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History of St. by W. Navrocki. St. John teh Baptist Church, Larksville, PA 1899-1999. CAP at Orchard Lake.

Polish immigration to and settlement in America In the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Century’s, a multitude of immigrants came to America from Eastern and Southern Europe with the hopes of making a better life for themselves. They left behind family and friends and embarked on passenger steamships, facing the unknown. Ahead of them was an extremely difficult, uncomfortable three-week voyage on the Atlantic seas, which they had to endure to reach their destination. They arrived in the port of New York at Ellis Island, and later in the ports of , Boston and Philadelphia as well. Many of these immigrants were Poles who came to the United States in large numbers between 1870 and the of the First World War in 1914. Poland, at this time, did not exist in a political sense, for it was partitioned between the Empires of Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Prussia. Poles left their homeland to escape the political and religious oppression of the partitioning powers, or the abject poverty caused by overpopulation and scarcity of land that was especially apparent in the peasant territory of Galicia in the Austro-Hungarian partition. Although one of the earliest Polish settlements in the United States was established in Panna Maria, Texas in 1854, most Poles did not begin arriving in the United States until after the Civil War. Stretching from this period, the largest ethnic group to immigrate to Luzerne County, Pennsyl- vania was Poles. As farmers, they were not skilled laborers. They began settling in this region because the anthracite coal mines provided a source of employment they could easily obtain. In the Wyoming Valley, Poles from the Prussian partition arrived first and settled in Nanticoke around 1870. As more "Prussian" Poles continued to arrive, and Poles from the Austro- Hungarian and Russian partitions began to immigrate here as well through the 1880's, the development of Polish enclaves continued north from Nanticoke and sprang up in Plymouth, and eventually in the part of Plymouth Township that was to become the borough of Larksville on November 10, 1909. At the turn of the century, this area was referred to by names of many small sections that would eventually comprise the borough. Some of these sections were Buttonwood, Welsh Hill, Polk Hollow, Pierce Hill, Snyders Corners, East Plymouth, Broadway, White Wash, Boston Hill, Lowertown, Larksville Corners, and Gregtown. Like most of the Wyoming Valley, it had been settled first by English and Welsh immigrants. Irish immigrants followed, and after them Lithuanians, Poles, and Slovaks. Most of the Polish immigrants who settled in these sections of 1 Plymouth Township came from the Galicia region of the Austro-Hungarian partition, with others coming from the Russian partition of Poland, known as the Congress Kingdom. Founding of St John the Baptist Parish The group of Poles who began settling in this area was similar to many immigrants who came to the United States at this time. They had a strong desire to worship as one flock, with others who shared their language, cultural and spiritual beliefs, and traditions. Their ability to contin- ue to practice their Roman Catholic faith was of utmost importance to them. The first Polish settlers in these sections of Plymouth Township attended services at Nativity of the Blessed Mary Church. Plymouth. Founded in June 1885, St. Mary's Nativity was the closest Polish Roman Catholic parish in existence at that time. Around the late summer of 1898, a group of Polish immigrants splintered from St. Mary's in Plymouth and formed a committee to erect a Polish National on a piece of land on the corner of Nesbitt and Third Streets in Larksville (then the East Plymouth section of Plymouth Township.) It was to be one of three mission parishes, (Edwardsville and Nanticoke were the planned sites for the other two), of a mother parish in Plymouth, which is known today as the Church of the Good Shepherd. This group dug the foundation, and bought some two by fours with the $75 they had to start the construction. However, they did not raise any more money, and the project came to a complete halt. Meanwhile, a group of Polish Roman Catholics, also living in the area, had a dream to erect a church of their own in the locale. When the project for the Polish National Catholic church was abandoned, a group of the Polish Ro- man Catholic men seized the opportunity that had presented itself and decided to make their dream a reality. Although it cannot be verified, it is believed by parishioners and local residents that Jan Burnatt, Orzech, Jakub Piatkiewicz, Leo Przybylowski, Charles Saraczewski, and Stanley Yarmakowicz were part of the original komitet (committee) that founded the church, and members of the Jakubowski, Karszinski, Polkladowski, Zawadzki, and Zielinski families may have been part of it as well. They acquired the land and spearheaded a move to erect a Polish Roman Catholic Church on the site's foundation. The desired location, in East Plymouth, would be closer to their homes than St. Mary's in Plymouth, and it would allow them to continue to wor¬ship with their fellow Poles. They felt the site was more than ideal, situated on a hill in the midst of the coal mines in the area. The bell in the church tower would be heard from one end of the town to the other, calling the faithful to worship. These men formed a committee to go to Scranton to meet with His Excellency, William O'Hara. At the meeting, they hoped to receive his approval and assistance to build a Polish Roman Catholic Church on the site they acquired and ask His Excellency to assign a Polish speaking to minister to the congregation. As the men spoke to the Bishop, they convinced him of their earnestness and determination, and he granted them permission to complete a Polish Roman Catholic Church on the site. However, as insurance of their commitment, the Bishop proposed that if the men mortgaged their homes for a downpayment, he in turn would finance the balance needed.

2 After the meeting, the men decided that the burden this financial risk would place on their families was too great to bear. They agreed that there must be another way to accomplish their goal. Forming what could be compared to a mutual benefit society, the founders worked diligently to solicit the necessary funds. Through their perseverance, and the donations they received from the area's Polish miners, they raised the money needed to complete the church. While it was being built, the parish was informally orga¬nized and Mass was celebrated on the second floor of the Zawadzki Building on the corner of Marcy and Fourth Streets. The original church, a wooden structure, was finally completed around December of 1898. Katherine Piatkiewicz-Krescanko, whose father was one of the founders of the parish, remembered the original church and described it as the "size of a country school house . . . wooden, white, [with] plain glass windows." A surviving picture of the original interior shows that above the center of the main altar, prominently positioned, were statues of and St. John the Baptist, emphasizing the parish's dedication to its patron . They were flanked by statues of SS. Peter and Paul. Above them all was a crucifixion scene, similar to the one that exists above the main altar of the current edifice. The original church also con- tained side altars dedicated to the of Jesus and St. . Many framed religious paintings adorned the walls (there was one above each window), and a small chandelier hung from the center of the church ceiling. The Early Years (1899-1919) The dedication of St. John the Baptist Church in the East Plymouth section of Plymouth Town- ship occurred on February 3, 1899. Bishop O'Hara assigned Reverend R.A. Nowicki as the first pas¬tor, who served from December 1898 to August 1899. Reverend Thaddeus Lugowski served next from August 1899 to November 1899. From November 1899 to December 1901, Reverend Leopold Suchowski ministered at St. John's. Reverend Joseph Karpinski succeeded him from January 1902 until April 1902. From May 1902 until December 1902, Reverend E. Gratza was . Reverend Joseph Kloss then served the flock of St. John's from January 1903 until August 1903. Of all the mentioned above, only Father Suchowski and Father Kloss are listed by the Diocese of Scranton as diocesan priests with record of their deaths on August 4, 1913 and July 12, 1929, respectively. The others may have continued their priestly careers in other diocese or, as was common at the time, may have returned to Poland after having served some time in the United States. In 1903, the Bishop sent Reverend John Malarz to minister to the flock at St. John's, and he was the first priest to serve a lengthy pastorate there. His name is often the first of the former recognized by the oldest members of today's parish. The pastorate of Father Malarz lasted for eight and a half years until March 1912. It is unknown if Father Malarz died at this time or if he was reassigned to another parish and died sometime later. Regardless, he was the first pastor of St. John's to be buried in the parish cemetery. As our Polish immigrant parishioners adopted America as their new country, with most eventu- ally becoming United States citizens, they nevertheless did not forget their homeland. As they 3 began having families in this country, they wanted their children to know their roots. Since this was a common desire of many other families in the area, a secular Polish school, for children of all Polish immigrants, was established in 1900 on the corner of Marcy and Third Streets in East Plymouth, a block down from the church. Parishioners of St. John's sent their children there to learn the Polish language and culture. The school building still exists, and today is the home of the Larksville Mission for Church. However, the people of St. John's had a greater desire for their chil- drenis education: they wanted a school of their own where their children would be taught the Roman Catholic religion in addition to the Polish language and culture. At some point, during the time of the original church, this goal was accomplished. The first St. John's School was established in a building directly behind the church on Third Street. The first floor of the building contained a classroom where the children of St. John's received religious instruction from Theodore Robaczewski, the organist from St. Mary's Nati- vity in Plymouth. The second floor contained a meeting hall, used by parishioners, as well as outside groups. From April 1912, until the fall of 1918, Reverend Francis Wieszok was of St. John's. There is little information about his pastorate except toward its conclusion, as the parish approached the end of its second decade. As with everything in life, there are moments of great pride as well as moments of unhappiness, and this period in St. John's history proved to be one of hardship and turmoil. At some point in the latter part of 1918, a disagreement, the source of which is unknown, arose between certain members of the parish and Father Wieszok. It had festered into a fullblown controversy that had the potential to rock the foundation of the faithful and splinter the parish. Reverend James Gryczka, who was the neighboring pastor of St. Hedwig's Polish Roman Catholic Church in Kingston, learned of the difficulty at St. Johnis. Sensing the grave nature of the situation, he thought of his young assistant, Reverend Paul A. Kopicki, as a priest who had the ability to settle differences and mend relations. Father Gryczka showed his care and concern for his neighboring parish by sending Father Kopicki as an emissary to St. John's to help solve whatever problems had arisen. Father Kopicki was quite intelligent, having received training in Canon Law at the Catholic Uni- versity of America, and, despite being a newly ordained priest of twenty-five years of age, he had a gift for diplomacy. He was very sincere, understanding, and able to relate well to others. When Father Wieszok left, Father Kopicki stayed and was appointed pastor of the church. Per- haps as a sign from above emphasizing Father Kopicki's role as peacemaker, his pastorate at St. John's began on Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, the day that ended and peace came to the rest of the world as well. There is little existing information about Father Kopicki's first year at St. John's. One thing that is known is that he hired the late Jachimowicz to direct a parish choir at some point during that first year. Since Father Kopicki was a lover of music, it is no wonder that he wanted God to be glorified in the liturgies at St. John's in this way. Mr. Jachimowicz had previously di- rected a choir at St. Hedwig's for two years and worked with Father Kopicki there. It is unknown whether Mr. Jachimowicz and Father Kopicki arrived at St. John's together, or if Father hired Mr. Jachimowicz sometime after his arrival. Regardless, a Junior and Senior Choir were formed

4 under Mr. Jachimowicz's direction, and thus began the history of what became one of the most beautiful parish choirs in the diocese. The choir remained under his direction for over fifty years, until his in 1970. Tragedy Strikes Father Kopicki's first year at St. John's must have been relatively uneventful compared to the few years that followed. In the second year of his pastorate, the worst tragedy in the history of the parish occurred. On the night of December 18, 1919, employees of the Plymouth district of the Hudson Coal Company were meeting on the second floor of St. John's School watching an exhibition of motion pictures showing first aid work. A fire started in the building, the cause of which is still uncertain to this day. An article which appeared in The Wilkes-Barre Record the next morning states that the blaze was set off by a furnace boiler explosion, although the men in the meeting hall claimed they did not hear any explosion. It was a cold night, and the church janitor went down to the basement to add coal to the furnace. A popular notion was that the janitor was smoking a cigar, and when he approached the furnace to add coal to it, a spark from his cigar somehow started the fire; however, this story was never substantiated. The newspaper article also asserts that the janitor was the first one to witness the fire and sounded the alarm, which alerted the men to evacuate the school. All of the men escaped the building unscathed. However, the wind soon carried the flames from the school to the wooden belfry of the church, and from there the fire burned down into the interior. Flying sparks also ignited the rectory on Nesbitt Street. Fire departments from Larksville, Plymouth, Kingston, and Edwardsville were unsuccessful in containing the blaze and had the added disadvantage of not having a ladder long enough to enable them to scale the belfry. In the end, the church and the school were completely destroyed along with part of the rectory. Father Kopicki faced an incredible loss estimated at $40,000 in damages. The Rebirth of St. John's The first period of rebirth in St. John's history now occurred under the direction of Father Kopicki. He appealed to his parishioners to rally together to build a new church, and his ap- peal bore great fruit. The parishioners did not focus on the tragedy as a setback, but rushed to the pastor's aid and rolled up their sleeves to complete the hard work that needed to be done. Although it was a great sacrifice, each parish family gave $75.00 for the construction of the new church. After the rubble from the burned buildings was cleared, men of the parish, most of whom were coal miners, dug the foundation for the new church without outside help. Construction officially began with a ceremony in May 1920, on the same site as the original church, at the corner of Nesbitt and Third Streets in Larksville. The parish could not have had a better pastor for the challenging situation in which it now found itself. Father Kopicki, who possessed an eye for architecture, was able to use his talents to design a new church. He chose a Spanish gothic design and planned it by keeping in mind the history of the Roman Catholic Church as well as the history of St. John's. In accordance with scriptural tradition, the new church was designed with similarities to a Jewish temple, 5 standing on twelve pillars, each epresenting the twelve tribes of Israel. (This number, of course, may also take on a interpretation symbolizing Christ's Twelve Apostles.) The church was also constructed with a steeple, so that the people's prayers could rise to God. Also illustrating the religious significance of the number twelve, there were twelve beautiful stained glass windows placed in the church, which it is believed Father Kopicki obtained from . They were funded by parish societies or individual members. Originally, there was also a large glass window behind the choir loft in the center of the front wall of the church exterior. Additionally, the fourteen Stations of the Cross were placed along the walls of the church and were donated by individual parish members, families, and groups. The new church was designed as a larger and more elaborate version of the original edifice. The altars, of white trimmed with gold, were breathtaking. Life-like statues also adorned the new church. The new main altar, like the original, had as its focal-point a crucifixion scene, contain- ing statues of our Lord on the cross, His Mother, St. , and kneeling. Statues of Peter and Paul were placed on each side of the crucifixion. Side altars in the new church were dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the , each containing those statues. More statues would be added in the following years. Additionally, the side altar to the Immaculate Heart of Mary was designed with a sepulchre beneath it so that the faithful could tarry at the Lord's tomb on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The chandelier in the new church was much larger and more exquisite than the one in the original church, and laden with historical symbolism as well. It was hung from the center of the church ceiling and contains bulbs which represent the tears and sweat of the coal miners who established the parish. Also reflecting the symbolism of the number twelve, the first ring of the chandelier contains twelve teardrops, the second ring has six, and the third ring has one solitary teardrop. The original lights in the new church were placed in the sanctuary and above each pillar, and appeared to closely resemble the "teardrop" lights in the chandelier. Other decorations in the new edifice included two , each holding a lighted candelabrum, which were placed on each side of the main altar to adorn the sanctuary. The new pulpit was beautifully designed with images of Christ and the around its exterior. Each image was separated by pillars that were miniature versions of the twelve pillars on which the church stands. Such replicas of the pillars could also be found within the wooden communion rail, statue pedestals, the main altar, and both side altars. Additionally, the new church was designed with a beautiful choir loft, and a beautiful pipe organ, most likely a Moller, was pur- chased and placed there, complete with facade pipes covering the back wall and concealing the actual pipes behind it. For parish functions, a hall was built in the church basement. December 25, 1920 was one of the greatest milestones in the history of the parish. On that night, the new St. John the Baptist Church was officially dedicated by Father Kopicki at the Christmas Midnight Mass. It must have been an especially emotional Christmas for the parishioners. The year before, the fire had left them without a church on Christmas. But on this Christmas Eve, they were able to see the fruits of their labor and dedication: a new, better church, completed in only seven months' time. The Wilkes- Barre Record proclaimed on Christmas Day 1920 that

6 the new St. John the Baptist Church "is one of the finest buildings in the valley. The interior... has been beautifully and artistically finished in modern decorations and fixtures" (p. 14). This church was built not of wood, like the original, but of solid concrete and limestone and was made to last as a sure foundation of worship for generations to come. Building during the Kopicki Years Now that the original church had been replaced, the parishioners next desired to replace the school that had been destroyed as well. Five plots of land were purchased on Nesbitt Street in the block between Fourth and Fifth Streets, for the purpose of building a new St. John's School, to continue providing the children of the parish a proper religious education. In addition to this, the house which is currently at 60 Nesbitt Street (at the end of the block on the corner of Nesbitt and Fifth Streets) was acquired as well. It became the rector's residence, since the original rectory, which had been located next to the church on Nesbitt Street, was partially destroyed by the fire and rendered uninhabitable. However, just as the parish started to bounce back from its hard¬ships at the turn of the de- cade and set new goals, another obstacle was placed in its path. The parish cemetery, then located in Larksville above the Boston shaft of the D&H Coal Company and adjacent to the current location of St. Hedwig's Cemetery, was endangered by mine subsidence. The D&H Coal Company offered the congregation a new site for a cemetery on a piece of land they owned in Dallas, and this offer was willingly accepted. The relocation was no easy task. The exhumation of all of the bodies in the Larksville cemetery and their transfer to their new resting place was a monumental effort successfully carried out under Father Kopicki's leadership, determination, and care. In 1927, the new St. John the Baptist Cemetery was established on a piece of land across the street from College Misericordia. As a result, St. John's is blessed today with one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the Wyoming Valley. Once the cemetery was relocated, Father Kopicki and the parishioners decided to begin the school building project. Plans were made for a six room school and a large auditorium to be constructed on the current site of 70 Nesbitt Street. The foundation was dug by the men of the parish, and a ceremony was held when the foundation was completed. The building operation was about to begin when the parishioners approached yet another obstacle. Threats of mine subsidence on the site encouraged Bishop Thomas C. O'Reilly to halt the project. The Bishop advised the parish to use the funds they had collected for the school to build a new rectory instead. He also suggested that the house that was being used as the rectory be transformed into a convent. Though heartbroken at their unsuccessful attempt to reestablish a parish school, Father Kopicki and the parishioners followed Bishop O'Reilly's direc¬tives. In gratitude to the men of the parish who dug the foundation for the school, Father Kopicki waived their parish dues for that year. Construction of the new rectory began in September 1928 on the site of the original rectory next to the church on Nesbitt Street. It was completed in December 1928 in only three months' time. In 1930, the house at 60 Nesbitt Street, which had served as the rectory, was converted into a convent.

7 Another event which took place in 1930 was the arrival of the bell which is currently located inside the church steeple. It was cast by a bell foundry in Bielska-Biala, Poland and has an image of Our Lady of Częstochowa holding the Infant Jesus. Engraved under this image are the words, in Polish, "Queen of Poland, Pray for Us." The bell weighs 3,015 lbs., is 4ft. 5 in. wide, and 3ft. 8 in. high. It was first shipped from Poland to St. Francis Parish in Chicago, where it was bless- ed on September 14, 1930 by a Father Jagielski. Father Kopicki purchased the bell at a cost of $1,769.50. It was a bell that, when rung from inside the steeple, was able to echo a reli¬gious presence throughout Larksville. It is unknown why this bell was placed in the steeple ten years after the church was built and if another bell was originally placed inside the steeple in 1920. Re-establishment of St John's School Father Kopicki and the parishioners never gave up their dream of reestablishing a parish school. Consequently, in 1935, an opportunity to purchase the abandoned Broadway School Annex (on the current site of 36 Nesbitt Street) presented itself, and Father Kopicki acted on it. In that building, after many years of determined effort and overcoming great obstacles, St. John's School was reopened. In previous years, other provisions had to be made to provide the children with a Polish schooling and religious education. In the Summers of 1933 and 1934, Bernardine sisters from St. Hedwig's Church in Kingston conducted lessons in Polish and religion for the children of St. John's at Larksville High School. Such provisions no longer needed to be made with the establishment of the school. Instruction for children was provided in grades 1-8. The first year, Sister Rhinaria taught grades 1-3. Sister Zdyslaus (who only stayed one year), taught grades 4-6, and Sister , (who was principal for the first six years), taught grades 7-8. Sister Aga- tona served as cook. After the first year, the teaching staff increased to four sisters, with each teaching two grades. Some who taught at the school in subsequent years were Sisters Alveria, Viterbia, Ferdinand, Lucille, Isadore, Admirabilis, Constalatia, Barnaba, and Mother . Sisters Benedict and Josepha had served as cooks. Sisters Perpetua, Constance, and Domatilla served as principals through the years. The school building contained four classrooms with a pot-belly stove in the middle of each room to provide heat. The children attending the parish school and the children attending the adjoining Broadway Public School shared a common playground. Additionally, the Broadway School made its lavatories available to the children of St. John's School since the latter building had none. As illustrated above, the school building was rudimentary, but great things happened there. The children of the parish were educated to grow in love of God and their fellow man, became better citizens, and learned the language of their families' native homeland. In June 1936, St. John's School held its first 8th grade gradu- ation with six members in the first graduating class: Josephine Domanski, Bernadine Radzinski, Clement Smith, Joseph Tisko, Fredericka Zondlo, and Stefania Zondlo. A Baccalaureate Mass was held together with the Larksville High School graduating class. Graduation exercises were held later that evening in Larksville High School. The six graduates joined a class from Sugar Notch on a trip to Washington, DC as a graduation gift. The school finally closed in 1959, after operating for twenty-four years, due to an increasing lack of teachers and stiffening school building specifications and regulations that the building was not able to meet.

8 Parish Life Under Father Kopicki (1918-1957) Under Father Kopicki, parish life flourished. There were numerous active church societies, such as the Altar and Society, Holy Name Society, Society of our Blessed Mother, and the St. John's Ladies Guild, which was founded in February 1951. There were also societies named after SS. Peter and Paul, St. Joseph, St. Hedwig, St. John, St. Francis, St. Theresa, and St. Ann. There was a St. John's Young Men's Club, and a St. John's Usher's Club. An annual Snowball Dance was held each January at the Polish Alliance Hall in Plymouth. Many plays and musical acts were performed by parishioners. The minstrel shows held at St. John's had a reputation for being the greatest and funniest. With a parochial school, Blessed Virgin Sodality (which was started around 1945), and altar boy society, there were numerous activities and outings planned for the youth of the parish. As a musician himself, Father Kopicki encouraged the children to show off their musical talents. It was not unusual for him, if he saw budding talent in a child, to foster that talent by giving the child music lessons. A product of encouraging this interest was the St. John's Rhythm Band, comprised by children of the parish. They played at various func- tions, including graduation at Larksville High School. Father Kopicki also encouraged children of the parish to gain public speaking skills by assigning them parts in plays performed at the school, and he even took time to rehearse their parts with them. The annual St. John's Parish Picnic, which is now well-known in the Wyoming Valley, began under Father Kopicki. The very first picnic was held in 1919 for the purpose of creating a special fund to establish a convent. In the early years, the bazaar consisted of only four open-air stands: the pizza and corn stand, the ice cream stand, the beer stand, and the bingo stand. Entertainment was provided by Charles Swicker, who played records on a turntable on the rectory porch. Loudspeakers projected the sound across the street. Under Father Kopicki, the bazaars were held for a whole week, and if the weather was inclement, they were held for another week! Most of the men of the parish were coal miners, and the coal companies usually gave the miners a week of vacation around the 4th of July. As a result, the parish picnics were often held during that week since the men of the parish would be available to work at them. Picnics were also held around the Assumption of our Blessed Mother, August 15th, as well. There were also years when the picnics were held three times a year, each time for seven days, for a total of 21 days! In 1946, coal company homes were being torn down in the area near Carver and Harris Streets in Larksville to clear the land and begin strip mining. Mr. Charles Prohaska, Sr. organized a group of men from the parish to take the materials from the dismantled company homes and build permanent parish picnic stands across the street from the church. The stands were built to appear as a "Dutch Village", with one large rectangular stand in the center, two smaller rectan- gular stands at each end of the center stand, and four square stands on each side of the center stand. Altogether, 11 stands were built (of which nine still exist), and this picnic area came to be known as Nesbitt Parkway. In addition to the annual picnic, another important fundraiser for the parish for many years was the weekly St. John's Usher Club's Monday Night Bingo, held at Larksville High School. A total of $ 1,000 was given away each week, and this popular event drew a crowd large enough

9 to fill the auditorium and spill over into the classrooms. When someone yelled "bingo!" the workers had to search for the room where the winner was located. Those who attended this weekly function enjoyed it thoroughly, and its tenure attested to the cooperation that existed between the parish and Larksville High School. In 1938, Father Kopicki undertook the most extensive renovation project to the interior of the church during his pastorate. At this time, the walls of the church interior were repainted to appear like brick, and grottoes were created for the statues of St. Theresa of Avila and . The following artwork was also added to the interior of the church: the Blessed Trinity (surrounded by angels) on the sanctuary ceiling, the Agony in the Garden on the front arch, the Baptism of Jesus on the rear arch, designs on the back wall of the sanctuary and the church ceiling, and angels in between each of the pillars. The original lights in the church were replaced at this time as well with the lantern lights which now exist. They are reminiscent of the lanterns used by the coal miners who founded the parish. On January 18, 1942, the parishioners came together to honor their beloved pastor on his 25th anniversary of ordination to the holy priesthood. The occasion afforded them an opportunity to celebrate their many accomplishments achieved under his leadership. St. John's had come a long way since Father Kopicki's arrival 23 years earlier. In that time, a new church and rectory were built, a new cemetery established, and a parochial school reestablished. Many obstacles were encountered which the potential to impede progress, but the parishioners had scaled each hurdle by joining together behind Father Kopicki. The Silver Jubilee celebration consisted of Solemn High Mass at the church at 10:30 AM that morning, followed by a banquet in honor of Father Kopicki at Larksville High School at 6:00 PM. The festivities concluded with a dance at 9:30 PM with music by the Brunon Krygier Orchestra. A school children's program was also performed by the children's orchestra under the direction of Mr. Walter Werchok. Honorary Chairperson of Father Kopicki's Silver Jubilee Committee was its native son, Rev. Stanislaus Cituk, and General Chairperson was Atty. Natalie Skokowski. However, in the Summer of 1949, another setback occurred. Father Kopicki became gravely ill and had to take a temporary leave of absence. Reverend Charles Zawol was named temporary administrator, and Reverend Stanislaus Cituk assisted at Masses as well. When Father Kopicki was well enough to return to St. John's, the Bishop assigned Rev. Roman Gizara as Assistant Pastor and Acting Administrator. Father Gizara remained in that role until January 25, 1952, when he was named Pastor of Holy Child Church and Director of the St. Stanislaus Institute in Nanticoke. By this time, Father Kopicki was well enough to officially resume his administrative duties, and so, Bishop Hafey sent a young priest to aid Father Kopicki upon Father Gizara's departure. Rev. Joseph Rusin came to St. John's on January 25, 1952 as a humble and sincere priest with only a few years of experience, much like Father Kopicki had arrived at St. John's 33 years earlier. Because he was a young assistant, Father Rusin was able to become involved in many activities with the parishioners which allowed him to teach the by example. He especially looked after the children of the parish, often taking the altar boys to basketball games and the sodalists to picnics. Through the middle of the 1950's, St. John's enjoyed the harmonious leadership of Father Kopicki assisted by Father Rusin. 10 In 1952, Father Kopicki had the exterior of the church repainted in a color scheme lighter than the original. Shortly after, he began another extensive project to the church exterior. Cracking began to appear on the front of the church around the large glass window, continuing down into the vestibule. In order to add more support to this area, and prevent further cracking which had the potential to damage the church beyond repair, Father Kopicki had a limestone wall placed over the front of the church exterior. Once again, thinking like an architect, Father Kopicki had a stone engraving of St. John the Baptist positioned in the middle of the limestone covering to add aesthetic beauty to the wall and preserve the church's architectural integrity. The image roughly concealed the area of the large glass window and also served to prevent leakage from outside elements entering through the window. On April 16, 1957, death came to Rev. James Gryczka, good neighbor and confidant of St. John's and pastor of St. Hedwig's in Kingston. Bishop Jerome D. Hannan did not immediately assign a new pastor there, but when he did make the reassignment that fall, he chose our beloved pastor, Father Kopicki, to take Father Gryczka's place. Simply stated, the parishioners were heartbroken when Father Kopicki left St. John's on October 9, 1957 to become pastor of St. Hedwig's. Having served 39 years of his priestly career at St. John's, he was the only pastor many parishioners ever knew. He was their friend, their teacher, their coun¬selor, and the person they looked to as an example. He left an indelible mark on the church during his pastorate. Under his direction, the young and unstable parish matured and formed a rock solid foundation and identity. He completely rebuilt the parish and developed the major elements by which we know it today (church, rectory, and cemetery), and also reestablished the parish school. The sadness of the parishioners turned to grief, when on the morning of October 30, 1958 at 10:50 AM, Father Kopicki passed away in St. Hedwig's Rectory at the age of 65. It had been only a little more than a year since he was reassigned there. This parish, which had been his first assignment upon ordination, proved to be his last. Father Kopicki's Pontifical Mass of was celebrated at St. Hedwig's by the Most Reverend Jerome D. Hannan, D.D., Bishop of Scranton. Masters of Ceremonies at the Requiem Mass were then Rev. (now ) John Masakowski, and then Rev. (now Bishop) . Father Kopicki was brought home to St. John's to its parish cemetery in Dallas, joining Father Malarz and the deceased parishioners whom he loved so well. No better summation of his career at St. John's was given than the following which appeared in his obituary in the Catholic Light on November 6, 1958: "As becomes evident by glancing at the volume of work Father accomplished and the hard time during which most of it was completed, a remarkable record was achieved... He proved a devoted, progressive shepherd who cared for the flock and enjoyed its loyalty and love" (p. 3). The Intermediate Years (1957-1971) On October 10, 1957, Reverend John J. Piontek was transferred from Holy Rosary Church in Williamsport to succeed Father Kopicki at St. John's. Father Rusin remained as assistant pastor but left on March 30, 1960 when he was reassigned to St. Mary's Nativity in Plymouth, PA. Father Piontek then remained as pastor without an assistant until the end of his tenure at St. John's. During this time, any decisions for improving or remodeling the church had to be lim-

11 ited or curtailed due to caving situations that persist¬ed in Larksville. On September 22, 1965, Father Piontek was transferred to St. Mary of Czestochowa Church in Nanticoke. On Septem- ber 24, 1965, Rev. John J. Kowalkiewicz became pastor of St. John's. He was warmly received in ceremonial pomp and pageantry, customary in those days upon the arrival of a new pastor. On June 2, 1968, Father Kowalkiewicz celebrated his 25th anniversary to the priesthood with a Mass of Thanksgiving in the church at 11:00 AM that day. He was honored by the parish in the church hall and at a dinner reception that afternoon at the Hotel Sterling in Wilkes-Barre. During his pastorate, the rectory, which was greatly in need of renovation, was remodeled. He also improved the vestibule and installed Carillon Bells, since the church structure could no longer support ringing of the bell in the steeple. During Father Kowalkiewicz's pastorate at St. John's, the most significant liturgical changes in the modern history of the church took place. Father Kowalkiewicz had the task of implementing the directives of the Second Vatican Council regarding celebration of the new liturgy, with the revisions introduced from 1966 to 1970. The language of the Mass changed from to the vernacular, and the celebrant now faced the congregation during the ceremony. Lay ministers were permitted, for the first time, to recite the readings. Consequently, a new altar of sacrifice was placed in the sanctuary in front of the existing altar, which allowed the priest to face the people while celebrating Mass. The pulpit was removed and replaced with two lecterns, one in front of each side of the new altar of sacrifice. The kindness and warmth Father Kowalkiewicz showed the parishioners of St. John's created a fond relationship between them. On September 7, 1971, St. John's sadly bid farewell to this shepherd, as he was reassigned to Sacred Heart Church in Dupont. The Masakowski Years (1971-present): A Second Period of Rebirth On that same day, Rev. John C. Masakowski became the twelfth pastor of St. John the Baptist Church. Father Masakowski arrived with much experience, having served as an assistant pastor at St. Mary of Czestochowa Church in Swoyersville and Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Wilkes-Barre. For six years, he served as Assistant Pastor of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church in South Scranton and as Secretary to the late Bishop Henry T. Klonowski, S.T.D., of Scranton. While at St. Mary's in Swoyersville, Father Masakowski was asked by Bishop Hannan to organize a Council of the Knights of Columbus on the West Side of the Wyo- ming Valley. He and then Attorney (now retired Judge) Bernard C. Brominski visited seventeen parishes in that area and founded Assumpta Council #3987. Father Masakowski's most recent assignment prior to arriving at St. John's was as Administrator of St. Mary's Church in Wanamie and St. Joseph's Mission Church in the Hanover section of Nanticoke. A second period of rebirth at St. John's, similar to the one under Father Kopicki, began under Father Masakowski. In the history of the parish, he has proved to be the most active and diligent pastor since Father Ko- picki. The list of accomplishments and church improvements effected during his tenure is most impressive. In the first four years of his pastorate, he practically rebuilt the church physically, spiritually, and organizationally. Time had taken its toll on the church edifice and it was again in need of extensive repairs. 12 In 1971, it was in such a state of deterioration that it could easily have been a candidate for demolition. No extensive interior renovations had taken place since 1938. However, instead of discarding what existed and rebuilding, Father Masakowski knew that the right thing to do was to renovate and restore the church to its original splendor, even though this was a greater challenge. During this period in the church, the popular idea of renovation meant removing statues, stained glass windows, original altars used for the Latin Masses, and side altars from church interiors. Father Masakowski saw to it that the architecture and traditional ornamenta- tion put in place by Father Kopicki and the founding fathers be preserved and maintained. He was, and remains, a master at keeping the best of the old and mixing it with the new. Father Masakowski began the renovations by having the interior of the church completely repainted, repaired and rewired. The exterior of the church was painted for the first time since 1952 and in a color scheme closer to the original. The rectory was repainted as well. The checkered lino- leum that covered the aisles of the church was replaced with green carpeting. The communion rail, which was damaged in certain areas beyond repair, was removed. New confessionals and vesting cases were installed. Improvements to the cemetery and park grounds were begun, and the parish hall was completely renovated. New doors were placed on the three entrances to the church and the vestibule. A roof was built over the entrance of the church as a shelter from inclement weather. A new walk and wall were placed in front of the church and rectory to beautify the premises. Father Masakowski also purchased the four and a half acres of property across the street from the church, which had previously been leased from the coal company that owned it. Thus, he secured a parking facility for 185 cars and a permanent site for the annual parish picnics. Spiritually, Father Masakowski planned activities to externally show the parish's dedication to our Lord and His Blessed Mother. Annual Forty Hours Devotions, 6:00 AM Easter Resurrection and Mass, the traditional Polish "Shepherd's Mass" at Midnight on Christmas (preceded by caroling in Polish and English,) as well as the annual May Crowning Ceremony were all continued under his direction. He also instituted the practice of recitation of the Holy Rosary prior to each Mass. He continued the ringing of the Bells three times daily (6:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 6:00 PM), as well as ringing the church bells a half-hour before and at the start of each Mass. Additionally, he planned the erection of an outdoor to our Blessed Mother on the parish grounds across the street from the church and in direct view of the altar of sacrifice inside the church. This statue to Our Lady of the Pines was dedicated by Father Masakowski and the parishioners during the 1973 May Crowing Ceremony. Organizationally, Father Masakowski resurrected the Altar and Rosary Society which had been dormant for fifteen years. Under his direction, the activities of the Altar Boy Society, Holy Name Society, Sodality, and Ladies Guild continued as well. As a lover of music, he replaced the de- teriorated and water-damaged pipe organ with a new electronic Conn organ in 1973. Janine Klemek was hired as organist and for the next eight years directed a reorganized junior and senior choir whose accomplished tenor brought great pride and joy to the parish. Thus, the tradition of a beautiful choir at St. John's was reestablished and would continue in the 1980's under the direction of Carl Reichart. Father Masakowski also resumed the tradition of an an- nual St. John's Parish Picnic, which had not been held since July 4, 5, and 6, 1963 under Father

13 Piontek. The first St. John's Parish Picnic under Father Masakowski's leadership was held on August 18, 19, and 20, 1972, and it has been held every year since. He shaped the picnic into what it currently has become, a very successful renowned in the diocese and one on which many other picnics are modeled. Polish social events such as the annual Christmas "Wa- fer Supper" and the Paczkowy Ball before Lent were also held. The parish came together and celebrated its rebirth in the renovated church for its 75th Diamond Jubilee on February 3, 1974. The Most Reverend J. Carroll McCorrruck, D.D., Bishop of Scranton, was the principal celebrant for a Mass of Thanksgiving, along with Father Masakowski, former pastors Piontek and Kowalk- iewicz, and former assistant pastor Rusin. Homilist was Very Rev. Ladislaus Pelczynski, provincial of the Marian Fathers, Stockbridge, Massachusetts. A reception was held after the Mass in St. Anthony's Church Hall in Larksville. General chairperson for the Diamond Jubilee Committee was Mr. Charles Prohaska, Sr. Later that same year, the parish honored its pastor on the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on June 2, 1974. A Mass of Thanksgiving was held in the church at 4:00 PM that afternoon. Father Masakowski was the principal celebrant, and his brother, Rev. Edward M. Masakowski, along with other priests of the diocese, were concelebrants. Homilist was Rev. Walter W. Poplawski, pastor of Father Masakowskiis native parish, Holy Trinity, Nanticoke. Following the Mass, a testimonial dinner dance and reception was held at Gus Genetti's Hotel in Wilkes-Barre, where the parish honored its new pastor of almost three years for the many accomplishments he had achieved in his lifetime and especially at St. John's in a relatively short period of time. A from our Heritage On October 16, 1978, one of the most significant events in Polish and Polish-American history took place. The Archbishop of Krakow, Karol Cardinal Wojtyla, was elected to the Papacy. Taking the name John Paul II, he became the first Pope from Poland in the 1000 year history of the Christian Polish nation. He was also the first non-Italian elected to the position in 456 years. In this country, it was an event that brought much positive exposure to Polish- Americans and encouraged us to look back on our heritage with great pride. The bells of many Polish-American churches across the country rang out on the afternoon of October 16th to show their jubilation, and Father Masakowski likewise rang the bells of St. John the Baptist Church that afternoon to let our pride be known upon the election of a Pope from our heritage. During the following weeks, as further illustration of our pride, Father Masakowski had paintings of Pope John Paul II along with Our Lady of Czestochowa placed in the rear of the church. Projects, Challenges, and Celebrations in the 1970's and 1980's Through the late 1970's and into the 1980's, Father Masakowski made further physical im- provements in the parish. A new kitchen was built on the picnic grounds and would become an invaluable facility for the preparation and serving of food for the annual parish picnic. In 1981, under his direction, the parish undertook a $120,000 renovation project, its most ex- tensive to date. The church interior was completely remodeled and repainted, and new pews were placed in the church, along with new burnt-orange colored carpeting. However, while this 14 project was being undertaken, a temporary setback occurred in the summer of 1981 when Fa- ther Masakowski suffered a severe heart attack and became seriously ill. Daunted with the very grave possibility of losing its pastor, the parish prayed for him and petitioned our Lord and His Blessed Mother to keep Father with us a little while longer. In order for the parish to continue having services, Father's good friends Monsignor Edward Manikowski and Rev. Leonard Novak celebrated Masses at St. John's while Father Masakowski was recuperating. They continued to do so until Father, with the help of our Blessed Mother, made a full recovery and was able to gradually resume his pastoral duties some weeks later. Undeterred by this temporary setback, Father Masakowski continued with his plan to keep improving the church and its grounds. A Mass of Thanksgiving to mark the renovations was held on the evening of September 8, 1981, with Bishop J. Carroll McCormick celebrating. To emphasize the significance of this event in the church's history, concelebrants for the Mass were former pastors Piontek and Kowalkiewicz. Around this time, the parish rectory was repainted, and an office was added for the conve- nience of the parishioners. Improvements to the parish cemetery in Dallas continued with the removal of many trees with roots that were damaging graves. A new cemetery chapel was erected, and on June 24, 1985, the feast of St. John the Baptist, it was dedicated by the Most Reverend James C. Timlin, D.D., Bishop of Scranton. Additionally, so that all may have access to the church, a handicapped-accessible ramp was added to the entrance. In 1988, the entire exterior of St. John's Church was re- stuccoed, repainted, and the Church steeple illuminated. At the end of the 1980's, the church celebrated its 90th anniversary on January 22, 1989. A Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated by Bishop Timlin, Father Masakowski, and other priests of the diocese. A dinner dance was held later that evening at the Knights of Columbus Home, Luzerne. On June 4, 1989, the parish celebrated Father Masakowski's 40th anniversary of his ordination with a Mass at 11:00 AM in the church and a dinner dance at 1:30 PM at the Knights of Columbus Home, Luzerne. Later, during the 90th Jubilee Year, the parish displayed its patriotism by dedicating a flagpole next to Our Lady of the Pines Grotto on August 13, 1989. On July 10, 1990, the parish was uniquely blessed when its pastor, Rev. John C. Masakowski, was elevated to the rank of of Honor with the title of Monsignor by his holiness Pope John Paul II upon the recommendation of Bishop James C. Timlin, D.D., Bishop of Scranton. This was the first time in the history of St. John the Baptist Parish in Larksville that this honor was conferred on its Pastor. It was an elevation well deserved and appropriate for all of the accomplishments Monsignor Masakowski had achieved during his career and especially during the past nineteen years at St. John's. The announcement was received with great pride and happiness. An Active Pastor Prior to, and since his arrival at St. John's, Monsignor Masakowski has also been active in Dioc- esan spiritual efforts. In 1983, with the approval of the Supreme Council, he was instrumental in organizing the Fourth Degree Assembly of the Knights of Columbus in honor of the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa. The assembly was dedicated to Mary in honor of the 600th anniver- sary of Our Lady of Czestochowa in August 1982, and it became the first in the United States 15 named in her honor. This was due to Monsignor's true devotion to Our Lady and his desire to encourage the same devotion in others. In 1988, Monsignor was instrumental in having the Knights of Columbus donate $125,000 to the Diocese of Scranton for the erection of a Television Tower for Diocesan Communications. It was the largest donation ever received by the Diocese from any Council in the Diocese. Monsignor Masakowski also serves as the Diocesan Treasurer of the Catholic League for Religious Assistance to Poland, an organization which provides financial assistance from all parishes of Polish heritage in America to the Church in Poland. In 1987, Monsignor was appointed diocesan moderator for the Catholic League by then Bishop of Scranton and now Archbishop of New York John Cardinal O'Connor. Monsignor chaired the fourteenth annual convention of the organization that year, which was considered to be one of the most outstanding conventions in the history of the Catholic League. The work of the Catholic League has been especially significant for the Church in Poland during the past twenty years, through the sometimes trying years of Commu- nist dictatorship, and since Communismis downfall, as Poland faces the challenges inherent in becoming a democratic society. Goals and Accomplishments in the 1990's As a new decade began and St. John's moved into the 1990's, Monsignor Masakowski and the parishioners set new goals in preparation for the parish's 95th anniversary in 1994. Further physical improvements were made. The rest rooms in the church hall were refurbished and retiled. The walls of the church interior were redecorated and repainted, and the sanctuary walls were wallpapered. New statues of St. , (an American saint active in Cath- olic education) and St. Maxsymillian Maria Kolbe, (a Polish priest who gave his life for a fellow prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II), were placed on either side of the statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. They replaced the two statues which had been located there. A new public address system was installed along with new computerized Carillon bells. Most significantly, a new Gothicstyle altar of sacrifice and lecterns, designed to match the decor of the original altars, were donated by the Stelmack family and placed in the sanctuary. The new altar and both lecterns each contain four miniature pillars for a total of twelve, which match in design and number the pillars on which the church stands. Bishop James C. Timlin, Monsignor Masakowski, and other priests of the diocese celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving in the church for the 95th anniversary on January 23, 1994 at 11:00 AM. Father Leonard Chrobot, Ph.D., professor of sociology at Notre Dame, was homilist. An informal reception followed in the parish hall. Father Kaz Shortly before the parish celebrated its 95th anniversary, Monsignor Masakowski invited Father Clement Kazlauskas, C.S.C., to come to St. John's to assist at Sunday Masses and during the week as well. For the next four years and nine months, Father Kaz served as a Visiting Associate of the parish. His informal style and kind, meek disposition won the fondness of the parishioners. He became especially endeared to those who attended Mass daily and thus came to know him 16 well during his stay. He often showed his friendship with them, addressing them by name when administering Holy Communion. This expression of warmth was one of many so characteristic of him. In June of 1998, he underwent routine surgery and was expected to return to St. John's soon, but our Lord had other plans for him. He never recovered from complications from the procedure and passed away on August 8, 1998, in the middle of the annual parish picnic that year. Father Kaz was the first priest in the history of St. John's who passed away while serving there and was laid in state in the church. His Mass of Christian Burial was held in the church on August 12, with Holy Cross Father Hugh Cleary, superior general of the Congregation of Holy Cross, presiding. Father Kaz was taken to Holy Cross Brothers and Fathers Cemetery on the campus of Stonehill College in Massachusetts where he was buried. In December of 1998, Rev. John Fabian, Pastor Emeritus of St. Stephen's Church in Plymouth, filled the role of Visiting Associate at St. John's left vacant upon Father Kaz's death. Preparation for the Parish Centennial As the end of the 1990's approached, Monsignor Masakowski and the parishioners of St. John's looked with eager anticipation to the celebration of the church's 100th anniversary. Preparation for the event was of a physical, intellectual, and spiritual nature. Physically, more improvements were made to the church. The shelter covering the entrance of the church was enclosed with glass. New carpeting was placed on the entrance steps. The floor of the vestibule was retiled. The exterior of the church and rectory were repaired in 1998 at a cost of $47,800. The chandelier, which holds much historical significance, was beautifully refinished to return it to its original luster. Intellectually, research on the history of the parish was continued and produced the volume on these pages. To prepare spiritually for the event, the parish held a mission each year, usually during or near Holy Week, beginning in 1996, and continuing in 1997 and 1998 (the three years leading up to the centennial jubilee year 1999.) After the first mission in 1996, the parish dedicated itself to the of Jesus, and paintings both of this image and of Sister Faustyna were placed on the wall near the side altar dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Devotions to the Divine Mercy of Jesus began and have been held ever since after each weekday Mass and on Fridays at 3:00PM, when Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is held as well. The Parish Centennial Jubilee On January 24, 1999, the eagerly anticipated moment arrived, as St. John the Baptist Church celebrated one hundred years as a parish family. The Most Reverend James C. Timlin, D.D., Bishop of Scranton, was the principal celebrant of a Concelebrated Mass of Thanksgiving at 11:00 AM. Concelebrating with Bishop Timlin were Rev. Monsignor John C. Masakowski, Pastor, Rev. Joseph C. Rusin, Pastor Emeritus of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Mayfield and former Assistant Pastor of St. John's, and other priests of the diocese. Homilist at the Mass was Rev. Charles P. Connor, Ph.D., Diocesan Historian, who presented an insightful and heartwarming reflection on the times during which the parish's forefathers founded the church. He presented the 100 years of St. John the Baptist Church in the context of a successful example of many in

17 America where hardworking Polish immigrants with little means built new lives for themselves with Roman Catholicism as their basis. Father Connor's homily certainly sparked memories in the minds of many parishioners present that day. They thought of their parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents whose sweat, tears, and sacrifices established the church and made that day a reality. They thought of their upbringing and how St. John's had been and continues to be such an integral part of their family life. Although too numerous to mention here, they thought of many people, both and laity, who played such vital roles in the past one hundred years at St. John's. The Centennial Jubilee Mass was followed by a dinner and reception at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, Wilkes-Barre. Toastmaster was Michael Novrocki, Parish Historian and Vocalist, and the principal address was given by Rev. Msgr. Leonard Novak, pastor of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church, South Scranton. Remarks were given by various members of parish societies, clergy, and local dignitaries. In addition to those listed on the program, Lyn Kesselman and Robert Robine spoke on behalf of Larksville borough. Entertainment was provided by the Henry Charles Orchestra. Monsignor's Golden Jubliee The year 1999 was a doublejubilee year for the parishioners of St. John's. On June 6, 1999, Monsignor Masakowski celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his ordination to the holy priesthood. A Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated by Monsignor Masakowski in the church at 2:00 PM that afternoon. Bishop James C. Timlin, D.D., Bishop of Scranton, presided. Concelebrants were Rev. Edward Masakowski, Rev. Msgr. Leonard Novak, and other priests of the diocese. Homilist was Rev. Msgr. Leonard Novak. Following the Mass, a dinner and reception was held at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, Wilkes-Barre. At the reception, the parish honored its priest of twenty-eight years for the enormous accom- plishments he had achieved during that time and throughout his priestly career. was given by Rev. John Krafchak, Pastor of St. Mary of Czestochowa Church, Nanticoke. Wel- come was given by Joseph Mack, Chairman of the jubilee ticket and reception committee and President of the Holy Name Society. Toastmaster was Michael Novrocki, Parish Historian and Vocalist. Citations were presented to Monsignor by U.S. Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski of the 11th District, and Pennsylvania State Representative John Yudichak. Monsignor's nephew-in-law, Dave Luken, presented a citation from U.S. Senator Richard Santorum. Msgr. Leonard Novak presented Monsignor Masakowski with a citation from their alma mater, SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, Orchard Lake, Michigan. Presentations and remarks were also given by Mary Jo Mack, Prefect of the Sodality, Judy Hodorowski, Parish Secretary and President, Altar and Rosary Society, and Dan Chipego, Secretary/Treasurer of the Holy Name Society. Rev. Edward Masakowski, Pastor of St. Mark's Church, Inkerman, and brother of Monsignor, spoke on behalf of the Masakowski family. Principal address was given by Rev. Anthony M. Urban, Pastor of St. Elizabeth's Parish, Bear Creek, PA, and dear friend and childhood of protege of Monsignor Masakowski. Gratitude was given by Monsignor Masakowski, as he reflected on his priestly career and thanked all those 18 who made it possible for him to reach this milestone, especially his parents. Benediction was given by Rev. John Fabian, Visiting Associate at St. John's. Entertainment was provided by the Henry Charles Orchestra. Monsignor Masakowski's Role in St. John's History Monsignor Masakowski's role in the history of the parish will prove to be as indelible and sig- nificant as that of Father Kopicki. Whereas Father Kopicki rebuilt the church and all of its com- ponents as we know them today, Monsignor Masakowski skillfully and artfully preserved those components by restoring them to their original beauty so that they could reflect their historical significance. He saved them from deterioration and decay beyond repair, which unfortunately has become the fate of other older parishes. Due to him, St. John's can boast of one of the most beautiful churches, grounds, and cemeteries in the Wyoming Valley today. His legacy at St. John's and in the borough of Larksville will be felt for a long time, and is recorded here as a testament for posterity of his leadership during a transitional time in the history of St. John the Baptist Church and the Diocese of Scranton. 100 Years of Faithful Example The past one hundred years of St. John the Baptist Church in Larksville is one example among many in America illustrating how Polish immigrants came to this country and fulfilled their dreams. In this land, they were able to live in political and religious freedom, settling where they could find work, buy property, and be assured that their families wouldn't suffer from hunger and want. They were also able to worship God in the tradition of their homeland. In the beginning, they were shepherded by Polish priests who spoke their language and saw a duty to look after their own, guiding their parishioners over the pitfalls inherent in a new land with a foreign language and culture. The early pastors and parishioners set a precedent to see to it that the children of St. John's receive a religious and academic education, thereby advancing in society and making a better life for themselves than the previous generation. This history has been written for the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of St. John the Baptist Church so that its members and future generations may never forget the origin and roots of their parish. It was founded by poor Polish immigrants who did not have great means or much education, but possessed much common sense and a sincere love of God. The struggles and hardships they endured were undertaken so that we might all benefit from their sacrifices. We should be forever grateful. May God bless each member of St. John the Baptist Church in Larksville and may our Blessed Mother continue to intercede on our behalf. Sto Lat! Ad Multos Annos! August 1, 2000

A complete bibliography and text with footnotes of this history is available from the author.

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