and during World War II, he was a chaplain in the Canadian Army on the front lines for four years. He spoke of giving the Last Rites to Germans who had fallen behind the lines and of their great gratitude. Fr. DeBusschere retired in Spokane, only to be asked in 1969 to serve a small number of traditionalists who were not able to accept the aberrations of the post-Conciliar church. At that time, Fr. DeBusschere offered Holy Mass at one or two homes in Idaho and Washington, and also in his own home, where eventually a chapel was set up in his basement, which was named "St. Pius V Chapel." And it grew! There was standing room only on Sundays as we grew, where the little aisle to enter the pews was jammed with those receiving Holy Communion and those returning to their pews. But it served well, and how grateful were the members!

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the ordination of Fr. DeBusschere, Archbishop Lefebvre flew from Rickenbach, Switzerland to dedicate our little church. All of the church property was then assigned in 1980 to the Society of St. Pius X under the Archbishop. He then confirmed approximately 200 children and adults. Upon departing in a private plane from Spokane on May 18 after the ceremonies, Archbishop Lefebvre had the unusual experience of witnessing the flow of ash from the eruption of Mount St. Helens which occurred earlier that morning.

Archbishop Lefebvre subsequently sent Father Douglas Laudenschlager to become our pastor in 1982, followed by Father Daniel Couture in 1984 upon his ordination that year. As the numbers of parishioners grew in the missions and in Post Falls, Father Couture received the assistance of Father Walter Ranger, who left for Davie, Florida in November of 1988. Father George Lemay was here briefly before the arrival of Father Christopher Hunter, who is now the present assistant. In August of 1987, Father Couture was sent to Ireland to be replaced by Father John Rizzo, our present pastor.

The two priests stationed in Post Falls cover the largest territory in this country for Mass Centers, which are like little missions. West Glacier, Montana, where the summer boys camp is held along with Victor and Kalispell, comprise the missions of Montana. West Glacier is part of Glacier National Park and is spectacularly scenic, "but it requires a ten-hour round trip by car for our priests, which is usually made in one day. Then there are missions in Edmonds and Pasco, Washington; Juneau, Anchorage, and Fairbanks, Alaska; and, although there is a priest who assists in Portland and Eugene, our priests still go to Portland, and on occasion to Eugene, Oregon. Recently, the faithful of the Eugene Mission acquired a new building and converted it into a chapel. The Alaska circuit alone involves 3,000 miles of travel which takes a full week to a month. Holy Mass is offered daily in Post Falls, despite the heavy Mass circuit covering 12 missions in 5 states. When there are two priests in Post Falls, there are two Holy Masses daily, and occasionally there are visiting priests allowing the faithful in Post Falls to choose from a third Holy Mass daily.

At the present time, the entire northern section of the block between 4th and 5th streets contains Immaculate Conception Academy, a little house that is occupied by a Dominican nun, and our beloved church sits at the extreme western corner. It can be seen from highway I-90 and reached from there on exits only a couple blocks away. In 1986 Father Daniel Couture arranged with Father Fred Nelson of Powers Lake, North Dakota to ship to us a magnificent white and gold altar that was being abandoned by a local church and salvaged by Fr. Nelson. It is handcrafted with spires, with a niche at the top for a large, lifelike statue of Our Lady that was donated by a parishioner years before to grace the schoolroom of Immaculate Conception Academy. It fit the niche to perfection as if it had been built for it. Graduated to each side of Our Lady are small ledges on which rest delicately sculpted pink and white angels which Father Couture ordered to be made and sent from California. The lovely stained glass windows are the original windows of the church.

Father Couture had the school building constructed for classes beginning in January of 1985. There are now approximately 70 students enrolled in our school. One of the first teachers who taught in the basement of the church at its inception, Mrs. Judy Brooks, teaches the first grade. Judy also has written a home school catechism for the early grades in monthly installments, realizing the need for this in the United States—always at "her post" to do one more thing for instruction of the little ones.

Fr. Rizzo gets a kick out of playing soccer with the children.

The Immaculate Conception Academy embodies kindergarten through the 8th grade with approximately 70 students and five teachers, with an influx this summer of 15 families increasing the number of students. There are plans to expand the school and the church as the enrollment increases with every year. The missions also are growing.

Father Rizzo conducts a very successful summer camp for boys and girls of 9 to 15 who arrive from all parts of the United States and Canada. The girls' camp is on the bank of the Spokane River in an idyllic setting. Many volunteers from the parish and from the missions join Father Rizzo in its smooth operation teaching catechism, crafts, swimming, putting on skits, and recreating. The campfire in the evening by the river is surrounded by the counselors and girls anxiously awaiting the skits of the evening. One would never guess the transformation that can take place when Father Haynos, from Campbell, California, sang "Mr. Bo Jangles" with a western twang, never hesitating for a word in its many verses, and wearing a sombrero and a makeshift poncho. As the verses unfolded, Father Rizzo clowned out the action with a three or four-foot wide Mexican sombrero on his head, and a small plastic addition to his nose held by a pair of glasses with a little mustache in the image of Groucho Marx. There was instant hilarity among the campers.

Fr. Hunter soaks up the sunshine during the soccer game.

The boys' camp has been held for the past two years in West Glacier on a ranch which is part of the Glacier National Park, renowned for its spectacular beauty, and which lends itself to the unbounded pleasure of the young boys. A large creek runs through this beautiful valley surrounded by snow-capped mountains. The Flathead River is a short walking-distance away. Five seminarians come from Winona, Minnesota to help Father Rizzo with the smooth manipulation of the many facets involved in building tents, feeding, recreating, and, most importantly, instructing the faith—not just during those hours of catechism, but by their example and kindness. Last year Father Paul Tague was included in the number of seminarians who instructed at the camp, and he graced our parish by returning this year after his ordination to say his Solemn High Mass in our church, after which the faithful anxiously awaited his first blessing kneeling on the grass outside.

In our parish, where the sound of Father Rizzo's infectious laugh marks his location on the premises of our church or school, we have much joy. In the midst of life's struggles our parish is a haven of sanity in a world gone crazy, where, weekly, more families are arriving to seek this haven for their children to show them the way to heaven, and everyday to ask and receive God's blessings.