From its humble beginnings as a mission church, St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish has ministered to the faithful for 150 years. Its school, celebrating 75 years, continues to educate students from families now in the third generation.

“This is absolutely vital to our family atmosphere. You are family,” said Dawn Lamb, who teaches seventh and eighth grade at St. Elizabeth Area Catholic School. Her father and his siblings, she and her brothers and now all her children have attended the school. There are even some parishioners who attended St. Elizabeth when the school opened in 1947.

“The love of our school community is strong. Many have attended here and can look back with fond memories,” she said. “Now that I have taught her for 20 years, I can say all the kids I have had are still ‘my kids.’ I love seeing them at Mass and in the community and am thankful that I can still be a small part of their lives now, even adults.”

Principal Gabbie Marguery, who has been at St. Elizabeth for 18 years, said it is a privilege to celebrate the school’s milestone. 

“From the moment I came, I have seen the love of the community for our school and the pride they take in the children’s accomplishments and their ministries at Mass. I know the sacrifices that the community has made to have the school, so it has always been important to me to continue the work of those that came before who had a vision for the school," she said. “This building was built with love and the hard work of parishioners, parents and alumni who laid bricks and built the school from the ground up."

Father Andy LaFramboise, pastor, also recalls the many priests, religious, teachers, catechists and families who have passed on the faith through generations. 

“Celebrating 150 years as a parish is an opportunity for us to thank the Lord for his abundant blessings,” he said. "It is also a call to us to trust in what God is doing in us now and in the future. Jesus is at work in Reese. It is part of his pasture, and he seeks to shepherd us and feed us, and to draw us close to his heart. The people of St. Elizabeth feel blessed to have this anniversary. There is a great sense of hard work and stewardship that has been part of the heritage of St. Elizabeth. People are grateful for this and want this legacy to continue.”