From a temporary tarpapered chapel to a beautiful parish lavished with stained glass windows……..

This is the story of St. John’s Parish, Borger, Texas in the 74 years from 1926 to 2000. In the early days of Borger, Mass was offered at Nell’s Boarding House, Gray’s Boarding House, the Francis Dunnigan home of the American Theatre. Father John H. Krukkert traveled thirty-five miles to offer Masses. The first baptism was on March18, 1927 and the first wedding on April 18, 1927. In spite of the unpleasant early history and predictions that the town would die at the end of its boom, Borger survived. Bishop Rudolph A. Gerken, the first Bishop of the Amarillo Diocese, visited and told the people they must have a church. Father Edward Clinton took charge in November 1927, and built an oblong frame building at the corner of Hedgecoke and Adams streets. Bishop Gerken dedicated the church of St. John the Evangelist on November 4, 1928. Father Clinton served until 1930, then Father Elmer McFaden (1930-31); Father John Steinlage (1931-32); Father Wilfred Bosen (1932-33); and Father Gabriel Diamante (1933-34). On July 12, 1934, Father Andrew Quarte was named resident pastor. In 1934, a “bunkhouse” was purchased and remodeled into a rectory and parish hall.   

On December 9, 1938 Father James Daly was appointed pastor. He was succeeded by Father Walter R. Washila (1939-40) with Father Rupert Schindler as assistant, March 1941– January 1942. From 1942-46, Father Charles Knapp was pastor. Father Matthew Schafle became pastor September 1946 and served fourteen years. In September 1948, the church was extended twenty-four feet. On July 30, 1949, the old Presbyterian Church was purchased with the expectation that a parochial school might become a reality. Twenty acres of land, west of Borger, was purchased in 1953. A school, convent, and rectory were constructed first and the auditorium would be used as a church. The School Sisters of St. Francis of Sancta Maria Convent in Panhandle agreed to serve as teachers. Ground was broken February 13, 1955, and the first mass was held Christmas 1955. In April 1956 official dedication services were held. The school was opened 1956 and the Hedgecoke property was sold. In 1956, the convent was enlarged.
 
September 10, 1960, Father B.A. Erpen became pastor. Ground was broken for a new church April 27, 1961. The church on its hilltop location, features a triangular “Trinity” tower, extending 50 feet into the air, topped with a 17 foot stainless steel cross. A 28-foot cross, fashioned of strong 6X16 timbers, and surmounts the facade of the building. Later the statues of the Four Evangelists, and a statue of St. John were added. The new St. John’s parish was dedicated in February of 1962. In 1963 under the direction of Father B.A. Erpen the Catholic people of Stinnett, Texas, built St. Ann’s Church, located on a donated five-acre plot of land West of the High School on Highway 152. The architectural style is unusual featuring a baptistery, set apart from the main sanctuary. The church is presently a Mission Church of Borger. On April 10, 1964, St. John’s received 14 hand carved Stations of the Cross. Father Erpen served until August 1970, when Father Sonderman was appointed. Then Father Richard Neyer became pastor and served from (1974-86). Around 1982-84 with a lot of love and hard work the main cross, altar, side altar, lecturn, baptismal font, sanctuary table, and the main pulpit were built of oak from Southwest Missouri. The wood was finished with tung oil, and new carpeting was added in the Sanctuary. In the summer of 1984 new lighting was added in the church. Father Neyer felt there was never enough light.

On July 1, 1986, Bishop Leroy Matthiesen appointed Monsignor Norbert Kuehler to start serving as pastor of St. John’s church. Father Kuehler started preparing the parish for an expansion and remodeling project on the church to add a chapel and the Franciscan Room.

Besides being busy with remodeling the rectory, he played a big part in getting the parish family more involved in the Mass. Father Kuehler asserted that his purpose here is to accent the spiritual life and Christian formation of his parishioners. He encouraged members of the church to participate more as Lectors and Commentators. He initiated and trained members to be Eucharistic Ministers and also encouraged members to participate in community activities and take part in political affairs. He also worked and encouraged the Spanish Ministries with the help of, then a seminarian, Mr. Arturo Meza. After Mass on Easter Sunday, March 27, 1989, everything was moved out of the church and into the Parish Hall to make ready for the new construction to update, improve and beautify the church building.

New additions to the church included enlarging the gift shop and the Narthex, the space we pass through – leaving behind the secular world and entering into the sacred space of worship, with a statue of St. John our Patron Saint, 2 beautiful stained glass windows help make the transition into entering the House of the Lord. On the Left the Daisy symbolizes innocence and purity, the Fish a Christian Community, the Cross of Salvation in Christ, candles and flame a symbol of prayer with smoke rising toward God, the Chalice symbolizes the Eucharist, the Rays a symbol of Benediction from God. The right window in the gift shop consists of seven hanging lamps symbolizing the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Strength, Knowledge, Godliness, Holy Fear, (sometimes cited as Power, Riches, Wisdom, Strength, Honor, Glory and Blessing). Also in the plans adding a Nursery, Classrooms for Sunday School Classes and Adult/R.C.I.A Classes, the Franciscan Room, and classrooms on the second floor.

A beautiful Chapel in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe called Marian Chapel was added with a Mural of Our Lady of Guadalupe and a stained glass Mother of God Window. The theme: Insets showing the Nativity and death of Christ. The Nativity is framed by a golden halo (or sun) with radiating beams. The symbol of the Fleur de Lys (represent Purity) forms the background pattern. The Dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit, and Wine Casks recalling the miracle at Cana. To the right is a statue of St. Joseph. The stained glass window above the exterior entrance of the Chapel represents the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Etched glass windows were installed between the chapel and the sanctuary.

A Reconciliation Chapel was built with a stained glass window of a Dove with laurel branch (symbol of Peace and Reconciliation) rising above the symbols of a rainbow and the Ark (the Lord’s Covenant of Forgiveness) and over bottom panels symbolizing transgression, the snake and snail, temptation and laziness. Calmer waters emerge above symbols of storm-tossed waves, bulrushes, symbols of Salvation reach upward.

The Risen Christ, formerly on a cross on the front of the church is now placed in the center of the sculptured pylon at the front of the church. The statues of the four Evangelists from the front of the church were refinished and now are next to the Evangelist stained glass windows inside the Nave. The original Stations of the Cross were also refinished and are on the North Wall. Everything past the north wall of the original church was new. A Projection and Sound Room were added and a stained glass Rose Window the Central Panel of Christ our Redeemer surrounded by 12 panels of vines and birds, symbolizing the faithful feeding on the grapes, the blood of Christ, was built above the choir loft. The four Evangelists stained glass windows in the Nave represent the Four Winged Creatures, Symbols of the Evangelists.

St. Matthew: represented by winged MAN because his gospel traces Jesus’ human genealogy. Within Lunette – the Holy Family. The Bottom Panel – The Jesse Tree (Jesse father of David) the genealogy.

Matthew. St. Mark: represented by winged LION because his gospel begins with “The voice of one crying in the wilderness,” and this suggests the roar of a lion. Within Lunette – The Baptism of Christ. Bottom Panel – The Holy Spirit, and the waters of Baptism. 

Mark. St. Luke: represented by winged OX because the ox is considered the animal of sacrifice, and Luke’s gospel stresses the atoning Sacrifice of Jesus. Within Lunette – Christ condemned and scourged, symbols of cross and capital letters INRI, Latin inscription on the cross. (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews). Bottom Panel - The “wounded lamb” reclining on the Book of the Seven Seals.

Luke. St. John: represented by winged EAGLE because the high-soaring Eagle symbolizes how John’s gospel rises to the loftiest heights in dealing with the mind of Christ. Within Lunette – The Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven. Bottom Panel – The Olive Branch, since olive trees provide shelter and opportunity for rest, and the olive oil is used for ointments, the olive branch is the symbol for peace, harmony and healing..

The Architect and Liturgical artists were from New Mexico and the Contractor was from Amarillo. Construction was completed and the parishioners moved back into the new and improved church building. The first Mass was held on the first Sunday of Advent in 1989. The Blessing of the remodeled church was on Sunday, May 13, 1990 by Bishop Leroy Matthiesen. On July 24,1993 four Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate from St. Francis Convent, Amarillo, came to St. John’s Convent to live and teach at St. John’s School. The final payment on the cost of refurbishing was made, and a ceremony to celebrate the mortgage burning was held, on Msgr. Kuehler’s 40th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood on May 17th, 1995.