Story and photos by Candace Rojo
Saint Ignatius Mission, located on the Flathead Reservation inside San Ignatius, MT, was founded in 1854 by Fathers DeSmet, Hoecken, and Menestry, who were Jesuit missionaries. The mission was created with the goal of converting local natives to the Christian faith and way of life. The cornerstone of the present day church was laid in 1891.
The old mission was a central location for the town. From 1875 until 1900 it was the center for a printing press, a school for boys, a boarding school for girls, a lumber mill and a flourmill. The old mission flourmill ran from 1864 until 1935 and used local materials such as native rock and lumber from the trees in the surrounding hills.
Two other historical buildings reside on the mission property. One is the house where the missionaries lived, which was built in 1854 and the other is the house built for the Providence Sisters in 1864. There is still a Jesuit community living close by and they share part of the property with the mission.
The mission has architecture typical of the mid-1800s time period. Its bricks were made from local clay, and the lumber was cut in the nearby hills. The windows of the mission are all stained glass.
The mission is an active Catholic church with an involved community. The congregation is made up of believers from different cultures including both Native Americans and Caucasians. Their pastor, Father Andrew L. Maddock and Sister Mary Stauder, head the church and hold a 9:15 a.m. mass on Sundays.
The most unique aspect of the Saint Ignatius Mission is the paintings within it. They were painted by Brother Joseph Carignano, the mission cook and handyman. This Italian Jesuit had no formal training in painting and painted the murals in his sparse free time from his regular duties. 58 unique murals from both the Old and New Testaments line the walls and ceilings of the San Ignatius Mission.
Although the mission is listed on the US National Register of History Places, it does not receive any funding for the preservation and up keep of the mission, or the two history houses on the mission property. It is because of this that the mission asks frequently for donations, and it sells pamphlets and postcards.
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- Saint Ignatius Mission, located in the center of the Flathead Reservation inside San Ignatius, Mont., was founded in 1854 by Fathers DeSmet, Hoecken, and Menestry, who were Jesuit missionaries. The mission was made with the goal of converting local natives to the Christian faith and way of life. The cornerstone of the present day church was laid in 1891.
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- The mission is an active Catholic church with an involved community. The congregation is made up of both Native American and Caucasian believers. Their pastor Father Andrew L. Maddock and Sister Mary Stauder head the church and man the 9:15 a.m. mass on Sundays.
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- The old mission was a central location for the town. From 1875 until 1900 it was the center for a printing press, a school for boys, a boarding school for girls, a lumber mill and a flourmill. The old mission flourmill ran from 1864 until 1935 and used local materials such as native rock and lumber from the trees in the surrounding hills.
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- The Jesuit missionaries, priests, and brothers lived close to this mission. This building, built in 1854 and made of local lumber, was the first home of the missionaries.
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- There were many nuns at the Saint Ignatius Mission who focused on the schooling of the local kids. This house built in 1864, was the first house for the Providence Sisters. It is now a museum for the mission.
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- The mission has architecture typical of the mid-1800s time period. Its bricks were made from local clay, and the lumber to form the skeleton of the mission was cut in the nearby hills. The windows of the mission are all stained glass. The side doors of the mission are no longer in use, leaving only the front door open for access to visitors, and the rear door open for the priest and volunteers.
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- Although the mission is now a Roman Catholic parish headed by the Diocese of Helena, Jesuit missionaries founded it. There is still a Jesuit community surrounding the church living building right next-door.
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- Probably the most unique aspect of the Saint Ignatius Mission is the paintings within it. They were painted by Brother Joseph Carignano, the mission cook and handyman. This Italian Jesuit had no formal training in painting and painted the murals in his sparse free time from his regular duties.
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- According to the Bible, John the Baptist baptized Jesus in a river, making an example for the rest of Jesusâ followers. The top of this baptismal font, inside the Saint Ignatius Mission, is that biblical scene. Catholics baptize their children to wash them of original sin and bring them into the Catholic community.
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- The colors of stained glass windows of the church are barely noticeable from the outside, but provide vivid colors to the pews on the inside of the church.
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- Saint Ignatius Mission Parish holds one mass on Sundays at 9:15 a.m. Every mass starts with the procession of the cross to the front of the church before Father Andrew starts the mass with a prayer.
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- A painting lining one of the banisters in the Saint Ignatius Mission.
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- Once the cross has made it to the front of the church, Father Andrew bows to the altar before beginning mass and welcoming the congregation. “The Lord be with you.” The parishioners at the mission parish are a tightly knit family and welcome their priest with the warm response, “And also with you.”
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- The church is open to visitors between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the winter and 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. during the summer. Mass is held at 7:15 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and at 12:10 p.m. on Thursday.
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- Father Andrew says mass at the Saint Ignatius mission on a crisp October Sunday morning.
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- Although the mission is listed on the US National Register of History Places, it does not receive any funding for the preservation and upkeep of the mission, or the two historical houses on the mission property. It is because of this that the mission asks frequently for donations, and it sells pamphlets and postcards.
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- Though the Saint Ignatius Mission is only used for mass now, it was once the center of the town. Even though it is no longer the center of the city, it is still the center of a religious community. Dozens of cars line the sides of the church each Sunday morning and, though the church has to share their priest with another parish, the community is still tight.