1885-2012
Before the founding of St. Columba Parish in 1885, Mass was celebrated in the private homes in the Elmo are as early as 1872 and also in the Dublin Schoolhouse. Fr. Francis Hayden of Solomon, Kansas, initilly cared for the souls of the Irish and German immigrants who lived in the area. After the construction of the church in 1885 or 1886, Fr. O'Leary of Solomon continued pastoral care until 1893 with weekly or at least bi-monthly Mass. In that year, the missions of Hope, Elmo and Herington were attended by Fr. John McNamara from Abilene until 1898 when Fr. Thomas O'Reilly was appointed to Abilene. He initiated construction of the rectory at Elmo in 1899 where he became the first resident pastor, caring from there for Hope and Herington.
The earliest Catholic families in the area were the Richard Cosgrove, Phillip Shumaker, John McCollan, John Armstrong, Tim Aberton, Tommy O'Day, Joseph Whitehair and John M. Baier families. Later in the decade of the 1870's came the McCormack, Duncan, Hughes, Bonfield, Feeney, Finn, Donnelly, Duddy, O'Shea, Van Sickel and Vincent P. Lorson families.
In 1951 under the leadership of Fr. Richard Kerr, a new church building was proposed. Construction began in 1953, using much of the material from the old church building. It was completed in 1954 with the first Mass being offered on October 10 of that year. The Dedication Mass was celebrated on October 27 with Fr. Hentry Spoorenberg from Herington representing Bishop Frank A. Thill.
During the pastorship of Fr. Vincent LeMoine, 1955-1960, the Shrine of Our Lady of the Farmlands with its bell tower housing the bell from the original church was completed. The bell tower has received repairs over the years to maintain her originality.
In 1967, St. Columba Parish bcame a mission of St. Phillip Parish in Hope where the pastor resided. On August 12, 1984, Hope also became a mission parish being served along with St. Columba by the pastor of Herington, Fr. Richard Lutgen. Under his pastorate, a Centennial Mass was celebrated on September 22, 1985, with Bishop George Fitzsimmons presiding.
Fr. William Fitzgerald still holds the record for the longest assignment at St. Columba's: 1931-1951. Fr. Donal Pfannenstiel served us from 1986-1998, Fr. Randy Weber served for a year, 1998-1999, and Fr. Mark Wesely started to serve us in 1999 and continues currently.
The traditional Annual Soup Supper (resumed in 1982), which is now an Annual Soup Luncheon, is the Altar Society's major fund raiser and continues to be held each year near the feast of St. Patrick. It offers good fellowship for old and new friends.
Repairs and improvements continue to be made on the inside and outside of the current church. A new organ is now located in the balcony. The kitchen floor has been tiled and the remaining floors have been carpeted. The back entry and the basement have been repainted. There are new curtains at the basement windows. Angel statues have been added above the altar at eh fron of the church. New landscaping and grass reseeding is the continuing project. New fencing has been installed at the Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery.
St. Columba has 24 registered families. We continue to remember our deceased parish memebers that are now with our Heavenly Father.