Idle hands are not his
Four years in one place doesn’t typically leave much time to accomplish significant things, but don’t tell that to Father Pius Harding OSB.
Fr. Harding is a working man who has accomplished in a short time what may take some a lifetime. He will soon depart Lincoln County to return home to the Abbey at Mount Angel in Oregon.
But in the words of parishioner Jeff Gruber, “His genuine and sincere interest and leadership during the past three-plus years has left our three churches in Lincoln County in such a better position to continue as places of worship and prayer.”
Accordingly, the Knights of Columbus, Raymond A. Belangie Council 3250 of Libby, Montana, nominated him for the 2025 Montana Knights of Columbus Priest of the Year.
Recently, Fr. Harding was chosen for well-deserved honor.
K of C member Jeff Gruber nominated Fr. Harding for the award and provided voluminous details in the application that was submitted in support.
“Originally from the San Joaquin Valley of California, Father Pius joined the St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California at age 19,” Gruber wrote. “After discerning a call toward monastic life during his college years, Father Pius completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 1987 and graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1993. At Mount Angel in Oregon, Fr. Pius has served in a variety of capacities, including spiritual director, retreat director, guest master and spiritual direction ministry.”
Fr. Harding became a Knight of Columbus on March 11, 1984. Currently, he is a member of Council 1767 in Mount Angel, Oregon.
In 2021, the passing of Fr. Richard Kluk left St. Joseph’s without a priest.
At the time, Fr. Harding was on a working sabbatical on the Blackfeet Reservation. Fr. Kluk became ill and following the request of Bishop Austin Vetter of the Diocese of Helena and the blessing of his abbot Jeremy Driscoll OSB, Fr. Pius arrived in western Montana in 2021. He served as the temporary pastor of three churches in Lincoln County: St. Joseph in Libby, Immaculate Conception in Troy and Our Lady of Mercy in Eureka.
“I’ve had great joy being here,” Fr. Pius said in an interview with The Western News. “The parish has been at peace for a good stretch and that’s because of its focus on God.”
Prior to his arrival in Lincoln County, Fr. Pius had never served as a parish priest. But he took to it wonderfully, handling the weekly 138-round trip to Eureka, which included religious holidays.
“I got to know Highway 37 intimately,” Pius said. “The advantage of winter is the ice fills the pot holes. But it really is one of the beautiful commutes you’ll find.”
Gruber accurately described Fr. Pius’ role as “extremely active” in church and council affairs.
“He meets regularly with council leadership and asks for help from Knights members when planning church functions, such as meals, Holy Days of Obligation, Lenten and Advent celebrations, and simply being a mentor and role model to his fellow Knights,” Gruber wrote.
While balancing his daily duties with travel to Eureka and Troy, Fr. Pius helped lead the renovation of the rectory’s basement in St. Joseph to a Knights of Columbus meeting hall.
“I did not want to be a parochial placeholder, I wanted to help make it better,” Fr. Harding said. “To me, the immediate need of our church was to redo the church interior because it was sideways. But we did the roof first before we got to the interior.”
He also led the effort to re-roof the Libby church and rectory, new flooring in the rectory, a renovation of Immaculate Conception Church in Troy and the design and construction of a new rectory and parish office for Our Lady of Mercy Church in Eureka.
“Father’s positive leadership and genuine concern for the present and future well-being of our churches in Lincoln County have brought many parishioners together allowing for all these projects to be paid for and completed,” Gruber wrote.
Gruber described the work that went into renovating the St. Joseph basement into Wegner Hall. Named after Council member Don Wegner, who led the renovation effort by tirelessly planning and working throughout the process, Fr. Pius suggested the renovation.
“Since it would mean an area dedicated solely to the Knights, Council 3250 members jumped at the chance and began the renovation process,” Gruber said. “Walls were removed from the former religious education classrooms, new wiring was installed, sheetrock and new paint was applied creating a neat and functional area that our Council can call its own.”
But Gruber explains what many believe are Fr. Pius’ greatest contribution - the renovation of St. Joseph Church.
The church was built in 1957 in the mid-century modern architectural style. Just 12 years later, it was remodeled.
“While it may have pleased people back then interested in embracing a less traditional church style and purpose, it really was an injustice to a beautifully designed church building,” Gruber wrote.
Fr. Pius, after arriving near the end of 2021 in Libby, commented on the strange configuration and suggested a remodel. The proposal was received well by parishioners and a committee including Pius and four Knights members, made plans and a budget.
The Parish community approved the work. Fundraising commenced, which raised more than $100,000, and more than 2,000 hours of volunteer labor by Knights of Columbus members resulted in a renovation that was done in time to celebrate the 2024 Feast of Corpus Christi.
Some of the major work included returning the seating area to its original layout, new carpet and tile throughout the church, painting of the church’s interior, and the installation of a “new” alter.
“Father Pius found the alter in Massachusetts from a closed parish in Boston,” Gruber explained. “Also, part of St. Joseph’s new configuration are two statues of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph from the closed St Joseph Parish in Butte.”
Gruber concluded his nomination to the Knights of Columbus with these words.
“What has been equally pleasing and moving for the St. Joseph Parish community has been the process Father has taken us through the history and theology of church function and design. He has instructed us on various terminology including words such as “baldacchino,” “ciborium,” “holy of holies,” and “tabernacle.”
Fr. Harding said he’s loved being in Libby.
“I love the snow and I’m sad to leave, but I’m also happy to go onto the next good thing God has for me,” Harding said.
The beautifully redone altar at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libby. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)