A coincidence can sometimes tie a nice bow around a neatly wrapped present.

One hundred years ago on Sept. 29, 1907, Bishop John J. Hennessy of Wichita dedicated St. Raphael Church in Syracuse. At that time, Sept. 29 was the feast of St. Michael the Archangel. With the changes in the liturgical calendar after the Second Vatican Council, the feasts of St. Raphael and St. Gabriel were moved to Sept. 29 to join St. Michael, creating one feast day for the archangels. It was then a happy coincidence that Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore 100 years later to the day celebrated the centennial Mass of the St. Raphael Parish on the saint’s feast day. He was joined by Father Michael Helms, pastor, and Father Gilbert Herrmann, a former pastor.

Bishop Gilmore spoke about St. Raphael’s role in the Old Testament story found in the Book of Tobit.

"Raphael plays a starring role. His name means ‘God Heals.’ And in the course of the story, he heals Sarah and Tobias. But it is his work with Tobias that fixed him in our memories. He aids Tobias a guide, servant, mentor and matchmaker.

"The story of Raphael is the story of a journey.... You can’t read that story without putting yourselves in Tobias’ place. You too are travelers. You too are pilgrims. This special day is the story of your hundred year journey. It is the story of those missionary priests, Fathers (Felix) Swembergh and (John) Begley. It is the story of the two towns (Coolidge and Syracuse) and the railroad. It is the story of Father (Joseph) Bogner and the first church in 1907, named by Maryland donors. It is the story of the coming of the Precious Blood Fathers in 1927. It is the story of the expansion of the church in 1943. And it is the story of this present church in 1963.

"Look back..., but also look around you today, look at what is happening now 44 years after the dedication of this church. You have lived through the Second Vatican Council and its aftermath. You have lived through the unpredictable farm economy, struggling with weather and with markets. You have lived through all this in patience and in hope, clinging to the faith. I commend you for it today.

"And I invite you to accept this challenge of this hundred anniversary day. I think you are called, each of you, to be a new Raphael for this new century. You are called to walk with others on a journey of faith, as Raphael did for Tobias. You are called to show compassion for the elderly Tobiases of our time. You are called to show compassion for the Sarahs of our time, and their spouses, for all our struggling families. You are called, like Raphael, ‘to heal.’ Heal the poor in your midst. Be like Raphael. Heal."

More than 350 people attended the Mass and the barbecue supper following. Former parishioners and friends traveled from Texas and Arizona; the Colorado cities/towns of Denver, La Junta and Las Animas; and the Kansas cities/towns of Shawnee Mission, Overland Park, Wichita, Cunningham, Ellinwood, Spearville, Dodge City, Hays, Garden City, Lakin, Ulysses and Liberal. Knights of Columbus 4th Degee provided the honor guard for the processional and recessional at the Mass.