SPRING EDITION 2015
The Golden Burrs
Events Committee members are pleased to bring you this 23rd edition of the
Class of 1958's Newsletter.
We wish
you and yours a very
HAPPY
EASTER SEASON
Each section will
bring you information that we have gathered about West Catholic and other
newsworthy events that have transpired in the past three months.
In this issue under the "West
Catholic Prep Banner" is the announcement of the retirement of Sister Mary Bur and the
upcoming calendar of events and news about an award given by St. Joseph
University to Sister.
In the "News Features" section we
continue reporting on the history of our childhood parishes
by featuring Our Lady of Victory Parish. A special thanks goes
to our classmate Charles J. Johnson, who provided his Souvenir
Booklet "Commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of Our Lady of
Victory Parish 1899-1949."
Also, the following additional resources from the Philadelphia
Archdiocese Reference Library at St. Charles Seminary were used as
reference materials for this article: "Souvenir, Dedication and
Opening of Our Lady of Victory, Sunday, September 20, 1914"; "We have
Come This Far by Faith, 1899-1989"; and "Souvenir and History of the
Parish of Our Lady of Victory, Program of Entertainment."
Thanks to John Staiber and his fellow classmates from Our Lady
of Victory for their assistance in identifying the "8th
grade boys" and some of the "1949 altar boys".
The Summer 2015 edition will feature the parishes of St.
Barnabas, St. Mary of Czestochowa and Our Lady of Loreto.
Sadly, our
classmate Walt Riess passed away on February 20, 2015.
PAST AND UPCOMING HAPPENINGS AT WEST
PREP
SISTER
MARY BUR TO RETIRE FROM WEST CATHOLIC PREP
After 27 years of leadership, Sr. Mary Bur, IHM, Principal of West Catholic Preparatory High School, is set to retire at the close of this academic year. A model Catholic educator, Sr. Mary is a graduate of Immaculate Conception Elementary in Jenkintown, Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls, Immaculata University (B.A. English, Music), and Villanova University (M.A. English).
As
a Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sr. Mary has served in various
schools in the region before coming to West Catholic, including: St. Cyril
School in East Lansdowne, St. Eugene School in Primos, St. Irenaeus/Raphael
School in Philadelphia, St. Agatha School in Philadelphia, Allentown Central
Catholic H. S. in Allentown, PA, Bishop Shanahan High School in West Chester,
PA and Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia.
For
the full story and a special letter from Sr. Mary! click here: http://www.westcatholic.org/page.cfm?p=529&newsid=147
SISTER MARY BUR HONORED BY ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY
January
22, 2015 - St. Joseph University honored
Sister Mary Bur, I.H.M., retiring principal of West Catholic Preparatory
School, and Rev. George Bur, S.J., retiring president of Saint Joseph’s
Preparatory School and a member of the SJU Board of Trustees, with the Ratio Studiorum Award.
The honor takes its name from the Jesuit plan to establish a global
educational system in 1542 and is awarded to educators who have made
exceptional leadership and collaboration efforts to improve the future of
high-quality, competitive Catholic education.
"Brother and sister, George and Mary Bur, have given much of
their lives and careers to students in the City of Philadelphia,” says Daniel
R. J. Joyce, S.J. ’88, director of the ACESJU Education Fellows program. “The impact that they have had by creating
educational opportunity for families with few options has been transformative
for the community.”
WEST CATHOLIC
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
The West
Catholic Alumni & Alumnae are proud to sponsor our participation in the
St. Patrick's Day Parade in Springfield (Del. Cty), PA.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Starting at Noon
Anyone interested in marching with your
fellow Burrs please contact the Alumni Association via email
and
let them know you are ready!
http://www.westcatholicalumni.org/st-patricks-parade.html
Alumni Communion Breakfast -
Springfield Country Club - 9:00 AM, Sunday, April 19, 2015
Sports
Hall of Fame Induction and Dinner - Clarion Hotel - Saturday, May 16, 2015
Annual
Cardinal O'Connor Golf Classic - Bala Country Club - Monday, June 1, 2015
Burrs
at the Beach - Westy's Irish Pub, North Wildwood, NJ - 1:00 PM, Sunday, June
28, 2015
NEWS FEATURES
Special
congratulations to Jim and Fran Lynch who will celebrate their
50th
wedding anniversary on April 24, 2015.
STATIONS
OF THE CROSS FROM ST. FRANCIS ASSISI - GERMANTOWN
As reported in the Fall 2013 edition of this newsletter, Stained
Glass windows from the Ascension of Our Lord Church will be refurbished and
installed in the new cathedral of the Holy Name of Jesus in the Diocese of
Raleigh, NC. We have learned that the Stations of the Cross
(one pictured above), from St. Francis of Assisi Church which closed
in 2012, will be installed in the new cathedral. The
Stations are painted on a gold field and are multi-colored. They measure
three feet wide by slightly more than five feet high. The Stations
are approximately 80 years old and required little restoration.
For an update on the fund raising effort and construction schedule
of the new cathedral visit: http://www.holynamecathedralnc.org/
THANK
YOU LETTER FROM THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS
ST.
FRANCIS DE SALES PARISH CELEBRATES ITS 125th ANNIVERSARY
January 11, 2015,
Archbishop Charles Chaput O.F.M. visited St. Francis de Sales to celebrate Mass
for a full house of approximately 1.000 worshipers, in honor of
the 125th anniversary of its founding.
To read the full report on the celebration click on: http://catholicphilly.com/2015/01/news/local-news/grand-philadelphia-parish-seeing-new-growth-in-changing-city-area/
WC
BOYS CLASS OF 1958 - 57TH ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON - MAY 14, 2015
The West Catholic
Boys Class of 1958 will celebrate the 57th Anniversary of
their graduation from West Catholic at a luncheon on Thursday, May 14,
2015 at the Clarion Hotel (formerly the Ramada), Essington, PA.
Cost: Same low
price of $20.00 per person, cash bar.
The overnight
room rate for out-of-town travelers remains unchanged from
previous years at $89.00.
We encourage you to spread the word to your fellow classmates
and friends of the class of '58. Please submit your payment no later
than April 30, 2014. Questions: Contact
Frank Adolf at: fjapfa@netzero.net
or call 610-344-0716.
REMEMBRANCES
OF "OUR LADY OF VICTORY PARISH"
submitted by: FRANK
ADOLF AND JOHN STAIBER
June 1899 - The
Reverend Patrick F. McNulty, assistant pastor of Our Mother of Sorrows
Church, was appointed by Archbishop Ryan to organize a new parish in
the western section of that parish to be named Our Lady of Victory
parish. Father McNulty was ordained on October 14, 1883.
Reverend Patrick
F. McNulty
Founding Pastor,
1899 - 1905
Father McNulty secured the second story of a Saw Mill,
at 55th and Pearl Streets and renovated it for use as a temporary Church, creating the "Little Chapel".
Saw
Mill before renovations
Saw
Mill after renovations
October 8,
1899 - Property was secured at
Fifty-fourth and Vine Streets on which would be build a permanent Church.
October
29, 1899 - The first of four Holy Masses were
offered on this date in the "Little
Chapel" at the Saw Mill.
Saw
Mill Chapel Interior
November 6, 1899 - the cornerstone of a combination school
and chapel was blessed. The Sisters of St. Joseph were put in charge of
the future school.
December 24, 1899 - The chapel on the first floor of the school
building, replacing the "Little Chapel", was dedicated by
Archbishop Ryan.
Bishop John W. Shanahan, the third Bishop of Harrisburg,
celebrated a Solemn Pontifical Mass which was attended by a number of
priests, seminarians and altar boys. Bishop Shanahan was the first
superintendent of schools in the Philadelphia Archdiocese. Bishop
Shanahan High School in Downingtown is named after him.
September 8, 1903
- The completed school building was formally opened with an
enrollment of three hundred and seventy-five pupils, 185 Boys and 190 Girls,
who were taught by ten Sisters of St. Joseph.
Soon after the
completion of the school, the rectory was built.
April 8, 1905 - The great labor
involved in the erection of the buildings and the organizing of the parish, accomplished
so successfully in such a short space, was too much for the strength of Father
McNulty, and in less than six years from his appointment he passed away on this
date.
May 15, 1905 - The Reverend John F. Graham, who had been
assistant pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas, was appointed as the second
pastor. Father Graham was ordained on March 2, 1883.
Reverend John F.
Graham
Second Pastor,
1905 - 1922
Father Graham energetically applied himself to perfecting the
plans laid out by Father McNulty, and added materially to the fund already
collected for the building of a new church.
April 26, 1909 - Ground was
broken for a new Church which would cost more than $250,000.
September 12, 1909
- The cornerstone was blessed by the new Archbishop Edmond
F. Prendergast.
May 14, 1911 - The completed
lower church was blessed by the Archbishop.
September 20, 1914
- Archbishop Prendergast blessed the completed upper
church.
The altars were built principally of Cenera marble, a
beautiful rare Italian marble. Skyros marble from Greece was used in
the columns for the altar rail and High altar colonnade. The four statues
adorning the high altar are of the four Evangelists and the two columns
supporting the Evangelists are of violet Breccia marble. The baldichino
over the high altar is constructed of art glass, hand-wrought iron and silk
draperies, decorate with various religious symbols.
The iron work
throughout the church, including the baldichino, was all made and carved by
hand. The tabernacle doors are fine examples of carved and hammered
wrought iron.
The baptistry, located in the tower of the church, is constructed
of Spanish cohesive tile and Indiana limestone, while the floors are of
Tennessee marble and tile mosaic. The marble font is modeled after
one in the church of St. Benigne in Dijon, France. All the furnishings
and fixtures were specially designed for the church. The lighting
fixtures are of cast brass. The stained glass windows were made in
Munich, Germany.
Auxiliary Bishop
John J. McCort celebrated the Solemn Pontifical Mass.
Dedication Dinner
Menu
Our Lady of
Victory Church and School
June 2, 1919 - Sometime between 11 PM and 12 AM two bombs
exploded within seconds of each other under the porch of the rectory of the Our
Lady of Victory. The bombs caved in the porch and shattered every window
in the rectory as well as those in the basement of the church. While the
area was still smoldering, another bomb exploded less than a mile away at
57th and Locust, home of Philadelphia jeweler Louis Jajieky. The interior
of the Jajieky residence was completely demolished; only the four walls
remained standing.
These two attacks in Philadelphia were carried within 90 minutes
of bombings that occurred in New York City; Washington D.C.;
Patterson; Boston; Pittsburgh; and Cleveland. The bombs were
comprised of up to 25 pounds of dynamite packaged with heavy metal slugs
designed to act a shrapnel.
The search of the Our Lady of Victory crime scene uncovered copper
wire and percussion caps, which suggested a time bombs. Philadelphia
police also found evidence at the Jajieky residence that led them to
believe the device left there was in a wooden container “filled with sawdust or
sand, which was saturated with nitroglycerin.” It was likely detonated by
“a powerful acid eating its way through a metal container until it reached the
explosive.”
The bombings were a concerted effort among U.S.
based anarchists who were most likely disciples of Luigi Galleani, a vehemently
radical anarchist who advocated violence as a means to effect change, and to
rid the world of laws and capitalism.
Carlo Valdinoci, who coordinated the bombings did not
live to tell his story, as he blew himself up in the process when a
bomb that destroyed the house of the newly appointed
Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer in Washington D.C., detonated
accidentally. A young Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, who lived
across the street from the Attorney General, were also shaken by the
blast.
March
11, 1922 - Father
Graham passed away after a 12 day siege of influenza.
Reverend
David J. Kane was appointed Administrator of the parish on a temporary basis.
April 8, 1922 - The Reverend Francis L. Carr
was appointed as the third pastor. Father
Carr was ordained on May 20, 1888.
Reverend
Francis L. Carr
Third
Pastor, 1922 - 1937
Completed
Parish Buildings of Our Lady of Victory / Church Interior - Circa 1930
During Father Carr's pastorship the bell was installed in
the Church tower, and an altar, a gift of the people of the parish, was
installed in St. Martin's Chapel at St. Charles Seminary.
July
21, 1937 - Father Carr's pastorate ended suddenly on this date, when
God called him home.
August,
1937 - The
Reverend Edward A. Lyons D.D. was appointed as the fourth pastor. Father
Lyons was ordained on April 20, 1913.
Rev.
Edward A. Lyons D.D. (later Monsignor)
Fourth
Pastor, 1937 - 1966
Father Lyons came to Our Lady of Victory from St. Charles Seminary where
he had been Professor of Dogmatic Theology for fifteen years (1922-1937).
March,
1943 - A destructive fire ravaged the parish
school. Father Lyons set about to accomplish a splendid
rehabilitation of the building.
In
preparation for the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of Our Lady of Victory,
Father Lyons arranged for the installation of new Venetian Mosaic Stations of the Cross.
Marble
statues of the Sacred Heart and of St. Therese of the Child Jesus were
purchased, and Mosaic
panels behind the side altars of the upper church were installed. The interior of the
Church was painted and the electrical lighting system was completed
rewired.
Beautiful
Stained Glass Windows graced the Upper Church.
Presentation in the Temple
Jesus
Teaching in the Temple
1949 - The Golden Jubilee of Our Lady of Victory Parish was celebrated
from November 14 to November 27, 1949.
November 14, 1949 - A Parish Banquet
was held at the Penn-Sheraton Hotel which
was filled to capacity with six hundred and thirty-two attendees. The
entertainment consisted of a complete vaudeville show and a dance
following the show.
Sunday,
November 27, 1949 - Golden Jubilee Mass - Solemn Processional
A
Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving was sung at eleven o'clock by Monsignor James
E. Heir, the Rev. John J. Goodfellow was deacon, and the Rev. Thomas I.
Smith, sub-deacon.
Auxiliary Bishop Hugh L. Lamb presided and addressed the congregation before the
Mass, extending the greetings and blessings of Cardinal Dougherty. The
Bishop recalled the humble beginning of the Parish, and noted the wonderful
progress made, evident in the magnificent group of granite buildings that
comprised the parish of Our Lady of Victory. He noted that the parish had
given forty-one boys to the priesthood, three to the Brothers, and Seventy-five
girls to the religious life.
Solemn Benediction of the Blessed
Sacrament was offered after the Mass by Bishop Lamb. Father Lyons
addressed the congregation after Benediction. He expressed his gratitude
to everyone who assisted in the preparations for the Jubilee.
Father Lyons
closed with these words:
"I hope that you will treasure the
memory of this day in your hearts, and that you will keep in your hearts a love
for OUR LADY OF VICTORY."
Right
Side - 1st Altar Boy - Charles J. Johnson; 3rd Altar Boy -
John J. Gallagher
THE
CHILDREN'S MASS
The
Parish Curates in 1949
Father
Cliggett served as Chaplain at West Catholic in the 1950's.
SCHOOL
DAYS
1954
- Our Lady of Victory 8th Grade Boys Graduation Class
Flag
Bearers: John J. Gallagher on Left, Dale Millburn on Right
Left to Right - Front Row: Errol Taylor, James Dagney, Wendell
Devlin, John Staiber, Anthony DiGuiesppe
Middle row: Ronald Miles, Donald Blees, Thomas Kavanagh, Edward
Fitzgerald, Richard Kelly
Back Row: Thomas Collins, David Ross, Charles J. Johnson, Gaylord Roy,
Edward Butler, James Bloomer
Note: WC Class of 1958 grads = Errol Taylor, John Staiber, Anthony
DiGuiesppe, Ronald Miles, Donald Blees, Thomas Kavanagh, Charles J. Johnson, Edward
Butler (Ammendale) & James Bloomer.
January
9, 1959 - Father Lyons was named a Domestic Prelate with the title of
Monsignor.
April
23, 1963 - Msgr. Lyons celebrated his 50th Anniversary of his ordination.
February 25, 1966 - After 29 years of service to Our Lady of Victory Parish, Msgr. Lyons died suddenly. He was 78 years old.
February
1966 - Msgr. Lyons was succeeded by the Reverend Joseph P. Whearty as the
fifth pastor, a priest who had been assistant pastor some years earlier.
Father Whearty was ordained on May 22, 1937.
Rev.
Joseph P. Whearty in 1943
Fifth
Pastor, 1966 -1974
In the constant shifting pattern of urban
neighbors, the proportion of Black Families increased, while the percentage of
Irish Catholics declined. An estimated 30 to 40 percent of the
families within the confines of the parish in the 1920's were Catholic; during
the 1960's an estimate placed the area's Catholic population at three
percent. In March of 1966, there were 150 white and 600 black
families in the parish.
Sapped
of its large membership, the parish seemed to be dying, but Father Whearty
was undeterred. Father outlined to the congregation his
dream of revitalizing the parish.
Having
received Cardinal Krol's approval, and the sum of $90,000 on a ten year
note, Father Whearty embarked on a program which he felt would solve the
problems of the parish.
Since the lower church was rarely
used it was deconsecrated and changed into a Social Hall. Bingo
games were held their on Saturday nights and the sacristy of the lower church
was transformed into a modernized kitchen where dinners were served to
patrons. The upper church was completed refurbished; the school
which was on the brink of closing had its boiler repaired. A Library
was established in the school and after a fire destroyed it, Father Whearty had
it rebuilt. When a building on the corner of 54th and Race Sts.
started to prove a nuisance to the school children, Father Whearty purchased
the property and turned it into a Thrift Shop where members of the Altar and
Rosary Society worked.
In
order to repay the loan and clear the parish of its financial debts, Father
Whearty started a 50-50 drawing. This fund raiser was so successful that
the parish was able to repay the $90,000 loan in nine months.
November 1967 - Cardinal Krol visited the parish to thank the
parishioners and the pastor for "the striking
progress" which the parish had made. A statue of St. Martin de
Porres, the first statue to honor a Black Saint, was placed in the church.
May
1974 - Father Whearty retired and was named Pastor Emeritus.
Upon
the retirement of Father Whearty, the Reverend William H. Skivington, was appointed
as the sixth pastor. Father Skivington was ordained on May 30, 1942.
Rev.
William H. Skivington in 1943 (later Monsignor)
Sixth
Pastor, 1974 - 1987
Following
in the footsteps of Father Whearty, Father Skivington installed two new altars
by removing two confessionals. One altar was dedicated to Our Lady of the
Inner City and the other to St. Kizito who was the youngest of 88 Ugandan
martyrs.
November
1982 - Richard Nightingale was ordained a Deacon, he was among the first
group of seven African-American men ordained as permanent deacons.
December
18, 1985 - Father Whearty passed away.
December
1985 - Father Skivington was named a Monsignor.
1986
- Msgr. Skivington organized a Ecumenical
Choir Festival with representatives of all Christian Faiths present for the
event.
Also
in 1986, Msgr. Skivington had two mosaics placed on the front walls of the
church: the fifteenth Station depicting Christ triumphant over death, and the
other honoring St. John Neumann. He also commissioned several lay women
as Eucharistic Ministers and transformed the Baptistry into a chapel where
daily Masses were held.
June 30, 1987 - Monsignor William H. Skivington died at the age
of 72 after battling cancer for a year. He was a popular priest who
spent more than 20 years working at inner-city parishes, having been
pastor for 10 years at St. Ignatius Church in North Philadelphia before
coming to Our Lady of Victory.
June 1987 - Reverend James A. Callahan, pastor of
Transfiguration, served as temporary pastor after the death of Msgr.
Skivington.
August 1987 -
Reverend Joseph P. Denny was appointed as the seventh pastor. Father
Denny was ordained in 1967.
Rev. Joseph P.
Denny
Seventh Pastor,
1988 - 1991
May 1988 - Father Denny
approved the celebration of Pentecost Sunday as an Evangelization event.
An open-air
barbecue was held on the rectory lawn.
Father Denny
built a ramp on the south side of the Church so the elderly and
handicapped parishioners could have easier access.
June 1989 - Our
Lady of Victory Parish celebrated its 90th Anniversary.
Below are
the names of the Priests, Nuns and Lay Teachers who served the parish from 1899
to 1989.
January 1991 -
Father Denny was transferred to the pastorship of St. Bartholomew Parish where
he passed away on March 2, 2008.
January 1991 -
Reverend Henry J. McKee was appointed as the eighth pastor. Father
McKee was ordained in 1972.
Rev. Henry
J. McKee
Eighth Pastor,
1991-2000
Under Father
McKee's pastorship, the parish community annually celebrated: Get to Know
You Sunday, Stewardship Sunday, Evangelization Sunday, Healing Sunday, Thanks
by Giving Sunday, Kwanzaa, and Women's Day.
Father McKee is
presently pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Havertown, PA.
Interesting
Historical Fact
In the year 1571, there was war in
the Mediterranean Sea. Pope St. Plus V called on all Europe to pray the
rosary, asking Our Lady for a victory.
After a winning
outcome, the Pope dedicated October 7, 1571 as the annual feast of Our
Lady of Victory.
In 1969, Pope Paul VI
changed the name of the feast day to Our Lady of the Rosary.
In the year 2000,
Our Lady of Victory and Our Lady of the Rosary parishes were
"twinned" under a new pastor, the Reverend Thomas P.
Kletzel who was ordained in 1983.
Being
"twinned" means that one priest serves as pastor of two
parishes, which often-times is an interim step prior to merging of the two
parishes.
February 21, 2005
- Five years after being "twinned" and in the face of
declining membership, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced the
merger of Our Lady of Victory and Our Lady of the
Rosary Parishes and their schools.
Our Lady of the Rosary Parish had seen its membership drop
from 1,045 parishioners in 1990 to 400 in 2004; Our Lady of Victory Parish
suffered a drop from 1,347 to 537 over the same period.
Father Kletzel announced
that Our Lady of Victory was rejected as the new parish site because its
buildings were in worse condition, with "significantly higher
operating expenses".
The new parish and its school would be based at
Our Lady of the Rosary.
April
17, 2005 - Father Kletzel, announced at
Holy Week Services that the new name of
the parish would be Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament and the official decrees were published in both parish
bulletins. The name was chosen by Cardinal Rigali following a survey of
parishioners who indicated they wished to continue to be under the patronage of
the Blessed Mother, and also wanted to honor the Year of the Eucharist that was
currently underway in the Archdiocese.
July 1, 2005 - Our Lady of Victory Parish was officially suppressed and
merged with Our Lady of the Rosary under the new name of Our Lady of
the Blessed Sacrament. A sad ending to a once proud and vibrant parish.
Interior of
Our Lady of Victory before the closing in July 2005
Exterior
of Our Lady of Victory after the closing (statue of Our Lady of Victory was removed)
The
former Our Lady of Victory parish property was sold and is now
Caveat Emptor'd
Protestant Church.
Exterior of Our
Lady of the Blessed Sacrament
July 3, 2005 - Cardinal Justin
Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, celebrated
the opening Mass at 11:00 AM for the new Our Lady of
the Blessed Sacrament Parish located at 63rd and Callowhill Streets, using
the buildings of the former Our Lady of the Rosary.
The official
founding date of the new parish is July 1, 2005.
October
29, 2006 -
Sacred Heart Church in Peoria, Illinois
October 29, 2006 - The
newly renovated 100 year-old Church of the Sacred Heart in Peoria,
Illinois was opened and dedicated.
Below are excerpts from the Franciscan Friars Newsletter
concerning the renovations.
"From the marble floor to the symbolically red ceiling, the church is spectacular. But there's something more, something stirring about knowing that these trappings, from the statues, to the granite altar, to the light fixtures, came from churches that no longer exist as houses of worship. In a sense, Sacred Heart has become a repository for the faith and hopes of legions of people beyond Peoria."
"Some
of these items came from a closed church in Scranton, Holy Cross."
"The
lights are from Our Lady of Victory parish in Philadelphia."
Our Lady of Victory lights installed in Sacred Heart
Church, Peoria, Ill.
For
more information on the renovation of Sacred Heart Church visit: http://www.sacredheartpeoria.com/Renovation.html
April 2013 - A short seven years after the establishment of Our
Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish (originally Our Lady of the Rosary
merged with Our Lady of Victory) the parish was suppressed and
merged with St. Cyprian (originally St. Carthage), under the
continuing pastorship of Msgr. Britto. The church continued to be
used as a worship site of St. Cyprian.
August 1, 2014 - Sixteen
months after the April 2013 consolidation with St. Cyprian, the
Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced
that Our
Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church will no longer serve as a worship site of
Saint Cyprian parish and will close as a Roman Catholic church.
Father Kletzel is now pastor of St. Malachy Parish in North
Philadelphia.
MAIL FROM CLASSMATES AND FRIENDS
Don (Andy) Thompson: Frank, Thanks for the excellent editorial job
you shared with us putting together the story of Good Shepherd's early
days. That's a real labor of love and we owe you for it. A couple
of the photos and stories caught my attention. If my G.S. classmates
remember them differently, I would appreciate being corrected. I
appreciated seeing the photo of the school and its large windows which I spent
so much time looking out of during class. Our first grade, I believe, had
well over 100 (?) kids and I think the boys and girls were in separate
rooms. Can you imagine Sr. Mary Pacis getting so many first grade boys in
and out of their boots during the winter snowy days? And the original
rectory along Cobbs Creek Parkway where the mild-mannered assistant pastor
(Father Waldron), introduced us altar boys to Latin during the summer of
1950. He was the padre who trained us in the Latin responses while
sitting on the outside the front steps of the rectory on summer mornings.
The rectory and steps are portrayed in one of the pictures. I think
that group included Steve Casale, Larry Dempsey, Tom Henry? etc.
The
photo of the old chapel reminded me of being an altar server for the 6:30 a.m.
shift, when I served the last 6:30 a.m. Mass on 13 March in the
quonset-hut-like old chapel and then the first 6:30 a.m. Mass in the newly
constructed Church the next day as noted in the photos. Thanks again
Frank. Those early years were an extraordinary time of growth in the
Catholic community of Philly, never again to return it seems.
Tom Wallace aka "German John": Frank - Thanks for the
informative newsletter. The parish histories are interesting--from birth
to unfortunate declines. However it's a source of pride for grads to read
about the sacrifices that former parishioners and their parents had made so
that their families would have a good, Catholic education and learn about
worship from the good example.
Enjoy
your Christmas. Tom
Jim White:
Hi Frank, It might be nice to show a picture gallery of those of us
still alive as well as those who have passed away.
Response: Hi Jim: We decided
to use our Website www.goldenburrs-1958.com, to provide the suggested
information.
Under the "button" Our Classmates then
(1958) and now (2007) - graduation pictures and pictures of each 2007
luncheon attendee are
featured. The 2007 luncheon had over 100
attendees which was one of the largest turnouts.
Here is the link to the 2007 pictures:
http://www.goldenburrs-1958.com/Now%20and%20then%20Pictures/Classof1958ThenandNow/index.html
If your picture is not shown on the Website please e-mail one to
Frank Adolf at: fjapfa@netzero.net. Postal
Mailing address is:
1539
Ulster Way, West Chester, PA 19380
All of our deceased are also shown on the Website, many of them with
obituaries. The link is:
http://www.goldenburrs-1958.com/1958%20Deceased%20(2009)/DeceasedClassmatesWestCatholic/index.html
Frank Cubbage: Frank: You did an outstanding job on "The
Good Shepherd" parish. I can't imagine how you got all the information
but it sure was interesting. I remember Father Hammill and Father
Clinton, as well as the construction of the church. I can remember my
first day of First Grade, standing in the school yard line with my "line
partner" Rich McAndrews, where we told each other that we were not afraid
when we heard other kids crying. It may have been Lynch, Marella and
O'Hara that were crying (just kidding).
John Kraft '57: Hello Frank, I just finished reading your Winter
Edition and as usual enjoyed it very much. There was a comment written by
Fran Lawless which I totally agree with.
Last
September 19th I celebrated my 51st anniversary as an Allstate Agent. I
believe I am the longest tenured Agent in the country. My daughter and
wife both work with me. I still enjoy coming to work every day and when I
cease to enjoy the daily visits it will become work and I will retire.
Thanks
again for all your efforts over the years and I am sure all former students
appreciate the efforts of you and the Committee. Merry Christmas and a
healthy New Year. Regards, John ('57).
John Gillespie: Frank: I’ve read the newsletter
from cover to cover and wanted to thank you and your committee for this
effort. Being a member of Good Shepherd Parish for many years, I’m amazed
at the history of our Parish. Sara Sherwin, the
first May Queen is my cousin. She is deceased, however her sister is
alive and I will pass this along to her.
Charles Porrini '49: Frank, Another
great issue. You'll need a relaxing cruise after completing this
issue. Charles
Ann Cahill: Thanks, Rich! I enjoyed your
article, and Jim would too. He got the Order of the Arrow with troop 58
in Phoenixville when our boys were in the troop. Good memories! Ann
George Powers - Class of '58 President: Thank you
soooooooooo much for this outstanding update. From my wife Betsy (GREED)
and me down her in Clearwater Beach, Florida we would like to say MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your
family and all our classmates. Our prayers will go up for Brother John
and all the other classmates and their families who are under the weather this
Blessed time of year. GOD BLESS ALL!!!!!!!!!! GO WEST!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brother Kevin Stanton: Thanks for
your Winter '14 edition, Frank. I haven't read it all yet, but I enjoyed
the write up on Good Shepherd and the photo of young Knute.
The photo showing the gate to our cemetery in Ammendale reminded
me that, when we were novices, that area was a mini-lake.
Projecting into the future we thought we might be buried "at
sea." Fortunately, it was drained in later years.
Christmas peace.
Br. Kevin
submitted by: FRANK
ADOLF
First Baby Shoes
Topo Gigio -
starred on what TV Show?
Didn't everyone
had a Formica Top Table in their Kitchen?
"Rock Around
the Clock"
DO YOU HAVE ANY
COMMENTS OR REMEMBRANCES OF THE 40'S AND 50'S, ESPECIALLY YOUR PARISHES AND
NEIGHBORHOODS? SEND THEM TO US FOR PUBLICATION IN A FUTURE NEWSLETTER.
PLEASE
REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
WE REMEMBER and ask for your prayers for those who are ill,
especially Dave Crines who is recovering from a stroke, Brother Kevin
Strong and Tom Wallace aka "German John", who are both
dealing with health issues.
Please pray
for all of our classmates who have gone to their eternal reward
especially Walt Riess.
Walter F. Riess
Jr. - February 20, 2015
May Walt rest in
peace.
The complete
listing of our honored deceased and their high school graduation pictures can
be found on the Golden Burrs Website at: www.goldenburrs-1958.com
Thanks to John Staiber, many of the pictures are accompanied by complete
obituaries.
FINAL
THOUGHT
submitted
by: RICH BUZZA
It is always my privilege to assist in the editing of
our Golden Burrs Newsletter, to be honest there is not much work involved
due to the diligence of our Managing Editor Frank Adolf or Francis as I
affectionately call him, (only I and his mother are allowed to do this) anyway,
in doing this editing I get to preview the draft in process. I
marvel at the amount of research and hard work that goes into this newsletter,
every issue keeps getting better and better, not only in my opinion but our
readers seem to agree. This just does not happen by accident but rather
as a result of the hard work put in by everyone in our group who works
extremely hard to make this newsletter a success.
This issue features Our Lady of Victory Parish, and we would
be remiss if we did not recognize two of our Golden Burrs Committee members
from O.L.V. Johnny Staiber, who by the way, contributed greatly in
the writing of the article, good job John, and by the way, I like that 1949
haircut in the photo. John Gallagher was the other member and
was very special to our group, in fact, if it were not for his leadership
and organizing skills and a tenacity for putting forth a dream, this group of
Golden Burrs would not even exist. John left us much too soon, the
Golden Burrs of 1958 say a simple "Thank you, John." Amen.
God
Bless WEST CATHOLIC! Live Jesus in our Hearts. Forever.
KEEP
THE SPIRIT ALIVE!
THIS E-MAIL IS BEING SENT TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE WEST CATHOLIC BOYS'
CLASS OF 1958 AND FRIENDS OF THE CLASS. IF YOU NO LONGER WISH TO RECEIVE
OUR COMMUNICATIONS OR IF YOU ARE RECEIVING UNSOLICITED E-MAILS FROM ANYONE
PERTAINING TO THE CLASS OF 1958, PLEASE NOTIFY FRANK ADOLF AT: FJAPFA@NETZERO.NET