St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Elko-New Market is celebrating its sesquicentennial this weekend with games, an ice cream social and guided cemetery tours.

Archbishop John Nienstedt, Father Daniel Haugan, pastor of St. Nicholas, and former pastors will celebrate mass at noon Sunday. A buffet lunch will follow.

Haugan extended an invitation for all to join the Catholic community "as we celebrate 150 years of Catholicism in this great town."

Sunday will be "a time to honor the builders of our church -- the same people who displayed such a spirit of determination and courage 150 years ago in founding our state, our town and our parish," he said.

Leander Wagner, chair of the parish's anniversary committee, extended a special invitation to the many who grew up in the parish, but now live elsewhere.

The celebration begins at 2 p.m. Saturday with a volleyball tournament at Wagner Park in Elko-New Market. At 4 p.m., kids ages 4 to 11 can take part in a pedal-tractor pull on Church Street, in front of the church.

The ice cream social will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Wagner Park, followed by a dance on the church grounds at 9 p.m.

Sunday afternoon, visitors can take a guided cemetery tour or self-tour of the church and school.

JOY POWELL