Century of St. Mary in Kingman
Kingman parish celebrates 100-year anniversary

By Barbara Starbeck, The Catholic Sun
December 7, 2006

KINGMAN — One hundred years ago, Catholics in the area would stop in their tracks when they saw riders on horses or a wagon coming.

“Maybe there’s a priest with them,” was their whispered hope.

Things have changed.

Nearly 15 families formed the original St. Mary Parish community in 1906, but now they number more than 1,500.

Parishioners gathered to “honor their past and believe in their future” at a centennial celebration Oct. 29. The event’s participants — from traditional Mexican and Filipino dancers to the Knights of Columbus — epitomized the parish’s diversity.

“Jesus, the gift of God, is present to all of us,” said Fr. James Alling, the parish’s pastor. “There were struggles, life, death, and yet this community is the promise of Christ and the story of Jesus is told over and over.”

Catholic missionaries evangelized in the Kingman area prior to 1890. In 1901, Fr. Cypriano Vabre informed Church leadership of the need for a place of worship in the area.

Five years later, on Sept. 22, 1906, Fr. Vabre led the community in laying the cornerstone. Local artisans built the church — measuring 25 by 50 feet — out of volcanic tufa stone, which came from a nearby quarry.

In 1914, Fr. Edward Albouy became the parish’s first resident pastor, overseeing the construction of the rectory. From there, priests ministered to the many surrounding missions.

Religious orders have also left a lasting mark on the Kingman parish, the third oldest church in the Phoenix Diocese.

The Dominican Order Sisters of Adrian, Mich., began teaching the Hispanic, Indian, German and Irish students at St. Mary’s School in 1944. The Franciscan Bishop Bernard T. Espelage of Gallup, N.M. — whose diocese St. Mary’s belonged to at the time — dedicated the school.

Franciscan sisters took over the teaching in 1970, when the Dominicans left. Sisters from the Congregation of the Precious Blood taught at St. Mary’s from 1981 to 1985.

The religious sisters inspired many to holy life.

In 1980, Fr. William Stauble was ordained to the priesthood at 65. This marked the first ordination in the Mohave region, which encompasses northwestern Arizona.

The parish renovated the original St. Mary’s Church this past October and Fr. Alling dedicated the perpetual adoration chapel that month as well.

“Life never stops and God’s promise never stops,” Fr. Alling said, noting the diversity of cultures parish ministries serve.

“The reason for all of us here to work is to pass our values on to the next generation so that there can be another 100-year celebration,” said parishioner Karen Stephen, one of the celebration’s chairpersons. “Everyone has helped.”