Our Church
Parish History
On July 12, 1979, the late Bishop James Rausch, D. D., Ph.D.,
recognizing the growth in this area, decreed that the parish of St.
Joan of Arc would be established. At that time he appointed the
Rev. Robert D. Skagen as the founding pastor. Fr. Bob, as he was
affectionately known, made this announcement shortly thereafter at
all the Masses at St. Joseph's church where many of our new
would=be parishioners were attending.
The first official mass for St. Joan of Arc parishioners was held
on July 22-23, 1979, at Larkspur School. Fr. Bob was there early
hoping and praying people would come. They certainly did much to
his delight, and the parish of St. Joan of Arc was well
underway!
As true pilgrims of the Church, we then went on to Greenway Middle
School for weekend Masses. Daily Mass was held in the rectory at
Waltann Lane as construction of our parish multi-purpose building
began.
The present facilities were dedicated on May 30, 1982, the feast
of St. Joan of Arc, by the Most Rev. Thomas J. O'Brien, D.D.,
Bishop of the Diocese.
Under the guidance and leadership of Fr. Robert Skagen and Fr.
Frank P. Simlik, our former pastors, and now Fr. Larry W. Weidner,
St. Joan of Arc Parish has grown from a community of some 400
families to over 3,000 registered families! Our growth continues.
Over the past ten years we have completed $4.5 million in new
construction and have realized our dream of moving into a permanent
church. As our ministries explode, we reflect on the fact that the
future of St. Joan of Arc Parish is indeed a challenging and
hopeful one in the true tradition of our patron saint.
The Complex
Our parish is presently made up of five separate building areas.
Click on the pictures below to see a full-size view of the various
church complex locations. (Click on the thumbnail pictures for a
full-size view.)
The Church
A new 20,000 square foot permanent Church and Chapel with seating
for 1,300. See the pictorial tour of the church for more
information.
Fr. Larry Weidner Parish Center:
A multi-purpose hall, a small hall and kitchen, music room, teen
center, nursery and an office complex. Also, the Bishop Gomes
Center which is comprised of Conference room/Library, Activities
Ramada, Marian Meditation Garden.
Christian Formation Buildings
Ten classrooms located north side of the complex for Christian
Formation, Preschool and Kindergarten classes.
St. Vincent de Paul Center
Located on the east side of the Weidner Parish Center. Provides
outreach to the larger community. It is funded by parishioners and
supported by one large annual food drive and smaller ones
throughout the year. Gifts of cash, non-perishable food, toiletries
and baby items are accepted year-round.
Santa Maria Hall
Open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for Adult Day
Care and after 5:30 p.m. for parish meetings/socials. Also open
weekends for meetings/socials. This complex consists of a hall
housing adult day care, Monday through Friday. Another hall is used
for socials, receptions and meetings evenings and weekends. In
addition, there is a commercial kitchen and pantry, restrooms,
offices, and an activity room.
The Rectory
Located off campus.
St. Joan of Arc - Our Patron Saint
The patron saint of France, Joan of Arc, was born in Domremy,
January 6, 1410. France at the time was largely in the power of the
English. Joan was a shepherdess and at the age of thirteen began to
hear the voices of St. Michael, St. Catherine and St. Margaret. In
1428, these voices told Joan to go and help the heir to the throne
of France recapture his country. Joan saw the Dauphin, rallied an
army, and marched on Orleans. She was victorious and won battle
after battle, freeing the cities of France. In 1429, the Dauphin
was crowned King of France with Joan at his side. She continued to
lead her army until she was betrayed and sold to the Bishop of
Beauvais, an ally of the English, for 40,00 gold francs.
The Bishop put her on trial for treason and heresy, and his
ecclesiastical court condemned her to be burned at the stake. She
was treated most shamefully by the clergy and was denied the
Eucharist before she died on May 30, 1431.
Some years later, at the request of her family, the trial was
reviewed and the verdict reversed. In 1920, the Church gave
official approval to her life by beatifying and then canonizing St.
Joan of Arc. Her feast day is celebrated on May 30th.
Prayer of St. Joan of Arc
Most loving God, you manifested yourself to a simple country girl
and made her an instrument of your concern for justice and truth
and an example of the ongoing need for perseverance in prayer.
Grant to us, your sons and daughters, the grace to follow her
example and listen to your voice as you speak to us through
others.
Grant that we too, in imitation of St. Joan of Arc, might become
instruments of love, justice and peace, thereby being true to our
parish mission to "Building Community through Gospel Values". We
ask this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns
forever and ever. Amen
Saint Katharine Drexel
katharinedrexel.gif (62227 bytes)Saint Katharine Drexel is one of
the most inspiring personalities ever to emerge from the American
Catholic experience. She put her time, talents, and treasure
completely at God's disposal, and God worked miracles through her.
She founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and dedicated her
life to easing the suffering of the poor and oppressed native
Americans, black Americans and Haitians.
Pope John Paul II announced on March 10, that Katharine Drexel
will be canonized a saint on October 1, 2000. Located in the Saint
Katharine Drexel Chapel, the altar of repose is from the private
chapel in the home of Saint Katharine Drexel. It was made in 1860
of solid hand carved walnut, and stands twelve feet high. Katharine
Drexel received her vocation while praying at this altar. After
Katharine Drexel founded the order of the Sisters of the Blessed
Sacrament in the late 1800’s, the altar was moved into their
convent chapel and was used until the early 1970’s. Upon her
canonization, the altar becomes a second-class relic and a place of
pilgrimage. The corpus on the cross was hand carved in
Oberammergau, Germany. The ceiling in the chapel is plaster relief,
hand-painted five colors and gold gilded by German artist Louis
Berlinger. For more information on Saint Katharine Drexel, visit
www.katharinedrexel.org.