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Seven churches officially became one in Mahanoy City last weekend
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spytak@republicanherald.com
MAHANOY CITY — The flames of seven candles came together to light a larger one last Saturday afternoon.
With this symbolic ceremony, members of the former St. Fidelis, St. Canicus, Sacred Heart, Assumption BVM, St. Casimir and St. Joseph churches in Mahanoy City and the former Our Lady of Siluva, Maizeville, celebrated their union as the congregation of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Church at the former St. Joseph Church building.
Mother Teresa visited this church at 600 W. Mahanoy Ave., as well as the Missionaries of Charity, next door to the church, on June 17, 1995. Newspaper clippings and a painting of Mother Teresa accent the church.
“Today, we begin a brand-new parish dedicated to Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The example that she gave us of service, of sacrifice, stands in front of us as a challenge that we, too, must follow in her footsteps,” said the parish’s first pastor, the Rev. Kevin P. Gallagher, who was previously pastor of St. Mary, St. Boniface and Ss. Peter and Paul churches in Saint Clair.
On May 31, the Diocese of Allentown announced a restructuring plan in most of Schuylkill County’s deanery regions, where 32 churches were ordered closed by July 15. This was the largest of the mergers, Gallagher said.
Meanwhile, parishioners of four of the seven churches that make up Blessed Teresa of Calcutta — St. Canicus, St. Casimir, St. Fidelis and Our Lady of Siluva — filed appeals asking the Most Rev. Edward P. Cullen, bishop of Allentown, to reconsider their closings, Gallagher said.
At the 4 p.m. service last Saturday, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta congregation’s first, a crowd of between 450 and 500 packed the church.
While some parishioners were inspired by the idea of unity, others said they were still getting used to the adjustment.
“One door shuts, another one opens, right? And we’re thinking very positive, and I just think having blessed Mother Teresa as our patron saint is fantastic. And if everybody can walk in her footsteps, we’ll have the best church going,” said Kathy Wufsus, who was a member of St. Fidelis Church.
Barbara Burke, who also belonged to St. Fidelis, said, “It’s going to take time. We’re all still going through an adjustment. It’s like losing somebody. I’ve been going up there for 40 years.”
Commenting on Saturday’s service, Christine Wiekrykas, who belonged to St. Canicus Church, said, “I thought it was a wonderful example of the unity we can have. I thought it was a good beginning.”
“There’s a great crowd here and everything,” said Ann Waiksnoris, who was a member of St. Joseph Church.
In his sermon, Gallagher said he has plans to renovate the church.
“I hope you will give me the opportunity to bring them to fruition,” he said.
He wanted to change the center vestibule into “the Founders Room,” and decorate it with representations of the seven parishes which made up this one.
“I think that will be a wonderful reminder of our former parish and a beginning of the new,” said Anne Marie Keck, former secretary of St. Canicus and St. Fidelis churches.
Gallagher also mentioned he wanted to improve the air conditioning and parking. The parish office is located next door to the church at the old St. Joseph rectory, while Gallagher’s quarters are based in the former St. Canicus rectory.
MAHANOY CITY — The flames of seven candles came together to light a larger one last Saturday afternoon.
With this symbolic ceremony, members of the former St. Fidelis, St. Canicus, Sacred Heart, Assumption BVM, St. Casimir and St. Joseph churches in Mahanoy City and the former Our Lady of Siluva, Maizeville, celebrated their union as the congregation of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Church at the former St. Joseph Church building.
Mother Teresa visited this church at 600 W. Mahanoy Ave., as well as the Missionaries of Charity, next door to the church, on June 17, 1995. Newspaper clippings and a painting of Mother Teresa accent the church.
“Today, we begin a brand-new parish dedicated to Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The example that she gave us of service, of sacrifice, stands in front of us as a challenge that we, too, must follow in her footsteps,” said the parish’s first pastor, the Rev. Kevin P. Gallagher, who was previously pastor of St. Mary, St. Boniface and Ss. Peter and Paul churches in Saint Clair.
On May 31, the Diocese of Allentown announced a restructuring plan in most of Schuylkill County’s deanery regions, where 32 churches were ordered closed by July 15. This was the largest of the mergers, Gallagher said.
Meanwhile, parishioners of four of the seven churches that make up Blessed Teresa of Calcutta — St. Canicus, St. Casimir, St. Fidelis and Our Lady of Siluva — filed appeals asking the Most Rev. Edward P. Cullen, bishop of Allentown, to reconsider their closings, Gallagher said.
At the 4 p.m. service last Saturday, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta congregation’s first, a crowd of between 450 and 500 packed the church.
While some parishioners were inspired by the idea of unity, others said they were still getting used to the adjustment.
“One door shuts, another one opens, right? And we’re thinking very positive, and I just think having blessed Mother Teresa as our patron saint is fantastic. And if everybody can walk in her footsteps, we’ll have the best church going,” said Kathy Wufsus, who was a member of St. Fidelis Church.
Barbara Burke, who also belonged to St. Fidelis, said, “It’s going to take time. We’re all still going through an adjustment. It’s like losing somebody. I’ve been going up there for 40 years.”
Commenting on Saturday’s service, Christine Wiekrykas, who belonged to St. Canicus Church, said, “I thought it was a wonderful example of the unity we can have. I thought it was a good beginning.”
“There’s a great crowd here and everything,” said Ann Waiksnoris, who was a member of St. Joseph Church.
In his sermon, Gallagher said he has plans to renovate the church.
“I hope you will give me the opportunity to bring them to fruition,” he said.
He wanted to change the center vestibule into “the Founders Room,” and decorate it with representations of the seven parishes which made up this one.
“I think that will be a wonderful reminder of our former parish and a beginning of the new,” said Anne Marie Keck, former secretary of St. Canicus and St. Fidelis churches.
Gallagher also mentioned he wanted to improve the air conditioning and parking. The parish office is located next door to the church at the old St. Joseph rectory, while Gallagher’s quarters are based in the former St. Canicus rectory.
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