Can't leave out St. Mary's Catholic Church

• I’ve been thinking for the past couple of weeks about the balcony at St. Marys Catholic Church in Reliance where us Stallman girls (Frances, Mary Ann, Maxine and myself) preferred to get our religion. We would do our darnedest to be as silly and sneaky as we could be without getting caught and still exude our angelic innocence. Sure enough, before the morning was over the good Father would look up at us in total frustration and, licking his lips and shaking his finger at us, he’d order, "You Stallman girls come down here," as he pointed at the pews. Oh well, better luck next week.
• One other memory of St. Mary's is the priest who stood before us warning of the dangers we might encounter if we let "them" (Jehovah Witnesses) in. We were told to "sweep them off your porches". I had no idea who these people were or what the deal was, but I do remember the message. No wonder I have  questions about "Good Christians". Having been born and raised Catholic I still have many Catholic ways. I remember getting the dickens scared out of me during a Midnight Mass when Frances and I went to Moab, Utah to be with our mother. This priest stood behind the pulpit and banged his fists to get his thoughts of hellfire and damnation through to us. He made a believe out of this 13 year old girl. I NEVER went back into that church. By the time I
  returned the Baptist church in Chamberlain with the Speck family, then on to the Calvary Baptist Church in Farmington, NM.

• ---

  TOP