St. Philip’s Catholic Church

St. Philip’s Catholic Parish Prospers” and “A Complete Parish Organization Develops in Thirty-Five
Years” These headlines are taken from a news story in The Hankinson News of July 12, 1928.
The opening paragraph states: “Looking backward thirty-five years, we can scarcely comprehend what
can be accomplished with patience and good will. In our community we have before us the verification of
the old adage, “From the small acorn grows the mighty oak”.
In the year 1880 the first settlers from Kansas and Wisconsin arrived in this area.  The Catholics attended
St. John’s Church in Wahpeton although priests from Wahpeton celebrated Mass and the other
Sacraments at the homes of a few parishioners. In 1881, a “station” church was built on twenty acres of
land which was donated by two families. The cost of the church was $300. Father George Hepperle,
coming from Wahpeton, took care of the souls in the St. Joseph’s Station of Hankinson which had
approximately 50 parishioners, mostly of German ancestry, worshiped at the new St. Joseph Station, as it
was named.
In 1891, when Father Philip Albrecht became pastor while living in Wahpeton; he and the parishioners
decided to build a mission church in the village of Hankinson. Three lots, south of the Soo Line tracks,
were purchased and a building was erected in 1892 at a cost of $3000. This church was also given the
title of St. Joseph. Father Albrecht remained pastor until 1894 when Father Thomas Rabsteinek came for
one year, followed by Father Joseph Studnicka who was appointed pastor in 1895. Father Studnicka lived
in Wahpeton until 1902 when he took up residence in Hankinson.
Seeing the growth that was to come, the parish, under the guidance of Father Studnicka, purchased more
land in 1901.  This property is where the church now stands.  The parish house was erected first at a cost
of about $6000 and many sacrifices were made for this grand house to be constructed.
In the spring of 1907 the land for the new St. Philip’s Cemetery, later to be called   Calvary Cemetery, was
purchased and the bodies which were interred at St. Joseph’s Mission cemetery were moved to the new
site. The cemetery site used for the St. Joseph Station remains at the original burial ground although the
tombstones are removed and an appropriate memorial is now erected there.  Father Studnicka, Father
Bierens and Father Koehler are buried in Calvary Cemetery and Msgr. Huebsch has a plot there also.
The decision to start the actual building of what was to become the present church, the church of St. Philip,
came in June of 1907. Ground was broken that fall and Bishop John Shanley blessed the Cornerstone in
1908. The Gothic architectural church, which was a seating capacity of 700 but can accommodate up to
1,000, was completed in 1910. Bishop James O’Reilley performed his first Pontifical ceremony in the
diocese by dedicating the church on June 8, 1910. It was fortunate that St, Philip’s was completed as the
St. Joseph’s Mission was destroyed by fire in June of 1912.  The original cost of St. Philip’s Church was
$65,959.83.   
The Ford Brothers Glass Company and Studio of Minneapolis were commissioned to produce 36 stained
glass windows for the new church.  Three bells, cast by the Menelly Company of Troy, New York, were
installed in the east tower of St. Philip’s in 1909 and blessed with the names, Mary (Ab), Joseph (C), and
“Poor Souls” (Bb).  These bells are still rung to this day.
The Father Studnicka continued to serve as pastor until 1942. During his pastorate and mainly due to his
influence and invitation, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Heart of Mary chose to open a
Motherhouse in Hankinson in 1927, building a Convent and school in town.
With the death of Father Studnicka in 1942, Msgr. Gerard Bierens arrived as the new pastor. During
Msgr. Bierens’ pastorate, in 1943, St. Philip’s Church was renovated with the work being done by St. Paul
Statuary Company. In 1950, the beautiful pipe organ, contracted for by the Wichs Organ Company of
Highland, Illinois, was installed at a cost of $5,675.
Msgr. Bierens’ dream was to have a hospital in Hankinson and his dream became a reality as St. Gerard
Community Hospital was built and opened in 1953. Msgr. Bierens announced his retirement in 1959 and
Father Lambert Studzinski was appointed pastor. The church was again renovated by the same company
in 1967 during Father Studzinski’s pastorate, bringing the church into conformity with reforms of the
Second Vatican Council.
In 1973 Father Studzinski moved to Cando, North Dakota and Father Paul Koehler became pastor.
Father Koehler stayed here ten years.  Father Koehler undertook many projects to modernize parish life,
including instituting a parish council in compliance with new laws of the diocese.
In 1983, Father Joseph Huebsch, who had been here previously as an Assistant Pastor, became pastor
of St. Philip’s.  Father Huebsch continued to carry out the work of caring for the souls of St. Philip’s and in
the late 1980’s began the process of renovating the interior of St. Philip’s highlighting many of the
beautiful  elements of the building.  This renovation included the addition of a new marble altar and pulpit.   
Father Huebsch retired as pastor in 1991 and Father John Anderson arrived as the new pastor at St.
Philip’s.  Under his patient and loving leadership the people of the parish continued to carry out the
missions of their ancestors, one such mission is the passing of the faith on to the newest generation of
Catholics.  During his pastorate, Father Anderson saw the refurbishment of the great stain glass windows
by the Continental Art Glass Co. Inc.
In 1999, Father Jim Goodwin arrived to replace the retiring Father Anderson.  In his short term as pastor,
Father Goodwin oversaw the installation of a new geo-thermal heating system.  Father Goodwin left St.
Philip’s in 2005 to continue his studies in Canon Law.  Father Matthew Attansey, originally from Nigeria in
Africa, soon arrived to become pastor.  As a missionary priest he remained until 2007.
Father Scott Sautner was appointed pastor in 2008.  In early 2010, parishioners came together replace
the flooring in the church sanctuary and continue the process of keeping their beloved church beautiful and
passing it on to a new generation.
Thirteen priests have served as pastors at St. Philip’s: Rev. George Hepperle, Rev. Philip Albrecht, Rev.
Thomas Rabsteinek, Rev. Joseph Studnicka, Rt, Rev. Msgr. George Bierens, Rev. Lambert Studzinski,
Rev. Paul Koehler, Rev. Msgr. Joseph Huebsch, Rev. Msgr. John Anderson, Rev. James Goodwin, Rev
Matthew Attansey, and Rev. Scott Sautner. Assistant pastors serving here include: Father Ballemons,
OSB, Father Joseph Kuharski, Father Frances Smalley, Father John Bacevius, Father Joseph Huebsch,
Father Neil Kapaun, Father Robert Schuster, and Father Emmanuel Okonman, Parochial Vicar.
St. Philip’s is comprised of about 250 families and is proud to be able to claim a number of young men
and women who have chosen to serve Christ as priests, sisters and brothers.  One hundred years after
the first hardy, hard working and God-fearing Catholics started the Church of St. Philip, we find that in
2011 we are alive and thriving.
St. Philip's Catholic Church History
St. Philip's Catholic Church
PO Box 419
612 Main Ave. S
Hankinson, ND 58041
701-242-7327