History of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church.

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History of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church. Fiftieth Anniversary of the dedication St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Lyndora, PA. p. 4-7. CAP at Orchard Lake.

1 History of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church. Fiftieth Anniversary of the dedication St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Lyndora, PA. p CAP at Orchard Lake. In mid-summer of 1917, serious plans were being made for establishing a new parish in Lyndora, Pennsylvania. (That parish is known today as Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church, located on 303 Penn Avenue, Lyndora, Pennsylvania.) A preliminary meeting was held at the German Beneficial Society Hall, presently located at 219 Penn Ave. At this meeting a general committee was chosen. The men selected were John Wojtyna, Sr., President; Vincent Kozlowski, Treasurer; and Anthony Natali, Secretary. The above committee, in turn, selected a group of collectors whose duty was to contact homes and obtain donations for the newly planned parish. The men chosen were: John Mroczek, Vincent Rajchel, Peter Biernacki, John Grystar and Joseph Menchyk. The next course of action was to make the necessary arrangements for a meeting with the Bishop, who then was The Most Reverend J. F. Regis Canevin, D.D. The Bishop set a date for the meeting. The committee along with Monsignor John Gorzynski, who at that time was the Dean of the Polish Clergy and representative of the Polish people in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, went to the Chancery in order to present the reasons for establishing a new parish in Lyndora. The Bishop told them that he would consider the whole matter and would give them an answer as soon as possible. In the meantime, Mr. Simon Stachelek had made the first offer of a site for the newly planned church, which was located on Kohler Avenue. This site did not prove to be practical as it was located on a hill with a ravine behind it. It was subsequently sold to Saint John Byzantine Greek Catholic Church and a home for their priest was built on the site. Following the sale, two other sites were considered: Saint Andrew Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church and the German Beneficial Society Hall, both located on Penn Avenue. The purchase of the first site was dropped because the church was too small and would have been too costly to renovate. Purchasing the second would have placed a great financial burden on the people, so they decided to rent the German Beneficial Society Hall. At this point, the committee and Monsignor John Gorzynski had gone to the Chancery for a second meeting with the Bishop. After further discussing the matter with the Bishop, they 1

2 were told that a priest would be appointed to look over the progress, and on his report a final decision would be made. The Bishop appointed Father John Kopera to look over the situation. Father Kopera reported to the Bishop that a temporary place was found where Mass could be said; the German Beneficial Society Hall. They also found a place for the expected pastor. On the basis of this report the Bishop gave permission for the establishment of the new parish. The parish was organized on January 10, It took its origin from Saint John Nepomucene Church, Lyndora. Father John Louis Pudlo was appointed first pastor on January 10, On arriving in Lyndora he made his first residence with the Vincent Kozlowski family at what is now 317 Penn Avenue. He immediately began to make arrangements for a temporary altar on the stage of the German Hall. The pews were made from planks. The men who helped to make the altar and pews were Peter Zawrotuk, Vincent Rajchel, Anthony Natali and Charles Mathes, from whom the hall was rented. On January 27, 1918, the first Mass was said by Father Pudlo. The altar boys who served were Joseph Mroczek and Joseph Wieckowski, both members of the parish and still living. In June 1918, Father Pudlo moved to what is now 315 Penn Avenue where he lived with both of his sisters, Anna and Sophia. Both were married by Father Pudlo on August 5, Anna became the wife of Stanislaus Szwed and Sophia the wife of Luke Rappa. After many setbacks a suitable location was finally found and purchased from John Baycura in March of On this site stand both the church and rectory. The next course of action was to receive permission from the Bishop to begin the construction of the new church. The permission was obtained. The contract for the building of the new church was given to the George Schenck Construction Company, Butler. The construction of the church cost the people $15, It was originally built on a very thick stone foundation, without a basement or steel structure. It bore no stained windows and was heated by four small gas stoves. Dimensions of the church are forty feet by eighty feet. From the floor to the ceiling twenty-eight feet, two inches; floor to the ridge thirty-five feet, nine inches; ridge to the peak twenty-seven feet. Therefore, the actual height is sixty-two feet, nine inches. The cornerstone was laid on September by the Reverend Anthony Smelsz and dedicated by the Most Reverend J. F. Regis Canevin, D.D., on July 25, The new altars and pews were ordered by Father Pudlo but did not arrive on time, so the temporary altar and pews were brought over from the German Hall and used in the newly constructed church. On December 6, 1920, Father Pudlo left Lyndora and became the new pastor of Saint Leocadia's Church, Wilmerding, Pennsylvania. On the same day, Father John Wojciechowski arrived in Lyn- 2

3 dora and became the second pastor of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish. He continued to rent the home at 315 Penn Avenue. During his pastorate the altars and pews arrived and were installed. On August 4, 1921, Father Anthony J. Gonet was appointed Vicar Economy until September 15, Father Gonet also lived at 315 Penn Avenue. On September 15, 1921, Father Wojciechowski left Lyndora and became Vicar Economy of Saint Hedwig's Church, Duquesne, Pennsylvania, while Father Gonet remained in Lyndora and was made pastor of Saint Stanislaus Church. This appointment made him the third pastor of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish. Shortly after he was made pastor, he took residence with the Jacob Penar family; then his next residence was at 203 Main Street, and finally at 211 Main Street which home and property he bought. The economic conditions in Lyndora at this time were really poor. Nevertheless, Father Gonet was able to have about one-half of the basement dug out to serve as a meeting room and enough space to place a coal furnace which became the new system of heating. Things went on quite well until the latter part of 1924 when Father Gonet was faced with a serious problem. The ceiling of the church began to show many large cracks. It was feared that if this condition were allowed to continue the walls would spread and ultimately the whole structure would collapse. This was probably due to the heavy slate roof and the digging out of the basement. So, the Anthony Pyzdrowski Construction Company of Pittsburgh was immediately contacted. It was suggested that the whole interior of the church be reinforced with steel. This explains the six pillars in our church which were not in the original structure. The church was once again safe but added a financial burden of S During the depression veers the people of Saint Stanislaus Church almost lost their church and prop erty. But being a people of great faith, dedication, and sacrifice, they got every penny possible together and were able to save the church and property. Father Gonet spent much time working towards the Canonization of Blessed Bronislawa, but did not see his efforts realized because of his death at Saint Mary's Church, McKeesport, Pennsylvania, on November 6, A statue of Blessed Bronislawa appears in our church as a memory of his efforts and an opportunity for all of us to venerate her. On July 15, 1943, Father Gonet left for his new appointment at Saint Mary's Church, McKeesport, Pennsylvania, and was succeeded by Father Adam A. Jurczyk, who became Vicar Economy from July 15, 1943, to September 2, The problem which faced Father Jurczyk was still the lack of a permanent residence. So, Father Jurczyk took residence at 211 Main Street, but only for a short time, because the home personally belonged to Father Gonet, and he sold it to the Stefan Kovach family. Today it is the residence of Mrs. Ludvika Kovach. After the sale, Father Jurczyk shared living quarters with the Andrew Proctor family, 304 Main Street. 3

4 The following improvements continued during Father Jurczyk's administration of the parish. The remaining half of the basement was dug out with the help of men from the parish; the entire basement concreted and covered with tile flooring; the walls were covered with metal and glazed tile; a section was laid out for the new kitchen which was furnished with cabinets and a gas cooking stove; a new gas furnace was installed; new electrical wiring and fixtures for the church hall; transparent glass windows; rest rooms; new organ; a covered entrance to the altar boy's room which was built by men of the parish; concrete walks around the church property. The final accomplishment by Father Jurczyk came about on October 19, 1951, when the excavation of the cellar began for the new rectory. It was built by Herbert C. A. Iman, Sr. In September of 1952 Father Jurczyk moved into the new rectory. This was really a happy day for him because through the sacrifices of the people over many years a permanent residence was finally realized for him and all future pastors. On September 1, 1954, Father Jurczyk received word from his Bishop that he was to be the new pastor of Saint Leocadia's Parish, Wilmerding, Pennsylvania. On September 2, 1954, Father Jurczyk left Lyndora and was succeeded by Father Francis A. Majda, who now became the fourth pastor to serve the people of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church. During his pastorate the people continued to witness many accomplishments. The side entrance to the rectory was enclosed and became the new church rectory office; the old entrance to the hall was dismantled and replaced with the present side entrance; all the glass windows were replaced with brick glass; the lower part of the church steeple was covered with aluminum siding. The interior of the church was painted and adorned with many beautiful liturgical paintings which bring out the full beauty of our church; the altars were painted white and decorated with gold leaf; the lighting fixtures were changed, with fixtures bought from Saint Michael's Church, Munhall, Pennsylvania; new stations of the cross; organ; pews; stained glass windows; a garage was built by men of the parish; the home across the street from the parish rectory was purchased, which serves as a Religious Center; the rectory was painted and updated with new furnishings. On November 25, 1964, Father Majda left Lyndora for his new assignment as pastor of Saints Philip and James Church, New Castle, Pennsylvania. On the same day, Father Joseph T. Ostrowski became the fifth pastor of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church. Knowing some of his predecessors and following their fine example, Father Ostrowski immediately began to improve the areas where his predecessor left off. The first area of work was on the church. The slate roof was removed and replaced with asphalt roofing shingles; aluminum siding on the remaining woodwork of the church; enclosed the extending rafters of the church roof with stainless steel, which was donated by Armco Works; acoustic ceilings in the priest's sacristy and altar boy's room; new cabinets and vestment case; new confessional; all carpeting in the sanctuary and aisles of the church; candlesticks and crucifixes on all three altars. The candlesticks on the main altar were donated by parishioners in memory of the late Father Adam A. Jurczyk. The crucifixes and candlesticks on the two side altars were also donated by parishioners in memory of their deceased; the altar facing the people was a donation in memory of a parishioner; the interior of the church was 4

5 painted and liturgical paintings were added in the ceiling; and finally, new lighting fix tures donated by a group of members from the parish. In the home which is used for Religious Education, the ceilings were covered with plywood, and later painted to match the oak paneling on the walls. The woodwork was done by men from the parish. At this time aluminum framed windows were installed. On the rectory, all the old roofing was removed and replaced with asphalt roofing shingles. The woodwork was covered with aluminum siding; gutters and spouts were replaced with stainless steel, donated by Armco Works. Awnings were installed over all windows of the rectory, side entrance to the hall, and over the stairway leading to the altar boy's room. The rectory cellar was brought up-to-date with drop ceilings, new electrical wiring, and was painted. This area turned out to be a blessing, especially during our Forty Hours. In 1970, the year of the Golden Jubilee, the rectory was painted and some furnishings were added. The last area of work was on the grounds. All the area around the church was re-conditioned and black- topped. It now serves as a parking area; a retaining stone wall was built in the rear of the rectory; the growing vines were all torn out and replaced with beautiful shrubs, and the areas were squared off with stainless steel and topped with marble chips. Let it be known here that the present pastor had a threefold purpose in bringing out the accomplishments: 1. To bring out the true spirit of sacrifice made by the devoted and loyal parishioners over the span of Fifty Years. 2. To point out the dedicated service given by all priests who served the parish. 3. To be a guideline for all future pastors as to the conditions of all buildings and property. VOCATIONS The parish has been blessed only with two vocations over the Fifty Years of its existence, namely Father John Baptist Terbovich, O.F.M. Cap., and Brother Valerius Wojtyna, S.V.D. The above history was prepared as accurately as possible from existing records. Any oversights are unintentional and are a result of the inability to obtain all records. All of us should be grateful to Mr. Anthony Natali and Irene Natali whose generosity in gathering many of the details made this anniversary book possible. Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church stands today as a magnificent tribute to God, wrought by hard-working, devout parishioners who brought their vision to reality. They, like their patron Saint, Saint Stanislaus Kostka, never gave up the faith when the odds were against them. With this proud heritage, we can joyfully mark the FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY. 5

History of the St. Francis De Paul Parish. Golden Jubilee of St. Francis de Paul Church, Ford City, PA, p CAP at Orchard Lake.

History of the St. Francis De Paul Parish. Golden Jubilee of St. Francis de Paul Church, Ford City, PA, p. 5-13. CAP at Orchard Lake. The history of St. Francis de Paul Parish dates back half a century