INTRODUCTION
IN HONOREM
IMMACVLATI CORDIS
BEATAE MARIAE VIGINIS
DICATA
DIE NOV 1 1953
IN HONOR
OF THE IMMACULATE HEART
OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
DEDICATED
THIS DAY NOV 1 1953<= o:p>
.... So reads the Latin-inscribed cornerstone nestled in the sanctuary of our church, Immaculate Heart of Mary.
= Cornerstones have a dual-role: At once the= y both maintain and commemorate a foundation.&nbs= p; The former holds up a structure, the latter upholds an identity. Our cornerstone marks the founding= and is itself the foundation, of our common house of praise and worship, the pl= ace where we gather to celebrate the everyday miracles of a life steeped in the richness of God’s abundant grace, love and mercy. Our cornerstone identifies a peopl= e who have dedicated themselves to God and to one another in life, sacrament, and utility, as our church structure itself was so dedicated. Our cornerstone marks the foundati= on of a building made by human hands, yet which houses a community formed by and = held within the hands of our heavenly Father.&n= bsp;
Yet, though it may mean all of those things to anyone who may see it,= our cornerstone is merely a stone. Christ is our true and enduring cornerstone; He is the true foundati= on, not of a mere building, but of a community, something of which we are a par= t, yet also something greater than ourselves, which goes beyond the walls of o= ur simple worship space. As Chri= st is the true cornerstone of the Church-Universal, so is He the true cornerstone= of this community; as He is the foundation of His greater Church, so too is he= the foundation of our small piece of it, that piece which is we, the people of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.
Our community too is itself a celebration, not merely at this semi-centennial commemoration, but throughout its life, from its very foundation. And may our celebration—may our life—continue, well into the next one. What follows is our story thus far= .
The work that follows is largely an edited reprint of Dr. David C. Riede’s landmark and definitive history of IHM’s first twenty-f= ive years entitled, Celebrate IHM 25 Years:= Let Our Light Shine Through (used with permission), with documentation of the second half of IHM’s fifty years contributed by = Dr. Riede and others, and gleaned from a multitude of other sources. I am indebted to Dr. Riede, Charles Kiley, and all of those who helped make this semicentennial book a reality.=
It is with the sincerest gratitude for their leadership, example, and enduring legacy that this work is dedicated to the pastors of Immaculate He= art of Mary Catholic Church:
Rev. Thomas D. McIntyre
Rev. John R. Rathfon
Rev. Thomas W. McCann
—Larry McWilliams
October 2003
"We hereby decree the establishment of a new parish. This parish is erected und= er the patronage of, and shall be known as, the Parish of the Immaculate Heart= of Mary."
With these words, the Most Reverend Archbishop
Edward F. Hoban established Immaculate Heart of Mary parish on August 22, 1=
952.
At that time, there were about 471 families within the boundaries of the
parish, which roughly were:
On the eve of the pledge drive, Father McIntyre received a letter of support from Archbishop Hoban, who said in part,
= "The religious education of children is of prime importance in any community and= I am entrusting to you and your people the sacred trust of providing them a parish school at the earliest possible moment. It is your special privilege= to add another vineyard to God's Kingdom on earth and I assure you that your reward will be the choicest of God's blessing on a parish of truly Catholic families."
The Archbishop's trust was well placed, since one of the primary
objectives of both the pastor and the parishioners of Immaculate Heart of M=
ary
for the past fifty years, has been the education of the children. The fund
raising drive got under way on February 22, 1953, when 144 men called on ev=
ery
family in the parish and asked for their pledge to help raise the $100,000.=
00
needed to build the church and the school. Within four hours the job was
done—$110,000.00 had been promised—and more than $100,000.00 was
finally collected. Immediately a contract was signed with William and Thomas
Koehl,
November 1, 1953 is an important date in the history of the parish, f= or it was then that Monsignor Gallagher laid the cornerstone of the church. The day was a beautiful one and the parishioners gathered in the church, sittin= g on folding chairs to witness the ceremony. The walls of the church reached bar= ely to window level and naturally there was no roof. However it was warm enough that a suit coat or light jacket was sufficient. The cornerstone, which is = now located behind the ambo on the left side of the sanctuary, contains a small copper box. Inside the box there is a copy of the Universe Bulletin = of Friday, October 30, 1953; a copy of the Akron Beacon Journal of Sund= ay, November 1, 1953; a short history of the parish; a medal of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; circulars from the Founders Building Fund; coins bearing the date of 1953; a copy of the November 1, 1953 St. Joseph Church Pulpit Ec= ho and a scroll containing the names of the Founders Building Fund contributor= s.
Work on the church progressed steadily during the winter and on Easter
Sunday April 18, 1954, the long awaited day arrived—the first mass in=
the
new church. The church was packed for the 9:00 AM mass, and folding chairs =
were
put up along the side aisles to accommodate all those who attended. Father
Mclntyre was the celebrant, Msgr. Gallagher preached the sermon and Michael
Hayden was Master of Ceremonies.
Mrs. Murray Powers, organist at
In the afternoon, the first Baptisms took place in the new church. Th=
ree
children had the distinction of being first: James Moran, son of James and
Rebecca Moran; Charles Ingersoll, son of Leonard and Geraldine Ingersoll and
Marian Rich, daughter of Victor and Ruth Rich. Also on that Easter Sunday, =
Mr.
Howard Laubert, a convert, was the first person to make his First Holy
Communion in the church. He had been baptized at
Since the church was not yet completed, only Sunday Masses were said =
in
the building for several months, with the daily Masses continuing to be sai=
d at
On May 2, 1954, another first occurred in the new church—92 boys and girls made their First Holy Communion. Then on May 29, 1954, the first wedding took place between John Robb and Frances Hibinger. Because of the m= ud around the church, it was somewhat inconvenient for the young couple, but everything went as scheduled. Construction of the school continued and it w= as finally ready for classes on September 9, 1954. On that opening day, 391 st= udents were registered, and eight classrooms were in use. The following June, sixt= een boys and eight girls made up the first graduating class of Immaculate Heart= of Mary grade school.
Early in 1955, Rosary Altar Society, an organization that has grown b= oth in size and importance in the fifty-year history of the parish, was formed, with Mrs. Leonard Ingersoll serving as the first President. Rosary Altar Society over the years has performed a myriad of duties and services for the parish and from its various projects has raised large sums of money. All of this money has been placed at the disposal of the pastor, for use in the pa= rish at his discretion. The best-known projects and services of the organization have included dances, lawn fêtes, card parties, bake sales, Holly Fai= rs, cookbook sales and the Mother of Sorrows committee. In addition it has been= the ladies of Rosary Altar who have kept the church clean, the church linens in good condition, and quietly but efficiently performed other numerous tasks, which are so necessary to the smooth functioning of a parish.
The formal dedication of the church and school took place on May 22,
1955, two years and nine months after the founding of the parish. Archbishop
Edward F. Hoban, assisted by Msgr. John F. Gallagher and Father McIntyre,
celebrated a Solemn Pontifical Mass at 11:30 AM. Rev. Anthony J. Vinters of=
St.
Patrick parish in
The Apostolic Delegate to the
Ever since the parish had been established, Father McIntyre had commu=
ted
from his residence at
= "This is to be a whirlwind campaign because we will start building as soon as eno= ugh money is pledged. The entire cost of the rectory must be raised because it = is not possible to borrow any more money. The rectory must be built on a pay-as-you-go plan."
During the afternoon of October 16, 201 men visited the homes of parishioners asking them to pledge funds for the rectory. At the end of the day, the goal had not only been achieved, but also surpassed. Eventually a total of $35,000.00 was collected for the rectory and the actual building g= ot underway in January 1956. Without strikes or bad weather to slow the construction, the rectory was ready for occupancy in November.
The number of students enrolled in the parish school continued to rise
each year and in the 1955-1956 school year there were 500 students register=
ed.
Two classrooms were added that year in the basement of the school at a total
cost of $4,000.00. It soon be=
came
apparent that this would not suffice and plans were undertaken to organize
still another fund drive for an addition to the school and a convent as wel=
l.
All of the sisters had been living at
During the period of construction, in May 31, 1959, Father McIntyre
celebrated his 25th anniversary as a priest, and a reception was
held for him in the auditorium of
On March 29, 1960, the Most Rev. John Krol, Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland, administered the sacrament of Confirmation a= nd also dedicated and blessed the new convent, the convent chapel and the scho= ol addition. When an appraisal of church property was completed in July 1960, = it was learned that the value of the convent and school addition had appreciat= ed by $48,000.00 since they had been built. In August, marking the eighth anniversary of the parish, Father McIntyre noted that out of a wild, swampy field there had risen a church, a rectory, a large school and a convent, wi= th a net worth of around one million dollars. In addition there was a parish of about 1,000 families with close to 900 students registered in the school. N= ot a bad record for only eight years.
The first half of the 1960's reflected a shift of emphasis in the his= tory of the parish. By that time the major portion of the building program had b= een completed, the school was well established, many of the parish organizations had been founded, and the growing pains of a new parish had been overcome.<= /p>
Because it was anticipated that enrollment would increase to at least 1,000 students by 1963, Father McIntyre in the summer of that year had plans drawn for another addition to the school—a gymnasium, locker rooms for boys and for girls, a few more classrooms, a library and a large meeting ro= om. This addition was to be added to the north end of the school and would be perpendicular to the original building, so that the school would have the s= hape of an "L". The entrance would have been on the east side of the addition. When the plans were presented to the Bishop, he refused permission for the addition much to the disappointment of Father McIntyre.
Local affairs were overshadowed however by the most important event in these years—the Second Vatican Council which was convened by Pope John XXIII in October of 1962. This council met in four separate sessions, final= ly closing on December 8, 1965. When the decrees of the council were promulgat= ed, Catholics found that the liturgy, rites and ceremonies of the entire church= had been drastically altered. These decrees also heralded great changes in the lives of the clergy and religious. Things would never be the same again said many Catholics, some with great sadness, but many with great joy. Pope John, who had looked forward with eagerness to the results of the council, did not live to see the completion of any except the first session, dying in June 1= 963. Vatican II continued, however, under the leadership of Pope Paul VI.
In 1964, Father McIntyre celebrated his 30th anniversary a= s a priest and members of the parish decided to surprise him with a Benediction service in the church. Somehow preparations were handled so quietly that Fa= ther knew nothing of the plans and with the help of his good friend, Father Wint= ers, he did not arrive at the celebration until everyone was gathered in the chu= rch. Eight hundred people attended the service to honor their pastor and at the = end Father was presented with a check for $5,500.00 to be used for his first vacation since becoming pastor. In the next Sunday bulletin, Father said, <= /p>
= “Joy, ingenuity, devotion, loyalty and love. These are the words that have kept coming to my mind since last Monday. They seem so fittingly to describe the spirit that animated our parishioners last Monday. That spirit, I can tell = you, I so deeply appreciated. But how shall I ever be able to find the words, re= ally to tell you how much I appreciate you.... You can never know how much it me= ant to me as a priest. The Church is in good hands—it will prosper as lon= g as there are people like you who love the priest.... I shall ever cherish Mond= ay, May 25, 1964, as one of the most memorable of my life.”
During the decade of the 1960's, the athletic program of the school g= rew in importance. The Holy Name Society had given guidance and financial assistance to athletics since the school had opened, but it the mid 60's the program had grown to such an extent that an Athletic Board was formed to oversee all athletics and attempt to provide the necessary financial backin= g. And when it is considered that each sport needs coaches and assistant coach= es, everyone realizes that the parish has been extremely fortunate to have men = and women willing to give generously of their time to help youth of the parish engage in all athletic activities.
In 1965 Father McIntyre, disappointed that the gymnasium addition cou= ld not be built, suggested to the people the project of finishing the church interior. Summer bulletins asked that a voluntary building fund be started which would be used to help defray some of the costs if the project was app= roved. Later at a public meeting, after much discussion, the project was approved = by the parishioners, for not only finishing the church, but also for building = an addition to the rectory and a garage. It was also in 1965 that the State Legislature approved a school bus bill providing for busing of all non-public pupils by the public school districts. This relieved the parish of the responsibility of maintaining its own school busses.
In April 1967, the plans for the new construction were drawn and appr= oved by the diocese. They included the transepts for the church, a meeting room under the east transept, new rooms behind the main altar, as well as the addition to the rectory and the garage. Estimates for the church addition w= ere $380,000.00, not including furnishings and air conditioning, the latter proposal having been vetoed by the diocese as too expensive. The rectory addition included a bedroom and study for a third priest, two extra bedroom= s, two offices on the first floor and a meeting room in the basement, for an estimated cost of $44,000.00. Father McIntyre announced that he had $21,000= .00 from the estate of an aunt, which he would gladly contribute toward the cos= t of the rectory. Seese Construction was the general contractor and work began in August 1967. By January 1968, work had progressed to a point where the men = were ready to break through the walls into the nave from the newly constructed transepts. Many older parishioners will remember the temporary wall built w= ell into the front of the church with a small altar placed on floor level for a= ll Sunday Masses. They should also remember the lack of heat and the necessity= of wearing sweaters and heavy coats to Mass. Rising costs caused the eliminati= on of some items, such as new statues, new stations and stained glass windows,= as well as necessitating the borrowing of more money. The actual construction = cost of both buildings, including architect's fees and furnishings was $437,167.= 00, the pews alone costing $23,688.00.
Even though Father McIntyre was hospitalized in August and September = 1968 because of a heart condition, Fathers Carlin and Skully carried on with the affairs of the parish and the supervision of the construction and the church was ready by Christmas. Everyone felt that the parish now had one of the mo= st beautiful churches in the area and one of which they could be justifiably proud.
On Tuesday, October 7, 1969, the parish again surprised Father McInty= re with a celebration that marked his 35th anniversary as a priest = and his sixty-first birthday. At the party, Helen Eliadis, President of Rosary Altar Society and Paul Hayden, Vice-President of Holy Name, presented Father with a purse of $1,000.00 and the keys to a brand new 1970 Chrysler.
Also in that year, the Bishop sent out a directive, which asked all parishes in the diocese to form Parish Councils. Therefore a Steering Commi= ttee was formed which spent many months planning for a council. With David Riede= as Chairman, John Kunkler as Vice-Chairman, Bernadette Harris as Recording Secretary and Emma Buescher as Corresponding Secretary, this committee of thirty parishioners conducted a Parish Interest Survey, set up rules and regulations for membership in and elections to a council. It also spent much time preparing items for the parish bulletin explaining to the members of t= he parish the purposes of a Parish Council. All of the months of planning came= to fruition in January 1970, when the first Parish Council of Immaculate Heart= of Mary met. Permanent officers were elected in March, with David Riede servin= g as President, Ralph Stevens, Vice-President and Ann Biasella serving as the fi= rst Secretary. The Council from the day of its first meeting to the present time under the chairmanship of Keith Libby, has been actively engaged in the aff= airs of the Parish, especially through its various commissions.
State aid to private schools came about in 1969 and everyone felt that the days of worrying about paying for a parish school were ended, but in 19= 71 this aid was declared to be unconstitutional and was cancelled. From that p= oint on, tuition has been charged students enrolled in the school, and much of t= he work of keeping payments current, setting policies and rates has been deleg= ated to the Education Commission of Parish Council. The never-ending problem of finances has been a major item of business for the Finance Committee while = the Liturgical Commission had worked diligently on the changes in the liturgy, = on the programs for Spiritual Renewal, on Holy Year ceremonies, as well as the holy day and seasonal liturgies over the years.
In 1971, Mr. Caley Augustine became the organist for the parish, replacing Mrs. Patricia Ethridge who had been the faithful organist for many years. However with the expansion of the church building, the old organ was= no longer adequate and the Rosary Altar Society and Parish Council jointly beg= an looking into possibilities of buying a new organ. An Organ Committee spent = many months looking and listening to various makes of organs, and finally recommended that an Allen Computer organ be purchased. One was ordered in M= arch 1972. It was installed in the summer and first played on August 13, 1972. <= /p>
&nb=
sp; The
year 1974 was marked by several important events connected with the clergy =
and
the religious of the parish. On June 2, Father McIntyre read the proclamati=
on
of Pope Paul VI opening the Holy Year, and then on the next day, Father was
again surprised by the celebration of his 40th anniversary as a
priest. A Benediction Service was held in the church that evening and Mayor
Quirk of
Reverend Thomas D. McIntyre, Founding Pastor Immaculate Heart of M= ary In Grateful Appreciation for his many Years of love and dedication to his Parishioners on the 40th Anniversary of his ordination, 26 May 1= 974.
All members of the parish felt that the words helped express their love and appreciation for the years their pastor had labored = for them.
On New Years Day, 1975, Bishop James Hickey, named the new ordinary f= or the Diocese of Cleveland the previous summer, made his first visit to the parish and concelebrated the noon mass. Soon after, Father McIntyre was hospitalized with a case of pneumonia, but it was discovered after a series= of tests, that within the past two years he had suffered a heart attack. His recovery was much slower than he wished, for his doctor forbade him to take part in any of the affairs of the parish, even though he was staying in the rectory. Fathers Maloney, Clancy and Dunphy shouldered the work of administering the parish, doing such a fine job that when Father McIntyre returned to full duty in the fall he found everything in good shape.
During 1976 a parish census and questionnaire was conducted by the Pa= rish Council and many good suggestions were received from parishioners. One item which was mentioned many times was that Bingo games should be started in the parish as a means of providing entertainment for people of the parish and surrounding area, and also as a means of providing added revenue for the parish. This suggestion was investigated by the Parish Council and after ma= ny months of study and purchasing of equipment, the first Bingo game was held = on June 16, 1977. Because of a drop in enrollment in the school from 978 stude= nts in 1963, the temporary classrooms were no longer needed and during 1976 the= se rooms were dismantled and the parish once again had a social hall for receptions, card parties, bingo games and large meetings.
Early in 1977, there was talk about what could be done to celebrate t=
he
coming twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the parish. Suggestions were made at Parish Co=
uncil
meetings during the year, and soon plans began to take shape, and a week of
celebration and activities was developed, beginning with a Family Day on
September 11, 1977. The day began with a concelebrated mass by Bishop Hicke=
y,
Father McIntyre and Father Robert Hanzo, along with fifty other priests.
During all the festivities in the church, the official logo of the ch= urch was displayed. The design was= a combination of the efforts of Ann Newman, a 7th grader CCD stude= nt and Danny Krochka, a 5th grade student at IHM school, both of wh= om received prizes for their designs.
It was also at this time that new statues and new Stations of the Cro=
ss
were placed in the church, this completing another phase of the church
interior. And finally, on Dec=
ember
19, as the year drew to a close, a stained glass window depicting the
Immaculate Heart of Mary, a gift to the parish from Father McIntyre, was
installed at the end of the nave over the balcony, the former choir loft.
Father John Rathfon, under whose pastorate IHM continued to grow in t=
he
most dynamic ways physically, spiritually, and demographically, replaced Fa=
ther
McIntyre. Fr. Rathfon’s=
most
immediate efforts centered on continuing the building program begun by his
predecessor, as well as the dedicated administration of the parish. In 1987, the convent was leased to=
Elder
Day Care and
In 1990 a sizeable bequest of $587,668.17 was left to the parish by J=
ulia
Schmidt, which allowed Fr. Rathfon and the parishioners to redecorate the
church from ceiling to floor and purchase a new Rodgers-Teller organ for
$99,348.00, which replaced the Allen organ, which had been installed in
1972. Also, because of the Sc=
hmidt
bequest, planning was begun for a new
Parish growth has conti=
nued in
other areas of parish life as well—especially at the parish school, a=
nd
in parish organizations—under the leadership of IHM's third and curre=
nt
pastor, Father Thomas McCann, who succeeded Father Rathfon upon his retirem=
ent
in 1994.
IHM school continues to= enjoy the benefits of many improvements and steady growth over the years, and wit= h a teaching and educational support staff of well over forty dedicated personn= el, currently under the leadership of Mrs. Anita Nagel, IHM School has achieved remarkable success, as it offers uncompromising quality in the education and spiritual formation of the students—454 enrolled in the 2003-2004 sch= ool year—it serves. IHM parishioners also benefit from the strong Parish School of Religion program. Two hundred fifty-ei= ght students were enrolled in the 2003-2004 program year, and were instructed a= nd facilitated by a record number of volunteer catechists, offering yet anothe= r testament to the extraordinary volunteer spirit and educational priority that IHM has long-treasured.
Additionally, at presen=
t, well
over fifty organizations, including the St. Vincent de Paul Society,
The year 1997 marked the 45th anniversary of the parish’s founding, for which yet another week of celebration was plan= ned, complete with dinners, dances, a special commemorative mass, and even a tal= ent show. Many of those who contr= ibuted their time and energies for the 45th anniversary were called upon again just a few years later to join a special committee assembled and chai= red by Charles Kiley for the planning of the parish’s fiftieth anniversary year-long gala in 2002-2003. = The members of the IHM Semicentennial Committee and other volunteers assigned t= o it included Chuck Kiley, Claudia Kaeberlein-Simone, Carole Dean, Larry and Car= ol Valentine, Bob and Joann Folatko, Larry McWilliams, Mimi Berghoff, Marty Meadows, Patrick Marquardt, Shiela Motter, Tricia Loney, Gina Bedell, Sally= and Dave Riede, Barbara Thomas, Gracinda Sams, Michael and Marilyn Heinl, Julie Vinzani, Liz Raines, Evelyn Marcinco, Chris Tavolier, Linda Wilkinson, Marguerite Stolfo, Barb Lytz, Frances Hadnett, Dorothy Klodnicki, and Bob a= nd Margie Trettel. Formed in Aug= ust 2001—one year from the date festivities were slated to begin—periodic meetings planned the many events of celebration for the parish community, which involved everything from the arrangements of liturg= ies and paraliturgical events throughout the year, most notably the opening and closing masses held by Bishop Martin J. Amos on September 15, 2002, and Bis= hop Anthony M. Pilla, on August 24, 2003, respectively; dinner dances; the crea= tion of a new logo by Bark at the Moon, and processional flags, banners, and many miscellaneous promotional items to display it proudly; a new parish census;= and this commemorative history, among many other items. And concurrent with all this planning, IHM’s participation in Bishop Pilla’s Vibrant Pa= rish Life initiative became a priority, and was endorsed, implemented and champi= oned by Fr. Jonathan Zingales and the Parish Pastoral Council. Its overwhelming success is a test= ament to the well-known vibrancy of our parish life.
And finally, one of the more obvious and beautiful additions to the church in recent years was the installation of a statue of Our Lady of Providence on the front lawn of the church, adjacent to the rectory. Through a generous combined donati= on in September 2001 of $14,600.00 from the Christopher Nairne and Harold Rasmuss= en, Jr. families, and the IHM Council of Catholic Women, the shrine was built in honor of Benjamin, Pauline, and Patrick Gryvalsky, and the innocent victims= of abortion and terrorism. This touching memorial has been a source of inspiration for all parishioners and visitors to our church, and is a salient reminder of the love and protectio= n of our Holy Mother.
There is always to be great pride taken in accomplishment and in the fulfillment of a dream’s potential.&= nbsp; To the casual observer, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church may appear as just another big brick building at a busy intersection, hardly wo= rth what little notice it might attract. But to those who belong here, for those of us who call this place our spiritual home, to look around and take in all that really is present here, what really forms the substance of this, our life, breath, and promise, is = to realize the significance of hard work, dedication, abundant blessings, and profound love. The efforts of= three pastors, sixteen associates, two deacons, dozens of women religious, ten sc= hool principals, thirty-three parish pastoral councils, fifty finance councils, scores of parish and rectory staff, uncounted numbers of parish organization heads and members, and thousands upon thousands of families, have enabled o= ur parish to grow from an episcopal decree, to a handshake of covenant; from a vacant lot to bustling center of worship and social action; from a simple, = idle dream, to a cascading and triumphant reality.
What was once a mere vision half a century ago is a grand actuality today, and far beyond the musings of the original idea. The walls of our church may contai= n our worship, but they cannot contain our spirit. As it has done so throughout the p= ast fifty years, may our spirit continue to shine through the next fifty, and beyond.
š›
APPENDIX I
VITAL STATISTICS
Financial
Cost of Property at Portage Trail and
Cost of the Church (1954): $250,000.00
Cost of the School (1954): $206,500.00
Original Mortgage with Diocese of
First Collection at State Theater: $685.00
First Collection at New Church (Easter, 1954): $3,108.75
Cost of the Rectory (1956): $55,000.00
Cost of the
Cost of the School Addition (1959, incl. arch. fees):<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> $168,000.00
Cost of the Rectory Addition: $59,118.00
Cost of the Church Addition (excl. furnishings): $418,135.00
Mortgage with Northwestern Mutual (highest): $430,000.00
Sacramental
First Mass at State Theater: September 7, 1952
First Mass in the New Church: April 18, 1954
First Baptisms of IHM, at
(Marian Schmitz, James Ve= gh, Karen Zuschek)
First Baptisms in the New Church: April 18, 1954
(James Moran, Marian Rich, Charles Ingersoll)
First Funeral of IHM:= August 25, 1952
&nbs= p; (Lita Patrice Jeffreys)
First Funeral in the New Church: June 7, 1954
&nbs= p; (Charles Schmidt)
First First Communion Class at State Theater: May 3, 1952 (65)
First First Communion in New Church: April 18, 1954
&nbs= p; (Howard Laubert)
First First Communion Class in the New Church: May 2, 1954 (95)
First Confirmation Class: March 19, 1953
First Confirmation Class in New Church: October 18, 1955
First Wedding of IHM (notice sent by US Army Chaplain)= : September 5, 1952
(William Martin Miklos to Patricia Ann Fenwick)
First Wedding of IHM, at
&nbs= p; (Richard Eugene Crum to Janet Louise Karlheim)
First Wedding in the New Church: April 25, 1953
&nbs= p; (Michael Dan Mitchell to Patricia Jean Nash)
Total Baptisms in the Parish through August 2002: 4,695
Total First Communions in Parish through August 2002:<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> 5,536
Total Confirmandi from Parish through August 2002: 6,124
Total Weddings in Parish through August 2002: 1,089
Total Funerals in Parish through August 2002: 1,535
Blessed Sacrament Reserved Permanently in New Church:<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> May 29, 1954
First Mass by Newly Ordained Priest: May 24, 1954
&nbs= p; (Rev. John Viall)
Miscellaneous
School Opens for First Class: September 9, 1954
Dedication of Church and School: May 22, 1955
First Graduation Class from the School: June 5, 1955
Construction of Rectory Begins: January 19, 1954
Construction of
Construction of School Addition Begins: April 13, 1959
Blessing of Convent and School Addition: March 29, 1960
First Graduation Class to Complete Eight (8) Years in = the School: June 10, 1962
Construction of Church and Rectory Additions Begins:
Stained Glass Windows Added, Altar Lowered, Tabernacle Moved: 1980
Construction of
Church Reconsecrated and Rededicated: 1993
Installation of New Air Conditioning: 1996
First Parish Pastoral Council: 1970, Dr. David C. Riede, Chair
First Parish Finance Council: 1952
APPENDIX II
CLERICAL PERSONNEL AND SCHOOL PRINCIPALS
Pastors
Rev. Thomas D. McIntyre 1952—1978
Rev. John R. Rathfon&n= bsp; &= nbsp; 1978—1994
Rev. Thomas W. McCann&= nbsp; 1994—present
Associate Pastors
=
Rev.
Robert Hanzo &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; 1956—1961
=
Rev.
Gerald Whelan =
1=
961—1966
=
Rev.
Robert Carlin =
&nb=
sp; 1966—1974
=
Rev.
Gerald Skully =
&nb=
sp; 1966—1971
=
Rev.
James Maloney =
1=
971—1977
=
Rev.
Robert Clancy =
1974—1979
=
Rev.
Mark Peyton &n=
bsp; =
; 1977—1980
=
Rev.
Lawrence Gozowski &n=
bsp; 1979—1985
=
Rev.
William Severt =
; <=
/span>1982—1986
=
Rev.
Dan Conley &nb=
sp; =
1985
=
Rev.
Joseph Lehane =
1985—1990
=
Rev.
Tim Garling &n=
bsp; =
; 1991
=
Rev.
Michael B. Smith 1992—19=
97
=
Rev.
Thomas G. Woost &nbs=
p; 1997—2002
=
Rev. Jonathan
A. Zingales &n=
bsp; 2002—2004
=
Rev.
Joseph Weigand =
; 2005—p=
resent
=
Permanent Deacons
Rev. Mr. J. David Seal= 1987—present
Rev. Mr. Gregory Hoefler 2004—presen= t
School Principals
Sr. Marie Pierre, CSA&= nbsp; &nbs= p; 1955—1956
Sr. Mary Jane, CSA&nbs= p; &= nbsp; 1956—1957
Sr. Mary Roselyn, CSA&= nbsp; 19= 57—1963
Sr. Mary Felice, CSA&n= bsp; = ; 1963—1966
Sr. Marian
Sr. Miriam Erb, CSA&nb= sp; = 1974—1982
Sr. Helen Weiss, SJSM&= nbsp; 19= 82—1995
Mr. John Mark &nb= sp; 1995= —2000
Ms. Kim Greene &n=
bsp; =
; 2000—2002
Mrs. Anita Nagel = &nb= sp; 2002—present
APPENDIX III
PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS =
LIFE
Ordinandi
Rev. James Viall = &nb= sp; December 18, 1954
Rev. John Raub &n= bsp; = ; December 1961
Rev. John Viall &= nbsp; May 23, 1959
Rev. John Burkley = ; &n= bsp; May 30, 1970
Rev. Steven Shields&nb= sp; = June 8, 1974
Rev. William Severt&nb= sp; = June 8, 1974
Rev. Patrick McShane&n= bsp; = ; June 9, 1979
Rev. William Thaden&nb= sp; = May 28, 1988
Rev. Tim Horan &n= bsp; = ; May 11, 1989
Rev. Michael Hickin&nb= sp; = May 31, 1997
Rev. Mr. J. David Seal= May 30, 1987
Rev. Mr. Gregory Hoefler 2004
Religious
Sr. Jean Welch, Blessed Sacrament
Sr. Carol Kandiko, CSA
Sr. Mary Ann Wiesemann, CSA
Sr. Denise Stiles, CSA
Sr. Ruth Patrick, CSA
APPENDIX IV
EXPLANATION OF THE CHURCH WINDOWS
![](3D"OurCornerstoneOfFaith_files/image002.jpg")
=
Introduction
“The use of stained glass=
has
a long tradition in the Church.
Besides its decorative use, it was also used as a teaching or
catechetical device. Scenes f=
rom the
Bible were depicted, and could then be used by preachers to help a poorly
educated or even illiterate congregation to understand the Scriptures and i=
ts
teachings. The windows could =
then
be a source of reflection and prayer afterwards, much as someone today might
read a Scripture passage as a source of prayer.” †
We at Immaculate Heart of Mary
Church are blessed to have the beautiful stained glass windows that we do.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Purchased through the generosity of
parishioners, and installed in 1979, they continually inspire our thoughts,
enliven our assembly, and illuminate our worship.
What follows is a reprint of an
article originally written by Fr. John Rathfon explaining the symbolism beh=
ind
each striking piece.
š›
Overall Plan
Windows 1-6
The gene= ral plan of the windows stems from the two lifelines of Catholicism: Sacred Scripture and our rich Tradition. It is through these that Christians have come to kn= ow God in a personal and communal way.
Windows 7-9
People h= ave come to know, understand and experience that our God is a God of relationship an= d so in the mystery of the Trinity this relationship of Father, Son, and Spirit = is reflected in the intimate love relationship we share with God and one anoth= er.
Windows 10-12
People c= ome to know God's relationship with them through the sacraments of Baptism, Euchar= ist, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, Reconciliation, and Anointing of the S= ick.
Windows 13-22
As Chris= tians we are called to live a life of virtue.
Window 23
All of t= his is has already been given witness too, through the lives of outstanding women = and men who have gone before us in faith. As the Immaculate Heart of Mary is our Patroness so she is given honor in our rose window above the balcony.
Transept Window= s
Windows 7-9: The Trinity Window
The three windows are designed to give the impression that they are one. This reflects the theology of the Trinity. Our God is one, yet God is also a mystery of t= hree inner relationships. God is source of all love, all relationship, all community, all unity. This is reflected in who God is. Since we are a reflection of God this is what we are called to as well.
Window 9: Creation
The left= lancet depicts God the Father, Creator, the Hand of God, sending forth the rays of creation and grace. This is the hand that breathed life and spirit into all that lives and breathes and moves: Stars, planets, sun and moon, comets, creatures of earth and sky, water and land. Both man and women created as partners and co-creators with God are made in the image of God who bestows = upon us the freedom of life.
Window 8: Redemption
The cent= er lancet depicts the second element of the Holy Trinity, the Son who is Jesus Christ. He is the Lamb, the one sacrificed so that all may be saved. Standi= ng on the book of the seven seals from The Book of Revelation we procla= im in the mystery of our faith that Christ will come again.
Window 7: Sanctification
The righ= t lancet depicts the Holy Spirit who binds all things together. It is the Spirit that binds our community of faith together through baptismal waters. It was thro= ugh water that the world was immersed so that Noah and his family could be rene= wed and start again. It was through water that the Pharaoh and Egyptians were immersed so that the chosen Israelites could go forward to their Promised L= and. It was in water that Jesus was immersed so that the Father could reveal just how pleased he was, It was water that flowed from Christ's side as he hung = upon the cross an act of total unconditional love. It is in all of this that the= Spirit bestows up us the gifts of life (knowledge, wisdom, thanksgiving, glory, ho= nor, power, blessing, and might). It is in the Word that the stories of Good News are told and re-told so that we might be changed, all continuing through Je= sus' Incarnation or God becoming a person through the mother of us all, Mary, wh= ose symbol is the pure, white lily.
Windows 10-12: The Sacraments
These wi= ndows are designed as one because it is through the sacraments that we come to sh= are in and become a part of the one body of Christ. We are called to be Church.=
Window 11: Eucharist
This is = the source and summit of our lives -- to share in and become the Body of Christ= . It is symbolized with cup and bread, grapes and wheat. It is from the Eucharist that all other Sacraments are given meaning and life.
Window 10: Baptism, Penance, and Confirmation=
The uppe= r left is the symbol of Baptism, the Paschal Candle which represents the light of Christ, which shines in all Christian hearts. The Paschal Candle is blessed every year at the Easter Vigil and stands in the midst of the worshipping assembly to remind us of our new life and new hope in Christ's resurrection. Penance is depicted by the symbol of forgiveness. Confirmation is given to those Christian who need to be sealed with the gifts of the Spirit, which supports and strengthens their Christian witness.
Window 12: Matrimony, Holy Orders, Anointing =
of the
Sick
At right= , is the symbol of Marriage, the joining of two people together—interlocking r= ings of love, heart to heart, life to life, with Christ and with Christ's Church. Holy Orders is the sacrament of those called to keep order in the community= by preserving the traditions handed down from generation to generation. It is shown as the open bible from which we preach and the shepherd's staff from which we can direct and guide. The final symbol is the anointing of the sic= k, which is represented as a hand reaching out to bless and heal.
Windows 1-6
We are r= ooted in Sacred Word and it is from this Word that our lives take on form and direct= ion. Through the telling of this sacred story our current stories become sacred = as we continue in the footsteps of our ancestors of old, the saving and myster= ious work of God.
Window 1: Saint John the Evangelist
Depicts = the more spiritual Christ using Scripture quotes, “I am the vine, you are the branches." From the vine, which is Christ, the branches, the Church, receives all life and nourishment. "I am the alpha and the omega." The first and last letters in the Greek alphabet. This reminds us that Chri= st must be first and last in our lives. These two symbols are often placed or carved onto the Paschal Candle as well.
Window 2: Saint
Paul
An early= Convert to Christianity, before then a major persecutor of the Christian faith. His= life totally turned around upon experiencing the risen Lord. He became a strong leader and defender of the faith in the early Church, symbolized by the swo= rd. He is also remembered for his strong teaching and preaching of Christ risen, symbolized by a flourishing palm tree.
Window 3: Saint Luke the Evangelist
Luke's gospel presents more of the sacrificial natur= e of Jesus' life. God's only Son willing died upon the cross knowing it was the = only form of sacrifice that would prove his love. Christ's life is known as a "Total Sacrifice."
Window 4: Saint Matthew the Evangelist<=
/o:p>
The gosp=
el,
which gives us Jesus' lineage or genealogy of ancestors. Depicted as a thorn bush growing f=
rom
its root, the Star of David from whose royal lineage Jesus descends. The Cr=
eator's
Star becomes the Chi ![](3D"OurCornerstoneOfFaith_files/image004.jpg")
=
, a symbol of Christ the Savior) which rests or ends in t=
he
Mystical Rose or Mary who gave here consent to be the Messiah's mother.
Window 5: Saint Peter
Saint Pe= ter is known as "The Rock." He often asked the wrong questions, but quite often gave the right answers. He was the first of all the apostles to recog= nize Jesus as the Messiah. So it is that he became the first leader of the Church community symbolized by the guiding shepherd's staff or crosier that a bish= op often carries. In scripture, Christ grants Peter the keys to the Kingdom. <= /p>
Window 6: Saint Mark the Evangelist
In his g= ospel, the stories emphasize Christ living and Christ as King. The orb of earth, suggesting his earthly being; the cross his sacrifice or gift to us of life; the crown is the majesty of Christ as Messiah and Savior, through the Trini= ty; it is the Crown of Life. Our redemption, repeated in this Gospel is found in the theme of the center lancet window "The Trinity—Redemption.&q= uot;
Nave Windows
Windows 13-22
These wi= ndows, which surround us as a worshipping community, remind us of the virtues that= we need to have within our lives in order to be examples and witnesses of Chri= st.
Window 13: Justice
Is depic=
ted by
the traditional sword of justice (of seen with images of angels such as Sai=
nt
Michael the
Window 14: Prudence
This is suggested by the compass formed by the Chi Rho (a symbol of Christ), which guides the ship, the Church—each one of us over turbulent waters.
Window 15: Temperance
Relates = the power given to us by God to understand and decide our full value of decisio= n, right from wrong. This suggested by the plumb bob.
Window 16: Fortitude
The symb= ol suggests martyrdom and sacrifice—to believe so strongly that one woul= d be willing to give up the most precious gift we have in order to preserve it, = that one would actually die to assure that love stands firm. The olive branch crossing a form of Roman sword which both surmounted by the greatest form of sacrifice and total dedication of love, the cross. In Christ's love we can overcome all obstacles.
Window 17: Humility
The humb= le birth of our Savior is shown as pure virtue. A king, Messiah, Savior is placed in= an animals feeding trough, in a stable, unwanted, uninvited except by those who love.
Window 18: Mercy
We now g= o across the nave to the east elevation and find the symbol of mercy suggested by the head of Christ set within an aurora cross from with the words, "Father, forgive them." Words spoken by Christ before his death on the cross. O= ur Lord asks us to witness and live out the same kind of mercy towards all.
Window 19: Patience
This sym= bol reflects the thought that patience through the abstract story of Job. The p= ine, set into the off side of a mountain, cold, unwanted, and alone. It survives through the touching graces of God (Sun) and grows without pity or want. Suggesting our human ability to survive regardless of torment or ordeal, ha= te or loneliness, if we strive to reach for God.
Window 20: Faith
Depicted= through the symbol of Abraham's love and total belief in God. The angel gives the message to Abraham that the Lord shall conceal nothing to his people and th= at he shall be Father to all the chosen people. The flames touch upon the pyre= of sacrifice, the cross-form and ram.
The anch= or, which relates to us, our total undying belief that in the most untested rou= gh waters of life and living we can always be rested by the calm waters of God, anchored safely in God's mystery.
Window 22: Charity
Depicted= in the form of symbolic character which depicts the scripture “I have great compassion for the crowd." When Christ is told that the multitude has = not eaten or rested for a while, he shows his compassion. Through his love he converts only a small quantity of food for many—today we can describe= the most charitable action to be Eucharist. This is how we not only receive Christ's body but also how we give Christ's presence to others.
Balcony Window
Window 23: The Great Rose Window of the Immac=
ulate
Heart of Mary
Our pari= sh namesake, so we give the Immaculate Heart of Mary a special place of honor = in our Church. It was Mary, the perfect disciple, who exhibited in her life, in her work, in her words, in her motherhood, all the virtues that surround us= . We do no worship her, but rather we ask that she remain for us a role model, an example of Christian living. It is her pure heart that knows Jesus; we pray that our hearts may continuously be cleansed through virtue, through Sacred Word, and through the Sacramental life so that we too might come closer to = who Christ is, and who Christ is calling us to be.
š›
This =
is our
parish. Such proud efforts of=
a
proud community, in conjunction with the collective talents and dedicated
leadership of the parish's pastors, associate pastors, deacon and staff over
the years, have made IHM an example to other faith communities of Christian
love, devotion and charity.
This =
is our
parish. Amen!
̵=
2;
† From the “S= tained Glass Windows” section of the website for Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel= at Gannon University, Erie, PA (www.gannon.edu).