About St. Barbara Catholic Church · Mackay, Idaho
St. Barbara Catholic Church is a mission church of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Salmon, Idaho, located at 505 Park Street in the small mining town of Mackay in Custer County. One of the oldest mission churches in the Diocese of Idaho (Boise), it was dedicated in 1912 in honor of Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners, reflecting the heritage of the White Knob Mining Company that shaped the valley. Mass is celebrated on Sundays at 3:00 p.m. (except the last Sunday of the month, when Mass moves to St. Ann in Arco), with confessions heard 30 minutes before Mass. The mission is cared for by the pastor of St. Charles Borromeo, who travels 111 miles one way from Salmon over the weekend to bring the sacraments to Mackay and the surrounding mountain communities.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- Saint Barbara, patron saint of miners
- Rector
- Priest of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Salmon (mission served from St. Charles; current rector not named on the official site).
- Diocese
- Diocese of Boise
Why belong here
St. Barbara Catholic Church gives Catholics in the upper Lost River Valley a weekly celebration of the Eucharist in their own community, sustained by the faithful round-trip journey of the St. Charles Borromeo priest who travels 111 miles one way from Salmon to keep Mass alive in Mackay. The mission has deep local roots — built in 1912 by mining families whose descendants still worship here — and a tradition of lay involvement going back to the Ladies Altar Society of 1908. Visitors and parishioners are welcomed to a small but enduring mountain Catholic community where, as the parish puts it, "our priest brings the cornerstone of our faith — Jesus Christ — sacramentally present" across more than 11,000 square miles of central Idaho.
Mass times at St. Barbara Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before Sunday Mass at St. Barbara (i.e., from about 2:30 p.m.)
St. Barbara Catholic Church — Mackay's Mission Church
St. Barbara Catholic Church (505 Park Street, Mackay, Idaho) is a mission of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Salmon and one of the oldest mission churches in the Diocese of Boise. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 3:00 p.m., except on the last Sunday of the month, when Mass moves to St. Ann in Arco at the same time. Confessions are heard 30 minutes before Mass. The mission is supported from the St. Charles Borromeo parish office (phone 208-756-2432 ext. 2).
History & Centennial
Catholic life in the upper Lost River Valley predates the building. In 1901, Bishop Emmanuel Glorieux recorded the deed for lots donated by Wayne Darlington, chief engineer of the White Knob Mining Company. The Ladies Altar Society was organized in 1908 and raised funds for years before construction. In 1911 Bishop Glorieux received $500 from the Catholic Church Extension Society, an all-cedar church kit was ordered from Oregon, Father Eugene Boogaers directed the building, and in 1912 the church was dedicated to Saint Barbara, patron saint of miners. In 1923, Bishop Gorman sent Rev. Bernard Denvir — the mission's only resident pastor. The mission has been cared for by the pastors of St. Charles Borromeo in Salmon for over thirty-five years.
- 1901: Bishop Glorieux records the deed for lots 4, 5, and 6, donated by the Darlingtons.
- 1908: Ladies Altar Society organized (Mrs. Marie Anthony, president).
- 1911: $500 received from the Catholic Church Extension Society; cedar church kit ordered.
- 1912: Church dedicated in honor of Saint Barbara, patron saint of miners.
- 1923: Bishop Gorman sends Rev. Bernard Denvir — first (and only) resident pastor.
- September 15, 2012: Centennial celebrated; Bishop Michael Driscoll attends; artist Ruth Sauerbreit presents a commemorative drawing.
The Ladies Altar Society — Parish Founders
Organized in 1908, four years before the church was built, the Ladies Altar Society was the driving lay force behind the mission's construction. Members organized concerts, luncheons, dances, card parties, and special dinners; the annual St. Patrick's Day dance became a major community event. Several descendants of the original members still live in Mackay.
- President: Mrs. Marie Anthony
- Original members: Mmes Annie Atha, Mary Atha, Phoebe Deardon, Julia Donahue, Marie Donahue, Annie Gilboy, Marie Gilboy, Ann Gilboy, Bridget Hatford, Sarah Hein, Freda Hein, Jennie Kelleher, Annie McKelvey, Kathleen McKelvey, Minnie Nowaki, Catherine Owens, and Mary Sweeney.
Part of St. Charles Borromeo Parish (Salmon)
St. Barbara's belongs to St. Charles Borromeo Parish, established in 1908 and headquartered at 505 Hope Avenue, Salmon, Idaho. St. Charles is the historic Gothic-style ashlar-stone church serving Lemhi, Custer, and Butte Counties — over 11,000 square miles — and reaches out to its mission churches in Challis (St. Louise), Mackay (St. Barbara), Arco (St. Ann), Leadore (St. Joseph Chapel), and seasonally Stanley (Sawtooth Meditation Chapel). The priest typically travels 224 miles round trip each weekend and 276 miles on fifth Sundays.
- St. Charles Borromeo — 505 Hope Ave, Salmon, ID 83467 (208-756-2432)
- St. Louise — Challis (Sunday 12:00 p.m.)
- St. Ann — Arco (last Sunday, 3:00 p.m.)
- St. Joseph Chapel — Leadore (Saturday 1:00 p.m.)
- Sawtooth Meditation Chapel — Stanley (summer Mass suspended; check parish bulletin).
Visit & Contact
Visitors are warmly welcomed at the mission. The church sits on Park Street in the small town of Mackay (population ~569), the northern terminal of the Oregon Short Line's old Blackfoot branch, in the heart of Custer County's ranching and mining country. For up-to-date information, cancellations, or to arrange sacraments, contact the St. Charles Borromeo parish office in Salmon.
- Address: 505 Park Street, Mackay, Idaho 83251
- Parish hall phone: (208) 527-3035
- Parish office (Salmon): (208) 756-2432 ext. 2
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.catholicsalmon.com/
Diocese of Boise
St. Barbara's mission falls under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise, which covers the southern two-thirds of Idaho. As of the 2012 centennial, the diocesan bishop was the Most Reverend Michael P. Driscoll; the diocese's chancellor (as listed on the St. Charles website) is Bryan Taylor.
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise
- Bishop at centennial (2012): Most Reverend Michael P. Driscoll
- Chancellor (per parish site): Bryan Taylor
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Emil Vergrugge1902–1907
Came from Shoshone; served all of Custer County with Mass in Mackay twice a year before the church was built.
- Father Eugene Boogaersc. 1911–1912
Directed construction of the all-cedar church; oversaw its 1912 dedication in honor of Saint Barbara.
- Reverend Bernard Denvir1923–
Sent by Bishop Gorman to live in Mackay — the first and only time St. Barbara's had a resident pastor.