A sure sign of spring is the annual St. Mary’s/Holy Cross annual parish dinner and prize drawing! This is the 47th year and it is set for Sunday, March 16th, taking place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Keuterville Hall. What better way to celebrate warmer days than to enjoy a delicious dinner with good friends?!
Roast beef, ham, and real mashed potatoes and gravy top the menu with green beans, fruit, coleslaw, and delicious homemade rolls and desserts rounding out the meal. Bingo will be played all day on the stage. You can buy a raffle ticket from any St. Mary’s parishioner and need not be present for the drawing at 4 p.m.
In 1997 Holy Cross became a chapel. It is now taken care of by the priest for the Tri-parish of St. Mary’s, Cottonwood, St. Anthony’s, Greencreek and Assumption, Ferdinand. Parishioners have been attending Mass in Keuterville since 1886. Today, the beautiful historic building is used for weddings, funerals, and special occasions throughout the warmer parts of the year. Fr. Paul Wander has blessed us with Sunday evening Mass at 7:00 throughout recent summers; starting Memorial Day and running through Labor Day. Keuterville residents and other parishioners from across the Camas Prairie enjoy sitting in the old church with the open original windows letting the sounds of summer evenings filter in.
Many of the original families settling Keuterville were German families who still had relatives back in their homeland. Because of this, no other parish church in the area has the ornate, antique altars which were made in Germany and shipped to Idaho. Sitting in the two different sizes of pews gives you a sense of connecting to the past, when previous generations valued quality craftsmanship. 
Many residents remember as recent as the early to mid 1980s, the tradition of school aged children sitting up front in the little pews on the sides of the church. Boys sat on the right side so they could see Fr. Ryan step out of the sacristy. He would hold up two or three fingers for the number of servers he needed for that Mass, and the same number of boys would hop up and answer his call. Girls would sit on the left side, while parents sat in the middle pews and behind the children.
Since Holy Cross is now a chapel, this annual fundraiser helps fund the maintenance of this treasured piece of history. With spring making its way to our prairie, get out of the house Sunday, March 16th and take a drive to Keuterville.  The scenery of the Seven Devils in the distance and the surrounding fields is fantastic.
The food is homemade, and the friendly conversations can’t be beat. Hope to see you there!
Sunday, March 16th  11am-4pm  Adults $14.00  Grades K-6 $6.00 
Preschool and younger Free