History of St. Mary's 1885-1960. 75th Anniversary Parish of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Plymouth, PA, 13-16. CAP at Orchard Lake. The founding of St. Mary's Nativity Parish dates back to June of 1885, when the Most Reverend William O'Hara, D.D., first Bishop of the Scranton Diocese, gave permission for its establishment. The Reverend Lawrence Spryszinski was named the first pastor of the parish which soon proved to be the Mother parish of St Casimir's and St. Stephen's of Plymouth. The original church was a wooden structure located on the site of the present parochial school. The first parochial plant was entirely located on the present school property. A house in the rear of the property served both as a home for the organist and a school where Catechetical classes were conducted on the ground floor. The house, after being used by the parish for almost fifty years, was torn down about 1935. The first rectory was built in 1886 and was located immediately to the right of the original church; it was later occupied by the parish organist and afterwards used as a parish center. Finally it gave way along with an adjacent building to the present parochial school. Parish records show that Father Spryszinski officiated at the first marriage in St. Mary's on July 25, 1885 and the first Baptism on August 16, 1885. He remained until September of 1886 when he was succeeded by the Reverend A. Warnagaris who served the parish for approximately three years. The first recorded funeral occurred on October 27, 1886. Following Father Warnagaris' pastorate, St. Mary's was served by two succeeding administrators: The Reverends A. Burba and S. F. Szymanowski, until November of 1891 when the Reverend Francis Tomkiewicz came to the parish as its pastor. BEGINNINGS OF GROWTH October 1898 brought a successor to Father Tomkiewicz in the person of the Reverend Andrew Smelsz. His arrival marked the advent of a new era in the life and growth of St. Mary's. Property was purchased near the corner of Willow and Eno streets and in 1902 the second rectory was completed; it adjoined the site where construction of the new church of the Nativity was in progress. On August 16, 1903, the cornerstone of the new church, bearing the date 1902, was set by the Most Reverend Michael J. Hoban, then Bishop of the diocese, in the presence of a throng of 3,000 persons. A fire which badly damaged the original church on June 14, 1903 gave added impetus to the work of building and although strikes among the workers hampered 1
its progress, the new church was dedicated on May 30, 1905 by Bishop Hoban who was accompanied by Archbishop Symon, a Polish prelate and representative of the Holy Father. The significance of the occasion was augmented by a huge parade through the town of Plymouth preceding the dedication ceremonies. Memorable as the day must have been, its passing prompted still another parochial project for the dynamic Father Smelsz. Just three days afterward, plans were promulgated to renovate the original church into a modern parochial school. A year later on August 5, 1905, Bishop Hoban was again invited to St. Mary's; this time to bless three large bells for the new church tower. By that time the conversion of the first church into a school was complete and although St. Mary's was only twenty years old it had already developed into one of the larger and more modern parishes in the diocese of Scranton. Father Smelsz was followed by the Reverend S. Siedlecki on March 17, 1909. Although the latter remained at St. Mary's only until December 14, 1910, when he died, the year of his pastorate saw the installation of a church organ and the beginning in the construction of the present rectory. FATHER DREIER Just six years older than St. Mary's, its next pastor, a priest only eight years ordained, brought to the youthful parish a zeal for God's glory and a love of his fellowman, that time and work tempered into wisdom. The new rectory begun by his predecessor became the immediate concern of the Reverend S. A. Dreier when he assumed the pastorate of St. Mary's on December 26, 1910. This task was completed by June of 1911, and for eight years pastor and parishioners cooperated in the common cause of continuing Christ's church on earth. The following appeared in a local newspaper on June 26, 1918 "In the past seven years the parish (St. Mary's) has risen from the burden of obligations, has reduced the church debt from $65,000 to $4,000, and has been an important factor in every public movement in the Borough of Plymouth " From the first days of his appointment to Plymouth, Father Dreier dedicated himself to the advancement of his flock, spiritually and civically. Beginning in 1911, he conducted mining classes for the young men of the parish. Laborers became miners and foremen, and many under his tutelage and sponsorship achieved positions of responsibility in the community. In 1918 the parish church was remodeled; its interior walls and ceiling were artistically beautified, making St. Mary's a landmark of architecture in the Wyoming Valley. So rapid was the growth of the parish that, in 1917, Father Dreier was assigned a curate to assist him in his work. St. Mary's, indeed, was advancing in age and grace before God and men. February 26, 1919, however, brought a crisis in the growing life of St. Mary's when fire badly damaged its magnificent church. Parishioners were deprived of a place of worship and St. Mary's suffered a loss of almost $100,000. Turning to Father Dreier, his flock found in him a fountainhead of hope and encouragement. Under his leadership St. Mary's began to rebuild its house of God. By April of 1920 Mass was being offered in the church basement and on September 8, 1921, the new altars of the church were blessed, connoting the completion of the present 2
church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Concern that the walls of the church tower might not, in years, sustain the weight of the bells led to the construction of a steel bell tower and a redesigning of church towers themselves. About the same time the interior of the second rectory, then serving as the Sisters' Convent, was completely remodeled. Five years later, in 1927, the parish rectory was renovated. The parochial cemetery, located in Larksville, was fast becoming inadequate and Father Dreier became engaged in an endeavor that for some years was to consume much of his energies. He purchased land in Plymouth Township that was to become the site of a new cemetery and personally planned and supervised its construction as well as the landscaping of the grounds. In 1930, a new pipe organ was installed in the church at a cost of $22,000, under the direction of Theodore S. Robaczewski, its designer, who was in charge of Sacred Music at St. Mary's for twenty-three years, from 1918 to 1941. The new cemetery, though complete, was still to be enhanced by Father Dreier. In 1933 a caretaker's home was built. Meanwhile the years 1930 through 1935 saw St. Mary's preparing for the crowning touch to the cemetery grounds a grotto dedicated to the Mother of God. Construc ted of imported Italian Marble it was dedicated in the summer of 1935 by the pastor of St. Mary's in Wilkes-Barre, now the Most Reverend Archbishop Martin J. O'Connor. Today both the cemetery and Grotto stand as silent, sacred Memorials to the man who planned them and who, himself, rests there. In 1941 the interior of the church was repainted. The marvelous growth of the parish can be further appreciated by the fact that in 1944, almost 1100 of its parishioners were serving in the armed forces. In 1949 an entrance, from the rectory side, was added to the church. Illness and advancing years had, by then, tried the temperament and vigor of Father Dreier. Yet, God was to ask one more service of His steward. The building that, for 42 years, had served as St. Mary's school was gutted by fire on March 8, 1949. With their spiritual father as their figurehead, the parishioners girded themselves for the task of rebuilding a center of education for their children. Ground for the new school was broken at the site of the former school, on September 8, 1950. On April 1, 1951 the cornerstone was blessed and by September 9, 1951, a new school, modern and complete, graced the grounds of St. Mary's parish. In 1954 the entire floor area of the church was reinforced with steel; the left side entrance was added and the walls and ceiling again repainted. This work of renovating was completed a year later. When Father Dreier passed away on Ash Wednesday, February 23, 1955, after spending 44 of his 52 priestly years in Plymouth, St. Mary's severely felt the severance of an association which had so identified pastor and parishioners that to many the parish was known only as "Father Dreier's". 3
A NEW PASTOR At installation ceremonies on October 3, 1955, St. Mary's welcomed its present pastor, now the Right Reverend Monsignor John J. Podkul. In the tradition of his predecessors at Plymouth it has become his desire and destiny to have St. Mary's continue to grow spiritually and materially. Under his supervision the parish grove in Plymouth township has been developed into a park with full facilities for picnics and social events. In 1956, realizing the need for improved domestic facilities for the teaching Sisters, he purchased property near the school grounds, renovated and modernized the building thereon and provided the Sisters with a convent that is comfortable and complete. A parking lot replaced the former convent to alleviate the traffic congestion during church services. The interior of the church has also felt the influence of his foresight; the Sanctuary has been enlarged, a new pulpit installed and the Baptistry given a place of prominence. The church heating plant has been renovated for the comfort of the parishioners; rest rooms have been provided at the entrance to the church basement and the basement itself beautified, affording the parish an auditorium that is practical and pleasant. Since 1955 school children living in the outer fringes of the parish have benefitted by the purchase of a bus to transport them to and from the parochial school. The school cafeteria and kitchens have been repainted and facilities expanded so that they are in constant use for parochial and communal events. Always aware that action, both spiritual and social, in order to be effective must be concerted, Father Podkul introduced various societies to the parish thereby offering the members of his flock a greater opportunity to publicly practice their devotion to God and their parish. September 13, 1959 became another milestone in the History of St. Mary's when Father Podkul was invested in the robes elevating him to the Monsignoral rank and bringing to the parish and the community an honor and distinction that is signal. Recently, through the instrumentality of Monsignor Podkul, the parish purchased a 14 acre tract of land adjoining the cemetery property. It will be used to expand the cemetery facilities and also provides a new entrance to the parish grove. At present, plans are being completed for the renovation of the rectory by enlarging the offices and living quarters of the priests stationed at St. Mary's. THE FUTURE OF ST. MARY'S The mustard seed of St. Mary's sown on the shores of Old Shawnee seventy-five years ago has spread from a simple wooden structure to a complex parochial plant staffed by four priests and eight sisters who serve some 5,000 souls. The record of this growth is history. Yet all has been written here in terms of pastors, buildings and events is merely indicative of a far greater reality that by its nature must forever go unrecorded. In reviewing the foregoing historical account one is brought to the realization that St. Mary's could not have progressed materially had it not 4
been rich in faith and devotion on the part of its myriad members down through the years. The record of these parishioners from the pioneers to the present, who in their lifetimes have been, and are, a vital part of St. Mary's, can be known only to God, the Divine Historian. To His final judgment and eternal evaluation we commend their efforts in behalf of their parish. The story of St. Mary's, then, is written in the hearts of her parishioners more meaningfully than in the record of her material growth. However, even more fundamental than this fact is the cause that has made it possible; that cause is Christ. "Behold", He said, "I am with you all days " Christ became man that by uniting Himself to men He might lead them to eternal happiness. This He has done and is doing in St. Mary's. Today, as throughout the past seventy-five years Christ lives, Christ leads, Christ teaches, Christ conquers through the members of this Catholic parish. Christ, cloaked in the mantle of His Mother, lives, rejoices, suffers and dies in the daily lives of those united with Him by Baptism. With them, through them and in them, He continuously offers to His Heavenly Father an acceptable immolation of struggle and sacrifice, of hope and trust and prayer. The History of St. Mary's, therefore, is the story of the building of the Body of Christ in the community of Plymouth. For, St. Mary's, like all Catholic parishes, has been, is, and shall be the efficacious instrument of Christ's redemptive work in the world, the paten of His offering to God the Father and the chalice of His continuation among men. This is at once both the History and the destiny of St. Mary's; it is moreover her true glory and the real causes of her joy on this her seventy-fifth anniversary. Grateful for this hour of achievement, St. Mary's now looks toward the development of a youth program through which she might more effectively hand down the heritage of faith that she has preserved, under the abiding presence of Christ, for three quarters of a century. As in the past so for the future she turns to her Patroness Mary, the Mother of God, who has protected and guided the parish from its infancy with the same maternal solicitude she once afforded her divine Son. Keenly conscious of Mary's affection and confident of her intercession, we of St. Mary's Parish, priests, sisters and parishioners together, hold out our hands to be led by Our Lady along a path that will ultimately take us to her Son and our Master. 5