History of St. Michael the Archangel Parish. a Half Centry of Saint Michael Catholic Church, Olyphant, PA
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History of St. Michael the Archangel Parish. A Half Centry of Saint Michael Catholic Church, Olyphant, PA. 1912-1962. CAP at Orchard Lake. The growth of coal mining in the Lackawanna Valley brought a great number of Polish immi- grants to Olyphant at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Soon there arose a need for the establishment of a parish and the building of a church to serve these people. The organization of the parish was initiated by Mr. Joseph Kwiatek, a hotel owner in the borough, in the Spring of 1909. A committee was organized to lay the foundation of the new parish. The following men served on the committee: Messrs. Joseph Kwiatek, Michael Borys, Michael Ksydar, Louis Naglak, Joseph Guzek, Andrew Naglak, George Klocek, Joseph Pijar, John Pasko, John Swieton, Frank Szarek, Joseph Borys, Matthew Dutka, Anthony Oleniacz, and Jacob Czeluszniak. The first meeting of the committee was held in the home of Mr. Louis Naglak. It was decided at this meeting that a census be taken of the Polish families living in Olyphant and that affairs be held to raise money for the buying of property. On September 13, 1909 property was bought from Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Kelley. There were three homes on the property: one was to serve as a rectory; another was to become a convent; and the third was to be raised for the construction of a church. The Committee reported its progress to His Excellency, the Most Reverend Michael J. Hoban, who at that time was the Bishop of the Diocese of Scranton. His Excellency pleased with the work of the committee granted permission for the establishment of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Olyphant. He appointed the Reverend Francis Wieszok as the first pastor. Prior to this time the people of Olyphant attended St. Mary's Church in Dickson City. In the Fall of 1909 the Reverend Francis Wieszok took up residence in Olyphant. Because the Polish people had no church of their own, they attended Mass offered by the Reverend Wieszok in the Slovak Church, the Holy Ghost Church. The cost for the rental of the Slovak Church was $25. per month. Father Wieszok's stay at Olyphant was short. He was transferred to another parish in March of 1911. At this time the parish became a mission to Saint Anthony's Church in Throop and the people were served by the Reverend Roman A. Wieziolowski, Pastor of St. Anthony's Parish. 1 Under the administration of Father Wiezolowski plans were made for the construction of a church. Most of the responsibility concerning the building of the church and the acquiring of funds was placed on Mr. John Surowiec. In August of 1911 work begarfcfor the building of a basement church. In November of 1911 His Excellency, Bishop Hoban, appointed the Reverend John A. Suchos as pastor of the parish. The completion of the church was carried on under his administration. In June of 1912 the church was completed and on July 4 the church was dedicated by the Most Reverend Michael J. Hoban. On this day Mass was offered for the first time in the new church. The cost of the basement church together with its furnishings amounted to approximately $8,652. During his pastorate the Reverend Suchos also built an addition to the rectory and renovated it at the cost of approximately $3,690. Father Suchos initiated a school. The instructor was Miss Marie Kalwinski. In February of 1914 Father Suchos was transferred to St. Mary's Church in Eynon. His successor in Olyphant was the Reverend Felix Nowak. Father Nowak was well-known in the parish for his love for the poor. Two years after his coming to St. Michael's Father Nowak began to build a parish hall. The work was done by his own parishioners at the cost of approximately $1,000. He also purchased a plot of land for a cemetery. Father Nowak left St. Michael's in August of 1920 and was succeeded by the Reverend Andrew Smelsz who administered the parish for a couple of months. In December of 1920 the Reverend Stanislaus G. Wolf was appointed pastor by His Excellency, Bishop Hoban. Soon after his coming to Olyphant Father Wolf realized the need for a new school and teaching Sisters. At his request the Bernardine Sisters came to St. Michael's in August, 1921. In 1925 he purchased a plot of land from the Harlat Family for the construction of a school. The school was completed in 1926 at the approximate cost of $100,000. The architect was Mr. Prawdzik and the contractor, Mr. Potoski. After eliminating the debt on the school Father Wolf planned to build a new convent and church. However, his plans did not materialize, for in January, 1931, he was transferred to St. Michael's Parish in Old Forge. Included in the parish property when Father Wolf left were the church, parochial school, hall, rectory, convent, cemetery and gymnasium. The Reverend Stanislaus J. Slominski succeeded Father Wolf. Father Slominski after clearing the parish of debt bought land for a new cemetery. Because the hall had served its purpose and the cost of renovating it were prohibitive, Father Slominski had the hall raised in 1934. In 1935 new altars were purchased for the church and were dedicated in September of the same 2 year. The church was also renovated at the cost of about $2,000. In 1939 he bought the house which now serves as the rectory and completely renovated it. He also renovated the old rectory which now serves as a convent for the Bernardine Sisters. His next desire was to build a new church and on May 26, 1950 he announced the plans for the construction of the new church. But in December of the same year, fire damaged the parochial school building and the school had to be completely renovated. So it wasn't until January of 1951 that workmen began dismantling the old church for the construction of the new edifice. Part of the foundation of the old structure was utilized for the new Romanesque church which now serves the parishioners of St. Michael's. Until the church was completed week-day Masses were celebrated in the Bernardine Sisters Convent; Sunday Masses were offered in the parish auditorium on Church and River Streets. The present church has a capacity for 500 persons. Its design is a modified Romanesque and it has a steel frame with face brick veneer and cinder block backing, trimmed with limestone. Vincent J. Riggi, Dunmore, was the architect; Anthony Grosek, general contractor; James H. Lally, plumbing contractor; George Adams, heating and Riggi Electric Co., electricity. The floor of the church and sacristies is covered with rubber tile with the exception of the pews area which is of asphalt tile. The interior wall and ceiling are plastered and oak veneer wainscoating is included in the nave and sanctuary. The nave is free of columns with a vaulted ceiling having an extreme height of 29 ft., 6 inches. The church has two sacristies one on each side of the sanctuary. Two confessionals are found directly under the choir loft. Under the nave there is a full basement which provides for a boiler room and storage space. On Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 1951, the cornerstone was laid and the church was blessed by His Excellency, Bishop Hafey, who celebrated a Solemn Pontifical Mass at 11:00 a.m. Officers of the Mass were as follows: Archpriest, Reverend Slominski; deacons of honor, Right Reverend Monsignori William L. Farrell, V.F., and William K. Dolan, S.T.D.; deacon of the Mass, Reverend Francis X. Dominiak; subdeacon, Reverend Edward A. Bellas; and Masters of Ceremonies, Very Reverend Monsignor Joseph A. Madden and Reverend Henry A. Wyda. The sermon was deliv- ered by the Right Reverend Monsignor John J. Podkul. Following the religious ceremonies a dinner was given in the school auditorium. The principal speaker at the dinner was His Excellency, Bishop Hafey. On October 5, 1955 the Reverend John Lipski succeeded Father Slominski as postor. In 1959 Father Lipski cleared the remaining debt of $38,000 on the church. He completely renovated the interior and exterior of the school building: the exterior of the school was stuccoed; a new lighting cystem was installed in the school and hall; a concrete floor was laid in the school auditorium and covered with asphalt tile; the classrooms were painted and the floor covered with tile. He also completely renovated and refurnished the interior of the convent. In April of 1961 a new organ was installed in the church. Two rooms were built on to the present rectory. In preparation for the Golden Jubilee Father Lipski had the interior of the church washed. 3 His future plans are to build a new rectory which will be adjacent to the church and to recon- struct the present rectory into a convent. This change will give the Sisters of the parish a closer access to the school. The present rectory and school are located on the same street, while the convent located adjacent to the church is at a distance from the school. Under Father Lipski's administration and with the cooperation of his parishioners, the parish is free of all debt and has a considerable amount of money in reserve. The church property includes a striking edifice, a beautiful cemetery, a completely renovated convent, school, hall, and a comfortable rectory. Vocations/ Powołania Rev. Francis S. Zywicki Rev. Felix Pasko, O.F.M., Conv. SISTER M. AMADEA C.S.B.