Holy Apostles Catholic Church Timeline
1920 Eagle — St. Mary's Catholic Mission began with purchase by Bishop Gorman of
a house on East Second Street in Eagle, administered from Caldwell.
1927 Eagle — St. Mary’s Mission transferred to become subsidiary to Cathedral of St.
John the Evangelist in Boise.
1930 Eagle — Bishop Edward Kelly transferred Eagle to be dependent of Emmett
parish tended by Father J. J. Creegan.
1937 Eagle — Construction approved by Bishop Kelly for church building on west
side of Eagle Road with a seating capacity of 108; St. Mary’s Mission to be
tended by Chaplain of St. Alphonsus Hospital.
1937 Eagle — Boise's second Catholic parish opened by Bishop Kelly with
construction of St. Mary’s Catholic Church located at State and 26th Streets in
Boise.
1941 Meridian — Catholics in Meridian petitioned Bishop Kelly to create a local
parish, Mass provided by Father J. J. Creegan from St. Mary’s in Eagle.
1944 Meridian — Community of 32 registered families transferred to St. John’s
Cathedral on December 27. Mass celebrated in American Legion Hall.
1946 Meridian — Mother Frances X. Cabrini canonized on July 7 and new church
building opened on First Street in Meridian, Fr. Schmidt presided at first Mass.
1946 Meridian — Bishop Edward Kelly and Father Nicholas Hughes dedicated St.
Frances Xavier Cabrini Catholic Mission on December 8.
1963 Meridian — Twenty acres purchased on north side of Cherry Lane on July 19.
1963 Meridian — Father Francis McGlinchey, first resident priest until 1970.
1966 Meridian — Parish of Meridian formally established, no longer a mission,
November 13.
1970 Meridian — Father Thomas Halpin as pastor oversaw construction of church
buildings.
1971 Eagle — Catholic Community of Eagle purchased 10 acres on East First Street.
Land was subdivided into ten home lots plus 3 acres, St. Mary's Mission
building relocated to cul-de-sac.
1971 Eagle — St. Mary’s Mission (Eagle) renamed to St. Matthew's Parish to avoid
confusion with St. Mary's of Boise, under Fr. Wemhoff, first pastor.
1973 — Construction of church and classrooms completed in December.
1974 — Dedication with name change from St. Frances Xavier Cabrini to Holy Spirit
Catholic Church on January 29.
1974 Eagle — Father Roger LaChance assigned to St. Matthew’s.
1975 Eagle — Father Ed Cope exchanged with Fr. LaChance who moved to
Lewiston.
1976 Meridian — Construction of hall/gym, kitchen and additional classrooms.
1979 Eagle — Fr. Dohman became pastor in Eagle parish which had grown to 130
families. Fr. James Gelson, SJ, named pastor of St. Matthew’s when Fr.
Dohman retired.
1982 Meridian — Father Halpin retired in January; Fr. Douglas Riffle appointed
pastor.
1987 Eagle — Fr. Dennis Day became pastor.
1993 Eagle — New facility constructed in Eagle. Original St. Matthew’s building sold
to New Heights Baptist Church.
1994 Eagle — First Mass celebrated in new St. Matthew's church.
1994 Eagle — St. Matthew's Council #11318 of Knights of Columbus Chartered April
6th.
1994 Meridian — Father Riffle retired in June.
1994 Meridian — Father Timothy Ritchey appointed pastor beginning in July.
1995 Meridian — Holy Spirit Council #11548 of Knights of Columbus Chartered on
April 24.
1996 Eagle — First Evangelization Retreat at St. Matthew's parish in April.
1996 Eagle — Fr. Dennis Day transferred to Sandpoint, ID in June.
1996 Eagle — Fr. Mark Finley, Pastor July 1996 to June 1997.
1997 Eagle — Fr. Timothy Ritchey assigned to St. Matthew’s in July.
1997 Meridian — First Evangelization Retreat at Holy Spirit parish in November.
1998 Eagle — St. Matthew’s parish renamed in July to Holy Apostles North.
1998 Meridian — Holy Spirit became Holy Apostles South under Father Ritchey in
July.
1998 Meridian — Fr. Ritchey letter of appeal on November 1 to raise $3 Million.
2000 Holy Apostles — January 29, Ground Breaking for Holy Apostles Catholic
Church, Bishop Michael Driscoll officiating with Father Tim Ritchey.
2000 Holy Apostles — Cow Chip Bingo fundraiser on September 30.
2000 Holy Apostles — October construction underway.
2001 Holy Apostles — Merger of Holy Apostles North and Holy Apostles South
completed.
2001 Holy Apostles — First Mass at Easter Vigil on April 14.
2001 Holy Apostles — Holy Apostles Catholic Church dedicated by Bishop Michael P.
Driscoll on June 6th.
2001 Holy Apostles — Parish Photo Directory merged.
2006 Holy Apostles — Newly ordained Father Ben Uhlenkott joined Pastoral Council.
2006 Holy Apostles — June, stand-alone Adoration Chapel approved.
2007 Eagle — Original St. Matthew’s building renovated and relocated to become
City of Eagle Museum of History and Preservation.
2007 Holy Apostles — April, construction of stand-alone Adoration Chapel began.
2007 Holy Apostles — Fr. Tim Ritchey reassigned to Post Falls, Idaho in June.
2007 Holy Apostles — Fr. Len MacMillan became pastor at Holy Apostles in July.
2008 Holy Apostles — Dedication of Eucharistic Adoration Chapel at Holy Apostles
on May 19, only such Chapel West of Mississippi River.
