Blessed Trinity Parish & St Patrick Parish

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Chronology

1835–1838SJmMissionary priests from Northern Pennsylvania & Southern New York ministered to the people
1839SP1st records of a Catholic congregation in Owego
1842SPCharles Pumpelly donates land for church to Rt. Rev John Hughes, Bp of New York
1844SPSt Patrick received its 1st resident pastor, Rev John Sheridan
1848SPRev Sheridan purchased the land on which the present church is built for $545.50
1853SJmChurch on Erie Street dedicated on July 23 with Mass by Rev James McManus
1859SPRev Byrne built 1st parochial school house at rear of church building
1860SJmSt James Cemetery established
1863SPChurch enlarged & new steeple & bell added
1870SFRev Francis Clark began celebrating Mass at the Kehoe home at 23 Church Street in Candor
1870sSJnCatholic families move into the Township of Newark Valley
1871SJmChurch on Clark Street dedicated on September 1 under the direction of Rev James Rogers
1881SJmSeparated from the Owego Mission in January
1881SJnNewly built church dedicated to St John the Evangelist on January 8
1881SJnThe parish started as a mission church of St Patrick in Owego
1890SPCurrent church built and dedicated on December 7
1891SJmAugust 5 Certificate of Incorporation for St James Parish
1891SPDecember 21 Certificate of Incorporation for St Patrick Parish
1892SPXRev James Dunn, St Mary’s, Horseheads, celebrated Mass monthly in various homes in the Van Etten, Spencer, Erin area
1892–1904SPXAttendance swelled for a while in temporary quarters in a store
1896SJmBy papal brief (December 12) Tioga County became part of the Rochester Diocese
1897SJm1st canonical visit by Bp McQuaid (1st Bishop of Rochester)
1904SPXAttendance was so poor that the priest stopped making the trip
1904–1948SPXCatholics in the area had to find other places to attend Mass, such as Ithaca, Waverly, Elmira
1907SFPermanent altar built in the house then owned by the Kehoe’s daughter (Mrs Bert Mooney)
1909SJnAugust 18 Certificate of Incorporation for St John Parish
1909SPPastor George Burns formed many spiritual organizations, including Holy Name and Sodality for Girls
1912SJmChurch destroyed by fire on March 17
1913SJmNew church replaced burned one and was dedicated on November 23 by Msgr James Griffin
1914SJnBp Thomas Hickey gave St John more independent status
1914SJnFr John Hogan placed in charge of congregation
1917–1925SFMany Polish Catholics purchased farms in and around Candor
1929SFThe Kehoe home remained the “Mass house” for nearly 60 years
1929SFRev Stephen Musielak began celebrating Mass at the home of Mr & Mrs Marcyan Nagel
1929SJnFr Callistus Szpara, Polish Franciscan, appointed assistant at St Patrick to minister to St John
1930SFA dispute arose as to whether the church should be built in Owego or Candor
1930SFRev Callistus Szpara (Franciscan priest) started construction of new church in Catatonk
1930SPNew rectory built during Rev Arthur Smith’s pastorate
1931SFBp John Francis O’Hern blessed the new chapel on All Saints’ Day
1931SFBp gave the church the official name and patronage of St Francis of Assisi
1931SFBp O’Hern appointed a Polish-born diocesan priest, Fr Ignatius Klejna as pastor
1931SFFr Klejna lived in Newark Valley and served at St John the Evangelist & St Francis of Assisi
1931SJnFr Ignatius Klejna, Polish diocesan priest appointed
1931SPOld rectory torn down and shrine to Our Blessed Lady erected in its place
1934SFFr Klejna died and there was no diocesan Polish priest old enough to be named pastor
1934SJmRev Edward Lyons built rectory addition with kitchen, 2-car garage, study, bedroom & bath
1934SJnFr Klejna died, no Polish-speaking priests, so St John’s reverts back to mission of St Patrick
1934–1938SFBoth St John’s and St Francis came under the pastor of St Patrick Church in Owego
1934–1938SFArchBp Edward Mooney did send Polish priests as assistants to the pastor
1934–45SJnBp appoints Polish-speaking assistants to St Patrick
1938SFBp James E Kearney appointed young priest finishing studies at the University of Cracow
1938SFBp Kearney appointed Rev Alexander Stec to oversee St Francis & St John
1941SJnChurch extended 25 feet to form present sanctuary, parish hall constructed
1945SFApril 24 Certificate of Incorporation for St Francis of Assisi
1945SFRev Alexander Stec was officially named pastor
1945–54SJnFr Alexander Stec appointed pastor, new rectory built
1948–1953SPXRev James Marvin, St James Church, Waverly, came to catechize Catholic children
1948–1953SPXChildren went to public school, religious instructions given at the residence of Willard & Katherine Anderson
1949SJmSocial Hall added in the basement by Rev Robert J Fox
1950SPRev Michael Hynes presided over formal dedication of new St Patrick’s Parochial School
1953SPXTemporary chapel furnished at Sandusky’s Restaurant in Van Etten, Mission of St James
1953SPX1st Van Etten Village Mass offered February 22 by Rev G. S. Hogan, Pastor St James, Waverly
1954SJmSt James School opened with eight grades and staffed by the Sisters of St Joseph
1954SMM1st Mass on November 21, at Grange Hall as mission church of St Patrick, Owego
1954SPXAuxiliary Bp Casey on May 22, dedicated church, consisting of a cellar, enclosed entrance
1954SPXRev Michael Reder, OFM Cap. Of St Fidelis Friary Interlaken, appointed as administrator
1955SMMOctober 3 Certificate of Incorporation for St Margaret Mary Parish
1956SMMNew Street church was dedicated.
1957SJmFr Thomas Watts, a parishioner of St James, is ordained
1959SJmTwo rooms were added to the existing school
1959SMMFr Valentine Jankowiak appointed as first pastor of SMM Church
1959–73SJnFr Matthew Siudara appointed pastor; 2nd Vatican Council calls for changes to sanctuary
1965SP1st Parish Council organized
1965SPXOctober 7 Certificate of Incorporation for St Pius X Parish
1966SPXRt Rev Msgr Donald Cleary, Pastor of St Catherine of Siena Church in Ithaca delegated by Bp Kearney, to represent him in a solemn blessing of the new church on October 9
1967SMMCurrent church on Pennsylvania Avenue dedicated
1967SPNew six-classroom addition to school dedicated by Bp of Rochester, Fulton J. Sheen
1968SMMParish Council formed
1968SP1st broadcasting of Mass over the radio started & continued for 30 years by Jim Raftis
1969SPXRev Anscar Sullivan appointed
1969SPXRev Bernard Kuchman appointed as pastor
1973–77SJnFr Robert Donovan appointed pastor; rectory remodeled, office space & classrooms added
1974SMMFr Elmer Schmidt appointed as second pastor
1975SMMChurch hall completed
1975SPXRev Robert Downs appointed as pastor
1977–82SJnFr Eugene Weis appointed pastor
1981SJnNovember 7 Bp Matthew H. Clark celebrated Centennial liturgy with dinner afterward
1981SMMStatute of the Risen Christ in front lawn dedicated
1982-86SJnFr Ralph Fraats appointed pastor
1983SJmFr Thomas Watts appointed pastor
1983SMMFr David Simon appointed as third pastor
1984SMM1st annual Mission for evangelization and renewal
1984SMM1st Pastoral Associate and 1st Pastoral Musician hired
1984SPXRev Gerry Hafner appointed as pastor
1985SMMStephen Ministry formed to reach out to others in time of need
1986-93SJnFr Joseph McCaffrey appointed pastor; rectory sided, new roof installed
1987SPPastor hired 1st Pastoral Associate to minister in parish – Sr Ann Louise Henteges
1987SPXRev Thomas Watts appointed as pastor
1988SJmSt James School closed due to lower enrollments and lack of funds
1990SPChurch renovated for the seventh time to reflect current theology of the time
1991SMMSanctuary renovated
1993SFRev William Moorby appointed pastor
1993SPRededication of church on August 7
1993–1995SFNew front entrance to church completed, interior painted, new carpeting and altar refinished
1993–2003SJnFr William A Moorby appointed pastor; new statue installed in remodeled sanctuary
1996SFBp Matthew H Clark rededicated church
1996SJnChurch rededicated by Bp Matthew H. Clark
1998SMMTioga Regional Pastoral Council formed to unite six parishes in Tioga County
1998SPRev William A Moorby appointed 1st Pastor of St Francis, St John, & St Patrick cluster
1999SMMFr Robert Ring appointed as fourth Pastor
2001SJmDcn Ray Defendorf appointed Pastoral Administrator
2001SMMFr David Bonin appointed as fifth Pastor
2001SPXDcn Ray Defendorf served as administrator
2002SMMSr Marie Suzanne Hoffman, SSJ appointed Pastoral Administrator
2003SFBlessed Trinity Parish formed
2003SJmBlessed Trinity Parish formed and Rev William A Moorby appointed Pastor
2003SJnBlessed Trinity Parish formed
2003SMMBlessed Trinity Parish formed and Rev William A Moorby appointed Pastor
2003SPRev William A Moorby appointed Pastor of new Blessed Trinity Parish and St Patrick Parish
2003SPXBlessed Trinity Parish formed and Rev William A Moorby appointed Pastor
2010SFSite closed
2010SPXSite closed

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