ST. IGNATIUS De LOYOLA 125 Finley Avenue Carnegie, Penna. 15106 at the Turn of the Century, Hundreds of Polish Immi

ST. IGNATIUS de LOYOLA 125 Finley Avenue Carnegie, Penna. 15106 Rev. Stephen Banasiewicz Early Masses celebrated invited Bernadine Sisters in this private home in St. Ignatius de Loyola in 1912 to staff school Glendale section-Carnegie Founder of Jesuits Patron of the parish At the turn of the century, hundreds of Polish immi- grants came to western Pennsylvania seeking employ- ment. Many found work in the steel mills and coal mines around Carnegie, Pa. and surrounding Scott Township of Allegheny County 7 miles west of Pittsburgh, Pa. At first these Poles, living in the Glendale section, in Hiedelberg, Bower Hill and Morgan walked to St. Mary's Polish church in nearby Mansfield or lower Carnegie. In 1902 some gathered and proposed a new Polish parish. A petition was acknowledged by Most Rev. Richard Phelan of Pittsburgh to form a new parish to honor St. Ignatius Loyola and assigned Rev. Andrew Dziatkowiez as Pastor. He and a Committee purcahsed four acres of the Schulte The first church/ school on Finley Ave. property located along Finley Avenue. While a combination school & church building was constructed, parishioners gathered at house 321 on Glenn Avenue for services. Talented persons such as Stanley Duszek, Peter Waligorski, Anthony Smogor and Francis Winkler helped build the edifice and by the summer of 1903, Bishop Phelan came to bless it. 400 families called the new St. Ignatius-home. Three pastors quickly came and went until Rev. S. Banszewicz who was assigned in 1907. He built a new rectory in 1912 and along with his sister and the organist, Mr. Balcerek, conducted a daily school for the parish children until he invited the Bernadine Sisters from Reading, Pa. to staff the school in 1910 with 246 pupils and 5 nuns. By 1920 there were 263 pupils with 6 nuns and 3 daughters joined the Bernadine Sisters: M. Elizabeth, M. Lourdes, & M. Lamberta. Hundreds of students were well taught Religion, patriotism and needed academic subjects with weekly visits to the local public library. Daily Holy Mass and the Rosary were 'a must'. Besides directing stage presentations, the good Sisters aided the community during the 1918 Flu Epidemic & loosing Sr. M. Gervaise to death in 1919. A Bernadine Sister with pupils of St. Ignatius School These Sisters left the parish in the spring of 1926. Rev. A. Muszyński long-time Pastor Newly ordained Rev. Adam Maida (now Cardinal-Archbishop of Detroit Michigan) distributes Holy Communion to his parents in old church. Parish children proudly display their Polish heritage Such Holy Ghost(Spirit) Sisters taught in the school-1922-1992 durmS 1966 Millenium Rev. A, Muszynski was assigned as Pastor in 1920 and seeing the need of a parish school invited the Sisters of the Holy Ghost (Spirit) , a new Polish Religious Community located in Pittsburgh, Pa., to staff the school. And in September 1926 nearly 300 children were enrolled in the school of eight grades and five nuns. By 1956 the number of pupils was 319 with 6 Sisters-teachers. And, the education provided was admired by the entire local population. The sisters were dedicated and gave great example both in the school and in the church as sacristans and organists. Several girls joined the Community as vocations and 9 sons became priests, including the present Archbishop of Detroit, Michigan-Adam Rev. Zygmunt Szamicki Cardinal Maida. promoter of Catholic Education and musician-artist A tragedy struck the parish on January 7, 1952 as a fire destroyed all of the school/church combination, except the sanctuary. While school List of Pastors who Served resumed in various local buildings, the parishioners gathered for services in Falcons Nest 77 Hall until November 15, 1953 when Bishop Deardon of Pittsburgh blessed and dedicated the new St. Ignatius de Loyola 1902-1904--Rev. A. Działkowiec church built of Tennessee Crabstone and steel. A most magnificant 1904-1905-Rev. John Kopera structure was joined facing Finley Avenue with a new school building 1905-1906--Rev.John Rykaczewski completed in 1952. A large brick mansion belonging to Dr. Henry on 1906-1907-Rev. Ladislaus Stec Corothers Avenue was purchased, refurbished and prepared as a new 1907-1920--Rev. S. Banszewicz convent for the sisters who by 1961 taught 346 pupils. Pastors & nuns 1920-1962-Rev. A. Muszyński encouraged the parish children to know about and be proud of their 1962-1967-Rev. M. Drelak ethnic heritage. Basketball teams, school bands & plays were regulars. 1967-1972-Msgr. F. Sojka Dwindling enrollments saw the school close in 1992. Diocesan 1972-1991-Rev. Z. Szarnicki reorganization forced a merger and St. Ignatius is a worship site with 1991-1993-Rev. E. Trzeciakowski some 300 families in St. Elizabeth Seton parish. 1993-present- merged .

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