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Parish History |
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September 30, 2007, will mark 50 years of community growth and development at St. Bernadette's, which celebrated its silver anniversary in 1982. This spirit of community first showed itself when the Armor Fire Co. opened its heart and hall so that the infant St. Bernadette's Parish could gather for Sunday Mass on June 22, 1958, celebrated by its founding pastor, Msgr. Harry W. Osborne.
A happy band of pioneer parishioners rejoiced in the groundbreaking ceremonies for the combination school-auditorium on Sunday, July 22, 1958. A desire to serve the new community moved the Edward J. Benz family to donate a 10-acre site for the parish of St. Bernadette's. The auditorium was sufficiently completed by Sunday, February 1, 1959, so that our parish family could have its first Eucharistic Liturgy on that date. The following September, Msgr. Osborne and the Sisters of Mercy welcomed 230 more or less joyful students, K through 8, to shiny new classrooms and equipment.
The Altar & Rosary Society held its first meeting on February 4, 1959, under the presidency of Mrs. Robert (Peggy) Smith. On April 12, 1959, the Holy Name Society, at its first meeting, elected Bob Leitten as president.
Frs. William Stanton, Francis Braun and Juvenal Ellis, OFM, were appointed as Msgr. Osborne's weekend assistants. Fr. Braun remained in this capacity for more than 18 years.
Plans for a new church were made by Msgr. Osborne and architects Fontanese & Halfpenny; however, Msgr. Osborne did not see his dream come true. All were saddened by his sudden death on December 1, 1967. Ground was broken by the new pastor, Fr. Thomas P. Carey, and parishioners on March 3, 1968. The "Light of Christ" was carried into the new church at the Easter Vigil Services on March 28, 1970, followed by the first Mass.
Under the spiritual direction of Fr. Carey, the Parish Council of St. Bernadette's was formed. At the first meeting on August 12, 1968, the first officers elected were: president, James A. Ruh; vice president, Catherine Stewart; and secretary, Edward J. Cecka.
Fr. Louis Mako served as associate to Fr. Carey until November 1971, when he was succeeded by Fr. William J. Honer. Seminarians Peter Popadick, Paul Sabo and Gil Heiman served as deacons. After a long illness, Fr. Carey died on January 22, 1974. Msgr. Richard T. Nugent was appointed by Bishop Edward Head to succeed Fr. Carey on March 19, 1974. Msgr. Nugent celebrated his 25th anniversary in the priesthood on June 4, 1974.
On August 17, 1974, Fr. Arthur J. Smith, as new associate pastor, became the other half of the spiritual team. In 1981, Fr. Smith was succeeded by Fr. Charles Zadora, who served until July 1982. We were also blessed with the presence of Fr. Bernard Paterniti from June 1981 until his unexpected death in April 1983.
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.
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