Catholic church gets name

The new Catholic church being constructed just north of Bigfork on Highway 35 now has a name. During confirmation ceremonies in Bigfork on Saturday evening, Bishop George L. Thomas announced his approval of the name Pope John Paul II Church. He added that this is, to his knowledge, the first new church to be named for the beloved Pope who died just one month ago.

To meet the needs of a rapidly growing Roman Catholic community near Flathead Lake, the new church will become the spiritual home for parishioners of St. Catherine in Bigfork and St. Ann in Somers.

Construction is scheduled for completion in late June or early July, a little more than one year from the May 2004 groundbreaking.

According to Monsignor Donald Shea of St. Catherine and St. Ann, all parishioners were asked to suggest names for their new church. The top three names submitted were given to Bishop Thomas for final approval, but "By far, the vote was in favor of naming our church after Pope John Paul II," he said.