It is time to look forward to the 48th annual St. Mary’s / Holy Cross parish dinner. Come March, you can count on the scents of roast beef, ham, homemade mashed potatoes, rolls and desserts wafting from the Keuterville Hall. This year the tradition continues Sunday, March 29th, 2026 from 11am to 4pm.
Keuterville is a small community with a rich history, tucked away in the foothills of Cottonwood Butte. Holy Cross Chapel was the first Catholic Church on the Camas Prairie. Building began in 1885 and finished in 1886, the first structure measuring 26’ x 36’ and 16’ high.  Having a Catholic parish in the area enticed many Catholic German farmers to immigrate to the area from the Midwest states. That first structure still remains as the oldest section of the current parish hall, according to Pioneer Days in Idaho County: Vol. 1 by historian Sr. Alfreda of St. Gertrude’s Monastery.
Initially the church was a Jesuit mission called “St. Peter’s.” When the bishop at the time blessed the new building, it became “Sacred Heart Church.” In 1897, a second church was built but burned down in May 1911. The same year, the dedicated parishioners built a third building, which is the current church we use today. When it came time to bless the new church, the bishop claimed there were too many Sacred Heart Churches in the diocese, and renamed the church “Holy Cross.”
In 1997 Holy Cross parish combined with St. Mary’s parish of Cottonwood, in order to share the same priest. Today, the beautiful historic building is considered a chapel and is used for weddings, funerals, and special occasions throughout the warmer parts of the year. Fr. Paul Wander has blessed the Tri-parishes in recent years by offering an extra 7:00 Sunday evening Mass throughout the summer, starting Memorial Day and running through Labor Day. One hundred fifteen years later, Keuterville residents and other faithful from across the Prairie enjoy using the old church. They appreciate the beauty of the antique altars which were made in Germany and shipped to Idaho. Sitting in the creaking pews, looking at and smelling the aged walls, transports a person back to a more ornate era of quality craftsmanship and reverent devotion.
March 29th, celebrate the coming of spring and take a Sunday drive to Keuterville. Enjoy the beautiful scenic view of the Seven Devils, meet up with friends, play Bingo, win a raffle prize, and enjoy a homemade dinner. Your support will help maintain this historical, charming, and nostalgic structure. Keuterville is one of the hidden treasures in the rich history of Idaho County, don’t miss out! 
Sunday, March 29th  11am-4pm