MARATHON CITY, WI (WSAU) — A local spirituality center is celebrating it’s 100th anniversary this weekend.
St. Anthony’s Spirituality Center in Marathon City has been open for 100 years as of 2019 and will spend the weekend celebrating that milestone. The center founded in 1919 by the Province of St. Joseph has served as a house of studies and a spiritual center.
But as Barb Ceranski, a member of the centennial committee explains, the center almost didn’t make it to 100 years as it was set to be closed in 2013.
“And that’s when a group got together and decided that it can’t close. So we formed a non-profit organization with a lot of help from a lot of volunteers and a lot of wonderful people in the area. We formed a corporation and it continued as St. Anthonys Spirituality Center.”
The centennial celebration has been in the works for the past three years and Ceranski describes a variety of the events happening this weekend. “We have a big archive display. We also have a silent auction going on the entire weekend.
“At 9:30 on Saturday there’s an interactive walk lecture of the facility. And then we have a Superior Diocesan choir performance. And we have a supper on Saturday and a firepit party after.
“On Sunday we’re having a ribbon-cutting at 1 o’clock. And at 2:30 we’re having a blessing of an elevator that we put into the building. Then we have our big Centennial mass under a tent at 3 o’clock. Followed by a big celebration and a meal at 5:30. And at 6 we’ll have the silent auction results.”
When looking back on 100 years, Ceranski says the thing that stands out the most is how many people the spiritual center has helped. “It’s almost like wonderfully overwhelming in a positive way.
“I think when you walk the halls of the retreat center and know that for the last 100 years the capuchins and all the people who have come through there have made a difference in the community. And made a difference in people’s lives. And made a difference for those who come walking through our doors.”
The Centennial Celebration weekend begins at 9:30 am on Saturday, August 17th and lasts until 6 pm on Sunday, August 18th. St. Anthony’s is located at 300 East 4th St. in Marathon City. You can find more information about the center on their website, www.sarcenter.com.
