Mercer County PAGenWeb


Greenville

St. Michaels Church


St. Michael’s Early History and Growth

The history of Catholicism in Greenville dates as far back as 1838.

It was in that year that a priest (name unknown) from the diocese of Philadelphia on one of his missionary tours, celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in Greenville. The home privileged to witness the first Mass was that of a Mr. Bryan McNally, a Catholic, an emigrant from Ireland, and a pioneer tailor in Greenville. His home was located on what is now North Race St., a little north of the northwest corner of North Race and Main Sts. 

Besides Mr. McNally there were present at this Mass: John and Ferdinand Schmidt, Martin Lindeman, John O’Hara, John McCoy and John Hoffman. The Schmidt brothers had come from Germany and were attracted to Greenville by employment offered on the old Erie Canal. Hoffman, also a native of Germany, was a blacksmith for the canal constructors. McCoy and O’Hara had come from Ireland; the former was a contractor in the canal construction, while no record of the occupation of O’Hara has come down to  us.



Drawing of the original church

Read More About St. Michael's

From the History of Mercer County, 1877

From the History of Mercer County, 1888

Other missionaries sent out by Bishop Francis Patrick Kenrick from Philadelphia cared for the spiritual needs of the little Catholic group in Greenville and environs intermittently for the next few years. We know, for instance, that in the summer of 1842 Father Hugh P. Gallagher of Loretta, Cambria Co., following the path of the canal, stopped in Greenville and celebrated Mass in the same McNally home. Present at this Mass in addition to those mentioned above were: Mark and Bridget Doyle, Patrick and Anna Doyle, and James Doyle; Richard, John and Patrick Marley of Greene Township, John Savage and Mrs. Schoonmaker. All of these were natives of Ireland with the exception of Mrs. Schoonmaker. Father Gallagher returned to Greenville at intervals for over a year and was succeeded by Father John Reid of the Pittsburgh diocese who took care of the Greenville Catholics for some years following. During Father Reid’s time a number of families were added to the congregation. Among them were: Michael Mitchell and family from Ireland; Michael and Matthias Schumacher and their wives, Bernard George and his father, Nicholas Romelfanger and family, Leonard Sauers, Christopher Frum and Theodore Kirk. All of these except the Mitchells had come from Germany.

It was in August of 1842 that Greenville was favored with a visit from Bishop Kenrick of Philadelphia. Coming from Mercer and on his way to Meadville and Erie, he stopped off in Greenville overnight (August 4th-5th) and celebrated Mass in the morning in the home of Mrs. Schoonmaker who was a Catholic and whose husband is recorded as being “well disposed toward the Faith”. At this time three persons received Holy Communion and five were baptized. It is worthy of note that one of the latter was the wife of Mr. Bryan McNally who at this time is described as a woman “advanced in years”. Thus was rewarded the kindness that provided an altar and chapel for the King of Kings on His first visit to Greenville.

Again in 1846 Greenville was visited by a member of the hierarchy, this time by Bishop Michael O’Connor of Pittsburgh. About his visit here he wrote in his Diary for August 21, 1846: “Travelled through Sharon to Greenville. Greenville is a rising town said to contain 1500 inhabitants. Being on the canal, much business is done here. Rev. M. Mitchell said Mass here in a school house. Confirmed one. About one hundred Catholics reside in the district. They promise to take immediate steps to have a church erected here.”  

FIRST CHURCH

The above-mentioned promise to erect a church was fulfilled two years later in 1848. Signs of religious bigotry manifested themselves among the various property owners as soon as it became known that Father Reid was looking for a site for a Catholic Church. A little strategy solved the problem. Two parishioners, John and Ferdinand Schmidt (the latter, a grandfather of Fred Smith, a present-day [1950] parishioner) who were then laborers at the blast furnaces, came to Father Reid’s rescue. They purchased the necessary lots ostensibly for their own purposes, and then immediately deeded them over to the little Catholic congregation.

Ferdinand Schmitt, who together with his brother John, purchased the land for the original church, and deeded it to St. Michael's congregation.

The original church, a narrow frame structure, was sufficiently enclosed for Mass to be celebrated therein before the end of 1848 and in 1849 it was dedicated as St. Michael’s Church. The interior was lighted with oil lamps, had the customary three altars and two sacristies, a baptismal font and stove near St. Joseph’s altar and in the rear a confessional and stove. There were three windows on either side, oblong in shape, part colored and part frosted glass. It had both a center and two side aisles and seated about 275 people in its pews which ran four to the width of the church, each pew seating four persons.

 

Interior of the original church

On the occasion of his second visit to Greenville made on August 3, 1851, Bishop O’Connor mentions in his notes that “39 were confirmed and a new frame church has been built but not finished. It is visited once a month by an English priest and once a month by a German priest.” The mention of the non-completion of the Church probably refers to the interior, for an old parish record makes reference to a collection that was taken up between September-November, 1854, for the plastering of the church.

With the growth of Greenville, St. Michael’s congregation grew also, and in 1869 an annex was added to the church as well as a gallery, belfry and bell. The bell was solemnly blessed by Bishop Tobias Mullen, on September 4th, 1869, the 16th Sunday after Pentecost, and named after St. John the Baptist. Because Mr. John Savage had made the largest single contribution ($45.00) toward its purchase, Father Tracy accorded him the privilege of naming it. Very human-like, he chose his own patron, St. John the Baptist.

By 1889 the need of a larger and more permanent structure for a church was recognized and Father Bernard Donohoe, pastor at that time, broke ground for the present church on October 15th, 1889. The cornerstone was laid in 1890. Almost four years elapsed before it was completed, at a cost of $35,000. Apparently the workmanship and materials used were the very best, for it has well stood the test of time. It must have been more than adequate for the congregation of that day and, though it isn’t so large as might be desired to day, it still deserves the title of one of the most beautiful churches of our diocese. Completed in 1893, St. Michael’s Church was solemnly dedicated by Bishop
Tobias Mullen on June 25th. The following is an extract of the account of the Church Dedication which appeared in the June 29th issue of the Advance Argus. Prior to the ceremonies in the church “the parade formed about 11 a. m. after the special trains had arrived and marched up Main Street east to the Nypano crossing, then back to North High Street to the Church.

The streets of Greenville were crowded with spectators during the passage of the procession. The weather being delightful, many adherents of other churches came to witness the imposing ceremonies.

Inside of the new church

The new building was designed by D. K. Dean & Son, of Erie. The structure is 106 feet long and 50 feet wide, has a basement 10 feet deep and is heated by the Smead system. The masonry was done by Andrew Dambacher, contractor, the brick work by Peter McGrath, the carpenter work by Weaver, of Sharon.

The windows are indescribably beautiful and are the gifts respectively of the following named persons and groups: Mr. Michael Hamill, P. Jones, P. J. McFarland, Third Order of St. Francis, AOH., P. H. Doyle, Mark and Bridget Doyle, William McCafferty, Patrick and Ellen Morgan, T. E. Blair James Dunlavey, Dennis F. Crowley, Mrs. D. E. Crowley, Colonel James Carney of Erie, Pa., John Quinn and wife, Rev. Father Appel, Mrs. Patrick T. Conner, The Rosary Society, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fitzgerald, Thomas A’Hearn, Mrs. Wm. T. Phelan, Patrick and Anna Doyle.

The Catholics of Greenville have reason to be proud of the church edifice which they have dedicated to the worship of their faith.”  

SAINT MICHAEL’S SCHOOL

With the erection of the present church the old church was turned into a Sunday school and it served that purpose until 1899 when Father John P. Kearns remodeled it to provide the first parochial school of the parish. Father John arrived on November 10th, 1898 and it was only two months later, on January 9th, that the first few pupils of St. Michael’s School were at their desks. The old school had only two rooms but from the first provided for eight grades. From the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Mercy in Titusville came Mother M. Theresa, Sister M. Alexius, and Sister M. Ursula to assist Father John in what must have then seemed a bold enterprise. Providence has favored St. Michael’s, for in this our Centennial 

Year, fifty-one years after the opening of our school, we again have Sister M. Ursula with us. Because the school was opened at the mid-semester the enrollment was small the first half year (about two students to a grade), but in the fall of the same year the two class rooms were filled to capacity.

Father John felt keenly the need of keeping the education of his spiritual children under the wing of the Church, not only during their grade-school days, but in the high-school years as well. Accordingly, in 1903 he built the present St. Michael’s School with that in mind. At that time, what had been the original church, the original Sunday school, and the original parochial school, was sold to a Mr. Gillespie who moved it further north, across what is now  Orchard Street and converted it into a triple apartment house. At this writing it still serves that purpose. In 1904 a one year commercial course was added to the curriculum, and in 1905 a second year of classical studies. In the fall of 1906 St. Michael’s became a full-scale four-year high school. 

Its first graduation class ceremonies for the two-year course were held in 1906, and for the full high-school course in 1910.

Sister M. Ursula, only living [1950] Sister of the three original Sisters of St. Michaels 

Besides the nuns already mentioned, other Sisters of Mercy who pioneered in Catholic education in Greenville were: Mother M. Austin, Sister M. Nolasca, Sister M. Clare, Sister M. Antonia, Sister M. Sebastian, Sister M. Mercedes, Sister M. Pierre, Sister M. Regis, Sister M. Philippa, Sister M. Eugenia, and Sister M. Bernard. The above names and many more, too numerous to mention will, we are sure, call back many fond memories for the members of St. Michael’s Alumni. Catholic education has always rested on the sure foundation of the utterly devoted, consecrated and sacrificial lives of our teaching Sisterhoods. Certainly the Sisters of Mercy by the quiet, self-effacing inspiration of their lives, and the self-sacrificing devotedness of their labors in Greenville have proved that they have no peers. In this Centennial we wish to thank them for their loyalty and devotion. Living or dead we commend them to God.

We feel we cannot conclude this account of the early days of Saint Michael’s School without noting for the benefit of those who will follow us a few of the names of those pioneer days. Because we fear to offend anyone by accidental omissions, and because it is almost impossible to be certain of all the names of those who attended Saint Michael’s in its first year of existence, we limit ourselves here to the record of those who graduated from High School courses. Though there were no graduating ceremonies, the first group to go through the grade school and finish the one-year High School Commercial course in 

Three Pioneer Sisters of St. Michael's, Jan 1909.  Left to right, Sister M. Ursula, Sister M. Theresa, Sister M. Alexius.

1905 included the following: Mrs. Tillie Sullivan Schwab, Mrs. Laura Hoffman Michaels, Grace Hawkins, Mrs. Margaret Walsh Crowley.

Graduates of the two-year high school course in 1906 were: Sister M. Fabiola (Cherubina Christopher), Mrs. Mary Doran Denslinger, Mrs. Katherine Doran Williams, Clara Hoffman, Mrs. Nora Bresnan Henderson, Mrs. Mary Robinson Barrett, Sister M. Antoinette, (Mary Walsh.)

Graduates of the first full four-year course in 1910 were: Mrs. Marie Fitzmartin Husted, Sister Mary John (Minnie Brown), Mary Kane, Mrs. Julia Landers Dobrindt, Helen Kane, Theresa Doran, Mrs. Marie Stanton Adams, Mrs. Marion Schumacker Ehrlich, Mrs. Katherine Jaxtheimer Reagle, and Richard Phelan.

In 1911 and 1912 the school had no candidates for commencement, but from 1913 to the present, Saint Michael’s has annually presented to the community of Greenville at least a few Catholic High School graduates. The smallest class was that of 1913 with only two graduates: Mrs. Dorothy Brown Wittenauer and Mrs. Alice Robinson Collins; the largest that of 1950 with thirty-one. Large or small, each class received at the hand of the devoted Sisters of Mercy a fine secular education, plus the Christian philosophy and doctrine so necessary to the creation of personalities of real moral worth.

To Father John Kearns and to St. Michael’s parishioners is owed a huge debt of gratitude for the spiritual awareness that prompted them to shoulder the burden of building and maintaining a complete Catholic educational system in Greenville. The same spiritual awareness has been kept alive by Father James Kearns down to the present time. That our parishioners of today have caught the proper spirit too, is evidenced by the large-scale improvements made in the school even within the last year. And so, Catholic Education moves on in Greenville, ever true to its purpose—to restore all things in Christ through the lives of its students.

At the present time St. Michael’s High School provides four complete courses: Classical, Scientific, Commercial, and General. In addition, true to the old ideal of a “sound mind in a healthy body”, it affords its student body full opportunity for bodily development with its Physical Education program. The latter includes a full annual schedule of football and basketball competition. In accordance with the growth and progress of our school, Mr. Walter Malys, a graduate of Youngstown College was hired in the fall of 1948 as a full-time teacher, and coach of football and basketball. The teams of the “Irish”, as they are locally known, have always been truly representative, making up in spirit what they lack in numbers. Recent evidence of this was furnished last winter when our basketball team was runner-up for the Championship of the Erie Diocese, and when Raymond Giardina, a star of Saint Michael’s, was voted the outstanding player of the entire tournament.

Rectory, Convent and Cemetery

Not until 1866, under Father O’Branigan, is there a formal mention of a priest’s house or rectory. Father O’Branigan purchased the land where the convent now stands and built thereon  a-story-and-a-half-frame- rectory. With the opening of the school in 1899 and the need for a convent for the Sisters, Father John Kearns erected the present parish house with the exception of a few additions that have been built through the years. On the land purchased by Father Donohue to the north of the present church, and about where the present rectory is situated, stood a-story-and-a-half- frame-house.

St. Michael's Rectory - 1950

(Click image to enlarge)

 

This was moved a little farther north and the Sisters occupied it for several months as a temporary convent. When the new rectory was completed, the old parish house was remodeled to provide a very comfortable convent for the Sisters. The temporary convent was sold to William Doran who moved it to its present location at 101 North Second Street. An addition has since been built making it a full two-story home. It is now owned by a parishioner, Gerard Murrin. To the old rectory and first permanent convent an extension was added in 1919-1920. Extensive repairs were also made at that time, and the entire structure was veneered with dark-stained shingles. This also in time became too small as the enrollment of the school increased; and additional teaching Sisters came to care for the pupils. Thus in the summer of 1945 plans were drawn up for a complete remodeling of the convent. A one-story addition, nine feet wide, was added to each side to broaden the building, and at the rear a three-story addition sixteen feet deep was built.

St Michael's Convent - 1950  

                                                                       (Click image to enlarge) 

The plans, originally drawn by Father James Kearns and approved by the architect, Mr. Edgar E. Clepper of Sharon, were so well conceived and executed that one can hardly discern where the old portions end and the new additions begin. The interior is entirely new and provides a large community room, kitchen, dining room, music room, reception room, sacristy, a beautiful chapel, 19 bedrooms and ample closet and lavatory space. A new gas heating system was installed and modern lighting added throughout. Most of the work was completed in the summer of the following year, and it was ready for occupancy by the time the Sisters returned for the opening of school in September, 1946. The finishing touches, including a complete refurnishing of all the rooms, continued into the late fall, and finally on December 1, 1946 it was thrown open for the approval of the residents of Greenville and environs, Catholic and non-Catholic alike. At least one thousand people visited the convent on this occasion and all were high in praise of its beauty of construction and furnishings.

CEMETERY 

No history of a parish would be complete without mention of that “God’s Acre” where rest our dear dead. To them is due a big debt of gratitude for the fine religious opportunities we now enjoy. It was their labors and sacrifices that made possible so much of what we now possess. 

In the very earliest days the dead of St. Michael’s were taken to what was called “the Irish Settlement” (St. Raphael’s—now All Saints) burial ground on the Greenville-Mercer road. But as early as 1848 we had a cemetery of our own. In that year the ground to the north of the old church (present school) was allocated for that purpose. Later, during Father O’Branigan’s pastorate (1866-1868) the present location in the rear of the school and convent was purchased. The land for the latter was bought from Eugene Rooney, a parishioner, who had purchased it from the Mother Superior of a Cleveland, Ohio convent to which institution it had been willed by William C. Daly of the Mercer Congregation. The cemetery was solemnly consecrated on September 4th, 1869, by Bishop Tobias Mullen. In his time, Father Donohoe added another four acres and Father John Kearns by his purchase brought our place of burial to its present size, approximately twenty-one acres. When the new school was built, the bodies from the original tract were disinterred and moved to lots in the present cemetery. Within the last few years under the cap able direction of Father Johnston the whole plot has been revamped. Three sections of roadway have been added; the portion containing graves has been placed under perpetual care; and the remaining eleven acres are now in the process of being seeded and landscaped.

Priests of Saint Michael’s

So very little is known of the priests who first cared for the spiritual welfare of Saint Michael’s congregation that we cannot do much more than list their names and the dates of their administrations. The baptismal and marriage records of the parish go back to August and September of 1850 respectively. However, it would seem from Bishop Michael O’Connor’s notes that at this time and perhaps for a few years thereafter, Greenville was cared for twice a month by priests from the Pittsburgh area. The first to sign him self as pastor in the parochial registers is Father Andrew Schweiger, who records himself as “pastor of West Greenville (as it was then known) and Sharon. The date is March, 1858. If he was indeed the first pastor, or if some of the priests who preceded him actually resided here, the location of their residence is unknown. Perhaps they lived with some parishioner, or they might even have used part of the church as a rectory. From other histories of this period the latter seems to have been not uncommon. 

  

Following is the list of priests who served St. Michael’s congregation from its earliest years: Fathers Hugh P. Gallagher (1842-1843) John Reid and M. J. Mitchell (1844-1850), M. J. Mitchell (1850-1851), T. A. Smith (1851-1853), Peter M. Garvey (1854-1854), Arthur McConnell (1854-1856), J. Reiser (1856-1856), Arthur McConnell (1857-1857), J. J. Gallagher (1857-1857), Andrew Schweiger (1858-1859), Joseph Gobbels (1859-1861), F. J. Hartmann (1861-1864), John J. O’Keefe (1864-1866), Kiearan O’Branigan (1866-1868), Thomas Tracy (1868-1876), Bernard Donohoe (1876-1897), P. Cosgrove (1897-1898), J. Lenahen (1898-1898), Rt. Rev. John P. Kearns (1898-1936), Fathers John Willis (Assistant—1906-1907), James J. Kearns (Assistant—1908-1936), James J. Kearns (Pastor—1936-     ), Charles J. Hacherl (Assistant—1936­1937) John C. Cronin (Assistant—1938-1944; 1946-    ) and Francis J. Johnston (Assistant—1943-     ).

Besides these, the names of Fathers C. M. Sheehan—1854, Rock—1856, Skopez—1857, Injohn—1865, occur a few odd times in the old parish records.   

 

Father Francis J. Johnson

Assistant 1943 -      

Inasmuch as Father Thomas Tracy, Father Bernard Donohoe, Monsignor John Kearns and Father James Kearns have served St. Michael’s for the longest periods of time, it seems only proper to cover the periods of their pastorate more completely.

FATHER BERNARD DONOHOE — PASTOR 1876-1897  

 

Father Bernard Donohoe, the son of James and Brigid (Keirnan) Donohoe, was born in Ardlenny, County Cavan, Ireland, on August 15, 1852. He attended the national schools till the age of twelve and then was sent to a classical academy, located on the banks of the celebrated Lough Sheelan, in his native county. There he spent six years acquiring a knowledge of the humanities. In August, 1870, he left Ireland, came to New York City, and soon afterward entered St. Bonaventure’s College, Allegany, New York. 

 

After completing his theological studies there he was ordained for the Erie Diocese by Bishop Tobias Mullen, June 7, 1875 in the Erie Cathedral. His first appointment was as an assistant priest at St. Thomas’ Church, Corry, Pa. In December, 1874, he was given charge of Lepanto, Clarion County. Early in 1875 he moved again, this time to St. Michael’s Church, Emlenton, Venango County. He was there but a short time when he was sent as pastor to Immaculate Conception Parish in Rome, Crawford County. His stay in Rome was short too, for he returned to Corry as pastor in the Fall of 1875. He remained in Corry until 1876 when he was appointed pastor of St. Michael’s Church, Greenville.

During his long pastorate of twenty-one years in Greenville, Father Donohoe witnessed a large increase in the size of the parish that added to his many labors. Moreover, in the years when Jamestown was not an independent parish, he attended St. Bridget’s congregation as a mission, celebrating Mass there once a month. It is also known that regularly for years he offered Mass on week days for a group of Catholic miners in Orangeville.

Many tangible monuments to Father Donohoe’s memory remain in Greenville. The greatest of these, of course, is our present sturdy, and beautiful church. Other accounts reveal that he purchase the land on

which our rectory lies as well as a four acre tract as an extension to St. Michael’s cemetery. In addition, he finished the interior of St. Brigit’s church, Jamestown, and paid off a considerable debt still due on that building when Father Tracy left. Of his work in Greenville, the Mercer County History of 1888 records that “he has done a great deal toward building up St. Michael’s congregation, which is today in a more flourishing condition than during any period of its history.” The same account mentions that in 1888 St. Michael’s parish had over five hundred souls and a Sunday school of one hundred pupils.

Comparatively speaking, those were still pioneer days in the Erie diocese, days of the horse and buggy, days wanting in the many conveniences, comforts and facilities we now enjoy. Accordingly it is difficult for us of today to appreciate fully the labors of the priesthood of those earlier years. There are, of course, still a fair number of present-day parishioners who remember Father Donohoe well. All agree that he was a zealous, kind, devoted pastor.

Father Donohoe was transferred in October, 1897, to St. Ann’s parish, Erie, Pa. His term of duty was brief there, for in Feb., 1898 he was again moved, this time to St. Patrick’s parish, Franklin, where he served as pastor until his death on February 9, 1914.

At the death of Monsignor Kearns the following sincere and spontaneous tribute was paid to him by his life-long friends and educational associates, the Sisters of Mercy. We quote it as it appeared in local and diocesan papers, under date of March 13, 1936.

 “Last week local papers carried the sad details of the death and funeral rites of one of the most distinguished prelates of the Erie diocese, the Rt. Rev. Msgr. John P. Kearns, pastor of St. Michael’s Church, Greenville, Penna.

Here indeed was a man upon whose life we may reflect, with profit to ourselves: a gentleman of the “old school”; a scholar in the best sense of that much-abused word; a philosopher, unspoiled by the pseudo-trends of our modern age; an idealist who preserved his idealism amidst the crass realism of our times, and throughout the long span of 70 years; a man with a vision constantly ranging beyond time, into the beautiful distances of Eternity—a priest of God whose highest boast was his priesthood, and his unswerving devotion to his flock.

How easy it should be to write of such a man, and yet how difficult. One cannot measure spiritual values on the scales of time, nor span years of zealous priestly service with a bridge of mere words. Those who knew “Father John” intimately, remember him as a pioneer priest who went to Greenville al moat forty years ago. A tall, silent man with the consecrating oils still fresh upon his hands, and the fires of spiritual conquest burning in his eyes. In the kind, open countenance, welcoming smile and slightly stooping figure, one might easily recognize the true pastor.

What “Father John” found in Greenville upon his arrival there in 1898 is a matter of that city’s early history. Religious opportunities were few, educational facilities scant, and the ideals and ambitions of its Catholic citizens far from being realized. Greenville was a willing parish but a poor one, yet “kind hearts are ever more than coronets.” Three months from the date on which Monsignor Kearns took up his pastorate in Greenville, Catholic education was, so to speak, born there. Under his guiding hand, a school grew out of his sacrifices and those of a loving people. Little children came to its doors, and so began that apostolate of learning to which the pastor of Greenville devoted himself for nearly four decades. This at a time when Catholic higher education was, so to speak, an experiment in the Erie diocese, undertaken only at a personal and parish risk. Here in the green swards of this rural town, Monsignor Kearns, like another Patrick on the hills of Tara, kindled a fire that will burn forever in the hearts of his people, the fire of Christian Catholic education. From that hour until the day of his death his major interest in life, aside from his priestly ministrations, centered about his parish school. From its doors throughout almost forty years men and women went out to do battle with life, strong with the Catholic principles learned from one who taught more by example than by precept; from one who himself was a constant, loving student in the school of Christ. “Father John” had few honors that he cherished more than that of having sent into the immediate service of God many religious, priests and sisters who had lighted their torches of religion and learning at the holy fonts of St. Michael’s school. While these live and dispense their charity, the name and ideals of their good pastor will endure.

But Greenville, throughout these four decades, knew Monsignor John learns as more than educator and pastor. In the eyes of that community he was universally regarded as its first

citizen. His was a familiar figure on the Greenville streets, in the homes of the sick, in civic and recreational centers, and wherever life was lived cleanly and vigorously. Frequently he stimulated the cultural and artistic life of Greenville, contributing perhaps more than any other one person to its general betterment. The many friends who thronged St. Michael’s Church while his body lay in state there, gave ample proof of the esteem in which Monsignor Kearns was held.  

Someone has said that we may count the virtues of the departed by the tears shed over them by the poor. As one approached the sanctuary of St. Michael’s Church to view the holy remains of its pastor, one had the opportunity to observe those who wept. There were the tears of hundreds of little children, who had somehow lost their guardian, their kind and gentle friend, their priestly idol; there were the tears of nuns, who for many years had been heartened and encouraged in their works of charity by this saintly, spiritual guide; there were the tears of men and women, weighed down with the burdensof life, mourning the loss of a counselor and advisor; there were the slow, bitter tears of the aged, who were to miss in their last hours the consolation of this true friend and devoted pastor. From all there were tears of gratitude.

“Father John” was buried on the brow of a hill overlooking his departed flock, in the consecrated spot known as St. Michael’s cemetery, where repose the remains of hundreds over whom he had himself pronounced the “Requiescat.” There was something peculiarly significant in the fact that he was laid to rest on a bright spring day, with the taste of early spring in the air, with nature itself giving promise of renewed life. For “Father John” was above all else, a firm believer in the “Eternal Springtime.” He had a simple abiding faith in the glory of the life to come, and he communicated that faith and confidence to all with whom he dealt. Death was to him not a mystery, but a symbol of, a key to, the complete and more perfect life.

“Father John” shunned worldly honors, preferring to engrave his name on human hearts rather than on marble. When in 1931, through the recommendation of his Bishop, the title of Domestic Prelate was conferred on him, he received the honor quietly, seeming, as his friends said, to dignify the purple that he wore.”

Monsignor Kearns was born in Hubbard, Ohio, December 5, 1866, the son of the late Michael and Mary Dougherty Kearns, natives of Ireland. He attended St. Bonaventure’s College at Allegany, N. Y., and was ordained a priest May 1, 1897.

All the appointments of “Father John” prior to his coming to Greenville lasted but a few months: assistant to Father James McCabe of St. Joseph’s Warren, pastor of St. John’s, Tidioute, pastor of St. Clara’s Clarendon. On November 10th, 1898 he exchanged places with Father Lenahen and took over as pastor of St. Michael’s, Greenville. Here he labored for almost thirty-eight years until he passed to his reward on March 1, 1936.

Father James J. Kearns—Pastor 1936

The chronicle of a century of progress in St. Michael’s Parish, Greenville, Pennsylvania, would be indeed incomplete without mention of its present well-beloved Pastor, Reverend James J. Kearns, who has served the, parish for almost his entire priestly life of forty-two years. At this time it is the pleasure of the Centennial Committee to present a modest tribute to one who has served the spiritual interests of St. Michael’s people loyally and well.

Father James Kearns was born June 3, 1876 in Elk City, Clarion County, the fifth son of Mary Daugherty and Michael Kearns. He received his early education in the public schools of that district, later moving to Reynoldsville. Upon completing high school, Father James began an intensive study of instrumental music. Endowed with unusual musical ability and a rich baritone voice, he soon became the center of choral and choir groups, and a member of the then well-known Keystone Band. As early as 1900 he was touring Clearfield and Jefferson Counties, giving concerts, and acting in amateur plays. 

In September, 1902, James Kearns decided to become a candidate for the priesthood. He entered St. Bonaventure’s College, Allegany, New York, the alma mater of his elder brother “Father John”. Following six years of theological study there he was ordained to the priesthood in the seminary chapel on June 13, 1908, by Bishop Charles Henry Colton of Buffalo. His first appointment, a temporary one, was to St. Mark’s Church, Emporium, where he substituted for Rev. Thomas Downey, on leave in Europe. Upon Father Downey’s return four months later, Father James received his first permanent assignment—assistant to his brother, Reverend John learns, then pastor of St. Michael’s Parish, Greenville, Pennsylvania. Here continuously and devotedly Father James has labored for forty-two years, exercising his zeal, and spending his fine talents on all who have come within his influence.

Those who knew Father James best during his early years of service, recall particularly, his self-sacrificing devotion to his priest-brother, and his great zeal in instructing and directing the young people of St. Michael’s Parish. Long before the so called Youth Movement took root in this country, certainly before the Little Theatre Movement caught the public fancy, Father James pioneered in Catholic theatre, guiding and directing the cultural and social life of the younger members of St. Michael’s Parish. During the past four decades, Father James personally directed 12 major musical shows, many of which were recalled for a second and even third performance in Greenville, New Castle, Sharon, drew his youthful “thespians” from the rank and file of St. Michael’s Grade and High School. To the heavier, adult parts of the large musicals, residents of all sections of Greenville, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, contributed talent. 

When no suitable play was to be found among current Broadway productions, Father James wrote his own plays, adapting them to local conditions and talent. The most popular among these were Kid Kapers and Carmelita, written, staged, and directed by the Greenville priest, and played seven different times before enchanted audiences. On one of these seven occasions, on April 29, 1935, KID KAPERS was presented over the National Broadcasting Company network to the delight of all who heard it. 

In the hands of Father James, however, the drama was never an end in itself, but rather the means to a far nobler end, namely, the organizing of the youth of the Parish for the purpose of promoting their best spiritual, as well as cultural, and social interests. As a result, many of these young troubadours sang and danced their way into the religious life. Today they are passing on this heritage as teaching Sisters in many Diocesan schools. Others have gone out from the ranks of ST. MICHAEL'S PLAYERS into business, professional, and happy family life, better Christians, better citizens, for this special training.

Today it is the privilege of ST. MICHAEL’S PLAYERS everywhere, to pay grateful tribute to their friend and “Director”, Father James. From the vantage point of mature years, they appreciate the genius which caught and held their youthful enthusiasm, directing it, carefully, for service to God, to country, and to their community. 

In 1936, at the death of Monsignor John Kearns, Father James, after his long tenure as Assistant, was appointed Pastor of St. Michael’s, this at a time when the community and the parish were recovering from the effects of a depression. The new Pastor assumed the parish debt willingly. With the cooperation of his self-sacrificing people, and that of his hard-working Assist ant priests, he began to liquidate the debt, and at the same time, to enlarge and to improve the Church property. Within the past fourteen years, St. Michael’s Grade and High School has been renovated, the Church redecorated twice, and St. Michael’s Cemetery beautified. 

Undoubtedly the greatest material contribution made to the Parish by Father James was the enlarging, renovating, and refurnishing of the local Convent. Today the Sisters’ home in Greenville is one of the most comfort able and well-appointed convents in the Diocese. 

Today, in a spirit of joyful reminiscence, the old and the young pledge renewed loyalty to their devoted Pastor, Father James, and they wish for him many more golden years of service. Gratitude is a noble and delicate virtue; it dwells more surely in the heart than on the lips. In this centennial year St. Michael’s people express their gratitude to God for the blessings of their Holy Faith. They thank all who have served them in His Name.

PARISH GROWTH AND COMPOSITION

St. Michael’s congregation in its growth has pretty well kept pace with the growth of Greenville. The building of the Old Erie Canal brought some of the earliest Catholic settlers to these parts; later the railroads brought still more. These facilities in turn attracted industries and the man-power to staff them. Originally there could not have been more than twenty Catholic families in Greenville and the surrounding countryside. In his notes of 1846, Bishop O’Connor estimates that at that time there might have been about one hundred Catholics in this area. The old church seated about 275 persons, and one Mass on Sunday was sufficient. A single Mass in the new church with a capacity of about 500 took care of the growth in the intervening years until the latter years of Father Donohoe’s pastorate when a second Mass became necessary. The third Mass was added around 1914. To bring us up to date, our fourth Mass was added shortly after the assignment of Father Francis J. Johnston as an assistant at St. Michael’s in November, 1943. At present [1950] the church is more than comfortably filled for all four Masses on Sunday mornings. Thus from a tiny handful in 1838 our parish has grown until now we have approximately seven hundred families or about twenty-six hundred souls.

Of interest, too are the various national backgrounds of the people composing a parish. The earliest accounts of the parish history reveal that in those days, German and Irish names were pretty evenly distributed. About 1842-1848, a comparatively heavy increase in the number of natives of Germany is noticed. For a few of these years they almost certainly formed the largest group attending Mass in the home of Mrs. Schoonmaker, Ferdinand Schmidt, or the old public schoolhouse. The famine in Ireland in 1845 which drove so many of her sons and daughters to our shores undoubtedly accounts for the notable increase of Irish names in succeeding years. From 1850 until almost 1900, practically all the names on the parish registers are either Irish or German, with the  Irish predominating by a margin of about two to one. In 1894 the first natives of Sunny Italy came to  Greenville and registered as parishioners of St. Michael’s. Since “firsts” are always of interest, we should note that the names of our first Italian parishioners were Mr. and Mrs. Albert D. Christopher, the parents of Sister Fabiola of the Sisters of St. Joseph and of Frank Christopher, who made a name for himself in so many of Father James’ theatrical productions. A Greek name, James Caravosios, appears in 1895. Others of Italian origin to join us in later years were: Salvatore Catalano, 1900, who still calls St. Michael’s his parish as do six of his children; Gaetano Daniello, 1905, a member of the parish now and father of four other adult parishioners. Slovak names: Joseph Chvila and Cyril Zahradnik, appear as early as 1901; Polish: George Bolak and Mary Solanski in 1902; French: John Babeaux, father of Sister Mary Francis of the Sisters of Mercy, in 1902; and Mary Jacquett (Mrs. William Junk), in 1903. Dutch: Phillip Van Dusen in 1902, and Anna Van Dusen (Mrs. Harvey Simons) in 1904; Croatian: Louis Caruti and Christina Kowatavitch in 1904; Syrian: Mary Hand in 1908. From about 1907 there was a steady increase of most of the above mentioned nationalities, until today our membership according to families runs somewhat as follows: 190 Irish, 150 German, 130 Slovak, 125 Italian, 60 Croatian, 25 Polish. Besides these, other nationalities represented at the present time are: Hungarian, Russian, Swedish, Rumanian, Syrian, Dutch, Macedonian, French, Bulgarian, Scotch, Serbian and English. In making the above estimate we have taken into account the many cases of intermarriage between young men and women of varying national extractions. In fact, because of intermarriage, it is no longer possible to classify many of our people as being purely of a particular national origin. So well have they mingled, and so little trace of false nationalism is to be found, that our parish is truly an “American Melting Pot” in the best sense of that expression. Though all are proud of their native lands or descent, they are still more proud to be able to call themselves Americans. Motivated by a spirit of Christian charity, they have learned well that they who kneel side by side at the altar rail to receive the Bread of Life are all one body Christ, and that national backgrounds must submerge themselves in that higher unity to be found in the Christ-Life.

ST. MICHAEL’S AND THE WAR

Saint Michael’s first association with the armed services of World War II was in the person of Father Charles J. Hacherl, who served as an assistant to Father James learns from June of 1936 to August of 1937. At this time Father Hacherl joined the United States Navy as a chaplain. He served in that capacity during peace time, throughout the entire war period, and after the war until May, 1947. Severing his relationship with the armed services, he returned to the diocese of Erie in July, 1947 and was appointed pastor of Saint Nicholas’ Parish, Crates, Pa. As recently as September of this year he was promoted to a larger parish, that of Saint Elizabeth’s in Smethport, Pa.

 

Father Charles J. Hacherl, Assistant 

1936 - 1937

The war was brought still closer to our parish when, because of a good water supply and excellent railroad facilities, Greenville was chosen as a site for an army camp. Named Camp Shenango and later Camp Reynolds, the local Army installation was located three miles out of Greenville on the Greenville-Sharon road. Camp Shenango received its first cadre of soldiers in the late fall of 1942. Before Father James Campbell of Pittsburgh arrived, about February, 1943, to take over his duties as the first Catholic Chaplain, Father John Cronin, of Saint Michael’s and Father Robert Goodill of Saint Brigid’s, Meadville, took care of the spiritual needs of the Catholic soldiers on Saturdays and Sundays. About May of 1943, and after Father Campbell had been released for foreign service, Father Francis X. Cronin of the New York diocese, arrived to take over the chaplain’s duties. Father Francis J. Gorham of the Raleigh diocese, who came a month or two later, filled the quota of Catholic chaplains assigned to Camp Shenango.  

Field Mass, Camp Reynolds, August 15, 1943 

The most important event of these days from a religious viewpoint was the Solemn Field Mass celebrated on the Feast of the Assumption, 1943. The attendance for this ran to several thousand. Bishop John Mark Gannon, who presided at the Mass, also delivered a stirring address on the religious foundations of our Democracy. Father James learns was celebrant of the Mass, while the chaplains, Fathers Cronin and Gorham were deacon and subdeacon respectively. 

 

 

Father John C. Cronin, Assistant, 1936 - 1944, 

1946 -

 

Saint Michael’s lost its second priest to the armed services when in March,1944, Father John C. Cronin enlisted in the Army, a position he filled until his return to St. Michael’s in May, 1946. About July-August, 1944, when both Father F. X. Cronin and Father Gorham received overseas orders, Father Johnston of Saint Michael’s was appointed as an auxiliary chaplain to serve the Catholic soldiers of the local camp. He acted in this capacity until the dismantling of the camp at the end of the war, caring for the spiritual needs first of our American troops, and later of the Prisoners of War sent to Camp Reynolds.

Until it became a camp for Prisoners of War, Camp Shenango and Camp Reynolds had been used as a Replacement Center which prepared and equipped American troops for overseas duty. At one time it had a capacity of thirty thousand men. The length of stay for those preparing for foreign duty varied from a few days to two or three weeks or even a month. Because of the nature of the camp, a large number of Catholic Chaplains, probably between three hundred and three hundred and fifty were readied here for foreign service. St. Michael’s Rectory became their second home during those days and Father James Kearns their very genial host.

Speaking of the war, Saint Michael’s has reason to be proud of its many sons, and indeed of its daughters too, who served their country in the last two great world conflicts. No accurate record of the number of our young people who served in World War I is available at this time, but a fair estimate would probably put the number at eighty-five or better. We should not forget, however, the names of Sylvester W. Callahan and William L. Murrin, both of whom lost their lives during the years of the first war. At the end of World War II, in August, 1945, our Honor Roll carried the names of almost 400 of our young men and women. Of these, eight made the supreme sacrifice of their lives.

Gold Stars indicating death in the service of their country appear before the names of: Edward P. Becker, U.S.N.; Andrew Benetin, U.S.A. [U. S. Army]; Joseph Carmont, U.S.A.; Gus Kefurt, U.S.A.; Joseph Koss, U.S.A.C.; William Kelly, U.S.N.; Richard P. Moss, U.S.M.C.; Daniel Nankoff, Jr., U.S.A. May they rest in peace.

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