Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Mahanoy City churches close their doors with tears
| Share This Story: |
  
|
MAHANOY CITY — Tears fell, candles lit, doors locked.
The last Mass was held at St. Fidelis Church, at 9 a.m. Sunday.
“We are all one now,” parishioner Lorraine Schmerfeld whispered to the person seated in the pew behind her.
Members of St. Fidelis, St. Canicus, Sacred Heart, Assumption BVM, St. Casimir and St. Joseph parishes in Mahanoy City and Our Lady of Siluva Church in Maizeville officially merged last Tuesday to begin parish life as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta in the former St. Joseph Church building.
The first Mass as the merged parish will was celebrated 6:30 p.m. Thursday, with another Mass 6:30 a.m. Friday.
The first weekend Mass will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday when the parishes will process together into Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish.
“Edelweiss,” a simple melody on acoustic guitar, began the morning service as the full church prepared for the last Mass they would celebrate as a congregation in the church founded by German settlers in 1863.
Family members who have since moved away, returned to sit in the pews of the church where they were baptized, received First Holy Communion, and married, for the last time.
“I am so thrilled I got a chance to play guitar here one last time,” Frank Whalen, Philadelphia, said. “It is a great feeling inside that I could be here. This was our life growing up, the church was everything.”
Whalen’s sister Kathy Wufsus echoed her brother’s sentiments.
“The memories we have are so touching. We received all our sacraments here. My grandmother, mother, myself, my children, we were all raised here,” she said. At the end of the hour long service pastor, Monsignor William Glosser led the parishioners outside for a final blessing. Kathryn Broker, the oldest parishioner, locked the door for the final time.
The Paschal Candle, a sign of the light of Christ burning in the member’s hearts, carried by Joe Majetsky led the parishioners out of the church and onto the sidewalk for the last time.
This weekend the same candle and all of the candles from each of the Mahanoy City parishes will be processed together into Blessed Teresa of Calcutta where their flames will join together to light one new Paschal Candle as they welcome Christ into the midst of the new assembly.
“We have to continue the faith of Jesus,” Whalen said. “We are like missionaries going where God leads us.”
The 11 a.m. Mass at St. Canicus was just as emotional.
Glosser tried to lighten the mood, even for just a moment.
“In the midst of all this maybe I could put a smile on your face,” Glosser said as he strapped on a bass drum and began hitting the drum and marching across the altar.
The drum belonged to the St. Canicus School Marching Band, a source of much pride, when the school was full and the town thriving.
“Mahanoy City still has spirit but that spirit can only remain alive and be young if we believe,” Glosser said. “We don’t know what the future holds for us in our new parish, but we do know who holds our future. You and I are called to pass the light of Christ to others.”
John “Puck” Sullivan, 100, spoke to about the parish, founded in 1862 by Irish settlers, of which he was a lifelong member.
He described how the original stone church was torn down and a rectory completed in 1924 and the church and school completed in 1925.
“Sadly, 83 years later I am saying goodbye to my beloved St. Canicus. I have deep feelings of grief and resentment once again to no avail,” Sullivan said. “The memories can never be taken from me. To me the church and the soil on which it stands will always be sacred.” The Paschal Candle was passed from Sullivan the oldest member, through several members lining the aisle before being carried out by Jimmy Wall and Danielle Robinson, two of the younger members.
Wall and Robinson will represent St. Canicus during the lighting of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta’s Paschal Candle during 4 p.m. Mass Saturday.
Luke Purcell, who opened the church at 4 a.m. for Mass many mornings for many years, fittingly locked the doors for the last time. Glosser said the Eucharist of both churches will be combined with the Eucharist of the other merging parishes and will be used at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.
“I found strength through Mark Wiekrykas and the choir and the music ministry today,” Glosser said. “When I wanted to cry they built me up and I think they built the people up too. The litany is the center of our lives; it’s where we find God.”
Glosser said he wants the people of all of his Mahanoy City parishes to move on and bring their enthusiasm for the faith to Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.
“I would hope that everything we have done as a parish over the past nine years and the past 146 years as a parish will be remembered and they will take what they learned and put it into practice,” Glosser said. “I gave them the tools now they have to put it into practice.” Glosser, who has served the Mahanoy City parishes for 9 years, will begin his new assignment at St. Clare of Assisi, Saint Clair.
The last Mass was held at St. Fidelis Church, at 9 a.m. Sunday.
“We are all one now,” parishioner Lorraine Schmerfeld whispered to the person seated in the pew behind her.
Members of St. Fidelis, St. Canicus, Sacred Heart, Assumption BVM, St. Casimir and St. Joseph parishes in Mahanoy City and Our Lady of Siluva Church in Maizeville officially merged last Tuesday to begin parish life as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta in the former St. Joseph Church building.
The first Mass as the merged parish will was celebrated 6:30 p.m. Thursday, with another Mass 6:30 a.m. Friday.
The first weekend Mass will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday when the parishes will process together into Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish.
“Edelweiss,” a simple melody on acoustic guitar, began the morning service as the full church prepared for the last Mass they would celebrate as a congregation in the church founded by German settlers in 1863.
Family members who have since moved away, returned to sit in the pews of the church where they were baptized, received First Holy Communion, and married, for the last time.
“I am so thrilled I got a chance to play guitar here one last time,” Frank Whalen, Philadelphia, said. “It is a great feeling inside that I could be here. This was our life growing up, the church was everything.”
Whalen’s sister Kathy Wufsus echoed her brother’s sentiments.
“The memories we have are so touching. We received all our sacraments here. My grandmother, mother, myself, my children, we were all raised here,” she said. At the end of the hour long service pastor, Monsignor William Glosser led the parishioners outside for a final blessing. Kathryn Broker, the oldest parishioner, locked the door for the final time.
The Paschal Candle, a sign of the light of Christ burning in the member’s hearts, carried by Joe Majetsky led the parishioners out of the church and onto the sidewalk for the last time.
This weekend the same candle and all of the candles from each of the Mahanoy City parishes will be processed together into Blessed Teresa of Calcutta where their flames will join together to light one new Paschal Candle as they welcome Christ into the midst of the new assembly.
“We have to continue the faith of Jesus,” Whalen said. “We are like missionaries going where God leads us.”
The 11 a.m. Mass at St. Canicus was just as emotional.
Glosser tried to lighten the mood, even for just a moment.
“In the midst of all this maybe I could put a smile on your face,” Glosser said as he strapped on a bass drum and began hitting the drum and marching across the altar.
The drum belonged to the St. Canicus School Marching Band, a source of much pride, when the school was full and the town thriving.
“Mahanoy City still has spirit but that spirit can only remain alive and be young if we believe,” Glosser said. “We don’t know what the future holds for us in our new parish, but we do know who holds our future. You and I are called to pass the light of Christ to others.”
John “Puck” Sullivan, 100, spoke to about the parish, founded in 1862 by Irish settlers, of which he was a lifelong member.
He described how the original stone church was torn down and a rectory completed in 1924 and the church and school completed in 1925.
“Sadly, 83 years later I am saying goodbye to my beloved St. Canicus. I have deep feelings of grief and resentment once again to no avail,” Sullivan said. “The memories can never be taken from me. To me the church and the soil on which it stands will always be sacred.” The Paschal Candle was passed from Sullivan the oldest member, through several members lining the aisle before being carried out by Jimmy Wall and Danielle Robinson, two of the younger members.
Wall and Robinson will represent St. Canicus during the lighting of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta’s Paschal Candle during 4 p.m. Mass Saturday.
Luke Purcell, who opened the church at 4 a.m. for Mass many mornings for many years, fittingly locked the doors for the last time. Glosser said the Eucharist of both churches will be combined with the Eucharist of the other merging parishes and will be used at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.
“I found strength through Mark Wiekrykas and the choir and the music ministry today,” Glosser said. “When I wanted to cry they built me up and I think they built the people up too. The litany is the center of our lives; it’s where we find God.”
Glosser said he wants the people of all of his Mahanoy City parishes to move on and bring their enthusiasm for the faith to Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.
“I would hope that everything we have done as a parish over the past nine years and the past 146 years as a parish will be remembered and they will take what they learned and put it into practice,” Glosser said. “I gave them the tools now they have to put it into practice.” Glosser, who has served the Mahanoy City parishes for 9 years, will begin his new assignment at St. Clare of Assisi, Saint Clair.
|
||
| Altamont Fire block party parade will have special Canadian guests |
