Saint Agnes Catholic Church

214 East Liberty Street

– Father Jairno Restrepo
– Father Nondier Zuleta

The first record of Catholics in Weiser was in 1875 with a Fr. Alex Archambault, who traveled the area from Idaho City to the Boise, Payette, and Weiser areas. St. Agnes was the second parish formed out of the original St. John’s Cathedral Parish in Boise. At that time there was no Catholic church building in Weiser.

By 1900, the first Catholic church was a frame structure built on the East Second Street between Court and Main. After using it for some time, it was sold first to the LDS Church in 1913 and then to the American Legion; it is also used now by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Weiser Little Theatre. 

In 1907, funds were raised and three lots were purchased for $1,000. A new church was completed in 1911; the stones for the foundation were fashioned from local gravel and the bricks were made at the local brick factory; Petra Harris’ father, Mr. William Reader, laid the bricks. Petra was a well-known, long-time member of St. Agnes. The Church was designed by H.W. Bond of Weiser and build by partners Lynch & Watkins, and is built in the shape of a  cross. The pastor at this time was the Rev. L.C. Godschalx. 

The present church was extensively remodeled under the direction of Fr. Joseph Muha, who added the “cry room” potential to the vestibule and made the reconciliation chapel (confessional) and “remodeled” the sanctuary area. It was re-consecrated in 1984 by the Most Rev. Sylvester Treinen. The small crosses on the each of the north, south, east and west sides of the church denote this reconsecration.

In the late 1980’s Fr. Mel Sprite completed the basement room to include a gathering space, a kitchen, and two bathrooms. The enclosed stairway to the basement and a ramp to the church side door were added, as well as the front stoup of the church entrance. 

During 1993, Fr. Xavier Aresseril completed the repair and reinforcement of the stained glass windows at an expense of $19,000, installing plexiglass on the outside to protect them from weather and vandalism. Air conditioning was also installed in the church at this time.

The five front stained glass windows in the apse of the sanctuary depict Christ at the Last Supper (center) and the four Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (who does not have a beard). Most of the stained glass windows are inscribed with the name/names of those who make a donation large enough to have paid for the windows. It is not known where any of the stained glass windows were made.
Facing the altar  and looking to the east, the large transept window contains (in the center) the Paschal Lamb seated on a wood, representing Christ (the lamb), who is the fulfillment of the scriptures (a prominent scene from the Book of the Apocalypse). On the banner, held by the lamb is “Ecce Agnus Dei” (behold the Lamb of God). This  window is in memory of Mr. & Mrs. H.C. Godschalx, parents of the pastor-builder of the church.

On the next window is written, “Faith, Hope, and Charity,” the threee great theological vitorees, followed by a window with a Rosary on it, and a window with the letters “AM,” standing for “Ave Maria” (Hail Mary), with lilies symbolizing the Blessed Virgin Mary. The last window on the right in back has the letters “INRI” on the cross with the thorns and nails. Those letters are abbreviations for the Latin words, “Iesus Nazarenum, Rex Iudaeorum” (Jesus the Nazarean, the King of the Jews), part of the inscription placed on the Cross by Pontius Pilate. This window causes us to reflect on Christ’s suffering and death, which he willingly underwent in reparation for our sins. 

On the left front (west) is a large transept window. The heart with a sword through it symbolizes the Immaculate Heart of Mary and her sorrow at the suffering of her Son, Jesus; it also brings to mind the passage of Scripture when Simeon says to Mary, “A sword will pierce your own heart, too.” The middle symbol denotes the Eucharist (chalice, wheat, grapes). This window was donated by the Altar Society of 1912.

The next small window contains again the symbol of the Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Grapes, wheat, and a chalice in the next window remind us of Jesus’ becoming fully present, Body, Blood, Soul, & Divinity in the gifts of Bread and Wine that are offered at Holy Mass. The dove in the next window is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, radiating His graces down upon the world. the last window on the left-rear has the symbol of the Papal Crown, symbolizing the Pope’s Leadership of the Catholic Church. The double-beamed cross is a symbol of the Pope’s Residence in Rome and the keys are symbolize the entrusting of St. Peter with the keys of the kingdom.

On the west side of the sanctuary is the large statue of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, symbolizing Christ’s burning love for the Father and all men. Further on the left is the statue of St. Joseph, which was a gift from a former pastor, Fr. Joseph Muha. The bronze tabernacle on the let side of the altar is a gift to St. Agnes from St. John’s Cathedral in Boise. Near the tabernacle is a red vigil light (called the Sanctuary Lamp), which is kept burning at all times in order to show that Jesus is present in the tabernacle in the Holy Eucharist.  

The sanctuary and vestibule of the Church was remodeled in 1984 by Boise architect Charles Hummel and Fr. Joseph Muha. John Studebaker of Boise built the main altar, the lectern, and the matching side altar/shelves. The baptismal font was installed in 1999. 

The confesional in the back of the church, used to be the baptistry, as it has a stained-glass window depicting a baptism. On the wall in the confessional is the 7th Station of the Cross, depicting Jesus’ Second Fall on the Via Crucis. It is the only remaining station of the original Stations of the Cross. 

The round window in the balcony was patterned after the Rose Window in the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Rheims, France. The church bell is housed in the bell tower, but its origin is not known. 

(History has been compiled by Deacon Francis Wander)

From Catholic Weiser