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St. Boniface was the oldest Catholic church in Saint Clair
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SAINT CLAIR — With its red brick steeple reaching for the heavens, St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church was one of many religious landmarks in the Borough of Saint Clair, founded for the ethic German population in 1853.
The oldest Catholic church in the borough solemnly closed its doors as the final Mass of the parish was celebrated last Sunday, bringing tears to many of the approximately 100 parishioners and parish friends who attended.
The Rev. Kevin P. Gallagher, pastor of St. Boniface, SS. Peter and Paul and St. Mary churches in the borough, had the sad duty of celebrating the final Mass at St. Boniface as its pastor, something he did also at SS. Peter and Paul church, which also closed last weekend. His other church, St. Mary, will not close but change names as all other Roman Catholic churches merge to become St. Clare of Assisi Roman Catholic Church.
Assisting Father Gallagher at the altar was Deacon John Pogash, who also read the Gospel and gave the homily.
The parish was founded in 1853 by Bishop John Neumann of the Diocese of Philadelphia, one of the 50 parishes founded during his episcopacy that lasted eight years. In 1977, he was canonized a saint.
St. Boniface Church was blessed on Oct. 30, 1853, by the visiting Bishop John Neumann, according to the church’s 100th anniversary booklet.
In 1928, the Rev. Joseph A. Schaefer remodeled the church from a frame building to a brick building, according to the Joseph H. Zerbey History of Pottsville and Schuylkill County. the church was renovated again in 1993 and 1994.
Father Gallagher, who has been the pastor since May 1999, will become pastor of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Mahanoy City. Monsignor William F. Glosser, pastor of St. Canicus, St. Fidelis and St. Casimir churches, Mahanoy City, will serve as pastor for the new parish.
The oldest Catholic church in the borough solemnly closed its doors as the final Mass of the parish was celebrated last Sunday, bringing tears to many of the approximately 100 parishioners and parish friends who attended.
The Rev. Kevin P. Gallagher, pastor of St. Boniface, SS. Peter and Paul and St. Mary churches in the borough, had the sad duty of celebrating the final Mass at St. Boniface as its pastor, something he did also at SS. Peter and Paul church, which also closed last weekend. His other church, St. Mary, will not close but change names as all other Roman Catholic churches merge to become St. Clare of Assisi Roman Catholic Church.
Assisting Father Gallagher at the altar was Deacon John Pogash, who also read the Gospel and gave the homily.
The parish was founded in 1853 by Bishop John Neumann of the Diocese of Philadelphia, one of the 50 parishes founded during his episcopacy that lasted eight years. In 1977, he was canonized a saint.
St. Boniface Church was blessed on Oct. 30, 1853, by the visiting Bishop John Neumann, according to the church’s 100th anniversary booklet.
In 1928, the Rev. Joseph A. Schaefer remodeled the church from a frame building to a brick building, according to the Joseph H. Zerbey History of Pottsville and Schuylkill County. the church was renovated again in 1993 and 1994.
Father Gallagher, who has been the pastor since May 1999, will become pastor of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Mahanoy City. Monsignor William F. Glosser, pastor of St. Canicus, St. Fidelis and St. Casimir churches, Mahanoy City, will serve as pastor for the new parish.
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