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With the expansion of Oil City’sHe immediately appointed a com-population back in the 1890’s and with mittee to consider various sites andthe South Side developing some distinct arrange other details.characteristics, the city’s Catholics recognized the need for a second pariah.First masses in the new parish were celebrated in the parlor of the rectory. Later, two storerooms in the building,The pastor and the trustees — D. J. facing East First Street, were con-Geary, J. F. Moran and Matthew verted into a temporary church. Pews,Derrick — considered several sites and altar and other necessary fixtures wereThe idea became reality in 1898. So, proposals and finally settled on the secured from the old St. Joseph Church.two years before the turn of the cen- property of W. F. Lay estate that wasRev. Link remained in charge of thetury, St. Joseph Parish, which had bounded by State, East First, and East parish until 1904 when he was transextended over the whole city, was divided in two.And a new parish, in honor of St.Stephen, was created.Front streets.In addition to the Lay residence, tw( ler dwellings and three storeroomsferred to Punxsutawney.He was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Cantlin, who served here briefly until Rev. James F. Fielding became theJOHN H. LINKfacing on East First Street, were second pastor on May 15, 1904.elevated to rank of Right Reverend Monsignor, was designated to organizepropertyREV. LINK occupied the Laythe new parish on the South Side and residence as a rectory, and that homebecame its first pastorstill stands today.MASS HELD HERE — This is one of the two storerooms that were converted into a temporary church around 1900, prior to the construction of the St. Stephen Church. The store faced East First Street. The other building adjoins on the rightERECTION OF A new church wasstarted and finished under Rev.Fielding. The impessive structure was dedicated on December 22, 1907, byBishop John E. Fitzmaurice.It became Father Fielding’s major duty to reduce the church debt, which he supervised over the years at a heavycost to his own health.It was soon necessary for him to retire, and in 1941 the Most Rev. Bishop Gannon bestowed upon him the title of Pastor-Emeritus.An administrator was appointed for the parish; he was Rev. John F. Walsh who had been pastor at Osceola Mills.However, his early death on February 8, 1945, gave him only three years with the local church.ADMINISTRATIVE responsibilities were then transferred to Rev. Louis J. Kelly, a former assistant pastor at St. Stephen parish.Soon after he took over, Rev. Kelly announced his plan to open a parish school. He selected a site three blocks from the church and on April 9 — just two months after becbming parish administrator — he purchased a three-story apartment house at 204 ReedStreet.The first and second floors weretprepared for school and music rooms;Assumpti9lishnCh urchngrega tinthe third became a temporary convent for the nuns.The formal dedication of the schooltook place on September 9, 1945, withthe Most Rev. Bishop Lawrence L.Graner of Dacca, Pakistan, deliveringthe sermon.As the convent became too crowded, Rev. Kelly made arrangements obtain more spacious living quarterstofor the nuns by purchasing the oldTheobald property on Reed Street onJanuary 2, 1947.The structure was remodeled andoccupied by the Benedictine Sisters in 1948.ON OCTOBER 19, 1947, the ailingpastor-emeritus Rev. Fielding died. Asa result, Rev. Kelly’s position waschanged from administrator to pastor,and he assumed full charge of theparish.Long familiar with the needs of theparish, he set out immediately topromote an extensive program ofremodeling the church.The interior was completely redone,including the installation of three newItalian marble altars. The pipe organwas rebuilt.The dedication of the church oncompletion of the work was held June 1,1952.Consecration of the new altars washeld the day before on May 31.THE NEED FOR a new elementaryschool also became a concern for thepastor.The school which had opened with 36Oil City, Pa. Saturday, Aug. 14, 1971 THE DERRICK134 #tjpyjir*#St, Stephen Church after mass■ *4 • • •* »An elaborate dedication programWhile here, Rev. Hastings waspupils in the first two grades in 1945 had was held October 16, with the Most Rev. elevated in April 1963 and given the titlegrown steadily.Edward P. McManaman, auxiliary of Very Reverend Monsignor. He alsoThere were now eight grades, and bishop of the Erie Catholic Diocese, was chosen to receive the 1968 Goldenthe temporary quarters in the three- presiding.story apartment house were outgrown.Deeds Award for community service.Rev. Kelly recognized that the idealTo the local pastor, the completion of the new school was the realization ofBefore he left St. Stephen on June 3,location was the property at the comer of Third and Reed streets on which wasa long-standing hope.1970, Msgr. Hastings had paid off all thean old residence of the S. H. LambertonAbout a year before the school wasparish debts.estate.completed, in 1954, Rev. Kelly wasSUCCEEDING HIM was Rev. CarlAfter some frustrating efforts toelevated to the rank of domestic prelateacquire the location, Rev. Kellyand honored with the title “the Veryfinally purchased it on December 7,Reverend Monsignor.ftL. Lippert, who served at St. Stephenfor about nine years from 1932 to 1941, assistant pastor under Rev.as1953. He at once opened a drive for$200,000.AFTER MSGR. KELLY wasFielding.In less than two years, a modem 12-constructed. Thetransferred to the pastorateAs the present pastor, he has startedJoseph Church in Sharon, Rev. William a drive to replace the rectory whichroom school washiiilriino was nnened for classes SeD-Hastings succeeded himoriginally served as the home for theLav familv. before the turn nf the
Newspaper Details
Oil City Derrick
Oil City, Pennsylvania, US
Sat, Aug 14, 1971
Page 204
Full Page
Clipped by
Oil R.
PA, USA 23 Dec 2019
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