Oblates Still Remembered in West Virginia

On Friday, September 20, 2002, Catholics from Monroe County, WV, celebrated the 25th anniversary of the founding of their parish, St. Andrew's, Union, West Virginia. The founding pastor, Father Jim MacGee, O.M.I., was invited to deliver the homily; the second and last full­time pastor, Father Harry Winter, O.M.I., to preside at the concelebrated liturgy,

The small chapel could not hold the diocesan, Jesuit and Marist clergy who came for the Mass, and the many Catholics, especially the large choir, The Hymns & Hers, drawn from St. Andrews and the neighboring Catholic churches in Ronceverte and Lewisburg, WV.  Therefore, two large tents were set up on the chapel grounds.  Mass and a buffet dinner were served in the evening under the tents.

The chapel is administered by a resident nun, Sr. Molly Bauer, S.S.J.  Fr. Rick Shoda from Ronceverte celebrates Mass on Sundays and Wednesdays.

In his homily, Jim recalled how Monroe County was the last county in WV not to have a full time Catholic presence. In 1977,  under  the leadership of Bishop Joseph Hodges, that changed when the Catholics in the area came to be served by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.