ALL THIS IS COMMEMORATED IN THE SO-CALLED ‘OSAGE WINDOW’ SHOWING FATHER SCHOENMAKERS SURROUNDED BY OSAGES OF ALL AGES, IN THE NORTH TRANSCEPT OF THIS VERY CHURCH.  THE WINDOW PRUCHASED BY ROSA NEAL HILL IS THE ONLY WINDOW OF THIS KIND IN THE WORLD AND AS SUCH A PRIZE POSSESION OF THE PARISH.  (The present Pastor remembers how with deep love Rose Hill took him into the Church in the fall of 1953 stood him before the window- pointed out her own daughter and then said we Osages did not have a word for PRIEST in our language and so we now call our priest “SHOUMINKA” and so you Father are Shouminka!

Osage Mission flourished under the direction of Fathers Schoenmakers and Ponziglione – priests and people were delighted with what had happened over the years.  The Catholic Faith was so well established in the Osage People that they became known as the “CATHOLIC OSAGES” The People grew to appreciate the education that was imparted to them along with the Faith.  Many of the Osage continued their education and held and hold College Degrees.

Forcibly removed from their Kansas Lands to Indian Territory, the Osage Nation was installed at the west side of the Cherokee Reservation in what is now known as Osage County.  The ‘Mineral Estate’ which is part of the Treaty with the Osage has made the Tribe the Wealthiest of the Indian Tribes in the United States.

With the removal to Indian Territory, the Osage were again without the regular day to day ministrations of their priests and continued to voice their displeasure over this matter to the Federal Government of the United States.  The Schools attempted here were not satisfactory- Protestant Missionaries were handed the Reservation by Washington to the dismay of the Chief and the Tribal Council who continually protested their treatment at the hands of the Federal Bureaucracy.  The shameful treatment of Father Ponziglione when he visited, only to be forced to leave the Reservation, was the cause of deep dismay to the Osage People who continually reminded the Government and its agents that we are Catholics and want the services of the Catholic Priests.  Father Ponziglione continued to come in spite of the treatment he received from the agents and testifies to the fact that he was deeply moved by their royalty to the Church – the deep piety with which they assisted at Holy Mass and received the Sacraments and how on one occasion they were very concerned that they make their ‘Easter Duty’ This sad situation continued until 1887 when the Benedictines after many negotiations were finally allowed to come on to the Osage Lands.  Father Ponziglione would be asked time and again; “When is Father Schoenmakers (Shouminka) coming to stay with us permanently” the love of the people for him was that deep and strong – even when the Benedictines came the same question was asked: “Is Shouminka going to stay with us?”

Finally, Father Felix de Grasse, O.S.B. arrived in January of 1887 and Celebrated Holy Mass, with great rejoicing, on the Feast of the Epiphany of 1887 having arrived in Pawhuska the day before.  By the 26 th of January he had Baptized Fifteen persons and on the 20^th of January in 1887 assisted at three Marriages- the Parish as we know it today had begun its Eucharistic and Sacramental life in the OSAGE – the Gospel was being preached and thought was given to the notion of quickly establishing a school for the education of the youngsters IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH OF PAWHUSKA, INDIAN TERRITORY WAS A REALITY!!!

Certainly it would be impossible to consider the Church in Pawhuska without giving credit to the wonderful generosity of Mother Katherine Drexel who funded the project both of the St. Louis School and the St. John School.  Later the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament who were Founded by Mother Katherine taught at both the St. Louis School and the Immaculate Conception Parochial School.

When the original Church was destroyed by fire on the 14^th of Feburary 1889, Mass was Celebrated in the Osage Council House.  It was Mother Katherine Drexel who provided the monies for the Construction of the new and larger church to serve the growing needs of the Parish.  It was this second Church which was later moved across Bird Creek and on to Main Street to be closer to the community it was destined to serve.  The new Church was dedicated December 8, 1890, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the Title Feast of the Parish.

The Osage Families were very pleased with the work of the Sisters and the School continued to grow.  When the Franciscan Sisters were no longer able to staff the growing school, Mother Katherine Drexel obtained the services of the Sisters of Loretto who staffed both the St. Louis School and the Parochial School – to this very Jubilee Day many people who were their pupils speak with great gratitude for the work of the Sisters and are hoping that one or other of the Sisters may be able to participate in the Jubilee Celebration – so deep does the love and thanks run.

The Parish itself continued to grow and develop and now embraced not only the Indian People but the White People as well.  The Osages continued to refer to all their priests as shouminka and it must be said that the priests responded with great dedication in bring the graces and blessings of almighty God to the Territory.

Certainly a great debt is owed to the vision of Father Felix de Grasse who as first resident pastor undertook the work of laying the foundation for the Parish – Ora et Labora – the great Benedictine motto animated his work here.  Another Benedictine, Father Willebrord Voogden, O.S.B., one of the greatest missionaries in Oklahoma brought a spirit of zeal and commitment to the Parish.  No one can forget the work of Father Edward Van Waesberghe an educated and prayerful man – but a bit eccentric in his manner and behavior – the builder of the present church – the inspiring force behind the stained glass windows – the priest who was repairing the roof, slipped and fell and broke his leg – the founder of St. John’s Parish in Bartlesville – the builder in 1905 of the church which still serves the people of St. Joseph’s Mission in Cleveland – a man of much energy.  Father Victor Van Durme – a princely man – dignified in bearing – highly educated – beautifully educated in music and able to play three instruments himself, including the organ – gave dignity to the parish and instilled a love of good music which serves the Parish to this day and is responsible for the parish’s reputation for excellent singing. 

Father Emil Depreitere – probably the greatest convert maker in Oklahoma History was responsible for the education – training – and baptism into the Church of so many people who are part of the parish to this day.  Father Confessor, Councillor and Guide – trusted by the Osages because he knew and appreciated them so well – Father Albert Achtergael served in the Osage for 34 years longer than any other priest.  With the exception of the nine months he served as Assistant at Holy Family in Tulsa, he spent his entire Priestly Life in the Osage.  No one would forgive the failure to mention Father William Huffer, Chaplain at St. Louis School for so many years – he loved the outdoors and he loved the boys of the community – taught so many of them to swim – to enjoy sports and at the same time would tell them – If you don’t go to Church you do not go with me – insisted on their going to their own Church for Sunday Services and then tool them wherever they were going for the day – many a boy turned into a fine young man due to the influence of one Father William Huffer.  

Many events marked the continued development of the Parish in Pawhuska- certainly the moving of the Church into town was one as it opened an opportunity for providing an education to many more youngsters as well as provided a place for the Celebration of the Mass and Sacraments closer to the people. 

Thebuilding of the new Parochial School at 13^th and Lynn with a fine academic base was a tremendous boon to the community and at its height had an enrollment of 165 students in the First through Eighth Grade – it was a sad day when due to falling enrollment and finances the School was forced to close.

The Building of the Present Church at 14^th and Lynn was quite an event in the life of Pawhuska.  Begun in 1910 – constructed slowly over many years- planks for floor boards – replaced with a permanent floor through the efforts and donations of M. Johnson, founder of the Johnson Funeral Home – the windows for some time without glass – the birds flew through the church – clear glass finally put in and after World War 1 the beginning of the project to place the Stained Glass windows in the Church a project begun in 1919.

When Bishop Kelley invited Patrick Cardinal Hayes to come to Oklahoma to Consecrate Holy Family Cathedral and to come to the Osage to visit the Catholic Indians and whites – to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation upon the Class of 1925 the People of the Parish were jubiliant.  Cardinal Hayes for his part never forgot the warmth with which he was received and feasted at an affair truly fit for a king held at the Pierce St. John Place following the Mass and Sacrament of Confirmation in the Parish Church.  There are a few persons here to this day who received the Sacrament of Confirmation from Cardinal Hayes.

According to Bishop Francis Clement Kelley the only Parish to Celebrate its Golden Anniversary to that date was the Immaculate Conception Parish Of Pawhuska.  The Archbishop of Guadalajara, Mexico came as did a number of other dignitaries.  The Bishop asked the University of Louvain to change its rules for this one occasion and as it turned out would not take no for an answer.  A young man from the Parish was due to be ordained that summer of the Golden Jubilee of the Parish and Bishop Kelley insisted – and won out – on his being Ordained in the beautiful and large Sanctuary of his own Parish Church in Pawhuska.  Thus it was that during the Celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of Immaculate Conception Parish of Pawhuska that a son of the Parish – Raymond Francis Harkin was Ordained to the Sacred Priesthood on the 28^th of June 1937 – many who are with us to Celebrate this 100^th Anniversary well remember that event.  Msgr. Harkin is the only son of this Parish to be Ordained to the Sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ.

A number of young ladies did enter the convent and become sisters.  The most recent – a graduate of St. Gregor’s College in Shawnee – grew up in Pawhuska as Kay Malaske is now Sister Claire a Franciscan Sister.

When Bishop McGuinness came to Oklahoma his outgoing spirit appealed to many people.  Father Albert, a friend and confidant of Chief Fred Lookout, paved the way for the new Bishop and the old Chief to become very close friends.  Even though Chief Lookout’s Parents had been Catholics – they did not have Fred Lookout Baptized nor educated in the Faith though the knew of the work of the Church and knew about some of the Catholic Teachings.  It was his devoted and loving wife Julia – herself a full-blood Osage – an excellent Catholic who excercised her influence upon her family and by example eventually on her husband of many years. Thus it was that the last of the ‘Hereditary Chiefs’ and now Principal Chief of the Osage – Fred Lookout decided to be received into the Catholi8c Church.  His good friend now, Bishop Eugene J. McGuinness came to Pawhuska on the 8^th of October 1945 and Baptized the Old Chief with great rejoicing in the Parish Community.  When Chief Fred Lookout died in 1949 his friend, Bishop McGuinness, himself sick in bed with pneumonia, was unable to come to officiate at his Funeral as the old Chief had requested.  And so it was the sad duty of a friend of even longer standing, Father Albert Achtergael, his Pastor, to Celebrate his Funeral mass and lay a longtime friend to his final rest.

On the 13^th of June 1953 – the only priest to serve as Assistant in the Parish – Father Joseph Mazaika arrived in Pawhuska.  He preached at both the Masses on Sunday, June 14^th after which a funny thing happened.  The People waited in front of the Church and told their newly Ordained priest how pleased they were that he was able to speak English without an accent and how wonderful it was that a foreigner was able to speak English so well!!!  Father Mazaika, a bit surprised at that, laughed and said he was not aware that Pennsylvania were he was born and raised was in a foreign land – he was always told that it was part of the United States of America.

In 1955, the Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa celebrated its Golden Jubilee as a Diocese.  Father Mazaika, Assistant at Immaculate Conception in Pawhuska had the honor of being the Sub-Deacon for the Jubilee Mass in Oklahoma City.  Two members of the Parish were honored by our Holy Father, Pope Plus XII.  Mr. Robert Stuart an attorney in Pawhuska, responsible to a great degree for the effort and the monies collected to establish the Mission Church of St Joseph in Hominy, was elevated to the Knighthood of St. Gregory.  Mrs. Rose Neal Hill an exemplary Catholic and inspiration to so many was honored by Pope Plus XII with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal.  To the delight of Bishop McGuinness, Rose Hill arrived at Our Lady’s Cathedral in Oklanome City in Indian Dress and wearing a goreeous Indian Blanket.  Bishop McGuinness greeted her at his throne and with great joy pinned the Medal on the blanket, the people gathered in the Cathedral applauded this fine lady.

The only priest to die while still Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Pawhuska was Father Albert Achtergael who died in May of 1959.  After 34 years of service in the Osage, Father Albert was laid out in his Parish Church, where his Funeral Mass was Celebrated.  After all these years in the Osage Father Albert was buried from the Church he loved so much.

The People of the Parish ever loyal to their Church have made many sacrifices over the years to establish their Parish to keep it in excellent condition spiritually and physically.  With much sacrifice have provided for the education of the children of the Parish.  The building of the present Church is a proof of the peoples commitment to God and to His Church.  The purchasing of the Beautiful Stained Glass windows made the people proud that now with the beautiful church enhanced with an even greater beauty a goal was achieved namely the completion of a project that would give glory to almighty God and could truly be called the CATHEDRAL OF THE OSAGE.

The People who make up the present Family of Faith known as the Immaculate Conception Parish in Pawhuska have certainly inherited the very same spirit as lived in their forebears in the Faith.  Over the past four years a massive refurbishing project was undertaken to prepare the Parish Church for the Celebration of the Centennial of the Parish.  It is to the credit of the Parishioners that all projects undertaken including the re-working of the windows and the replastering and painting of the Church interior have been completed and are totally paid for – with great joy indeed we come to the Jubilee Celebration.