Our parish received its first vocation to the priesthood when Michael Juran was ordained in St.  Bernadette's Church by Bishop Bernard J. McLaughlin on February 27, 1976.

In September 1974 our new principal of the school was Sister Jean Kuzmierz, followed by Sister M. Priscilla Faltisko in 1979.  Our present principal, Sister Diane Swanson, has guided the school since September 1986.

 

Fr. Ronald Bagley, a member of the Eudist Community, was our weekend associate from 1975 until he left for higher studies in June 1984.  Since that year to the present day, Franciscan Fathers from St. Francis High School in Athol Springs have served as weekend associates.

 

Fr. Robert Yetter arrived as associate pastor in the fall of 1982, succeeding Fr. Zadora, and remained until June 3, 1985, when he was appointed secretary to Bishop Donald Trautman, Pastor of SS. Peter & Paul's Church, Williamsville.  Fr. Joseph Rogliano, newly ordained, replaced Fr. Yetter until October 1988, when he was appointed to St. Teresa's, Buffalo.  On January 1, 1989, Fr. Peter Cronin of the Society of St. Columban arrived to assist the parish as Parochial Vicar.

 

In keeping with the needs of our growing parish, Sr. Mary Ellen Twist, RSM, entered the parish team as Pastoral Minister in 1978 and was joined by Sr. Mary Ann Seguin, SSJ, as a Pastoral Minister on July 1, 1981.  In May 1983, Sr. Mary Ellen left and was succeeded by Sr. Rosaline Igelski, OSF, who assisted until August 1984.  When Sr. Mary Ann left in July of 1986, Sr. Priscilla, RSM, our school principal since Sept. 1979, joined the rectory staff as Pastoral Minister.  At the time, she was also assisting her Community of the Sisters of Mercy as a council member.

 

In the fall of 1976, planning began for a new parish center addition to accommodate the needs of our growing parish family, which at that time numbered 1,100 families.  On April 17, 1977, the groundbreaking for the new $225,000 parish center took place.  The new addition provided additional meeting rooms for parish societies, a school library room, a religious education office, faculty room and several classrooms.

 

Since 1977, our inadequate parking facilities have been expanded and improved through blacktopping and parking space markings.  The Rectory Office was renovated and enlarged, and conference and meeting facilities were added to accommodate our parish needs.

 

In 1979, a school cafeteria was added through the generous gifts of Francis and Marie McGrath.  An addition to the convent in November 1984 provided a garage for the parish cars through the generosity of the John and Willard Clarey families. As the parish continued to expand, almost 15 acres adjacent to our property was purchased from Mrs. Loretta Duggan in August 1984.  Two years later a maintenance storage building was erected to house our large equipment.  In 1988, the original rectory was expanded.

PARISH HISTORY

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