The first services in the new St. Anthony's church of Selz were held on Christmas Eve. The midnight Mass was read by the pastor, Fr. Ulrich Proeller.
A year ago, Jan. 6 exactly, the old church burned to the ground. And to compound the injury, Jan. 16, the parish priest, Father Othmar Steinhart, died. But from the ashes of the old and the loss of the former pastor, the congregation rallied to build a beautiful new church.
The Feist Construction Co. of Minot built the new church with the assistance of parishioners. Also built at the same time was a hall which will be used by the church. Since the old church burned, services have been held in the gym of the school.
Taken from the Growing with Pride Harvey Book 1981
The Catholic Church of Selz is a continuation of the Odessa and Strassburg Churches that had been built in the country, north of town; one to the east and one to the west. When automobiles made it more convenient to travel, a church was built in the new town (village) of Selz. St. Anthony's Church was organized in 1916 under the pastorate of Fr.Nussbaumer, who had served the Odessa Church. Anton Weigel, Sr., donated five acres on which the church was built in 1917 and was accorded the honor of having the church named St. Anthony. In 1935, the Assumption Church of Strassburg was moved to Selz and added to the other church.
Fathers Ambrose Johnson, O.S.B., and Basil Thum, O.S.B. were the first resident pastors until 1927. They were followed by Fathers Buerschinger, Keim, 1928-29; Father John Lugart, 1929-42; Father Othmar Seinhart, 1942-59. On the Fest of the Ephiphany, January 6, 1959, the church was destroyed by fire. Ten days later, Fr. Steinhart was overcome with a fatal heart attack. The basement of the Selz Public School was used for services until a new brick church was built by Feist Construction Company with Father U.J. Proeller, serving as pastor. Rev. Father Julius J. Binder came from Orrin to be the resident priest until 1969 when he was transferred to Hillsboro. Rev. Father Alexsonis was our last resident priest until he retired in September, 1979.
During the time of Father Binder's pastorate in Selz, bricks from the old bank building were used to construct a new fence around the cemetery. A new fron was built in the church behind the altar and the pipe organ was moved out and a new organ was installed.Church organizations are St.Anthony's Altar Society; Sodality of Christian Mothers; and the Catholic Order of Foresters.
