Catholic
Pittsburgh's
One Hundred
YearsCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
there is a special house set apart for this purpose, fifty-two weeks of the
year under the Passionist Fathers of the South Side, Pittsburgh.
The deaf-mutes of the diocese were neglected before Bishop Canevin
took up the active management of the diocese. It was he who built the De
Paul Institute in Brookline for the education of poor, afflicted deaf-mute
children, and within the Bishop's own lifetime he saw it grow and expand
to be the largest and finest private oral school for the deaf in the world,
with I32 pupils, a faculty of 22 teachers and an investment of over a million dollars.
No one paid much attention to the spiritual condition of the Catholic
blind until Bishop Canevin and the new cathedral moved out to Craig
Street on Fifth Avenue, a few blocks away from the school for the blind;
nor was the spiritual condition of Catholic crippled children given much
thought until about the same time.
The uncatechized children of the diocese, on the outskirts of cities and
towns, claimed the Bishop's attention, with the result that today there is
the excellently organized Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, with thousands of children under instruction who otherwise might be lost to the
Faith. So, also, with both home and foreign missions. Bishop Canevin
made the diocese not a receiver but a dispenser of missionary funds.
Beginning with nothing several years ago, the Missionary Aid Society
last year sent nearly $300,000 to the home and foreign missions.
He brought into the Diocese of Pittsburgh more religious orders of
women than all of his predecessors combined. When he began there were
only sixteen religious communities of women; today there are thirty-four
different orders who have made possible a new field of education, charity,
and devotion, so that now there are few activities in the whole Catholic
life that are not touched by some of the religious orders of nuns. Their
activity is particularly noteworthy with children, foundlings, orphans, the
sick, the defective, and the homeless. Like Bishop Canevin himself, these
devoted Sisters realize that the gauge of civilization in any period is the
love it manifests and the care it lavishes upon the poor and the afflicted.
The organization of a diocesan band of missionaries was due to Bishop
Canevin-a body of priests likened to "God's wandering troubadours,"
whose special duty it was to go out into the highways and hedges in
the sparsely settled districts of the diocese and instruct the ignorant.
70ARCHBISHOP CANEVIN
7I
Archbishop Canevin thus left a great monument to his humanitarianism. He was a man of whom the City of Pittsburgh saw little. He never
cared to be exploited as a personality; he gave his work and with that the
curious must be satisfied. To use the words of the late Cardinal Gibbons,
who repeatedly called the attention of the Pope to the achievements of this
venerable dignitary of Pittsburgh: "Bishop Canevin stilled the smouldering fires of religious prejudice. The hopes, the fears, of more than I,ooo,ooo
of metropolitan Pittsburgh people from every land under the sun, and of
all creeds, were poured into his great soul, and came forth transmuted into
peace, fraternity and civic pride. He gave his heart and his mind to the
cause of humanity, following the example of Christ Himself."
No good cause was without interest to him. He was one of the pioneer
workers for total abstinence in the Diocese. Within his own lifetime he
saw a revolutionary change in the drink question, and if much of the
Diocese of Pittsburgh has never succumbed to the temptation of strong
drink, it is due to the influence of a quarter of a century ago, of the dead
Archbishop whose voice rang round the diocese in an endeavor to stem
the toll of strong drink.
All public and' civic affairs could count upon his active aid and his financial support; such civic movements as the fight against tuberculosis,
the enlargement of city hospitals, social service, organized and scientific
charity work had in him a sound and conservative supporter, and he was
a balance wheel to their unguarded activity. At times when their zeal ran
away with their prudence, the wise and prudent advice of the Archbishop
was a beacon light to point out the safe and sane paths of success.
And in the full tide of accomplishment, at the age of sixty-eight, he did
a thing that in the opinion of sagacious observers eclipsed all his other
triumphs. He resigned. Having attained the crested wave of perfect
achievement, he passed on to a younger head and hands the ripened harvest of his more than forty years in the priesthood and episcopate. After
his resignation he lived in retirement, rarely or never appearing in public,
but acting as the chaplain of the Felician nuns, McKeesport, until his last
illness. He died at Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh, on March 22, I927, in his
seventy-fourth year. His funeral took place from the cathedral of Pittsburgh on Saturday, March 26, and his remains are interred in St. Mary's
Cemetery, Pittsburgh.72            CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
The diocese has reason to remember with reverence and gratitude this
commanding and unusual prelate who could, when required, audaciously
pioneer the ventures of Faith, and who for a quarter of a century loomed
up grandly on the horizon of local and national history.CHAPTER VI
THE DIOCESE UNDER BISHOP BOYLE
James A. W. Reeves
FACTS highlight a personality, they do not create it. Personality alone
gives to experience form, direction, and color. Achievements, however,
reveal the person, and we must note them if we are to gauge a person's
powers, their force and range. The personality that is central to developments in the Diocese of Pittsburgh since I921 is significant.
Much literature about people contains merely facts, events, statistics, impressions which surround them or attend their growth. Its authors can
seldom be charged with doing overmuch or little to the subject. As a result
the craving of the reader for some nearer insight into the person who
shapes events, facts, circumstances, who imparts to the history of his time
the particular direction it takes rather than another, remains unsatisfied.
The history of the Diocese of Pittsburgh since I92I has been stamped
by an individual. His thought, his concern, his reverence lead one to ask
what manner of life, what cast of character yield a wisdom so determined and determining. A brief record of personal incidents may help
the picture.
Hugh Charles Boyle, the sixth bishop of Pittsburgh, was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, October 8, I873. His father, Charles
Boyle, came from Aranmore in the County Tirconaill, which was the ancient seat of the kings of Northern Ireland. His mother, Anna Keelan,
came from the County Monaghan. From his father's people Hugh Charles
inherited an imaginative impulse that sustains as well as corrects his judgment. It emerges from an age-old call of the sea to "follow the wet paths
of ocean," an impulse pervading the literature of modern Ireland and
shaping it. From his mother's people he can claim the quality of spirit
that compels to decision and persistence. Years of conflict in the border
county of Monaghan did not leave the Keelan soul without self-dependence, self-assurance, and self-determination. Imagination capable of sweeping the range of possibilities, of planning and of adjusting, blended with
precision and decision, account for those mental and spiritual gifts that
73CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
individuate the career of Hugh Charles Boyle as student, curate, superintendent of schools, parish priest, and bishop of his diocese.
His early education sums up varied influences, discernible in the boy
and in the bishop. In the Boyle household the Church, the Mass, the sacraments, and prayer sustained life and its values. In that household religion was graceful, in no wise distasteful. The schools he attended were
practical and embodied much that moderns regard as advanced. As superintendent of schools Father Boyle referred to an old schoolmaster who
assigned to his pupils a problem in denominate accounts. The pupils had
to visit a house in course of construction, apply what they had learned in
the classroom, and submit firsthand a report. The influence of those school
days molded the thought that later as a member of the National Catholic
Educational Association he offered to his associate superintendents. He
emphasized the practical in education. His first papers to that association
advised the need of some kind of vocational education and the value of it.
To him, education should fit the pupil for living. This conviction did
not limit to narrow choices. Later, as the parish priest in a great industrial
section, he sought to do by observation and analysis what quantitative
methods in guidance attempt to do today.
Along with classroom education were those deeper and wider influences which come to an American boy from contact with persons, young
and old, of diverse economic and social status in the community. Those
influences exert a subtle and persistent effect upon judgment. They are
the source of those decisions mature men make when practical issues confront them. Games of marbles, mumblety-peg, baseball, fishing, swimming, hunting, roaming, yield a wisdom of body and a wisdom of mind
that men cannot dismiss when destiny has sought them out for positions
of command.
When Hugh Charles Boyle entered St. Vincent College in i888 his
home and school had equipped him to meet new companions as unusual
to him as he was to them. His fellows were drawn from far and varied
environments. This was at once an advantage and a problem, but it is one
of the valued experiences which a college offers-a broad and rousing
opportunity for the play and interplay of personality, a setting in which
the native and acquired traits of a boy will develop or shrink. The college
reflects in miniature a world which the adult will meet. One finds there
74THE DIOCESE UNDER BISHOP BOYLE
the gentleman and the bounder, the saint and the sinner, the scholar and
the dilettante, the brave and the timid, the genuine and the bluff. From
this setting the young Hugh Boyle emerged acquainted with the range of
personality and character and knowing how to deal with each. He impressed his fellows, and pleasantly. He disclosed in a tempered way what
no tutoring can impart to the insensitive-a reverence for religion, a kindliness for his fellows, an interest in study, a desire to grow with every opportunity, and an enthusiasm for athletics.
When fifteen years of age, and in the first year at college, a crisis shattered the even course of his happy boyhood. The Johnstown flood of May
3I, I889 nearly wiped out the family. Nine members of a family of twelve
were carried to their deaths in the waters of that catastrophe, which took
the lives of 2,800 people of Johnstown and vicinity. Hugh was at college,
the others were at home when the flood broke upon the city. To a genial
and intimate household came a sudden loneliness few are compelled to
know at so early an age. Hugh, his mother, and a brother survived.
The joy and the spring of life were never quite the same. Such events
sadden life. They also make it appear grave and serious. However, for persons with spiritual and mental resources disaster stimulates effort and
heightens affection. For these no distress warps natural development and
enterprise. They work out their histories. No sluggishness narrows their
thinking; no depressing state renders them inept. Hence one can trace in
retrospect the effect of a crisis in the life of the Bishop. He had been
steeled for an exacting future. High qualities of mind and heart, moral
and religious excellences have enabled him to work with ease amid the
cares and distractions of a public life.
In the seminary years he developed a fondness for beauty of thought and
of idiom that mark his oral and written expression, and which have carved
out a style that makes conversation bright and engaging even among persons whose interests and tastes vary.
He was ordained on July 2, I898 at St. Vincent Seminary. He offered his
first Mass in St. Columba's Church, Johnstown. His first appointment
was to St. Aloysius Church, Wilmerding, Pennsylvania. As a young curate
he came face to face with problems that persist even into his episcopate.
About the turn of the century the issues of capital and labor, the rights of
the workers, and particularly the right to form labor unions were subjects
75CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
few discussed dispassionately. Socialism was to the fore and it appealed to
peoples in the industrial areas of a city which had achieved a place where
mechanical improvement, skilled labor, and huge resources had earned for
it the title of the "Steel City" of America. Aside from the regular duties
attaching to his curacy, Father Boyle believed that the interests of the
Church called for specific efforts to protect the workers. With an ease few
command he gained the sympathy and confidence of the parishioners and
their friends, redirected their thinking or reinforced it. Largely by way of
indirection and discussion he saved them from the logic and the pull of
the radical journalism of that day. That the workers had a case he did not
doubt, but he did not agree that the methods advocated by the Arena, the
Call, and the Appeal to Reason offered a solution. Much less did they provide for the welfare of the working class.
In I903 he was assigned as curate to St. Paul's Cathedral in downtown
Pittsburgh. From the mills to the center of administration and management brought no change in attitude nor in the range of problems the
young priest confronted. Indeed, one suspects the socio-economic issues
were more intense if less likely to end in strife. The cathedral parish
could count more educated leaders in industry, in the professions, in trade,
and in the ranks of labor. Tact and insight were indispensable. During the
six years he served as curate to the cathedral he cared for his people as
one consecrated to historical justice and to the great part the Church was
to play in meeting the "condition of labor." He was aware of the poor,
their need for an education and a defense, and of their claims to an appeal.
He shunned the press and abhorred the dramatic.
From I9o09 to I9I6 his superior allocated to Father Boyle even more
responsibility. Bishop Canevin asked him to prepare for the position of
superintendent of schools in the diocese. He attended the Catholic University of America and in I909 succeeded the Reverend Doctor Thomas
Devlin. Here were new and complex problems. Beneath them, however,
surged the old issue of labor. Pittsburgh was an industrial diocese. About
one fourth of the population of the diocese engaged in agriculture. Iron,
steel, coal, coke, and a margin of oil complemented farming. He left the
parish schools with definite courses of study. He had set up a system of
examinations.- He had stressed the value of a program for teacher education. He indicated the need of expansion. Had the resources of the dio76THE DIOCESE UNDER BISHOP BOYLE
77
cese equalled the insight and spirit of the superintendent, he might have
realized much that he had dreamed.
Some believe that they create their destiny. Others maintain that destiny has two dimensions--ability plus opportunity. The Catholic allows for
a third dimension-the Divine Will. In I9I6 Father Boyle became the pastor of St. Mary Magdalene's Church in Homestead. For years that city
had stood as a point of departure in the history of American labor.
Through five years he managed successfully his parish with its wide and
deep responsibilities.
These were the war years with drives for the sale of Liberty Bonds; for
funds for welfare agencies such as the Red Cross, the Knights of Columbus, Belgian relief, and for others. Accompanying these efforts and more
taxing -were discussions about the Irish Republic, Wilson's Fourteen
Points, the European minorities, the Russian Revolution, the League of
Nations, and about such internal policies as the Volstead Act, the railroads, and "back to normalcy." These issues created political anxiety and
convulsion that strained family life, the life of the community and of the
nation, and made unusual demands upon the nation's leaders in Church
and state.
To the Armistice succeeded a year of industrial strife-a great steel
strike that at its height involved 4,60o,ooo workers. Father Boyle's counsel
at this period recalls the convictions of a Manning, tempered by personal
knowledge of the Cambria mills, the Westinghouse plant, the Carnegie
Steel Company, and balanced by inherited gifts of imagination and precision. The quiet, self-confident manner of the parish priest strengthened
his people. His counsel guided them and helped them to hope when
others pursued the notions of violence and its ways. Some know that in
high station he presented the case of the workers. The headlines told nothing. He was heard.
To those who can assay a personality and a career the news that Hugh
Charles Boyle had been named to be the sixth bishop of Pittsburgh was a
reassurance and a comfort. Nature had dowered him; experience had enlarged endowments. A calm faith in God and a love for what the Church
teaches and supports were the facts in which the Holy See grounded the
wisdom of its choice. His natural sympathy, his alert mind, his priestly
care and reserve warranted the hopes his fellow priests and the peopleCATHOLIC PITTSBURGHIS ONE HUNDRED YEARS
had in him as the future bishop. Precisely because they recognized that
his life had been marked by a deep feeling for the presence of God in the
souls of men and in history, they had that confidence which begets harmony and satisfaction in the choice of one who is to shepherd the lives
and the souls of men.
A writer said of him: "A man distinguished by the marks of genuine
greatness, humility and unselfishness... as superintendent of schools he
came in contact with our children, and became the friend as well as the
teacher and mentor of all." A college editor remarked that "the great
majority of us know you for the friend and interested helper of the school
children of the diocese. We are glad to see you occupy the high place
amongst us, for we know you carry to it limitless enthusiasm, deep-seated
interest, and ability which characterized your work in other, more intimate fields.."
Father Boyle was consecrated on June 29, I92I by Bishop Canevin. In
the evening of his consecration Bishop Boyle was present as the guest of
honor at a public reception held in Syria Mosque. Three thousand five
hundred persons attended. He spoke briefly and concluded "with the
promise of his best service to the Church, its communicants, and the
community." Those who heard knew that the young Bishop had set a
program for himself. His first public utterances defined the work which
has followed as a life project of blessed concern--education. He was convinced that the young people of the diocese needed more opportunity for
Catholic secondary education. The conflicts in life and thought in America demanded that the priests and people spare no efforts, no resources to
provide for adolescents that training and instruction the Church holds to
be necessary and indispensable. The needs of youth revealed by the war,
by the unstable condition of society, the threat to moral and intellectual
development, his experience as a schoolman and a parish priest account,
one believes, for his concern. The priests, the people of the city, a wider
public agreed with the Bishop. They were ready and eager to help.
The Bishop worked to achieve the goal he had set. He encouraged religious communities and the pastors to enlarge their school facilities, to expand their offerings, and to build to superior standards. Existing needs
did not impel him to unwise developments. He reviewed each project. He
gave it his finest criticism, and invariably he took the long view that the
78THE DIOCESE UNDER BISHOP BOYLE
79
school should serve the greatest population-a population which had a future, unthreatened by social, industrial, or economic fault. Superiors were
cautioned to select faculties carefully. No one appreciated more than he
how ineffectual teaching offsets the finest material equipment.
In I923 he organized a campaign to raise funds to support his program
of education. The priests followed his lead. No diocesan project equalled,
much less excelled the attainments of that drive. It attracted the attention
of Catholics throughout the nation and disclosed exceptional resources
among the priests for organization and administration. From the start
diligence, system, and originality marked the campaign.
The years I92I and 1922 brought on a postwar depression. Securities had
fallen in value, credit had narrowed, and employment had not revived.
Though the Bishop had limited his appeal to the Catholics of the diocese,
the campaign yielded over five million dollars. At the close of the drive
Bishop Boyle thanked the priests and the people of the diocese. In a
statement made April 9, I924, he attributed success to Divine Providence
as a blessing upon "the prayers of the priests, of the religious, and of the
people of the Diocese, particularly the children.... None of those who
were generous to this cause will be the poorer for their gift."
With funds at hand and excellent credit the diocese soon had, complete
with auditorium and faculty house, one of the splendid high schools in the
state-Central Catholic High School for Boys, which in I942 registered
I,647 students. Another complete and superior structure is the North
Catholic High School for Boys. The capacity of this school is over 1,400.
In I942 it had 740 students registered in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh
grades.
Limits forbid a detailed statistical description of educational achievements. Suffice that Bishop Boyle suggested lines of development, encouraged communities and parish priests to anticipate future needs, and directed the growth of secondary education in the diocese. In June 1942 the
diocese had thirty-seven high schools. Obviously the Bishop's interest extended to the elementary school. The Superintendent of Schools reported
in October i942 that "exclusive of college, university, and adult education
classes, a total of 75,878 students" were being educated in the Catholic
schools of the diocese.
In this educational work, superior in quality and extent, the memories of"Let us now praise men of renown, and our fathers in their generation.
The Lord hath wrought great glory through his magnificence from
the beginning" (Ecclesiasticus 44:I-2).CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
the curate, the superintendent, and of the parish priest are discernible even
as in the large program of adult education and of religious education
classes "on released time." Many parishioners began life, the Bishop knew,
in the mills and in the mines, and others better off did not have continuous
instruction in their religion. If these are to shape their lives as God wishes,
they must have the strength to which they are entitled and be not left as
targets for unsettling forces. The' foundations of adult education and of
religious education classes in this diocese derive from Bishop Boyle's young
experience, his understanding heart, his memories of parishes needing men
prepared to lead and to defend.
A conscience in which church and school are inseparable describes also
a radius of duty penetrating farther the possibilities of the corporal and
spiritual works of mercy. Twenty-three years' experience with the workings of parishes have entered into other developments in this diocese. The
orphan asylums, the homes for the aged, a school for the deaf, a home for
incurables, hospitals, homes for the indigent, refuges for the abandoned,
retreats for the erring, homes for the lonely, all these with improved administrative policies and practices, better physical plants, newer techniques
for caring for those on whom "life has weighed heavily" belong to the
accomplishments of the Bishop. He has prospered these institutions because charity is the signature of a bishop and because the delicate affection
of one who was not unwilling to see as much as others could show, already saw more. "If it is true that the care of the poor and the oppressed
and the destitute should be the first concern of a Bishop, then this appeal
is not only the first in time, but it is the first in importance also" (First
Official Letter).
In I942 Bishop Boyle had in his diocese three orphan asylums, one protectory for boys, one school for the deaf, eight hospitals, one home for incurables, one convalescent home, one foundling asylum, four homes for
the aged poor, one home of the Good Shepherd, two homes for working
girls, two homes for indigent men, and one temporary home for women.
From these institutions and from their services to men he must derive a
satisfaction not of pride but of hope for their future.
With all his love for the poor, for the young, the ill, and the distraught,
his Catholic, episcopal conscience has fastened upon that basic, organic
unit within the Church--the parish. The parish remains the focal point of
80INTERIOR VIEW
PRESENT ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL
FIFTH AVENUE AND CRAIG STREET
CONSECRATED OCTOBER 24, g906THE DIOCESE UNDER. BISHOP BOYLE
his interest and labor. In I920 the diocese had 329 churches with resident
pastors together with 55 mission churches, a total of 384 parochial establishments. By the year I923, owing to shiftings of population and reorganization, the number of churches with resident pastors was 320, while mission churches numbered 70, giving the diocese 390 active parish units. In
I943 the Diocese of Pittsburgh has 375 parishes with resident pastors and
73 mission churches, or 448 parochial units for the immediate care of
souls. This amazing growth may serve the Bishop as a comforting hope
and as an index to his direction and concern for the welfare of his people.
A paramount devotion has shaped that growth and wisely safeguarded
its health.
The native gifts of imagination and decision account for two mature
institutions in the diocese. Not long after he had entered upon his episcopate his business acumen gave the diocese a unique system of insurance
for church properties. His plan reduced the premiums by as much as 40
per cent. Other dioceses, accepting the logic and economics of the Bishop
of Pittsburgh, have adopted this system in whole or in part. Results vindicate his judgment. The same insight and decision have effected a reform
in church music in the diocese. Seeing a goal, sensing its value, aware of
artistic and historical claims, the Bishop has always worked for the better
in the hope of achieving the ideal. The Diocese of Pittsburgh has supported the liturgical movement; it is sensitive to the inner meaning of
that movement and to its pattern and form.
The sensitive boy who stayed up at night to read the life of St. Catherine
of Siena must have had glimpses of the face of Christ pleading for those
whose spiritual and material assets were thin. The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine has had the Bishop's unqualified support, and no diocese in
the country has an organization to excel it. The Confraternity has succeeded eminently in the diocese of great urban populations, and also in
remote and even isolated areas. The Confraternity implements the parish.
It has saved many for the household of Faith.
The Bishop has sustained the work of the Society of St. Vincent de
Paul, of the Holy Name Society, the Conference of Catholic Charities, and
of the sodalities. The functions of these organizations differ as do their
administrations, but nearly a quarter century of care, direction, and support has enlarged their proportions. The directors of these societies con8iCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
front burdens which a creative and a holy vision accepts as a trust, but
which in the final analysis the Bishop's encouraging help has enabled
them to bear. He has developed these societies; he has quickened their
spirit.
Among other and major activities of this period are the lay-retreat movement and the Eucharistic movement. The diocese under Bishop Boyle has
had a leading r6le in these spiritual endeavors. They represent new departures during his episcopate and their influences reach beyond the limits
of his diocese. The initial pulses in movements now nationwide remain
as the symbols of faith, insight, and purpose. Many see in these prayerful
undertakings the source of numberless blessings for the people of this
diocese and for the community. We can trace these movements to the
convictions and sentiments with which on December 22, I92I he endorsed
the Eucharistic Peace Crusade. "I can see no hope of peace and no sanction
of diplomatic understanding that will hold war captive, unless all tribes
and peoples and tongues turn with humble hearts to Almighty God and
take counsel with His law.... I shall do what I can to further your
efforts in the Eucharistic Peace Crusade. Reverence for Our Lord in the
Blessed Sacrament, and the Peace that surpasseth understanding are too
closely connected for any of us to miss this opportunity for securing both."
In his many relations with priests and their parishioners singular gifts
combine to account for his exceptional success as administrator as well as
shepherd. The wide community influences in his early life, his knowledge
of individual differences in human nature, his sincerity as a pastor help
to explain the Bishop's power as the counselor and the leader of 833 priests
and of nearly 700,000 people in Io counties of the diocese. The range of
temperament and of character, the complex relations incidental to them,
the diverging points of view, the preferences, and the choices would baffle
one less dowered and less resourceful-perhaps exhaust him. In these relationships his talent for taking the long view has imparted to his management an ease and a direction, now a pleasant tradition in the history
of our time.
Neither art nor science has explained the origin of humor. Whatever its
origin, humor enters into the success of persons with responsibilities for
the destinies of men. As a youth in college and as a man, humor for the
Bishop has not focused upon nonsense nor does it flow into mere repartee
82THE DIOCESE UNDER BISHOP BOYLE
delighting in an epigram. On the contrary, the interplay of motives, the
surgings of pardonable assertion, the amiable vanities of men of every
condition have called forth the lighter play of his nature. His humor penetrates words and deeds to discern the differences between what men do
and the motives they allege for doing it. Endowment of this kind enables
one to cut short folly without positive rebuke; it also checks what one
disapproves.
In no situation has his humor with supporting insight, consistency, and
experience flowered so nicely as in the matter of his public relations.
Forthright if gentle honesty, integrity of purpose, differential friendships
have defined the outward casts of those judgments whereby the interests
of the Church were expressed. Those casts bear the stamp of the conservative. But they also reflect a cheerful and gracious light which reveals the
Church as finer than usually conceived.
During the depression decade his skill as a trustee and as a master in
finance were obvious. He grappled with circumstances, fashioned occasion, and made decisions in the interests of his flock. Again imagination
and decision saved the diocese from those ills which the overexpanded
credit system had brought to others.
American life is demanding. Each bishop must merge his resources and
efforts with those of other bishops. Through the years Bishop Boyle has
spent and been spent in this larger work. In 1928 he was chosen a member
of the Administrative Board of the National Catholic Welfare Conference.
In 1929 his fellow bishops named him chairman of the Department of
Education. At that time political and professional forces were driving for
federal control of education. His judgment, many say, was valuable in this
struggle.
From I930 to I935 he had charge of the Department of the Press. As
chairman of this department Bishop Boyle defined policies which endure.
He enlarged the department's activities. While demanding the better he
offered the best. During his term as chairman a limited wire service was
introduced supplementing the General News Service set up in 1920, while
for the first time the rate structure of the News Service was based upon
circulation; cable coverage of news was extended to all papers, not merely
limited to subscribers; a new biographical service for the files of subscribing members was inaugurated. In Bishop Boyle's report for the years I93583CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
I936 he suggested and outlined a special Catholic press service in Spanish
for Latin America. From that suggestion and outline has emerged the
popular Noticias Catholicas. He also served as a member of the Episcopal
Committee on Motion Pictures. In I937 he was re-elected to the Administrative Board.
As chairman of the Legal Department from I937 to I942, his special
talents attained results of national and international significance. He had
to deal with such complex problems as federal grants in aid to the states,
free textbooks, the American Youth Act, social security, the Spanish Civil
War, Philippine education, birth control, sterilization, tax exemption, the
radio, and matters pertinent to South America. He guided his committee
through delicate phases of the Selective Service Act of 1940 when the government decided to exempt clerics by regulation rather than law.
Since I923 he has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Catholic University. During I937 to I940 he headed the Committee on Polish
Relief. Because of his success he was named chairman of the European
Committee, the Bishops' War Emergency and Relief Committee.
As each committee assignment fell to him, the Bishop's mind swept
over the work before the comrrmittee's members. His thought and scholarship calculated the range of the problems, measured their depth, and having seen the implications, solutions were never far off. Clear thought and
clear discussion prepared for action. But even distinguished work when
merged with corporate effort leaves little trace of the individual. Nature
and society so determine. But when work is the portion of a supernatural
vocation, the interests of Christ and of the Church make it an added consecration.
Bishop Boyle has reflected deeply upon his episcopate and his work. His
reflection prompts care. Hence caution and reserve have led him to no
unwise endeavor, however attracting and memorializing. Men have urged
him at times to newer undertakings and to the revising of earlier ones,
but a clever advocate leaves him unconvinced. He is the judge. Cautious
negation has sidetracked disaster without checking works of positive
worth. The love of truth is his guide.
The duties of the episcopate appear to keep remote those whom affection and acquaintance tie to him. These duties shroud a soul whose powers
of understanding and of love yield only to "Quod Deus Vult."
84CHAPTER VII
ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL
H. 1. Gilbert
CTOBER 24 is annually a day of liturgical import to the priests and
the people of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. It was on October 24, I906
that the new Cathedral of St. Paul at the corner of Fifth Avenue and
Craig Street was consecrated to the service of Almighty God. This edifice
is the third church to serve as a cathedral for the bishops of the Diocese of
Pittsburgh. The first St. Paul's, planned and constructed in great part by
the Reverend Charles Bonaventure Maguire, but completed by his successor, the Reverend John O'Reilly in I834, became the first cathedral of
the new diocese on its foundation in I843. On its completion it was the
finest church building in the United States. In I85I it was destroyed by
fire.
Bishop O'Connor began rebuilding at once, and the new cathedral was
ready for consecration on June 24, 1855. This building also enjoyed the
distinction of being, at the time of its building and for many years after,
the most noted church structure in this country. It was sold September
28, I9OI to Mr. H. C. Frick for $I,325,000 and the Sacrifice of the Mass
was offered in it for the last time on May io, 1903. From this date the
new Church of the Epiphany served as a place of worship for the old
cathedral congregation.
The Right Reverend Regis Canevin, Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese,
laid the cornerstone of the new St. Paul's on September 6, I903. Three
years were required to carry the work to completion; the consecration of
the present St. Paul's took place, as previously noted, on October 24, I90o6.
The cathedral is that church in the bishop's diocese in which his official chair is placed and from which he rules and governs, in spiritual
matters, the flock entrusted to him. In virtue of its pre-eminence among
the churches of the diocese it enjoys certain canonical privileges and
prerogatives and, in a sense, stands to the people of the entire diocese in
the same relation that a parish church does to its parishioners. As a consequence, the spiritual subjects of the bishop have always lavished upon
85CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
his church their choicest gifts and have attempted to make it at least
among the churches of his diocese approach adequately to their idea of
what constitutes a fit abiding place for Almighty God.
The day of the consecration of the present cathedral was a proud day
in the annals of the diocese. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Diomede
Falconio, Apostolic Delegate to the United States, consecrated the edifice
to the service of Almighty God. The chapel altars were consecrated,
respectively, by the Right Reverend Leo Haid, the Right Reverend
Michael J. Hoban, the Right Reverend Eugene A. Garvey, and the Right
Reverend Edmund F. Prendergast. His Eminence James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, celebrated the solemn pontifical Mass,
and the Very Reverend Fidelis Kent Stone, C.P., delivered the sermon.
In the evening the Most Reverend Henry Moeller, Archbishop of Cincinnati, was celebrant of pontifical Vespers.
Bishop Phelan had given years of thought to the sale of the old cathedral and the planning of the new. He lived only to see the building
well on its way to construction. *His coadjutor and successor, Bishop
Canevin, gave the planning and the building of the new cathedral his
undivided atttention over a term of years. The successful completion of
the task owes much to his vision and vigor. The splendid edifice is a
monument to both of these distinguished prelates, Bishop Phelan and
Bishop Canevin.
The style of architecture chosen for the new cathedral was Gothic.
That style in its origin and growth is wholly Catholic; and so far as we
Catholics in the United States may be said to have any style of architectural inheritance, it is the Gothic. It is the most widespread of styles in
the Catholic world, and its appeal to a cosmopolitan population, like that
of this diocese, is as a consequence more general. The predecessors, on
Grant's Hill, of the present St. Paul's Cathedral, had both been Gothic
in type, and the fitness of things seemed to demand that the tradition
should not be interrupted. It was accordingly designed a pure example
of the scholastic or decorated Gothic of the fourteenth century, and expresses the spirit from which proceeded the ornamented cathedrals of
the Middle Ages. The cathedrals of Rheims, Chartres, and Notre
Dame de Paris on the Continent, and the Cathedral of Westminster in
England are classic types of cathedrals designed in this spirit.
86ST. PAUL S CATHEDRAL
The structure externally is of finely chiseled Bedford, Indiana, limestone from base course to the summit and cross surmounting the spires.
The numerous and elaborately wrought traceried windows are of stone.
The front presents a most imposing fasade extending on Fifth Avenue
for a width of I20 feet, the main front gable rising to IIo feet 9 inches,
and each tower and spire to 247 feet. A richly wrought and sculptured
doorway of three parts adorns the front or gable between the flanking
towers, ~the central door being ten feet wide, and each side door eight
feet. They are surmounted by richly carved arches and lofty pediments.
The central pediment is forty feet high, with a heroic-sized statue of St.
Paul at its summit, and in niches, flanking the arches, are four exquisitely wrought statues of the four Evangelists.
In wealth of decorative treatment and in the embodiment of all that is
highest and best in the sculptor's art, the carvings and sculptures of this
entrance will compare favorably with many of the antique monuments
of the Church's most advanced architecture. In the jambs and arches
and in the crockets and finials will be found a profusion of carvings
reproducing the fauna and flora of America. The maple and the vine,
the fern and ivy, with birds and squirrels sporting among them, charmingly realize the familiar forms of nature. Sometimes they are conventionalized in order to adapt them to the surrounding architectural structure and again they are free and true to their types, as if gathered from
the forest and turned to stone.
Similar lofty entrances are on each end of the front, one in each tower,
and in the transepts on either side. Everywhere is the same thoughtful
and beautiful sculptured work, employed with a generous and sympathetic hand and yet with the fine restraint imposed by the canons of
the architect's and sculptor's art. Above the front entrance, the gable is
filled with a very imposing traceried window, twenty-two feet wide and
thirty-seven feet high. Similar windows fill the gables over the entrances
of the transepts on each side. A double clerestory arrangement gives an
air of solidity to the graceful lines of the structure and carries the eye
by easy gradations to the top of the nave. It is a unique feature in cathedral building in this country.
The visitor who crosses the threshold of the front portals and stands
within the noble narthex or vestibule feels that the promise of the exterior
87CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
will be realized. The beautiful mosaic floor, the solid stone wainscoting,
the carved capitals and bands, the high-vaulted ceilings, the width and
length of the vestibule, at once impress hbim with the dignity of this house
of worship.
The general view of the interior from the main entrance carries with
it a deep religious impression. The keynote of Gothic architecture is
Sursum corda, "Lift up your hearts," and the delicate suggestion of sublimity and height given by the nave and aisles, the forest of slender columns, the arches and the groining are the materials with which the
artist produces his impression. The rich dark color of the bog oak in
pews, pulpit, and wainscoting is the base from which the towering whiteness on the walls rises, and through the windows the light, softened and
refined by their exquisite coloring, spreads its enchantment. over all. The
fine gradations by which the decorative work is made to culminate in
the sanctuary is Catholic and Gothic to a degree; it suggests the purpose
of the building, makes the altar the artistic, as it is the religious, center
of the structure, and carries the mind and heart of the worshiper to Him
from whom every good and every perfect gift proceeds.
That part of the church in which the altar is placed and which is reserved for the clergy is called the sanctuary or chancel. It is divided in
the present structure into five chapels or bays, corresponding to the nave
and aisles, and is furnished with five altars of noble design and sculpture.
Its floor, from the pews to the rear wall of the apse, is mosaic tile designed
and executed with a wealth of ecclesiastical ornamentation, and arranged
with an elegance and appropriateness that make it a work of great beauty
and originality. Immediately in front of the high altar the antiphon with
which the priest begins the Mass has been worked into the tile-Introibo
ad altare Dei, "I will go in to the altar of God." The other inscriptions in
the floor of the sanctuary are Gloria tibi, Domine, "Glory to Thee, 0
Lord," and Dominus vobiscum, "The Lord be with you."
The high altar is correctly the most prominent feature of the sanctuary
and church. Together with the four other altars, it was designed by the
architects and is in perfect harmony with the entire building. Its width
is twenty-five feet, and it measures twenty feet to the top of the reredos
and thirty-eight feet to the top of the cross of the center pinnacle. On the
Gospel and the Epistle side are two large statues of St. Peter and St. Paul,
88ST. PAUL S CATHEDRAL
while two angels are poised on the top of the reredos. Below the table is a
splendid relief sculpture of the Last Supper. The four sculptured panels
on the reredos of the high altar represent scenes of the Passion of our
Lord which formed part of the prelude to His Crucifixion. In the first
panel on the Gospel side will be recognized the Agony in the Garden.
In the second we behold our Lord taken prisoner and led before the high
priest, Caiphas. In the panel nearest the tabernacle on the Epistle side the
Savior stands bound, blindfolded, and buffeted. The fourth panel shows
Him crowned with thorns. The altar is of fine Italian statuary marble and
was made by Fuciguas. The four side altars-of the Sacred Heart, of the
Blessed Virgin, of St. Joseph, and of the Holy Souls-are in perfect harmony with the high altar and with their surroundings.
It is beyond our province to describe the fittings and furnishings of
the cathedral. We say nothing of the external statues, of the holy water
fonts, of the bells, of the pulpit, of the confessionals, of the organ, of the
sacristies, of the bishop's throne, of the consecration crosses, and the cathedral crucifix, nor even of the chaste sanctuary lamp made, in delicate taste
and workmanship, of silver by French silversmiths. We must give at least
a modicum of space to the magnificent sanctuary or chancel rail which
separates the nave from the sanctuary. This Communion rail is one of
the most perfect parts of the church. It is of pure Carrara marble and
was designed with its bronze gates to correspond with the altars and the
columns and arches of the aisle. The rail was made in Italy and the bronze
gates are a Gorham product. The middle gates bear emblems of the
Blessed Eucharist and matrimony; the gate before the altar of the Sacred
Heart, of penance; and the gate before the altar of Holy Souls, of sacred
orders.
The Stations of the Cross are fourteen magnificent bronze groups. Each
of these groups is an original study, cast from a special mold, in the best
quality of Roman bronze. They are set in frames of rich Numidian marble
and surmounted by a small cross of olive wood. There are eight statues
on the inner walls of the cathedral. Four of these are of the patron saints
of the first four bishops to occupy the See of Pittsburgh; the remaining
four are statues of the Doctors of the Church.
A final word must be said of the Gagliardi "Crucifixion." This picture
of the Crucifixion was brought from Rome by Bishop Michael O'Connor
89CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
on his return from attending the solemn definition of the dogma of the
Immaculate Conception by Pius IX, December 8, I854. It is valued as a
souvenir of that event as well as for its intrinsic excellence. The fine copy
of the "Sistine Madonna," now placed immediately over the entrance
from the vestibule to the inner aisle and on the west side, was a gift of
Mr. Andrew Carnegie to the old cathedral. The original of this famous
painting by Raphael excites the admiration of all beholders and the despair
of all artists.
The cathedral organ, in the loft over the main entrance to the church,
is in itself an interesting study for the friends of the "king of instruments."
It is a Kimball product, with 4 manuals, 58 stops, and 4,0I7 pipes. The
console is replete with every device tending to simplify the management
of so large an organ. This fine instrument was the gift of Mr. Andrew
Carnegie to the old cathedral. Upon the erection of the new cathedral,
Mr. Carnegie gave directions to remove the organ from the old cathedral and to install it in its present location in the new edifice. Some years
later, about I920, the Carnegie Foundation financed the renovation of
the organ. A contemporary writer says of this gift that it was in all respects worthy of the princely munificence of Mr. Carnegie.
With this acknowledgment we conclude. Our description is sketchy,
but space forbids a more detailed account. The building is its own best
witness. St. Paul's Cathedral stands as a monument to the genius and the
administrative ability of Bishop Phelan and Bishop Canevin.
90PART II
INTRODUCTION
As the years went on the diocese grew with remarkable rapidity. Parishes developed and religious communities came to the district to assist
in the spread of the Gospel amongst the divergent peoples who settled in
Western Pennsylvania. Education was fostered and flourished, and Catholic activities were apparent in many a field of endeavor. The story of
this growth of the Diocese of Pittsburgh is told in this second part of this
symposium. Significant movements, indicative of the efforts of clergy
and laity to advance the cause'of the Church, are traced, and their manifestations are noted. That great success has been attained in the century
just completed is evident from this story, which is a tribute to the zeal
and courage and foresight of all concerned. The record is evidence that
the blessings of Almighty God in the diocese have been many.CHAPTER VIII
THE ROOTS OF THE DIOCESE
Edward G. Joyce
T THE time of the establishment of the diocese there were, in the
City of Pittsburgh proper, seven churches with six priests and a Catholic population of some I2,500 souls. The counties of Bedford, Clearfield,
Huntington, McKean, Potter, and all territory in the western part of the
state made up the diocesan area in addition to the ten counties which now
comprise its limits. The original area of the diocese embraced some 2I,ooo
square miles, or a little less than half of the State of Pennsylvania. In
contrast, the present area of the diocese is 7,238 square miles with 448
churches, 833 priests, and a Catholic population of 694,472.
In this section it will be our purpose to enumerate in some detail the
foundation parishes in the City of Pittsburgh proper, including the North
Side and South Side districts, and in the ten counties which now comprise
the diocesan area. To list the parishes that have developed from the original foundations would be a study of huge proportions. For this reason it
shall be the aim of this chapter to furnish the interested reader with a reasonably accurate summary of what is readily knowable about the diocesan
origin and developments.
I. PITTSBURGH........
Place of priority in the diocesan development must necessarily be given
to the cathedral church of the diocese, St. Paul's. In I754, in the chapel of
Fort Duquesne, later dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
of the Beautiful River, the first Mass was offered in the city by a Recollect
Father, Denis Baron. The French evacuated Fort Duquesne in 1I758 and
until i8o8 the city was without resident pastor. In the year I8o8 Father
William Francis X. O'Brien came to the city and completed St. Patrick's
Church, then at the corner of Liberty Avenue and Eleventh Street. Three
years later the building was dedicated by Bishop Michael Egan of Philadelphia. During this time the total Catholic population never exceeded
three hundred souls, and after twelve years' labor Father O'Brien retired
93CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
from the diocese and was succeeded by Father Charles B. Maguire, of
the Order of St. Francis.
A group met with Father Maguire in 1827 to consider the erection of
a new church. They determined upon the lots located at Fifth Avenue
and Grant Street. The cornerstone was laid by Father Maguire in June
i829. In the accounts appearing in a local paper at the time the new church
was termed a "cathedral," but Father Maguire did not live to see his
"dream church" completed. He died of cholera in I833 and was succeeded
by the Reverend John O'Reilly, a man eminently fitted for the task of
completing the church. On May 4, I834 the building was dedicated under
the patronage of St. Paul the Apostle. Bishop Kenrick was the dedicating
prelate and Father John Hughes, later the archbishop of New York, was
the preacher. In I837 Father O'Reilly moved to Philadelphia, and Father
Thomas Heyden took charge of St. Paul's. The same year Father P. R.
Kenrick assumed the pastorate, and a year later Father O'Reilly returned
to Pittsburgh and St. Paul's. After three years Father O'Reilly left the
city and entered the Congregation of the Mission at Rome. His successor
was the Very Reverend Michael O'Connor. The future bishop of Pittsburgh took up residence at St. Paul's in June of I84I. A new era began
with his arrival. That significant history of the years of Bishop O'Connor
is detailed elsewhere in this volume.
The Diocese of Pittsburgh was formally erected on August 7, I843, and
the pastor of St. Paul's was named its first bishop in the same month.
In the following year the grading of the streets on Grant's Hill was begun
and the condition of the cathedral became dangerous because of its elevation above street level. The authorities decided that the building was
doomed to abandonment and that a new structure must be erected; but
fire intervened and on May 6, I85I the building was destroyed. It is a
tribute to the energy and efficiency of the new bishop that within six weeks
after the fire, a cornerstone for the new cathedral was laid. On June 24,
I855 the work was completed and the cathedral consecrated by the Archbishop of Baltimore, the Most Reverend F. P. Kenrick.
As the city grew and the residential district of the downtown gave way
to the onrush of finance and progress, it was deemed advisable to move
the cathedral. On April 2, I9oI a public meeting of the male members of
the cathedral parish was called to discuss selling the property of the cathe94THE ROOTS OF THE DIOCESE
95
dral. Bishop Phelan had weighed the serious step for some ten years and
had obtained permission from Rome to sell the property and erect a new
cathedral in another section of the city. It was resolved to sell the property, and arrangement was made to transfer it to Henry Clay Frick. On
September 28, I9OI the deed was signed and delivered, and the cathedral
entered upon a new day in the diocese.
The cornerstone of the present cathedral was laid on September 6, I903
by the Coadjutor Bishop of the diocese, the Right Reverend Regis Canevin. On Wednesday, October 24, 90o6 the cathedral was consecrated by
His Excellency the Most Reverend Diomede Falconio, the Apostolic
Delegate. The pontifical Mass was solemnized by His Eminence James
Cardinal Gibbons, with the sermon delivered by the Very Reverend
Fidelis Stone, C. P. The present administrator of St. Paul's Cathedral is
the Reverend Arthur A. Burns, successor of the late rector of the Cathedral, the Very Reverend Monsignor William McMullen.
The first church in the diocese, however, was that of St. Patrick's, built
by Father O'Brien about I8io. Fifteen years later Father Maguire enlarged the church, and when St. Paul's was completed in i834, St. Patrick's
became the first German church of the city as it had been the first English
church. In I839 it reverted to the use of the English-speaking people and
in the following year the Reverend Edward Garland became its pastor.
Shortly after this the growth of the Catholic population necessitated the
erection of other churches which stemmed from St. Patrick's. In I854 the
church was destroyed by fire and in September i856 its pastor, Father
Garland, went to a charge in Cambria County. The Reverend Thomas
McCullagh came to St. Patrick's and completed the new church which
had been undertaken shortly after the fire. In i858 Father Garland returned to his first charge. About this time the Union Depot was planned
and it became necessary that a new site be selected for St. Patrick's. A lot
at the corner of Seventeenth Street and Liberty Avenue was secured and
a church was constructed about I864. In the following year, on December
I7, it was dedicated. Father Garland was pastor of St. Patrick's for some
thirty-eight years and in i878 he retired from active duty. Father Stephen
Wall was appointed pastor in I879 to succeed the Reverend Thomas
Neville, who had been given charge of the parish at the retirement of
Father Garland.CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
From these early beginnings the Parish of St. Patrick, familiarly known
as "Old St. Patrick's," has undergone numerous changes in building and
in pastoral direction. While the parish has decreased in population, nevertheless there is still high regard for this center of Catholic worship. At
present the parish is under the direction of the Reverend James R. Cox.
On the South Side of Pittsburgh the growth of the Catholic population
was quite rapid after the Civil War. The German settlement was confined
chiefly to Brownstown, as the eastern part of the district was then named.
The Borough of Birmingham, as the greater part of the South Side was
known at that time, was affiliated with the City of Pittsburgh in I873 and
since that time the entire district has been known as the South Side. The
origin of the Catholic foundation in this district dates from I846, when the
Redemptorist Fathers founded St. Michael's German Church. On November 24, I848 Bishop O'Connor dedicated the church. Three years later the
Redemptorists withdrew from St. Michael's and a short time later the
Reverend N. Hoeres, from McKeesport, attended the congregation until
Father John Hartman was then named pastor. In i853 the Passionist Fathers arrived and were given charge of the church. Four years later the
erection of a larger church was begun. Father Stanislaus, C.P., was the
first pastor. In I86I, on the Feast of St. Michael, the church was dedicated
by Bishop Domenec. Incidentally, this was the first church dedication
performed by the second bishop of Pittsburgh.
In I853 Bishop O'Connor returned from Rome with three Passionist
Fathers, led by their superior, the Very Reverend Anthony Calandri,
C. P. On August 7 of the same year the cornerstone of the first Passionist
Monastery in the United States was laid on the South Side. Within two
years the Church of St. Paul of the Cross was dedicated by Bishop
O'Connor.
From St. Michael's there sprang numerous parishes on the South Side,
West Side, Mount Oliver, and adjoining areas as the needs of the constantly growing Catholic settlements demanded. The present pastor at
St. Michael's, successor of a long line of Passionist predecessors, is the
Reverend Benedict Huck, C.P. The present superior of St. Paul's is the
Very Reverend Leonard Gownley, C. P.
The North Side section of Pittsburgh, formerly- known as Allegheny
City, was laid out on September II, I787. About the year I8oo there were
96PREFACE
CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS is not a history of the
Diocese of Pittsburgh. If the distinguished author and historian, the
Right Reverend Monsignor Andrew Arnold Lambing, LL. D., could
modestly say of his work, the Catholic Church in the Dioceses of Pittsburgh and Allegheny, and of his later work, Foundation Stones of a Great
Diocese, that they were not histories of the diocese, the group of priests
and laymen who have prepared the present volume must protest that
their symposium of historical essays is not a history. The present committee has planned to present a cursive record of events in the story of
the Pittsburgh Diocese and some account of the institutions and activities
that mark the progress of Catholicity within its limits.
Perhaps we should offer an extenuation, in the words of Lambing, that
materials are meager, are scattered in many places, and are collected with
difficulty. There is the deeper reason that no group of compilers, unable
to devote much time to study and research, can profess to write history.
We make no such claim. This does not detract one iota from the credit
that is rightly due to the members of this committee of writers, all of
whom have given much care and study to their chosen subjects and to
the references available. Their best hope is that their work will give
stimulus to some historian of the future to write the history of the diocese.
The history of metropolitan Pittsburgh and its surrounding counties
is of necessity a vital part of the history of the United States. Hence the
chronicle of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is not without significance
as a part of that history and as an integral part of the history of the Church
in this country. For this country has been a refuge for our people. It
continues as a hope.
This volume then has meaning for the nation and the Church. It marks
the one-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, a considerable segment in the life of our people and of the nation.
Before that founding the aims and the work of Catholics in this area
were distinguished as a matter of purpose and of affection. The way up
has been hard. It continues hard, not particularly from the point of view
of human accomplishment so much as from the point of view of Catholic
supernatural living. The Church's teaching and the aims of its leaders
xiSECOND ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL
FACING GRANT STREET AT FIFTH AVENUE
CONSECRATED I855
VACATED 1903THE ROOTS OF THE DIOCESE
Catholics in the district, but until I848 they attended one of the churches
in the city proper. In I849 the Reverend James O'Connor, brother of
Bishop O'Connor, was appointed pastor of a prospective congregation
that was to become the parish of St. Peter's. In the following year the
Reverend Edward McMahon succeeded to the pastorate and under his
direction the parish church was completed in i850. On April 2I of that
year Bishop Whelan of Wheeling, dedicated the church of St. Peter.
Father James Kearney followed Father McMahon and immediately afterward Father Kearney was succeeded by the Reverend Tobias Mullen,
who remained as pastor until he was named bishop of Erie. Other
churches in the district were formed about this time because of the
increasing pressure of population. When the new bishop of Erie left St.
Peter's the Reverend Richard Phelan, then pastor at Freeport, was appointed pastor of St. Peter's. He immediately undertook the erection of a
new church and work began in I870. Two years later the basement was
occupied and the solemn dedication of the church was held on July 5,
i874, with Bishop Domenec the dedicating prelate. When the Diocese of
Allegheny was formed St. Peter's became the cathedral church of Bishop
Domenec. The pastoral changes at St. Peter's have been many, and the
present incumbent is the Reverend Florence F. O'Shea.
This cursive examination of the parochial foundations in the City of
Pittsburgh proper and its adjoining districts on the South Side and North
Side has been of necessity limited in scope and details. A more comprehensive study would serve to emphasize more clearly the logical development of parishes in the central Pittsburgh district and the adjacent areas.
At present there are forty parishes in Central Pittsburgh. On the South
Side there are twenty-two parishes and on the North Side there are
eighteen churches. This growth indicates the tendency of the Catholicity
of the Church to extend itself and to envelope peoples of all races. It is
evident that these sections of the city are still, in many ways, in stages of
final development. One can envision continued expansion which will
carry on and complete the zealous efforts of the pioneer pastors of these
districts.
II. ALLEGHENY COUNTY
In I788 the Legislature partitioned the territory in Washington and
Westmoreland counties and added to it the vast area north and west of
97CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
the Ohio and Allegheny rivers to create the County of Allegheny. The
reason for the establishment of the new county derived from the inconvenience suffered by the people at Pittsburgh, who were forced to travel
to Hannastown or Greensburg to transact county business. They seized
the opportunity of the purchase from the Indians of the territory north of
the Ohio in 1785 to agitate for the establishment of a new county with
its seat at the forks.
The early settlers in Crafton, then called Broadhead, attended the cathedral church and had an occasional Mass offered in one of their own
homes. In I839 a small church building was dedicated by Bishop Kenrick
under the invocation of St. Philip. It is interesting to note that the church
was named St. Philip in gratitude for the lot that a Philip Smith of Philadelphia had donated for the site of the first church at Crafton. In I840
Father A. P. Gibbs was given the charge of the new parish and later
the church was attached to St. Luke's in Mansfield, now Carnegie. There
is record of a resident pastor, Father John Ward, having been appointed
to St. Philip's in I874. Six years later the Reverend James Kenoy was
appointed pastor. The cornerstone of the present church was laid in I904
when the Reverend William Kelty was pastor. Father Kelty remains as
pastor of the parish to this day.
From this parish foundation in I839, in the present County of Allegheny, there has derived the great body of some I22 parish churches and
missions that service the needs of the people at the present day. Shortly
after the establishment of St. Philip's a number of other congregations
were organized and churches built to care for the increasing Catholic
populations in the various sections of the county. McKeesport, for example, had a church about I845, dedicated to St. Peter. Almost five years
before the McKeesport church there was a building erected at Pine Creek
and a parish formed from the German parish of St. Philomena. Another
early foundation in the county was at Wexford, and a record informs
that a church was started there in I840, although there was no resident
pastor until I864.
It was about this time, in I847, that St. Joseph's Church was erected at
Sharpsburg, with Father Gibbs as pastor. After I850 there were numerous
developments in the county, and the fast-growing communities soon
realized the solicitude of their Bishop when priests were deputed to estab98THE ROOTS OF THE DIOCESE
99
lish small churches or chapels to care for the spiritual needs of the settlers.
The parochial development in Allegheny County is replete with the records of difficult beginnings matched by the superior organizing ability of
the first pastors and the pentecostal spirit that urged them on to greater
achievement.
But Allegheny County is still in the stage of growth. The erection of
mission chapels and stations in the outlying areas is testimony to the
spread of the Faith and the interest of the Bishop and priests in the welfare of the faithful.
III. ARMSTRONG COUNTY
As settlement expanded into Northwestern Pennsylvania and the population increased in the southwest section, it became necessary to organize
additional counties. In the year I8oo the Legislature marked off the
boundaries of eight new counties, including the County of Armstrong.
The present county was organized in i805 and at that time had a population of between two and three thousand inhabitants. Five years later that
population had grown to almost 6,ooo. The county derived its name from
General John Armstrong, commander of the expedition against the Indians in I756. Today seventeen churches serve the Catholic population of
the county.
The first parish in the county dates from about the county foundation
date. In that year Father Lawrence Phelan came from Sportsman's Hall
to the present location of the church at Sugar Creek. Sometime in i8o6
or i807 the first church was built and placed under the patronage of St.
Patrick. Numerous mission stations were established and attended from
St. Patrick's, since there was but one priest to serve the district west of the
Allegheny River from Erie to Beaver. In I8Io Father Phelan left Sugar
Creek, and until I82I the parish was visited by Fathers O'Brien and
Maguire from Pittsburgh. In I82I the Reverend Charles Ferry assumed
the pastorate of St. Patrick's and five years later Father Patrick O'Neill,
founder of St. Mary's at Freeport, came to Sugar Creek. The Reverend
Joseph Cody was named pastor in I837 and three years later, when the
growth of the population necessitated a new building, a brick church was
started and dedicated two years later. The present pastor is the Reverend
Patrick Kiernan, who succeeded the Reverend Peter Gottschall in I942.
From I805 to the present date the parish development in ArmstrongCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
County is witness to the zeal and foresight of the original planners. The
county has gone through days of industrial change and financial depression, yet the Catholicity of the county moves forward under the guidance
of the pastors who today continue the work launched by the revered names
in the Catholic history of Armstrong County.
IV. BEAVER COUNTY
This county was created in 800oo and Beaver was incorporated as a
borough by an act of Assembly in I802. In I866 a further revision of the
boundary lines gave the county its present territorial extent. The settlers
in the i8oo period were attended by priests from Pittsburgh and there
are evidences that Fathers Maguire and O'Reilly had visited the county.
The active Catholic history begins about i830, when Father O'Neill traveled the great distance from Sugar Creek to administer sacraments and
offer the Holy Sacrifice for the Catholic dwellers. By I833 the Catholic
settlement had grown considerably and plans were laid for the erection
of a small church.
When Bishop Kenrick passed through the county in I837 he dedicated
the church under the patronage of SS. Peter and Paul. During this time
and up to i847 the congregation at Beaver was ministered to by Fathers
Garland, Gibbs, Powers, McCullagh, and several others. In 1847 Father
James Reid came as first resident pastor and in addition to the Beaver
Valley population, he ministered to the Catholic inhabitants as far north
as Mercer County. There is record of his having built a church in New
Castle, attending it until i854, and another at Cannelton. In i862 he also
organized a congregation at Sewickley. When Father Reid died in i868
the parish at Beaver was attached to Rochester, later regaining its parochial
independence. The present pastor is the Reverend J, Dudley Nee, who
assumed the pastorate in I942 after the death of the Reverend Joseph B.
Keating.
The rather extensive development of the Beaver County centers of
Catholicity, now numbering twenty-four churches and mission stations,
attests to the careful planning of the early Catholic settlers and their
zealous determination to erect temples of the Lord in the' sparsely settled
region. From the mother church of SS. Peter and Paul in Beaver have
come the present-day developments that symbolize the march of the Cross
IO0THE ROOTS OF THE DIOCESE
in the County of Beaver. The' Capuchin Fathers who now direct the
destinies of several churches in the county have been able administrators
of the charges given them, and the rise of Catholicity in the region is
obvious evidence of the zeal that the religious and diocesan clergy displayed throughout the century.
V. BUTLER COUNTY
In March I8OO Butler County, named after General Richard Butler of
Revolutionary War fame, was organized. The county seat was incorporated as a borough in February of 1817 and the county then had a population of about three thousand. The first Catholic settlement grew from the
Donegal, now North Oakland, Colony. The Catholic settlers attended
services at St. Patrick's in Sugar Creek, but about I829 they began work
on their own church in Butler. A number of German immigrants soon
settled in the vicinity, and there is record that Bishop Kenrick passed
through the place. Three years after the completion of the church Bishop
Kenrick on a second visitation dedicated the building under the invocation
of St. Peter. When the German-speaking people settled in such large
numbers the parish increased in size and in I840 the first pastor, the
Reverend Francis Kuhr, was appointed. He was succeeded immediately
by Fathers Hugh P. Gallagher and Michael J. Mitchell, and there is evidence that a Redemptorist priest came from Pittsburgh to administer to
the German-speaking members of the parish. In I847 the Reverend
Michael Creedon was named pastor and immediately began the building
of a larger church. The Church of St. Joseph at North Oakland, then
Donegal, had been built in i846 and had attracted many of the English
settlers. The new St. Peter's was dedicated in I849. It is interesting to note
that the Benedictines established a priory there in i854 and had charge of
the parish. In i872 the parish reverted to the diocesan clergy when the
Reverend John Bierl was named pastor. The Carmelites for a time administered the affairs of the parish, but later the charge of the parish was
again given over to the diocesan clergy, who maintain it to this day. The
present pastor of St. Peter's is the Reverend Aloysius J. Weisenberger.
The study of the parish developments in the County of Butler is
crammed with historical interest. Of note is the contribution made by the
Capuchins to the Catholic development in the county. The influence of
the sons of St. Francis has been fundamental and lasting, and when the
IOICATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
complete history of Butler County is written the deeds of the Capuchin
friars will receive due and proper detailing. The twenty-three parishes in
the county are conclusive proof of the flourishing Faith of the peoplethe abundant fruit of the zeal of the past century.
VI. FAYETTE COUNTY
This county played an important part in the settlement of the west.
Fayette County was the goal of most of the pioneers who sought new
homes in Southwestern Pennsylvania while it was still Indian territory.
The county was originally settled by the Dunkers, a group hostile to the
Church. While the early Catholic settlements in the county were small,
perhaps because of the Dunker element, nevertheless the course of the
century has seen Fayette County develop into one of the major Catholic
foundations of the diocese. Today there are in all forty-one Catholic
churches and mission stations in the county.
The starting point of Catholic history in this county is the historic
church of St. Peter in Brownsville. Irish Catholics were the first settlers
in the Brownsville district. About I8o8 Father O'Brien visited the Catholics in the district; and although early history is obscure, we do know
that several priests attended the first few scattered families of Brownsville.
The active history of St. Peter's begins about I830. In that year two
priests, Fathers Curtin and Rafferty, resided at Brownsville. Then, until
the later part of I836, Brownsville was attended from Pittsburgh by
Father Patrick Waters. In the next year the Reverend Michael Gallagher
was named pastor and given the added charge of all Catholics in Fayette,
Washington, and Greene counties. The church, which must have been
built sometime around I832, was destroyed by fire and a new building
was undertaken ten years later. Bishop O'Connor solemnly consecrated
it in I845. Shortly after this time the congregation began to decline. The
list of thirty-three pastors who have served the Brownsville parish is a
lengthy one, and we cannot ennumerate it here. It will suffice in this
adumbrative study to mention the project at Brownsville which was completed by the late pastor of St. Peter's, the Reverend Martin J. Brennan.
After a period of careful preparation, embracing patient research, Father
Brennan undertook the huge task of restoring the church to its original
details. The work was completed for the fitting observance of the parish
centenary.
102THE ROOTS OF THE DIOCESE
The expanding coal and coke industry brought a large cosmopolitan
population to Fayette County in the closing decades of the nineteenth century. Especially in this county there is much evidence of the pentecostal
character of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. There has been very real growth in
Fayette County. From the small colonies of Irish and German peoples
that early began a steady infiltration into the county to the present-day
assembly of nationalities that dots the district, Fayette County has kept
pace with the progress of time. The erection of the parish churches and
chapels during the past century marks the increase of faith of the people
and the zealous promulgation of the Gospel by the priests who have
served the people in Fayette County.
VII. GREENE COUNTY
In all probability the first settlers in Greene County were members of a
small colony that settled near Muddy Creek about i768. It is certain,
however, that the county seat at Waynesburg was formed shortly after
the organization of the county about i796. It is interesting to note that
this newly founded county, located at the extreme southwestern section
of the state, was formed from Washington County and derived its name
from the illustrious general of the Revolutionary War, Nathaniel Greene.
About I796 a Franciscan priest, Father Patrick Lonergan, led a small
band of Catholic settlers from Westmoreland County to Greene County
and remained with them for several years to look after their spiritual
needs. The length of this pioneer priest's stay cannot be determined, but
it is known that after his departure the people were visited by a priest
from Brownsville.
The first active religious history in the county dates from I833, when a
small church, or rather chapel, was erected at Waynesburg. On July 28,
1839 Bishop Kenrick dedicated a church at Waynesburg and placed it
under the patronage of St. Ann. At that period the Catholic population
was meager and scattered. Some early records would indicate that as early
as i825 a church building had been erected by Father Maguire. Pursuing
the records of St. Ann's Church, which was dedicated in i839, we learn
that the original structure fell into ruins and the need for a second and
more substantial edifice effected the erection of the later church. This
building was constructed under Father Henry McHugh, then pastor at
Brownsville, and the church was dedicated on October 29, I87I.
10.3CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
While the Catholic population in Greene County does not approximate
the rather extensive settlements in the other areas of the diocese, nevertheless the pioneer work on behalf of the early immigrants bespeaks the careful attention of the bishops and their priests to the spiritual needs of the
Catholics, however remote from more active centers. The Greene County
settlement is still in process of development and we can reasonably expect
that the seven parishes and missions that minister to the people of this
district will carry on the work of evangelization begun over a century ago.
VIII. INDIANA COUNTY
The present County of Indiana was created in I803. Three years later
it was formally organized and at the time of its erection had a population
of between two and three thousand inhabitants.
The active Catholic history of the county goes back to I827, when a
little church was erected at a place called Cameron's Bottom. This territory was settled by a colony from Loretto about i820. Father Terence
McGirr and Father Charles Maguire made occasional visits to the people
from their parish stations. A little stone church was undertaken around
I827, but there is no record of its dedication until five years later, when
Bishop Kenrick visited the place. In I832 it was placed under the patronage of St. Patrick. The first pastor was the Reverend William Lambert,
a brother of the famous author of the Notes on Ingersoll. A second structure was built at Cameron's Bottom about I852 and a year later it was
blessed. The Reverend Pollard Morgan was pastor at this time. In I870
Bishop Domenec laid the cornerstone of the third church, and two years
later the same prelate dedicated this new church. The growth of the community during this time had necessitated the erection of new and more
commodious buildings. Father Matthew Carroll, an illustrious figure in
the history of the parish, was pastor at the time of the dedication of the
third building. However, the parish has gone into declining days and its
population no longer approximates its former figure. Cameron's Bottom
is now a station attached to the Parish of St. John at Heilwood, and is attended by the pastor there, the Reverend Augustine C. Marzhauser.
The twenty parishes and missions that today constitute the parish development of Indiana County have been developed in the spirit of service
and faith. Even a brief treatment of Indiana County and its Catholic
history must certainly pay tribute to the name of Father Stillinger, pastor
I0o4THE ROOTS OF THE DIOCESE
for forty-three years at SS. Simon and Jude in Blairsville. At first, as he
himself said: "My parish embraced five counties." To say no more than
that he ably administered this pioneer development in the trying times of
the early settlements is scant tribute to this indefatigable pioneer. The first
beginnings of Catholic history were subjects close to his heart, and these
halting lines are written in his memory that those of us who now reap
the fruit of his labors may remember him, and his brethren, in prayer.
IX. LAWRENCE COUNTY
The present County of Lawrence was organized about I803 and owed
its fluctuating population to the iron and glass industries. That there were
a number of Catholic settlers at an early date is not disputed. Likewise,
we have on record the ministrations of the priests from Pittsburgh who
frequently visited the place. The first Mass at New Castle, the county
seat, was offered about I85i by Father Reid. In the next year he erected
a small frame church, on the side of the river to the west of the town in
a most unsuitable place, and placed it under the patronage of our Blessed
Lady. The first resident pastor of St. Mary's was Father Peter M. Garvey,
who alternated between New Castle and New Bedford. The Catholic
population was increasing at this time, but met some opposition from a
strong Presbyterian settlement in the district. In I855 Father Thomas
O'Farrell succeeded Father Garvey and served the congregation and its
adjuncts for four years, when Father John C. Farren came. When he
withdrew in I862 the people of St. Mary's were attended by the Reverend
Thomas Walsh, who was pastor at Brady's Bend. Shortly afterward, large
numbers of Catholics, mostly Irish, were attracted by employment in the
iron industry at New Castle. Father James Canivan was then the pastor'
and began the construction of a new church in a more convenient locality. At Beaver and North streets a site was selected and in i866 the cornerstone was laid. Five years later the church was dedicated and the Reverend
William F. Hayes was named pastor of the large congregation. The Reverend Joseph Gallagher was appointed pastor in I879, and the present
incumbent is the Reverend Francis M. McCarter.
Today in Lawrence County there are sixteen parish churches. These
parishes located throughout the county have been centers around which
strong Catholic communities were built from the earliest days of the
foundation of the diocese.
Io5CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
constantly redescribe the Church's goal, pushing it farther and farther
toward the Sum of Blessedness. Not riches, not name, not satisfaction is
the goal, but real, vital union with Him who is the source of actuality,
blessedness, and happiness. This goal is one of endless approach, not one
of immediate accomplishment. It abides as the Catholic hope.
The present volume represents an effort to trace the history of that
hope in these parts and to describe in some way how hope has flowered
in fact and in newer purpose. It outlines the high points of our diocesan
history. These will appeal to the affection of pastors and people, enlarging
faith and prompting to greater efforts for the household of the Faith.
The Committee believes that the topics and the sketches presented here
may serve the future, embodying as they do the past and the present, and
may enable writers of the future to grasp in wide and compelling meaning the work of pioneers. They disagree with Herodotus that history is
the record of the unexpected. They regard it as the product of causal
sequence, predictable within limits, but the Committee does not presume
to see divinely, knowing all actual and possible relations. This accounts
for shortcomings. The course of our history runs from small beginning
to accomplishment, rather than to failure. Let the reader judge whether
the peoples of the diocese have failed the blessing. To many it appears that
God has given the increase, be it that our peoples have merely planted
and watered. Perhaps a greater harvest lies ahead.
Our sources are many, not all of which are mentioned in the bibliography at the end of the volume. Here we record only those sources without
which this work could not have been attempted: the two works, previously
noted, of Monsignor Lambing, the Catholic Church in the Dioceses of
Pittsburgh and Allegheny, published in I88o, and Foundation Stones of
a Great Diocese, published in I9I4; the files of the diocesan historian, the
Reverend John Canova; the files of the Pittsburgh Catholic, reaching back
from the present to March 1844; the records of St. Paul's Cathedral, Pittsburgh; and the records of the diocesan chancery office. Parishes, religious
orders, and diocesan institutions gave our authors free access to their
archives. Gratefully we acknowledge this help.
PAUL E. CAMPBELL
July 8, I943
xiiCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
X. WASHINGTON COUNTY
The present County of Washington began settlement as early as I767.
By I790 it was a populous county with some 23,000 inhabitants. At that
time it included the present Greene County and a small section of Beaver
County. The county seat at Washington was settled about I769 and the
county was formally established in I78I. The original settlers in the region
were Scotch-Irish from the counties of Bedford and York. Some others
emigrated from Ireland and Virginia, and although the German people
and other nationalities have infiltrated into Washington County, the influence of the original settlers on the mores and religious spirit of the
county is still felt. The town of Little Washington had a population of
approximately 6,ooo about I875. The Catholic population, however, was
quite small, and there was a wave of bigotry prevalent in the days when
the county was young. The precise date of the arrival of the first Catholic
settlers is uncertain, but some records indicate that the Mass was offered
in the town as early as I830. A church mission was established by Bishop
Kenrick when he visited the place in I834. The pastor at Brownsville attended the congregation. About I84I a building was contemplated, but the
first resident pastor, Father Hickey, was not appointed for ten years. The'
religious prejudice was so extreme that no one would build near the site
of a Catholic church. Father Hickey died, however, before the church was
completed and Father Farren succeeded him. In i855 the Reverend John
Malady was pastor. The present pastor, successor of many other illustrious
pastors, is the Very Reverend Martin J. Hughes.
At present there are some thirty-four parish churches and mission stations in Washington County. As in the case of the preceding counties, the
present growth in this flourishing portion of the vineyard is due in no
small measure to the combined efforts of the early priests and people.
XI. WESTMORELAND COUNTY
The County of Westmoreland occupies a unique and most important
place in the history of Catholicity in Western Pennsylvania. Not only was
it the scene of the first permanent settlement of Catholics in the western
part of the state, but also it was a tarrying place for the Catholic immigrants journeying to the West. The first permanent settlement was made
in what is now Ligonier Valley, located between Chestnut and Laurel
ridges. About I772 there were some hundred families of Scotch and Irish
Io6THE ROOTS OF THE DIOCESE
in the district. In the following year Westmoreland County was formed
from Bedford County, and Hannastown became the first county seat. In
I787 the county seat was moved to Greensburg, which had been planned
in I785, this change of county seats having been anticipated. Already in
1790 there were over I4,ooo inhabitants within the boundaries of the present Westmoreland area.
It shall not be our purpose here to detail the fascinating history of Dom
Wimmer and the Benedictine colony, and of Father Stillinger and the
first days of Sportsman's Hall. These figures and their lasting effects have
been treated elsewhere in this volume. It will suffice to mention that the
foundation of Catholicity in the county was at Sportsman's Hall, now
the site of St. Vincent's. The present development of the sixty-one parish
churches and mission stations of Westmoreland County owes its origin
to the heroic feats and efforts of the pioneers who established the Benedictine foundation in America. We shall mention merely the original
parish, one of many, which stemmed from the work of Archabbot Wimmer and his associates. At Greensburg, which was incorporated in I799,
a temporary church was unfinished and soon abandoned. The cornerstone
of the next church was laid in i846 and in the next year the church was
dedicated under the title of the Most Blessed Sacrament. It was originally
attended from St. Vincent's, but in I85I the Reverend William Pollard
of the diocesan clergy was named pastor. Two years later it reverted to
the Benedictine Fathers, who have maintained it to this day. The present
pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church is the Reverend Linus Brugger,
O. S. B.
The Catholic history of Westmoreland County would require a lengthy
volume for complete treatment and detailed development. The efforts of
the early priests and the results which they achieved will ever serve as a
stimulus to renewed apostolicity. Although we pass over with an unwilling haste the voluminous records and names of the first Fathers of Westmoreland County, still we can have only high appreciation of the stupendous achievements which have made this region of the diocese a flourishing Catholic settlement of some sixty-one parish churches and mission
stations.
It has been our purpose in this necessarily brief record to follow the
fortunes and trace the progress of the kingdom of God in this portion
I07CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
of our inheritance. The pioneer peoples of the past have left upon the
years the imprint of their apostolic zeal. In contemplating the records of
the past century our purpose cannot be merely to labor the memory with
the countless deeds of the past. Rather, our reading and research should
develop a deeper sympathy for humanity and a broader vision of life for
ourselves. The facts of'history may easily be forgotten, it is true, but if
unshaken faith and allegiance to high ideals remain, then history has
served well its first purpose. When the chief aim of historical research
and writing has been to nourish the possession of our Faith, then our
labors will be fruitful and success more certain.
What has been sketchily outlined in these pages is a mere nod to the
wealth of historical lore that lies yet untouched. Obviously, in a volume
of this proportion the valor of completeness must yield to discretion of
space. The definitive study of the parochial developments in the past
century remains to be written. Most certainly it will be a huge and fascinating study, since the study of Catholic history, of its very nature, is
mentally and emotionally attractive.
There is much to gladden the Christian heart as the past becomes prologue. From the humble beginnings of Catholicity in the diocese, a few
scattered frame churches ministered to by far-distant priests, there is today
realized the splendid fruit of their pioneer labors in the vast diocesan
network of churches and chapels. The diocesan clergy numbered about
fifteen at the time the diocese was established. Today some 600 diocesan
priests minister to the needs of the faithful. The religious communities
in the diocese had illustrious forbears of Catholic evangelization, as these
pages have witnessed. At present there are well over 200 priests in religious
communities serving the diocese. There are resident pastors in 375
churches and there are 73 mission stations with churches. The grand total
of 448 parish churches gives approbation to the work of the early missioners in the diocese.
It may be of some value, in recapitulating the diocesan progress over
the century, to note here the present religious statistics in the diocese. Directed by His Excellency, the Most Reverend Hugh Charles Boyle, D. D.,
worthy successor of his illustrious predecessors in the See of Pittsburgh,
there is the grand and impressive total of some 448 parish churches, mission chapels and stations. There exist a seminary for diocesan students at
Io8THE ROOTS OF THE DIOCESE
Latrobe and two seminaries of religious orders. The parish schools are
232 in number with over 75,000 pupils in attendance. High schools are
maintained by thirty-five parishes, with a total enrollment of well over
6,ooo. The grand total of elementary- and high-school students in the
diocese is 86,ooo. There is one university under Catholic direction and
two colleges for men and two for women. Three orphan asylums care
for 700 orphans. There is one foundling asylum and a school for deafmutes. Eight hospitals are directed by Catholic sisterhoods and there are
two convalescent homes and one home for incurables. Four institutions
care for the poor and aged. A home of the Good Shepherd ministers to
the spiritual and physical well-being of young girls. Working girls are
cared for by two institutions.
It will be interesting to record the spiritual progress of the diocese in
the past year. Some I9,000 children were baptized and 2,000 converts received into the Church. There were IO,453 Catholic marriages and 7,794
deaths. The present Catholic population of the diocese is over 694,o00oo.
Much of this statistical study will be treated at greater length elsewhere
in these pages. It is set down here for the record of progress. For all who
will read these pages of parish development, coming in knowledge and
lingering in wisdom, it is the faithful hope that the clergy and laity of
the diocese will come to know that "the Church is no mere idea, but a
reality of flesh and blood, wood and stone, hopes and memories, experiences of example and accumulation of influences; in brief, a reality of men
and women, a body growing up into Christ and in all things."
logCHAPTER IX
THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE DIOCESE
Hugh J. Wilt, O. S. B.
COMMEMORATIVE volume celebrating the centenary of the
Diocese of Pittsburgh would be by no means complete without a
tributary reference to the lives and works of literally thousands of men
and women who labored these many years, for the most part unnoticed
and in many cases unrecorded, to lay a solid foundation for the Catholic
life of the diocese. These men and women are the religious. Their work
has embraced every field of Catholic activity-the schools, the asylums,
the hospitals, the pulpit, and the confessional-both in large metropolitan
areas and in obscure, isolated mining towns and rural sections. Through
the years their hidden lives of sacrifice and unremitting toil have served
to give a permanency to works and to build traditions which, in the long
run, constitute the bedrock of any great diocese.
It is not our purpose here to treat in great detail each of the many religious orders and congregations which have played their part in the
spiritual and material growth of the diocese. It is manifest that to do such
a thing is entirely beyond the scope of a brief commemorative article. Yet
since the number of those who have dedicated their lives to the cause of
religion is, in each particular endeavor, broken up into these many groups,
we shall take each of them and try to give a composite picture of the
work they have done and are doing still.
EARLY ATTEMPTS
The beginning of religious life in the diocese dates from the establishment of the Nuns of St. Clare in the spring of I828. Sister Frances Van
der Vogel came to this country from Belgium and established a house on
what is now known as Nunnery Hill in Pittsburgh, and there she opened
St. Clare's Academy for Young Ladies. Sister Frances, together with a
few companions, continued this work in Pittsburgh until the closing of
the convent on May I7, I835.
Yet another attempt to establish a religious house was made by the
IIOTHE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE DIOCESE
Sisters of Charity of Emmitsburg, Maryland, who labored in Pittsburgh
from January i835 until I845. Of these we shall speak later.
SISTERS OF MERCY
The first permanent religious foundation in the diocese dates from the
establishment of the diocese itself. When the first Bishop, the Right Reverend Michael O'Connor, came to take over his see, he brought with him
seven Sisters of Mercy from St. Leo's Convent of Mercy, Carlow, Ireland.
The little party arrived in Pittsburgh on December 2I, I843. On the next
day the Sisters opened a convent at 800 Penn Avenue-the first foundation of the Mercy Sisters in America. The superior of this little convent
was Mother Francis Xavier Warde (now known as the American foundress of the congregation). It is perhaps interesting to note that among
the other Sisters there was a niece of Cardinal Cullen, Sister Mary Josephine Cullen; and two cousins of Cardinal Wiseman, Sisters Elizabeth
and Aloysius Strange.
The Sisters took charge of a girls' school at St. Paul's and in September
I844 opened St. Mary's Academy for Young Ladies. In these one hundred
years, from such humble beginnings, their community has given to the
diocese a long line of devoted religious. Their work has been in many
fields. The cause of Catholic education, in particular, owes a tremendous
debt of gratitude to the memory of these who have given so much. It was
they who helped lay the foundation for the school system of the diocese,
and they played no small part in its building.
Today the Sisters labor in three secondary and nineteen elementary
schools in the diocese, giving a solid Catholic education to over 8,ooo
children.
Besides their work in the diocesan schools, the Sisters of Mercy also
conduct three academies and one college. One of these academies-St.
Xavier's Academy at Latrobe-is the oldest institution of its kind in the
diocese. This academy was founded by the Sisters in I845 in order to fulfill "the long felt need and desire of the people of Western Pennsylvania
for a school for the education of young Catholic women." St. Xavier's was
first housed in the home of the pastor of St. Vincent's Church, but the
Sisters soon came into possession of a farm a mile and a half south of
St. Vincent, and here they laid plans for the permanent foundation.
Mount Mercy College, a fully accredited Catholic college for women,
IIICATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
is also conducted by the Sisters of Mercy. It is treated in Chapter XI,
"Higher Education."
Besides all this work in the schools, the Sisters have performed other
charitable work from the beginning. From a small house rented in I847
for the reception of patients has grown the present great Mercy Hospital.
Mercy Hospital was the first hospital in Western Pennsylvania, and it is
today, in this, centennial year, the largest privately owned Catholic hospital
in the United States. From an original capacity of 20 beds, the hospital
has grown to a capacity of 680 beds, and in 1942 the hospital had an
occupancy rate of 92 per cent (about 640 patients per day). Three Sisters
of Mercy gave nursing service in Stanton Military Hospital in Washington during the Civil War. Well and faithfully have they served the public
through times of epidemic, of flood, and of war.
Another of their concerns has been the care of the orphans. They have
been in charge of St. Paul's Orphan Asylum in Pittsburgh since I845.
SCHOOL SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME
In I848, at the request of the Redemptorist Fathers of St. Philomena's
Parish, the School Sisters of Notre Dame came to Pittsburgh from their
foundation in Baltimore. They opened a school without delay, and in
i853 were put in charge of St. Joseph's Orphanage. The School Sisters
of Notre Dame still labor in the diocese in the parishes of St. Philomena;
St. Mary of the Assumption; Holy Name; and at Allison Park, Reserve
Township; and Verona. Their six schools took care of 1,585 children in
the year I94I-I942.
SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH
The Sisters of St. Joseph, whose motherhouse is located at Mount
Gallitzin, Baden, Pennsylvania, have labored in the diocese for the last
seventy-five years. From their motherhouse in the Diocese of Brooklyn
they came, at the invitation of the Reverend R. C. Christy and with the
approbation of Right Reverend Bishop Domenec, to this diocese in i869.
At Ebensburg, in Father Christy's parish, they opened Mount Gallitzin
Seminary, and there likewise they established the motherhouse of their
congregation in Pittsburgh. Mother Austin Keane, who was in charge of
this project and who carried it out so well, was herself a native of Pittsburgh. The work done at Ebensburg attracted wide attention, and as the
112THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE DIOCESE
"I3
community increased, the Sisters were able to respond favorably to the
request of Father W. F. Hayes, Pastor of St. Mary's Church, New Castle,
for Sisters to come and start a school there. Five Sisters went to New
Castle and opened a school on August 28, I875.
Between the years i875 and 900oo the community founded no less than
eighteen parochial schools in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and the states of
Ohio and Maryland. The motherhouse of the community was moved to
Baden in December I90I, and Father Joseph F. Gallagher of New Castle
celebrated the first Mass there on New Year's Day, I9o2.
In 90o7, at the request of Bishop Canevin, the Sisters gave up their
schools in Maryland and Ohio and have ever since devoted all their energy
to the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Today they labor in twenty-five diocesan schools, providing some I,ooo
high-school and 9,ooo elementary-school children with a Catholic education. Beside their work in these many diocesan schools, they have likewise labored for the care of the sick. In August I904 they opened St.
Joseph's Hospital on Carson Street, Pittsburgh. In addition to all this,
they do catechetical work on week ends in outlying parts of the diocese
under the auspices of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. There is
no way of estimating the value of such self-sacrificing work. The work of
the hospital is in itself a distinct apostolate-an immense amount of good
is done that mere statistics are powerless to indicate.
SISTERS OF CHARITY
The history of the Sisters of Charity must record the earlier work of
the congregation in the City of Pittsburgh. Their first arrival was in I835,
when Father John O'Reilly, Pastor of St. Paul's Church, obtained three
Sisters of Charity from Emmitsburg, Maryland, to teach at St. Paul's
School. In I836 they began to receive orphans and homeless girls. This
was the beginning of St. Paul's Orphan Asylum, which was chartered by
the State of Pennsylvania in I840. When the Sisters of Mercy arrived with
Bishop O'Connor and were able to take over this work, the superiors
at Emmitsburg recalled their Sisters in I845.
In I870 the Sisters of Charity returned to the diocese and opened a
school in St. John's Parish in Altoona. Father John Tuigg, later third
bishop of the diocese, was the pastor of St. John's. With the arrival of
the Sisters, Bishop Domenec determined upon founding an independentCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
branch of the congregation in this diocese. Under arrangements with the
Cincinnati community, Sisters were sent to the Altoona house until there
was a sufficient number to form an autonomous community. By I882 the
community and its resources had grown sufficiently to enable them to
obtain their present motherhouse at Seton Hill. There, in I883, they
opened St. Joseph's Academy for Girls. Their work in the schools of the
diocese, like that of other communities, has increased constantly, and today they labor in twenty-four diocesan schools, providing a Catholic education for over Io,ooo children. High schools conducted by the Sisters of
Charity had a total enrollment of I,O4I children in I94I-I942. The Sisters
also conduct Seton Hill College for Women at Greensburg, an outstanding institution of higher learning.
The work of the Sisters of Charity, like that of the Sisters of St. Joseph,
has taken them into a number -of fields. They are in charge of Pittsburgh
Hospital and of Providence Hospital in Beaver Falls. The Roselia Hospital was opened in I89I, and since that time has cared for I5,ooo children,
housing an average of IIo each year.
Another particularly noteworthy work of the Sisters of Charity is that
carried on by them at the De Paul Institute, where twenty-three Sisters
devote themselves to the training of deaf-mutes. These Sisters spend their
lives training the children to overcome seemingly insurmountable disadvantages. The fact that they have enabled great numbers of children to
take their place in society is in itself both a measure of the Sisters' success
and a great tribute to their devotion.
The Sisters of Charity likewise carry on missionary work under the
auspices of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, traveling on week
ends to areas where there are no Catholic schools and there conducting
classes in catechism.
SISTERS OF THE THIRD ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS
One of the earliest and most active communities in the diocese was that
of the Franciscan Sisters. They first came to the diocese in i865. Before
very long they opened St. Francis Hospital on Forty-second Street. They
established a motherhouse in Pittsburgh and went to work with a will.
By i88o the community numbered some fifty Sisters, besides a large number of novices and postulants. Today the Sisters are in charge of twentythree schools in the diocese, with an enrollment of about io,ooo children.
II4THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE DIOCESE
They also conduct Mount Alvernia Academy, St. Francis Hospital, the
Home for the Aged, a home for convalescents, and another hospital in
New Castle.
SISTERS OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE
The Sisters of Divine Providence were established in Pittsburgh in
I876. A colony of these Sisters had been expelled from Germany during
the harsh days of Bismarck's Kultur ampf, and they found refuge in SS.
Peter and Paul's German Parish in Pittsburgh, where the Reverend
Aloysius Hune, the pastor, built a large brick schoolhouse and convent
for them. This building was blessed by the Bishop on September 2, I877.
By dint of patient, faithful, and uphill labor through the years, the community has grown into one of the foremost bodies of religious in the diocese. With their motherhouse at Allison Park, these Sisters now conduct no
less than twenty-six diocesan schools which had, in the years I94I-I942,
an enrollment of 7,697 students-5I2 of them in high school. They also
conduct the Divine Providence Academy. Their work has been by no
means exclusively in the field of education, but they have busied themselves in every sort of charitable endeavor. Outstanding has been their
care of the sick. St. John's Hospital in Pittsburgh and Braddock General
Hospital are both conducted by the Sisters of Divine Providence.
BENEDICTINE SISTERS
The Benedictine Sisters began their work in the diocese at St. Mary's,
Elk County, in 1852. In 1870, at the request of Bishop Domenec, they
opened schools in Carrolltown and Johnstown. Their work in the City of
Pittsburgh began in i878, when they accepted St. Mary's School on the
North Side in exchange for the Johnstown mission. In I889 they opened
St. Benedict's Academy in Pittsburgh. In addition to this academy, they
now labor in eight diocesan schools which have a total enrollment of
nearly 3,000 children.
In I93I the Benedictine Sisters of Eichstatt, Bavaria, Germany, arrived
at St. Vincent's College to take over the duties of the culinary department.
Today thirty-eight Sisters labor there.
DOMINICAN SISTERS OF THE THIRD ORDER OF ST. DOMINIC
These Sisters, whose motherhouse is at Columbus, Ohio, came into the
diocese in I9I5. They now have charge of the parish schools at the Church
II5EDITORIAL NOTE
The aims and purposes of the Historical Society in presenting this work
have been outlined and discussed in the Preface, and mention has been
made therein of credit due to many sources. It remains only to record
here the thanks of the Editorial Committee to the Reverend Austin G.
Schmidt, S. J., of the Loyola University Press, printers of the book, whose
comments and assistance were of great- aid; to Mr. Bernard Crimmin,
likewise of the Loyola Press; to P. J. Kenedy and Sons, New York, who
kindly allowed us to use the copyrighted statistics on the Pittsburgh
Diocese listed in the Official Catholic Directory. Moreover, it should be
noted that the advice, counsel, and directive ability of the Reverend Paul
E. Campbell, president of the Society, have been guiding forces in the
editorial work. The Chairman of the Editorial Committee is grateful for
the help and cooperation of the committee members: the Very Reverend
Felix Fellner, O. S. B., the Very Reverend James J. O'Connell, the Reverend John Canova, the Reverend Edward G. Joyce, the Reverend Hugh
J. Wilt, O. S. B., Mrs. William H. Connell, Jr., Miss Elizabeth Daflinger,
and Mr. Benedict Kaiser. There are many others who have helped, too;
their assistance has been welcomed and deeply appreciated.
WILLIAM J. PURCELL
Chlairman, Editorial Committee
xiiiCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
of St. Lawrence O'Toole, Pittsburgh; at St. Thomas and St. Brendan
parishes,. Braddock; at St. William's Church, East Pittsburgh; at St.
Francis de Sales, McKees Rocks, and at St. Aloysius, Wilmerding.
SISTERS SERVANTS OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
The Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary came to the
Pittsburgh Diocese in I9Io from their motherhouse in Scranton. With
the approval of Bishop Canevin, they took charge of St. Mary of the
Mount School. The pastor of the parish, the Reverend E. P. Griffin, had
built a convent and school for them, and they began work without delay.
The school was opened on January 24, I9IO, with an initial enrollment
of 635 children. The Sisters opened another school in All Saints Parish,
Masontown, and also conduct schools at St. Rosalia's, Greenfield; Holy
Angels, Hays; and St. Francis, Munhall.
URSULINES
In I870 eight French and English nuns of the Order of St. Ursula
were granted permission by the Cardinal Archbishop of Rouen to emigrate to the United States. This move was occasioned by the troubled
conditions of the country caused by the German invasion of France. The
Sisters came to Pittsburgh and first occupied a house on Eighth Street.
A short while later they purchased the Tanner mansion on Cliff Street
overlooking the Allegheny River where they began an academy for girls
which became very famous because of the excellence of the Sisters' training. This house in turn proved inadequate and in I876 the Sisters obtained
a fine estate in Oakland. Today the motherhouse on South Winebiddle
Avenue houses some twenty-nine Sisters, while the academy conducted
there has an enrollment of II2 girls and 23 boys.
SISTERS OF ST. AGNES
The Sisters of St. Agnes were brought to Hollidaysburg (then part of
the Pittsburgh Diocese) by the Reverend G. Kircher, who built a convent
for them in St. Michael's German Parish. They took charge of the school
about I873. Today the Sisters have charge of St. Joseph's School, Carnegie.
SISTERS OF MERCY OF THE UNION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
These Sisters, of the Province of Scranton, teach in St. Paul's School,
Butler. Their motherhouse is at Dallas, Pennsylvania.
II6THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE DIOCESE
II7
THE SISTERS OF MERCY, ERIE CONGREGATION
These Sisters, whose motherhouse is at Mercyhurst College, Erie, have
charge of St. Justin's Schools, Pittsburgh.
FRANCISCAN SISTERS OF THE ATONEMENT
These Sisters from Graymoor, New York, do social and catechetical
work in Monessen.
FELICIAN SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS
The Diocese of Pittsburgh developed rapidly at the turn of the century,
largely because of the industrialization of society. Pittsburgh became, because of its location, one of the most strongly industrialized sections in
the United States. In the wake of this movement came many national
groups from Europe. Their arrival in the diocese presented a challenging
problem to the Church. For most of them the Church was the only
common meeting ground which they had with the people into whose
midst they had come; the church and the school were the only safe
agencies by which these people could be introduced to a strange culture
and yet keep the Faith of their fathers.
The problem they presented has been met by a number of religious
communities that have devoted themselves, both in the classroom and in
catechetical work in parishes, to keeping alive the Faith of these newcomers as they adapted their culture to new ways. The Felician Sisters of
St. Francis were one of the earliest of the communities of Sisters who
devoted themselves to work among groups such as these.
Father- Joseph Dombrowski brought the Felician Sisters of St. Francis
to this country from Warsaw in I874 to labor among children of Polish
descent. They came to Pittsburgh in I888, where they took charge of St.
Adalbert's Parish School on the South Side. In I920 the Pittsburgh province of the congregation was established at Coraopolis. The community
has grown exceedingly in numbers and their work has likewise grown.
Today they conduct twelve schools with a total enrollment of 2,790 pupils.
VINCENTIAN SISTERS OF CHARITY
This community was founded in Braddock in I902 and its motherhouse
is maintained on Babcock Boulevard, Perrysville. The Sisters are in charge
of twenty-three schools in the diocese and likewise conduct the VincentianCATHOLIC, PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Home for Incurables in Perrysville; recently they opened a new home for
the sick in the East End, Pittsburgh.
SISTERS OF THE HOLY GHOST
Another large community which has devoted itself to the education of
children of Polish descent is that of the Sisters of the Holy Ghost, whose
motherhouse is at West View, Pittsburgh. They were organized into a
religious community in I9I4 by Bishop Canevin. Today they conduct nine
schools in the diocese, in which 1,I46 children are enrolled. A high school
for girls is conducted at the motherhouse. The Sisters also are in charge
of the Bishop Boyle Home for Aged Women. On week ends they do
catechetical work in parishes which lack Catholic schools.
SISTERS OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH
A third congregation of nuns working among children of Polish parentage is the St. Joseph Province of the Sisters of the Holy Family of
Nazareth, which was established in the Pittsburgh Diocese in I918. Today
these Sisters teach 2,000 children in seven parochial schools.
BERNARDINE SISTERS OF THE THIRD ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS
Yet another group are the Bernardine Sisters of the Third Order of St.
Francis. These Sisters, too, have devoted their lives to the teaching of
Polish children and conduct three schools with an enrollment of over 500
pupils.
SCHOOL SISTERS OF THE THIRD ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS
The School Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis conduct five
schools in Slovak parishes in the diocese and Mount Assisi Academy at
Bellevue.
SISTERS OF SS. CYRIL AND METHODIUS
The Sisters of SS. Cyril and Methodius from Danville conduct St.
Cecilia's School at Whitney.
SCHOOL SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS
At Ford City the School Sisters of St. Francis conduct the school at
Holy Trinity Slovak Parish.
SISTERS OF THE INCARNATE WORD AND THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Another group which works among the Slovaks is the Congregation
II8THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE DIOCESE         II9
of the Incarnate Word and the Blessed Sacrament. They conduct Holy
Trinity School, Duquesne.
SISTERS ADORERS OF THE SACRED HEART
Among those who devote their lives principally to work among children of Croatian descent are the Sisters Adorers of the Sacred Heart.
SISTERS OF THE ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS
Four Croatian parish schools are conducted by the Sisters of the Order
of St. Francis, whose motherhouse is in Hankinson, North Dakota.
MISSIONARY ZELATRICES OF THE SACRED HEART
The Missionary Zelatrices of the Sacred Heart are working principally
among children of Italian descent and conduct schools in five Italian
parishes. They also do considerable social and catechetical work. At Oakmont these Sisters conduct St. Anthony's Village, an orphanage which
cares for some I25 orphans.
PALLOTTINE SISTERS
The Pallottine Sisters devote themselves to work among the Italian
children of Immaculate Conception School, Pittsburgh.
iMISSIONARY FRANCISCAN SISTERS
The school at St. Peter's Italian Church, Fernando Street, is conducted
by the Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.
SISTERS OF THE THIRD ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS, ALLEGANY
This community, which was founded in I859, has its general motherhouse at Allegany, New York. The Sisters are in charge of the school at
Our Lady Help of Christians Italian Parish, Pittsburgh.
DAUGHTERS OF MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS
The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (the Salesian Sisters of St.
John Bosco) are in charge of Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Catechetical School at Ellwood City, where they also do missionary and
social work among the Italian people.
DAUGHTERS OF THE DIVINE REDEEMER
The Daughters of the Divine Redeemer, who also work among the
Croatians, came to America in I912 to assist Father Colman Kovats,CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Pastor of King St. Stephen's Parish in McKeesport. They now have
charge of two Hungarian schools, the one at McKeesport and the other
at St. Ann's in Pittsburgh. These Sisters also conduct the Divine Redeemer
Academy at Elizabeth.
SISTERS OF THE THIRD ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS
The Lithuanian Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis conduct
schools at St. Casimir's and St. Vincent's Lithuanian parishes in Pittsburgh and another at SS. Peter and Paul's Lithuanian Parish in Homestead. At their motherhouse in Castle Shannon they conduct St. Francis
Academy for girls.
LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR
Leaving the schools now, we find communities of Sisters engaged in
still other work. One which strikes our attention and which deserves the
greatest praise is the community of the Little Sisters of the Poor, whose
noble work and humble lives only the eye of God fully sees. In the
past seventy years they have labored to establish homes for the aged
homeless in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Today they conduct two institutions
which together provide homes for approximately 400 destitute old people.
SISTERS OF OUR LADY OI CHARITY OF REFUGE (GOOD SHEPHERD)
In I872 Bishop Domenec petitioned the Buffalo community of the
Sisters of the Good Shepherd (the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of
Refuge) to open a house in the Pittsburgh Diocese. Six Sisters came on
October I, I872 and established a house at the corner of Pride and Bluff
streets near Mercy Hospital. This house soon proved inadequate and
they moved to their present location on Troy Hill in Allegheny. Their
magnificent work of moral reclamation has continued down to today,
when the Monastery of Our Lady of Charity at Troy Hill houses over
forty Sisters and some fifty-two girls. The Eudes Institute (named after
Father Eudes, the pious French founder of the congregation) on Lincoln
Avenue houses twenty-six Sisters and sixty girls. Anyone understanding
the nature of the work of these Sisters must realize the tremendous and
unique value of it.
MISSION HELPERS OF THE SACRED HEART
These Sisters are in charge of the Raphael Temporary Home for Children on Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh.
I20THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE DIOCESE
DAUGHTERS OF DIVINE CHARITY
These Sisters do catechetical and missionary work in the Parish of the
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Rankin.
MISSIONARY SERVANTS OF THE MOST BLESSED TRINITY
Another community whose work is not to be judged or estimated by
statistics is that of the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity.
These Sisters spend most of their time traveling from mining town to
mining town doing catechetical and other charitable work among the
large foreign population. They were invited to the diocese by Bishop
Boyle in 1926 and arrived in October of that year. Soon they had established ten catechetical centers, utilizing for the purpose public schools,
colored mission halls, and private homes. Children were drawn from some
20 surrounding towns and soon the Sisters had 775 pupils under instruction. They prepare the children for Holy Communion and for confirmation and, in many instances, for baptism. Frequently the Sisters are asked
to settle family disputes, or to give advice in times of trouble. In one year
they distributed over 9,ooo pieces of Catholic literature-books, pamphlets,
magazines, and papers-as well as articles of piety. It is said that miners
are particularly grateful for the Sacred Heart medals and badges supplied
by the Sisters, for they like to take these blessed articles down into the
mines with them. In I94I-I942, four of the Missionary Servants made
approximately 5,o000o visits in 4I different mining towns. Cathechetical sessions, held in 25 towns, were attended by more than 30,000 children. In
one year the Sisters gave 350 private instructions in religion to adults.
They are instrumental in bringing many lapsed Catholics back to the
sacraments and in having irregular marriages validated.
Since I920 three of the Missionary Servants have done social work in
St. William's and St. Helen's parishes in East Pittsburgh, and Our Lady
of Mount Carmel Parish in Braddock.
PASSIONIST SISTERS
More is wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. Especially in
these critical days of global chaos is the remembrance of contemplative
orders dear and consoling. Day after day and year after year their prayers
ascend before the throne of the Almighty in a perpetual plea for the
divine mercy and in constant atonement for the sins of a world run
121CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
amuck. The Passionist Sisters established their convent in Carrick on
May 5, I9IO. The original Sisters, five in number, came from Italy. Today
they number thirty-two. The Sisters make altar bread and altar linens,
and arrange retreats for women.
SUMMARY
There are today in the diocese over I,9oo Sisters devoting their lives, in
the various religious communities, to the teaching of 73,000 children in
elementary and high schools. Without their loyal devotion and zeal the
work of our schools would be impossible. In addition to these approximately 400 others devote their lives to caring for the sick and for orphans,
and to maintaining homes for aged. Still others spend their lives in prayer
that God's blessing may aid and prosper our work. To God alone is
known the vast amount of little tasks as well as the magnitude of the
work carried on by the religious women of the diocese in the name of
religion and charity.
In closing this brief summary of the work of the Sisters we can only
quote the remarks of a Sister of Mercy: "In the work of the schools and
in that of the hospital, the names of the Sisters whose work was outstanding are too numerous to mention in this brief summary. However,
on this Centenary, it is the rank and file of which we would speak-the
ones who labored silently and unknown in classrooms, hospital wards,
the Orphanage, and in every part of the community. They have done the
hard work of the Community and to them, under God and their Superiors, must be given the credit for the achievements of this hundred
years.
RELIGIOUS ORDERS OF MEN
Like the Sisters, the male religious orders and communities have contributed much to diocesan growth. Their work has been of variegated
nature and it has been carried to successful status because of the bountiful
blessings of Almighty God. The spirit of these religious communities of
men has molded itself well with the spirit in the diocese and today is an
integral part of diocesan make-up.
MONKS OF ST. BENEDICT
It was on July 25, 1846, that the founder of the Benedictine Order in
the new world, Dom Boniface Wimmer, set out from St. Michael's
I22THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE DIOCESE
Church, Munich, with eighteen companions, to begin his establishments
here. Father Lemcke met the group in New York City, and brought them
immediately to Carrolltown. Shortly after this Dom Wimmer decided that
Beatty was to be the site of their major settlement, and the Bishop gave
his permission for the establishment of a monastery there. It was on
October 24, I846 that the monastic rule was formally put into operation
at St. Vincent's, and that beginning was the birth of the Benedictine spirit
in the United States, which has been responsible for many new abbeys
and other institutions under the charge of the order. The first member of
the Benedictines to be ordained in the new world was the Reverend
Martin Gayerstanger, who received the sacred order of priesthood on
March 7, I847. The Order grew quite rapidly within the diocese, being
helped considerably by new arrivals from abroad. St. Vincent's was recognized as an exempt priory on July 15, 1852; the college had already been
established in I849, and the various other dates of note in connection with
St. Vincent's as a seat of education are mentioned elsewhere in this book.
Likewise in the chapter on parochial beginnings the first attempts of the
Benedictines to take part in parish work here are duly recorded. Today
the Order's activities touch practically every field of Catholic endeavor
in Western Pennsylvania.
HOLY GHOST FATHERS
When Prince Bismarck's Kulturkampf forced many religious to flee
the intolerance of their native Germany, the Holy Ghost Fathers were
enabled to answer several requests for missionaries made by the bishops
of America. Bishop Domenec invited the Reverend Joseph Strub, the
superior of the group in the United States, to send some of his priests to
Pittsburgh to care for the German-speaking and French-speaking people
of the diocese.
With this in mind, St. Mary's Parish, Sharpsburg was given into the
care of the Holy Ghost Fathers on April 29, 1874. Father Strub was the
first pastor. Two years later Bishop Domenec placed St. Ann's, Millvale
under the recently arrived community. In i886 the German-speaking
Parish of St. Anthony, Millvale was given to these priests. Other churches
were added rapidly and the work of the congregation spread to many
sections of Western Pennsylvania.
While caring for these various parochial efforts the Fathers did not
I23CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
abandon their principal work of administering to the colored people. The
history of St. Benedict's Parish in Pittsburgh's Hill District is dotted
with heartbreaks and vain efforts, and of these the Holy Ghost Fathers
have had a share. The present status of the parish was created in I9I8
when Bishop Canevin gave it a canonical standing with definite limits-a
circle six miles in diameter which was practically coterminous with the
city proper.
Besides doing parish work, the Holy Ghost Fathers also direct Duquesne University, as noted in the chapter on higher education in the
diocese. Holy Family Institute for Orphans in Emsworth, where they
have the cooperation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, is
also under their direction. The first building for this institution was
erected on property purchased with funds provided by St. Stanislaus
Parish, Pittsburgh. The national office of the Pontifical Society of the
Holy Childhood is located on Pittsburgh's North Side, and is administered
by the Holy Ghost Fathers. The Very Reverend Richard Ackerman is the
present national director.
PASSIONIST FATHERS
The first group of the Passionist Fathers came from Italy in I853. There
were three in this group under the leadership of the Reverend Anthony
Calandri. Bishop O'Connor requested that the Passionist Fathers come to
his diocese, and they made the journey from Italy in the company of the
Bishop, who had been visiting in Europe. Within two years after their
arrival the Church of St. Paul of the Cross was dedicated, the first Passionist church in the United States. The work of the Passionist Fathers in
parish endeavor is mentioned in the chapter on parishes and their work
as missionaries is known throughout the diocese. From their beginnings
in Pittsburgh the congregation has sent out many sons to other fields of
labor, where their success likewise has been notable.
REDEMPTORIST FATHERS
The Redemptorist Fathers came to Pittsburgh in I839 under the leadership of the Reverend Joseph Prost. Father Prost had failed in several attempts to found the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
elsewhere in the nation, but his efforts were to be marked with success
in Pittsburgh. The Bishop gave to him and his companions the GerI24THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE DIOCESE
man parishioners of the city. Father Prost united the various sectional
elements and prepared to build St. Philomena's Church. Although Father Prost was called to labor elsewhere, his confreres continued the
work and the cornerstone of St. Philomena's was laid on the Feast of
Corpus Christi in I842. The church was dedicated by Bishop O'Connor
on November 4, I846 and was the foundation and fountainhead from
which many other parochial efforts in the diocese have sprung. The Redemptorist Fathers have given missions and retreats in addition to their
duties as pastors. Like that of the communities already mentioned, their
work has taken them into almost every corner of the diocese.
CAPUCHIN FATHERS
In April I874 a band of Capuchin friars, who had suffered exile from
Prussia, arrived in Pittsburgh to take charge of St. Augustine's Parish,
Thirty-seventh Street. The Reverend Hyacinth Epp was the first pastor
and first guardian of the new community. The Capuchins have since become an integral part of the diocese's activities, and the scope of their
work has been and is very broad. In addition to having the care of many
parishes, they conduct St. Fidelis Seminary at Herman as a preparatory
seminary for candidates for the order, and they also educate other students there. This college, founded in I886, has played an important role
in ecclesiastical education in the diocese. The Fathers are in charge of
Toner Institute, a home for boys in Brookline, and conduct retreats and
missions throughout the diocese.
THE CARMELITE FATHERS
General Grant had just received the surrender of General Lee when the
Carmelite Fathers Cyril Knoll and Xavier Huber landed in New York
City on Trinity Sunday in i865. They proceeded to Cumberland, Maryland, and began their foundation there. It was on May 23, I875, that their
Pittsburgh establishment, the Church of the Holy Trinity on Center
Avenue, was begun. Father Knoll, one of the original group, was the
first superior. The Carmelite Fathers have assisted with ministry in many
churches of the diocese and likewise have given missions and retreats.
FRANCISCAN FATHERS, THIRD ORDER REGULAR
The Reverend Stanislaus Duynovic came from Croatia in June of
I926 to St. Nicholas Parish on the North Side of Pittsburgh, which beI25CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
came the first Croatian Franciscan parish in the diocese. In I9I3 a member
of this same section of the Franciscans had been an instructor at Loretto,
but returned to his native land shortly thereafter and never worked in this
diocese.
CROATIAN FRANCISCANS
These priests, like their fellow followers of St. Francis, came from
Croatia. Before the first World War some of this group came to America
and shortly after the Armistice a larger group moved in. It was not until
I933 that they came to the diocese from their motherhouse in Chicago
and took over the Church of the Holy Trinity at Ambridge.
POLISH FRANCISCANS
This branch of the Franciscan Fathers was organized at Pulaski, Wisconsin in i885 and came to the Diocese of Pittsburgh in I929, when they
established a friary at Allison Park. In I936 they established the Friary
of St. Anthony in Ben Avon and offer their assistance to many Polish
congregations in the diocese.
SLOVAK FRANCISCAN FATHERS
These friars are represented in the diocese at the Holy Family Monastery which they conduct at Avalon.
ITALIAN FRANCISCAN FATHERS
Two churches in the City of Pittsburgh, Our Lady Help of Christians,
in the East End, and St. Peter's on Fernando Street, are conducted by
these Franciscan Fathers of the Immaculate Conception Province.
LITHUANIAN FRANCISCAN FATHERS
A small group of Lithuanian Franciscan refugees from war-torn Europe
have recently opened a house on Orchard Street, Knoxville.
BROTHERS OF MARY
It was on the fourth of July in i849 that the Very Reverend Leo Meyer,
first superior of the Society of Mary in the United States, arrived in New
York. He proceeded to Cincinnati and later helped Archbishop Purcell
during the cholera epidemic. It was Father Meyer who, at Dayton,
founded his community in the United States. It was not; however, until
I87I that the Society sent Brothers to this diocese to teach at St. Mary's
I26THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE DIOCESE       I27
School, North Side. For years they likewise labored at St. Michael's
School, South Side. They now have charge of the North Catholic High
School, Troy Hill.
BROTHERS OF THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
The Brothers of the Christian Schools, founded by St. John Baptist
de la Salle, came to Baltimore in 1845 and began the famous Calvert
Hall College. In I927 the Brothers were put in charge of the Central
Catholic High School on Fifth Avenue in Pittsburgh.CHAPTER X
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE DIOCESE
Thomas J. Quigley
BEGINNINGS
THE first Catholic school in Western Pennsylvania was opened in
the year I8oo, before the actual establishment of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. In that year the famous Father Demetrius Gallitzin, Russian nobleman, came into Western Pennsylvania and established a mission at Loretto. Understanding as the Church always understands the necessity of
incorporating moral development with mental, physical, and social development, one of the first things he did was to open a school. It was a
one-room school taught by a layman named O'Connor. Unfortunately,
history does not tell us anything more about this school. It was still in
existence at the time the Pittsburgh Diocese was formed, however, so we
can honestly regard it as the first school established in that area later to
be known as the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Not until I828 do we have any record of a school established in the
City of Pittsburgh itself. In this year a group of Nuns of St. Clare came
to the city and purchased sixty acres of ground on the North Side, then
the old City of Allegheny. On a hill overlooking the Allegheny River
they opened a girls' academy. This hill later became known as Nunnery
Hill, and was so designated until very recent years. The establishment
of the Nuns of St. Clare did not last long. In the year I835 their academy
closed, and they returned to Europe about I837. In I835, however, a really
permanent educational establishment was made in the city. In I835 St.
Paul's Parish, located at the present site of the Union Trust Building,
on the corner of Grant Street and Fifth Avenue, opened a day school for
boys and girls and an academy for young ladies. Father John O'Reilly,
C. M., was pastor of the parish at the time, and he invited the Sisters of
Charity from Emmitsburg, Maryland to staff these two schools. Undoubtedly, the day school was located next to the parish church. The location
of the academy is uncertain. There is a probability that it occupied a site
a few squares away from the church, on what is now the corner of WebI28THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE DIOCESE
129
ster Avenue and Tunnel Street, the site of the present St. Mary's School.
In I838 St. Paul's Parish opened an orphan asylum also and the Sisters
of Charity took charge of the twelve female orphans who were the first
children sheltered within its walls. The location of this property is given
as Webster Avenue and Chatham Street. This may have been the same
site occupied by the girls' academy, since Tunnel Street and Chatham
Street are only one block apart.
At this time Old St. Patrick's Church at Eleventh Street and Liberty
Avenue, which had been the first Catholic parish opened in the city, was
being used by the German-speaking Catholics of the city. In I840, however, these German-speaking people opened a parish of their own at
Fourteenth Street and Liberty Avenue, called St. Philomena's. In the following year they opened a day school and hired lay teachers to staff it.
St. Patrick's became once more a territorial parish.
The Diocese of Pittsburgh was erected August 7, I843. Its first bishop
was the Right Reverend Michael O'Connor. The diocese included all of
Western Pennsylvania. Following is a summary of facts known about its
educational institutions one hundred years ago.
In the City of Pittsburgh:
I. St. Paul's Day School-Sisters of Charity--I2o pupils
2. St. Paul's Academy for girls-Sisters of Charity
3. St. Philomena's Day School--lay teachers
NOTE. St. Paul's Orphan Asylum was not strictly a school. There is some
probability that the orphans were educated at St. Paul's Day School or
Academy.
Outside Pittsburgh:
I. Loretto, Pennsylvania-elementary school
2. Beatty, Pennsylvania-Sportsman's Hall (now St. Vincent's, Latrobe,
Pennsylvania)
NOTE. There are no records of other schools outside the city proper.
Undoubtedly there were others since we find evidence of their existence
later on but no records of their beginnings.
In the year I844 the Sisters of Mercy, invited to the city by Bishop
O'Connor, first established on Tenth Street an academy for girls, most
likely called St. Mary's. In the same year the Sisters opened the first free
parish school in the basement of old St. Patrick's on Canal Street. During;CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
this same year, I844, or perhaps I845, the Sisters of Charity, who had been
teaching at St. Paul's, were recalled from the city. The Bishop then assigned the management of the orphan asylum to a widow and her two
daughters. St. Paul's Day School and Academy were taken over by the
Sisters of Mercy. In order to handle this new assignment, the Sisters of
Mercy were forced to give up their academy on Tenth Street, but they
continued to teach in the day school at St. Patrick's.
For a brief interval in our early history a group of Presentation Brothers,
who were brought here by Bishop O'Connor, were engaged in educational work. They opened an academy for boys about the year I844. In
i847 they took over the instruction of boys in St. Paul's. This latter arrangement was short-lived, however, and in i848 we find Franciscan
Brothers teaching these boys. The Franciscan Brothers were not able to
keep up the work either, and the Sisters once more assumed the training
of the boys along with the girls. The Presentation Brothers closed their
academy in I849. Undoubtedly they left the city at this time. No further
mention is made of them. The Franciscan Brothers continued to work
in the diocese and later were associated with St. Francis College in Loretto.
In i848 or I850 the Sisters of Notre Dame were invited into the city
by the pastor of St. Philomena's German Church to replace the lay teachers in the parish school. Following is the educational picture as it looked
in i850.
City of Pittsburgh:
I. St. Paul's Day School-Sisters of Mercy-boys and girls
2. St. Patrick's Day School-Sisters of Mercy-boys and girls
3. St. Philomena's Day School-Sisters of Notre Dame-boys and girls
4. St. Paul's Academy-Sisters of Mercy-girls
One orphanage (St. Paul's)
Outside the city:
No recorded change, cf. above.
FIRST GROWTH- (1850-I900)
This was the period of Horace Mann and Henry Barnard. Under their
leadership public education received a great impetus and was systematized
according to the pattern which has since marked its development. Part of
that pattern included complete secularization of education. Religion was
removed from the school curriculum, and an exaggerated intellectualism
I30'THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE DIOCESE'3'
arose, which tended to base the essence of good citizenship on literacy
alone. The church school appeared doomed.
As a consequence this was also a period of grave concern over education
on the part of the Catholic bishops. In all their meetings, from the First
Plenary Council of Baltimore (I852) to the Third Plenary Council of
Baltimore (I884), the problem of the schools was discussed. The lastnamed Council of i884 finally proclaimed in its Acta et Decreta the mind
of the Church toward secularized education and set the pattern for the
Catholic parish-school system. All attempts at compromise with public
schools ended and the Catholic citizens of the nation were committed to
the burden of double taxation for education, because they believed moral
development was as vital as mental development to a good citizen. Pittsburgh Catholics entered so ardently into this program of educational activity that during this period, from I850 until I904, the total number of
schools increased to II4. The story was one of tremendous effort and sacrifice on the part of pastors, teachers, and people alike.
In extant historical writings of this period there is practically no reference to education aside from the fact that schools were being established.
It would require a fine combing of individual parish archives to discover
details of the effort. It is apparent that, except for the years when the
nation was engaged in the war between the states, there was constant
pressure on priests and people to open schools. In many instances schools
opened and closed and then reopened. For example, St. Agnes Parish in
Oakland opened its school in i879, closed it in i88o, and reopened it in
1892. St. Brendan's in Braddock opened in 1892, closed in I894, and reopened in I898.
In I85I St. Peter's Parish in Allegheny opened a school with Sisters of
Mercy teaching the girls and Franciscan Brothers teaching the boys.
Among the earliest recorded openings on the South Side (Birmingham)
was St. James, W.E., in i853 and St. John's in i856, although Bishop
O'Connor mentions schools there as early as i848. The orphanage was
moved from St. Paul's to St. John's in Birmingham in I856. During these
years two new dioceses were formed in Western Pennsylvania, Erie in
I853 and Altoona in I9OI. The Pittsburgh Diocese was then confined to
its present boundaries, comprising ten counties of Southwestern Pennsylvania with a total area of 7,238 square miles.CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
The paucity of good teachers was a serious problem. Thus, during the
second half of the nineteenth century, a number of new religious communities of Sisters were invited into the diocese. These became and still
are a chief source of teacher supply for the elementary and secondary
schools.
There was very little central organization of schools on a diocesan basis
during this period. Each school was completely autonomous, and while,
generally speaking, the same course of studies was followed throughout the
diocese, each community of teachers was answerable only to its own superior and to the pastor of the parish. There were no uniform textbooks
and no uniform system of grading. In the secular subjects the parochial
schools followed the same course as the public schools of the city and
surrounding territory, but each school had its own course in religion. In
many instances these religion courses were not at all satisfactory either to
priests or bishop. As the number of schools grew it became more and
more apparent that complete local parish autonomy was leading to chaos.
A carefully prepared and uniform course in religion was necessary as was
also a central system of supervision. Accordingly, at' the Sixth Diocesan
Synod of the diocese, held in February I893, a School Board of Examiners
of Teachers was appointed by the Bishop. The appointment of this
board, conforming to recommendations of the Third Plenary Council of
Baltimore, marked an important step forward in the development of our
school system.
The first task of the Board of Examiners of Teachers was to set up a
system of certification. Examinations of teachers were held regularly and
certificates given to all sisters, brothers, or lay people engaged to teach in
our schools. The first School Board had the Reverend F. L. Tobin as president. Its secretary was the Reverend Thomas Devlin, afterward superintendent of schools. The Reverend Regis Canevin, later to become bishop
of Pittsburgh, was a member of the Board of Examiners.
The Board began at once to outline a uniform course of studies. It permitted the adoption of public school courses in all secular subjects, but set
about to construct a course in religion. While so engaged the members
came to realize the need of appointing some man as an administrative
officer. On the advice of the Board, the Bishop accordingly appointed in
I897 the first superintendent of schools. He was the Reverend Patrick
I32THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE DIOCESE
I33
McNelis. He held office for only eleven months, however, resigning in
March of I898 to become pastor of St. Bernard's Church in Indiana, Pennsylvania. No one was appointed to replace him until 1904. In I898 the
Board finally adopted a course of studies in religion, but meager progress
was effected in the unification of textbooks and supervision.
We have said above that 114 schools were established up until I904.
This figure cannot be accepted as absolutely authentic, since during these
years no school reports were published. It is well-nigh impossible to determine exactly how many schools were opened, closed, and reopened. The
figure II4 is used because it appears in the first diocesan school report,
published in 1905, wherein a brief history of early establishments is given.
It is contradicted by the figures in an early Catholic Directory, whence
are taken the following:
Years                   Schools                  Pupils
I870                      35
I875                      64                     I I,000
i880                      68                     12,819
I885                      65                     I5,470
I890                      79                     2I,000
I895                     II0                     30,495
I900                     I 13                    32,722
Catholic Directory figures are generally not too exact and these may not
have taken account of schools that closed after a few years of existence.
ORGANIZATION BEGINS (I904-I926)
Sometime during the year of I904 Reverend Thomas Devlin, then pastor of Holy Cross Church on the South Side, was appointed by Bishop
Phelan as the superintendent of schools. With his appointment began the
organization of our schools on a systematic basis. During the years that he
was superintendent he continued to be pastor of Holy Cross Church. His
parochial duties, however, did not deter him from doing a magnificent
job as administrator of the school system. Through his untiring efforts and
zeal, the curricular offerings were unified, supervision was made general,
and administrative practices conducive to orderly growth were adopted.
The work of Father Devlin was made difficult by the opposition of many
pastors who tended to regard his efforts as a usurpation of their own
rights. He published the first school report in I905 and listed II 4 schools inI34            CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
the diocese, although, in the body of the report, he notes at least 7 other
schools from which no figures had been received. In these II4 schools
there were 3I,2IO pupils in attendance, taught by 608 teachers. The teachers were all members of the following religious communities: Sisters of
Charity, Sisters of Mercy, Sisters of St. Francis, Sisters of Divine Providence, Sisters of the Holy Family, Sisters of St. Joseph, Sisters of Charity
(Slovak), Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, and Sisters of the Good
Shepherd. The Brothers of Mary were teaching the boys in St. Mary's
School on the North Side and in St. Michael's School on the South Side.
There were also fifteen schools taught by lay teachers, twenty-three in
number. During Father Devlin's term of office the number of schools
increased by 25 and the number of students by 7,4Io. He succeeded in designating uniform textbooks in practically every subject, and was able to
enforce the use of these textbooks in all schools of the diocese. He established uniformity in courses of studies and definite time allotments for
subjects. Meetings of teachers, supervisors, and principals became routine
practice. Father Devlin's mention in his last report that normal classes
were being conducted regularly by the larger teaching communities and
that frequent local and general meetings of teachers were being held indicates his interest in teacher training. He also mentions the increasing circulation of educational journals and the establishment of libraries in the
parish convents. A summary of statistics during the years of Father Devlin's superintendency indicates constant numerical growth.
Years            Schools            Pupils            Teachers
90o6              II9              33,405              636
I907               12I              35,227             675
i908               I30              36,801             739
I909               I39              38,620             778
On August 23, I9o09 Father Devlin retired from the office of superintendent of schools, but remained as a member of the Board. The Right
Reverend Regis Canevin was bishop of Pittsburgh, and he immediately
appointed his secretary, the Reverend Hugh C. Boyle, as the new superintendent. Father Boyle assumed office in August of I9o09 and continued as
head of the schools until I916, when he became pastor of St. Mary Magdalene's in Homestead. He later became bishop of Pittsburgh, succeeding
Bishop Canevin, and holds this office to the present day. At the time ofTHE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE DIOCESE
I35
Father Boyle's appointment the president of the School Board was the
Reverend A. A. Lambing. The chairman of the Executive Committee was
the Reverend M. A. Lambing. The Reverend C. Hegerich was secretary;
the Reverend S. J. Schramm was chairman. For the first time we see the
name of the Reverend D. J. O'Shea among the school-board members.
This Father O'Shea later became chairman of the Board, a position which
he held until the year I943. The Diocesan School Board at this time held
regular meetings in the auditorium of the Pittsburgh Lyceum, Epiphany
Street, on the first Monday of each month. Principals', teachers', and supervisors' meetings were scheduled for the second Saturday of each month
of the school year. These men continued in office until I917-I918. In the
superintendent's report of that year the Reverend A. A. Lambing's name
no longer appears. The Reverend M. A. Lambing now appears as chairman of both the Board and the Executive Committee. The office of president of the Board seems to have disappeared in that year.
Father Boyle was the first full-time superintendent. Before him, the
school superintendent had, in addition to his school duties, maintained
and administered a parish, but now the task of supervising a rapidly growing system had become too involved to be considered part-time work. In
Father Boyle's first year Lawler's United States History replaced the textbooks by Barnes which had heretofore been in use. This was the first
change in textbooks since the original adoption. During the school year
9gog-IgIo one of the important steps taken by the Executive Committee
of the School Board was to obtain from the Board of Education of the City
of Pittsburgh a resolution admitting pupils from Catholic schools to the
public high schools without an examination.
During the regime of Father Boyle further steps were taken to establish
normal schools in the motherhouses of teaching communities. In connection with teacher education, Father Boyle emphasized the importance of
establishing libraries for teachers in the convents. In the year I9Io-I91I annual tests were inaugurated by the superintendent's office and made obligatory for all schools. In each of his reports Father Boyle emphasized the
problem of secondary education, pointing out how its solution was ultimately to be had only in the establishment of central diocesan high schools
for boys and girls. In I9II the city Department of Health introduced
medical examinations for school children, including those in Catholic
schools.TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD.......   V
The Most Reverend Hugh C. Boyle, D. D., Bishop of Pittsburgh
PREFACE..... -.....                   xi
The Reverend Paul E. Campbell, LL. D., Litt. D., President of
the Society
EDITORIAL NOTE                                              Xiii
PART I
INTRODUCTION........       I
I. EARLY CATHOLICITY IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
The Very Reverend Felix Fellner, O. S. B., LL. D.
II. THE FIRST BISHOP OF PITTSBURGH........   25
The Reverend Paul E. Campbell, LL. D., Litt. D.
III. BISHOP MICHAEL DOMENEC AND BISHOP JOHN TUIGG, I860-I889  38
The Reverend John Canova
IV. BISHOP PHELAN............      53
The Reverend George J. Bullion, D. D., J. C. D.
V. ARCHBISHOP CANEVIN..                                     68
The Very Reverend Thomas F. Coakley, D. D.
VI. THE DIOCESE UNDER BISHOP BOYLE..73
The Very Reverend James A. W. Reeves, D. D., Litt. D.
VII. ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL...........   85'The Reverend H. J. Gilbert
PART II
INTRODUCTION...
VIII. THE ROOTS OF THE DIOCESE........   93
The Reverend Edward G. Joyce
IX. THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE DIOCESE.....  IIO
The Reverend Hugh 1. Wilt, O. S. B.
X. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE DIOCESE                         I28
The Reverend Thomas J. Quigley
XI. HIGHER EDUCATION.44
The Reverend Salvador Federici, C. S. Sp.
X.VCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
In August I916 Father Boyle was appointed pastor of St. Mary Magdalene's Church in Homestead. Bishop Canevin immediately appointed the
Reverend Ralph L. Hayes as the new superintendent. When Father Boyle
began as superintendent in I909 the diocese had 139 schools with a total
enrollment of 42,57I pupils, 887 of whom were in high school. When he
retired from office in 1916 there were 197 schools and 6i,687 pupils with
1,295 in high school. The number of teachers increased from 778 in I907
to 1,245 in I9I6.
Father Hayes makes mention for the first time of appointing supervisors. When the practice of appointing such supervisors actually began is
not known, but, during Father Hayes's time, there were ten such school
officers, and under him they were organized into a board.
It is interesting to note that during I917 and I9I8, when the country was
engaged in the first World War, the Catholic schools participated just as
energetically and as thoroughly in the war effort as they are doing now in
the second World War. Father Hayes announced in his report of I918 that
the children of the Catholic schools had purchased $700,000 worth of warsaving stamps. He also emphasized the institution of Junior American Red
Cross Units, the work of the children in making bandages, and the
Americanization programs in which the schools participated.
The two most significant features of Father Hayes's reports are his continual insistence upon diocesan schools as the solution of the secondaryschool problem, and his constant reiteration of the fact that vocations to
the religious life were insufficient to furnish an adequate teacher supply.
The high-school problem was an increasingly important issue. In the
school year I923-1924, there were 48 parish high schools in the diocese,
staffed by I27 teachers, and caring for 3,145 pupils. Only ten of these were
fully accredited by the State and gave a full four-year academic course.
In 1921 Bishop Canevin resigned, and on June 29 of that year the Reverend Hugh C. Boyle, former superintendent of schools, became the new
bishop. He immediately began a campaign to establish a diocesan fund
for high schools and for consolidated elementary schools in small communities throughout the diocese. Under the personal leadership of Bishop
Boyle a large committee of priests and laymen began the drive in I923I924. The number of subscribers to this drive exceeded Ioo,ooo. Six million
dollars was pledged. This amount was, at that date, the second largest
I36THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE DIOCESE
amount of money ever subscribed for a Catholic campaign in the history
of this country. During the same year Father Hayes reported on a campaign instituted in all parishes of the diocese to encourage vocations to the
sisterhoods.
The problem of teacher training for our Sisters was also a pressing one.
The Department of Public Instruction in Harrisburg was then demanding
adequate normal training of at least two years beyond high school for certification. The question was, Where were the Sisters to obtain such training? A solution was proffered by the Knights of Columbus and by a farseeing, energetic Catholic educator, Mr. M. J. Relihan. In October I921
the Knights of Columbus Normal School was opened with 235 Sisters in
attendance. One clergyman, four Sisters, and Mr. Relihan made up the
first staff of the school. Eighteen classes in high-school subjects and twelve
classes in normal-school subjects were offered every Saturday morning for
a period of thirty weeks. Eventually Mr. Relihan procured from Harrisburg full recognition for both the high-school courses and the normal
department. In I925, when the Knights of Columbus had to give up their
building, Mr. Relihan moved his Saturday classes to St. Peter's elementary school on the North Side. It continued to be supported by the Bishop
under the name of the Diocesan Normal School until within the last
few years.
In October I925 Father Hayes was appointed pastor of St. Catherine's
in Beechview. He continued as superintendent, however, until June I926,
when he was succeeded by the Reverend Paul E. Campbell. Father Hayes
served as pastor of St. Catherine's until September 2I, I933, when he also
was elevated to the episcopacy. He was first appointed bishop of Helena,
Montana. After two years he was transferred to Italy and became rector
of the American College at Rome. Since the beginning of the present war,
the College has been closed, and Bishop Hayes is once more residing in
his native Pittsburgh.
MODERN PERIOD (I926-I943)
Every effort was being made at this time to offer the teachers as much
training as was possible after their graduation from high school. The aim
was to keep the level of our teacher training up with that of the state, and
the tendency was growing on the part of our teachers to apply for state
certification. Our own Board of Examiners was still examining and liI37CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
censing teachers, but at some time during the next ten-year period the
Board of Examiners ceased to function. Just when is not mentioned in any
of the school reports. More and more of our teachers were obtaining state
certificates, and these were thought to be the equivalent of any certificates
given by the diocese. At the time Father Campbell began his term of
office, the Normal School was educating 451 Sisters, offering credits leading to state certification. Work was still continuing at the motherhouses,
and Duquesne University was offering a number of extension courses. In
a very early report Father Campbell makes mention of the work of a man
whose name should go down in the history of Catholic education in this
diocese as an important contributor to the training of teachers. He was
the Reverend John Hagel, who, early in the I920's, became chaplain at the
motherhouse of the Vincentian Sisters of Charity. Until his death Father
Hagel was most energetic in directing and encouraging the training of
these Sisters and deserves a large share of the credit for their educational
growth during the past decade.
The first diocesan high school, Central Catholic, was opened in I927,
with 488 boys registered in the ninth grade. These boys came from fortytwo parishes in the central part of the City of Pittsburgh. The faculty
included fourteen Christian Brothers. This was the first fruit of the I924
educational campaign, but even such an advance did not solve the problem of secondary education. Too many of our secondary schools were still
offering only two-year commercial courses. In I928 only fourteen parish
high schools carried the full four years.
During the year I928-I929 the first attempt was made to consolidate
small parochial schools into larger district schools. Six one-room and tworoom schools in Westmoreland County consolidated to form St. Vincent's
School, which was built just outside the city limits of Latrobe. Unfortunately the work was carried on no farther than this.
The year I928-1929 saw the greatest enrollment in Catholic schools in
the history of the diocese. The total registration that year was 90,I35 pupils; it has never reached that figure since. At the end of the year, in June
1929, the enrollment was 85,I35. There were 4,490 pupils in grades above
the eighth grade. Of the institutions carrying these secondary grades, only
eighteen were complete four-year high schools accredited by the state. During this year 60 per cent of our children of elementary-school age were enI38THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE DIOCESE
rolled in Catholic schools, while only 3 per cent of children of high-school
age were enrolled in Catholic high schools. Thus, even in the year when
our enrollment reached its highest peak, we had not achieved the goal of
having every Catholic child in a Catholic school.
In I930 the Very Reverend M. A. Lambing retired after long and faithful service as chairman of the Diocesan School Board. The Reverend D. J.
O'Shea was elected in his place. Also during this year the Reverend E.
Lawrence O'Connell began his work of surveying the achievement record
and the age-grade level of the children in parochial schools. The results of
his study were published in the school reports of I933 and I934 and were
very encouraging to all engaged in Catholic education. The survey showed
that 66.9 per cent of the children enrolled in Catholic schools were of
normal age for their grade. It also pointed out that the educational age of
our children was approximately an entire year ahead of their median
chronological age. Only in English literature was there any evidence of
work below the median. The study was extremely well done, and served
as a guide to the Superintendent and the supervisors in their efforts to
improve courses of study and methods of administration.
In I932-I933 the First Annual Conference for Teachers of Science was
held in Pittsburgh under the auspices of Doctor H. C. Muldoon, Dean of
the Pharmacy School of Duquesne University. This conference has continued every year under these auspices and is now a very important source
of information and encouragement to all teachers of science in the high
schools of the diocese.
In the year 1933-1934 the Bishop, at the request of the State of Pennsylvania, designated Duquesne University, Mount Mercy College, and Seton
Hill College as the three approved teacher-training centers for the Pittsburgh Catholic schools. These appointments were accepted and approved
by the Department of Public Instruction. During the school year I935I936 the Reverend Constantine M. Hegerich, who had been secretary of
the School Board for thirty years (I906-I936) was called to his eternal
reward. He had retired some months before his death, and the Very
Reverend James A. Reeves, President of Seton Hill College, became acting
secretary of the Board. Later Father Reeves was formally elected secretary
and continues to hold that office to the present time.
On August 3I, I939 Father Campbell retired as superintendent of
139CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
schools in the Pittsburgh Diocese. He had served for thirteen years, a
longer term than any of his predecessors. The number of schools in the
diocese at the close of his term of office was just about the same as at
the beginning, but during those thirteen years Father Campbell saw the
enrollment reach the highest peak in all our history. The total number of
students enrolled when he retired from office was actually less than it
was at the beginning, but this was due to the general decline in elementary enrollment over the entire country. A distinct contribution of Father
Campbell was the gradual elimination of the two-year high school. Under
his guidance parishes were encouraged to add the eleventh and twelfth
grades, and thus deserve state recognition. It is significant to note that
when he took office there were only 3,o96 pupils in high school. These
pupils were scattered in approximately fifty institutions, most of which
carried only two years. When he retired there were thirty-one complete
four-year high schools in the diocese, accredited by the state, and only
eight two-year high schools. The total enrollment in these schools was
6,394.
Another distinct contribution of Father Campbell was a definite increase in numbers on the Board of Supervisors. Father Hayes had organized the Board, but in his time it numbered a very few members. By
I939 it numbered thirty-one members, nineteen of whom were full-time
supervisors. The Board met once a month and represented the best educational thinking in the diocese. It became an outstanding instrument of
school management under Father Campbell and today stands almost
unique among Catholic school groups for its fairness, stability, and foresight. During Father Campbell's thirteen years, the number of teachers
increased appreciably. There were I,733 teachers working in our schools
in I926 and 2,oIO in I939. With the decline in elementary enrollment this
meant a decrease in pupil-load.
When Father Campbell retired from office he became pastor of the
Parish of St. Lawrence O'Toole on Penn Avenue. He retains membership on the School Board and on its Executive Committee.
On August 3I, I939 the Reverend Thomas J. Quigley was appointed
superintendent of schools to succeed Father Campbell. In September of
this same year North Catholic, the second diocesan high school for boys,
was opened on the site of the old St. Joseph's Orphanage on Troy Hill
I40THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE DIOCESE4
Road. The high school opened with 232 boys in the ninth grade. The
Brothers of Mary were engaged as teachers. An additional grade was
added each year until I943, when the school was finally fully accredited.
It is one of the finest school buildings in the city and is equipped to
handle over I,ooo pupils.
One of the first moves of the new Superintendent was to set up in his
administrative organization a separate department for high schools. He
pointed out that the high-school population and the high-school problem
in general had now reached such proportions as to demand treatment
separate from the problems of the elementary school. In his report of
I939-1940 completely separate high-school statistics are given for the first
time. In this year, also, plans were made by the Superintendent and the
supervisors to reorganize the curriculum. The work was begun by the
Superintendent through the establishment of curricular departments. In
1939 a Primary Department and a Music Department were set up to
study and survey the problems in these fields. In I940 other departments
were organized to work in the intermediate and upper grades of the
elementary school. On the secondary level the various departments were
organized according to subjects, such as the Religion Department, the
English Department, the Science Department, and other similar divisions.
In each one of these departments a director was appointed in charge of
the work in that specific phase of instruction. Testing programs were begun throughout the system to discover possible curricular weaknesses. As
a result of these testing programs and of teachers' meetings held throughout the diocese, work was begun in I94I on a complete revision of courses
of studies. Experimental schools were used in various parts of the diocese
to try out new units as they were prepared. Five years were expected to
elapse before completion of the entire program.
The Board of Supervisors began in I94I the composition of a teachers'
handbook to explain principles, aims, administrative practices, diocesan
regulations, state school laws pertaining to private schools, and so forth.
During the same year a plan allowing for released time in public high
schools for accredited courses in religion was adopted; the Federation of
Catholic High School Students was organized; and the Music Department inaugurated a series of band, orchestral, and choral concerts.
Since I94I the schools have been engaged in a great number of activi14tCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
ties directed toward assisting the country in its war effort. By the close
of the school year, in June I94I, approximately go per cent of the teachers
were graduates of Red Cross first-aid classes. A large majority had also
taken courses in home nursing. In every school there was at least one
teacher on the staff qualified as an instructor in first aid, and through her
the senior students were learning this skill. Teachers lent valuable aid on
rationing boards and were conspicuous for their donations to the blood
bank. All schools participated in poster contests, scrap drives, and bond
and stamp sales. As of May I943 the pupils had purchased or sold very
close to $750,000 worth of war bonds and stamps.
The figures on school enrollment for I943 are not yet available. The
following table summarizes statistics at the close of the school year, June
I942.
Schools   Enrollment   Teachers
Parish high schools                           35a       5,533         140
Diocesan high schools                          2        2,135          76
Total high schools                          37        7,668'        216
Parish elementary schools ------__           224       65,207       I,775
Total                                      26Ib      72,875       I,99I
a All of these, except three two-year commercial schools, are full four-year accredited high
schools. There are, in addition, two parishes, St. Mary's in New Castle and St. Joachim's in
Pittsburgh, operating junior high schools.
b Since the thirty-five parish high schools are adjoining elementary schools, there are
really only 226 separate plants in the diocese.
e This is the highest enrollment ever recorded in the high schools.
Thus the story arrives at the year I943, one hundred years after the
institution of the diocese. At the beginning of the year the Reverend D. J.
O'Shea resigned his chairmanship of the School Board, and the Reverend
F. F. O'Shea, Pastor of St. Peter's, North Side, was elected in his place.
Father Reeves remains as secretary of the Board. There are sixteen curricular departments now established, each with its own director, working
under the superintendent. The Board of Supervisors numbers thirty-one
members and meets monthly with the superintendent. Nineteen of these
are full-time local supervisors; eight of them are full-time supervisors
from  religious communities outside the diocese. The latter attend only
three or four meetings a year. The remaining four are principals who
I42THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE DIOCESE                  I43
supervise one or two other schools in addition to their own. Twenty-two
priests serve as inspectors of school buildings. It is a strong and vital
organization, well devised to offer optimum educational opportunities to
our children.
For all this we give thanks to God, and after Him to the pioneer Catholics who began the work, and to the long line of bishops, priests, Sisters,
Brothers, lay-teachers, and parents who bore the brunt of responsibility
and self-sacrifice that the Faith of our fathers might live on in the generations to come.CHAPTER XI
HIGHER EDUCATION
Salvador Federici, C. S. Sp.
EDUCATION has ever been one of the first objectives of the Catholic
Church. The founders of the diocese were not unmindful of this objective as a successful guarantee of their work. Not merely content with
the elementary education of children, the first Bishop of Pittsburgh was
far-sighted enough to understand the necessity of supplying Catholic
leaders to carry on the work of restoring all things in Christ. Throughout
his entire life Bishop O'Connor was keenly interested in higher education
and he expended every effort toward this ideal when he began the new
Diocese of Pittsburgh. Despite discouraging beginnings his labors and
those of his successors were not wasted, for there are today in the Pittsburgh Diocese monuments to the planning and vision of the bishops
of Pittsburgh in its institutions of higher education. In this paper we
shall attempt a brief sketch of St. Vincent College, Seton Hill College,
Duquesne University, and Mount Mercy College.
ST. VINCENT COLLEGE
Among the educational institutions in the diocese, the College and Seminary of the Archabbey of St. Vincent, Latrobe, have occupied a foremost
place since the first beginnings of a Benedictine community there in I846.
This brief sketch will perhaps aid the interested reader to appreciate the
heroic efforts of the men who laid the foundation of this college at Latrobe. The spot on which the archabbey is located has been called by Monsignor Lambing "the cradle of Catholicity in Western Pennsylvania." The
center from which radiated the influence of the Benedictines might well
deserve such a title, but history gives evidence that the application was
merited by the locality more than half a century before the coming of the
Benedictines.
It was in i787 that six Catholic families came across the Allegheny
Mountains and settled at Unity Township, Westmoreland County, in the
shadow of the present St. Vincent's. Soon a considerable Catholic settlement was formed. A Franciscan from Philadelphia, Father Theodore
I44HIIGIIER EDUCATION
Brouwers, interested himself in the colony and purchased a tract of land
known as O'Neill's Victory and located some thirteen miles east of Greensburg. On reaching the scene of his labors, the priest found this tract too far
removed from the Catholic settlement and in I790 he purchased another
tract of land more suitably located some nine miles east of Greensburg.
This place was known as Sportsman's Hall, and here Father Brouwers
built his chapel and residence. A new church was built and dedicated in
July I835, under the patronage of St. Vincent, and it is under this title
that the place has been known ever since.
The name of Father James Stillinger is one that will ever remain alive
in the Catholic histories of Westmoreland and Indiana counties. The
priest spent most of his days at Blairsville, where he was for forty-three
years the pastor, but from i833 to 1844 he resided at Sportsman's Hall and
it was he who built there the Church of St. Vincent, dedicated in I835.
Father Stillinger successfully interested Bishops Kenrick and O'Connor in
the project, and when the Benedictines arrived, eager to build a monastery and a school, Bishop O'Connor at once offered them the site at St.
Vincent's.
Father Peter H. Lemcke, immediate successor to Father Gallitzin in the
Loretto and Carrolltown districts, was anxious that German priests
should come to minister to the people in the growing Catholic community there. Especially, he envisioned Benedictine monasteries of the
Middle Ages. In i844 he went to Germany and while there he visited the
Benedictines and revealed his plans. Among his hearers at Munich was
Father Sebastian (Boniface) Wimmer. One year later, his words having
been fruitful, Father Lemcke was notified that Father Wimmer was en
route to America. Father Lemcke, in answer to the proposal of Dom Wimmer that more land be purchased, proceeded to buy 800 acres of land for
the new settlement. He has written an account of his meeting at New
York: "I hurried down to New York and behold my Benedictines had arrived. There was no Benedictine but Father Wimmer. There were nineteen persons; four of them were students of theology, who had promised to take the habit of St. Benedict and become priests. The other fifteen
had agreed to enter the order as lay brothers; there were tailors, shoemakers, blacksmiths, brewers and such as Father Wimmer could gather
together at Munich. I must confess that I felt sadly disappointed and
I45xvi
CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
XII. THE HOLY NAME SOCIETY..I.                         54
The Reverend Alvin W. Forney
XIII. THE LAY RETREAT MOVEMENT...  I56
Joseph A. Beck
XIV. THE CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE.     160
Louis F. S. Cook
XV. WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS IN THE DIOCESE                   167
Mrs. W. H. Connell, Jr.
XVI. THE CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES   ~              I69
The Reverend Lawrence A. O'Connell, LL. D.
XVII. THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY.   ~  ~.  I81
The Reverend Thomas B. Lappan
XVIII. ARCHITECTURE IN THE DIOCESE....             I86
Leo A. McMullen, LL. D.
APPENDIX
DIOCESAN STATISTICS 194-3......                            201
BIBLIOGRAPHY.........                 248
THE HONOR ROLL........                                    25I
INDEX.........                        259CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
doubted that of such material anything could be made." But Father
Lemcke was soon to regret his "pusillanimity," as he himself called it.
It was not until September 30, 1846 that the group reached their goal
at Carrolltown. Father Wimmer proceeded to Pittsburgh to present himself to Bishop O'Connor. Suddenly there was a change in the plans.
Bishop O'Connor wanted the Benedictines to settle at St. Vincent's. He
took Father Wimmer to the site of the property, and Father Wimmer
immediately decided that the situation was far superior to that of Carrolltown. He immediately rounded up his small band and arrangements
were made to leave Carrolltown for St. Vincent's on October 15. Father
Lemcke realized that the decision of Dom Wimmer was a wise one, and
the only course left was to sell the land. Father Lemcke continued his
interest in the Benedictines and later joined the community at St. Vincent's.
On October I9, I846 Father Wimmer and his group took possession of
St. Vincent's. Five days later he conferred the religious habit upon the
other members of the community. The Rule of St. Benedict began active
living on this day, and for that reason it is considered the birthday of
the Benedictine Order in the United States. The buildings at that time
consisted of the parish church, then twelve years old, a two-story house
which was then used as a convent and academy by the Sisters of Mercy,
a small one-story brick schoolhouse, a log farmhouse, and a barn. From
such humble beginnings, under the capable leadership of Father Wimmer, the present archabbey, seminary, and college have developed. Little
remains to be described in this brief treatment other than the rapidity and
extent of that growth.
The beginning of the seminary at St. Vincent's dates from October 24,
i846. On that day the four Benedictine students began anew their theological studies for the priesthood. When St. Vincent's was raised to.the rank
of an abbey on August 24, I855, the reigning pontiff, Pius IX, personally
insisted that a diocesan seminary be attached to St. Vincent's. This work
had already been undertaken by Father Wimmer. We have his words:
"There are at present (I856) twenty priests belonging to the monastery,
of whom six were ordained in America. More than twenty have become
diocesan priests. We have now thirty-seven clerics for the Order studying philosophy and theology, and six others preparing for the diocesan
I46HIGHER EDUCATION
clergy." This statement, it must be noted, was made ten years after the
first days of trial and labor. In succeeding years the faculty and student
members in the seminary increased. The importance of this work was
greatest during the decades before diocesan seminaries ceased to be a
rarity. Some idea of the extent of clerical preparation for service in the
United States may be gained from figures compiled in I92I, which
showed that up to that year, inclusive, 277 Benedictine priests and 1,222
secular and religious priests of other orders had studied there.
As early as November I845 Father Wimmer expressed his intention of
erecting a school in conjunction with the proposed monastery. From the
very beginning there were instructions given to the poor boys in the
neighborhood of St. Vincent's. An attempt made in 1848 to begin a
college met with no success. In the fall of I849, however, the College of
St. Vincent was formally opened under the direction of the Reverend
Thaddeus Brunner, with an enrollment of thirteen boys. Five years later,
in 1854, the enrollment was go; in i865 it was i8o; and five years later,
227. In I870, having overcome the bigoted opposition against all early
Catholic institutions, an act of legislation on April i8 empowered it "to
grant and confer degrees in the Arts and Sciences as are granted to other
colleges and universities in the United States, and to grant to graduates,
or persons on whom such degrees may be conferred, diplomas or certificates as is usual in colleges and universities." At first the college limited
its efforts to religion and the humanities, but the modern institution includes premedical and prelegal courses, teacher-training courses, and
courses leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine
Arts in Music, and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Enabled thus to grant degrees which have since come to be recognized by
the highest accrediting associations of higher education, the College of
St. Vincent today is able to carry out the ideal expressed by Father Wimmer-To form good Catholics and good citizens.
SETON HILL COLLEGE
Westmoreland County, pioneer place of Catholic development in the
Diocese of Pittsburgh, was to be the site of another institution dedicated
to the purposes of Catholic thought and action. To launch properly the
history of Seton Hill College one must go back to the year I835, when
three Sisters of Charity were brought to the diocese. These first Sisters
I47CATT-IOIOIC PITTSBURG-H S ONE I-TUNDRED YEARS
were from Emmitsburg, Maryland. But when Bishop O'Connor's successor, Bishop Michael Domenec, considered the introduction of more Sisters into the diocese, it was to a community in Cincinnati that he turned.
In the meantime an event of major importance had taken place in the
community of the Sisters of Charity. In 1829 some Sisters had gone from
Emmitsburg to Cincinnati to take charge of an orphanage, parish school,
and academy. Soon afterward the Emmitsburg community became affiliated with the French Sisters of the Order and changed their rule to establish closer conformity. The Cincinnati community asked for and received
permission to continue in the observance of the rule to which they had
been accustomed. The group in Ohio were incorporated as a separate
community in I854. Mother Regina Mattingly was superior of the Cincinnati community when Bishop Domenec made overtures to have them
established in his diocese. This proved impossible at the time, and he
then determined to establish a diocesan congregation of the Sisters of
Charity. It was Bishop Tuigg, however, who brought the plan to realization. At Altoona he built a convent and school for the new congregation and there the first Sisters of the Pennsylvania branch of the American
Sisters of Charity arrived on August II, 1870. The superior was Mother
Aloysia Lowe. The first mission confided to their charge was the convent and school built by Father Stillinger at Blairsville. They took up
this mission in i872. The young community grew rapidly and soon had
to look elsewhere for more commodious quarters.
A suitable location was found near Greensburg, and there in August
of I882 the motherhouse and novitiate were moved. Further additions of
property were made and Seton Hill College was established in i883. The
college was named in honor of Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, founder of
the community. By I885 the new foundation was assured of success and
the Sisters were incorporated as the Sisters of Charity. Their purpose was
"for the establishing and maintaining of institutions for the education of
youth." This same charter empowered the new college to confer academic
degrees, but the Sisters confined their efforts to secondary education and
allowed this privilege to lapse in i894. It was not until June 3, I918 that
a new charter was granted and the present College of Seton Hill began
its work in the field of higher education for Catholic young women.
Mother Mary Joseph Havey was superior of the newv work from I918 to
I48HIGHER EDUCATION
192I. Succeeding her were Mother Mary Raymond Creed (I92I-I924),
Mother Rose Genevieve Rodgers (1924-I925), and the Reverend Doctor
Daniel R. Sullivan (I925-I93I). In 1931 the present president of Seton
Hill College, the Very Reverend Doctor James A. W. Reeves, took charge.
The college is recognized by all the standard accrediting agencies. High
recognition of its merit was given in I935, when the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania placed Seton Hill on the roster of colleges authorized to
prepare students for professional study in the law schools of the state.
Since I92I, when the junior college was opened, Seton Hill has quickly
adopted the best of the new methods in higher education. Talented students pursue reading courses supplemented by conferences with instructors in lieu of routine class programs in the junior and senior years. In
harmony with the modern trends in education, great emphasis is centered
on the use of the library. The war has hampered the fruition of the promising origins of foreign study at the great educational centers of Europe.
Facilities for special studies in France and in Spain had been arranged
prior to the war, and several students from Seton Hill had spent profitable
junior years abroad.
DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY
Scant record is left of the early attempts to provide facilities for higher
education for the Catholics of Pittsburgh and Allegheny. That the need
of such education was imperative is evident from the early attempt of
Bishop O'Connor to establish a high school for boys. In I845 the Bishop
introduced several Brothers of the Presentation from Cork, Ireland to
staff this school. The project was short-lived, however, and four years
later the school was closed. Again in I864 an attempt was made at beginning a school. This, too, met with little success. Undaunted, another
fresh start was made in I873 with the erection of the Catholic Institute.
Having struggled along for nearly three years, this third try was doomed
to failure. It was not until the coming of the Holy Ghost Fathers to Pittsburgh in I878 that the permanent foundations were laid for Holy Ghost
College, now Duquesne University.
In I874 the first Provincial of the Holy Ghost Fathers in America was
offered the German Parish of St. Mary's in Sharpsburg. Bishop Domenec
had pressed them to undertake the mauch-needed educational work in the
diocese and Bishop Tuigg continued the plea of his predecessor. Thus, on
I49CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
October I, 1878, a school was opened in the charge of the Holy Ghost
Fathers on Wylie Avenue, near the cathedral. The lease was signed
August 3, I878, and Bishop Tuigg signed as guarantor. Here the community of the Holy Ghost Fathers resided and had their own private
chapel. Forty pupils registered for the opening in I878. The following
year saw an enrollment of 124 pupils and in i88o0 the number was I52.
Larger accommodations were soon needed. A site was located on Boyd's
Hill. Dr. Walter's Private Hospital stood on the west side of Colbert
Street on the edge of the bluff. This large two-story building was reenforced and moved across Cooper Street (now Colbert Street), where
a basement and lower story had been made ready to receive the building. On this foundation the old building was neatly placed and still
stands as the serviceable St. Mary's Hall. This building was the first
of the present buildings of the university to be occupied. The seminarians of the community resided here and went daily to the school
on Wylie Avenue until the new college was completed. The cornerstone of the new building was laid on April 20, I884 by Father Richard
Phelan, Vicar-General of the diocese, and on May 3 of the following year
the dedication took place. Shortly afterward the first president, the Reverend William Powers, was installed. He was followed later by the
Reverend John T. Murphy, afterward bishop of Mauritius. In June I889
one of the outstanding figures in the Catholic history of the diocese became president, the Very Reverend Martin Hehir, C. S. Sp. Father Hehir
remained as president until I93I. The years of Father Hehir's administration saw the undertaking firmly established.
On July 28, I9Io the name of the institution, Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost, was changed to the University of the Holy Ghost.
But it was not until March 30, 1911 that the institution became a university with power to confer degrees in law, medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy. The office of chancellor of the university was offered to and accepted by the Right Reverend Regis Canevin, Bishop of the diocese.
Through his efforts a drive for funds was inaugurated and netted over
a million dollars. The four-story classroom building that derived from
the campaign was named after Bishop Canevin. In 1922 this building,
Canevin Hall, and the spacious gymnasium were dedicated. As the curriculum expanded other buildings were needed. A structure on Hooper
I50HIGHER EDUCATION
I'5'
Street was purchased to accommodate the School of Music. A downtown
location was deemed convenient for the School of Business Administration, and a seven-story building was purchased in the heart of the business district. Today the Fitzsimmons Building cares for the business students who attend classes during the day, houses the Law School, and
provides a convenient location for the students who are enrolled in evening classes.
After sixty-three years of service to the diocese Duquesne University is
still progressing. In its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences a majority of
the diocesan clergy received their early academic training. The various
sisterhoods staffing the parish schools of the diocese have made use of
Duquesne for the completion of the training required by the State Department of Public Instruction. Hundreds of elementary- and secondaryschool teachers have profited by these same facilities in the School of
Education. Prominent judges and attorneys of the district are graduates
of the Law School. Duquesne University has the first School of Nursing
to be approved by the State' Council of Education. In addition to the
schools of the university already mentioned, there is the highly recognized School of Pharmacy. The School of Music offers a wide range of
courses for teachers of public-school music and in addition offers conservatory instruction. The Graduate School is still in the stages of growth
but promises rapid fulfillment of the ideals which inspired its foundation.
Thus Duquesne University, past the half-century mark, can well be
proud of its unstinted service to the cause of higher education in the
Diocese of Pittsburgh.
MOUNT MERCY COLLEGE
Mount Mercy College, the most recently established of the liberal-arts
colleges of the state, will conclude this brief historical narrative. The
college is in the charge of the Sisters of Mercy, whose centenary is coincidental with that of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Education of young
women was a fundamental concern of Mother McAuley, and after the
Sisters had arrived in Pittsburgh in 1843, one of their first undertakings
was the establishment of a private school for girls. St. Mary's Academy
was located successively on Penn Avenue, WVebster Avenue, and finally
at the present site, 3333 Fifth Avenue. The latter property was purchased
from the Ursuline Sisters when they left the mount site and went to their152           CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEA1RS
present place on South Winebiddle Avenue. Our Lady of Mercy Academy, for years a landmark in the city, was the sole building on the thirteen-acre tract until the present motherhouse of the Sisters of Mercy was
completed in 90o9. It was in this building that Mount Mercy College
had its unpretentious beginning.
The first students entered Mount Mercy on the Feast of Our Lady of
Mercy, September 24, 1929. The formal session opened with the Mass of
the Holy Ghost, which has since inaugurated the traditional beginning
of each year. There were no college buildings at the time; hence parlors,
offices, and reception rooms in the motherhouse were converted into classrooms, while the academy shared its library and laboratory facilities.
Classes were conducted in the liberal arts, secretarial science, and home
economics.
In September I932 the status of a four-year college was attained as the
first class registered as seniors. In March of the following year the corporators presented to the State Council of Education for approval the certificate of incorporation of Mount Mercy College. The charter was granted
on April 27, I933 and the college was empowered to grant the degrees of
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. In the next month the charter
was extended further to include the degree of Bachelor of Science in
Home Economics, and the curricula were approved for the preparation
and certification of teachers of general home economics and secondaryschool subjects. Three years later the Department of Home Economics
was approved for the preparation of teachers of vocational home economics.
The increasing student body necessitated larger quarters. In 1932 the
Department of Home Economics was enlarged to occupy the entire third
floor of the east wing and a home-management house was added and
furnished. In the same year an activities building, St. Joseph Hall, was
opened, and an auditorium, with motion picture and stage equipment,
a gymnasium, a swimming pool, social rooms, and a kitchenette were
placed at the service of the student body. The library was separated from
the academy and reorganized for college use. Classes continued to meet
in the convent' until Aquinas Hall was completed in I939. The library
now occupies the fourth floor of this hall and on the other three floors
are lecture rooms and the faculty and administrative offices. The latestHIGHER EDUCATION
building added to the campus is Trinity Hall, opened in I94I, to meet
the needs of the enlarged departments of biology and chemistry. In the
same year the science lecture hall and the physics laboratory were remodeled.
Mother Mary Irenaeus Dougherty, the first president of the college,
still directs its progress and has seen the college develop from 22 students
with a faculty of 6 to a registration of more than 200 full-time students
with a total enrollment exceeding 500. In conformity with the college
policy of personalizing education by a low faculty-student ratio, the
original faculty has been increased as the enrollment mounted.
The history of higher education in the diocese gives evidence of the
inspired wisdom of the diocesan pioneers. In establishing these centers
of Catholic culture they were imbued with the high ideal of developing
institutions of learning which would be imbued with Catholic principles
and destined to Catholic ends. Development of scholarship to meet the
needs of the students and recognition of the divergent interests of men
and women have been cardinal points that motivated the founding fathers
in their zeal for Catholic scholarship and leadership. The present institutions that have been sketchily outlined in these pages are dynamic centers of Catholic thought and action. Their long-range goals are constant.
They seek to vitalize the ideals of Christian education through the liberal arts curricula formulated to lay the foundation for intelligent living.
They seek to open the mind to a richer interpretation of man, of society, and of God; to instill and nurture those standards of judgment
and ethics that will, through application, become marks of the educated
Catholic. The goals remain; the methods change with the problems of
the age. But there is one great hope for the future: The institutions of
higher learning in the diocese will remain constant to the high tradition
of Catholic education and will show the student not only how to make
a living, but how to make a successful life.
I53CHAPTER XII
THE HOLY NAME SOCIETY
Alvin W. Forney
HILE the Diocesan Union is now close to thirty years of age,
many parochial organizations were canonically instituted prior to
I9I3. Our records show that St. Brigid's, Pittsburgh, was canonically
instituted on August I, I904. This was followed by that of St. James,
Wilkinsburg, on October 27, I904. At the present time a campaign is in
progress in the ten counties of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and our report
shows that to date about 75 per cent of the parish units are canonically
instituted.
Former diocesan directors were Father McCabe, then pastor of the
Annunciation Church, North Side, Pittsburgh; the late Monsignor Ryan;
Father Thomas Bryson and Father James Delaney, both deceased. The
present Diocesan Union flourished greatly under the administration of
Father Delaney. He put it on what we might term a solid basis for spiritual progress.
The chief work assigned to the Holy Name Society in the Diocese of
Pittsburgh has been the closed retreats for men and boys. Since I854 the
men of this diocese have been making the retreats, so that today we have
several houses of religious that are open to our men for "going aside to
meditate, rest awhile, and commune with our Blessed Lord." The diocesan
retreat movement in its modern form had its inception under the leadership of Joseph Beck, Esquire, and with the aid of Stephen P. Barry has
progressed to its present high status. The reader will find a complete
history of this retreat movement under its own caption in this book.
The Diocesan Union now embraces twenty-three districts, with a spiritual director appointed for each district by His Excellency, Bishop Boyle.
In each district we now have throughout the course of the year a revolving plan whereby an Eucharistic Night is held in the different churches
in turn.
The first Holy Name Society parade in Pittsburgh was held in the
fall of I9II; the last in the fall of I923. On a large diocesan scale, we'54THE HOLY NAME SOCIETY
have had to date three Eucharistic Nights (rallies): the first at Forbes
Field on October I2, i93o; the second at the Stadium on October II,
I936; and the third at Forbes Field on October I2, I94I. At this last rally
about 80,ooo men and priests' were present. Bishop Boyle presided; the
Most Reverend B. J. Sheil, D. D., Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, preached
the sermon; the Most Reverend Ralph L. Hayes, D.D., Rector of the
North American College in Rome, and Archabbot Alfred, O. S. B., were
in attendance. The prayers were for peace in a troubled world.
In addition to the above activities, the Bishop has delegated to the Society the important work of the Legion of Decency, the National Organization for Decent Literature, the Holy Thursday all-night adoration and
vigil, and the Good Friday observance. The various activities may be
enumerated as spiritual, social, cultural, intellectual, and athletic.
Our Junior Holy Name Society cooperates hand in hand with the
senior organization.
The motto in the Pittsburgh Diocese is "Every Catholic man a Holy
Name man." There are no dues or meetings. We leave the latter to the
prudent judgment of the local pastors and spiritual directors.
The Diocesan Union furthers the aim of the Society:
I. To promulgate the divinity of Christ. To curb and eliminate cursing, blasphemy, obscene speech, and perjury. The divinity of Christ is
assailed today as it was at the time of the Albigensian heresy.
2. The personal sanctification of the individual. The remedy-sacraments, prayer, retreats.
3. Holy Communion on the second Sunday of each month for all men
of all nationalities.
x55PART I
INTRODUCTION
Due principally to the constitution of the Church as established by her
Divine Founder, dioceses follow in large measure the pattern of administration and development set up by their respective bishops. Thus this
first part of the story of the birth and growth of Catholic Pittsburgh, after
treating of the days before the episcopal see was established, traces the
lives and policies of the six successors of the apostles who have been the
bishops of Pittsburgh. The early forces that shaped the thinking of the
priests who became the chief pastors of the diocese are mentioned, and
events in the six administrations are shown in connection with the genius
of those who have lead the diocese from the pioneer days of a hundred
years ago to the place of distinction and honor that it enjoys in this centennial year.CHAPTER XIII
THE LAY RETREAT MOVEMENT
Joseph A. Beck
THE lay-retreat movement in the Pittsburgh Diocese in a sense had
its beginning in the year 19I3, although before that time there were
retreats for students in the various Catholic institutions of learning in the
diocese and intermittently a limited number of laymen were admitted to
the Passionist Monastery on the South Side of the City of Pittsburgh to
make an informal retreat.
From August 5 to Io, 1913, seventy-two laymen made a retreat at St.
Vincent College, and that retreat may be said to be the beginning of a
vigorous and substantial lay-retreat movement in the Pittsburgh Diocese.
The retreat which was held in I9I3 came about in the following manner:
At the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Diocesan Union of
the Holy Name Society held in December I9I2 it was suggested that the
dues of constituent parish societies might be reduced in view of the fact
that the treasury of the Diocesan Union had been augmented by a bequest of Mrs. Bridget Diamond, late of Sacred Heart Parish in the City of
Pittsburgh, to promote the work of the Holy Name Society.
The counter suggestion was made that some of the funds of the
Diocesan Union might well be used to promote a laymen's retreat. Prior
to that time a few retreat houses had been established in the United
States and had received some publicity, and there had been circulated in
the United States a pamphlet describing the influence of the laymen's
retreat movement in Belgium. A copy of that pamphlet had that morning come to the attention of the writer of this article.
The Executive Committee of the Diocesan Union concluded to appoint
a committee to investigate the possibilities of promoting a laymen's retreat. There were appointed as members of this committee Messrs.
Stephen W. Connelly, Henry Fitzpatrick, Thomas L. Kane, John B.
Sullivan, and Joseph A. Beck, chairman.
It was decided by the Retreat Committee that the retreat should be
I56THE LAY RETREAT MOVE1MENT'57
held in the summer season, when a larger attendance might be secured.
The conclusion was also reached that if possible the retreat should be held
at St. Vincent College because of its location in the country and its many
facilities for the purpose.
The Benedictine Fathers at St. Vincent College were consulted and,
after deliberation, they agreed to cooperate. Those participating in the
discussion on behalf of St. Vincent College were Archabbot Leander;
Father Aurelius, later archabbot, but then Director of the Seminary;
Father Walter, Director of the College; and Father Ildephonse, Prior.
The approval of Bishop Canevin was secured and the Benedictine
Fathers arranged for Right Reverend Leo Haid, O. S. B., Vicar Apostolic
of North Carolina, to act as retreat master. After all arrangements had
been completed, the Executive Committee of the Diocesan Union gave
the Retreat Committee power to proceed.
The Committee secured considerable publicity for the venture in both
the Catholic and secular press. The cooperation of all Catholic organizations was solicited, with the result that sixty-nine men were in attendance
throughout the retreat and three additional men were present for part
of the time.
Those attending were enthusiastic, and it has come about that annually
since I9I3 retreats for laymen have been conducted under the auspices of
the Diocesan Union of the Holy Name Society each summer. The attendance gradually increased. In 1917 it was necessary to arrange for two
retreats at St. Vincent College to accommodate 259 men. In the course of
time it became necessary to have five retreats at St. Vincent College each
year to accommodate those desiring to make a retreat, and in I942 there
was a total of I,087 men in attendance at the retreats at St. Vincent
College.
The retreats at St. Vincent College under the auspices of the Holy
Name Society have attracted national attention. This is in part due to
the excellence of the retreat masters who have conducted these retreats.
In the summer of I930 the Holy Name Society inaugurated laymen's
retreats at St. Fidelis College at Herman, in Butler County, Pennsylvania.
It is apparent that the retreats at St. Fidelis College have satisfied the
needs of the Catholic population in the Pittsburgh Diocese centering
around that college.CATHOLIC PITTSBURGHI-IS ONE HUNDRED YEARS
From time to time the suggestion was made by those interested in the
retreat movement that laymen's retreats should be held in the Diocese of
Pittsburgh throughout the year and not only in the summer. In the fall
of 1917 Reverend Thomas F. Coakley and the writer of this article visited
the Director of the Passionist Monastery of the South Side to urge upon
him the conducting of week-end retreats throughout the year at that
monastery. The matter was taken under advisement. In due course the
Passionist Fathers determined to build a retreat house adjacent to their
monastery chapel and selected as architect to design the retreat house the
late Mr. John'T. Comes, who had shortly before that time remodeled the
monastery chapel.
The retreat house at this monastery was opened in I92I and has become known as St. Paul's Retreat House. It is one of the notable group
of retreat houses conducted by the Passionist Fathers in various cities in
the United States.
The boys of the diocese have not been neglected. In I926 St. Paul's
Retreat House arranged the first retreat for boys. Since I935 there have
been retreats for boys at both St. Vincent College and St. Fidelis College
each year, except in the years from I938 to I94I, when no retreat for boys
was held at St. Fidelis College because of the burning of a dormitory.
The first retreat for women in the diocese was conducted in the year
I9II at Our Lady of Sorrows Convent of the Passionist Nuns, at 2715
Churchview Avenue in what was formerly the Borough of Carrick. In
I916 an addition to the convent was constructed for use as a retreat house,
and the work expanded. Closed retreats for women are conducted at
various times each year. In I942 a retreat at this convent was attended by
224 women.
The largest number of women who make retreats in the Pittsburgh
Diocese go to Seton Hill College. In 1932 the first retreat held there for
women was attended by 752 women and 8I4 girls. Retreats for women
and girls are also conducted by the Vincentian Sisters of Charity, by
Mount Assisi Academy, and by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. There are retreats for girls at Mount Alvernia Academy, Mount
Gallitzin Academy, and St. Xavier's Academy.
At St. Anthony's Village in Oakmont retreats have been conducted for
men and women at alternate times in the years 194I and I942.
I58THE LAY RETREAT MOVEMENT                    159
No account of the lay-retreat movement in the Pittsburgh Diocese
would be complete without special mention of Father James M. Delaney,
who for ten years prior to his untimely death in i937 devoted much effort
to promoting the retreat movement. So also there should be mentioned
Stephen P. Barry, who for the many years since I9I4 has labored unceasingly and effectively for the success of the lay-retreat movement.
The record shows that in the Pittsburgh Diocese up to December 31,
I942, there had been 3I,830 retreats made by men and 7,575 retreats made
by boys, without including the retreats made by boys incidental to their
school or college course. Many men and boys have made more than one
retreat and some men make a retreat annually.CHAPTER XIV
THE CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE
Louis F. S. Cook
RW,ITH the coming of the twentieth century, Western Pennsylvania
became the new home of many thousands of Catholic immigrants
from central and southeastern Europe. Many settled in remote country
districts and newly opened mining towns, some of which were far removed from a Catholic church. With the poor transportation facilities
these Catholic people and their children were unable to receive the benefits and blessing of religion. Because of the rapid expansion of these
mining sections in Western Pennsylvania, and because of the insufficient
number of priests to look after these sections, great concern was felt over
the loss to the Faith of many of these people and their children.
Keenly aware of the situation, Bishop Canevin sought to stem the tide
of leakage by his establishment of the Pittsburgh Apostolate in I903. The
late Very Reverend Edward P. Griffin was the superior of the organization, the headquarters of which were located at the Apostolate House,
St. Mary of the Mount Church, Mount Washington. With the limited
number of priests under Father Griffin only a scratching of the surface
could be accomplished in the outlying sections.
Realizing the need of catechetical instruction for the children of these
immigrants, the Reverend James L. Quinn, then associated with Father
Griffin in the Apostolate, began in I903-1904 to organize catechism classes
in these remote regions with local teachers as instructors, the work being
called St. Ann's Missionary Society. The progress was slow because of
the difficulty in securing the right type of dependable catechists.
In 90o5, after Pope Pius X issued the encyclical Acerbo Nimis, ordaining
that the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine be canonically erected in
every parish in the world, Bishop Canevin ordered the establishment of
the organization in every parish in the Pittsburgh Diocese. The priests
of the Apostolate, in so far as they were able, established the Confraternity in the sections where they labored, but because of lack of teachers and insufficient organization the work did not thrive.
i6oTHE CONFRATERNITFY OF Cl-IRISTIAN DOCTRINE
In I908 a family named Doyle moved from St. John the Baptist Parish,
Pittsburgh, to the mining town of Cecil, in Washington County, about
nine miles below Bridgeville, where the nearest Catholic church was then
located. The Doyle family, staunch Catholics, found that many Catholics
in Cecil and the neighboring towns were not practicing their Faith, and
that their children were being proselytized by religious workers of the
various sects. Those few Catholics who were interested seemed unable to
cope with the situation.
Mr. James Doyle, realizing that his former parish had a Confraternity
of Christian Doctrine, visited Pittsburgh and called on Mrs. Anna Sweeney, then president of St. John's Confraternity. After hearing Mr. Doyle's
plea, she promised some action. Among the women whom Mrs. Sweeney
interested were Miss Mary Dunn and Miss Anna Collins. Word was sent
to the Doyles that they would go to Cecil on the following Sunday. Accompanied by young Mr. Sweeney, the son of the parish confraternity
president, who knew the way to the Doyle home, the two women arrived
for the first time on Sunday, June 2I, I908. They were greeted by fortythree children assembled under the Doyle grape arbor, some having come
from neighboring towns several miles away. Thus was established the
first catechism class, which was the mustard seed from which the present
Missionary Confraternity of Christian Doctrine grew.
Miss Dunn took the lead and was the real "missionary" of the group.
One or two other classes had been established in the vicinity of Cecil.
Problems and difficulties arose which indicated the need of spiritual advice and direction. Since the work was in a more or less "no man's land,"
Miss Dunn decided to explain the situation to Father Griffin of the
Apostolate, because of his particular position in the diocese. Accordingly,
she visited Father Griffin in the summer of 90o8. He listened intently to
the report of the work and realized that here was the answer to the
problems which he and his associates had been trying to solve. Miss Dunn
and the other catechists were encouraged to continue; they were asked to
report at regular intervals to Father Griffin.
The need for additional workers became apparent as new fields were
visited and classes organized. The first male teacher was Mr. James R.
Haney of the Sacred Heart Church, Emsworth, who became, to some
extent, the acting chairman or spokesman of the group.
I6ICATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
In the meantime Bishop Canevin had arranged for an annual meeting
of the diocesan parish confraternities, and the first report of this new
group was given by Mr. Haney at this meeting, which was held in the
Epiphany Auditorium, Pittsburgh, in November I908.
Subsequently, as Father Griffin discussed with Bishop Canevin the
splendid work of these good young people, the question of the name of
the organization arose. Previous to this the work had been referred to
as the "Lay Apostolate," the "Lay Missionaries," and so forth. It was then
that Bishop Canevin, in his quiet and efficient manner said: "Why, this
can be known as the Missionary Confraternity of Christian Doctrine."
Father Griffin was appointed by the Bishop to foster and encourage,
direct and mold the young society, which he did tenderly, wisely, and
effectively.
It was Father Griffin who started the instruction class for teachers, held
twice monthly. Under his direction funds began to accumulate to cover
traveling expenses and the cost of religious articles, catechisms, and the
other equipment needed. Previous to this, the teachers paid their own
way and furnished the materials necessary for the work. This is still true
in many instances.
The first known election of officers was held on June 14, I9o09, in St.
Mary of the Mount Rectory. Those selected by ballot were: president,
Mr. Frank A. Coriston; vice-president, Miss Leah Sullivan; secretary,
Miss Margaret Herron; and treasurer, Mr. Hayden A. Egan.
Meetings, at which reports of the work were given, were held the same
evenings as Father Griffin's catechetical instructions, first at St. Mary of
the Mount Rectory, later at St. Paul's Cathedral School. Because of the
scattered membership, arrangements were finally made to meet twice
monthly in the auditorium of St. Mary's High School and Convent, at
Webster Avenue and Tunnel Street, where meetings continued to be
held, through the generosity of the Sisters of Mercy, until 1922. From
that date until the present all meetings have been at the Missionary Confraternity Headquarters, St. Mary of Mercy Church, Third Avenue and
Ferry Street, Pittsburgh.
With the increasing number of missions and teachers, the duties of
directing the organization became more arduous, and in September I9I6
Bishop Canevin appointed the Reverend Timothy F. O'Shea, then asI62THE CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE
sistant at St. John the Baptist Church, Pittsburgh, as the first full-time
spiritual director of the young organization. Father O'Shea, full of zeal,
entered into the task of developing, expanding, and perfecting the work.
He continued his headquarters at the Apostolate House, following the
wise counsel of Father Griffin. Father O'Shea appealed for more workers in many city parishes; he organized centers or branches of the Missionary Confraternity in fourteen larger towns in the other counties of
the diocese.
It was under Father O'Shea's supervision that the contributing members
became a part of the society, participating in many of the indulgences,
although Father Griffin had permitted and encouraged ladies of St. Mary
of the Mount Parish to have bands of contributing members, who gave
various amounts monthly.
Within one year Father O'Shea had traveled throughout the entire
diocese. His zeal and enthusiasm knew no limits; Mass was celebrated in
sections which never before had known the Holy Sacrifice. His efforts,
wherever he appealed, met with success, and within thirteen months
thirty-five missions were being conducted and the number of teachers
and "fishers" (those who visited the homes) had doubled. But God, in
His watchful way, felt that the labors of this young priest had been fulfilled, for on October 6, 1917 Father O'Shea died of pneumonia, which
he contracted while out on the mission. Thus, like the first president, Mr.
Coriston, who also took sick and died while working for the Missionary
Confraternity in the vicinity of Bridgeville, Father O'Shea was called to
his reward.
On November I5, I9I7 the Reverend Daniel A. Lawless, then assistant
at Holy Family Church, Latrobe, became the spiritual director of the
organization. Father Lawless immediately plunged into his new tasks
with a zeal and love for the work that has not diminished with the years.
In July I9I9 the Reverend Edward A. Heinrich was appointed assistant
to Father Lawless.
In October 192I Bishop Boyle, having been interested in this work
from the first days of its organization, appointed Father Lawless the
pastor of St. Mary of Mercy Church (the Point), authorizing him to use
this church and rectory as the headquarters of the Missionary Confraternity. In 1922 the basement of the old church was fitted out as an audiI63
DCATIIOLIC PITTSBURGHIS ONE HUNDRED YEARS
torium and meeting place. The activities and work of the organization
grew rapidly, and with the appointment of more priests to the work the
need of a new church and rectory became imperative. On October 25,
I936 the present fine building was dedicated.
In addition to Father Heinrich, the following priests have been or still
are associated with Father Lawless: Reverend Victor Majka, appointed
January 1922; Reverend James A. HIealey, in July 1928; Reverend Michael
F. Bonfield, in January 1929; Reverend George F. Hurley, in September
1932; Reverend Paul A. Nee, in July I933; Reverend Stephen J. Burdis,
in June 1936; Reverend Harry J. Donabedian, in July I937; Reverend
Nicholas A. Biondi, in July I938; Reverend John A. Fecko, in June I940;
Reverend Raymond J. Buechel, in October I940; Reverend Charles A.
Thomas, in January I94I; Reverend John H. McMahon, in June I942;
Reverend Robert M. Murphy, in September I942; Reverend Edward H.
Cole, in June 1943; and Reverend Francis R. Rieke, in July I943.
Since the founding of the organization in 90o8 approximately thirty
parishes or sections have been organized, where churches or chapels have
been erected as a result of the efforts either of the Confraternity priests or
of the workers. The first parish to be organized and have the blessing of
its own church and resident pastor is that of Cecil, under the name of
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, dedicated in I9I2. Space does not
permit the naming of all the others having their beginning through Missionary Confraternity efforts.
During all the years of the work, many are the strange and varied
places in which catechism classes have been conducted or the Holy Sacrifice celebrated. In going through the minutes of the meetings and
scanning the reports of the missions, such places as tents, bedrooms, kitchens, schoolhouses, motion-picture theaters, miners' halls, homes of nonCatholics, basements, cellars, stables, garages, storerooms, boxcars, attics,
bowling alleys, and non-Catholic churches are found to have been used.
In many instances both teachers and priests have walked as far as seven
miles each way to a mission. These sacrifices and hardships helped to
strengthen the zeal and the faith of the workers. Perhaps with the present
transportation situation brought about by the war, the workers of the
Missionary Confraternity of today will again be compelled to put forth
these efforts, all of which will be to the greater honor and glory of God,
I64THE CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE
the furtherance of His Holy Church, and the good of the souls of all
concerned.
Not only have the members of the Missionary Confraternity been interested in the spiritual well-being of the people in the districts in which
they have worked, but likewise have they taken care of their material
welfare, performing practically every type of social service: carrying food
and clothing to those in need, securing employment, arranging for hospital care and other medical attention, and encouraging the extension of
educational advantages. A special interest is taken by one of the workers
in conducting a club for girls who come to Pittsburgh to work, living
away from their homes, facing dangers and temptations. This worker
has been especially active in looking after these young ladies.
The Missionary Confraternity has received exceptional assistance from
both clergy and laity. Great financial help has been rendered by organizations, particularly the Knights of Columbus, who at one time, through
six councils in the Pittsburgh district, provided the chief source of income to the young organization. From 1911 to I92I, inclusive, they contributed fifty cents per member per year. The Catholic Daughters of
America and other Catholic societies have rendered invaluable assistance.
As early as I9I5 the Capuchin Fathers of St. Augustine's Monastery
became interested, and in I916 Father Clement Pfeifer, O.F.M. Cap.,
was appointed to assist in Confraternity work. It was mainly through his
untiring zeal and labor that the Church of St. Michael, Avella, Washington County, was erected. He likewise was responsible for the Chapel
of St. Hermenigild, Penowa, and later for the completion of St. Timothy's
Church at Indianola (in memory of Father Timothy F. O'Shea), and the
remodeling of St. Lawrence's Chapel at Cadogan.
The Congregation of the Passion has also furnished priests to assist the
work. Many secular priests have given of their time and effort to build
and further this noble work of Catholic action. For some years several
of the communities of nuns of the diocese have sent their members into
the various mining towns and industrial centers to assist the Missionary
Confraternity.
Perhaps no organization in the entire Pittsburgh Diocese has furnished
a greater number of vocations for both the priesthood and sisterhood
than the Missionary Confraternity. Many consecrated men and women
I65CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
today, some in far mission lands, owe their vocations to their work in the
Confraternity.
Someone has said at a Confraternity meeting that the three requisites
for candidates are: "Love the work, pray, and make sacrifices," and since
the object of the Missionary Confraternity of Christian Doctrine is
"Spreading the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ," these requisites are
engraved in the heart of every sincere and loyal member.
It is unfortunate that space will not here permit the enumerating by
name the countless zealous and enthusiastic catechists who, in the more
than thirty years of the organization, have labored for the spread of the
Catholic Faith in the ten counties of this great diocese, but in the Book
of Life their names will be inscribed.
Not until the end of time, when the deeds of the good shall have been
made known to all, will the total results of the work of this society be
brought to light. It is here sufficient to say that many thousands of children have been kept within the fold of Holy Mother Church, and many
other thousands brought back to the light of Faith, through the zealous,
self-sacrificing work of the priests and laity of this great activity. The
year I922 seems to have been outstanding in numbers, when through
15 centers there were 198 missions or classes, with a total enrollment of
20,24I children, taught by 863 teachers. There were 230 baptisms, 2,076
first confessions, 2,088 first Communions, I,I20 confirmations, I32 fallenaway Catholics restored to the Faith, I converts, 8 marriages validated,
65,372 religious articles distributed, and 92,464 Catholic books, magazines,
and leaflets given away.
With the taking over of new parishes by permanent pastors the totals
for these items have somewhat diminished with the years, but the importance of the work has known no let-down. The year I942 shows the
following results: classes conducted in i62 places, taught by 288 teachers
with an enrollment of 5,5I7; there were I42 baptisms, 678 first confessions,
682 first Communions, 237 confirmations, ii converts and 12 reclaimed
Catholics, 19 marriages validated, 24,828 religious articles and 88,9I7 pieces
of Catholic literature distributed gratis.
I66CHAPTER XV
WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS IN THE DIOCESE
Mrs. W. H. Connell, Jr.
FROM     the earliest days of Catholic effort in Western Pennsylvania,
the participation of women in various activities sponsored by the
hierarchy and the clergy has been noteworthy. It seems safe to say that
not one diocesan effort was ever launched in which at least the encouragement of the Catholic women in the community was not present. In many
organizations of their own, moreover, the Catholic women of the diocese
have shown that they understand well the part that they play in Catholic
activities.
There have been organizations of a strictly parochial nature, built and
guided by the direction of the zealous parish clergy. There have been
other organizations of a nonparochial make-up. All of them have been
loyal to the wishes of the bishops of Pittsburgh and all have given much
through the diocese's hundred years of existence. In an article so short as
this it is impossible to list every organization of women, and it will suffice
for our purposes broadly to treat of the spirit of the women's groups and
of their purposes.
There have been the organizations of a purely spiritual character, some
of them operating under the sponsorship of diocesan directors appointed
by the Bishop. Others of a purely spiritual character have been parochial
associations, sponsored for young women, married women, and other
groups, divided in various parishes as the different pastors and spiritual
directors saw fit.
Other women's groups have been engaged in work, which, although
not spiritual in itself, was begun because of the fine Catholic ideals underlying the constitution of these groups. Such activities were employed as
means towards the common end, the spiritual betterment of the members.
These groups have been parochial, nonparish, and interparish. Speaking
generally, it may be said that many women's groups, of all kinds and
types, have become well known for the assistance that they have given
to the furtherance of Catholic thought and action in the diocese. Various
I67i68           CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
national organizations have labored from time to time to care for the
particular needs of those women in the community of foreign descent.
Since the first World War, study club groups have come to the fore,
and women of the diocese have shown themselves anxious to participate
in this newest type of Catholic action.
Since no attempt has been made in the book to list the various men's
organizations, likewise no attempt is made to make mention of the
women's groups by name. This small chapter stands merely as record
of the spirit of the women of the diocese who, following the spiritual
guidance of Mary Immaculate, under her title of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the diocese, have labored in their own quiet way
to advance the cause of Christ in Western Pennsylvania.CHAPTER XVI
THE CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES
Lawrence,4. O'Connell
THE Conference of Catholic Charities, an organization in the Diocese
of Pittsburgh which undertakes in a practical way to bring the Gospel
of Christ to human beings in sin, suffering, and poverty, was organized
in the summer of I9Io by three attorneys-Honorable A. B. Reid, John
Marron, and Charles D. Gillespie-with, of course, the approval and
under the supervision of Bishop Canevin. This organization was the first
real diocesan central bureau of charities to be established in the United
States. The whole plan of the Conference was built about this Central
Bureau in order to give the diocesan institutions and organizations a
central clearing point for directions and counsel, as well as to establish
a responsible point for outside agencies-city, county, state-to touch the
Church in matters social and charitable. While the Conference strove to
lay a broad and safe foundation for a large diocesan program-to care for
all--its accomplishments for the first few years, due to many causes, not
the least of which was lack of funds, were negligible. However, in spite
of everything, little by little charitable and social work in the diocese
began to assume systematic coordination.
Starting out tiny like the mustard seed, the Conference established
headquarters in the Curry Building, Fourth Avenue and Ross Street,
with one small office in charge of Mrs. M. E. Fox, with Sarah McCullough doing miscellaneous work. Slow indeed was the growth and development in the years I9Io to 19I7, due, as above stated, mainly to lack
of funds. At the beginning of I9I7 funds had to be provided or the Conference would perish. World War I blocked the ordinary channels of
appeal. The scheme hit upon was "Charity Sundays" held in the parishes
throughout the diocese. During 19I7, I9I8, and I919 the Director visited
I47 churches, averaging collections of $200 per Sunday. These visits accomplished this further twofold purpose: that of acquainting parishioners
with the Conference plan and that of erecting units in each parish, to
which end one third of each collection remained in the parish. With this
I69CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
new source of income three more offices were secured with additional
workers, numbering sixteen, and more suitable working equipment.
Lack of funds-ever pinching--still persisted to hinder due expansion
into actual operations of the Conference plan. So in the month of October
I9I9, a diocesan drive conducted by the Director with James J. Flannery
as general chairman-"to raise $500oo,ooo to support the various departments
of the Conference of Catholic Charities for the next five years"--was
launched with such success, due to the hearty cooperation of all pastors,
that over $8oo,ooo was realized. Some of this fund, through judicious
investments sometimes yielding 5.9 per cent, still remains in the treasury
after a quarter century, proof positive of the economy practiced. The
director now serving, for instance, never received a penny for salary or
personal expense during his tenure of office.
With this financial support at hand the Conference rapidly unfolded
its plan, and the mustard seed became a great tree spreading into all parts
of the diocese where poverty, misery, death, disease, and sorrow could
find a remedy in its branches.
The following was set forth in the Report of the Conference of Catholic
Charities published June I923 and covering forty-eight pages, the purpose
of which was "to render," as expressed by Most Reverend Bishop Boyle in
his Foreword, "an account to the public of the activities and expenditures
of the money contributed in the Charities Drive..." Likewise, the report was to present full knowledge of the activities of the organization
to the general public.
The report showed "in active operation" (pages 6 and 7): three day
nurseries; two temporary homes for children; one temporary shelter for
women; one permanent house for infants under 5 years; six boarding
homes; I70 free homes; 280 adoption homes; cooperation with the Travelers Aid Society, taking over all Catholic cases; an immigration bureau
connected with the National Bureau of Immigration for care and protection of Catholic immigrants arriving in this diocese; an employment
bureau for the workless; religious community social service for spiritual
uplift in homes for the poor; sodality social service for home service in
dependent families; hospital social service; six settlement centers; service
to Catholic dependents in the county poor homes; the Catholic Child
and Youth Saving Union for service, protection, and correction of CathI70THE CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES
olic juveniles; lawyers to represent Catholic children, especially of nonEnglish-speaking parents, at trials in the courts of the ten counties of the
diocese; active relations with the Allegheny County Juvenile Court on all
cases with a Catholic attorney to attend all hearings; Catholic men and
women at Morals Court attending to the interest and welfare of Catholics;
an organization of Big Brothers and Big Sisters; a staff of Catholic attorneys volunteering to take up gratis cases of Catholic dependents; a prison
society for visiting Catholic prisoners in our penal institutions; a plan
of cooperation with diocesan child-caring institutions to investigate admissions, discharges, and do follow-up work; a Board Collection Department
for children in our homes and institutions; conferences for those in charge
of our diocesan child-caring institutions to discuss higher standards in
child welfare; lecture courses on social service work; St. Vincent de Paul
Salvage Department.
In the "process of processing" as unfolded in the printed report (I9I9I923) the Conference initiated many activities, developing some per se,
some per alios. Some of these by-products are described in the following
paragraphs.
St. Ann's Day Nursery (I9I4), was first located at ioo6 Watson Street,
in charge of the Salesian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in cooperation
with the Catholic Women's League. However, with the withdrawal of
the League after satisfactory monetary arrangements effected through the
Conference, the nursery, in I9I5, was removed to 28 Fernando Street, a
three-story brick building, purchased with funds raised from tag days.
Here operations were continued successively under the Salesian Sisters,
the Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart, and St. Ann's Guild until May
194I, when the need for a nursery no longer seemed imperative.
The St. Rita's Ladies Catholic Benevolent Association Home for Infants
(I915), first established on Winterburn Avenue, Hazelwood, with a capacity for ten babies, was, after one year, moved over to I6I5 Rankin Street,
North Side, with accommodations for thirty babies in charge of a graduate
nurse. Later, since it required more extensive facilities, it was transplanted,
bag and baggage, to the old St. Paul's Orphan Asylum, on Tannehill
Street, which was remodeled into a modern institution to accommodate
250 children ranging in age from birth to 5 years and in the maintenance of which the Ladies Catholic Benevolent Association Senate spent
I7ICATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDIRED YEARS
more than a quarter of a million dollars. Ably conducted by the Sisters
of the Third Order of St. Francis, the home attained a very high degree
of efficiency until it closed its doors in April I935 because of the Community Fund's failure to include it in the Conference budget.
The Nurses' Guild (now the Catholic Nurses' League) was organized
in I9I5; the Immigration Bureau affiliated with the National Bureau of
Immigration came into existence in 1917, and the Catholic Children's
Bureau in I918. The lecture course to give needed training to the Confere-nce workers was started in 1918. The Catholic Child and Youth
Saving Union was formed in I9I9. In the establishment of this Bureau,
to provide Catholic representation in courts for children in trouble, Bishop
Canevin in I920 conferred with the Director. Meetings were held in the
nine counties as well as in McKeesport, Carnegie, and Sharpsburg of
Allegheny County, to establish organizations in each parish, cooperating
with the pastors and all legitimate parish societies, and to look after the
interests of these Catholic children. These county units were supplied with
a paid county social worker and a volunteer legal staff; one county unitthe Beaver County unit-exemplifying the practicability of the plan, still
survives to this day.
A survey of Catholic Charities, including the homes and institutions
in the diocese, was conducted in the summer of I920 by the National
Catholic Welfare Council at the invitation of the Conference. In that
same year the Conference planned with the Particular Council of the
St. Vincent de Paul Society to start a salvage bureau, which in October
I920o opened up in a small way on Warlow now Ward Street in the brick
stable in the rear of Raphael Home Number I, North Side, operating
first one and later two wagons. Leaving the North Side, the store was
located for a short time in a portion of the convent building, Webster
Avenue and Tunnel Street, and, though handicapped, gradually grew
until with a loan of $20,000 (since paid back) from the Conference, it
purchased the present building at 2005 Wyandotte Street, where it has
ever since operated with many modern trucks and a high degree of
success under the able administration of Reverend Thomas B. Lappan.
The Sodality Social Service and Farmrest began in i92i and carried on
for four years aided by funds from the Conference. The Duquesne University School of Sociology was started in I92I. The Blessed Trinity MisI72THE CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES
I73
sionary Cenacle was established in I92I with a loan of $8,ooo to Reverend
Lawrence A. Carroll, and is located at 514 Maple Street, East Pittsburgh.
In 1922 the Employment Bureau and the Americanization work was
started.
The Raphael Temporary Home for Infants opened in 1920 on Pennsylvania Avenue, North Side, in a frame building on a plot of ground
I47 by i30 feet, purchased at a cost of $i6,697.50. It was conducted under
lay administration until i933, when the Community Fund failed to include it in the Conference budget. In August I937 the property was sold
to the Freedom Oil Company for a cash consideration of $9,500. Also
in I920 the Raphael Temporary Children's Home, 37I5 Penn Avenue,
was purchased for $I8,ooo and when opened was in charge of the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity, who after a year withdrew
in favor of the Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart. As planned by the
Conference, the Sisters established there a foundation for the community's
work in the diocese, paying the cash price for the property by way of
maintenance bills, and are still operating on a budget supplied in great
measure by the Community Fund. The question of holding title to the
Conference properties became an issue and resulted in the court's granting, in September I922, a charter to the Catholic Institute of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, "to hold title to all diocesan properties educational, benevolent, charitable and missionary."
A long-felt want was satisfied when in I923 the Conference appropriated
$I5,00o to purchase a plot of almost sixteen choice acres on Babcock
Boulevard, adjoining the motherhouse of the Slavish Sisters of St. Vincent
de Paul, for the erection of the Vincentian Home for Incurables, and this
home has been and now is in their charge. The first building and its
furnishings were the work of Reverend Lawrence A. Carroll in cooperation with the different courts of the Catholic Daughters of America. The
Catholic Prison Visiting Society as a branch of the American Society for
Visiting Catholic Prisoners, a legal organization in Philadelphia, was
organized in I923. Mass was said in the Allegheny County Jail for the
first time on Easter Sunday, I926.
Some of the above-listed activities, because of the character of work
with their field for service should have, rather than a mere name and
date, a more detailed history dealing with the activities and the individuals
connected therewith.CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
To some of these and other diocesan activities the Conference contributed from its fund approximately $I45,ooo-to some, outright donations; to others, loans for promotion expenses; while to still others, loans
of which perhaps 45 per cent has been paid back.
Convinced that the love of God must flow out in life and act and helpful ministry from God's Church, which in this twentieth century cannot
be faithless to the traditions of a glorious past, the Conference, ever
vigilant for spiritual values, was keen in seeking Catholic representation,
where at all possible, in the business of public functioning bodies. Such
representation has been made with the Travelers Aid (Mrs. Harry Miller); with the Gumbert School (Joseph A. Beck, Esquire, Mrs. William
Anderson, and Miss Ella Malone); in the Juvenile Court under Judge
Way (Miss Camille Barr); in the Desertion and Non-Support Court
under Judge Kennedy (Miss Augusta Grace); with Morals Court under
Judge Tensard De Wolf (John O'Brien and Miss Mamie Friel); and for
years Attorney Dan McCarthy represented the Conference in the different
courts.
The Conference at all times rated itself prepared and able to handle
emergencies. The readiness with which the Conference accepted responsibilities is shown in the case of the Fayette County striking miners when,
at a remote distance from the central office, with short notice, headquarters
were established in that county from November 1922 to February 1923,
serving 669 families with 780 pairs of new shoes and 5,7I8 pairs of seconds, I,I09 pairs of new stockings, I4,687 pieces of clothing, and I,I58
new sweaters. A still better test was the equipment of the I32 Polish
orphan refugees from Siberia, from 4 to i6 years of age, in the fall of
I921 with over 2,000 articles of essential clothing.
To carry on some of its projects the Conference was instrumental in
introducing into the diocese the following communities: the Salesian
Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in I915; in I920 the Missionary Servants
of the Most Blessed Trinity and the Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart,
who, unlike the teaching Sisters, devote their entire time to missionary
and kindred work specializing in day nurseries, community centers, and
home service.
The need for more space with a cheaper rate of rent prompted the
Conference in I927 to transfer its offices from the Curry Building to the
Wabash Building, where the work was continued until February I938.
I74THE CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES
At that time the old City Hall was placed'at the disposal of all social
agencies, to become the Community Building, where the Conference
moved and is still carrying on its variety of activities with marked success.
Associated in the work of the Conference were the first director, Reverend Thomas Devlin (I915-I916); Reverend Lawrence A. O'Connell
(I916-I925 and I930-I943); Very Reverend Thomas F. Coakley (I9I9I920); Very Reverend Edward J. Misklow (I920-I924); and Reverend
John F. R. Corcoran (I920-I930).
The depression, especially during 193I and I932, rocked the nation, and
the cry for relief rang loud. The City Relief, hard pressed, gave way to
the Allegheny County Emergency Relief Board, sponsored by a committee
of businessmen, and fortunately the Conference was equipped to accept an
invitation to become one of the distributing agencies, thus guaranteeing
relief to Catholic needy families. This work, a very heavy load, strained
the structural organization of the Conference and pulled heavily on the
fund. Bishop Boyle, in his foresight sensing the depletion of this Charity
Fund, and in his wisdom realizing the impossibility of another drive during these dark days of depression, decided no other course was left but
to make application for admission to the Community Fund. As early as
I92I the Conference had been invited but never consented to participate
in the Community Fund, fearing to a great degree loss of autonomy.
Accordingly, at the Bishop's direction, the Conference set to work shaping
its organization to be ready to meet the stipulation of the subcommittee
by setting up two main bureaus: the Children's Department, in charge of
a doctor, Sister Luke of the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed
Trinity, who was most competent by training and experience; and the
Family Department, under Miss M. Luella Sauer, a trained social worker.
Both bureaus operated under a lay board of directors with Bishop Boyle as
president. Application was therefore formally made and accepted in the
fall of 193I and the Conference received its first budget allowance in January 1932. With the resignation of Doctor Luke the two bureaus were
amalgamated under Miss Sauer as executive secretary with the lay board
of directors.
(This portion of the chapter was contributed by M. Luella Sauer)
On July 28, 193I the Conference of Catholic Charities applied for admission to the Community Fund, and a committee was appointed by the
I75CHAPTER I
EARLY CATHOLICITY IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
Felix Fellner, O. S. B.
FROM a religious, cultural, and economic standpoint the celebration of
the first centenary of any Catholic diocese is of great significance to
those who are living within its boundaries. The causes which lead up to
the creation of such a unit in the kingdom of God on earth are usually
very deep, and frequently go back scores and even hundreds of years.
The development of the Diocese of Pittsburgh can betraced back several centuries. Nearly three hundred years ago, Catholic French explorers
were the first to open Western Pennsylvania to the Christian Faith. Later,
during the second part of the eighteenth century, English laws and customs checked its growth and nearly killed that sturdy stalk which was
beginning to sprout in its virgin soil. Finally, under the mild rays of constitutional liberty in the United States, it developed rapidly and became
a mighty tree which spread its branches far and wide. Two shoots of this
spiritual tree were transplanted, to become the two flourishing dioceses of
Erie and Altoona.
THE FRENCH-INDIAN PERIOD
(I670-I758)
The earliest period of the history of the Diocese of Pittsburgh can well
be called the French-Indian period. It rieaches back to the years I669 and
I670.
There are still a few writers who doubt that Sieur Robert de Cavelier,
usually called De la Salle, was the first white man and the first Christian
who saw the surroundings of present Pittsburgh. They claim that we
have no records of his activities during the years I669 and I670, which his
defenders assign to him for this discovery. However, with Doctor Francis
Parkman and other authorities as our sources the following arguments are
in his favor.
Our historian states that he had in his possession a manuscript map
which was made by an unknown person in I673. On this chart the Ohio
River (now Allegheny and Ohio) bore the following legend: "The River
3CATHOLIC PITTSBURGI-I'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Community Fund to study this application. About that same time the
Most Reverend Hugh C. Boyle, Bishop of Pittsburgh, requested the Right
Reverend John O'Grady, Executive Secretary of the National Conference
of Catholic Charities, to make a study of the agency. One of the recommendations made by the Community Fund and accepted by the Board
of Directors on September 22, 193I was that "as soon as practical, the
newly employed executive of the family department, if she be found
competent, be made general executive of the Conference, operating directly
under the lay board of directors and that the liaison representative of the
Diocesan Commission assume an advisory rather than an executive relationship to the Conference."'
The supervisor of the Family Department was appointed and assumed
her responsibilities on October I, 193I. In February of I932 the reorganization was completed with the appointment of the executive secretary, who
was responsible for directing the work of the Children's Department as
well as the Family Department.
To complete the reorganization of the agency, it was incorporated
under Pennsylvania law on August 7, I934. Its Board of Directors of
twelve lay members meets monthly to decide the policies of the agency.
The Advisory Committee, consisting of thirty members (men and
women), meets not more than twice a year. Its purpose is "to interpret
the work of the Conference of Catholic Charities and to serve in whatever capacity the work of the Conference of Catholic Charities may be
furthered, under the direction of the Board of Directors of the Conference
of Catholic Charities."2
The findings of the social study, financed by the Buhl Foundation,
approved the type of the agency's organization, suggested methods of
further development, and endorsed the agency's program in the community, perceiving that certain problems of Catholics can be met satisfactorily only by a Catholic agency since it employs Catholic approaches
and solutions.
The Conference of Catholic Charities was accepted for membership
by the Community Fund of Allegheny County and received its first check
from that organization in January of I932. Its program in Allegheny
1 Letter from subcommittee of the Community Fund to the Board of Directors of the
Conference of Catholic Charities, September I8, I93I.
2 Minutes of the Board of Directors meeting, January 17, I935.
176THE CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES
County with the exception of small donations has been entirely supported
by the Community Fund since that date. From January of I932 to June i,
I943 the agency has received from the Community Fund $I,466,526.92.
The Conference of Catholic Charities was one of the participating
agencies administering unemployment relief for the Allegheny County
Emergency Association. From October I, I93I to January I, I932 the
organization assumed responsibility for service to the families already
known to the agency. In January of I932, at the request of the Allegheny
County Emergency Association, it accepted new applications for the care
of Catholic families. At one time more than a thousand people a day
came through the offices of Catholic Charities and in one month as many
as 8,766 different families were given service and relief. They represented
a cross section of the community: administrators; skilled as well as unskilled workers; Americans whose families had been in Pittsburgh for
several hundred years; first-generation Americans; and men who had
been born in Poland, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and many other
old-world places.
The service was provided by a staff of ninety-two paid workers and
sixty volunteers. At that time it was impossible to secure Catholic social
workers other than supervisors with training to carry on the work. Staff
members, who were Catholic college graduates with sociology majors,
were accepted, and arrangements were made for them to take their training while on the job.
In the fall of I933, with the creation of the Allegheny County Emergency Relief Board, the Conference of Catholic Charities transferred to
it those situations where unemployment and the need of relief were the
sole problems. This transfer was completed by the middle of December
1933. The unemployment aides and the clerical staff were also transferred
to the Allegheny County Emergency Relief Board. In this transfer every
worker was placed in employment.
The Confeirence of Catholic Charities retained responsibility for service
to those families where unemployment was only one of the factors, the
Allegheny County Emergency Relief Board giving assistance and the
Conference giving service to these families. This cooperative relationship
has continued to the present time.
With the transfer of simple unemployment situations, the Conference
I77CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
of Catholic Charities was left with the more difficult problems of family
disorganization. There was evident need of social workers with professional training and skills to give service to these more difficult situations.
From January 1934 to January I943 only social workers who had had
graduate professional training in an accredited school of social work were
added to the staff.
Realizing the importance of professional training and the necessity of
encouraging Catholic college graduates to enter the profession, in February I937 three fellowships were provided by the agency from funds
received from the Community Fund. These fellowships were financed
by the agency at two schools of social service: the Graduate School of
Social Work of the University of Pittsburgh (now the School of Applied
Social Sciences) and the Department of Social Work of Carnegie Institute of Technology. The agency at present is maintaining six fellowships.
Since the fall of I935 the organization has been used as a training center
for both schools of social work. The students' supervisors, members of
the agency's staff, are considered members of the faculty of the two
schools. The agency has provided fellowships for twenty-two students
from February I937 to the present.
From January of 1934 to the present time the Family or General Case
Work Department has given service to Catholic families who were referred to it or who came personally asking for service. More than 80 per
cent of these families did not receive relief from the agency.
In all such situations the case worker deals closely with the priests in
the parish and the Sisters in the parochial school. The agency realizes that
social workers need to utilize all religious and social resources in the task
of strengthening family life. Because of an appreciation of the importance
of religion in the lives of families, the staff has presented situations
showing the use of religion in case work treatment since November I934,
and a Religious Case Committee is now functioning. In the fall of 1942
interviews showing this use of religion in case work treatment were sent
to the Catholic schools of social work, at their request, to be used for
teaching purposes. All identifying information was deleted from these
interviews. The National Conference of Catholic Charities is printing
two of these studies in a monograph which it is issuing.
In its effort to conserve family life and to preserve the home, the normal
I78THE CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES
place for children, the agency has supplied a housekeeper or homemaker
in those situations where the mother was absent due to illness, death,
or desertion, and where it seemed that such a plan was best for the father
and the children. While this service has been extended since January
I932, it was not until March 1939 that it received its greatest impetus and
development, when a supervisor of Homemaker Service was appointed.
These homemakers are either resident or nonresident. They are protected
by workmen's compensation and those who have been employed for a
year are given a vacation with pay. During the period from I936 to I942,
inclusive, 328 families were provided with this service. The Supervisor of
Homemaker Service is serving as a member of the National Committee
on Supervised Homemaker Service and had the responsibility of preparing a homemaker's manual for the committee.
During the period from I934 to I943 the agency re-established 252
homes. Through this service not only were family bonds more firmly
cemented, but parents were also encouraged to resume responsibility for
children from whom they have been separated for several years.
The Foster Care Department through its staff has developed a program
for the child who is forced to be away from the family group, either in a
boarding home or in an institution. Most of these children return to their
own families; the others become permanent members of another family
group.
Until January I, 1932 there were no funds to provide boarding care for
children. Those children not placed in institutions were put in free or
adoptive homes. The work of finding free homes was carried on by the
Catholic Daughters of America, who financed the Homefinding Department from January 1928 to June I, I934. At that time they discontinued
this activity because of lack of funds, and homefinding as well as supervision of children placed in free homes was assumed by the Children's
Department of the Conference of Catholic Charities. There has been a
steady growth in the number of children for whom boarding care is provided, although there is a tragic dearth of Catholic boarding homes in this
community.
In February of I942 the agency, with the cooperation of Mercy Hospital,
established its own clinic for children in its foster homes.
For some children it is necessary to make a permanent place in another
I79CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
family group through adoption. During the period from 1937 to I942,
inclusive, forty legal adoptions were completed. These children were carefully studied for the period of a year in a boarding home, were under
the care of the agency's pediatrician, and were seen at least three times by
the clinical psychologist.
In October of I938 the agency secured the part-time services of a
Catholic psychiatrist for case consultations. In July of I939 it added to its
staff on a part-time basis a clinical psychologist who has studied babies,
preschool children, school children not fitting into the program, the
adolescent boy or girl for whom a vocational plan is needed, and adults.
The agency has made a distinct contribution in the development of the
Catholic social worker. Former staff members are serving on the staffs of
the Juvenile Court; the Department of Public Assistance; the state welfare
departments in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, and Wisconsin; and the American Red Cross, both in foreign service as well as in medical social work
in base hospitals in the United States.
The Conference of Catholic Charities realizes the importance of constant study and evaluation of its work and program, so that it may improve its methods and adapt its program to meet the present needs of a
Catholic community. To accomplish this it has encouraged its students
to write their theses on subjects pertaining to the agency's work.
The Conference of Catholic Charities has had the advice, counsel, and
support of the Most Reverend Hugh C. Boyle in its program of service
to Catholic families and children.
I80CHAPTER XVII
THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
Thomas B. Lappan
THE history of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an integral part
of the Catholic history of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. The Society was
established not long after the diocese was erected. In I852, on February 29,
the first meeting of the Society was held in the Literary Hall of old St.
Paul's Cathedral, then located at Fifth Avenue and Grant Street, with
Bishop O'Connor, the first bishop of Pittsburgh, presiding. Since that time
the Society has been a silent but free channel through which the bishops
of Pittsburgh have extended to its afflicted ones the warm charity of Jesus
Christ. From the moment that the first Bishop attended the first meeting
down to the present Bishop Boyle, it has had episcopal favor, interest,
and regard. The pioneer Vincentians whose zeal and faith and charity
were responsible for the Society's birth have gone, yet the seed which
they planted has borne rich fruit through the years.
Through the episcopates of Bishops O'Connor, Domenec, Tuigg, Phelan, and Canevin, the Society developed and grew, and its works multiplied till it reached its apogee under the patronage and encouragement of
Bishop Boyle. From the time of its foundation to the day when these
words are penned in I943, an untold amount of service has been accomplished for God and holy Church. The old minutes do not record accurately the spiritual work attempted nor the amount of money expended in the
alleviation of suffering, but there does appear an indication that many
souls were assisted to the arms of Christ, and many thousands of dollars
expended. Unfortunately the Society has been labeled as a relief-giving
organization. It is such, it is true, but spiritual rather than material is
the relief; for the Society was established primarily for the sanctification
of its members and the poor whom it is privileged to serve.
This fundamental purpose of bringing souls back to God has been
sought always by its members. Invalid marriages brought to validation;
baptisms arranged; children brought to the parochial and Sunday schools;
people careless as to their religious duties induced to be careful-this is
i8iCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
the glory of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. If it does use the material, it is only as a means toward an end.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is not a social-welfare organization
functioning under rigid social technique, but a body of high-intentioned
men who are willing to spend part of their workaday time in ministering
to the handicapped ones of the Mystical Body of Christ. The Society seeks
no publicity; it desires no reward, save to feel that God knows and remembers. It is this spirit which prefers that its minutes be precise and
brief and designedly cryptic.
The Conference of St. Paul's Cathedral seems to have been the only
one in existence until St. Peter's, Allegheny, was formed in the spring of
I86I, and here we find Bishop Domenec encouraging its spread. During
the Civil War and continuing through the seventies, we note constant
appeals being made for clothing by the Cathedral and St. Peter's conferences. Places were designated where packages could be deposited, and
then as now these articles were as acceptable as money in meeting the
need among the poor. In I863 St. Andrew's Conference in Manchester
was established, and in March I864 St. John the Evangelist's in Birmingham was erected. In i869 we find among the members of the welcoming
committee escorting Bishop Domenec on his return from Rome, Vincentians from the conferences of St. Brigid and St. Patrick.
In October 1870 St. Michael's Conference was formed. During the
years from I870 to I884 some progress was made in forming new conferences, while the old ones carried on their duties. In October I884 the
Society gave some money to many sufferers when a district flood from
the local rivers caused pitiful tragedy and great loss. In March I891 the
existing parish conferences were united into a council with the Reverend
J. F. Regis Canevin as its spiritual director. In I895 the Society contributed
to the fund for St. Joseph's Protectory and in I898 the first published
report of the St. Paul's Cathedral Conference showed that 1,824 persons
were assisted and 975 visits were made to the homes of the poor and that
an expenditure of $I,I52.53 had been authorized.
The last meeting of the old Cathedral Conference was held in April 1903
just prior to the abandonment of the old cathedral building. Donations
were given to the Little Sisters of the Poor and to the Catholic Syrians
who were settling within the confines of the old cathedral parish. Funds
I82THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
were also raised at this time for the St. Paul's Orphan Asylum. In May
I903 Father Ambrose, then pastor of Holy Trinity Parish, desired that the
Society establish a system to meet immigrants at the trains and particularly to secure work for Catholic girls in Catholic homes. Because of misunderstandings on both sides this suggestion was never developed. In
I904 Catholic children were removed from non-Catholic institutions
through a committee of Vincentians and placed either in St. Joseph's
Protectory or St. Paul's Orphan Asylum. The children of Italian immigrant families required attentive watchfulness in the late nineties and the
early part of the new century to prevent proselytizing from non-Catholic
agencies. The Society took an intense interest in remedying this deplorable
condition. In I905 a committee was appointed to secure a burial plot for
the unclaimed poor in Calvary Cemetery and on Sunday, July 21, 1907 a
beautiful statue of St. Vincent de Paul to mark the plot was blessed by
Bishop Canevin.
Catholic papers and magazines were distributed during these early
years of the twentieth century in the city and county public institutions,
the number running into the thousands yearly. Meanwhile St. Agnes
Conference was bringing children from the Institute for the Blind to
holy Mass on Sunday. In July 1908, i8 conferences reported at a general
meeting that 332 families were assisted with an expenditure of $I3,544.68.
In June I908 an industrial school for boys coming from the Juvenile
Court was proposed and the Toner Farm in New Derry was offered for
such a purpose. The diocese leased the farm to the Society for $I.oo and
the conferences subscribed a sum of $2,600. This venture proved too expensive an operation and unsuitable for city-reared children, who in many
cases ran away. In less than a year the farm was turned over to the
Seraphic Society of the Capuchin Fathers.
In I9IO Bishop Canevin urged all conferences to affiliate with the Conference of Catholic Charities and suggested that a letter be addressed to
all pastors requesting that they form conferences of the Society in their
respective parishes. In I9I3, 30 conferences reported assisting 3,II8 persons with an expenditure of $9,890.39. In April 19I4 Bishop Canevin
recommended that the Society should petition for the canonization of
Frederic Ozanam, the founder of the Society. That year 30 conferences reported assisting 1,302 families with an expense of $I3,627.96.
I83CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
There is little record of 1916, but in June I9I7 a proposal by Reverend
Lawrence A. O'Connell, Director of Catholic Charities of the diocese, to
open a salvage bureau was accepted. In 1918, besides its routine work,
the Society contributed to the Belgian War Relief Fund and to the
Diocesan Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. In I9I9 the Salvage Bureau was opened in a stable in the rear of I8I5 Pennsylvania Avenue,
North Side. The Shanahan Transfer Company offered two wagons, and
two horses were purchased from the City of Pittsburgh. A panic followed the first World War and prices dropped on all waste materials.
The store was operating in the loss column monthly. In I92I new quarters were obtained in the Mercy Convent building on Tunnel Street, and
the bureau operated for two years. In April I923 the Commission of
Charities, through its executive agency, the Conference of Catholic Charities, was authorized by Bishop Boyle to allot from its funds $20,000 for
the purchase of property at 2005 Wyandotte Street, the place on which
the present building was erected.
In 1921 the McKeesport Council was instituted and included the parishes of that district. Later societies were instituted in Beaver, Butler,
Indiana, Lawrence, and Westmoreland counties. During I924 a camp
was leased to provide summer vacations for the less-privileged children
of the diocese. Meanwhile Father Huber, Chaplain of the Western Penitentiary, requested that Vincentians visit the prisoners of the institution,
and marvelous results were secured. In I926, at the request of Bishop
Boyle, Leech Farm, a city institution for tuberculosis patients, was visited
every Sunday' afternoon. In I927 a gas explosion on the North Side
brought suffering and disaster. The school building of St. Peter's Church,
North Side, was put at the disposal of the Society by the pastor, Father
Thomas Devlin, and beds, cots, and food were procured for the patients.
In the terrible flood years of I936 and 1937 the Society expended quite
a sum of money on the flood victims and placed all its facilities at the
disposal of the public authorities. Concerning the years I928 to I942 a brief
summary can tell a little of the assistance given to the neglected and
afflicted ones of God. During this time 72I marriages were rectified
through the aid of the Society; I,501 baptisms were arranged; 2,447 children brought to the parochial schools; 2,724 persons were induced to practice their religious duties; and 535,395 religious articles, Catholic magai84THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY                I85
zines, and papers were distributed. In the same years $763,426.44 was received; $742,170.00 was expended on 33,946 families. There has been no
work or charity in the diocese with which the Society has not been associated and which, in its limited way, it has not assisted: The St. Paul's
Orphan Asylum; Catholic Charities; St. Joseph's Protectory; Toner Institute; the Retreat Movement; St. Paul's Retreat House; St. Joseph and
St. Francis Houses of Hospitality; juvenile-court work; Morganza and
Thornhill children; and from the store which the Society operates many
homes have been furnished with household articles and the poor with
clothing, fuel, and food. So it has and will be-that to the Society no
work of charity can be foreign.CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Ohio, so called by the Iroquois on account of its beauty, which Sieur de
la Salle descended."
As the Mississippi is not yet marked on this map but only the upper
Illinois traced, we can draw the conclusion that this chart was made by
a professional cartographer in the beginning of I673. Father Marquette
had explored the upper Illinois during the year I672; the Mississippi was
not discovered till June I673. This increases the value of the map.
Another proof of La Salle's discovery comes from the pen of Louis
Jolliet, whose testimony can hardly be questioned. As early as I674 this
explorer made two maps of the Mississippi River, the lakes, and their
surroundings. On the first he gave the course of the Ohio, with the inscription: "Route of Sieur de la Salle to go to Mexico," and on the second
he wrote: "River which Sieur de la Salle descended from Lake Erie to go
to Mexico." This could have been only in I669 and I670o, because his
activities during the other years are known.
We have also a document from La Salle himself, who is often called
the "Prince of Discoverers." In a memorial addressed to Governor Frontenac of Canada in I677 La Salle stated that he "explored the Ohio as
far as the Falls." These falls are commonly understood to be the rapids
near Louisville, Kentucky. We can be sure that our explorer had then his
journals on hand to prove this claim. Doctor Parkman says that they were
still in existence in I756 and in the possession of his niece, Mlle. Madeleine
Cavelier. They have since disappeared. Still we are not without some information about their contents. In i677 La Salle went to Paris to make
a report about his discoveries to the minister of King Louis XIV. Here
he met Abbe Taillon, with whom he had a number of conversations
about his activities. The latter committed them to writing. From this
source we have the following account of La Salle's discovery of the Ohio:
On the last day of September in I669 La Salle received Holy Communion in a Mass celebrated by a Sulpician Father at the head of the
Ontario Lake. Shortly afterward they separated. One party went westward on Lake Erie, while La Salle himself left for Onondaga to the
south, where he succeeded in procuring a guide. Thence he traveled to
a point six or seven leagues (twenty to twenty-five miles) from Lake
Erie and reached a branch of the Ohio River (the Allegheny). He followed this stream as far as the rapids. Here his men refused to go on,
4CHAPTER XVIII
ARCHITECTURE IN THE DIOCESE
Leo A. McMullen
Xw\JJ E propose in this article to give a brief history of architecture
in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. On account of the limited space
alloted, examples are omitted which, in a more extended article, could
be given mention. It must also be understood that while certain works
have been given special mention and comment, the fact remains that if
space permitted, the list could be extended to include many others.
Foundation Stones of a Great Diocese and The Catholic Church in the
Dioceses of Pittsburgh and Allegheny, both works by Right Reverend
A. A. Lambing, LL. D., have been used as authoritative sources to obtain
many pertinent facts. Other data have been obtained from the files of the
Pittsburgh Catholic through the courtesy of the editorial staff, and recognition must be given to Mr. B. J. Kaiser, who assisted in the necessary
research. In giving dates, the year selected is the year of completion.
For that reason a difference will be found between our dates and those
carved on cornerstones.
While our story in the main will be confined to the limits of the Diocese of Pittsburgh as at present constituted, it is necessary to take some
of the early data from the history of that part of the original diocese,
now included in the Diocese of Altoona.
The architecture of the earlier days was of a most primitive sort. Wherever we read of a Catholic congregation's being formed in the wilderness, one of the first acts noted is the building of a log church, such as
that erected by Father Gallitzin at Loretto, Pennsylvania, and completed
for Christmas midnight Mass in 1799. In this church my ancestors, colonists in Gallitzin's settlement, worshiped. This church is said by Father
Lambing to have been the first church built between Lancaster and St.
Louis. Similar churches were built elsewhere as the primeval forest was
pushed back; in fact, one was started at Greensburg in I79o which, however, was never finished. Another such early church was St. Patrick's,
at Sugar Creek, built about I8o6, which was restored a few years ago,
I86ARCHITECTURE IN THE DIOCESE
and therefore holds the distinction of being the oldest church in the
diocese.
Sportsman's Hall, on the site of St. Vincent's Monastery, of which a
photograph is reproduced in Father Lambing's Foundation Stones of a
Great Diocese, was built in i79I or a little later as a residence for the
pastor, and a chapel was added to it shortly afterward to accommodate
the congregation. The first log church here was built during I8Io.
The era of log churches was followed by one in which extremely simple
frame and brick churches were constructed, such as the frame church at
Loretto, the wooden foundation sills of which are still in place.
To go back to Pittsburgh, we find in Palmer's Views of Pittsburgh and
Environs an illustration showing the Pennsylvania Canal and vicinity at
the head of Eleventh Street. This illustration dates from about I830, and
among the buildings we find the original old St. Patrick's Church, built
probably about I8io, but enlarged before the illustration was made. This
church was built of brick and may serve as an example of the brick church
of that day. I do not know of a frame church of the early days that has
survived, either in fact or in illustration.
The stone residence of Father Gallitzin at Loretto, built in I832, was
originally a story-and-a-half building against which a chapel wing was
built. The house was of good design, built of excellent stone masonry.
Later a second story was added, and the fine old walls covered with
hideous plaster. In the last few years the house has been repaired, and
the interior of Father Gallitzin's chapel remodeled with questionable
judgment, following a design far removed from its original appearance.
The old St. Philip's Church at Crafton, which has been deserted for
years, was built in I839, and must be the oldest building in the immediate vicinity of Pittsburgh that had been used as a parish church.
The Church of SS. Simon and Jude at Blairsville has been considered by
many to be the oldest parish church building still functioning in the
diocese; and this is supported by Monsignor Lambing, who gives the date
of completion and dedication as October 2, I842. According to the same
author, a contract was let for the Church of St. Alphonsus at Murrinsville on August 23, 184I, but construction was not started until April
I842, the date of completion and dedication being unknown to him.
Reverend Francis S. Clifford, Pastor of St. Alphonsus, however, quotes
I87CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Bishop Kenrick to the effect that the church was dedicated August 8, I842,
a little less than two months prior to the dedication of SS. Simon and
Jude's. We must also call attention to the record of the student chapel
at St. Vincent's College, which was completed in I835 as the parish Church
of St. Vincent de Paul; this venerable structure may well be the oldest
church in the diocese in which the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has been
offered continuously.
St. Peter's Church in Brownsville was completed in i844 or I845, and
is one of the few examples of good architecture built in the diocese during the nineteenth century. The design is a modest study in English
Gothic (attributed by some authorities to Pugin), interpreted by the masons of the village, who were undoubtedly working from small-scale
drawings. The details are executed in a manner which is often clumsy,
yet the excellence of the design is such as to overshadow all defects, and
the result is admirable. This building was tastefully restored to its original appearance by the late Reverend Martin J. Brennan, with Raymond
M. Marlier in charge of the work.
St. Mary's Church on Lockhart Street, North Side, is a rather unique
structure, and possesses as a distinguishing feature two towers, whose
equal, to our knowledge, can be found nowhere. The termination of each
tower is built to a shape closely resembling that of a cruet, complete with
the stopper. This church was dedicated in I854, and can therefore claim
to be the oldest parish church in the City of Pittsburgh. The Church of
St. John the Evangelist on the South Side was also completed in I854,
but was entirely rebuilt in I865; so the honors seem to rest with St.
Mary's.
The original St. Paul's Church in Pittsburgh at the corner of Grant
Street and Fifth Avenue, which later became the first cathedral, was
started about I828 and completed in I834 after designs by an architect by
the name of John Behan. Illustrations in Palmer's Views of Pittsburgh
and Environs show it to have been a serious study in the Gothic style, but
the illustrations are not such as to permit a judgment as to its excellence.
It was destroyed by fire in i85i, but steps had already been taken to replace
it. The authority for attributing the design of this church to Behan lies in
a notice in the January 22, I828 issue of the Pittsburgh Mercury, stating
that John Behan, architect, was taking bids for the erection of a new
I88ARCHITECTURE IN THE DIOCESE
Catholic church on Grant's Hill. St. Paul's Cathedral Record, published
in 1903, credits the building to an architect by the name of Kerrins.
The second St. Paul's Cathedral, erected on the site of the earlier building and following designs by Thomas Walsh of New York, was completed in i855. The designs of Mr. Walsh proposed a building of stone, but
for reasons of economy the walls were carried in stone to the first-floor
level only, and continued in brick with stone trimmings, with the intention of covering the brick masonry with stucco in imitation of stone-a
project fortunately never carried out. The plan was cruciform with five
aisles, and the style was Gothic. The principal facade faced Grant Street,
and was featured by a gable with a large tracery window, set between
two slender towers, whose spires reached a height of some 285 feet. The
interior was particularly striking and presented a truly religious atmosphere. This noble structure gave way to the onward march of business,
was stripped of its furnishings and abandoned in I903 when the Epiphany Church was completed, and was torn down in I904 in preparation for
the erection of the Union Trust Building. The Epiphany Church was
used as the procathedral until the completion of the third St. Paul's,
which will be described later.
St. Patrick's Church at Liberty Avenue and Seventeenth Street, destroyed by fire a few years ago, was completed in i865. Designed in the
classic style, it was the only important church following this style built
in the diocese during the last century. The Seventeenth Street facade was
quite imposing, consisting of a colonnaded porch which occupied the
entire front, approached by a monumental flight of steps. The gable
above the porch was surmounted by a small belfry.
St. Philomena's Church at Liberty Avenue and Fourteenth Street,
erected in 1846 but not completed until i865, was a building of Gothic
design attributed to C. M. Bartberger. This church had a great measure
of dignity, and the interior was particularly impressive. The tower was
crowned by a novelty in the form of an open tracery spire cast in iron,
in imitation of German stone tracery spires, such as those of Cologne.
The church was destroyed some twenty years years ago to make way for
a new Pennsylvania Railroad station, which to this day has not been
built.
St. Joseph's Church, Mount Oliver, completed in I870, is a stately RenI89CATHOLIC PITTSBURGHI S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
aissance structure which carries its years well. The severe critic may find
fault with some of its features, but it stands high in comparison with
other structures of the same period. The handling of certain details leads
me to surmise that St. Paul's Monastery Church, and St. Brigid's Church,
Wylie Avenue, may have been designed by the same architect. The
author of St. Brigid's Church (I872) Nwas Henry Moeser.
St. Peter's Church, West Ohio Street, North Side, of which the basement was occupied in I872 but which was not completed and dedicated
until I874, is a stone Gothic building in excellent taste. The principal
facade is an unequal composition, featured by a gable containing a large
tracery window, and a tower at the corner, which formerly had a tall
spire, taken down some years ago when it became unsafe. The spire
dominated the composition, which has suffered by its removal.
With a few exceptions, one being St. Michael's, South Side, a Romanesque structure completed in I86I, the important churches of Pittsburgh
erected in the sixties, seventies, and eighties of the last century were of
Gothic style and had, where resources permitted, a tower and spire. Easily
worked building stone is not available in or near the city, but clay adaptable to the burning of brick is abundant in every locality. For this reason
brick was the material used almost universally for the structure, and the
scarcer and more costly stone was used for trimming. The architects of
those days were under a severe handicap, for the Gothic style was developed in stone, and the designer who tries to handle its flowing forms
in brick finds himself in great difficulty. This is plainly evident in the
buildings of that time, and since there was not a great variety of form, we
shall include only a few examples in our list.
St. Andrew's Church, Beaver Avenue, North Side (I872), St. Mary's
Church, Forty-sixth Street (1874), and a few others were designed by
James S. Devlin. St. John the Evangelist, South Fourteenth Street, South
Side (I865), St. Peter's, Sarah Street (I874), St. Peter's, McKeesport (1875),
St. Lukle's Church, Carnegie (I88I), St. James, Main Street (1884), and
several other churches of this period were designed by men unknown to
the writer. All these structures were built of soft brick which did not
exclude moisture, and it was found necessary to paint the masonry from
time to time, a procedure which freshened the surface briefly but effected
no permanent improvement in the appearance of the buildings. St. JoI9oARCHITECTURE IN THE DIOCESE
seph's Church, Liberty Avenue, completed about i886, now being rebuilt, and SS. Peter and Paul's Church, completed in I89I but entirely
remodeled later, were designed by a Chicago architect named Druiding.
About i890 hard-burned brick came into general use, but unfortunately
that which found most favor was a smooth yellow or buff brick which
does not weather nicely in our smoky atmosphere. Quite a number of
important churches were built during this period, following in most instances the version of Gothic popular at that time; although a limited
use was made of the Romanesque style. Fred C. Sauers designed a number of them, and his works, while not brilliant, hewed to a line, which
makes their authorship readily apparent. St. Mary of the Mount, Grandview Avenue (I897), St. Joseph's, Liverpool Street, North Side (I898),
St. Colman's, Turtle Creek (1903), and St. Stephen's, Second Avenue
(I904) may be cited as examples of this tendency in design, which carried well over into the opening years of this century before it spent its
force. The name of Henry Moeser appears again in I895 as the designer
of Holy Trinity Church, Center Avenue.
Marius Rousseau was the author of St. Francis de Sales Church,
McKees Rocks, completed in 900oo. Sidney Heckert designed the Mount
Alvernia Convent at Millvale, Pennsylvania (900oo), and Mount Gallitzin
Academy, Baden, Pennsylvania (1902). Edward Stotz designed, among
others, St. Paul's Orphan Asylum, completed in ijoi, and the Epiphany
group (1903), of which we may mention particularly the church, which is
an interesting Romanesque building in brick. Titus de Bobula was the
author of several churches in a free style possessing considerable interest,
the most important being the Church of St. John the Baptist, Homestead,
now the cathedral of the diocese of Pittsburgh, Greek Rite, completed in
190o3.
About I897 or I898 there came to Pittsburgh a young man, John T.
Comes, who was destined to play a most prominent part in the history of
the arts in the diocese. He was connected at first with an architect by the
name of D'Armand and then with Peabody and Stearns, who had a
branch office in the city. Some time after his arrival Rutan and Russel, a
firm of architects of those days, were given the commission of preparing
drawings for a new church for St. Augustine's Parish, Thirty-seventh
Street. Rutan and Russel entrusted the design to Mr. Comes, giving him
I9ICATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
the opportunity for which he had been preparing himself. He chose German Romanesque as the style for the building. This was a good choice,
and brick, the material most easily obtained, now found its proper use,
for brick lends itself admirably to Romanesque design.
The completion of St. Augustine's Church (I9oI) marked a new era
in the history of ecclesiastical arts in the diocese. It was acclaimed as a
masterpiece, and when Beezer Brothers, the architects, were assigned the
task of providing working drawings for St. John the Baptist Church,
Liberty Avenue, they engaged Mr. Comes to prepare the designs. For
this structure he chose a free interpretation of Italian Romanesque, and
his success with the building, which was completed in Igo3, surpassed that
of his earlier essay. Encouraged by the results of his work, Mr. Comes
withdrew from Beezer Brothers and established his own office.
During the twenty odd years of his active individual practice, he designed over fifty churches, schools, rectories, and convents in the diocese,
and equally as many beyond its confines,' founding before his death a
firm of his associates to perpetuate the work in which he had become
famous. He died in 1922.
In Igo5 the imposing Church of St. Mary's, McKees Rocks, was completed after designs by William Gilnther; also built were the Church of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Brereton Avenue, a Renaissance structure,
recalling somewhat St. Peter's in Rome, by an unknown architect; the
Sacred Heart Church, Braddock, by Comes; and the St. Vincent Monastery Church by William Shickel. This last structure of brick with stone
and terra-cotta trimmings, built under the direction of the monks themselves, is one of the finest churches in the diocese. It is cruciform in plan,
with the altar at the crossing, and the monks' choir extends the church beyond the crossing. German Romanesque in style, the church was designed
to have two spires at the front, and a lantern over the crossing. It is a
matter of regret that these features were never added, as they would have
formed the crowning beauty of a building that even without them is a
noble monument.
St. Paul's Cathedral at Fifth Avenue and Craig Street was completed
in I9o6 after designs by Egan and Prindeville of Chicago. It is a fiveaisled church constructed of stone in the Gothic style, and the floor plan
is very similar to that of the old cathedral, which was evidently used as a
I92EXTERIOR VIEW
PRESENT ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL
FIFTH AVENUE AND CRAIG STREET
CONSECRATED OCTOBER 24, I90o6ARCHITECTURE IN THE DIOCESE
I93
working basis. The exterior is of stone, and the Fifth Avenue fasade,
with its traceried window and tall spires flanking the gable, is very
impressive.
In the same year Holy Family Church, Latrobe, by Comes; the Immaculate Conception Church, Edmond Street; and St. Philip's Church,
Crafton, were completed. The author of the Immaculate Conception
Church is unknown. William Ginther designed St. Philip's Church. We
must also note a singularly interesting church, that of St. Cecilia, Rochester. Built of brick in the German Romanesque style, the building possesses some measure of charm. The design is attributed to the pastor then
in charge, Reverend George Schoener; the drawings are said to have
been made under his direction by Joseph Hann, an architect and furniture designer of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The drawings call for towers
and a lantern, which have never been added.
In I907 a number of smaller buildings were erected, but the completion
of the St. John the Baptist group, Pittsburgh, by Comes, was the most
important architectural event of the year. This group, in the Romanesque
style (excepting the rectory, of which Comes was not the author) has been
accepted by architectural critics as one of the finest examples of the style
in America. During the same year the Church of the Transfiguration at
Monongahela was completed, following his designs. The years I9o8 and
I909 were not distinguished for many important projects, St. Kieran's
Church, Carnegie Avenue, in I908, and the motherhouse of the Sisters of
Mercy, Fifth Avenue, both by Stotz, being the only examples reported.
The year I9Io brought forth All Saints Church, Masontown, by Comes.
St. Mary of the Mount School, Grandview Avenue, and the rebuilding
of SS. Peter and Paul's Church, Larimer Avenue, following the fire, both
by Comes, were the important works of I9II. St. Gertrude's Church,
Vandergrift, and St. Paul's Church, Butler, both by Comes, were two of
the important buildings erected during I9I2. St. Paul's Church in Butler
is particularly noteworthy for its finely designed stone structure in the
Gothic style. In the same year St. George's Church, Allen Avenue, Pittsburgh was completed after designs by Herman Lang.
In the year I9I3 a new figure-Carlton Strong-appears on the scene
with the completion of a chapel for the Ursuline Academy, South Winebiddle Avenue. This is a modest building, and yet its designer had usedEARLY CATHOLICITY IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
5
whereupon he retraced his steps. These are the main facts given by Abbe
Taillon.
This statement agrees well with the prevalent opinions in Canada
about "discovering a river in the west which would flow into the Vermillion Sea" (the Gulf of California). One party claimed that the best
route to that river lay in the north through the Great Lakes. This plan
was defended by Tallon, the Intendant of Canada, who encouraged
Jolliet and the Jesuit missionaries to confirm this. This resulted in the
discovery of the Mississippi by Jolliet and Father Marquette in June
I673. The other party preferred the southern route from Lake Ontario to
the Ohio. This enterprise was sponsored by Courcelles, the Governor of
Canada, who favored La Salle and the Sulpician Fathers for such an
expedition. It was quite natural that La Salle preferred these priests as
his companions in such an enterprise. He had been a Jesuit scholastic in
France till I666. Dispensed from his vows, he became an explorer in
Canada, where his older brother was a Sulpician missionary. Moreover,
he had received a seignory from the Sulpician Seminary in Quebec near
the Lachine Rapids; this institution even defrayed part of his expenses.
All these arguments are greatly in favor of the statement that De la
Salle was the first white man and Christian explorer who passed through
present Pittsburgh.
Naturally, the opening of this waterway between Canada and the
south soon brought others who followed this route. As far as the missionaries were concerned, they found the Shawnees and especially the
Senecas of Western Pennsylvania friendly. The Shawnees had some
Catholics traders among them and a few who intermarried with the
Chartiers, their chief traders. As regards the Senecas, the Jesuit Relations
state that they met priests in Quebec as early as i656; sixteen years later
they had missionaries among them. A fairly large number of the Senecas
became Catholics. This fact was acknowledged by the non-Catholic
missionaries. In I743 the Moravian minister Zinendorf wrote: "When
any of them come to Philadelphia they go to the Popish Church at Mass."
Even the Delawares, the third tribe of Indians in this district, seem to
have preferred the Catholic French to the Protestant English. In I72I
Governor Keith of Pennsylvania warned them "not to be deluded by the
Jesuits and their interpreters." This was directly meant for the EasternCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
such good taste and judgment that critics were made aware of the presence of another architectural genius. Not that Strong was new to the
profession; he had already behind him twenty-five successful years of
practice, and his reputation in secular building was established. But this
example, to the best of our knowledge, was his first essay in ecclesiastical
architecture. His ability was immediately recognized, and the same year
the St. James Rectory, Main Street, West End, and St. Mary's Lyceum,
Forty-sixth Street, were erected following his designs. This year also saw
the completion of St. Jerome's Church, Charleroi, by Comes. During
I9I4 St. Anthony's Church, Millvale, by Comes; St. Joseph's School, New
Kensington; Toner Institute; and the motherhouse and school of the
Vincentian Sisters of Charity near Perrysville, the last three examples by
Strong, were the important buildings erected.
The year I9I5 marked the erection of All Saints Church, Etna; St.
Paul's Cathedral School, Craig Street; and St. Raphael's School, Chislett
Street, after designs by Comes; also St. Francis Xavier Convent, California Avenue, by Strong. The same year we find a new man in the field,
Edward J. Weber, with an ably designed Gothic building in the Chancery and Synod Hall. We hear of Mr. Weber later as a member of Link,
Weber, and Bowers, Architects, in which firm he was responsible for the
design during its existence.
During I916 St. James Parish School, Main Street, West End, was
erected after designs by Strong. The year 19I7 produced St. Mary's
Church, Sharpsburg, following designs by Peter Dederichs, and St.
Agnes Church, Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, by Comes. In I9I8 St. Peter's
Church, Fernando Street, by E. Lisotto, and St. Justin's School and Chapel,
Boggs Avenue, Pittsburgh, by Strong, were erected. The year I9I9 witnessed the completion of Lowe Hall, comprising dormitories and dining
hall at Seton Hill College, Greensburg, by Strong; 1920, St. Paul's Retreat House, by Comes; St. Titus Chapel, Woodlawn, and St. Barnabas
Rectory, Rankin, both by Strong; I92I, St. James Guild Hall, Sewickley,
by Strong. These were lean years because of World War I, but the following ten years witnessed an activity in building which was remarkable
for the number and excellence of the buildings completed.
In 1922 were completed Canevin Hall, Duquesne University, by A. F.
Link; St. Philomena's School, Beechwood Boulevard, Pittsburgh, and St.
Aloysius School, Wilmerding, both by Comes, Perry, and McMullen.
I94ARCHITECTURE IN THE DIOCESE
I95
The year 1923 produced St. Basil's Church, Carrick, designed by
Herman J. Lang; the Passionist Nuns' chapel, Carrick, and St. Ann's
Church, Homestead, by Comes, Perry, and McMullen; St. Mary's Parish
School, McKees Rocks, and Duquesne University Gymnasium, both by
A. F. Link; Holy Trinity Parish School, McKeesport, and St. Joseph's
Dormitory, Seton Hill College, Greensburg, both by Strong; also St.
Veronica's Parish School, Ambridge, designed by William P. Hutchins.
Mr. Hutchins was a native of Pittsburgh, having been reared in the Parish of St. John the Baptist. He designed many churches and other ecclesiastical buildings in the diocese during a career which closed with his
death in I942. His best work is St. James Church, Wilkinsburg, a serious
study in the Gothic style constructed of stone.
The year I924 witnessed an increase in building activity. Out of Strong's
office were completed St. Joseph's Chapel and a chaplain's residence,
Mount Gallitzin Academy, Baden; St. Joseph's Church, New Kensington; Sacred Heart Church, Jeannette; and Canevin Hall Dormitory,
Seton Hill College, Greensburg. From Hutchins' office came designs for
St. Brendan's School and Convent, Braddock, and Holy Innocents Church,
Landis Street, Pittsburgh. The same year St. Ann's Church, Millvale, was
completed after designs by Kauzor Brothers; Wall Memorial Home for
the Little Sisters of the Poor by R. M. Trimble; the Raphael Temporary
Home and Day Nursery, Penn Avenue, and St. Anselm's Church, Swissvale, both by Link. This last building is notable from the fact that its
author had unquestionably been greatly influenced in his design by the
works of Mr. Comes.
In addition to lesser works, 1925 brought forth St. Rosalia's Church,
Greenfield Avenue, by Link; St. Joseph's Church, Coraopolis, by
Hutchins; De Paul Institute School and Chapel by Comes, Perry, and
McMullen; St. Leonard's School and Convent, Monessen, and the motherhouse of the Lithuanian Sisters of St. Francis, Castle Shannon, by
Strong; St. Scholastica's School and Convent, Aspinwall, by Weber; St.
Fidelis College, Herman, by Kauzor Brothers; and Sacred Heart School,
Emsworth, by Hutchins.
The important works of I926 are: St. Bernard's School and Chapel,
Mount Lebanon, by Comes, Perry, and McMullen; St. Bede's School,
South Dallas Avenue, Pittsburgh, by Hutchins; Mercy Hospital Nurses'CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Home, Pittsburgh, by Stotz; Annunciation School, Norwood Avenue,
Pittsburgh, by Janssen and Hergenroeder, Associated; and St. Boniface
Church, East Street, Pittsburgh. This last structure, Romanesque in
style, was the finest church designed in Link's office during his practice
as an individual. The same year witnessed the completion of Mount
Nazareth Motherhouse, Ross Township, by Anthony Pyzdrowski; St.
George's School, Allen Avenue, Pittsburgh; the Church of the Nativity,
Franklin Road, Pittsburgh; and the nave of Sacred Heart Church,
Shady Avenue and Walnut Street, Pittsburgh, all by Strong. The complete design for the Sacred Heart Church proposes a very large structure,
of which the nave only was completed at this time. It is Mr. Strong's
masterpiece, and has been commented on favorably in journals all over
the country, and has been noticed by foreign papers. The church is being
added to year by year, and each addition brings forth a new point of interest. The style of the church is an individual interpretation of Gothic
which Strong called Norman.
Among the works of I927 we find Mount Assisi Academy, Bellevue,
and the Catholic Boys' High School, Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, both by
Link, Weber, and Bowers. In each of these buildings, the first restrained
and modest, the other bold and imposing, we recognize the hand of Mr.
Weber. Additional works for this year were St. Mary's Church, New
Castle, by J. P. Brenot and H. M. Wirsing; Nurses' Home, St. John's
Hospital, Pittsburgh, by Raymond Marlier; St. Francis Xavier Church,
California Avenue, Pittsburgh, by Hutchins; St. Michael's Church, Homestead, and St. Paul's Cathedral Convent, by Comes, Perry, and McMullen; St. Paul's Cathedral Rectory, Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh; St. Titus
School, Aliquippa; Holy Cross School, Glassport; and St. Lawrence
School, Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, the last four by Strong.
Further, we have Mount St. Mary's Convent, Perrysville Avenue,
Pittsburgh, and Mount Providence Motherhouse, Babcock Boulevard,
both by Kauzor Brothers. This last building represented the hightide in
the work of that firm and in it we recognize the genius of Lucian F.
Plympton. Mr. Plympton was a designer of great talent who, while he
produced no work in the diocese under his own name, exerted considerable influence upon the productions of those by whom he was employed.
He worked with Comes for a number of years, and later for Weber and
I96ARCHITECTURE IN THE DIOCESE
I97
for Kauzor Brothers. Mr. Plympton died some two years ago in his eightieth year, after a lifetime spent in the advancement of the arts. A major
part of that lifetime was devoted to the ecclesiastical arts of the Diocese of
Pittsburgh.
In I928 we note school and dormitory buildings at Mount Mercy College, Pittsburgh, by Strong; St. Ursula's Church, Allison Park, by
Hutchins; and Most Holy Sacrament Church, Greensburg. This lastnamed building, by the firm of Comes, Perry, and McMullen, is a serious
study in Gothic, little known to the general public. In the writer's opinion
it is one of the most successful buildings designed by the firm founded by
John T. Comes.
During i929 there were completed St. Colman's School and Convent,
Turtle Creek, by Link, Weber, and Bowers; the Holy Ghost Catholic
Church of the Greek Rite, Superior Avenue, Pittsburgh, and the Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart Church, Pittsburgh, both by Strong; the impressive Nurses' Home, in the modern style, of St. Francis Hospital, Pittsburgh, by Schmid, Garden, and Erickson; and St. Cyril's School, Brighton
Road, Pittsburgh, by Leo A. McMullen, the successor of the firm of
Comes, Perry, and McMullen.
St. James Church, Wilkinsburg, by Hutchins; and Holy Rosary Church,
Kelly Street, Pittsburgh, were the largest churches erected in I930. The
Holy Rosary Church is an imposing edifice designed in the Spanish version of the Gothic style by Ralph Adams Cram. The same year witnessed the completion of St. John the Baptist Church at Monaca. This is
a Romanesque structure in stone by Hutchins, cruciform in plan, in which
the high altar is placed at the crossing and is completely encircled by the
Communion railing; also ai separate chapel is provided for the reservation
of the Blessed Sacrament. Other buildings of this year were the Immaculate Conception Church at Washington, by William Burke; and St.
Michael's Church, Braddock, by Strong. St. Michael's Church represents
a departure from Strong's accustomed idiom, and evidently reflects the
influence of his associates. It is a brick building in the Romanesque style,
modest and unobtrusive, yet withal a beautiful, well-designed structure.
During I93I the effects of the depression were being felt and only three
important buildings were reported: the Church of the Assumption, Bellevue, a stone structure designed by McMullen following the traditions ofCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
the French Romanesque, considered by the author to be his best work;
also St. Agatha's Church, Bridgeville, by Hutchins; and St. Basil's School,
Carrick, by Strong.
Mr. Strong died during the year I93I, and his office was taken over by
his associates, who continue the practice of architecture under the firm
name of Kaiser, Neal, and Reid.
From 1932 on during the depression comparatively few works were
completed. The following lists those of some importance: in I932 the
Home for the Aged, Penn Avenue, a rebuilding operation after a fire, by
Kaiser, Neal, and Reid; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Convent, Coraopolis Heights, by Pyzdrowski, and the activities building at Mount Mercy
College, by Kaiser, Neal, and Reid. The last-named building is a welldeveloped and finely equipped structure of unique design. In I935 there
was erected a school building for De Paul Institute by Kaiser, Neal, and
Reid; in 1936, St. Mary of Mercy, Ferry Street, Pittsburgh, by Hutchins; a
recitation building at Mount Mercy College by Kaiser, Neal, and Reid.
There was also the rebuilding by Button and McLean of St. Mary Magdalene Church following a fire. In rebuilding this church, the architects were
under the necessity of retaining the walls which were still in place. For
this reason it was impossible to secure an entirely satisfactory treatment
of the exterior; however, in the interior, which was completely destroyed,
giving them a free hand, they have attained a result which has aroused
much favorable comment. In I937 were built St. Conrad's Church, Meridian, by Casimir Pellegrini; and St. Francis Church, Coral, by Kaiser,
Neal, and Reid. The year I938 saw St. Paulinus Church, Clairton, built by
the congregation under the direction of the pastor, Reverend Joseph L.
Lonergan; and an addition to Mercy Hospital by Kaiser, Neal, and Reid.
In I939 things began to brighten up a little, and we find reported St.
John's School, Uniontown, by Hutchins; a gymnasium at Holy Family
Institute, by Pyzdrowski; St. Fidelis Seminary at Herman and St. Joseph's Convent, New Kensington, both by McMullen; and St. Justin's
Convent, Boggs Avenue, Pittsburgh, by Kaiser, Neal, and Reid.
The year I940 witnessed the completion of Holy Family Church,
Forty-first Street, Pittsburgh, by Pyzdrowski, and in I941 were completed All Saints Parish Church, New Kensington, by Hutchins; Immaculate Conception School, Edmond Street, Pittsburgh, by Pellegrini;
I98ARCHITECTURE IN THE DIOCESE
I99
and the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of Sacred Heart Church, Pittsburgh,
by Kaiser, Neal, and Reid. The completion of this last work was awaited
with some interest, as it is the first important addition to the church since
the death of Strong. From the result we judge that the future of the
church is in good hands.
The year I942 brought forth the memorial hall to Father Sigmund at
Toner Institute, the last work of Mr. Hutchins; and the North Side Catholic High School by E. J. Hergenroeder, which has been designed to
meet modern trends in education.
In I943 were produced St. Athanasius Church, West View, by Hergenroeder; and St. Joseph's Hospital, Pittsburgh, by McMullen.
While this article is devoted primarily to the architecture of the diocese,
the sister arts of painting, sculpture, and stained glass are so intimately
connected with architecture that it seems imperative to mention a few
of the outstanding accomplishments in these fields.
In painting or decoration a good early example of the Beuronese style,
developed by the Benedictine monks of Beuron, Germany, and at Maria
Laach, may be seen in St. Mary's German Church, McKeesport. The
work was produced by monks trained in the Beuron School. The Epiphany Church, Pittsburgh, possesses an excellent example of decoration produced under the direction of Mr. Comes. This project was executed by
Mr. Taber Sears, and Mr. Sotter, together with Mr. Plympton, furnished
many of the detailed drawings. A fine example of decoration was lost
when St. Ann's Church, Homestead, was wrecked to make way for an
extension of the steel mills. The work was produced by Joseph Poli Company following designs by Herbert Davis, and the outstanding feature of
the production was a painting by Davis himself, occupying the entire wall
of the sanctuary, presenting Christ the King and the heavenly court. St.
Agnes Church, Pittsburgh, holds another outstanding example of decoration, from the brush of Felix Lieftuchter, a man of national reputation.
In Frank Aretz, Pittsburgh possesses an artist who is a unique figure
in his profession. He works equally well in wood, stone, and metals, and
has produced noteworthy works in decoration. However, he is known
principally for his stone sculpture. Representative examples of his works
may be found in the Sacred Heart Church, Pittsburgh; the Church of the
Assumption, Bellevue; the St. Vincent Seminary Building; and the grotto
under St. Vincent Archabbey Church.CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
The important examples, according to the best traditions, of stained
and leaded glass in the diocese have been largely the work of two men,
George Sotter and Henry Hunt. The glass in St. Agnes Church, Pittsburgh, is an early example of the style of George Sotter. The windows are
exquisitely designed and gorgeous in color, but the atmosphere of Pittsburgh has spread a patina over them that dims their brilliance. Another
fine example by Sotter is found in Synod Hall; but his outstanding work
has been produced for Sacred Heart Church, Pittsburgh, where over a
term of years he has produced a noteworthy series of windows.
Henry Hunt has produced a great number of windows throughout the
diocese, and representative examples of his work may be found in St.
Joseph's Church, New Kensington; Sacred Heart Church, Jeannette; St.
Paul's Cathedral Convent Chapel; St. Paul's Cathedral Rectory; and the
Church of St. Michael, Braddock.
We close our article in the midst of a world conflict of which no one
can foresee the outcome or the result of its impact on the arts. The arts
have always suffered during depressions and wars. The only important
project, to our knowledge, under way at the present time is St. Bernard's
Church, Mount Lebanon, by W. R. Perry, which will be roofed over and
left incomplete awaiting the end of the war. A number of other projects
have been set aside because of government restrictions which prohibit all
construction not essential to the war effort. God grant that the dawning of
a better day be not too long delayed!
200APPENDIX
DIOCESAN STATISTICS I9431
DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH
(Dioecesis Pittsburgensis)
ESTABLISHED AUGUST 8, 1943. Square Miles - 7,238.
Comprises the Counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Lawrence, Washington, Greene, Fayette, Butler, Armstrong, Indiana, and Westmoreland, in the State of Pennsylvania
MOST REVEREND
HUGH C. BOYLE, D. D.
Ordained July 2, I898; cons. Bishop of Pittsburgh, June 29, 192I.
Address-I25 North Craig St., Oakland Station, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Former Bishops-Rt. Rev. M. O'Connor, D.D., cons. August I5, I843; transferred
to Erie and then to Pittsburgh; resigned May i86o; died a member of the
Society of Jesus at Woodstock College, Md., October I8, I872.-Rt. Rev. M.
Domenec, C.M., D.D., cons. December 9, i86o; transferred to Allegheny
January ii, I876; resigned July 29, 1877; died at Tarragona, Spain, January 5,
I878.-Rt. Rev. J. Tuigg, D.D., cons. Bishop of Pittsburgh March I9, I876;
died December 7, I889.-Rt. Rev. Richard Phelan, D. D., cons. August 2, I885,
Titular-Bishop of Cibyra and Coadjutor to the Rt. Rev. J. Tuigg, D.D.; succeeded Bishop Tuigg December 7, I889; died December 20, I9o4.-Most Rev.
J. F. Regis Canevin, D.D., ordained June 4, I879; cons. Titular-Bishop of
Sabrata, February 24, I903; succeeded to the See of Pittsburgh, December 20,
I904; resigned November 26, I920; Titular-Archbishop of Pelusium, January 9,
I921; died March 22, 1927.
Chancellor-Rev. Edward J. Misklow. Res., Io8 North Dithridge St., Oakland Station, Pittsburgh, Pa. Office, Pittsburgh, Pa., I25 N. Craig St.
Assistant Chancellor and Secretary-Rev. Andrew J. Pauley, S. T. L., I25 N. Craig
St., Pittsburgh, Pa. Res., Pittsburgh, Pa., ii6 N. Dithridge St.
Diocesan Consultors-Very Rev. P. K. Collins, V. F., Rt. Rev. Msgr. Stephen Walsh,
Revs. Clement J. Hrtanek, Francis Beneventano, Ladislaus Sliwinski, Edward
J. Misklow.
Parish Priest Consultors-Rev. Michael P. Boyle, Very Rev. Thomas F. Coakley,
V. F., S. T. D., Revs. John C. Fallon, V. F., Henry A. Carlin, Very Rev. Michael
A. McGarey, V.F., Revs. Patrick J. Graney, John B. Barry, Florindo De Fran1 Reprinted with permission from the Official Cath olic Directory, I943, J. P. Kenedy and
Sons, New York. Corrected by the Chancery to July I5, 1943.
201CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
cesco, Lawrence A. O'Connell, LL.D., Denis N. Murphy, Matthew Coghlan,
Michael J. Faidel, S. T. B., LL. D.
Diocesan Cout--Very Rev. George A. Baumer, Officialis; Vice-Officiales, Revs.
Martin B. Rubicky, Wendel A. Wuenstel, S. T. L.; Promotor Justitiae, Revs.
Carl P. Hensler, D.D., F.F. O'Shea, LL. D.; Defensores Vinculi, Revs. M. P.
Boyle, Anthony M. Benedik, George J. Bullion, D. D., J. C. D., M. W. Drelak,
John J. McDonough, Thomas F. Henninger; Notarii, Rev. Jacob Zewe, Robert
M. Murphy, Edward G. Joyce, Joseph P. Lonergan, Joseph S. Meenan, Thomas
F. Carey, Patrick W. Rice, J. C. D., Joseph J. Schneider, John J. Janok, Paul R.
Coyle, Cyril J. Vogel; Secretarius, Rev. Patrick W. Rice, J. C. D.
Commissio Vigilantiae-Rev. A. P. Black, Very Rev. Martin Hughes, V. F., Revs.
Alvin W. Forney, James A. Reeves, S. T. D.
Censores Librorum-Revs. John Nepomucene Hruza, O. S. B., Lawrence A. O'Connell, LL. D.
Examinatores Synodales-Revs. Michael P. Boyle, Anthony M. Benedik, S.T.D.,
Paul E. Campbell, A. M., LL. D., Litt. D., Carl P. Hensler, S. T. D., George J.
Bullion, J. C. D., S. T. D., Joseph L. Lonergan, Lawrence A. O'Connell, LL. D.,
Patrick J. Graney, John P. Shields, Wendel A. Wuenstel, S. T. L.
Examinatores Pro-Synodales-Revs. Edward G. Zauner, William J. McCashin, Very
Rev. Raymond V. Kirk, C. S. Sp., Ph. D.
Judices Synodales-Revs. Paul E. Campbell, A.M., LL.D., Litt. D., Joseph L.
Lonergan, Edward G. Zauner, Charles J. Ceradini, Joseph A. Doerr, Leo A.
McCrory, Lawrence A. O'Connell, LL. D., Michael J. Faidel, Francis M.
McCarter, Denis N. Murphy, Charles J. Wiesmann, John F. Enright.
Judices Pro-Synodales-Revs. Ladislaus Rokosz, Edward J. Nemmer, Charles F.
Fehrenbach.
Commissio pro oneribus Diocesanis distribuendis-Very Rev. P. K. Collins, V. F.,
Revs. F. F. O'Shea, LL.D., George D. Barlock, Nicola Fusco, S. J. Benson,
Very Rev. Edward J. Moriarty, V.F., Revs. Frederick A. Mertens, Ladislaus
Rokosz, Magnus J. Kazenas.
Moderators of Theological Conferences-Rev. Lawrence A. O'Connell, LL. D.,
Moderator; Rev. Clement J. Hrtanek, Assistant Moderator; Rev. M. P. Boyle,
Secretary.
Diocesan Charities Commission-Most Rev. H. C. Boyle, President; Rev. F. F.
O'Shea, LL.D., Vice-President; Rev. L. A. O'Connell, LL.D., Secretary; Rev.
A. A. Burns, Treasurer; Revs. D. J. O'Shea, John C. Angel, James R. Cox,
Francis X. Foley.
Diocesan Conference of Catholic Charities-Most Rev. H. C. Boyle, D.D., President; Rev. F. F. O'Shea, LL. D., Vice-President; Rev. Lawrence A. O'Connell,
LL. D., Director. Office, Pittsburgh, Pa., Welfare Fund Bldg. (Old City Hall),
519 Smithfield St.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul--Rev. Thomas B. Lappan, Diocesan Director. Res.,
ioI8 Epiphany St., Uptown Station, Pittsburgh, Pa.
202Diocesan Confraternity of Christian Doctrine-Most Rev. H. C. Boyle, D. D.,
President.
Missionary Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.-Rev. D. A. Lawless, Director;
Revs. Edward A. Heinrich, Victor Majka, Francis H. Rieke, John Fecko,
Charles A. Thomas, John H. McMahon, Edward H. Cole, Assistant Directors.
Headquarters, St. Mary's of Mercy Church, 202 Ferry St., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Catholic Missionary Aid Society-Rev. Edward J. Misklow, Director. Office, I25 N.
Craig St., Oakland Branch, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Pontifical Society of the Propagation of the Faith-Rev. Edward J. Misklow, Director. Office, I25 N. Craig St., Oakland Branch, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Examiners of School Teachers-Very Rev. John A. Greiner, V. F., Revs. Wm. Vogt,
Leo A. McCrory, Very Rev. M. A. McGarey, V. F., Revs. Chas. Moosmann,
J. Vrhunec, M. P. Boyle, Paul E. Campbell, M. B. Rubicky, Very Revs. Thomas
F. Coakley, V. F., Herman J. Killmeyer, V. F., Revs. Aloysius Jurgutis, Matthew
Coghlan, Michael J. Faidel.
Diocesan School Board-Rev. F. F. O'Shea, Chairman; Rev. James A. W. Reeves,
S. T. D., LL. D., Litt. D., Secretary; Revs. Paul E. Campbell, A. M., LL. D.,
Litt. D., Thomas J. Quigley, Justin Walz, O. F. M. Cap., Aloysius C. Angel, John
B. Barry, Denis J. Cox, Clement J. Hrtanek, Very Rev. Michael A. McGarey,
V. F., Revs. Lawrence A. O'Connell, LL. D., Martin B. Rubicky, William Vogt,
Joseph Vrhunec, Very Rev. Francis J. Hertzog, V. F., Revs. Edwin P. Fussenegger, Henry Geibel, Matthew Coghlan, Edward Wenstrup, O. S.B., Benedict
Huck, C.P., Leo A. McCrory, Patrick J. Graney, Joseph L. Lonergan, R. V.
Conway, Henry M. Connelly, Very Rev. John J. McDonough, V.F., Revs.
Ladislaus Rokosz, Eugene W. Harkins, Very Rev. Raymond V. Kirk, C. S. Sp.,
Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools-Rev. Thomas J. Quigley, M. A., 5325 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Diocesan Church Music Commission-Rev. George J. Bullion, J. C. D., Very Revs.
Joseph L. Lonergan, John J. McDonough, V. F., Clarence A. Sanderbeck, Revs.
R. Hamilton, Carlo Rossini, Thomas F. Henninger, Leo A. McCrory.
Deans-Very Revs. August A. Vogt, Philip Moore, Edward J. Moriarty, Thomas A.
Connors, M. A. McGarey, John Hackett, John J. McDonough, P. K. Collins,
Francis Kolb, Martin Hughes, J. A. Greiner, Thomas F. Coakley, Francis J.
Hertzog, Herman J. Killmeyer, James Brady, Emilio Farri, Wendel A. Wuenstel, Denis J. Maloney, Edward H. Kelly, Michael J. Yesko, J. C. Fallon, James
J. O'Connell, Joseph A. Kushner, C. A. Sanderbeck.
Building Committee-Very Rev. H. J. Killmeyer, V.F., Secretary; Revs. John C.
Angel, Aloysius C. Angel, James A. Shay.
Apostleship of Prayer-Diocesan Director: Rev. Frederick A. Mertens.
Priests' Eucharistic League-Diocesan Director: Rev. Michael J. Faidel.
Insurance Commission--303 Fitzsimmons Building, 33I Fourth Ave., Pittsburgh,
Pa., Rev. Joseph A. Keener, Director.
APPENDIX
203CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Delawares, but in the West they were even closer to the French than
those along the Susquehanna. However the latter resisted any direct attempt to Christianize them. The Jesuit Relations tell us: "In I757 Father
Joseph Virot of the Abnakis of St. Francis in the diocese of the Three
Rivers was absent for some months; he went with twenty Abnakis to
the valley of the Ohio to establish a mission among the Loups (Delawares). This mission was intended to be near the present Beaver Falls,
but it failed. The missionaries were forced to withdraw by Pananke, chief
of that tribe, who lived at Kuskuskee near present New Castle."
It was also quite natural that the French should establish posts in this
territory. This is substantiated by the following bit of information. In
a conference held in Philadelphia from July 3 to July 5, I727, it was stated
that the French had already a fort in the Allegheny Valley. There is no
other record. However two years later, in I729, a well-organized expedition was undertaken to increase French influence in this locality.
It is certain that this expedition started from Lake Erie, then proceeded
to Lake Chautauqua, thence followed the Conewango Creek to the
Allegheny River and finally on down the Ohio as far as the mouth of
the Great Miami. M. de Lery of Canada, who was by profession a civil
engineer and the organizer of the expedition, made a careful survey of
the courses of these rivers. He noted the longitude and latitude at the
halting places of this expedition and marked the distances from place to
place. There is hardly any doubt that this expedition had a chaplain, but
his name is not recorded. Most probably he was a Sulpician or Recollect,
because the Jesuit Relations are silent about this exploration of the Ohio
Valley.
Ten years later, in 1739, another expedition became still more prominent. The Pennsylvania Historical Commission published a detailed
account of it in I940 which is based on four main sources: a report of the
Library of Congress in I937; a copy of De Lery's map from the photostatic collections in the Cleveland Public Library; a chart of Lake Chautauqua in the archives of the Province of Quebec; and the roster from
the public archives of Canada. The aim of this expedition was military,
but its chief results were scientific, giving the first information about the
condition of the country. As far as religion is concerned, we have from
it the knowledge of the first priests who came into this region. Father
6CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Union of the Holy Name Societies-Diocesan Director: Rev. Alvin W. Forney,
I250 Liverpool St., N. S., Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Pontifical Association of the Holy Childhood-Central Director for United
States: Very Rev. Richard H. Ackerman, C. S. Sp., National Director; Rev.
Harry J. McAnulty, C. S. Sp., National Secretary; Rev. Eugene Phelan, C. S. Sp.,
Socius. Address, 949 Lincoln Ave., N. S., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Pittsburgh Apostolate-St. Mary's of the Mount. Board of Directors-Rev. J. L.
Quinn. The object of the Apostolate is to give non-Catholic and Catholic Missions and to preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments to Catholics of
every nationality in the districts of the Diocese where it is impossible to sustain
a Resident Priest.
Diocesan Chairman: "Friends of the Catholic University of America"--Rev. Thomas
J. Quigley, St. Lawrence Church, 5323 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh 24, Pa.
CLERGY, CHURCHES, STATIONS, AND SCHOOLS
CITY OF PITTSBURGH, PROPER
St. Paul's Cathedral, Fifth Ave. and Craig St., Most Rev. H. C. Boyle, D. D.; Rev.
Arthur A. Burns, Administrator; Revs. James S. Garahan, Frederick A. Atkinson, Leo A. Kraus, William G. Connare, John A. O'Rourke, John O. Griffith,
assts.; Revs. Charles Rossini, P. SS. C., Edward J. Misklow. Res., io8 N.
Dithridge St., Oakland Station. School--I Sisters of Mercy (I42 N. Craig St.).
4 Lay Teachers. Pupils, 524. High School for Girls-9 Sisters of Mercy (I42 N.
Craig St.). 3 Lay Teachers. Pupils, 306.
St. Paul's Cathedral Chapel, 3250 Parkview Ave. School-St. Paul's Cathedral
School No. 2, 3250 Parkview Ave. 9 Sisters of Mercy (3333 Fifth Ave;). Pupils,
390.
St. Agnes', Fifth Ave. and Robinson St., Very Rev. Edward J. Moriarty, V. F., P. P.;
Revs. William R. O'Brien, Daniel J. McCullough, assts. Res., 3221 Fifth Ave.
School-I4 Sisters of Mercy (3333 Fifth Ave.). 2 Lay Teachers. Pupils, 7I9.
St. Ann's (Hungarian), 4735 Chatsworth Ave., Rev. Francis M. Dismachek, in
charge; Rev. Ignatius A. Koller, asst. Res., 4735 Chatsworth St.
St. Ann's (Maronite), Rev. Elias Basil, in charge. Res., Fullerton and Gilmore Sts.
St. Augustine's (German), 220 Thirty-seventh St., Very Rev. Justin Walz, O.F.M.
Cap., in charge; Revs. Ernest Horning, O. F. M. Cap., Henry J. Kusnerik,
O. F. M. Cap., assts. School--I Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis (225
Thirty-seventh St.). Pupils, 560.
St. Bede's, 509 S. Dallas Ave., Rev. J. F. Enright, in charge; Rev. James V. Kelly,
asst. School-8 Sisters of St. Joseph (6927 Reynolds St.). Pupils, 340.
St. Benedict the Moor (Colored), I5 Heldman St., Uptown Station, Rev. Timothy
A. Murphy, C. S. Sp., in charge.
St. Bridgid's, Enoch St., Rev. Charles J. Deasy, P.P. Res., 1833 Wylie Ave.
Corpus Christi, Lincoln Ave., E. E., Rev. Henry M. Connelly, in charge; Revs. Joseph
204A. Wank, Vincent P. Brennan, assts. Res., I55o Lincoln Ave. School--I2 Sisters
of St. Francis (Wiltsie St.). Pupils, 571.
St. Elizabeth's (Slovak), Rev. Joseph A. Gajdosik, in charge. Res., 2004 Bedford
Ave.
Epiphany, Washington and Epiphany Sts. Rev. Lawrence A. O'Connell, LL.D.,
P. P.; Revs. Eugene A. Harkins, Leo G. Fallon, Thomas M. Gearing, assts.; Revs.
Thomas B. Lappan, Joseph A. Keener. Res., IOI8 Epiphany St. School--I2 Sisters
of Mercy (3333 Fifth Ave.). 2 Lay Teachers. Pupils, 5II.
Our Lady Help of Christians (Italian), 65I3 Meadow St., E. E., Rev. Cherubino
Viola, O. F. M., Pastor; Revs. Augustine Cioffo, O. F. M. (also Superior), Louis
Linkus, O.F.M., assts. School--II Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis
(6512 Winslow St.). Pupils, 330.
Holy Family (Polish), Forty-first and Foster Sts., Rev. Ladislaus Sliwinski, in charge;
Revs. Casimir F. Trzeciakowski, Francis A. Majda, assts. School--8 Sisters of
Holy Family (I4I Forty-first St.). Pupils, 941.
Holy Rosary, 7II4 Kelly St., Homewood, Revs. H. A. Carlin, P. P., Thomas J. Walsh,
Thomas A. Sullivan, Charles V. Kerr, James P. Logue, assts. School-37 Sisters
of St. Joseph (7II9 Hamilton Ave.). 7 Lay Teachers. Pupils, 1,202. High
School-Pupils, 265 girls.
Holy Trinity (German), Centre Ave. and Crawford St., Rev. Arnold II. McCarthy,
O.Carm., Prior and in charge; Revs. Edward Geringer, O. Carm., Arthur
Snaman, O. Carm., Telesphorus Becher, O. Carm., Ralph J. McPartland, O. Carm.
I Brother. Res., I50I Centre Ave. School-8 Sisters of Divine Providence (io9
Fullerton St.). Pupils, I89.
St. Hyacinth (Polish), Rev. Henry Radwanski, in charge. Res., Craft P1. School-5
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (3200 Craft P1.). Pupils, I77.
Immaculate Conception (Italian), Rev. Florindo De Francesco, in charge; Revs.
John E. Brueckner, Joseph F. Fabbri, assts. Res., 4738 Friendship Ave. School-9
Pallottine Sisters (from Huntington, W. Va.), (4736 Friendship Ave.). Pupils,
305.
Immaculate Heart of Mary (Polish), Rev. Joseph J. Sonnefeld, C. S. Sp., Pastor;
Revs. Martin S. Luczkiewicz, C. S. Sp., Chester T. Malek, C.S. Sp., Joseph
Jaworski, C. S. Sp., assts. Res., 3058 Brereton Ave. School-24 Sisters of the Holy
Family of Nazareth (3029 Paulowna St.). Pupils, 800.
St. Joachim's (Slovak), Rev. Michael J. Faidel, LL. B., P. P. Res., 301 Saline St.,
Hazel Station, Pittsburgh, Pa. School-6 Vincentian Sisters of Charity (28
Alexis St.). Pupils, 200.
St. John the Baptist, Liberty Ave., Rev. A. J. Wigley, P.P.; Revs. James A. Davin,
John H. Schonhardt, assts. Res., Thirty-sixth St. and Liberty Ave. School-I8
Sisters of Charity (Liberty Ave. and Thirty-sixth St.). Pupils, 605.
St. Joseph's (German), Rev. Joseph F. Bauer, P.P.; Revs. Francis X. Feldmeier,
Joseph P. Sullivan, Paul A. Holzer, assts. Res., 4712 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield
APPENDIX
205CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Station, Pittsburgh, Pa. School-12 Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis
(325 Pearl St.). Pupils, 563.
St. Kieran's, 5322 Carnegie Ave., Rev. James H. Gilmore, in charge; Revs. James F.
McBride, Thomas J. Gillen, assts. School--12 Sisters of Charity (5324 Carnegie
Ave.). Pupils, 47I.
St. Lawrence's (5323 Penn Ave.), East End, Rev. Paul E. Campbell, A. M., Litt. D.,
LL. D., in charge; Revs. Patrick W. Rice, J.C.D., Joseph R. Berkmyre, assts.
In Residence: Rev. Thomas J. Quigley, Superintendent of Catholic Schools.
Res., 5323 Penn Ave. Sc/lool-Ven. Sr. M. Albert, O. P., Principal. I7 Dominican
Sisters (5321 Penn Ave.). i Secular Teacher. Pupils, 775. High School for
Girls-Sr. M. Jean, O.P., Principal. 5 Dominican Sisters; 2 Secular Teachers.
Pupils, I14. Instruction Classes-7 Teachers. Pupils, I36. Religious Vacation
School-3 Teachers. Pupils, 40.
St. Mary's, Forty-sixth St., Rev. Raymond V. Conway, P.P.; Revs. Raymond H.
Heintz, Daniel A. Gearing, assts. Res., 340 Forty-sixth St. School-I6 Sisters of
Mercy (330 Forty-sixth St.). Pupils, 644.
St. Mary Assumption, Rev. Matthew F. Kebe. Res., 223 Fifty-seventh St. School-4
School Sisters of Notre Dame. Res., 229 Fifty-seventh St. Pupils, I63.
St. Mary of Mercy, Ferry St. and Third Ave., Rev. D. A. Lawless, in charge; Revs.
Victor G. Majka, Edward A. Heinrich, Francis H. Rieke, John Fecko, Charles
A. Thomas, John H. McMahon, Edward H. Cole, assts. Res., 202 Ferry St.
Headquarters of the Missionary Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
Mother of Good Counsel (Italian), Rev. Charles J. Ceradini, in charge; Rev. Cornelius J. Finneran, asst. Res., 7800 Bennett St. School-5 Missionary Zelatrices of
the Sacred Heart (724 Brushton Ave.). Pupils, 244.
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Rev. A. P. Black, in charge; Rev. James A.
Denvir, asst. Res., 840I Frankstown Ave., Wilkinsburg Station, Pittsburgh, Pa.
St. Patrick's, Seventeenth St. and Liberty Ave., Rev. James R. Cox, Ph. D., in
charge; Revs. John A. Collins, John P. Fitzgerald, assts. Res., 17II Liberty ANve.
School-5 Sisters of Mercy (1400 Penn Ave.). I Lay Teacher. Pupils, I67.
St. Peter's (Italian), Rev. Aloysius Costa, O. F. M., Supr.; Revs. Mark Leone, O. F. M.,
Marcellino Sergenti, O. F. M., assts. Res., 120 Fernando St. School-I2 Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (133 Fernando St.). Pupils,
425. 2 Sisters assist as Parish Visitors.
SS. Peter and Paul, East Liberty, Rev. Casimir Schuler, P.P.; Rev. Joseph J.
Schneider, asst. Res., 130 Larimer Ave., East End. School-8 Sisters of Divine
Providence (Larimer Ave., East End). Pupils, 252.
St. Philomena, Squirrel Hill, Very Rev. John P. O'Connor, C. SS. R., in charge;
Revs. Theodore A. Haviland, C. SS. R., Bernard McWilliams, C. SS. R., Lawrence A. Thaler, C. SS. R., assts. Res., 2740 Beechwood Blvd. Missionaries: Revs.
Francis Murray, C. SS.R., Thomas B. Roche, C. SS.R., William       Murray,
C. SS. R., William  Fee, C. SS. R., William  Walsh, C. SS. R. 2 Lay Brothers.
Applications for Missions, Retreats, Novenas, Forty Hours, and Triduums should
206APPENDIX
be addressed to the Very Rev. John P. O'Connor, C. SS. R., 2740 Beechwood
Blvd., Pittsburgh, Pa. School--Io School Sisters of Notre Dame (6424 Forward
Ave.). Pupils, 289.
St. Raphael's, Rev. Michael P. Boyle, in charge; Revs. Vincent J. Rieland, Joseph
P. Lonergan, assts. Res., I II8 Chislett St., E. E. School-- 3 Sisters of St. Joseph
(IIOI Jancey St). 3 Lay Teachers. Pupils, 545.
St. Richard's, Rev. Michael J. Ryan, in charge; Rev. Francis L. Martin, asst. Res.,
2915 Webster Ave. School--5 Sisters of St. Joseph (2901 Webster Ave.). Pupils,
200.
St. Rosalia's, Greenfield Ave., Rev. Matthew Coghlan, in charge; Revs. Vincent P.
Powell, Bernard T. Carlin, assts. School-i5 Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of
Mary. Pupils, 570.
Sacred Heart, Shady Ave. and Walnut St., E.E., Very Rev. Thomas F. Coakley,
D. D., V. F., P. P.; Revs. Cornelius A. Kane, Joseph M. Hannon, Roy G. Getty,
assts. Res., 6202 Alder St. School-36 Sisters of Charity (5934 Centre Ave.,
E. E.). 4 Lay Teachers. Pupils, 972.
St. Stanislaus' (Polish), Smallman and Twenty-first Sts., Rev. John P. Janczukiewicz,
C. S. Sp., in charge. Res. 57 Twenty-first St. School-4 Sisters of the Holy Family (Twenty-second and Smallman Sts.). Pupils, Ioo.
St. Stephen's, Rev. Denis N. Murphy, P.P.; Revs. Joseph S. Meenan, Charles P.
Riley, Michael F. Bonfield, assts. Res., 5II5 Second Ave. School-20 Sisters of
Charity (128 N. Elizabeth St.). Pupils, goo.
St. Walburga's, Rev. George M. Guenther, in charge. Res., Lincoln and Compania
Aves., E. E. School-4 Sisters of Divine Providence (I625 Lincoln Ave.). Pupils,
I48.
SOUTH SIDE
St. Adalbert's (Polish), i62 S. Fifteenth St., Rev. Ladislaus Rokosz, P.P.; Revs.
Henry A. Podowski, Boleslaus J. Pietrzynski, assts. School-I3 Felician Sisters
(I53 S. Fifteenth St.). Pupils, 472.
St. Basil's, Rev. Edwin P. Fussenegger, in charge; Revs. Aloysius A. Kuenzig,
Paul M. Lackner, assts. Res., I735 Brownsville Rd. School-23 Sisters of Divine
Providence (1722 Brownsville Rd.). 2 Lay Teachers. Pupils, I,oI5.
St. Canice's, Very Rev. John C. Fallon, V.F., P.P.; Revs. Thomas R. Murphy,
Edward R. Phelan, John J. Scanlon, assts. Res., 222 Orchard P1., Knoxville,
Mt. Oliver Station, Pittsburgh, Pa. School-24 Sisters of St. Joseph (205 Orchard
P1., Mt. Oliver Station, Pittsburgh, Pa.). 2 Lay Teachers. Pupils, 86I.
St. Casimir's (Lithuanian), Rev. Magnus J. Kazenas. Rev. Bronislaus J. Radis, asst.
Res., 2II4 Sarah St., S. S., Pittsburgh, Pa. School-io Lithuanian Sisters of St.
Francis (2112 Sarah St.). Pupils, 283. Academic and Commercial Departments.
St. Catherine of Siena, Rev. John L. McCann, in charge; Revs. George M. Haber,
E. Charles Patterson, assts. Res., 1903 Broadway, South Hills Station. School-I3'Sisters of St. Joseph (i8Io Belasco Ave.). 2 Lay Teachers. Pupils, 709.
207CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
St. George's, Rev. Joseph A. Doerr, P.P.; Revs. Francis J. Wivell, Francis McC.
Ott, William  J. Erkens, assts. Res., 225 Allen Ave. School-28 Sisters of the
Third Order of St. Francis (843 Climax St.). Pupils, I,123.
Guardian Angels' (Polish), Rev. Stanislaus Zmijewski, in charge. Res., 2I3 Steuben
St., W. E. School-3 Felician Sisters (221 Steuben St., W. E.). Pupils, 89.
St. Henry's, 2428 Arlington Ave.; S. S., Mt. Oliver Branch, Rev. Joseph J. Meyer,
in charge; Revs. Gerald A. Schroth, Henry R. Thieret, assts. School-I5 Sisters
of the Third Order of St. Francis (2429 Charcot St.). Pupils, 642.
Holy Cross, South Side, Rev. William A. Brennan, P.P.; Revs. Thomas S. Reilly,
Edward A. Egler, assts. Res., 3124 Carson St. School--I2 Sisters of Charity
3200 Carson St.). Pupils, 350.
Holy Cross Chapel, Eleanor and Salisbury Sts.
Holy Innocents', Corliss Station, Rev. Daniel J. O'Shea, P. P.; Revs. Oliver D.
Keefer, Anthony B. Wehrle, assts. Res., 3011 Landis St., Corliss Station, Pittsburgh, Pa. School--I6 Sisters of Charity (30Io Ashlyn St.). Pupils, 552.
St. James', West End, Rev. Thomas C. Brown, P.P.; Revs. Benedict W. Erkens,
Thomas M. Nee, assts. Res., 326 S. Main St., W. E. School-I8 Sisters of Charity
(Neptune and Sanctus Sts., W. E.). Pupils, 392. High School-Pupils, I47.
St. John the Evangelist, Rev. John R. McKavney, P.P.; Revs. Martin P. Flaherty,
John A. Larkin, assts. Res., 54 S. Fourteenth St. School--I2 Sisters of Charity
(48 S. Fourteenth St.). Pupils, 414.
St. Josaphat's (Polish), Rev. Adalbert J. Garstka, P.P.; Revs. John J. Fic, Aloysius
L. Zwolinski, assts. Res., 23I4 Mission St., S. S. School-I3 Felician Sisters
(2304 Mission St.). Pupils, 705.
St. Joseph's (German), Mt. Oliver Station, Rev. Frederick A. Mertens, P.P.; Revs.
Alexander J. Schutty, Walter J. Schaming, assts. Res., 438 Ormsby Ave. School23 Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis (434 Ormsby Ave.). Pupils, I,o56.
St. Justin's, Boggs Ave., Rev. J. B. Barry, in charge; Rev. Martin J. O'Toole, asst.
Res., 512 Boggs Ave. School-i6 Sisters of Mercy from Erie, Pa. Pupils, 600.
St. Martin's (German), Rev. John C. Angel, P. P.; Revs. Philip F. Angert, Edward
M. Schwartz, assts. Res., I62 Steuben St., W.E. School-I5 Sisters of Divine
Providence (I74 Steuben St.). Pupils, 628.
St. Mary's of the Mount, Mount Washington, Rev. Thomas O'R. Rea, LL. D., P. P.;
Revs. John A. Sabinash, Herbert J. Cost, assts. Res., 403 Grandview Ave. School
-28 Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (7Io Grandview Ave.). Pupils,
I,07I. Academic and Commercial Departments.
St. Matthew's (Slovak), Rev. George D. Barlock, in charge; Rev. John F. R. Ragan,
asst. Res., I48 Nineteenth St., S. S. School-8 Vincentian Sisters of Charity.
Res., I817 Harcum St., S. S. Pupils, 440.
St. Michael's (German), Carson Station, Corner Fifteenth and Pius Sts., Rev. Benedict Huck, C.P., in charge; Revs. Wendelin Meis, C.P., Walter Wynn, C.P.,
Harold Poletti, C.P., assts. Res., 21 Pius St., Carson Station, Pittsburgh, Pa.
208APPENDIX
School-I8 Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis (29 Pius St.). Grade School
--Pupils, 570. High School-Pupils, I90.
St. Paul of the Cross, P.O., Carson Station, Pittsburgh, Pa., Passionist Fathers.
Very Rev. Leonard Gownley, C.P., Rector; Rev. Camillus Barth, C.P., ViceRector. Res., Eighteenth and Monastery Aves.
St. Peter's (German), Sixteenth Ward, Very Rev. John A. Greiner, V. F., P. P.;
Revs. Norbert J. Schramm, James L. Stewart, assts. Res., 2821 Sarah St., S. S.
School-II Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis (2800 Carey St.). Pupils,
621.
Resurrection, Brookline, Rev. J. L. Quinn, in charge; Revs. Robert J. Gray, Thomas
F. Carey, Andrew J. King, assts. Res., IIoo Creedmoor Ave., Brookline Station,
Pittsburgh, Pa. School-22 Sisters of Charity (II3 Creedmoor Ave.). Pupils,
860.
St. Vincent's (Esplen), Rev. Paul Lunskis, in charge. Res., 408 Tabor St., Corliss
Station, Pittsburgh, Pa. School-5 Lithuanian School Sisters of St. Francis (200
Tabor St.). Pupils, Io9.
St. Wendelin's, Custer Ave., Mt. Oliver Station, Rev. Leo J. Donnermeyer, in charge;
Revs. Jacob M. Zewe, Edwin R. Hirt, Edwin H. Hoppel, assts. School--I9 Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in the Diocese of Pittsburgh (2527 Custer
Ave.). I Lay Teacher. Pupils, 740.
NORTH SIDE
St. Ambrose's, Rev. William F. Merz, in charge; Rev. Charles M. Fink, asst. Res.,
II38 Haslage Ave. School-8 Sisters of Divine Providence (ioII Haslage Ave.).
Pupils, 293.
St. Andrew's, Very Rev. John Hackett, V.F., P.P.; Revs. William P. McAndrew,
Leo E. Sullivan, assts. Res., 22IO Beaver Ave. School--12 Sisters of Mercy (2056
Beaver Ave.). I Lay Teacher. Pupils, 467.
Annunciation, 2603 Norwood St., Observatory Station, Rev. Victor I. Kennedy, P. P.;
Revs. Lawrence A. O'Connell, Joseph H. Ford, assts. School-23 Sisters of St.
Joseph (26I5 Norwood St.). 2 Lay Teachers. Pupils, 674. High School for
Girls-Pupils, I82.
Ascension (Lithuanian), Rev. John Misius, in charge. Res., 1529 Metropolitan St.
St. Boniface's (German), 2208 East St., N.S., Rev. Robert Wepfer, O.S.B., in
charge; Revs. Regis McCoy, O.S.B., Allen Meyer, O.S.B., assts. Res., 2208
East St., N. S. School-I3 Benedictine Sisters (2215 Gershon St.). I Lay Teacher.
Pupils, 565.
St. Cyprian's (Polish), Rev. M. W. Drelak, in charge; Rev. Aloysius J. Borkowski,
asst. Res., 204 E. Stockton Ave. School-7 Felician Sisters (204 E. Stockton
Ave.). Pupils, 2i6.
St. Cyril of Alexandria, Rev. Anthony M. Benedik, in charge; Rev. Joseph G. Findlan, asst. Res., 3854 Brighton Rd. School-6 Sisters of Mercy (3333 Fifth Ave.).
2 Lay Teachers. Pupils, 295.
209CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
St. Francis Xavier, Rev. Stephen J. Benson, P.P.; Revs. Edwin R. Heyl, John J.
Hannon, assts. Res., 3272 California Ave. School-I2 Sisters of Mercy (3250
California Ave.). Pupils, 430.
St. Gabriel's (Slovak), Rev. George M. Malinak, in charge; Rev. Ralph A. Halvonik,
asst. Res., 2459 California Ave. School--Io Sisters of the Third Order of St.
Francis (2396 California Ave.). Pupils, 524.
St. Joseph's (German), Rev. Alvin W. Forney, P. P.; Rev. Paul M. Schuetz, asst. In
residence, Rev. Francis X. Foley. Res., 1250 Liverpool St. Headquarters of the
Holy Name Society of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. School-7 Benedictine Nuns
(Fulton and Decatur Sts.). Pupils, 281.
St. Leo's (German), Rev. George Leichs, in charge; Rev. Cyril J. Vogel, asst. Res.,
3II3 Brighton Rd. School-7 Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis (I216
Schimmer St.). Pupils, 278.
St. Mary's (German), Very Rev. Lambert Daller, O. S. B., in charge; Revs. Luke
Davis, O.S.B., Brendan Smetana, O.S.B., Paul Ovecka, O.S.B., assts. Rev.
Heribert Thiel, O. S. B., Chaplain of Benedictine Sisters. Rev. Rhabanus Goetz,
O. S. B., in charge of St. Vincent De Paul work. Res., 6I4 Pressley St. Schools(709 Pressley St.) i8 Benedictine Nuns (4530 Perrysville Rd.) 2 Lay Teachers.
Boys, 250; Girls, 250.
Most Holy Name of Jesus, Troy Hill, Rev. Herman A. Seidel, P. P.; Revs. Louis G.
Minewiser, Maximilian M. Grocka, assts. Res., I700 Harpster St. School-I8
School Sisters of Notre Dame (I626 Hatteras St.). Pupils, 752.
Nativity, 4068 Franklin Rd., Rev. James J. O'Connor, in charge; Rev. James O'D.
Hanlon, asst. School-7 Sisters of St. Joseph (4Ioo Vinceton St.). I Lay Teacher.
Pupils, 287.
St. Nicholas' (Croatian), Rev. Boniface Sorich, T.O.R., in charge; Rev. Marian
Sorich, T. O.R., asst. Res., I326 E. Ohio St. School-6 Sisters of St. Francis
(I314 E. Ohio St.). Pupils, 121.
St. Peter's, Rev. F. F. O'Shea, LL. D., P. P.; Revs. Paul B. Tomlinson, William F.
Dell, John P. Flaherty,- assts. Res., 720 Sherman Ave. School-I5 Sisters of
Mercy (808 Arch St.). 2 Lay Teachers. Pupils, 720. Little Flower Parlors-Center
for religious organizations, 719-72I Arch St. 4 Sisters of Sacred Heart Society
of Mission Helpers. Sr. M. Canisia, Supr. Res., 717 Arch St. These Sisters visit
the hospitals and the poor and sick in their homes, and conduct Christian
doctrine classes for Catholic pupils of various national groups attending public
schools.
Regina Coeli (Italian), Rev. Albert L. Farina, in charge; Revs. Richard V. Paluse,
Dominic A. DeBlasio, Joseph E. Farina, Edward R. Farina, assts. Res., I434
Juniata St. Convent-7 Missionary Zelatrices of the Sacred Heart. SchoolsRegina Coeli. First six grades. Pupils, i62. St. Mary Immaculate. First six
grades. Pupils, IIo. Mission Chapels--Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Central
Ave., and St. Mary Immaculate, Suisman and Middle Sts.
St. Wenceslaus' (Bohemian), Rev. John J. Vlha, Vicar Econome, in charge. Res., 883
210OAPPENDIX
Progress St. School-3 Benedictine Nuns (4530 Perrysville Rd., Bellevue Branch,
Pittsburgh, Pa.). Pupils, 84.
OUTSIDE THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH
Aliquippa
St. Joseph's, Rev. Joseph S. Altany, in charge; Rev. George F. Bjalobok, asst.
Res., 407 River Ave. Mission--Wireton, Allegheny Co., St. Catherine (South
Heights). School-8 Vincentian Sisters of Charity (406 Allegheny Ave.).
Pupils, 235. (P. O., West Aliquippa, Pa.)
St. Titus, Rev. Edward G. Zauner, in charge; Rev. William P. McGraw, asst.
Res., 932 Franklin Ave. School-7 Sisters of St. Joseph (IooI Sheffield Ave.).
i Lay Teacher. Pupils, 425.
Allison Park
St. Ursula's, Very Rev. Herman J. Killmeyer, V. F., LL. D., in charge. Res., Kirk
and Duncan Aves. School-3 Sisters of Notre Dame (Kirk and Duncan Aves.).
Pupils, I45.
Alverda
Sacred Heart, Rev. Christopher Murphy, T. O. R., in charge.
Ambridge
St. Veronica's, Very Rev. James J. O'Connell, V. F., in charge; Revs. Thomas P.
Cassidy, Louis W. Doychak, assts. Res., 725 Glenwood Ave. School-I7 Sisters
of St. Joseph (7Io Melrose Ave.). Grade-Sisters, 8; Pupils, 4Io. Sr. M. Hilary,
Prin. High-Sisters, 7; Pupils, I98. Sr. M. Cecelia, Prin.
Divine Redeemer, Rev. John M. Rostas, in charge. Res., 241 Merchant St. School6 Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis (239 Merchant St.). Pupils, 129.
St. Stanislaus, Rev. Stanislaus R. Labujewski, in charge; Rev. John F..Kaczmarczyk, asst. Res., 592 Beaver Rd. School-8 Felician Sisters (538 Beaver Rd.).
Pupils, 248.
Church of Christ the King (Italian), Rev. Lawrence Scarpaci, in charge. Res., 995
Melrose Ave.
Holy Trinity (Croatian), Rev. Amandus Cuvalo, O.F.M., in charge. Res., 415
Melrose Ave.
Annandale
Epiphany, attended by Rev. Francis S. Clifford, Murrinsville (Boyers P. O., Pa.).
Apollo
St. James, attended from St. Gertrude Church, Vandergrift, Pa.
Aspinwall
St. Scholastica, Rev. Francis A. Pearns, in charge; Rev. Francis M. Rodgers, asst.
Res., 309 Brilliant Ave., Sharpsburg Branch, Pittsburgh, Pa. School-6 Sisters
of the Third Order of St. Francis (Fourth and Maple Sts.). Pupils, 247.
Veterans Administration, United States Hospital. Rev. Henry P. Gavigan, Chaplain. Address, Sharpsburg Branch, Pittsburgh, Pa.
2IICATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Avella
St. Michael's, Rev. Francis M. Hoffmann, in charge. Box I45. Res., Highland Ave.
Penowa, Washington Co., St. Hermenegild; Studa, Washington Co.
Avonmore
St. Ambrose, Rev. William Goetz, O. S. B., in charge.
Baden
St. John the Baptist, Rev. Raymond W. Foster, in charge. Res., Mt. Gallitzin
Academy.
Beaver
SS. Peter and Paul, Rev. J. Dudley Nee, in charge, 370 East End Ave.
Beaver Falls
St. Mary's, Rev. Frederick J. Mansmann, in charge; Revs. Peter M. Schirra, Raymond A. Vollmer, assts. Res., 604 Tenth St. School--Io Sisters of Divine Providence (IooI Sixth Ave.). Pupils, 4I8.
Holy Trinity (Polish), Rev. Casimir P. Koscisz, in charge. Res., 906 Sixth Ave.
School-5 Bernardine Sisters of St. Francis (820 Sixth Ave.). Pupils, Io5.
St. Ladislaus, Rev. Alexander Martinovich, in charge. Box 214, 6I2 Ninth St.
Ellport, Lawrence Co., St. Joseph. Station-Zelienople, Butler Co.
Belle Vernon
St. Sebastian, Rev. Denis A. Boyle, in charge. Res., 6I5 Speer St.
Bellevue
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Beautiful River, Rev. George J.
Bullion, D. D., J. C. D., in charge; Revs. Joseph F. McCarthy, Francis A. Glenn,
Ferris J. Guay, assts. Res., 35 N. Sprague Ave. School-I2 Sisters of St. Joseph
(49 N. Sprague Ave.). 3 Lay Teachers. Boys, 290; Girls, 238.
Bentleyville
St. Luke, Rev. Mark P. Flanagan, in charge. Box I02. Stations--Cokeburg and
Van Voorhis, Pa.
Bessemer
St. Anthony, Rev. Joseph A. Young, in charge. Res., 52 Oak St.
Blairsville
SS. Simon and Jude, Rev. Francis J. Miller, P.P.; Rev. Stephen C. Helzlsouer,
asst. Res., 33I E. Campbell St. School--7 Sisters of Charity (3Io E. Campbell
St.). Pupils, I88.
Blawnox
St. Edward, Rev. Edward J. Nemmer, in charge. Box 73, Blawnox, Pa.
Allegheny County Workhouse, Rev. Thomas F. Henninger, Chaplain. Box 56.
Bobtown, Shannopin Mine
St. Ignatius', attended from St. Hubert Church, Point Marion, Pa.
Bolivar
St. Mary's, Rev. Jerome Rupprecht, O. S.B., in charge. Res., St. Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, Pa.
212APPENDIX
Braddock
St. Brendan's, Rev. Bernard J. Berg, in charge; Revs. Sylvester J. Kress, Eloy I.
Grundler, assts. Res., 40 Holland Ave. School--I3 Sisters of St. Dominic (I6
Holland Ave.). Pupils, 422.
St. Isidore (Lithuanian), Rev. Vincent T. Abromaitis, in charge. Res., 706 Talbot
Ave.
St. Joseph's (German), Rev. John S. Feldmeier, P. P.; Rev. Stephen N. Schneider,
asst. Res., 426 George St. School-6 Sisters of Divine Providence (430 Verona
St.). Pupils, 243.
St. Michael's (Slovak), Rev. Adalbert Kazincy, P.P.; Rev. John A. Stofcik, asst.
Res., 416 Frazier St. School-Io Vincentian Sisters of Charity (I20I Braddock
Ave.). Pupils, 375.
Sacred Heart (Polish), Rev. John A. Rykaczewski, P. P.; Rev. Sylvester F. Noroski,
asst. Res., 209 Sixth St. School-9 Felician Sisters (545 Talbot Ave.). Pupils, 309.
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Italian), Rev. Francis Beneventano, in charge; Rev.
Nicholas J. Thomas, asst. Res., 60o8 Margaretta St.
St. Thomas', Rev. Francis R. Shields, P.P.; Rev. John Donald O'Neil, asst. Res.,
416 Verona St. School-I4 Dominican Sisters (4I7 Frazier St.). 2 Lay Teachers.
Pupils, 562. Academic and Commercial Courses.
Bradenville
St. Rose's, Rev. Joseph J. Kovalik, in charge. Box 3I8.
Brady's Bend
St. Patrick's, Rev. James A. Byrne, in charge. Box 156, East Brady, Pa.
Brent (P. O., Volant, Pa., R. F. D. i)
Attended by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
Brentwood (P. O., Mt. Oliver Branch, Pittsburgh, Pa.)
St. Sylvester, Rev. Richard Hamilton, in charge. Res., 3754 Brownsville Rd., Mt.
Oliver Branch, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Bridgeville
St. Agatha's, Rev. William A. Reith, in charge; Rev. John F. McKenna, asst. 2I2
Station St. Station-Beadling, Allegheny Co., St. John Capistranda.
St. Anthony's (Lithuanian), Rev. Aloysius Jurgutis, in charge. Box 246.
St. Barbara's, Rev. Joseph F. Pikutis, in charge.
Brier Hill
St. Hedwig's, Rev. Michael A. Kowal, in charge. Keister, Fayette Co., St. Casimir.
Broughton
Nativity, Rev. Edward A. O'Neill, in charge.
Brownsville
St. Peter's, Rev. James A. Shay, in charge; Rev. Joseph I. Nowakowski, asst. 300
Shaffner St. School-5 Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis (302 Shaffner
St.). Pupils, I35.
St. Mary's, Very Rev. Michael J. Yesko, V. F., in charge; Rev. Fabian G. Oris,
2I3EARLY CATHOLICITY IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
Vernet, a Recollect, was chaplain of the Canadians; Father Bretonniere,
a Jesuit, and Father Queret, a secular priest, looked after the spiritual
welfare of 3I9 Indians of three tribes who constituted three fourth of the
armed forces. There was still another priest connected indirectly with
this expedition, Father Lauzon of the Society of Jesus. In the report of
the Governor of Canada to the Minister of France he received special
praise, because through his efforts the Indians of his parish, Sault Marie,
decided to take part in this enterprise and thus assured its success. The
excellent draft of the route was made by the young lawyer M. Chaussegros de Lery, son of the leader of the previous expedition. Since he
failed to indicate the places where they stopped, we do not know with
a certainty where holy Mass was celebrated in I739. Some of the officers
of this expedition became famous later. Legardeur de St. Pierre, then an
ensign, was commandant of Fort Le Boeuf when Colonel Washington
arrived there in December 1753 to inquire in the name of Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia why the French were occupying that territory. It is
well known that the future "Father of His Country" described that fort
in his diary and mentioned the chapel. Most probably he also came in
contact with Father Denis Baron, a Recollect, who was then chaplain
in the fort. His burial entries of October I753 and of February I754 substantiate this. The honor of being the first resident priest in Western
Pennsylvania, however, belongs to Father Gabriel Anheuser, also a
Franciscan friar, who preceded him as chaplain of Presqu'Isle (Erie)
and Fort Le Boeuf (Waterford). The chapel at this fort was dedicated
to St. Peter. Another officer of that expedition was Chevalier de Villiers,
who later led the French troops which attacked Fort Necessity and demanded the surrender of Washington on July 3, I754. A third, De Lignery,
became commandant at Fort Duquesne. He was forced to evacuate that
stronghold of the French on November 24, I758 to General Forbes, who
gave Pittsburgh its present name. Finally, among those who were prominent must be mentioned the tWO Joncaires, whose home was near Fort
Niagara and who acted as interpreters and later became very influential
Indian traders in Western Pennsylvania.
Ten years later the next and better known expedition under Celeron
de Bienville as commander, and Father Bonnecamps, a Jesuit, as chaplain came down the Allegheny and Ohio rivers. Both men described this
7CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
asst. 118 Church St. School-5 Vincentian Sisters of Charity (Church St.).
Pupils, I42.
Sacred Heart (Hungarian), attended from St. Emory Church, Connellsville, Pa.
Browntown (P. O., Edmon, Pa.)
Attended by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
Buffalo Creek
Attended by the Capuchin Fathers, Herman, Pa., under the auspices of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
Bulger
St. Ann's, Rev. John Robaczewski, in charge.
Burgettstown
Our Lady of Lourdes, Rev. William J. McCashin, in charge. Res., 623 Main St.
School-S5 Sisters of Mercy (6Io Main St.). Pupils, I5I. Mission-Cherry Valley,
Washington Co., SS. Peter and Paul's. Station-Eldersville, Washington Co.,
St. Mathilda.
Butler
St. Paul's, Very Rev. P. K. Collins, LL. D., V.F., P. P.; Rev. William J. Donnerbauer, asst. School-II Sisters of Mercy (Locust and Monroe Sts.). Pupils, 470.
St. Peter's, Rev. Aloysius J. Weisenberger, P.P.; Rev. James V. Casteel, asst. I27
Franklin St. School-8 Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in the Diocese
of Pittsburgh (20I Franklin St.). Pupils, 370.
St. Michael's, Rev. V. Marinaro, in charge; Rev. Joseph A. Mastrangelo, asst.
Res., II5 Spring St. School-7 Missionary Zelatrices of the Sacred Heart (II7
Spring St.). Pupils, 225. Station-Argentine, Butler Co., St. Paschal's.
Cadogan
St. Lawrence, Rev. Theodore J. Raab, in charge. Station-Nicholson Run, Armstrong Co., Guardian Angels.
Calumet
St. Stanislaus, Rev. John V. Misiaszek, in charge. P.O. Box 42, Pulaski Hill,
Calumet, Pa.
Cameron's Bottom
St. Patrick's, attended from Heilwood, Pa.
Cannelton
St. Rose's, Rev. John A. Leger, in charge. New Galilee, Beaver Co., St. Ann.
Canonsburg
St. Patrick's, Rev. J. Edward Istocin, in charge; Rev. Michael F. Carmody, asst.
Res., 2IO Greenside Ave. 5 Vincentian Sisters of Charity (220 Greenside Ave.).
Teach Catechism and do parish visiting.
St. Genevieve (Polish), Rev. Edward R. Szelong, in charge. I20 E. College St.
School-3 Felician Sisters (I30 E. College St.). Pupils, Io04.
Carnegie
Holy Souls, Rev. H. Dominicis, in charge. Res., 205 Mary Ave.
2I4St. Ignatius de Loyola (Polish), Rev. A. Muszynski, in charge. School-5 Bernardine Sisters of St. Francis (Finley Ave.). Pupils, 320.
Immaculate Conception (Polish), Rev. Wenceslaus Pawelkiewicz, in charge. Res.,
207 Jane St. School-3 Bernardine Sisters of St. Francis (206 Jane St.). Pupils, 77.
St. Joseph's (German), Rev. Wm. Vogt, P.P. Res., 3I7 Second Ave. School-8
Sisters of St. Agnes (III Third St.). Pupils, 282.
St. Luke's, Rev. J. J. Brennan, P. P.; Revs. William J. Purcell, Joseph W. Lowney,
assts. Res., 309 Third St. School-I7 Sisters of Charity (Third Ave.). Pupils, 600.
High School-7 Sisters of Charity. Pupils, 250. Mission-Walkers Mill, Allegheny Co., St. Vincent De Paul Chapel.
Castle Shannon
St. Ann's, Rev. Aloysius C. Angel, P.P.; Revs. Francis R. Stifter, Thomas P.
Lynch, assts. Res., Railroad St. School-9 Sisters of Divine Providence (Res.,
Rockwood Ave.). Pupils, 394.
Cecil
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Rev. Leo Pastorius, in charge; Rev. James
C. Biller, asst. Stations-National No. 3 (P. O., Muse, Pa.), Washington Co.,
and George Station (P. O., Southview, Pa.).
Charleroi
St. Jerome's, Rev. Peter J. Brennan, in charge; Revs. William J. Maher, Jacob B.
Shinar, assts. Res., 624 Washington Ave.
SS. Cyril and Methodius' (Slovak), Rev. John P. Sedlak, in charge. Res., Ioo6
Fallowfield Ave. Fayette City, Fayette Co., St. Edward's.
Mother of Sorrows (Italian), Rev. Gregory Paonessa, in charge. 704 Fallowfield
Ave. Belle Vernon, Fayette Co.
Chestnut Ridge (P. O., Latrobe, Pa.)
St. Boniface, Rev. Clarence Kaiser, O.S.B., in charge. Res., St. Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, Pa.
Chicora
Mater Dolorosa, Rev. John J. Hughes, in charge; Rev. Jerome T. Doody, asst.
Clairton
St. Clare's, Rev. John A. O'Connor, in charge; Rev. Arthur L. Garbin, asst. Res.,
314 Wilson Ave.
St. Paulinus, Rev. James A. Connelly, in charge. Res., 622 Delaware Ave.,
Clairton, Pa.
St. Joseph's, Rev. Martin B. Rubicky, in charge. Res., 460 Reed St. School-8 Vincentian Sisters of Charity (456 Reed St.). Pupils, 232.
Claytonia
St. Louis, attended by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
Clymer
St. Anthony's, Rev. Francis B. Karabinos, in charge. Res., 486 Morris St. Dixonville, Indiana Co., Sacred Heart.
APPENDIX
2I5CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Coal Centre
St. Thomas of Aquin, Rev. James F. McKeever, in charge. Res., Spring St. Mission
-Newell, Fayette Co., Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Connellsville
Immaculate Conception, Rev. Henry Geibel, P.P.; Rev. Patrick R. Cullen, asst.
Res., I48 E. Crawford Ave. School-I5 Sisters of St. Benedict (II4 N. Prospect
St.). Pupils, 242. High School-Pupils, I30.
Holy Trinity (W. S.), Rev. Wenceslaus Wisniewski, in charge. Res., Io9 N.
Seventh St. School-4 Sisters of the Holy Ghost (II3 N. Seventh St.). Pupils,
44.
St. Emory's (Hungarian), Rev. Ferdinand A. Szabo, in charge. Res., II4 Porter
Ave. Box 496. Missions-Brownsville, Pa., Fayette Co., Sacred Heart; Star
Junction, Pa.; Masontown, Fayette Co., Pa., and Assumption (Hungarian),
Daisytown, Washington Co., Pa.
St. John the Evangelist (Slovak), Rev. Stanislaus Moravek, in charge. Res., 908
W. Crawford Ave. School-3 Vincentian Sisters of Charity' (III N. Eighth St.).
Pupils, 89. Station-W. Leisenring, Fayette Co., St. Polycarp's.
St. Rita (Italian), Rev. Henry De Vivo, in charge. Res., 116 S. Second St. School5 Missionary Apostolic Zelatrices, Sisters of the Sacred Heart (21I2 S. First St.).
Pupils, I74.
Conway
Our Lady of Peace, attended from St. Cecilia Church, Rochester, Pa. Rev. Guy
Golden, O.F.M. Cap., in charge.
Coral
St. Francis', Rev. Matthew A. Yanosek, in charge. Address: Gracetown, Pa.
Station-Josephine, Indiana Co., St. Bonaventure's.
Coraopolis
St. Joseph's, Rev. P. J. Healy, in charge; Rev. Franklin V. Deet, asst. Res., I304
Fourth Ave. Station-Allegheny Co., St. Martha, Groveton.
Coverdale
St. Valentine, Rev. John J. Janok, in charge. Res., Brightwood, R.F.D., No. I,
Library, Pa.
Cowansville
Attended by the Capuchin Fathers, Herman, Pa., under the auspices of the Missionary Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
Coylesville (P. O., R. F. D. No. 2, Fenelton, Pa.)
St. John's, Rev. Francis J. Rattenberger, in charge.
Crabtree
St. Bartholomew's, Rev. Method Mraz, O. S. B., in charge. Box 222. StationsWestmoreland Co.: Forbes Road, St. Mary's; New Alexandria, St. James'.
Crafton
St. Philip's, Rev. Wm. Kelty, P.P.; Revs. Edmund J. Sheedy, John B. Maher,
assts. Dinsmore Ave. School--I6 Sisters of Charity. I Lay Teacher. Pupils, 596.
216APPENDIX
Daisytown
St. Mary, attended from SS. Mary and Ann Church, Marianna, Pa.
Assumption (Hungarian), attended from St. Emory Church, Connellsville, Pa.
Dawson
Sacred Heart, Rev. Justin J. Gallagher, in charge.
Derry
St. Joseph's, Very Rev. Thomas A. Connors, V. F., in charge. Res., 209 Broad St.
Donora
St. Charles', Rev. Lawrence D. McNanamy, in charge; Rev. Henry J. Murphy,
asst. Res., 735 Thompson Ave. School--4 Sisters of St. Joseph (749 Thompson
Ave.). Pupils, I52.
St. Dominic's (Slovak), Very Rev. Joseph A. Kushner, V. F., in charge. Res., 575
Thompson Ave. School-6 Vincentian Sisters of Charity (Sixth St.). Pupils, 292.
Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Rev. Joseph Forysiak, in charge. Res.,
320 Second St.
St. Joseph's (Lithuanian), Rev. Wenceslaus A. Sadauskas, in charge. Res., Sixth
and Meldan Sts.
St. Philip Neri (Italian), Rev. Alexander Bracci, in charge. 714 Norman Ave.
Dunbar
St. Aloysius, Rev. Joseph C. Fitzpatrick, in charge. School--3 Sisters of St. Joseph.
Pupils, 80.
Duquesne
Holy Name, Rev. James J. Kelly, P. P.; Rev. Edmund J. Wiethorn, asst. Res., First
St. and Kennedy Ave. School-7 Sisters of St. Joseph (I6 S. First St.). Pupils,
236.
St. Joseph's (German), Rev. Charles F. Fehrenbach, P. P.; Rev. Paul F. Wiesmann,
asst. 8I7 W. Grant Ave. School-8 Sisters of Divine Providence (Auriles St.).
Pupils, 324.
Holy Trinity (Slovak), Rev. John Kerchnyak, in charge; Rev. Edward L. Malindzak, asst. Res., 3Io S. First St. School-9 Sisters of Incarnate Word and Blessed
Sacrament (I28 E. Third St.). Pupils, 274.
St. Hedwig's (Polish), Rev. Stanislaus C. Kupiec, in charge. Res., Io05 S. Fifth St.
East Pittsburgh
St. William's, Rev. Joseph A. Clougherty, in charge; Rev. Edward A. Ricards,
asst. Res., 80o8 Main St. School-9 Dominican Sisters (5S5 Howard St.). Pupils,
389.
St. Helen's (Slovak), Rev. Thomas Malik, in charge. Res., 429 Ridge Ave.
Elizabeth
St. Michael's, Rev. Michael A. Leen, in charge. Res., Fifth St.
Elliottsville
Visitation of the B. V. M., attended by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
Ellsworth
St. Clement (Slovak), Rev. George T. Garber, in charge. Box 216. School--4 Vin2I7CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
centian Sisters of Charity. Box 2I5. Pupils, 94. Cokeburg, St. Joseph, Washington
Co.
Ellwood City
St. Agatha's, Rev. Robert D. A. Wilkey, in charge; Rev. Francis E. Paul, asst. 124
Fifth St. 4 Sisters of Divine Providence conduct catechetical instructional classes
weekly.
Purification of Blessed Virgin Mary Church (Italian), Rev. Vincent Galliano, in
charge; Rev. Joseph A. Pernatozzi, asst. Res., 3Ig9 Park Ave. Convent (317 Park
Ave.)-4 Sisters of the Salesian Order (St. John Bosco) do missionary and social
work in the parish.
Emsworth (Bellevue Station, Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Sacred Heart, Rev. Sebastian J. Schiffgens, C. S. Sp., in charge; Rev. Jerome E.
Stegman, C.S. Sp., asst. Res., 15 Walnut St. School-4 Sisters of the Third
Order of St. Francis (200 Beaver Ave.). Pupils, I59. Mission-Glenfield, Allegheny Co., St. Mary's. School-2 Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis.
Pupils, 63.
Ernest
The Assumption, Very Rev. Emilio Farri, V. F., in charge. School-4 Sisters of
Divine Providence. Pupils, II8. Missions-Chambersville and Fulton Run, Pa.
Etna
All Saints', Rev. Adolph Keller, in charge; Revs. Francis W. Hungerman, Francis
G. Massung, assts. Res., Ig Wilson St. School--o Sisters of Divine Providence
(20 Wilson St.). Pupils, 49I.
Everson
St. Joseph's (Polish), Rev. John Wojciechowski, in charge; Rev. Francis B. Filip,
asst. Box 3. Res. 201 Painter St. School--6 Sisters of the Holy Ghost. Res., 200
Painter St. Pupils, 2I6.
Export
St. Mary's, Rev. Peter J. Rendziniak, in charge. P. O. Box Io05. Station-Claridge,
Westmoreland Co., St. Barbara's.
Fairchance
SS. Cyril and Methodius', Rev. Thomas B. Harnyak, in charge. Res., 9I Morgantown St.
Finleyville
St. Francis', Rev. Patrick J. Quilter, in charge; Rev. Thaddeus C. Wisniewski,
asst. Mission-Library, Allegheny Co., St. Joan of Arc.
Footedale (P. O., New Salem)
St. Thomas' (Polish), Rev. Stanislaus A. Gawronski, in charge. School-3 Holy
Ghost Sisters (R. F. D. No. I, New Salem, Pa.). Pupils, Ioo.
Ford City
St. Mary's, Very Rev. Wendel A. Wuenstel, V. F., P. P. School-5 Sisters of Divine
Providence. Pupils, I96.
218St. Francis de Paul's, Rev. Leo Chrzanowski, in charge. Res., 736 Fifth Ave.
Cadogan, Armstrong Co., St. Lawrence.
Holy Trinity (Slovak), Rev. Ignatius S. Herkel, in charge; Rev. Anthony G.
Hardy, asst. Res., Ioo8 Sixth Ave. School-8 School Sisters of St. Francis (IOI6
Sixth Ave.). Pupils, 2Io.
Forest Hills
St. Maurice, attended from St. James Church, Wilkinsburg, Pa.
Fredericktown
St. Michael Archangel, Rev. Michael S. Sziich, in charge. Box 2040. Clarksville,
Washington, St. Thomas, and Maxwell, Fayette Co., Pa., St. James.
Freedom
St. Felix, Rev. Stephen Bieneman, O. F.M. Cap., in charge. School-4 Sisters of
the Third Order of St. Francis (I275 Fifth Ave.). Pupils, II6.
Freeport
St. Mary's, Rev. Joseph T. Byrne, in charge; Rev. Robert J. McBride, asst. School6 Sisters of St. Joseph. Pupils, 268. Chapel-Schenley, Pa.
Furnace Run
Attended by the Capuchin Fathers, Herman, Pa., under the auspices of the Missionary Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
George Station (P. O., South View, Pa.)
Attended by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
Glassport
St. Cecilia's, Rev. W. A. O'Hara, S. T. L., in charge; Rev. Albert J. Gladis, asst.
Res., 803 Michigan Ave. School-9 Sisters of Divine Providence (809 Michigan
Ave.). Pupils, 324.
Holy Cross, Rev. Alexander Krajewski, in charge. Res., Seventh St. and Peach
Ave. School-9 Sisters of the Holy Ghost. Res., 70I Indiana Ave. Pupils, 395.
Glen Campbell
St. Michael's, Rev. Stanislaus F. Anuszkiewicz, in charge. Box 265. Arcadia,
Indiana Co., SS. Peter and Paul.
Greensburg
Most Holy Sacrament, Rev. Linus Brugger, O.S.B., in charge; Revs. Marcian
Kornides, O. S. B., James Imhof, O. S. B., assts. Res., 300 N. Main St. School13 Sisters of Charity (Seton Hill). Pupils, 458. Bovard, Westmoreland Co., St.
Bede's.
St. Bruno, 3I8 Reamer Ave., Rev. Gilbert Straub, O. S. B., in charge. MissionsYoungwood, Westmoreland Co., Holy Cross; Hunker, Westmoreland Co., St.
Gilbert. School-3 Sisters of Charity (70I Depot St., Youngwood, Pa.). Pupils,
IOO.
Our Lady of Grace (Italian), Tremont Ave. and Wood St., Rev. Nicola Albanese,
in charge. Res., 527 Highland Ave. Station--Ludwick, Westmoreland Co., St.
Anthony's.
APPENDIX
2I9CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Greentree
St. Margaret's, Very Rev. John J. McDonough, V.F., in charge. 914 Greentree
Rd., Wabash Station, Pittsburgh 20, Pa. School-5 Sisters of Divine Providence
(926 Greentree Rd., Wabash Station, Pittsburgh 20, Pa.). Pupils, I92.
Grindstone
St. Cecilia, Rev. Michael J. Filipcic, in charge.
Hays
Holy Angels', Rev. Michael J. Vitale, in charge; Rev. Charles P. Beck, asst. Res.,
408 Baldwin Rd. (P. O. Address: Hazelwood Branch, Pittsburgh 7, Pa.) School
-4 Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (366 Baldwin Rd.). Pupils, I97.
Heilwood
St. John the Baptist, Rev. Augustine C. Marzhauser, in charge. Box 255. MissionCameron's Bottom, Indiana Co., St. Patrick's.
Hendersonville
Attended by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
Herman
Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, Rev. Vincent Langguth, O.F.M. Cap., in
charge. School-5 Sisters of the Divine Providence. Pupils, I98.
Carbon Centre, St. Wendelin's, Rev. Ronald Schott, O. F. M. Cap., in charge.
(R.F.D. 2, Box 91, Butler, Pa.) School-2 Sisters of St. Francis (Millvale).
Pupils, 57Cabot, St. Joseph's, Rev. Benno Haggenmiller, O. F. M. Cap., in charge.
Harrisville, St. Anthony's, Rev. Lawrence Wiest, O. F. M. Cap., in charge. (P. O.,
Forestville, Pa.)
Slippery Rock, Rev. Gerard M. Greenewald, O. F. M. Cap., in charge.
North Oakland, St. Joseph's (German), Rev. Maynard Appeldorn, O. F.M. Cap.,
in charge. (R. F. D. 2, Chicora, Pa.)
West Winfield, St. Mary's, Rev. Benno Haggenmiller, O. F. M. Cap., in charge.
Herminie
St. Edward, Very Rev. Edward H. Kelly, V. F., in charge. Station-Madison,
Westmoreland Co., Our Lady of Victory.
Hill Station
St. Elizabeth's, attended by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
Hillsville
St. Lawrence's, Rev. Charles D. Galati, in charge. Box 23. Stations-Carbon and
Edenburg, Pa.
Homestead
St. Ann's (Slovak), Rev. Clement J. Hrtanek, in charge; Rev. Stanislaus C.
Piekarski, asst. Res., I207 Sylvan Ave.
St. Anthony's (Polish), Rev. Francis J. Kruk, in charge. Res., 303 E. Tenth Ave.
St. Margaret's (Hungarian). Res., 435 E. Tenth Ave., Munhall, Pa.
St. Mary Magdalen's, Rev. Vincent S. Burke, in charge; Revs. John A. Hartz,
220APPENDIX
John L. Doerfler, assts. Res., Ioo8 Amity St. School--I6 Sisters of Charity (II3
Tenth Ave.). Pupils, 625.
St. Michael's (Slovak), Rev. M. C. Slatinsky, in charge. Lock Box 358. School-9
Vincentian Sisters of Charity. Pupils, 450.
SS. Peter and Paul (Lithuanian), Rev. Ernest G. Wassel, in charge. Res., I321
Mifflin St. School-4 Lithuanian Sisters of St. Francis (324 E. Fourth Ave.).
Pupils, 73.
St. Teresa of Lisieux, Rev. Joseph D. Hagan, in charge; Rev. John A. Cavanaugh,
asst. (P. 0. Address: Box 647, Homestead Park.)
Homeville (P. O., Terrace, Pa.)
Resurrection, Rev. James L. Lavelle, in charge.
Imperial
St. Columbkille, Rev. Ladislaus R. Kolakowski, in charge. Box D. Mission--Moon
Run, Allegheny Co., Holy Trinity.
Indiana
St. Bernard's, Very Rev. James Brady, V. F., in charge; Rev. William T. Mullen,
asst. Res., 2I8 N. Fifth St. School-6 Sisters of St. Joseph (Baden) (35I N.
Fifth St.). Pupils, 201. 241 Catholic students at State Teachers College.
Indianola
St. Timothy's, Rev. Ambrose Hegerle, 0. F. M. Cap., in charge. Res., 220 Thirtyseventh St., Pittsburgh, Pa. Station-Harmarville, Allegheny Co., St. Francis.
Irwin
Immaculate Conception, Rev. Alphonse G. Mihm, in charge; Rev. Francis C.
Soisson, asst. Res., 312 Second St. School-6 Sisters of Charity (3Io Second St.).
Pupils, I70.
Iselin
Holy Cross, Rev. Vincent B. Kukleski, in charge. Stations-Aultman, Indiana Co.,
St. Anthony's; McIntyre, Indiana Co., St. Gertrude's.
Jeannette
Sacred Heart, Rev. Alban Basnik, 0. S. B., in charge; Revs. Fabian Frecker,
O. S. B., Raynold Prevenslik, O. S. B., assts. Res., 550 Cowan Ave. School--II
Benedictine Sisters (North Seventh St.). 2 Lay Teachers. Pupils, 438.
Ascension (Italian), Rev. Francis J. Mersinger, 0. S. B., in charge. Res., 607 Division Ave.
Josephine
St. Bonaventure, Rev. Matthew A. Yanosek, in charge. Address: St. Francis
Church, Graceton, Pa.
Kittanning
St. Mary's, Rev. Joseph A. Mitsch, in charge; Rev. John J. Hugo, asst. School-4
Sisters of St. Joseph (353 N. Jefferson St.). Pupils, I45. Station-Rimerton, Pa.
Kosco Mine
Attended by the Capuchin Fathers, Herman, Pa., under the auspices of the Missionary Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
221CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Latrobe
Holy Family, Rev. P. J. Kitrick, P.P.; Revs. William F. R. Frawley, Thomas F.
O'Connor, John A. Sieckowski, assts. Res., 1204 Ligonier St. School--II Sisters
of Mercy (Chestnut St.). 2 Lay Teachers. Pupils, 485.
St. Vincent, Rev. Lawrence Rogan, O. S. B., in charge; Rev. Jordan Burick, O. S. B.,
asst. School-4 Sisters of Mercy (St. Xavier Academy, Latrobe, Pa.). 2 Lay
Teachers. Pupils, 257.
Ligonier and Wilpen, Rev. Cyril Vlossak, O. S. B., in charge. Res., Ligonier, Pa.
Youngstown, Sacred Heart, Rev. Adrian Krakowski, O. S. B., in charge. Res., St.
Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, Pa. School-2 Lay Teachers. Pupils, 60.
St. John the Evangelist, Main and Alexandria Sts., Rev. Bronislaus E. Mieruniski,
in charge. 50I Alexandria St. 3 Felician Sisters do social work.
Leckrone
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rev. Fabian S. Kondrla, in charge. School-5 Vincentian Sisters of Charity. Pupils, I95. Station-Gates Mine.
Leechburg
St. Catherine's, Rev. J. Earl McNanamy, in charge; Rev. Daniel H. Brennan, asst.
Res., i68 Kirkpatrick St.
Church of the Assumption (Hungarian), Rev. Stephen D. Nyiri, J. C. D., in
charge. 222 Third St. Mission-New Kensington, Westmoreland Co., St. Elizabeth (Hungarian).
St. Martha's (Slovak), Rev. Robert A. Hanicak, in charge. Res., 350 Third St.
Leisenring
St. Vincent de Paul's, Rev. Cornelius H. Becker, in charge. Station-West Leisenring, Fayette Co.
Lucerne Mines
St. Louis, Rev. Marian Rosenthal, in charge. (P. O. Box I30, Homer City, Lucerne
Mines, Pa.) Station-Waterman.
Lyndora
St. John's, Rev. J. J. Maniak, in charge. I6 Chesapeake Ave., Box 407.
St. Stanislaus' (Polish), Rev. Adam A. Jurczyk, in charge.
McDonald
St. Alphonsus, Rev. Joseph A. Burgoon, in charge.
McKeesport
St. Peter's, Rev. Patrick J. O'Connor, P.P.; Revs. Ralph L. Hayes, Thomas H.
Morgan, assts. Res., 704 Market St. School1I7 Sisters of Mercy (7I5 Market
St.). I Lay Teacher. Pupils, 622.
St. Mary's (German), Rev. William C. Fromme, in charge; Rev. Lewis C. Bracht,
asst. Res., 4I4 Olive St. School-5 Sisters of Divine Providence (4I6 Olive St.).
Pupils, 204.
St. Mary's (Polish), Rev. Anthony J. Gonet, in charge; Rev. Walter E. Iwaniski,
asst. Res., 23I8 Versailles Ave. School-8 Felician Sisters (24I2 Versailles Ave.).
Pupils, 217.
222APPENDIX
Holy Trinity, Rev. Edward J. Duwell, in charge. Res., 120 Seventh Ave. School-8
Vincentian Sisters of Charity (I33 Seventh Ave.). Pupils, 345.
St. Pius V., Rev. Charles M. Keane, in charge; Revs. Patrick J. Fenton, Regis M.
Hannon, assts. 29II Versailles Ave. School-I4 Sisters of Mercy (2726 Versailles
Ave.). Pupils, 496.
St. Mary's (Romanian), Rev. John Spatariu, in charge. Res., 73 S. Prospect St.,
Youngstown, Ohio.
St. Stephen's (Magyar Church), Rev. John R. Rethy, in charge. Res., 2125 Beacon
St. School--5 Daughters of the Divine Redeemer (605 N. Park St.). Pupils, I58.
Sacred Heart (Croatian), Rev. Paul Francis Karavancic, T. O. R., in charge. Res.,
705 Shaw Ave. School-4 Sisters of the Precious Blood (642 Shaw Ave.). Pupils,
140.
St. Perpetua's (Italian), Rev. Pietro Rossi, in charge. Res., 612 Ridge St.
McKees Rocks
St. Mary Help of Christians (German), Rev. Leo L. Meyer, LL.D., P.P.; Revs.
Robert J. Letzkus, Herman J. Walter, assts. Res., IoII Church Ave. School-18
Sisters of Divine Providence (St. John St.). Pupils, 683.
St. Francis de Sales, Very Rev. Philip Moore, V. F., P. P.; Revs. Frank T. Weaver,
Howard J. Laffey, assts. 8io Chartiers Ave. School-Io Sisters of St. Dominic
(814 Chartiers Ave.). 2 Lay Teachers. Pupils, 483. High School-7 Sisters of
St. Dominic. Pupils, i68.
Mother of Sorrows (Italian), Rev. Carmine Cillo, in charge. Res., 92 Harlem Ave.
Convent (54 Harlem Ave.)-Zelatrices of the Sacred Heart. Do social work in
the parish.
St. Mark's (Slovak), Rev. Joseph Vrhunec, in charge. Res., 326 Munson Ave.
School-9 School Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis (324 Munson Ave.).
Pupils, 487.
SS. Cyril and Methodius (Polish), Rev. Francis Poszukanis, in charge. Res., Iog
Cutler St. School-4 Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (617 Island Ave.).
Pupils, 9o.
Madison (Darragh P. O.)
Our Lady of Victory, Very Rev. Edward H. Kelly, V.F., in charge. Res., Herminie, Pa.
Mahoningtown
St. Lucy's (Italian), Rev. Sebastian Ippolito, in charge. Res., ioI N. Cedar St.
St. Margaret's (Mahoningtown Station), Rev. James F. Kernan, in charge. Res.,
3II W. Clayton St.
Marguerite
St. Benedict's, Rev. Maurus Macey, O. S. B., in charge. Res., R. F. D. 3, Latrobe,
Pa. School-3 Lay Teachers. Pupils, io6.
Marianna
SS. Mary and Ann's, Rev. Aloysius J. Milcic, in charge; Rev. Michael E. Mihok,
223CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
journey; the first from a military, the second from a scientific standpoint.
Both reports have been published by the late Monsignor A. A. Lambing,
the first Catholic historian in Western Pennsylvania. From them it is
certain that these explorers stopped in the neighborhood of present Pittsburgh; first, above the city at old Chartier's Town (now Tarentum),
and twice below on the Ohio, at McKees Rocks and at Logstown (Beaver
Falls). The diaries do not state whether holy Mass was said at these
places, but, as this was customary at all stops in such expeditions, we can
safely affirm that Mass was celebrated. They were at Tarentum on Thursday, August 7; at McKees Rocks, August 8; and at Beaver Falls, Saturday
and Sunday, August 9 and io. Naturally we can be certain that at least on
the last day services were held.
The purpose of this expedition was to assert in the strongest way possible the right of France to this territory, which it claimed through
priority of discovery. To perpetuate this, they ceremoniously buried leaden
plates at the mouths of the principal tributaries of these rivers and thus
laid claim to all the territory drained by them. None of them has been
found in the vicinity of Pittsburgh. As some of the English colonies,
notably Virginia, objected to these claims, declaring that it was territory
inhabited by the Iroquois who had been assigned to England in the Peace
of Utrecht, a war followed. This contention led to the last of the FrenchIndian expeditions, a strictly military one in I754. During that period
Father Denis Baron, a Recollect friar, was stationed at Fort Duquesne,
now Pittsburgh. He became the first resident priest in this neighborhood.
The French forces arrived here on the afternoon of April I6, I754.
Therefore we can certainly say that on Wednesday, April I7, I754, the
first holy Mass was offered within the boundary of the present city and
within the "Golden Triangle." As the French first called the new fort
which they were building Fort Assumption, Father Baron dedicated the
altar and later the chapel to the "Assumption of the Blessed Virgin of
the Beautiful River," or, as we would say today, "St. Mary's on the
Ohio," or, "Our Lady of the Ohio." The burial records give only the
name Fort Duquesne till August 3, I754, inclusive, and from August 6,
invariably that of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. Therefore the
chapel was most probably dedicated between these two dates, the last
being a Sunday. It became the center of missionary activities which ex8CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
asst. Box i 6. Stations-Daisytown, Washington Co., St. Mary; Richeyville,
Washington Co., St. Agnes.
Mars
St. Kilian's, Rev. Fred J. Seibel, in charge. P. O. Box 343. Station-Bairdford,
Allegheny Co., St. Victor.
Masontown
All Saints', Very Rev. Francis J. Kolb, V. F., in charge. Res., ioi W. Church St.
School-IO  Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Pupils, 238.
Mission-McClellandtown, Fayette Co., St. Francis de Sales'.
Mather
St. Marcellus, attended from Our Lady of Consolation Church, Nemacolin, Pa.
Mayview
Pittsburgh City Home, attended from St. Anthony, Bridgeville.
Melcroft
St. Raymond, attended by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
Meridian
St. Conrad, attended by the Rev. Patrick McGann, O. F. M. Cap., St. Mary Monastery, Herman, Pa.
Midland
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Very Rev. George A. Baumer, in charge;
Rev. Paul P. Leger, asst. Box II3. Res., 772 Ohio Ave. School-8 Sisters of St.
Francis (Penn Ave.). Pupils, 325.
Midland Mine (P. O., Houston, Pa.)
Attended by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
Millvale
St. Ann's, Rev. Joseph A. Kirkbride, C. S. Sp., in charge; Rev. William J. Mullen,
C. S. Sp., asst. Res., 400 Lincoln Ave. School--II Sisters of the Third Order of
St. Francis (4I3 Evergreen Ave., Millvale). Sr. M. Paul, Supr. and Prin.
Pupils, 364.
St. Anthony's (German), Rev. Charles A. Kapp, C. S. Sp., in charge; Revs. Joseph
G. Noppinger, C. S. Sp., Augustus Olaf Reitan, C. S. Sp., assts. Res., 608 Farragut
St. School-I2 Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis (I04 North Ave.).
Pupils, 460.
St. Nicholas' (Croatian), Rev. Albert Zagar, T. O. R., in charge; Revs. Anthony
Nizic, T. O. R., Sebastian Loncar, T. O. R., assts. Res., 24 Maryland Ave. School
-6 Sisters of St. Francis (26 Maryland Ave.). Pupils, I74.
Monaca
St. John the Baptist, Rev. John Canova, in charge. Res., I409 Pennsylvania Ave.
Monessen
St. Leonard's, Rev. Owen J. Kirby, in charge; Rev. Raymond J. Lucas, asst. Res.,
72I Schoonmaker Ave. School-7 Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis (io8
Eighth St.). Pupils, I95.
St. Hyacinth's (Polish), Rev. Stanislaus M. Dembinski, in charge. Res., 420
224APPENDIX
Rostraver St. School-2 Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (228 Reed Ave.).
Pupils, 102.
St. Cajetan, Rev. Nunzio Pirulli, in charge. Res., 6i8 Knox Ave.
Most Holy Name of Jesus (Slovak), Rev. John Liska, 420 Reed Ave. School-8
Vincentian Sisters of Charity (424 Reed Ave.). Pupils, 222.
Monongahela
Transfiguration, Rev. Charles F. Gwyer, in charge. Res., 722 W. Main St. School4 Sisters of St. Joseph (8oi Chess St.). Pupils, I64.
St. Anthony's, Rev. Joseph L. Abate, in charge; Rev. Andrew B. Horvath, asst.
Res., 225 Park Ave.
Morganza
Pennsylvania Training School (State Institution), Rev. Edward N. Soxman,
Chaplain.
Mt. Lebanon (South Hills Branch, Pittsburgh, Pa.)
St. Bernard's, Rev. Joseph L. Lonergan, in charge; Revs. William P. Weirauch,
John J. Fitzgerald, Francis J. Rooney, assts. Res., 3II Washington Rd., South
Hills Branch, Pittsburgh i6, Pa. School--4 Sisters of St. Joseph (401 Washington Rd., South Hills Branch, Pittsburgh i6, Pa.). 2 Lay Teachers. Pupils, 637.
Mt. Pleasant
St. Bernardine's, Rev. Andrew Di Santo, in charge. Res., 341 Washington St.
St. Joseph's, Rev. Philip A. Dugan, P.P. Res., 114 S. Shupe St. School-5 Sisters
of Charity (Summit St.). Pupils, I40.
Transfiguration, Rev. Anthony A. Pniak, P. P.; Rev. Leon S. Darkowski, asst.
Res., Hitchman St. School-9 Felician Sisters (Smithfield St.). Pupils, 289.
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Slovak), Rev. Charles A. Janda, P. P. School
-5 Vincentian Sisters of Charity (724 Walnut St.). Pupils, 217.
Munhall
St. Francis, Rev. Charles F. Moosmann, in charge. Res., 8i5 McClure St. School-3
Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters (8II McClure St.). Pupils, 85.
Murrinsville
St. Alphonsus, Rev. Francis S. Clifford, in charge. (P. O., Boyers, Pa.) Annandale,
Butler Co., Epiphany.
Murrysville
Mother of Sorrows, attended by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
Natrona
St. Joseph's, Rev. Dennis J. Haggerty, in charge; Revs. Herman J. Heilmann,
Robert M. Murphy, assts. Res., 3I Garfield St. School-7 Sisters of St. Joseph
(I9 Garfield St.). i Lay Teacher. Pupils, 3Io. High School-Pupils, I20.
St. Ladislaus' (Polish), Rev. Leo B. Buza, in charge; Rev. Charles A. Kobylarz,
asst. Res., 48 Spruce St. School-II Bernardine Sisters (46 Spruce St.). Pupils,
438.
St. Mathias', Rev. Joseph P. Straka, in charge. 96 Pond St. School-7 Vincentian
Sisters of Charity (89 Chestnut St.). Pupils, I73.
225CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Natrona (West)
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rev. Stanislaus F. Idzik, in charge. Res., I283 Tenth
Ave., W.
Nemacolin
Our Lady of Consolation, Rev. Paul J. Simko, in charge; Rev. Francis A. Kozak,
asst. P. O. Box 568. Stations-Mather, Greene Co., St. Marcellus; Rices Landing,
Greene Co., Sacred Heart; Crucible, Greene Co., St. Mary.
New Brighton
St. Joseph's, Very Rev. Denis J. Maloney, V. F., in charge; Rev. Francis R. Mullen,
asst., 525 Seventh Ave. School-4 Sisters of St. Joseph (Eighth Ave.). Pupils, I80o.
SS. Cyril and Methodius, Rev. John J. Sima, in charge. Res., 309 Seventh St. School
-3 Vincentian Sisters of Charity (715 Third Ave.). Pupils, 95.
New Castle
St. Mary's, Rev. Francis M. McCarter, P.P.; Revs. Leo S. Watterson, Francis P.
King, assts. Res., I24 N. Beaver St. School-7 Sisters of St. Joseph (II9 N.
Beaver St.). Pupils. 308.
St. Joseph's, Rev. Francis C. Streiff, in charge; Rev. John M. Unger, asst. Res.,
II5 S. Jefferson St. School-4 Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, of
Millvale, Pa. (Res., 7 E. Lawrence St.). Pupils, I86.
St. Vitus', Rev. Nicola de Mita, in charge; Rev. Albert M. Inteso, asst. Res.,
3 Maitland St' Convent (5 Maitland St.)-4 Missionary Zelatrices of the Sacred
Heart engaged in Catechetical and Missionary work.
Madonna of Czenstochowa (Polish), Rev. Edward P. Pikulik, in charge. Res., 6
Maple St. School-5 Sisters of the Holy Ghost (Polish) (II4 Oakland Ave.).
Pupils, 78.
St. Michael's (Slovak), Rev. William M. Pisarcik, in charge. Res., 1705 Moravia
St. School-4 School Sisters of St. Francis (II9 Miller St.). Pupils, 95.
SS. Philip and James, Rev. Vincent V. Stancelewski, in charge. Res., io E.
Chartes St. School-4 Sisters of the Holy Ghost (1709 Hanna St.). Pupils, I50.
St. John the Baptist (Maronite), Rev. Elias G. Nader, in charge. Res., I2Io Howard
Way.
New Derry
St. Martin's, Rev. George H. Amend, in charge.
New Florence
St. Mary's, Rev. Jerome Rupprecht, O. S.B., in charge. Res., St. Vincent Archabby, Latrobe, Pa.
New Kensington
St. Mary's of Czenstochowa (Polish), Rev. Casimir F. Orlemanski, in charge;
Revs. Francis S. Lizik, Stanislaus J. Zolnierzak, assts. 857 Kenneth Ave. School8 Felician Sisters. Pupils, 330.
All Saints (Slovak), Rev. Michael P. Kushner, in charge. Res., I700 Leishman
Ave., Arnold, Pa.
St. Joseph's, Very Rev. Francis J. Hertzog, V.F., in charge; Revs. Raymond A.
226Must, Joseph F. Sullivan, assts. Res., 1125 Leishman Ave. School-io Sisters of
St. Joseph (II56 Kenneth Ave.). Pupils, 422.
St. Peter's, Rev. Nicolo Fusco, in charge; Revs. Dominic J. Olivieri, John H.
Fording, assts. Res., Ioo Freeport Rd. Chapel-Braeburn, Pa., St. John Bosco.
Station-Glassmere, Valley Heights.
New Salem
St. Procopius', Rev. John J. Skrak, in charge. Box ii. School-7 Vincentian Sisters
of Charity (Box 45I). Pupils, 264.
Nicholson Run
Guardian Angels, attended from Cadogan.
Noblestown
St. Patrick's, Rev. John P. O'Reilly, in charge.
North Oakland (Chicora P. O., R. F. D. 2)
St. Joseph's (English), Rev. John M. Kilgallen, in charge.
North Rochester
St. Pudentiana (Italian), Rev. Edgar J. Schano, O. F. M. Cap., in charge. Res.,
303 Jackson St., Rochester, Pa.
Oakmont
St. Irenaeus', Rev. John H. Fennell, in charge. Res., Delaware Ave. School-6
Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (620 Oakmont Ave.). Pupils, 142.
Overbrook Borough (P. O., Mt. Oliver Station, Pittsburgh)
St. Norbert's, Rev. Leo J. Sehringer, in charge; Rev. Michael E. McNamara, asst.
School-8 Sisters of Divine Providence (Norbert St.). Pupils, 392.
Palmer (P. O., Adah)
St. Albert, Rev. Anthony J. Politowski, Pastor. Box I5o. Station-Isabella, St.
Julian, Fayette Co. (Hillcoke P. O.).
Parkers Landing
St. Mary's, Rev. Charles B. Guth, in charge. Station-Petrolia, Butler Co., St.
James.
Penn
St. Boniface, Rev. Joseph M. Ganter, in charge. Box 52. School--5 Sisters of Divine
Providence. Pupils, I44.
Perryopolis
St. John the Baptist, Rev. Andrew J. Suran, in charge. Summer School--For religious instruction, taught by Sisters of Charity, Greensburg.
Perrysville
St. Teresa's, Rev. Aug. H. Schoppol, in charge. School-4 Benedictine Sisters.
Pupils, I52.
Pine Creek (Glenshaw P. O.),
St. Mary's, Rev. Anthony P. Scholz, in charge. School-4 Sisters of Divine
Providence. Pupils, I37.
Pitcairn
St. Michael's, Rev. Leo A. McCrory, in charge.
APPENDIX
227CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Pleasant Hills
St. Elizabeth, Rev. Henry L. Immekus, in charge. Grove PI., R. F. D., Pittsburgh
Io, Pa. Mission-Willock, Allegheny Co., St. David.
Pleasant Valley
Attended by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
Point Marion
St. Hubert's, Rev. Francis H. Topping, in charge; Rev. Frederick J. Sauer, asst.
Missions--Bobtown, Greene Co., St. Ignatius.
Rankin
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Croatian), Rev. Bosiljko Bekavac, in charge.
Res., 309 Kenmawr Ave. 7 Sisters of Divine Charity (3I5 Kenmawr Ave.),
engaged in catechetical and missionary work.
St. Barnabas' (Slovak), Rev. John E. Martin, in charge. Res., 204 Fourth St.
School-4 Vincentian Sisters of Charity (408 Rankin St.). Pupils, 85.
Renton
St. Januarius, attended by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
Republic (P. O., Cardale)
Our Lady of Czenstochowa (Polish), Rev. Edward J. Napieralski, in charge.
Holy Rosary (Slovak), Rev. Andrew J. Balok, in charge. Box 25I. School-4 Vincentianr Sisters. Pupils, 128.
Reserve Township (P. O., Box 926, R. F. D. 8, Sharpsburg Branch, Pittsburgh, Pa.)
St. Aloysius', Rev. J. P. Hungerman, in charge. School-4 Sisters of Notre Dame
(P. O., Box 926, R.F.D. 8, Sharpsburg Branch, Pittsburgh, Pa.). Pupils, II7.
Rimer
Attended from St. Mary's, Kittanning, Pa.
Rochester
St. Cecilia's, Rev. Bertrand Brookman, O. F. M. Cap., Pastor; Rev. Mathias Gallenz,
O. F. M. Cap., asst.; Revs. Guy Golden, O. F. M. Cap., Edgar J. Schano, O. F. M.
Cap. Res., 303 Jackson St. School-Io Sisters of Divine Providence (380 Washington St.). Pupils, 364.
Roscoe
St. Joseph's, Rev. Herman J. Wilhelm, in charge. Box 23. Fayette City, Fayette
Co., St. Eusebius'.
Rossiter
St. Francis of Assisi, Rev. James F. Olko, in charge. Box 63I.
Russellton
Transfiguration, Rev. Joseph S. J. Kulacz, in charge; Rev. Joseph A. Stankiewicz,
asst. Stations-Curtisville, Allegheny Co.; Superior, Westmoreland Co.
Sagamore
Sacred Heart, Rev. Joseph G. Malinak, in charge. Station-Beyer, Indiana Co.,
once a month.
228APPENDIX
Scottdale
St. John the Baptist, Rev. Patrick J. Graney, P. P. Res., 501 S. Broadway. School5 Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (504 S. Broadway). Pupils, I30.
Seminole
SS. Cosmas and Damian, attended from New Bethlehem. Rev. James J. O'Connor,
in charge. Address: New Bethlehem, Pa.
Seward
Holy Family Church, Rev. Bede Hornick, O.S.B., Pastor. Box 263. MissionDilltown, Indiana Co., Annunciation.
Sewickley
St. James', Rev. George F. Hurley, in charge; Rev. Nicholas A. Biondi, asst.
Res., 336 Walnut St. School-5 Sisters of St. Joseph. Pupils, 142.
Sharpsburg
St. Joseph's, Rev. Denis J. Cox, P. P.; Rev. George T. Margo, asst. Res., 220 Ninth
St. School-8 Sisters of Charity (Ninth and Clay Sts.). I Lay Teacher. Pupils,
271.
St. John Cantius, Rev. John H. Styka, in charge. Res., 612 Penn St. School-5
Felician Sisters (621 High St.). Pupils, I89.
St. Mary's, Rev. Joseph A. Rossenbach, C. S. Sp., in charge; Revs. Joseph M. Lang,
C. S. Sp., Raymond A. Wilhelm, C. S. Sp., assts. Res., 2Io Penn St. School-I5
Sisters of Divine Providence (21 Garnier St.). I Lay Teacher. Pupils. 612.
Madonna of Jerusalem (Italian), Rev. Carmine Falcone, in charge; Rev. John J.
Thomas, asst. Res., 6oI W. Main St.
Shoaf (Smithfield, Pa., R. F. D. 2, Box 99)
St. Helen, attended by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
Slickville
St. Sylvester, Rev. Wendelin Gallovich, O. S. B., in charge. Res., St. Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, Pa.
Slippery Rock
St. Peter, Rev. Gerard M. Greenewald, O.F. M. Cap., St. Mary Monastery, Herman, Pa.
Smithton
St. Timothy's, Rev. Francis R. Gresko, in charge. Mission-Van Meter, Pa.
Smock
St. Hedwig's, Rev. Joseph T. Bednarik, in charge. Box 235.
Springdale
St. Alphonsus', Rev. August C. Bieger, in charge. Res., 249 James St., Box 8I.
School-4 Sisters of Divine Providence (Pittsburgh St.). Pupils, 178.
Starford
St. Elizabeth, Rev. Albert H. Turlik, in charge. Box 222.
Sugar Creek (Worthington, Pa., P. O., R. F. D. i)
St. Patrick's, Rev. Patrick A. Kiernan, in charge.
229CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Sutersville
St. Charles Borromeo, Rev. J. Raymond Mulvihill, in charge. Box 43I. Res., Third
St. Alpsville, Allegheny Co., St. Patrick's. Stations-Lowber, Westmoreland
Co., St. Basil's; Greenock, Allegheny Co., St. John the Baptist.
Swissvale
St. Anselm's, Very Rev. Clarence A. Sanderbeck, V. F., in charge; Revs. Paul W.
Dillon, Raymond R. Higgins, assts. Res., 7446 McClure Ave., Pittsburgh I8, Pa.
School-20 Sisters of Charity (7445 Church St.). Pupils, 647.
Madonna del Castello, Rev. Vincent Giovannitti, in charge. Res., 7418 Duquesne
Ave.
Tarentum
St. Peter's, Rev. Thomas J. McPherson, in charge; Rev. Albert P. Ackerman, asst.
Res., 8I4 Western St.
Sacred Heart, Rev. Julius F. Zehler, C. S. Sp., in charge; Rev. Joseph E. Landy,
C. S. Sp., asst. Res., 344 W. Ninth Ave. School-3 Sisters of Divine Providence
(353 W. Ninth Ave.). Pupils, Io03.
St. Clement's, Rev. Ambrose Capitan, in charge; Rev. Joseph J. Hmelyar, asst.
Res., 201 W. Ninth Ave. School-7 School Sisters of St. Francis (2I8 Ninth
Ave.). Pupils, 235.
Thompson's Run (P. O., Homestead, Pa., R. F. D. I)
St. Agnes', Rev. Peter C. Gottschall, in charge. School-3 Sisters of the Holy
Ghost. Pupils, 90.
Thorn Hill, Warrendale
Attended from St. Joseph Protectory, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Trafford
St. Regis', Rev. Terence McCabe, in charge. Res., 506 Gilmore St.
Trauger
Forty Martyrs, Rev. John Ujlaki, 0. S. B., D. D., in charge. Box I23.
Turtle Creek
St. Colman's, Rev. John P. Shields, P.P.; Revs. George J. Goralka, Henry C.
Riley, assts. Res., 549 Hunter St. School-I4 Sisters of Mercy (312 Larimer
Ave.). I Lay Teacher. Pupils, 600.
Uniontown
St. John's, Rev. Thomas J. Dunn, P.P.; Rev. Michael J. Conroy. asst. School--I4
Sisters of St. Joseph. Pupils, 450.
St. George (Maronite), Rev. Nematallah Hayek, in charge. Res., 124 Lincoln St.
St. Joseph's, Rev. John Rokosz, P. P. Res., 250 S. Mt. Vernon Ave. School-3 Sisters of the Holy Ghost (248 S. Mt. Vernon Ave.). Pupils, 75.
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Rev. John Blazic, P. P.; Rev. John A. Hruska,
asst. Res., 6i N. Mt. Vernon Ave. School-5 Vincentian Sisters of Charity (60
N. Mt. Vernon Ave.). Pupils, I40. Station-Lemont, Fayette Co., St. Cecilia's.
St. Therese, the Little Flower of Jesus (Italian), Rev. Ettore Moscoloni, in charge;
Rev. Francis R. Boyle, asst. Res., 6I Mill St.
230APPENDIX                               23I
United
St. Florian's, Rev. Louis P. Hohos, in charge. Box 53. School-5 Vincentian Sisters of Charity. Pupils, 132.
Unity
St. John the Baptist, Rev. Michael B. Fialko, in charge.
Vandergrift
St. Gertrude's, Rev. Aemilian Schlimm, O. S. B., in charge. Res., 3II Franklin
Ave. Apollo, Armstrong Co., St. James.
(East) Holy Trinity, Rev. Hubert Macko, O. S. B., in charge. Res., 4II McKinley
Ave., East Vandergrift, Pa.
All Saints (Polish), Rev. Edward P. Sierocki, in charge. Res., East Vandergrift,
Pa., Box 3I.
St. Casimir (Lithuanian), Rev. Joseph Herdegen, O. S. B., in charge. Res., 416
McKinley Ave., Box 486, East Vandergrift, Pa.
Verona
St. Joseph's, Rev. Chas. Duwell, in charge; Rev. Adelbert E. Williams, asst.
School-6 School Sisters of Notre Dame. Pupils, 300.
Wampum
St. Monica's, Rev. Edmund F. Rowan, asst. Hoytdale, Beaver Co., St. Teresa's.
Washington
Immaculate Conception, Very Rev. Martin J. Hughes, V.F., P.P.; Rev. Leonard
J. Scully, asst. Res., IIg W. Chestnut St. School-I2 Sisters of Mercy (II9 N.
Franklin St.). 2 Lay Teachers. Pupils, 52I. Commercial pupils, 23. Claysville,
Washington Co., Sacred Heart.
St. Hilary, Rev. Andrew J. Zapora, in charge. Res., 340 Henderson Ave.
Waynesburg
St. Ann's, Rev. George P. Angel, in charge. Res., S. Cumberland St. Jollytown,
Greene Co., St. John's.
Westland
Attended by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.
West Newton
Holy Family, Rev. Michael J. Hegerich, in charge. Res., 225 Second St. StationsReduction, Hutchinson; and Collinsburg, St. James.
West Pittsburgh
Holy Cross, Rev. Sylvester A. Doyle, in charge. Res., Providence Hospital, Beaver
Falls, Pa.
West View (P. O., Bellevue, Pittsburgh, Pa.)
St. Athanasius', Very Rev. August A. Vogt, V.F., in charge; Rev. Joseph G.
Courtney, asst. Res., Io Wentworth Ave. School-9 Benedictine Sisters (Chalfonte Ave.). Pupils, 372.
Wexford
St. Alphonsus', Rev. Ferdinand H. Angel, in charge. R. F. D. 2.CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Whitaker
St. Rita, Rev. Paul J. Odelga, in charge.
Whitney
St. Cecilia's, Rev. Cuthbert Gallick, O. S. B., in charge. School-6 Sisters of SS.
Cyril and Methodius. Pupils, I46.
Wilkinsburg
St. James', Rt. Rev. Msgr. Stephen Walsh, P.P.; Revs. Joseph J. Hochberg, Edward G. Joyce, assts. Res., 718 Franklin Ave. School--I4 Sisters of Charity (721
Rebecca Ave.). Pupils, 5I6.
Willock
St. David, attended from St. Elizabeth, Pleasant Hills, Pa.
Wilmerding
St. Aloysius', Very Rev. M. A. McGarey, V. F., in charge; Rev. John T. Flaherty,
asst. Res., 405 Westinghouse Ave. School-6 Dominican Sisters. Pupils, 250.
St. Leocadia (Polish), Rev. Anthony M. Twardy, in charge. Res., 20I Caldwell
Ave. School-3 Felician Sisters (5I3 Commerce St.). Pupils, 72.
Wireton
St. Catherine's, attended from St. Joseph's, Aliquippa, Pa.
Woodville
Allegheny County Home and Woodville State Hospital for the Insane, Rev.
Vincent M. Leonard, Chaplain.
Yatesboro
St. Mary's, Rev. Philip Platania, in charge. Nu Mine, Armstrong Co., St. Gabriel;
Dayton, Armstrong Co.
Yukon
Seven Dolors, Rev. Michael A. Dravecky, in charge. Box A.
Zelienople
St. Gregory's, Rev. Peter J. Bernarding, in charge; Rev. Joseph F. Battung, asst.
School-4 Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis (Beaver St.). Pupils, 66.
Stations-Evans City, Butler Co., St. Matthias; Buhl Hill, Butler Co.
Secretariate of State, Vatican City: Rev. Walter S. Carroll.
Catholic University, Washington, D. C.: Revs. Jerome D. Hannan, J. C. D., Coleman
F. Carroll, Paul R. Coyle, Marcus A. O'Brien.
Mt. St. Mary College, Emmittsburg, Md.: Rev. Peter A. Coad.
St. Charles College, Catonsville, Md.: Rev. Richard Ginder.
National Catholic Welfare Conference, Washington, D. C.: Rev. Howard J. Carroll.
Diocese of Harrisburg, Pa.: Revs. Leo J. Beck, Hugh F. Biedenbach, Paul P. Bassompierre, George A. Benton, Thomas R. Bartley.
Diocese of Paterson, N. J.: Revs. William F. Dell, Albert J. Gladis.
Diocese of Tucson, Ariz.: Rev. Bernard P. O'Boyle.
Chaplains in U. S. Armed Forces: U. S. Army: Revs. Herman C. Baumann, Herbert
F. Butterbach, Paul J. Giegerich, Joseph A. Nee, George T. Sullivan, William
232J. Ryan, Andrew J. Schneider, Francis J. Bailey, Dennis J. Doran, Michael P.
Hinnebusch, William D. Savage. U. S. Navy: Revs. John R. Boslet, Walter A.
Mahler, Joseph P. Mannion. U. S. Marines: Rev. Paul A. Nee.
Retired: Revs. Apolonius Tyszka, II9 Kaplin Ave., Mt. Oliver Station, Pittsburgh,
Pa.; Julius Vrana, 62I E. Thirteenth Ave., Munhall, Pa.; Joseph Rossmann,
Knights Home, Wellsburg, W. Va.
Unassigned: Revs. Dante J. De Lillo, William M. F. Galvin, James R. Cullen,
Andrew J. Charnoki, Martin R. Connelly, Charles E. Demblowski, Charles N.
Georgevich, Thomas J. Horner, Michael E. Kubacky, Francis I. Kuczynski,
Francis M. Lesniak, Albert J. Marconyak, Raymond A. McColligan, Raymond
C. McLean, Henry J. Moeller, Jolin L. Phillips, Joseph A. Raynak, Ralph W.
Young.
On Sick Leave: Revs. John Greschner, Emil Sloupsky, Rudolph Habrda, Stephen
Varga, Modesto Parolini, B. Pawlowski, James A. Healy, Charles P. Schafer,
Francis J. McCabe, Bernard J. McCabe, Francis A. Maloney, Ladislaus Lipski,
Joseph E. Janok, Thomas F. Quilter.
Absent on Leave: Revs. Udalric Necid, H. B. Callahan, Miles Sweeney, John
Pawlowski, Timothy F. King, Bernard J. McBride, Raymond J. Buechel, James
P. Harvey, John L. Imhof, William F. Bey, Luke F. Owens, John Lyons, W. J.
Osinski, John Kovalsky, Arthur E. O'Shea.
INSTITUTIONS IN CHARGE OF SECULAR CLERGY
Pittsburgh
St. Joseph's Protectory for Homeless Boys, 552 Protectory P1. 70 Homeless Boys.
Rev. F. J. Huber, Superintendent; Rev. Henry J. Donabedian, asst. StationsWestern Penitentiary (State Institution); North Side, Pittsburgh; Industrial and
Training School for Boys, Thorn Hill, Warrendale.
St. Joseph's House of Hospitality, 6I Tannehill St., Pittsburgh, Pa. Rev. Charles
Owen Rice, Director. Free home for indigent men.
St. Francis' House of Hospitality. "The Catholic Worker," 24I8 Carson St., S. S.,
Pittsburgh, Pa. Works of mercy. Literature distributed. Meals to the hungry;
shelter to the homeless. Spiritual counsel given by the Passionist Fathers.
Mother of Good Counsel House, 28 Fernando St. Operated by the St. Vincent
de Paul Society. Rev. John J. Hugo, Director.
INSTITUTIONS IN CHARGE OF RELIGIOUS ORDERS
ORDERS OF MEN
Pittsburgh
Catholic District High School for Boys, 4720 Fifth Ave., Oakland Branch. The
school is a diocesan institution under the care of the Christian Brothers. Rev.
Brother Denis, F. S. C., Principal; Rev. Brother Elidbert, F. S. C., Vice-Principal.
The Faculty consists of 42 Christian Brothers and 9 Lay Teachers. Number of
Students, 1,423.
Northside Boys' Catholic High School, 1366 Troy Hill Rd., N. S., Pittsburgh, Pa.
APPENDIX
233EARLY CATHOLICITY IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
tended beyond the walls of the fort. The original baptismal register, still
in existence and published by Monsignor Lambing, attests to these activities. Various nationalities are also represented. Father Baron's ministry
included French, Irish, English, German, and Indian Catholics. The
last-named were the young and old of several tribes. One of these baptisms was that of Daniel Norment, the first white child born in this region of whom there is any record. Father Baron's burial entries after the
Battle of Braddock's Field, on July 9, I755, which state that four French
soldiers were interred, have been assailed repeatedly. They agree, however, with the Smith's Relations, in which Mr. Smith, an English prisoner
of war at Fort Duquesne, wrote: "From the best information I could
receive there were only seven Indians and four French killed in that
battle."
Fort Duquesne was about to become an important missionary center
in Western Pennsylvania when it was taken by the English in November
I758. Today we must admire the zeal of Father Baron in preserving its
ecclesiastical records. They became the first foundation stones of the
great Diocese of Pittsburgh, and they are among the oldest and most
precious documents of Christianity in Western Pennsylvania.
THE ENGLISH PERIOD
(I758-I783)
During the French-Indian period the territory of Western Pennsylvania was closely joined to Catholic Canada and the Bishopric of Quebec
in the north. With the capture of Fort Duquesne in I758 it became
united in political matters with the Province of Pennsylvania, and in
religious questions depended on the Vicariate of London, England. This
change increased also the immigration from the Eastern parts of the
colonies and from Europe, especially England, Ireland, and Germany.
These new settlers came chiefly over the three main routes: the northern
Frankstown trail; the central Forbes Road, called also the "Great Road
to Ft. Pitt"; and the southern course, which followed chiefly General
Braddock's Road. This seems to account in some measure for the rise and
the development of the three first Catholic settlements in the neighborhood of Pittsburgh' The Butler colonies in the north, the Sportsman's
Hall Parish in the east, and the family groups in the Monongahela Valley
in the south. The majority of these newcomers were poor in wordly goods.
9CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
This school is a diocesan institution under the supervision of the Brothers of
Mary, Dayton, Ohio. Brother Frederick C. Hartwich, S. M., Principal. 24 Brothers. I Lay Teachers. Pupils, 938. Rev. George Barrett, S. M., Chaplain.
Duquesne University (Conducted by the Holy Ghost Fathers), 8oi Bluff St. Very
Rev. Raymond V. Kirk, C. S. Sp., Ph. D., President; Rev. John J. Sullivan,
C. S. Sp., Ph. D., Vice-President; Rev. Edward J. Recktenwald, C. S. Sp., Treasurer; Revs. Henry J. Goebel, C. S. Sp., James F. Carroll, C. S. Sp., S. T. D.,
Michael O'Connor, C. S. Sp., Francis X. Williams, C. S. Sp., William E. O'Donnell, C.S. Sp., John J. Manning, C. S. Sp., William J. Holt, C. S. Sp., Michael
J. Dwyer, C.S. Sp., Edward M. Smith, C.S. Sp., Francis P. Smith, C.S. Sp.,
Louis A. Dietrich, C. S. Sp., Joseph P. Lucey, C. S. Sp., George Harcar, C. S. Sp.,
Salvator Federici, C. S. Sp., Joseph Moroney, C. S. Sp., Joseph Lauritis, C. S. Sp.,
Vernon J. Gallagher, C.S. Sp., William Hogan, C.S. Sp., John P. Gallagher,
C. S. Sp., W. F. O'Neill, C. S. Sp., J. E. Baney, C. S. Sp., H. Kline, C. S. Sp., F.
Duffy, C. S. Sp.; Brothers Ammon, Artheme, Daniel, Gaudentius, Gerard,
Stephen. Faculty: Fathers, I3; Lay Professors, 162. Critic Teachers (Fifth Avenue
High School), 20; Librarians, 4. University Students, I,919. Summer School
(year 1942), 962. The University is Co-Educational and comprises the following
Colleges and Schools: College of Arts and Sciences, Rev. E. M. Smith, C. S. Sp.,
B. A., Acting Dean; School of Business Administration, Albert B. Wright,
D. C. S., Dean; School of Music, Rev. John J. Manning, C. S. Sp., B.A., Dean;
School of Law, C. Gerald Brophy, A. B., A.M., LL. B., Dean; School of Education, Lester A. Pierce, D. Ed., Dean; School of Nursing, Mary W. Tobin,
R. N. B. S., M. A., Dean; School of Pharmacy, Hugh C. Muldoon, Ph. G., B. S.,
D. Sc., Dean; Graduate School, Rev. James F. Carroll, C. S. Sp., S. T. D., Dean;
Dean of Men, Rev. Francis X. Williams, C. S. Sp., M.A.; Dean of Women,
Kathryn B. Redman, D. Ed.; Registrar, Maurice J. Murphy, M. in Ed.; Librarian,
M. Gertrude Blanchard, B. A.
St. Augustine Monastery, 220 Thirty-seventh St., Arsenal Station. Motherhouse of
St. Augustine Province of the Capuchin Order. Very Rev. Claude Vogel, O. F. M.
Cap., Provincial; Rev. Rupert Glaid, O. F. M. Cap., Guardian; Very Rev.
Justin Walz, O. F. M. Cap., Pastor; Rev. Francis Laing, O. F. M. Cap., Provincial
Secretary; Revs. John M. Lenhart, O. F. M. Cap., Clement Pfeifer, O. F. M. Cap.,
Joseph Leonissa Trageser, O.F.M. Cap., Basil Heim, O.F.M. Cap., Ferdinand
Hartung, O. F. M. Cap., Angelus Seikel, O. F. M. Cap., Clarence Tschippert,
O. F. M. Cap., Ambrose Hegerle, O. F. M. Cap., Oswald Greiner, O. F. M. Cap.,
Cecil Nally, O. F. M. Cap., Ernest Horning, O. F. M. Cap., Innocent Klabnik,
O. F. M. Cap., Henry Kusnerik, O.F.M. Cap. Fathers, I7; Brothers, 3. Applications for Missions and Retreats should be sent to Superior of Mission Band,
St. Francis Friary, Castlegate Ave., South Hills Station, Pittsburgh, Pa.
St. Francis Friary, Capuchin Order of St. Francis, Castlegate Ave., Brookline
Station, Pittsburgh, Pa. Mission House of the Capuchin Fathers of the Pennsylvania Province. Rev. David Dressman, O. F. M. Cap., Superior of the Friary
234APPENDIX                                235
and of the Mission Band, and Chaplain at Toner Institute; Rev. Regis Krah,
O. F. M. Cap., Director of Toner Institute. Missionaries: Revs. Florence Kirchgessner, O. F. M. Cap., Camillus Schmitt, O. F. M. Cap., Edgar Schano, O. F. M.
Cap., Marcellus Fuller, O. F. M. Cap., Norbert Miller, O. F. M. Cap., Alan J.
Madden, O. F. M. Cap., U. S. Army Chaplain, Indiantown Gap, Pa. Applications
for Missions and Retreats should be made to the Superior of the Mission Band,
St. Francis Friary, Castlegate Ave., Brookline Station, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Lithuanian Franciscan Fathers, 3Io Orchard St., Knoxville, Pittsburgh Io, Pa.
Rev. Justin Vaskys, O. F. M., Superior.
Toner Institute and Seraphic Home, Castlegate and Dorchester Aves., Brookline
Station, Pittsburgh, Pa. Under the direction of the Capuchin Fathers. Training
School for Boys. Rev. Regis P. Krah, O. F. M. Cap., Director. Rev. David Dressman, O. F. M. Cap., Chaplain. 17 Sisters of Divine Providence. Sr. M. Alveria,
Superior. Boys, I50.
St. Paul's Monastery, Congregation of the Most Holy Cross and Passion of Our
Lord Jesus Christ (Passionist Fathers), Eighteenth St. and Monastery Ave.,
S. S., Pittsburgh, Pa. Post Office Address: Carson Station. Very Rev. Leonard
Gownley, C. P., Rector; Very Rev. Berchmans Lanagan, C. P., Master of Novices;
Rev. Camillus Barth, C.P., Vice-Rector; Rev. Leo Francis Byrne, C.P., ViceMaster of Novices; Rev. Romuald Walsh, C. P., Director of Laymen's Retreats;
Rev. Benedict Huck, C. P., Pastor of St. Michael's; Revs. Wendelin Meis, C. P.,
Walter Wynn, C. P., Harold Poletti, C. P., Assts. of St. Michael's. Missionaries:
Revs. Sebastian Ochsenreiter, C. P., Linus Monahan, C. P., Anselm Moyle, C. P.,
Xavier Gonter, C. P., Leo Smith, C. P., Gerard Keeney, C. P., Theodore Stout,
C. P., Raphael Duffy, C. P., Austin Busby, C. P., Theophane Kapcar, C. P.,
George Sheehy, C.P., Leander Delli Veneri, C.P., Julian Connors, C.P., Paul
Joseph Dignan, C.P., Francis Kuba, C.P. Fathers, 24; Professed Brothers, 4;
Novices, 15. Applications for Missions and Retreats should be sent to Rev. Fr.
Provincial, C. P., St. Michael's Monastery, Union City, N. J.
Avalon
Holy Family Monastery, Inc. (Friars Minor). Franciscan Fathers, Commissariat
of the Holy Savior, 232 S. Home Ave., Bellevue Branch, Pittsburgh, Pa. Very
Rev. Martinian Krajcir, O. F. M., Commissary Provincial; Rev. Francis S.
Duchala, O. F. M., Guardian-Commissary of the Third Order; Rev. Isidore
Dobrovodsky, O. F. M., Vicar. Missionaries: Revs. Paul Kulka, O. F. M., Ramon
Sollance, O. F. M., Benedict Stulc, O. F. M., Daniel Drab, O. F. M., Louis Mihok,
O.F.M. Fathers, Io; Brother, I. Studying at Catholic University, Washington,
D. C.: Rev. Roger Zenaty, O. F. M.
Ben Avon
St. Anthony Friary and Mission House, 226 Rostrevor P1. Franciscan Fathers of
the Assumption of B. V. M. Province (Polish). Rev. Richard Plucinski, O. F. M.,
Guardian, Missionary; Rev. Seraphin Kopanski, O. F.M., Vice-Guardian, First
Consultor, Missionary; Rev. Aloysius Staskiewicz, O. F. M., Commissary; Rev.CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Casimir Stec, O. F. M., Chaplain at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School,
Coraopolis, Pa.; Rev. Cyril Mitera, 0. F. M., Master of Brothers; Rev. Ambrose
Pocek, O. F. M., Second Consultor; Rev. Gerald Stajkowski, O. F. M., Librarian,
Confessor of Brothers. Fathers, 7; Brothers, 2.
Herman
St. Mary's Monastery and St. Fidelis Seminary. Capuchin Fathers. Very Rev.
Athanasius Karlin, O. F. M. Cap., Guardian; Rev. Patrick McGann, O. F. M. Cap.,
Vicar, Pastor at Meridian, Pa.; Rev. Cyril Zeller, O.F.M. Cap.; Rev. Benno
Haggenmiller, O.F.M. Cap., Pastor at Cabot and West Winfield; Revs. Bede
Herrmann, O. F. M. Cap., Austin Waldvogel, O. F. M. Cap.; Rev. Victor Greene,
O. F. M. Cap., Director of the Seminary; Rev. Harold Vogler, O. F. M. Cap.;
Rev. Vincent Langguth, O. F.M. Cap., Pastor; Rev. Gerard M. Greenewald,
O. F. M. Cap., Pastor at Slippery Rock; Rev. Mark Linnenberger, O. F. M. Cap.,
Military Chaplain; Rev. Linus Doemling, O.F.M. Cap., Procurator; Rev. Giles
Staab, O. F. M. Cap.; Rev. Ronald Schott, O. F. M. Cap., Pastor at Carbon Centre; Rev. Reginald Wiest, O. F. M. Cap.; Rev. Carol Warner, O. F. M. Cap., in
charge of Confraternity Missions; Rev. Maynard Appledorn, O. F. M. Cap.,
Pastor at North Oakland; Rev. Arnold Yanker, O.F.M. Cap., Prefect; Rev.
Armand Yaeglin, O. F. M. Cap., Prefect; Revs. Guy Golden, O. F. M. Cap.,
Louis Glantz, O. F. M. Cap.; Rev. Columban Boyle, O. F. M. Cap., Prefect; Rev.
Lawrence Wiest, O. F. M. Cap., Pastor at Forestville; Rev. Cajetan Pikus, O. F. M.
Cap. Fathers, 24; Brothers, 6.
St. Fidelis Seminary. Attached to the monastery. Provides a six-year course of
Classical Training for young men who intend to join the Capuchin Order and
for other students for the Priesthood. i8 Father Professors. Rev. Victor Green,
O. F. M. Cap., Director. Students, II2.
Latrobe
St. Vincent Archabbey of the Order of St. Benedict, including Seminary, College,
Preparatory College, Scholasticate. Rt. Rev. Alfred Koch, O.S.B., Archabbot
and President; Very Rev. Celestine Huber, O. S. B., Prior; Rev. Felix Fellner,
O. S. B., Subprior; Rev. Malachy Brawley, O. S. B., Master of Novices; Revs.
Fidelis Busam, O.S.B., Modestus Wirtner, O.S. B., Leo Eichenlaub, O.S.B.,
Walter Stehle, O. S. B., Hilary Kaib, O. S. B., Augustine Minkel, O. S. B., Ernest
Gensheimer, 0. S. B., Gerard Bridge, O. S. B., Mark Kistner, O. S. B., Clarence
Kaiser, O. S. B., Bonaventure Reithmeier, O. S. B., Adrian Krakowski, O. S. B.,
Michael Hlavcak, O. S. B., Lawrence Rogan, O. S. B., Victor Lillig, O. S. B.;
Rev. Nepomucene Hruza, O. S. B., Rector of Seminary; Revs. John Ujaki,
O. S. B., Otto Wendell, O. S. B.; Rev. Dominic Breuss, O. S. B., Procurator; Revs.
Edward Wenstrup, O. S. B., Leander Pail, O.S. B., Andrew Biberger, O. S. B.,
Jerome Rupprecht, O.S. B., Alto Hecker, O.S. B., Bernard Brinker, O. S. B.;
Rev. Vitus Kriegel, O. S. B., Director of Scholasticate; Revs. Angelus Klug,
O. S. B., Quentin Schaut, O. S. B.; Rev. Maurice Costello, O. S. B., Dean of
College; Revs. Wendelin Gallovich, O. S. B., Camillus Long, O. S. B., Wolfgang
236APPENDIX                                237
Frey, O.S.B., Cyprian Yahner, O. S.B.; Rev. Edmund Cuneo, O. S.B., Headmaster of Preparatory College; Revs. Anthony Stromovich, O. S. B., Cyril
Vlossak, O. S. B., Valentine Koehler, O. S. B., Bruno Sivak, O. S. B., Hugo Wilt,
O. S.B., Blase Strittmatter, O. S. B., Kenneth Hanes, O.S. B., Gervase Chutis,
O. S. B., Justin Krellner, O. S. B., Patrick McKivigan, O. S. B., Harold Phillips,
O. S. B., Arnold Weimer, O. S. B., Norbert Rupprecht, O. S. B., Cosmas Minster,
O. S. B., Colman Lillig, O. S.B., Bertin Emling, O.S.B., Constantine Zech,
0. S. B., Oliver Grosslin, O. S. B., Maximilian Duman, O. S. B., Jordan Burick,
O. S. B., Dunstan Debes, O. S. B., Ralph Bailey, O. S. B., Ulric Thaner, O. S. B.;
Rev. Aidan Pfiester, O. S. B., Registrar of College; Rev. Innocent Farrell,
O. S. B., Prefect of Seminary; Revs. Paulinus Selle, O. S. B., Egbert Donovan,
O. S. B., Othmar Waltz, O. S.B., Austin Staley, O.S. B., Owen Roth, O. S. B.,
Finton Shonicker, O. S. B. Fathers in Archabbey, 69. Domestic Department in
charge of the Benedictine Sisters of Eichstatt, Bavaria. Mother M. Leonarda
Fritz, O. S. B., Superior. Sisters, 39. Absent on leave: Revs. Alcuin Tasch,
O. S.B., Gerald Nessler, O.S.B., Eric McCormack, O.S.B., Matthew Benko,
O. S. B., Aurelius Labuda, O.S.B., Roland Heid, O. S.B., Melvin Rupprecht,
O. S. B. Chaplains in U. S. Army: Revs. Rupert Stadtmiller, O. S. B., Aquinas
Brinker, O. S. B.
St. Vincent Seminary. Departments of Theology and Philosophy. Rev. Nepomucene Hruza, O. S. B., Rector; Rev. Wolfang Frey, O. S. B., Vice-Rector; Rev.
Innocent Farrell, O. S. B., Prefect. Professors, I9. Students, Secular and Religious:
Theology, Ii5; Philosophy, 42.
St. Vincent College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Rev. Maurice Costello, O. S. B.,
Dean. Students, 234.
St. Vincent Preparatory College. Rev. Edmund Cuneo, O. S. B., Headmaster.
Students, 148.
St. Vincent Scholasticate. Forms the preparatory department for prospective members of the Benedictine Order. Rev. Vitus Kriegel, O. S. B., Director. Scholastics,
63.
Catholic Population of Institution, 585.
ORDERS OF WOMEN
Pittsburgh
Divine Providence Academy, I58 Larimer Ave., E.E. Conducted by the Sisters
of Divine Providence. Sr. M. Agnes, Superior. 23 Sisters. I Lay Teacher.
Pupils, 80o. Attended by the Capuchin Fathers, St. Augustine Church, Pittsburgh.
St. Joseph Junior Military School, 1725 Lincoln Ave. Ig Sisters of Divine Providence. I Military Instructor. I Drum and Bugle Instructor. Pupils, 8i. Sr. M.
Justina, Superior.
St. Mary's Convent, 3333 Fifth Ave., Oakland Station, Pittsburgh, Pa. Motherhouse
and Novitiate of the Sisters of Mercy. Established in 1843, the first foundation
of the Order in the United States. Mother M. Irenaeus Dougherty, MotherCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Superior. Rev. William P. Shaughnessy, Chaplain. In Motherhouse: Sisters, Ioo.
In Community: Professed Sisters, 4I7; Novices, I4; Postulants, 2. Connected
with the Motherhouse is:
Mount Mercy College. Mother M. Irenaeus, President; Sr. M. Regis, Dean.
Reverend Professors, 2; Sister Professors, I7; Lay Professors, 13. Students, 210.
Our Lady of Mercy Academy. Sr. M. Gerald, Directress. Teachers, 2I. Pupils, 366.
Mercy Hospital, Pride' and Locust Sts. 49 Sisters of Mercy, I Novice. Sr. Anna
Marie, Superintendent. Average number of patients during the year, II,99I.
Dispensary patients, 6,I25. Nurses' Training School, Mercy School of Nursing.
Sr. M. Loyola, Directress. Sr. M. Alicia, Assistant Directress. Pupils, 202. Rev.
Stephen J. Burdis, Chaplain; Rev. William M. Dannecker, asst.
St. Mary's Convent, Home for Working Girls, St. Mary's High School (For
Girls), 700 Webster Ave. 14 Sisters of Mercy. Sr. M. Jane Francis, Superior.
Sr. M. Corona, Principal of High School. Pupils, 230. Mercy Business School.
Sr. M. Philip Neri, Principal. Pupils, 25. Connected herewith is The Home for
Working Girls, I3 Tunnel St. Working Girls, 60o. Attended from Epiphany
Church.
St. Joseph's Home for Aged Ladies, Pius St., S. S. 8 Sisters of the Third Order of
St. Francis. Sr. M. Marcella, Superior. Inmates, 42.
St. Joseph's Hospital and Dispensary, 2117 Carson St., S. S. 25 Sisters of St. Joseph.
Sr. M. Austin, Superior. Sr. Anna Regina, Superintendent. Patients during the
year, 3,322. Dispensary Patients, 2,567. Treatments, 8,300. Training School for
Nurses. Sr. M. Dympna, Superior. Pupils, 55. Rev. Michael F. Costello, Chaplain.
St. Francis' Hospital, Forty-fifth St., Arsenal Station. 57 Sisters of the Third Order
of St. Francis. Sr. M. Thomasine, Administrator. Sr. M. Corinne, Superior.
Number of patients treated during the year in the Hospital proper, I8,526.
Dispensary, 21,I37. Visits, patients, 4,232. Patients visited by the Capuchin
Fathers of Thirty-seventh St. Training School for Nurses. Pupils, 224.
St. John's General Hospital, 3339 McClure Ave., N. S. 44 Sisters of Divine Providence. Sr. M. Anatolia, Superior. Sr. M. Baptista, Superintendent. Patients during
year in Hospital, 6,636; in Dispensary, 4,467. Training School for Nurses. Sr. M.
Clementine, Director. Pupils, ioi. Rev. Bernardine Pendl, O. S. B., Chaplain.
Ursuline Motherhouse, Novitiate and Academy, 201 S. Winebiddle Ave. Mother
Evangelista O'Brien, Superior. Professed Sisters, 27; Novices, 2. Pupils: Girls,
ii8; Boys, 22. Attended by Capuchin Fathers, St. Augustine Church, Pittsburgh.
Roselia Foundling and Maternity Hospital, Cliff and Manila Sts. 22 Sisters of
Charity of Mother Seton. Sr. Mary Regina, Superintendent. Training School for
Nurses, Roselia Hospital. Attended by Carmelite Fathers, Holy Trinity Church.
Pittsburgh Hospital, Frankstown Ave. and Washington Blvd., E. E. 42 Sisters of
Charity of Mother Seton. Sr. M. Celesta, Superior. Training School for Nurses.
Pupils, 86. Patients, 5,75I. Rev. Henry F. Hanse, Chaplain.
De Paul Institute for the Deaf, Castlegate Ave., Brookline, Pittsburgh, Pa. 23 Sis238APPENDIX
ters of Charity of Mother Seton. 6 Lay Teachers. Sr. Marie Antonia, Superior.
Pupils, 200. Rev. Raymond J. Doherty, Chaplain and Director.
Home for the Aged of the Little Sisters of the Poor, Penn and Aiken Aves. Sr.
Marie Remy, Superior. 17 Sisters. Inmates, 2io. Attended from St. Augustine
Church.
Elizabeth Seton High School, 900oo Pioneer Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. High school for
girls. Conducted by the Sisters of Charity from Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pa.
Students, II3. Sr. Regina Clare, Principal. 6 Sisters. 2 part time Lay Teachers.
Offers college preparatory, commercial, and general high school courses.
Villa De Marillac, 5300 Stanton Ave. Convalescent Home. Vincentian Sisters of
Charity. Sr. Mary Ignatia, Superior.
Eudes Institute, i625 Lincoln Ave., E. E., Pittsburgh, Pa. Religious of Our Lady
of Charity of the Refuge. Mother Mary of St. Agnes Dunne, Superior. Professed
Sisters, io; Extern Sisters, 2. Girl Pupils, 40. Rev. Thomas J. Murphy, Chaplain.
Mt. St. Mary Convent, Benedictine Sisters, 4530 Perry Highway, Bellevue Branch,
N. S., Pittsburgh. Sisters, I3I; Novices, 2; Postulants, 2. Mother M. Mechtilde
Lang, O. S. B., Superior. Motherhouse and Novitiate of the Benedictine Nuns
in the Diocese. Rev. Heribert Thiel, O. S. B., Chaplain, 6I4 Pressley St., N. S.,
Pittsburgh, Pa.
St. Benedict Academy, 4530 Perry Highway. Sr. M. Dolores, O. S. B., Principal.
Pupils: Girls, 256. Rev. Charles J. Wiesman, Chaplain.
Home for the Aged of the Little Sisters of the Poor, io28 Benton Ave., N. S.
Home for destitute old men and women of good character and sound mind.
No distinction of creed or nationality. Sr. Adele de Ste. Jeanne, Superior.
I4 Sisters. Inmates, i66. Rev. Gabriel T. Scheer, Chaplain. Res., IIoo Benton
Ave., N. S.
St. Paul's R. C. Orphan Asylum of the City of Pittsburgh, Pa., Crafton Station.
25 Sisters of Mercy of Pittsburgh. I Lay Teacher. Sr. Monica Harley, Superior.
Orphans: Boys, 266; Girls, I85. Total, 45I. Rev. H. J. Gilbert, Chaplain and
Superintendent. Rev. Michael A. Cusick, Asst. Chaplain.
Monastery of Our Lady of Charity, Troy Hill, i6I5 Lowrie St., N. S. Religious
of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge (Good Shepherd). Mother Mary of St.
Richard Troy, Superior. Professed Sisters, 39; Novice, I. Girl Pupils, 55. Total
number of Inmates, I24. Attended from Holy Name Church, N. S.
Provincial Motherhouse of the St. Joseph's Province of the Sisters of Holy Family
of Nazareth of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Pa., Mount Nazareth, Ross
Township, Bellevue P.O., Box 6, R.F.D. 7. Mother Mary Eusebia, Superior
Provincial. Mt. Nazareth Academy. 9 Teaching Sisters. I Lay Teacher. Girl
Pupils, 95. In the Province: Professed Sisters, 347; Novices, 6; Postulants, 3;
Aspirants, 5. Rev. Aloysius A. Jezewski, Chaplain.
St. Regis Residence for Ladies (Non-Sectarian), 50 Congress St. This home has
accommodations for eighty boarders, and is under the direction of a Board of
Lay Managers. Regina Miltenberger, Superintendent.
239CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Raphael Temporary Home, 37I5 Penn Ave. 8 Mission Helpers of the Sacred
Heart. Sr. M. Eileen, Superior. Children in Temporary Shelter, 30. Attended by
the Capuchin Fathers from St. Augustine Church. From this center the Sisters
do parish visiting and conduct classes in Christian Doctrine for Catholic pupils
of public schools. Enrollment approximately 565.
Pittsburgh Council of Catholic Women, 5216 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. Council
House. Headquarters for Pittsburgh Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.
Most Rev. Hugh C. Boyle, D.D., Honorary President. Resident Home for
Business Women and Girls. Accommodates 22 women. Place of meeting for
groups of Catholic women and girls for charitable, educational, and social
purposes.
Allison Park
Providence Heights Motherhouse, Babcock Blvd., R.F.D. I, Allison Park P.O.
Motherhouse and Novitiate of the Sisters of Divine Providence in the Diocese
(Eastern Province). Mother M. Apollonia, Superior. In Community: Professed
Sisters, 443; Novices, I2; Postulants, 5. Rev. John F. R. Corcoran, Chaplain.
Baden
Mt. Gallitzin Academy. Motherhouse of Sisters of St. Joseph. In Community:
Professed Sisters, 430; Novices, N4; Postulants, Io; Aspirants, I2. Sr. M.
Paulinus Nolan, Superior. Rev. Raymond W. Foster, Chaplain. Preparatory
School for Boys. Pupils, 78. Preparatory School for Girls who desire to enter
the Novitiate. Pupils, I24.
Beaver Falls
Providence Hospital, Third Ave. and Ninth St. I2 Sisters of Charity of St.
Vincent de Paul. Sr. M. Irenaeus, Superior. Training School for Nurses. Pupils,
25. Rev. Sylvester A. Doyle, Chaplain.
Bellevue
Mt. Assisi Academy, 934 Forest Ave., Bellevue Station, Pittsburgh, Pa. Motherhouse of the School Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. Mother M. Methodia, O.S.F., Superior. In Motherhouse: Sisters, 3I; Novices, 2; Postulants, 9.
Pupils, 90o. In the Community: Sisters, I30. Attended by the Capuchin Fathers.
Carrick
Our Lady of Sorrows Convent of the Passionist Nuns, 2715 Churchview Ave.,
Mt. Oliver Station, Pittsburgh. Motherhouse and Novitiate of the Daughters of
the Cross and Passion. Mother Mary Matilda, C.P., Superior. Sisters, 3I; Professed, 3I; Postulants, 2. The Sisters have retreats for ladies periodically throughout the year.
Castle Shannon
Mount Providence Motherhouse. Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, Grove
and McRoberts Rd., R.F.D. 9, South Hills Station, Pittsburgh. Sisters, I74;
Novices, 5; Postulants, 6. Mother Mary David, Superior. Preparatory School,
St. Francis Academy. 3 Lay Teachers. Girl Pupils, I65. Rev. Joseph V. Skripkus,
Chaplain,
240APPENDIX
Coraopolis
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Convent, R.F.D. i, Box i8. Provincial Motherhouse and Novitiate of the Felician Sisters, O. S.F. Mother Mary Angela,
Provincial Superior. Professed, 268; Novices, 3; Postulants, 5.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School, R. F. D. i, Box i8. State approved
Day and Boarding School for Girls. Sr. M. Eugenia, Principal and Directress.
Teachers, 8; Students, 54. Rev. Giles J. Krysmalski, Chaplain.
East Pittsburgh
Blessed Trinity Missionary Cenacle, 514 Maple St. 5 Missionary Servants of the
Most Blessed Trinity. Sr. M. Patricia, M. S. B. T., Custodian.
Elizabeth
St. Joseph's Convent and Divine Redeemer Academy, R.F.D. I, Elizabeth, Pa.
Motherhouse and Novitiate of the Daughters of the Divine Redeemer. Mother
Mary Sabina, Provincial. In the Community, 98; Novices, 6; Postulants, 3.
Rev. Emil A. Egner, Chaplain.
Emsworth (Bellevue Station, Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Holy Family Institute, 201-263 Ohio River Blvd. 32 Sisters of the Holy Family
of Nazareth. Sr. M. Akwilina, Superior. Orphans, 263. Revs. Francis S. Szumierski, C. S. Sp., Chaplain and Director. Rev. Peter A. Lipinski, C. S. Sp., Socius.
Fenelton
Our Lady of the Woods Convalescent Home, R.F.D. I, Box 6, Fenelton, Pa.
Home for convalescent patients. 8 Sisters of St. Francis, Millvale, Pa. Sr. M.
Isabelle, Superior. Rev. Leo Smith, C. P., Chaplain.
Greensburg
Seton Hill College, Seton Hill. Conducted by the Sisters of Charity of Mother
Seton. Rev. James A. Wallace Reeves, M. A., S. T. D., LL. D., Litt. D., President.
Sr. M. Victoria Brown, M. A., Dean. Reverend Professors, 4; Sister Professors,
37; Lay Professors, I8. Students, 673.
Seton Hill, St. Joseph Motherhouse. Sisters of Charity of Mother Seton. Mother
M. Claudia, Superior. Rev. James Aloysius Reeves, S. T. D., Chaplain; Revs.
Carl P. Hensler, S. T. D., John M. Biller, assts. Sisters in Community: Professed,
6iI; Novices, 28; Postulants, I3. In Motherhouse, I69.
St. Joseph Academy, Seton Hill. Sisters of Charity of Mother Seton. Sr. M.
Francesca, Directress. Sisters, 6; Lay Teachers, 3. Students, Ioo Girls.
Latrobe
St. Xavier's Academy for Young Ladies, St. Xavier's Academy for Girls, and
Xavier Hall for Boys. 60 Sisters of Mercy. Sr. M. Emerentia, Superior; Sr. M.
Fabian, Directress of Academy. Pupils: Girls, 6i; Boys, 45. Attended from St.
Vincent Monastery.
Millvale
St. Francis Convent, Mt. Alvernia, Evergreen Ave., Millvale, Pa. (Pittsburgh 9,
Pa.). Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. Motherhouse and Novitiate of
the Order in the Diocese. In the Community: Professed Sisters, 467; Novices, 8;
24ICATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Postulants, g; Aspirants, 24. In the Motherhouse: Professed Sisters, 52. Total
number in Motherhouse, 93. Total number in Community, 508. Mt. Alvernia
High School. A State-approved High School. Pupils: Girls, I23. Mother M.
Lucina Appel, Mother Superior. Sr. M. Gertrude Peitz, Local Superior. Attended
by Capuchin Fathers from St. Augustine's Church, Pittsburgh, Pa. Catholic
Population of Mt. Alvernia: In Community, 93; hired help, engineer, gardener,
etc., 4; total, 97.
New Castle
New Castle Hospital, South Mercer and Phillips Sts. I8 Sisters of the Third Order
of St. Francis. Sr. M. Martina, Superior and Superintendent. Sr. M. Dolorosa,
R.N., R.P., M.A., Director of School of Nursing. Pupils, 5I. Patients daily
average, Ioo. Rev. Vincent A. O'Donnell, Chaplain.
Oakmont
St. Anthony Village, Fourteenth St. and Hulton Rd. I5 Missionary Zelatrices of the
Sacred Heart. Orphans, I25. Sr. M. Paulina Sgarbossa, Superior. Rev. Louis A.
Farina, Superior and Chaplain.
Perrysville
Motherhouse and Novitiate of the Vincentian Sisters of Charity, St. Vincent Hill,
Babcock Blvd., Box II8. Professed Sisters, 302; Novices, I2; Postulants, 4;
Aspirants, 8. Mother Mary Gregory, Superior. Rev. Thomas Eichenhofer,
C. PP. S., Chaplain.
Vincentian Home for Incurables of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, P.O. Box i i8.
I4 Vincentian Sisters of Charity. Sr. M. Sebastian, Superior. Patients, 70. Free
Home for Incurable Women.
Uniontown
Blessed Trinity Missionary Cenacle, 84 Pennsylvania Ave. 5 Missionary Servants
of the Most Blessed Trinity. Sr. Marie Catherine, M. S. B. T., Custodian. Engaged
in catechetical work in mining towns of Fayette Co., Pa. Attended from St.
John Church, Uniontown, Pa.
West View
Motherhouse, Sisters of the Holy Ghost, 5246 Clarwin Ave., Bellevue Branch,
Pittsburgh, Pa. Professed, Io6; Novices, 3. Holy Ghost High Schools for Girls.
Pupils, I30. Grade School, IIo. 14 Sisters. 2 Lay Teachers. Mother M. Margaret,
Superior. Rev. E. Otto Planitzer, Chaplain.
Bishop Boyle Home for Aged Women. Inmates, 52.
RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES OF MEN IN THE DIOCESE
0. S. B.-Benedictine Fathers (St. Vincent Archabbey)--St. Boniface's (N. S.), St.
Mary's (N. S.), Pittsburgh; Avonmore; Latrobe; Crabtree; Most Holy Sacrament, Greensburg; St. Vincent Archabbey, College, College Preparatory School,
Scholasticate, Seminary, Latrobe; South Greensburg; Forbes Rd.; New Florence;
Seward; New Alexandria; Jeannette; Bolivar; Youngstown; Marguerite; Slick242APPENDIX
ville; East Vandergrift; Trauger; Vandergrift; Whitney; Chestnut Ridge;
Ligonier; Wilpen; Youngwood; Saltsburg; Hunker.
O. F.M. Cap.-Capuchin Fathers (Province of St. Augustine)-St. Augustine's
Church and Monastery, Toner Institute and Seraphic Home, St. Francis Friary,
Pittsburgh; Church, St. Fidelis Seminary, St. Mary's Monastery, Novitiate,
Herman; Rochester; North Rochester; Freedom; Carbon Center; Cabot; West
Winfield; Harrisville; North Oakland; Meridian; Slippery Rock.
O. Carm.--Carmelite Fathers (American Province)--Holy Trinity, Pittsburgh.
C. S. Sp.-Fathers of the Holy Ghost (American Province) Duquesne University,
Immaculate Heart of Mary (Polish), St. Benedict the Moor, St. Stanislaus
(Polish), Holy Childhood Association, Pittsburgh; Sacred Heart, Emsworth,
Pa.; St. Ann's, St. Anthony's, Millvale; St. Mary's, Sharpsburg; Sacred Heart,
Tarentum.
O. F. M.-Franciscan Fathers (Immaculate Conception Province)-Our Lady Help
of Christian, St. Peter's (Italian), Pittsburgh.
O. F. M.-Franciscan Fathers (Slovak)-Holy Family Monastery, Avalon, Bellevue
P.O.
O. F. M.--Polish Franciscan Fathers (Pulaski, Wis.)-St. Anthony Friary, Ben
Avon, Pa.
O. F. M.-Franciscan Fathers (Croatian Franciscan Commissariat, Chicago, Ill.)Ambridge, Holy Trinity Church.
T. O. R.-Franciscan Fathers (Croatian) -St. Nicholas, N.S., Pittsburgh, Pa., and
St. Nicholas, Millvale, Pa.; Sacred Heart, McKeesport, Pa.; Holy Trinity, Ambridge.
C. P.-Passionist Fathers (Eastern Province)-St. Michael's (S.S.), St. Paul of the
Cross Monastery, Pittsburgh.
C. SS. R.-Redemptorist Fathers (Baltimore Province)-St. Philomena, Pittsburgh.
Brothers of Mary (Dayton, Ohio)-St. Mary's (N. S.), Pittsburgh; Catholic Boys
High School (N. S.), Pittsburgh.
Christian Brothers-Central Catholic District High School for Boys, Pittsburgh.
RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES OF WOMEN IN THE DIOCESE
Benedictine Sisters.-Schools-Pittsburgh (N. S.): St. Boniface's; St. Joseph's; St.
Mary's; St. Wenceslaus'; Connellsville: Immaculate Conception; Jeannette:
Sacred Heart; Perrysville; West View. Institutions-Pittsburgh (N. S.): Mt. St.
Mary Convent; St. Benedict Academy.
Benedictine Sisters (Eichstatt, Bavaria)--Institution-Latrobe: St. Vincent's Archabbey.
Daughters of Divine Charity.-School-Rankin: Visitation of the Blessed Virgin
Mary.
Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.-Schools-Pittsburgh: St. John the Baptist;
St. Kieran's; Sacred Heart; St. Stephen's; (S. S.) Holy Cross; Holy Innocents;
St. James'; St. John the Evangelist; Resurrection; Blairsville; Carnegie: St.
243CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
England had placards posted conspicuously in villages and towns on the
European Continent and in Ireland to induce German and Irish laborers
to this "new Eldorado." As many of them, however, could not defray the
expenses of the passage to the New World, the shipmasters sold them
upon their arrival as "redemptioners." The usual price for such "white
slaves" was ten pounds. They had to serve their new masters for three
or four years before they could obtain their freedom. In Philadelphia 267
immigrants of this class were sold in one year.
Moreover, when this territory was acquired by England the antiCatholic laws of Great Britain became a great hindrance to Catholic immigrants in their attempt to better their social conditions. In this respect
the Act of Parliament of I740 was of special significance. It excluded from
naturalization all persons, except Quakers and Jews, who had not received
Communion in some Protestant or Reformed church within three months
before taking the oath and making the declaration.
A special decree of a similar nature, passed for Pennsylvania on March
29, I757, became of great interest for the historians. It stated: "No Papist
or reputed Papist shall be allowed or admitted to give his vote or be
chosen an officer of the militia within any of the districts within these
provinces"; and "every male Papist or reputed Papist (on account of his
exemption from performing military duty) between the age of 17 and 55
must pay the sum of 20 shillings."
This census revealed to some extent the number of Catholics who were
then in Pennsylvania. They numbered 1,364, of whom 948 were of German and 416 of Irish nationality. They had the four priests, Fathers
Robert Harding in Philadelphia, Ferdinand Farmer (Steinmeyer) in
Lancaster, Theodore Schneider in Goshenhoppen, and Mathias Manners
(Sittensperger) in York County (Conewago). This would indicate that
there were between 2,000 to 3,000 Catholics in the whole province. Western Pennsylvania was not yet included in this census, because it became
only during the next year a part of Cumberland County which, according
to this report, had only twelve Irish Catholics. From this one might argue
that there were no Catholics in this western district. This is contradicted
by other statements. The Reverend Frederick Post, a Moravian missionary
and an English agent among the Indians at that time, repeatedly stated
the contrary. Thus he addressed the Delawares on September I, I758 at
IOCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Luke's; Crafton; Greensburg: Most Holy Sacrament; St. Bruno; Homestead:
St. Mary Magdalene's; Irwin; Mt. Pleasant: St. Joseph's; Oakmont; Scottdale:
St. John the Baptist; Sharpsburg: St. Joseph's; Swissvale: St. Anselm's; Wilkinsburg. Institutions-Beaver Falls: Providence Hospital; Brookline, Pittsbuigh:
Mother Seton School for Girls; Pittsburgh: Roselia Foundling and Maternity
Hospital; Pittsburgh Hospital; De Paul Institute for the Deaf; Greensburg:
Seton Hill College; St. Joseph's Motherhouse; St. Joseph's Academy.
Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of Refuge (Called Good Shepherds).-InstitutionsPittsburgh: (E. E.) Eudes Institute; (N. S.) Monastery of Our Lady of Charity.
Nuns of the Most Holy Cross and Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.-institutionCarrick: Our Lady of Sorrows Convent.
Daughters of the Divine Redeemer.-Schools-McKeesport: St. Stephen's. Institution-Elizabeth: St. Joseph's Convent.
Dominican Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic.-Schools-Pittsburgh: St.
Lawrence's; Braddock: St. Brendan's; St. Thomas; East Pittsburgh: St. William's; McKees Rocks: St. Francis de Sales; Wilmerding: St. Aloysius.
Bernardine Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis.-Schools-Beaver Falls: Holy
Trinity; Carnegie: St. Ignatius de Loyola; Immaculate Conception; Natrona:
St. Ladislaus.
Felician Sisters.-Schools-Pittsburgh: (S.S.) St. Adalbert's; Guardian Angels; St.
Josaphat's; (N. S.) St. Cyprian's; Ambridge: St. Stanislaus; Braddock: Sacred
Heart; Canonsburg: St. Genevieve; McKeesport: St. Mary's; Mt. Pleasant:
Transfiguration; New Kensington; Sharpsburg: St. John Cantius; Wilmerding:
St. Leocadia. Institutions-Coraopolis: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Convent;
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School.
Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement.-School-Monessen: St. Leonard's.
Lithuanian Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis.-Schools-Pittsburgh: St.
Casimir's; St. Vincent's; Homestead: SS. Peter and Paul's. Institution-Castle
Shannon: Mount Providence Motherhouse.
Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.-School-Pittsburgh:
St. Peter's.
Sisters of the Holy Ghost.-Schools-Connellsville: Holy Trinity; Everson; Footedale; Glassport: Holy Cross; Homestead: St. Anthony's; New Castle: Madonna
of Czentochowa; SS. Philip and James'; Thompson's Run; Uniontown: St.
Joseph's. Institution-West View: Motherhouse.
School Sisters of St. Francis.-School-Ford City: Holy Trinity.
School Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis.-Schools-Pittsburgh: St. Gabriel's;
McKees Rocks: St. Mark's; New Castle: St. Michael's; Tarentum: St. Clement's.
Institution-Bellevue: Mt. Assisi Academy.
Sisters of the Order of St. Francis (Hankinson, N. Dak.).-Schools-Pittsburgh: St.
Nicholas; Ambridge: Divine Redeemer; Carbon Centre; Millvale: St. Nicholas.
Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.-SchoolsPittsburgh: St. Augustine's; St. Joseph's (Pearl St.); Corpus Christi; St. George;
244APPENDIX
St. Henry's; St. Joseph's (Ormsby Ave.); St. Michael's; St. Peter's; St. Leo's; St.
Wendelin's; Brownsville: St. Peter's; Butler: St. Peter's; Freedom; Millvale: St.
Ann's; St. Anthony's; New Castle: St. Joseph's; Zelienople. Institutions-Pittsburgh: St. Joseph's Home for Aged Ladies; St. Francis Hospital; Fenelton: Our
Lady of the Woods Convalescent Home; Millvale: St. Francis Academy; New
Castle: New Castle Hospital.
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.-Schools-Pittsburgh: Holy Family; St.
Hyacinth; Immaculate Heart of Mary; St. Stanislaus; McKees Rocks: SS. Cyril
and Methodius; Monessen: St. Hyacinth's. Institutions-Pittsburgh: Provincial
Motherhouse of St. Joseph's Province; Emsworth: Holy Family Institute.
Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament.-School-Duquesne: Holy
Trinity.
Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.-School-Ellwood City: Purification of the
Blessed Virgin Mary.
Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.-Schools-Pittsburgh: St. Rosalia's; (S. S.) St. Mary's of the Mount; Hays; Masontown; Munhall.
Sisters of Mercy.-Schools-Pittsburgh: St. Paul's Cathedral; St. Agnes'; Epiphany;
St. Mary's; St. Patrick's; (N. S.) St. Andrew's; St. Cyril of Alexandria; St.
Francis Xavier; St. Peter's; Latrobe: Holy Family; St. Vincent; McKeesport:
St. Peter's; St. Pius; Turtle Creek; Washington: Immaculate Conception. Institutions-Pittsburgh: St. Mary's Convent; Mount Mercy College; Our Lady of
Mercy Academy; Mercy Hospital; St. Mary's Convent; St. Paul's Orphan
Asylum; Latrobe: St. Xavier's Academy for Young Ladies.
Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity.-lnstitutions-East Pittsburgh:
Blessed Trinity Missionary Cenacle; Uniontown: Blessed Trinity Missionary
Cenacle.
Missionary Zelatrices of the Sacred Heart.-Schools-Pittsburgh: Mother of Good
Counsel; (N.S.) Regina Coeli; Butler: St. Michael's; Connellsville: St. Rita's;
McKees Rocks: Mother of Sorrows; New Castle: St. Vitus'. Institution-Oakmont: St. Anthony's Village.
Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart.-Institution-Pittsburgh: Raphael Temporary
Home.
Pallottine Missionary Sisters.-School-Pittsburgh: Immaculate Conception.
Sisters Adorers of the Most Precious Blood.-School-McKeesport: Sacred Heart.
School Sisters of Notre Dame.-Schools-Pittsburgh: St. Mary Assumption; St.
Philomena's; (N. S.) Most Holy Name of Jesus; Allison Park; Reserve Township; Verona.
Little Sisters of the Poor.-Institutions-Pittsburgh: Home for the Aged; (N. S.)
Home for the Aged.
Sisters of Divine Providence.-Schools-Pittsburgh: Holy Trinity; SS. Peter and
Paul's; St. Walburga's; (S.S.) St. Basil's; St. Martin's; (N.S.) St. Ambrose;
Beaver Falls: St. Mary's; Braddock: St. Joseph's; Castle Shannon; Duquesne:
St. Joseph's; Ernest; Etna; Ford City: St. Mary's; Glassport: St. Cecilia's;
245CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Greentree; Herman: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; McKeesport: St.
Mary's; McKees Rocks: St. Mary Help of Christians; Overbrook; Penn; Pine
Creek; Rochester; Sharpsburg: St. Mary's; Springdale; Tarentum: Sacred Heart.
Institutions-Pittsburgh: Divine Providence. Academy; St. Joseph Boarding
School for Boys; St. John's General Hospital; Allison Park: Providence Heights
Motherhouse.
Sisters of the Congregation of St. Agnes.-School-Carnegie: St. Joseph's.
Sisters of SS. Cyril and Methodius.-School-Whitney; St. Cecilia's.
Sisters of St. Joseph.-Schools-Pittsburgh: St. Bede's; Holy Rosary; St. Raphael;
St. Richard's; (S. S.) St. Canice's; St. Catherine of Sienna; (N. S.) Annunciation;
Nativity; Aliquippa: St. Titus; Ambridge: St. Veronica's; Aspinwall; Bellevue;
Donora: St. Charles'; Dormont; Dunbar; Duquesne: Holy Name; Freeport;
Indiana; Kittanning; Monongahela: Transfiguration; Natrona: St. Joseph's;
New Brighton: St. Joseph's; New Castle: St. Mary's; New Kensington: St.
Joseph's; Sewickley; Uniontown: St. John's. Institutions-Pittsburgh: St. Joseph's
Hospital; Baden: Mt. Gallitzin Academy.
Ursuline Nuns of the Congregation of Paris.-Institution-Pittsburgh: Ursuline
Motherhouse.
Vincentian Sisters of Charity.-Schools-Pittsburgh: St. Joachim's; (S. S.) St. Matthew's; Aliquippa: St. Joseph's; Braddock: St. Michael's; Brownsville: St. Mary's;
Clairton: St. Joseph's; Connellsville: St. John the Evangelist; Donora: St.
Dominic's; Ellsworth; Emsworth; Homestead: St. Ann's; St. Michael's; Leckrone; McKeesport: Holy Trinity; Monessen: Most Holy Name of Jesus; Mt.
Pleasant: Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Natrona: St. Mathias'; New
Brighton; New Salem; Rankin: St. Barnabas; Republic: Holy Rosary; Uniontown: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary; United. Institutions-Pittsburgh:
Villa de Marillac; Perrysville: Motherhouse and Novitiate; Vincentian Home
for Incurables.
RECAPITULATION
Bishop                                                                  I
Archabbot                                                               I
Secular Priests                                                           62I
Priests of Religious Orders                                               212
Total Number of Priests                                               833
Churches with Resident Priests                                            375
Missions with Churches                                                     73
Total Number of Churches                                              448
Stations                                                                   35
Diocesan Seminarians                                                      IIO
Seminaries of Religious Orders                                          2
Preparatory Schools for Boys --....-..                                  8
Pupils                                                               3,496
246APPENDIX
Institutional Schools ---------                                          7
Pupils                                                               I,4I3
Private High Schools and Academies                                         i6
Pupils                                                               3,29I
Parish Schools                                                            232
Pupils                                -                             7I,735
Parochial High Schools ___                                                 33
Pupils                                                               6,318
Total Number of Schools                                                   296
Total Elementary and High School Pupils                                86,253
Religious Training Schools                                                 I9
University                                              -                   I
Colleges for Boys...-......                              2
Colleges for Young Ladies                                                2
Orphan Asylums                                                           3
Orphans                                                               72I
Foundling Asylum                                                         I
Protectory for Boys                                                      I
School for Deaf and Mutes                                                I
Hospitals                                                                8
Home for Incurables                                                      I
Convalescent Homes                                                       2
Homes for Aged Poor                                                      4
Home of Good Shepherd                                                    I
Homes for Working Girls                                                  2
Baptisms (Children)                                                     I9,874
Converts                                                                 2,079
Marriages                                                               Io,453
Deaths                                                                   7,794
Catholic Population                                                    694,472
247BIBLIOGRAPHY
PUBLISHED SOURCES
American Historical Society. History of Pittsburgh and Environments.
New York, 1922.
Bishop Kenrick's Diary and Visitation Records, 1830o-851. Lancaster:
Wickersham Printing Company, I916.
Brennan, Rev. Martin J. The Historic Church of Saint Peter. Brownsville, Pennsylvania, I936.
Burn, Rev. John F., C.SS. R. The Redemptorist Seminaries. Philadelphia: Dolphin Press, I932.
Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Encyclopedia Press, I907-I9I4.
Catholic Who's Who, 1907-I942. London: Burns, Oates  Washbourne.
Clarke, Richard Henry. History of the Catholic Church in the United
States. Philadelphia: Gebbie and Company, I889.
Clarke, Richard Henry. The Lives of the Deceased Bishops of the
United States. Published by the author, i888.
Darlington, W. M. Christopher Gist's Journals. Pittsburgh: Weldin
Company, I893.
Egle, W. H. History of Pennsylvania. Harrisburg: Witt C. Goodrick
and Company, i876.
Gamble, A. D. Conewago. I94I.
Ganss, Rev. H. G. History of Saint Patrick's Church, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: D. J. Gallagher and Company, I895.
Griffin, Martin I. J. Catholic Historical Researches. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, I884-I9I2.
Griffin, Martin I. J. History of Rt. Rev. Michael Egan. Published by the
author, Philadelphia, I893.
Lambing, Rt. Rev. Msgr. A. A. (Ed). Celoron's Joutrnal. Columbus,
Ohio, I920.
Lambing, Rt. Rev. Msgr. A. A. Foundation Stones of a Great Diocese.
Pittsburgh: Republic Bank Note Company, I9I4.
Lambing, Rt. Rev. Msgr. A. A. Historical Researches in Western Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh: Myers, Shinkle, and Company, 1884.
Lambing, Rt. Rev. Msgr. A. A. History of the Catholic Church in the
248Dioceses of Pittsburgh and Allegheny. New York: Benziger Brothers,
i88o.
McCall, G. A. Letters from the Frontier during Thirty Years' Service
in the U. S. Army. Philadelphia: Lippincott, i868.
McKnight, Charles. Our Western Border. Philadelphia: J. C. McCurdy
Company, I875.
Moosmueller, Oswald, O.S.B. St. Vincenz in Pennsylvanien. New
York: Frederick Pustet Company, I873.
O'Daniel, V. Rev. Victor Francis, O. P. Rt. Rev. Edward D. Fenwick.
New York: Frederick Pustet Company, I92I.
Official Catholic Directory, I886-I943. New York: P. J. Kenedy and
Sons.
Palmer, Robert M. Pictorial Pittsburgh and Prominent Pittsburghers;
Past and Present. Published by author, Pittsburgh, 90o5.
Palmer, Robert M. Views of Pittsburgh and Environs. Published by
the author, Pittsburgh, I903.
Pittsburgh Catholic, I884-I943.
Pittsburgh Chronicle-Telegraph.
Pittsburgh Gazette-Times.
Register of Baptisms and Interments at Fort Duquesne i753-1756. Reprint. New York: Cramoisy Press.
Reichel, W. C. Memorials of the Moravian Church. Philadelphia, I870.
St. Vincent College. Catalogs, I885-I943. Latrobe: Archabbey Press.
Seton Hill College. The Setonian, I92I. Greensburg: Seton Hill College.
Shea, John Gilmary. History of the Catholic Church in the United
States. Published by the author, New York, i886.
Sipe, C. Hale. Indian Chiefs of Pennsylvania. Butler, Pennsylvania, I927.
Steck, Francis Borgia, O.F.M. The Joliet and Marquette Expedition,
1673. Washington, D. C.: Catholic University of America, I927.
Stevens, Sylvester K. Letters of Bouquet. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Historical Society, I942.
Stevens, Sylvester K., and Kent, Donald H. The Expedition of Baron
Linqueuil. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Historical Commission, I940.
Superintendent of Pittsburgh Catholic Schools. Reports, I905-I942.
Thwaites, R. G. Early Western Travels. Cleveland: Arthur Clark Company, I904.
APPENDIX
249250           CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Thwaites, R. G. (Ed). Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents. Cleveland, I896-90go.
Who's Who in America, I899-I943. Chicago: A. N. Marquis Company.
UNPUBLISHED SOURCES
American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia. Records, I884I929.
Archdiocese of Baltimore. Archives.
Catholic Educational Association. Bulletins.
Chester County. Deed Book. Court House, Westchester.
Cox, Rev. James R. "History and Development of the Parochial Schools
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh." Unpublished Master's
Thesis, University of Pittsburgh, I923.
Diocese of Pittsburgh. Archives.
Indiana County. Deed Book. Court House, Indiana.
Westmoreland County. Court Records, December Term, I798. Court
House, Greensburg.
Westmoreland County. Deed Book. Court House, Greensburg.THE HONOR ROLL
The Editorial Committee of CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS is grateful to the churches, societies, organizations, schools, and individuals who, through
their contribution of special memberships in the Catholic Historical Society of
Western Pennsylvania, have made possible the publication of this volume.
LIFE MEMBERSHIPS
Most Reverend Hugh C. Boyle, D. D.
St. Paul Cathedral, Pittsburgh
St. Andrew Church, North Side, Pittsburgh
Church of the Assumption, Bellevue
St. Augustine Church, Pittsburgh
St. Cyprian Church, North Side, Pittsburgh
St. Francis de Sales Church, McKees Rocks
Holy Family Church, Pittsburgh
Immaculate Conception Church, Irwin
Immaculate Conception Church, Pittsburgh
St. James Church, West End, Pittsburgh
St. John the Evangelist Church, South Side, Pittsburgh
St. Joseph Church, North Side, Pittsburgh
St. Mary Church, North Side, Pittsburgh
St. Mary of Mercy Church, Pittsburgh
St. Mary of the Mount Church, Pittsburgh
Most Blessed Sacrament Church, Greensburg
Church of the Nativity of Our Lord, Pittsburgh
St. Paul Church, Butler
St. Peter Church, Butler
St. Peter Church, McKeesport
St. Raphael Church, Pittsburgh
Church of the Resurrection, Pittsburgh
St. Ursula Church, Allison Park
St. Veronica Church, Ambridge
Ancient Order of Hibernians of Allegheny County
Ancient Order of Hibernians, Ladies Auxiliary
Catholic Daughters of America, Court Pittsburgh, No. 253
Catholic Daughters of America, Pittsburgh Diocesan Committee
Catholic Forum
Catholic Knights of St. George
Charter Members, St. John the Evangelist Church, South Side, Pittsburgh
Christian Mothers Confraternity, St. Wendelin Church, Pittsburgh
Diocesan Union of Holy Name Societies
25I252             CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Holy Name Society, St. George Church, Pittsburgh
Knights of Columbus, Duquesne Council, No. 264
Knights of Columbus, Fort Pitt General Assembly, Fourth Degree,
Knights of Columbus, Pittsburgh Council, No. 49I
Ladies Catholic Benevolent Association
Mothers Guild, Central Catholic High School
Parent-Teacher Association, St. Lawrence Church, Pittsburgh
Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Particular Council
St. Vincent de Paul Conference, Holy Innocents Church, Pittsburgh
Duquesne University, Pittsburgh
Mount Mercy College Alumnae Association
Seton Hill College, Incorporated, Greensburg
St. Justin School Library, Pittsburgh
St. Lawrence School, Pittsburgh
St. Mary Magdalene School, Homestead
Benedictine Fathers, Latrobe
Reverend Bernard J. Berg, Braddock
Capuchin Franciscan Fathers, Pittsburgh
Carmelite Fathers, Pittsburgh
Mr. J. P. Colligan, Jr., Pittsburgh
Reverend James R. Cox, Pittsburgh
Very Reverend Felix Fellner, O. S. B., Latrobe
Mr. and Mrs. John R. Hermes
Holy Ghost Fathers, Pittsburgh
Reverend William C. Kelty, Crafton
Reverend John R. McKavney, Pittsburgh
Reverend D. N. Murphy, Pittsburgh
Passionist Fathers, Pittsburgh
Redemptorist Fathers, Pittsburgh
Mr. Alan D. Reynolds
Sisters of Charity, St. John the Evangelist School, South Side, Pittsburgh
Sisters of St. Joseph, Baden
SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIPS
Doctor and Mrs. Alfonso Aiello        Mr. E. V. Berkley
American Union, Polish Brotherhood of  Miss Rose E. Berkmyre
St. Joseph                          Mr. Joseph A. Bialas
Mr. Francis P. Anton                    Mrs. Mamie Bittner
Mr. Joseph A. Bach                      Miss Gertrude Blanchard
Misses Matilda and Helen Bachmann     Doctor F. J. Boslett
Mr. Joseph A. Beck                      Mr. Hugh C. Boyle
Mr. and Mrs. Albert J. Bell             Miss Mary BradyAPPI
Miss Mary M. Broderick
Mrs. Frank G. Burkley
Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Cadigan
Mr. Frank J. Callanan
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Campbell
Mrs. James C. Campbell
Miss Rosemary Casey
Mr. Michael E. Catanzaro
Catholic Daughters of America:
Court Braddock, No. 224, Braddock
Court St. Agatha, No. 13I7, Bridgeville
Court Carnegie, No. 1030, Carnegie
Court Clairton, No. I303, Clairton
Court Annunciation, No. 260, Connellsville
Court St. Regis, No. 1330, Corliss
Court Chartiers, No. 508, Crafton
Court Duquesne, No. 87I, Duquesne
Court Homestead, No. 334, Homestead
Court Lambing, No. 772, Homewood
Court McKeesport, No. 221, McKeesport
Court Transfiguration, No. 955, Monongahela
Court Price, No. 849, Natrona
Court New Kensington, No. 860, New
Kensington
Pennsylvania State Court
Court Allegheny, No. 664, Pittsburgh
Court Consuelo, No. I032, Pittsburgh
Court Duquesne, No. 659, Pittsburgh
Court East Liberty, No. 905, Pittsburgh
Court Isabelle, No. 959, North Side,
Pittsburgh
Court Grace, No. 593, Sharpsburg
Court Swissvale, No. ggo, Swissvale
Court Westinghouse, No. 759, Turtle
Creek
Catholic Nurses League of Pittsburgh
Catholic Order of Foresters
ENDIX                             253
Catholic Women's Union
Mrs. W. J. Cavanaugh
Mr. John C. Collins
Conference of Catholic Charities
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Connell, Jr.
Mr. John Wray Connolly
Doctor Eugene A. Conti
Mr. and Mrs. Louis F. S. Cook
Mr. M. R. Cooley
Mrs. Harry T. Cronin
Mr. Francis T. Crowe
Miss Katherine Cullinan
Miss Mary Cullinan
Miss Elizabeth Daflinger
Mr. M. J. Delehaunty
Mrs. Catherine M. Devlin
Mr. Leo Dillon
Mr. Sydney Dillon
Miss Bernadine Diskin
Mrs. Catherine Diven
Mr. Dan Dixon
Mr. S. F. Dobrowolski
Mr. Joseph P. Doherty
Miss Helen V. Donley
Mr. Thomas E. Doyle
Mr. Frank L. Duggan
Duquesne University Women's Guild
Honorable Herman P. Eberharter
Mr. Mark Eichenlaub
Mrs. W. C. Eichenlaub
Mrs. Erastus Emery
Mr. Charles A. Fagan, Jr.
Mr. Patrick A. Fagan
Colonel and Mrs. George E. Fairley
Felician Sisters of Pennsylvania
Mr. Martin A. Flanagan
Mr. Alex G. Fodor
Mrs. Margaret Good Fogarty
Miss Katherine A. Ford
Mrs. Mary Fritsch
Mr. John M. Gallagher
Mr. M. J. Gallagher
Miss Elizabeth GannonEARLY CATHOLICITY IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
Kuskuskee (New Castle) with these words: "My Brothers, there are a
good many Papists in the country in French interest who appear like
gentlemen and have sent many runaway Irish Papist servants among you."
From another census taken in Pittsburgh in I76I we can also safely conclude that there must also have been Catholic property holders in that
town. Thus among the many Irish landlords the names, Samuel Rogers,
Philip Boyle, Charles Boyle, Patrick McQuaid, Patrick McCarthy, John
Dailey, Hugh Henry, and William Cassidy were most likely those of
Catholics from the Emerald Isle. Two years later Captain Ecuyer, the
Commandant of Fort Pitt, wrote on March I9, I763: "We had St. Patrick's
fetes in every manner, so that Croghan could not write by this express."
George Croghan was a Protestant, but with so many Catholic names in
that town as our guide we can well understand such a celebration.
It must be stated, however, that the Provincial Council of Philadelphia
was more lenient in the interpretation of these anti-Catholic laws of Great
Britain than any other colony. It even permitted the building of a chapel
in Philadelphia and "Mass-houses" or parsonages which contained a room
for services. The nearest one to Western Pennsylvania was that dedicated
to St. Francis Regis at Conewago (in Adams County) which became the
first parish church for this territory. As this place lay near the main road
to Philadelphia, there is hardly any doubt that some Catholics from the
vicinity of Pittsburgh went there from time to time to perform their religious duties. We have no record, however, of such journeys for religious
purposes, either because records were not kept or because they are lost. The
earliest accounts of that parish begin with the year 179I.
This forces us to get our information about Catholics and their activities in Western Pennsylvania during that time from casual notices in
secular documents. Two of them stand out most prominently; namely,
the vain effort of Joseph Cauffman to acquire land in present Indiana
County and the real-estate transactions of Garrett Pendergrass. In 1769
Messrs. Cauffman and Cottringer, two Catholic merchants of Philadelphia, tried to buy 300 acres of land along the Black-Lick Creek, apparently for a Catholic settlement. They asked the Provincial Council for an
"Act to enable them to hold land in the Province," because, by a General
Act of I742, foreigners were excluded from such rights "unless they had
lived seven years in the Province and shown their Protestantism by their
IICATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Mrs. E. C. Gardner
Miss Rachel Good
John J. and Margaret J. McGee Good (In
memoriam)
Frederick and Rachel Covert McGee (In
memoriam)
Henry and Eunice Daugherty Good (In
memoriam)
Misses Katherine and Nelle Goodman
Mr. Leo G. Griffith
Miss Louise Haberman
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hafermann (In
memoriam)
Mr. Adam Hahn, Jr.
Mr. Daniel M. Hamill
Doctor Alexander R. Hampsey
Mr. Frank J. Harris
Mr. John Harvey
Miss Clara E. Hoffman
Miss Magdalen Hoffman
Miss Mary E. Hoffman
Doctor and Mrs. Norbert L. Hoffman
Miss Ellen C. Hogan
Mrs. Mary T. Horan
International Federation of Catholic
Alumnae:
Divine Providence Academy Alumnae
Association
Mount Mercy Academy Alumnae Association
St. Paul Cathedral High School Alumnae Association
Pittsburgh Circle of the International
Federation of Catholic Alumnae
Trinity College Alumnae Association,
Pittsburgh Chapter
St. Xavier's Academy Alumnae Association
Mr. William L. Jacob
Mr. Robert A. Jarvis
Mr. Benedict J. Kaiser
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Kaveny
Mr. John M. Kennedy
Mr. Michael H. Kennedy
Miss Rose Kennedy
Miss Anne E. Kenney
Mrs. Joseph Kissane
Knights of Columbus, Pittsburgh Chapter
Mr. A. E. Kountz
Mrs. Joseph Kunkel
Mr. Charles F. Lang
Mr. and Mrs. George V. Lang
Mr. John H. Lauer
Mrs. Catherine Lavelle
Mr. and Mrs. Justin D. Lees
Mrs. Henrietta R. Lippert
Mr. Clay F. Lynch
Mr. P. E. Malone
Miss Blanche F. Maloney
Miss Mary F. Maloy
Mr. A. J. Mansmann
Mr. Charles P. Margiotti
Mr. and Mrs. David M. Martin
Mr. John P. McAndress
Mrs. Irene Adams McCabe
Mrs. F. W. McCarthy
Miss Ruth McDermott
Miss Alice Thurston McGirr
Mr. and Mrs. John F. McGraw
Doctor H. E. McGuire
Mr. Hugh McKavney (In memoriam)
Mrs. Hugh McKavney (In memoriam)
Mr. J. Frank McKenna
Lieutenant Colonel J. Frank McKenna,
Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. F. C. McLaughlin
Mr. J. H. E. McMillen
Mr. Leo A. McMullen
Mrs. Donald M. McNeil
Doctor James H. McQuade
Mr. Martin C. Mihm
Mr. Lawrence P. Monahan
Mrs. W. C. Monteverde
Mothers Club of St. Casimir's School
Mr. Thomas P. Mulvaney
254APPENDIX
Miss Mary C. Murphy
Mrs. Mary S. Murphy
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Murray
Mr. William F. Neely
Mr. Henry X. O'Brien
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. O'Brien
Doctor C. Leonard O'Connell
Mr. Francis J. O'Connor
Mr. John O'Connor, Jr.
Mrs. T. S. O'Connor
Miss Catherine O'Donnell
Miss Margaret M. O'Neil
Mr. J. Henry O'Neill
Mr. Stephen A. O'Toole
Mr. A. E. Oxenreiter
Mr. M. A. Pauley
Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Peterman
Pittsburgh Council of Catholic Women
Mr. Frank J. Poremba
Mr. James L. Poth
Doctor and Mrs. Wm. Claude Puhl
Honorable George J. Rankin, Jr.
Doctor and Mrs. T. M. Redman
Mr. Charles C. Reel (In memoriam)
Miss Bertha M. Reilly
Mr. Joseph Renvers
Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Ries, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry J. Ries
Mr. Arthur J. Rooney
Mrs. Frank I. Rutledge, Sr.
St. Canice Holy Name Society
St. Canice Lyceum
St. Vincent Seminary Library
Mr. and Mrs. Adrian F. Sanderbeck
Mrs. G. V. Sborigi
Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Schneider
Mr. and Mrs. William J. Scholz
Mr. Frank D. Shanahan
Mr. Arthur B. Shannon
Mr. Andrew E. Sheridan
Sodality of Our Lady, Fayette County
Union
Sodality of Our Lady, Lawrence County Union
Sodality of Our Lady, Pittsburgh Central Union
Sodality of Our Lady, Pittsburgh South
Union
Sodality of Our Lady, St. Lawrence
Church, Pittsburgh
Sodality of Our Lady of Mercy, St. Peter
Church, North Side, Pittsburgh
Mr. A. J. Soisson
South Hills Catholic Women's Club
Mrs. Stella R. Spiegelmyer
Mr. Austin L. Staley
Miss Anne Stratman
Lieutenant (s. g.) Paul G. Sullivan,
U.S.N. R.
Mr. Clarence Trichtinger, II
University Catholic Club
Ursuline Sisters
Mrs. Howard A. Vilsack
Miss Alice V. Walton
Mrs. George O. Walton
Miss Mary E. Walton
Mr. Henry J. Wehner
Mr. Henry Weisbecker
Mr. Joseph F. Weis
Mr. Martin W. Wise
Mrs. Edward Woistman
Mr. Francis A. Wolf
Mr. Tab B. Woods
Mrs. August Wunderly
Doctor Edward W. zurHorst
Reverend Albert P. Ackerman
Very Reverend Richard Ackerman,
C. S. Sp.
Reverend Joseph S. Altany
Reverend George H. Amend
Reverend S. F. Anuszkiewicz
Reverend F. A. Atkinson
Reverend A. J. Balok
255CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Reverend Alban Basnik, O. S. B.
Very Reverend George A. Baumer
Reverend Charles P. Beck
Reverend Cornelius H. Becker
Reverend Joseph Bednarik
Reverend Anthony M. Benedik
Reverend Francis Beneventano
Reverend Stephen J. Benson
Reverend J. R. Berkmyre
Reverend Peter J. Bernarding
Reverend John R. Biller
Reverend Nicholas A. Biondi
Reverend George F. Bjalobok
Reverend A. P. Black
Reverend Michael F. Bonfield
Reverend Francis R. Boyle
Reverend Michael P. Boyle
Reverend Peter J. Brennan
Reverend Vincent P. Brennan
Reverend Bertrand Brookman, O. F. M.
Cap.
Reverend Thomas C. Brown
Reverend Linus Brugger, O. S. B.
Reverend George J. Bullion
Reverend Vincent S. Burke
Reverend Arthur A. Burns
Reverend James A. Byrne
Reverend Paul E. Campbell
Reverend John Canova
Reverend Ambrose Capitan
Reverend Thomas F. Carey
Reverend H. A. Carlin
Reverend Thomas J. Cassidy
Reverend John A. Cavanaugh
Reverend Charles J. Ceradini
Reverend Francis S. Clifford
Very Reverend Thomas F. Coakley
Very Reverend P. K. Collins
Reverend William G. Connare
Reverend James A. Connelly
Reverend Michael J. Conroy
Reverend James R. Cox
Reverend William F. Dell
Reverend S. M. Dembinski
Reverend Henry DeVivo
Reverend Andrew DiSanto
Reverend Joseph A. Doerr
Reverend Leo J. Donnermeyer
Reverend Louis W. Doychak
Reverend S. A. Doyle
Reverend M. W. Drelak
Reverend Philip A. Dugan
Reverend Thomas J. Dunn
Reverend Edward J. Duwell
Reverend William J. Erkens
Very Reverend John C. Fallon
Reverend Charles F. Fehrenbach
Reverend John H. Fennell
Reverend Cornelius J. Finneran
Reverend J. C. Fitzpatrick
Reverend John P. Flaherty
Reverend John T. Flaherty
Reverend Martin P. Flaherty
Reverend Alvin W. Forney
Reverend Raymond W. Foster
Franciscan Fathers (Polish)
Franciscan Fathers (Slovak)
Reverend William C. Fromme
Reverend Nicola Fusco
Reverend Edwin P. Fussenegger
Reverend Justin J. Gallagher
Reverend Vincent Galliano
Reverend Arthur L. Garbin
Reverend Henry Geibel
Reverend H. J. Gilbert
Reverend Rupert Glaid, O. F. M. Cap.
Reverend Francis A. Glenn
Reverend Patrick J. Graney
Reverend Robert J. Gray
Reverend Victor Green, O. F. M. Cap.
Reverend Gerard M. Greenewald, O. F.
M. Cap.
Reverend Francis R. Gresko
Reverend Eloy I. Grundler
Reverend George M. Guenther
Reverend George M. Haber
256APPENDIX
Very Reverend John Hackett
Reverend Joseph D. Hagan
Reverend James O'D. Hanlon
Reverend Henry F. Hanse
Reverend Anthony G. Hardy
Reverend Ralph L. Hayes
Reverend Michael J. Hegerich
Reverend Edward A. Heinrich
Reverend Carl P. Hensler
Reverend Joseph Herdegen, O. S. B.
Reverend Ignatius S. Herkel
Very Reverend Francis J. Hertzog
Reverend Edwin R. Heyl
Reverend Francis M. Hoffman
Reverend Louis P. Hohos
Reverend Andrew B. Horvath
Reverend Francis J. Huber
Reverend Benedict Huck, C. P.
Reverend John Hughes
Reverend George F. Hurley
Reverend S. F. Idzik
Reverend J. Edward Istocin
Reverend Charles A. Janda
Reverend Adam A. Jurczyk
Reverend Charles A. Kapp, C. S. Sp.
Very Reverend Athanasius Karlin, O. F.
M. Cap.
Reverend Oliver D. Keefer
Reverend William C. Kelty
Reverend Victor Kennedy
Reverend Patrick A. Kiernan
Reverend J. M. Kilgallen
Very Reverend H. J. Killmeyer
Reverend Casimir P. Koscisz
Reverend Michael A. Kowal
Reverend Regis P. Krah, O. F. M. Cap.
Reverend Leo A. Kraus
Reverend Sylvester J. Kress
Reverend Vincent B. Kukleski
Reverend S. C. Kupiec
Very Reverend Joseph A. Kushner
Reverend John A. Larkin
Reverend James L. Lavelle
Reverend Daniel A. Lawless
Reverend Michael A. Leen
Reverend Vincent M. Leonard
Reverend James P. Logue
Reverend Joseph L. Lonergan
Reverend Joseph W. Lowney
Reverend William J. Maher
Reverend Victor G. Majka
Very Reverend D. J. Maloney
Reverend Vincent Marinaro
Reverend Francis L. Martin
Reverend William J. McCashin
Reverend Leo A. McCrory
Reverend William P. McGraw
Reverend John R. McKavney
Reverend John H. McMahon
Reverend J. Earl McNanamy
Reverend Thomas J. McPherson
Reverend Francis Mersinger, O. S. B.
Reverend Alphonse G. Mihm
Reverend A. J. Milcic
Reverend Edward J. Misklow
Reverend Joseph A. Mitsch
Reverend Thomas H. Morgan
Very Reverend E. J. Moriarty
Reverend Ettore Moscoloni
Reverend Francis R. Mullen
Reverend Thomas R. Murphy
Reverend Raymond A. Must
Reverend J. Dudley Nee
Very Reverend James J. O'Connell
Reverend Lawrence A. O'Connell
Reverend James J. O'Connor
Reverend John A. O'Connor
Reverend P. J. O'Connor
Reverend Walter A. O'Hara
Reverend Edward A. O'Neill
Reverend D. J. O'Shea
Reverend Martin J. O'Toole
Reverend E. Charles Patterson
Reverend Wenceslaus Pawelkiewicz
Reverend Joseph A. Pernatozzi
Reverend Regis Phelan
257CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Reverend S. C. Piekarski
Reverend William M. Pisarcik
Reverend Philip Platania
Reverend Henry A. Podowski
Reverend Francis Poszukanis
Reverend William J. Purcell
Reverend Thomas J. Quigley
Reverend James L. Quinn
Redemptorist Fathers
Very Reverend James A. W. Reeves
Reverend Thomas S. Reilly
Reverend William A. Reith
Reverend Charles Owen Rice
Reverend Patrick W. Rice
Reverend Charles P. Riley
Reverend Pietro Rossi
Reverend John M. Rostas
Reverend Martin B. Rubicky
Very Reverend C. A. Sanderbeck
Reverend John S. Scanlon
Reverend Aemilian Schlimm, O. S. B.
Reverend A. P. Scholz
Reverend August H. Schoppol
Reverend Gerald Schroth
Reverend Fred J. Seibel
Reverend James A. Shay
Reverend John P. Shields
Reverend John J. Sima
Reverend John J. Skrak
Reverend F. Clifford Soisson
Reverend Joseph Sonnefeld, C. S. Sp.
Reverend Edward N. Soxman
Reverend John A. Stofcik
Reverend Gilbert Straub, O. S. B.
Reverend Ferdinand A. Szabo
Reverend Paul B. Tomlinson
Reverend Francis H. Topping
Reverend Cherubino Viola, O. F. M.
Reverend Michael J. Vitale
Very Reverend Claude Vogel, O.F.M.
Cap.
Reverend Cyril J. Vogel
Reverend Joseph Vrhunec
Reverend Joseph A. Wank
Reverend Ernest G. Wassel
Reverend Anthony B. Wehrle
Reverend William P. Weirauch
Reverend A. J. Weisenberger
Reverend Edmund J. Wiethorn
Reverend Herman J. Wilhelm
Reverend Francis J. Wivell
Reverend John Wojciechowski
Very Reverend W. A. Wuenstel
Reverend Joseph A. Young
Reverend Edward Zauner
258INDEX
Ackerman, Very Rev. Richard, I24
Alfred, Archabbot, O. S. B., 155
All Saints Church, Etna, I94
All Saints Church, Masontown, 193
All Saints Church, New Kensington, 198
Allegheny, Diocese of, 97
Allegheny County, 97-99
Allegheny County Emergency Association, 177
Allegheny County Emergency Relief
Board, I75, I77
Aloysia (Lowe), Mother, 148
Aloysius (Strange), Sister, 111
Altoona, Diocese of, 55, 64, I86
Ambrose, Father, 183
American period, Catholicity in, 15-24
Anderson, Mrs. William, 174
Anheuser, Rev. Gabriel, 7
Annunciation School, Pittsburgh, 196
Anti-Catholic laws, Io, I  
Apostolate House, Mount Washington,
i6o, 163
Aquinas Hall, Mount Mercy College,
152
Archbold, Patrick, 13
Architecture, I86-200
Aretz, Frank, 199
Armstrong, Gen. John, 99
Armstrong County, 99-Ioo
Arsenal, 39, 4I
Aurelius, Father, O. S. B., 157
Austin (Keane), Mother, II2
Badin, Father, 17, 19
Baron, Rev. Denis, 7, 8, 9, 93
Barrieres, Father, 17
Barry, Stephen P., I54, 159
Bartberger, C. M., I89
Beaver County, Ioo-oI, 184
Beaver Falls, 8
Beck, Joseph A., 154, I74; "The Lay Retreat Movement," 156-59
Beelon, Mr., I9
Behan, John, I88
Benedictine Fathers, 33, Ioi, 107, 122-23,
I44-47
Benedictine monks, Beuron, Germany,
199
Benedictine Sisters, II5
Bernardine Sisters of the Third Order of
St. Francis, 118
Bienville, Celeron de, 7
Bierl, Rev. John, Ioi
Bigler, William, 33
Biondi, Rev. Nicholas A., I64
Bishop Boyle Home for Aged Women,
II8
Blakely, Rev. Aloysius, C. P., 6I
Blessed Sacrament Church, Greensburg,
I07
Blessed Trinity Missionary Cenacle, 17273
Blind, care of, 70
Board of Examiners of Teachers, 132,
137-38
Board of Supervisors, I40, 14I, I42
Bobula, Titus de, I19
Bonfield, Rev. Michael F., 164
Bonnecamps, Father, 7
Boyle, Charles, 11
Boyle, Charles, 73
Boyle, Most Rev. Hugh Charles, 73-84,
Io8, 12I, I34, 135, I36, 154, 155, 163,
170, 175, 176, i8o, I8I, I84
Boyle, Philip, II
Boys, clubs and retreats for Catholic, 69,
I58
Braddock General Hospital, I15
Brennan, Rev. Martin J., 14, I02, i88
Brenot, J. P., I96
Bretonniere, Father, 7
Brothers of the Christian Schools, I27,
I3I, 138
Brothers of Mary, 126-27, I34, 141
Brothers of Our Lady of Lourdes, 63
Brothers of the Presentation, 33, 130, I49
Brouwers, Rev. Theodore, O.F.M., i6,
I44-45
259CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Brownson's Review, 40
Brownsville, I02
Brugger, Rev. Linus, O. S. B., I07
Brunner, Rev. Thaddeus, I47
Bryson, Rev. Thomas, I54
Buchanan, James, 39
Buechel, Rev. Raymond J., 164
Buhl Foundation, I76
Bullion, Rev. George J., "Bishop Phelan," 53-67
Burdis, Rev. Stephen J., I64
Burke, William, I97
Burns, Rev. Arthur A., 95
Butler, Gen. Richard, IOI
Butler colonies, 18
Butler County, IOI-o2, I84
Button and McLean, I98
Byrne, Rev. John B., 36
Calandri, Very Rev. Anthony, C. P., 96,
124
Calvert Hall College, I27
Cameron's Bottom, 54, 56, I04
Campbell, Rev. Paul E., I37, I38, I39-40;
"The First Bishop of Pittsburgh,"
25-37
Canevin, Most Rev. J. F. Regis, 37, 55,
65, 68-72, 76, 78, 85, 86, 95, 113,
116, 118, 124, 132, I34, I36, I50, I57,
I60, I62, I69, 172, 182, 183
Canevin Hall, Duquesne University, I5o,
194
Canevin Hall Dormitory, Seton Hill
College, I95
Canivan, Rev. James, Io5
Canova, Rev. John, "Bishop Michael
Domenec and Bishop John Tuigg,
I86o-I889," 38-52.
Capuchin Fathers, 46, IoI-02, I25, i65,
I83
Carmelite Fathers, 46, IoI, I25
Carnegie, Andrew, go
Carr, Rev. Matthew, O. S. A., I2
Carroll, Most Rev. John, I5, I7, I8, I9
Carroll, Rev. Lawrence A., I73
Carroll, Rev. M., 6i
Carroll, Rev. Matthew, I04
Cassidy, William, II
Catholic Child and Youth Saving Union,
I70
Catholic Church in the Dioceses of Pittsburgh and Allegheny, I86
Catholic Daughters of America, I65,
I73, I79
Catholic Institute of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I73
Catholic Nurses' League, I72
Catholic Prison Visiting Society, I73
Catholic Truth Society, 69
Catholic Women's League, 17I
Catholicity
in American period, I5-24
in English period, 9-I5
in French-Indian period, 3-9
Cauffman, Joseph, II, 12
Cause, Rev. John B., I5, I6
Cavelier, Madeleine, 4
Cavelier, Robert, 3, 4
Cecil, I6I, I64
Central Catholic High School for Boys,
Pittsburgh, 79, I27, I38, I96
Charities. See Conference of Catholic
Charities
Charity Sundays, I69
Children's Department, Conference of
Catholic Charities, I75, I76, I79
Christian Advocate, 45, 46
Christian Brothers. See Brothers of the
Christian Schools
Christy, Rev. R. C., 112
Church of the Assumption, Bellevue,
I97-98, I99
Church of the Epiphany, Pittsburgh. See
Epiphany Church
Church of the Nativity, Pittsburgh, 196
Church of the Transfiguration, Monongahela, I93
Civil War, 39-40, I82
Clarke, Rev. Richard Henry, 36
Clifford, Rev. Francis S., I87
Coady, Rev. D., 53
Coakley, Very Rev. Thomas F., I58, I75;
"Archbishop Canevin," 68-72
Cody, Rev. Joseph, 24, 30, 99
26oDaughters of Mary Help of Christians,
II9
Davis, Herbert, i99
De Paul Institute, 68, 70, II4, I95, I98
De Wolf, Judge Tensard, I74
Deaf-mutes, care of, 70, II4
Dedericks, Peter, I94
Delaney, Rev. James M., I54, I59
Delaware Indians, 5-6
Devlin, James S., 190
Devlin, Rev. Thomas, 76, 132, I33-34,
I75, I84
Diamond, Mrs. Bridget, 156
Dilhet, Father, I7
Diocesan Normal School, I37, I38
Divine Providence Academy, II5
Divine Redeemer Academy, Elizabeth,
120
Dombrowski, Rev. Joseph, I17
Domenec, Rt. Rev. Michael, 38-48, 49,
50, 51-52, 55, 59, 60, 96, 97, I04, 112,
I13, 115, 123, 148, I49, I82
Dominican Sisters, 115-16
Donabedian, Rev. Harry J., I64
Dougherty, Mother Mary Irenaeus, I53
Doyle, James, I6I
Druiding, Mr., I9I
Dunn, Mary, I6i
Duquesne University, i24, 138, I39, I495I, 172, I94, I95
Duynovic, Rev. Stanislaus, I25
Early Catholicity, 3-24
Ecuyer, Captain, II
Education
Bishop Boyle and, 74, 76-77, 78-80, 83
higher, I44-53
See also Religious orders of men; Religious orders of women; Schools
Egan, Hayden A., I62
Egan, Rt. Rev. Michael, O. S. F., 20, 93
Elizabeth (Strange), Sister, I I I
England, Bishop, 27, 28
English period, Catholicity in, 9-i5
Ephraim, Sister Mary, 65
Epiphany Church, 55, 65, I89, I9I, I99
Epp, Rev. Hyacinth, 125
Cole, Rev. Edward H., 164
Colleges. See Education, higher
Collins, Anna, I6I
Comes, John T., I58, I9I, I93, I94, I96,
I97, I99
Comes, Perry, and McMullen, I94, I95,
I96, I97
Commission on Sacred Music, 66
Community Fund, 172, 173, 175-77, I78
Conference of Catholic Charities, I69-80,
I83, I84, I85
Conference of St. Vincent de Paul. See
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, 8I,
II3, II4, I6o-66, I84.' See also Missionary Confraternity of Christian
Doctrine
Congregation of the Passion, 33, 70, 96,
124, 158, I65
Connell, Mrs. W. H., Jr., "Women's Organizations in the Diocese," i67-68
Connelly, Stephen W., i56
Conwell, Very Rev. Henry, I2, I7, 21, 22
Conwell, John, 13
Cook, Louis F. S., "The Confraternity of
Christian Doctrine," I6o-66
Corcoran, Rev. John F. R., 175
Coriston, Frank A., 162, I63
Courcelles, Daniel, 5
Courts, Catholic representation in, I74
Cox, Rev. James R., 96
Cram, Ralph Adams, 197
Creed, Mother Mary Raymond, I49
Creedon, Rev. Michael, 32, IOI
Croatian Franciscans, I26
Croghan, George, ii
Cullen, Dr. Paul, 35
Cullen, Sister Mary Josephine, iii
Curtin, Father, I02
Czackert, Rev. Peter, 30
Dailey, John, ii
Daily Commercial, expressions of editorial opinion in, 45, 46
Daughters of Divine Charity, I20
Daughters of the Divine Redeemer, II920
INDEX
26ICATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Erie, Diocese of, 35, 53, 64
Eucharistic Nights, I54-55
Eucharistic Peace Crusade, 82
Eudes Institute, I20
Falconio, Most Rev. Diomede, 86, 95
Family Department, Conference of Catholic Charities, I75, I76, I78
Farmer, Father, I5
Farmer, Rev. Ferdinand, Io
Farren, Rev. John C., 105, Io6
Fayette County, 102, I74
Fecko, Rev. John A., I64
Federici, Rev. Salvador, C. S. Sp., "Higher Education," I44-53
Felician Sisters of St. Francis, I7
Fellner, Very Rev. Felix, 0. S. B., "Early
Catholicity in Western Pennsylvania," 3-24
Ferry, Rev. Charles, 99
Fiftieth anniversary, Diocese of Pittsburgh, 54, 62
Financial panic, 40, 47
Fitzpatrick, Henry, I56
Fitzsimmons Building, Duquesne University, I51
Flaget, Most Rev. Benedict Joseph, I7,
27
Flannery, James J., I70
Floyd, John B., 39
Forbes, General, 7
Forney, Rev. Alvin W., "The Holy
Name Society," I54-55
Fort Duquesne, 7, 8-9, 93
Fort Le Boeuf, 7
Fort Pitt, II
Foster Care Department, Conference of
Catholic Charities, I79
Foundation Stones of a Great Diocese,
i86, I87
Fournier, Rev. Michael, 17
Fox, Mrs. M. E., I69
Frances (Van der Vogel), Sister, IIo
Francis Xavier (Warde), Mother, iii
Franciscan Brothers, 63, 130, 13I
Franciscan Fathers, I25-26
Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement,
I I7. See also Felician Sisters of St.
Francis; Sisters of St. Francis
Freeman, Philip, I6
Freeman's Journal, controversy over slavery question and, 40
French-Indian period, Catholicity in, 3-9
Frick, Henry Clay, 85, 95
Friel, Mamie, 174
Fromm, Father, i6
Frontenac, Louis, 4
Gallagher, Rev. Hugh P., 30, IOI
Gallagher, Rev. Hugo, 32
Gallagher, Rev. Joseph F., I05, II3
Gallagher, Rev. Michael, 24, 30, I02
Gallitzin, Very Rev. Demetrius, 17, I8,
20, 2I, 24, 27, 128, i86, I87
Garland, Rev. Edward F., 30, 95, I00
Garvey, Rt. Rev. Eugene A., 64, 86
Garvey, Rev. Peter M., I05
Gayerstanger, Rev. Martin, I23
Gettysburg, Battle of, 42
Gibbons, James Cardinal, 65, 86, 95
Gibbs, Rev. A. P., 30, 98, Ioo
Gilbert, Rev. H. J., "St. Paul's Cathedral," 85-90
Gillespie, Charles D., I69
Gillespie, James, I3-I4
Gillespie, Neil, 14
Ginther, William, I92, I93
Gottschall, Rev. Peter, 99
Grace, August, I74
Greene, Nathaniel, I03
Greene County, Io03-04
Greensburg, I6-I7
Gregory XVI, Pope, 26, 28
Griffin, Very Rev. Edward P., ii6, I6o,
I6I, I62, I63
Gumbert School, I74
Hagel, Rev. John, I38
Haid, Rt. Rev. Leo, 0. S. B., 86, i57
Haney, James R., I6I, i62
Hann, Joseph, I93
Harding, Rev. Robert, io
Hartman, Rev. John, 96
Havey, Mother Mary Joseph, I48
262INT
Hayes, Most Rev. Ralph L., I36, 137,
140, I55
Hayes, Rev. William F., Io05, 113
Healey, Rev. James A., I64
Heckert, Sidney, I9I
HIegerich, Rev. Constantine M., I35, I39
Hehir, Very Rev. Martin, C. S. Sp., I50
Heinrich, Rev. Edward A., i63, I64
Helbron, Rev. Peter, I7-I8, I9, 20, 2I
Henry, Hugh, II
Hergenroeder, E. J., I99
Herron, Margaret, i62
Heyden, Rev. Thomas, 21, 23, 24, 32, 94
Hickey, Rev. Daniel, Io6
Hickey, Rev. John, 43, 45, 49
High schools. See Schools, secondary
Hoban, Rt. Rev. Michael J., 65, 86
Hoeres, Rev. N., 32, 96
Holy Cross School, Glassport, I96
Holy Family Church, Latrobe, I93
Holy Family Church, Pittsburgh, i98
Holy Family Institute, i98
Holy Family Institute for Orphans, Emsworth, I24
Holy Ghost Greek Catholic Church,
Pittsburgh, I97.
Holy Ghost Fathers, 46, I23-24, I49-5I
Holy Innocents Church, Pittsburgh, I95
Holy Name Society, I54-55
Holy Rosary Church, Pittsburgh, I97
Holy Trinity Church, Pittsburgh, I9I
Holy Trinity School, McKeesport, I95
Home for the Aged, i98
Homefinding Department, Conference
of Catholic Charities, i79
Homemaker Service, Conference of
Catholic Charities, 179
Hospitals, 34, 57, 68, II2, I13, II4, II5,
I79, I98
Huber, Rev. F. J., I84
Huber, Rev. Xavier, I25
Huck, Rev. Benedict, C. P., 96
Hughes, Most Rev. John, 23, 27, 41, 42,
94
Hughes, Rev. Martin J., Io6
Hune, Rev. Aloysius, II5
Hunt, Henry, 200
)EX                                263
Hurley, Rev. George F., I64
Hutchins, William P., I95, I96, I97, I98,'99
Ildephonse, Father, O. S. B., I57
Immaculate Conception Church, Pittsburgh, I93
Immaculate Conception Church, Washington, I97
Immaculate  Conception  School, Pittsburgh, I98
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 192
Indiana County, Io04, I84
Irenaeus (Dougherty), Mother Mary, I53
Italian Franciscan Fathers, I26
Janssen and Hergenroeder, I96
Jay, John, I4
Jesuit Fathers, 5, 36
Jesuit Relations, 5, 6
Johnston, Alexander, 13
Johnstown flood, 75
Jolliet, Louis, 4, 5
Joncaires, Messrs., 7
Joseph (Havey), Mother Mary, 148
Josephine, Sister Mary, 65
Josephine (Cullen), Sister Mary, iii
Joyce, Rev. Edward G., "The Roots of
the Diocese," 93-I09
Kaiser, B. J., I86
Kaiser, Neal, and Reid, i98, i99
Kane, Thomas L., I56
Kaufman, Rev. P., 6i
Kauzor Brothers, I95, i96, I97
Keane, Mother Austin, II2
Kearney, Rev. James, 97
Kearney, Rev. Jerome, 6i
Keating, Rev. Joseph B., Ioo
Keelan, Anna, 73
Keith, Governor, 5
Kelty, Rev. William, 98
Kennedy, Judge, I74
Kenoy, Rev. James, 98
Kenrick, Most Rev. Francis P., 22-24,
26, 27, 28, 29, 38, 42, 53, 94, 98, Ioo,
IOI, I03, 104, Io6, I88CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
willingness to take the Tests and subscribe the Declaration." The Council,
consisting of Quakers, was willing to grant this petition, because they
believed that the special laws of Pennsylvania permitted such a concession,
but the Governor refused to approve this decision. As soon, however, as
these English laws were revoked, Mr. Cauffman made a new attempt to
acquire land in that same district. The records of deeds of Westmoreland
County list eleven properties, each of them more than 300 acres, which he
bought in the early part of 1776 and which he had recorded on July I3
following. There cannot be any doubt that this latter transaction was intended to establish a Catholic colony. On August 9, I8o6 he conveyed by
deed one half of such a farm to Mr. Mark Wilcox, a prominent Catholic
of Philadelphia, and Father Matthew Carr, O.S.A., with the proviso
"for clergyman or clergymen to officiate to the aforesaid congregation, as
it shall seem meet to discharge the Pastoral functions at the said Congregation." This land was conveyed in I823 to Bishop Conwell of Philadelphia and is now the property connected with St. Patrick's Church, Cameron's Bottom, Indiana County.
The second transactions were even more extraordinary. Mr. Pendergrass belonged to a well-known Catholic family in Carlisle. His father
had served under Colonel Armstrong in the French and Indian War and
took part in the raid on the Indian settlement of Kittanning in I756. He
was also numbered in 1762 among the taxables of Cumberland County,
which then comprised all Western Pennsylvania. His son received a grant
of land from the Iroquois Indians at Bedford, and when this was taken
from him, they tried to reimburse him with other properties in present
Western Pennsylvania. This deed is truly unique and therefore is given
here in its main text:
"Know all men by these presents that whereas a certain Garrett Pendergrass Senior, of Bedford settlement in the Province of Pennsylvania lost
his tract of land which we and our said deputies at the said treaty gave
him, we granted him in writing under our hands to settle on a tract of
land called the Long Reach near the mouth of the Yaughiaghani, but
this last mentioned tract being at the time of the said treaty or before it
improved by some other person or persons contrary to our expectation,
for which the said Pendergrass has not obtained possession of the latter
tract and therefore cannot enjoy it, know ye therefore that we subscribers
12CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Kenrick, Rev. P. R., 94
Kenrick, Rev. Peter Richard, 26-27
Keogh, Doctor, 4I, 43
Kerrins, Mr., I89
Kiernan, Rev. Patrick, 99
Kircher, Rev. G., i6
Kittanning, 58, 59
Kittell, Rev. Ferdinand, 50
Kittell, Rev. William, 64
Knights of Columbus, I37, I65
Knights of Columbus Normal School,
I37
Knoll, Rev. Cyril, I25
Kovats, Rev. Colman, II9
Kuhr, Rev. Francis, ioI
La Salle, Robert Cavelier, Sieur de, 3, 4
Labor, Bishop Boyle and, 75-76, 77
Lambert, Rev. William, 104
Lambing, Rt. Rev. A. A., 8, 9, 29, 47,
135, I86, 187
Lambing, Very Rev. M. A., 66, I35, I39
Lang, Herman G., I93, 195
Lappan, Rev. Thomas B., 172; "The St.
Vincent de Paul Society," I8I-85
Latrobe, I44-47
Lauzon, Father, 7
Lawless, Rev. Daniel A., 163
Lawrence County, 105, I84
Lazarist Fathers, 38, 43
Leander, Archabbot, O. S. B., 157
Leech Farm, 184
Leechburg, 58
Lemcke, Rev. Peter H., 24, I23, I45-46
Lery, Chaussegros de, 7
Lery, Monsieur de, 6
Lieftuchter, Felix, I99
Lignery, Commandant de, 7
Lincoln, Abraham, 39, 40, 44
Link, A. F., I94, I95, I96
Link, Weber, and Bowers, I96, I97
Lisotto, E., I94
Lithuanian Franciscan Fathers, 126
Lithuanian Sisters of St. Francis, I95
Little Sisters of the Poor, 46, I20, I82,
I95
Lonergan, Rev. Joseph L., I98
Lonergan, Rev. Patrick, 17, 19, 103
Loretto, I7, 128, I86, I87
Lowe, Mother Aloysia, 148
Lowe Hall, Seton Hill College, I94
Luke, Sister, 175
Lynch, Rev. Michael, 65
McAuley, Mother Mary Catherine, I51
McCabe, Father, 154
McCarter, Rev. Francis M., I05
McCarthy, Dan, 174
McCarthy, Patrick, II
McCullagh, Rev. Thomas, 31, 95, I00
McCullough, Sarah, I69
McDonald, Rev. R., 65
McGirr, Rev. Terence, 2I, I04
McHugh, Rev. Henry, I03
McKees Rocks, 8
McKeesport, 98, 184
McMahon, Very Rev. E., 43, 97
McMahon, Rev. John H., I64
McMullen, Leo A., I97, I98, 199; "Architecture in the Diocese," I86-2oo
McMullen, Very Rev. William, 95
McNelis, Rev. Patrick, 132-33
McQuaid, Patrick, II
Maguire, Rev. Charles Bonaventure,
O. F. M., 21-22, 85, 94, 95, 99, IOO,
I03, I04
Majka, Rev. Victor, I64
Malady, Rev. John, Io6
Malone, Ella, I74
Manners, Rev. Mathias, Io
Marlier, Raymond M., I88, I96
Marquette, Jacques, 4, 5
Marron, John, I69
Marzhauser, Rev. Augustine C., I04
Mathew, Father, 35
Mattingly, Mother Regina, 148
Maynooth seminarians, 29, 30, 31, 53
Men, organizations of. See Holy Name
Society; Knights of Columbus, Religious Orders of Men; St. Vincent
de Paul Society
Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh, 34, 57, 68,
112, I79, I98
Mercy Hospital Nurses' Home, 195-96
264National Conference of Catholic Charities, I76, I78
Natrona (Tarentum), 58
Nee, Rev. J. Dudley, ioo
Nee, Rev. Paul A., I64
Negroes, 33
Neuman, Rev. John N., 30
Neville, Rev. Thomas, 95
New Castle, Io5, 113
Noble, Major, I9
Norment, Daniel, 9
North Catholic High School for Boys,
Pittsburgh, 79, 127, I40-4I, I99
Noticias Catholicas, 84
Nuns of St. Clare, IIo, 128
Nurses' Guild, 172
Oblate Fathers, 46
O'Brien, John, I74
O'Brien, Rev. William F. X., i8, I9-20,
21, 93-94, 99, I00, I02
O'Connell, Rev. E. Lawrence, 139
O'Connell, Rev. Lawrence A., I75, 184;
"The Conference of Catholic Charities," I69-8o
O'Connor, Mr., I28
O'Connor, Very Rev. James, 43, 97
O'Connor, Rt. Rev. Michael, 23, 24, 2537, 47, 53, 55, 57, 59, 85, 89, 94, 96,
I02, III, 124, I25, I29, I30, I3I, I44,
I45, I49, I8i
O'Farrell, Rev. Thomas, I05
O'Grady, Rt. Rev. John, I76
Ohio River, exploration of, 4-5
Oil-refining, 44
O'Neil, Arthur, I6
O'Neill, Rev. Patrick, 99, Ioo
O'Reilly, Rev. John, 22, 23, 33, 85, 94,
II3, 128
O'Shea, Rev. D. J., I35, I39, I42
O'Shea, Rev. Florence F., 97, I42
O'Shea, Rev. Timothy, i62-63
Our Lady of Mercy Academy, 152
Ozanam, Frederic, I83
Pallottine Sisters, II9
Palmer, Robert M., 187
Meyer, Very Rev. Leo, I26
Milde, Most Rev. Edward, 3I
Miller, Mrs. Harry, I74
Misklow, Very Rev. Edward J., 175
Mission band, 66, 70
Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart,
I20, I7I, I73, 174
Missionary Aid Society, 70
Missionary Confraternity of Christian
Doctrine, 70, I6o-66
Missionary Franciscan Sisters, II9
Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed
Trinity, I21, I73, I74, I75
Missionary Zelatrices of the Sacred Heart,
II9
Mississippi River, exploration of, 4-5
Mitchell, Rev. Michael J., Ioi
Moeller, Most Rev. Henry, 86
Moeser, Henry, I9o, I9I
Monastery of Our Lady of Charity, I20
Monks of St. Benedict, 122-23
Morgan, Rev. Pollard, I04
Mosetizh, Father, 32
Most Holy Sacrament Church, Greensburg, I97
Mount Alvernia Academy, I58
Mount Alvernia Convent, I9I
Mount Assisi Academy, Bellvue, II8, I96
Mount Gallitzin Academy, Baden, I58,
I9I, I95
Mount Gallitzin Seminary, 112
Mount Mercy College, III-I2, I39, I5153, 197, I98
Mount Nazareth Motherhouse, I96
Mount Providence Motherhouse, Pittsburgh, I96
Mount St. Mary's Convent, Pittsburgh,
I96
Muldoon, Dr. H. C., I39
Mullen, Rt. Rev. Tobias, 49, 50, 54, 59,
6I, 97
Murphy, Rev. John T., x5o
Murphy, Rev. Robert M., I64
Napoleon III, 4I
National Catholic Welfare Conference,
I72
INDEX
265CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Parkman, Francis, 3, 4
Passionist Fathers. See Congregation of
the Passion
Passionist Monastery, I56, I58
Passionist Nuns, 69, 121-22, 158, I95
Pellentz, Father, 15
Pelligrini, Casimir, I98
Pendergrass, Garrett, Junior, 12-13
Pendergrass, Garrett, Senior, 12-13
Penn, John, 14
Pennsylvania Historical Commission, 6
Perry, W. R., 200
Pfeifer, Rev. Clement, 0. F. M. Cap., i65
Phelan, Rev. Lawrence S., 17, i8, 20, 99
Phelan, Very Rev. Patrick Canon, 56, 65
Phelan, Rt. Rev. Richard, 52, 53-67, 86,
95, 97, I33, I50
Pittsburgh, city of, 8, I9-20, 21, 23, 30,
54, 57, 68, 93-97, 128
Pittsburgh Catholic, 33, 35, 41, 43, 60,
i86
Pittsburgh Commnercial, 5I
Pittsburgh Dispatch, 46
Pittsburgh Hospital, 68, II14
Pittsburgh Leader, 45
Pittsburgh Mercury, I88
Pittsburgh Post, 49
Pius IX, Pope, 46, I46
Pius X, Pope, I6o
Plympton, Lucian F., 196-97, I99
Polish Franciscans, 126
Pollard, Rev. William, I07
Pontificial Society of the Holy Childhood, 124
Portier, Rt. Rev. Michael, 64
Post, Rev. Frederick, Io
Powers, Father, IOO
Powers, Rev. William, I5o
Prendergast, Rt. Rev. Edmund F., 86
Presbyterian Banner, 46
Presentation Brothers. See Brothers of
the Presentation
Press service, Bishop Boyle and, 83-84
Probst, John, I6
Propaganda, Sacred Congregation of, 48,
50
Prost, Rev. Joseph, 22, 124-25
Providence Hospital, Beaver Falls, 114
Purcell, Rev. Edward, 36
Pyzdrowski, Anthony, 196, 198
Queret, Father, 7
Quigley, Rev. Thomas J., 140-41; "The
School System of the Diocese," 12843
Quinn, Rev. James L., i6o
Rafferty, Father, I02
Raphael Temporary Home for Children,
I20, I73, I95
Raphael Temporary Home for Infants,
I72, I73
Raymond (Creed), Mother Mary, 149
Redemptorist Fathers, 22, 30, 3I-32, 33,
96, 124-25
Reeves, Very Rev. James A. W., 139, I42,
I49; "The Diocese under Bishop
Boyle," 73-84
Regina (Mattingly), Mother, 148
Reid, A. B., I69
Reid, Rev. James, oo00, Io5
Religious orders of men, 122-27
Religious orders of women, IIO-22
Relihan, M. J., 137
Retreats for laymen, 69-70, 154, I56-59
Revolutionary War, 14, I5
Richard, Rev. Gabriel, 20
Richardson, James, 14
Rieke, Rev. Francis R., 164
Rodgers, Mother Rose Genevieve, 149
Rogers, Connel, 18
Rogers, Samuel, ii
Rommelfanger, Very Rev. J., 66
Rosalia, Sister Mary, 65
Rose Genevieve (Rodgers), Mother, 149
Roselia Hospital, I14
Rousseau, Marius, 191
Ryan, Msgr. Martin, 154
Ryan, Most Rev. P. J., 6i, 64, 65
Sacred Heart Church, Braddock, I92
Sacred Heart Church, Jeannette, I95, 200
Sacred Heart Church, Pittsburgh, I96,
I97, I98, I99, 200
266INDEX
Sacred  Heart   Convent,   Coraopolis
Heights, I98
Sacred Heart School, Emsworth, I95
Saenderl, Rev. Julius P., 30
St. Agatha's Church, Bridgeville, i98
St. Agnes Church, Pittsburgh, I94, I99,
200
St. Agnes Parish, Oakland, I3I
St. Aloysius School, Wilmerding, I94
St. Alphonsus Church, Murrinsville, I87
St. Andrew's Church, Pittsburgh, I90
St. Ann's Church, Homestead, I95, I99
St. Ann's Church, Millvale, I95
St. Ann's Church, Waynesburg, I03
St. Ann's Day Nursery, I7I
St. Ann's Guild, I7I
St. Ann's Missionary Society, I6o
St. Anselm's Church, Swissvale, I95
St. Anthony's Church, Millvale, 194
St. Anthony's Village, Oakmont,   I9,
I58
St. Athanasius Church, West View, I99
St. Augustine's Church, Pittsburgh, I9I92
St. Barnabas Rectory, Rankin, I94
St. Basil's Church, Carrick, I95
St. Basil's School, Carrick, i98
St. Bede's School, Pittsburgh, I95
St. Benedict's Academy, Pittsburgh, II5
St. Bernard's Church, Mount Lebanon,
200
St. Bernard's School, Mount Lebanon,
I95
St. Boniface Church, Pittsburgh, i96
St. Brendan's Parish, Braddock, I31
St. Brendan's School, Braddock, 195
St. Bridget's Church, Altoona, 48
St. Brigid's Church, Pittsburgh, 90o
St. Cecilia's Church, Rochester, 193
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia, 27, 38
St. Clare's Academy, Pittsburgh, IIo
St. Colman's Church, Turtle Creek, IgI
St. Colman's School, Turtle Creek, I97
St. Conrad's Church, Meridian, I98
St. Cyril's School, Pittsburgh, I97
St. Fidelis College, Herman, I57, I58, 195
St. Fidelis Seminary, Herman, I25, I98
St. Francis Church, Coral, I98
St. Francis College, 33, 130
St. Francis de Sales Church, McKees
Rocks, I9I
St. Francis Hospital, Pittsburgh, 68, I4
St. Francis Hospital Nurses' Home, I97
St. Francis House of Hospitality, i85
St. Francis Xavier Church, Pittsburgh,
I96
St. Francis Xavier Convent, Pittsburgh,
I94
St. George's Church, Pittsburgh, I93
St. George's School, Pittsburgh, I96
St. Gertrude's Church, Vandergrift, 193
St. James Church, Pittsburgh, I9o
St. James Church, Wilkinsburg, i95, I97
St. James Guild Hall, Sewickley, I94
St. James Rectory, I94
St. James School, I3I, 194
St. Jerome's Church, Charleroi, 194
St. John the Baptist Church, Homestead,
I9I
St. John the Baptist Church, Monaca,'97
St. John the Baptist Church, Pittsburgh,
192, I93
St. John the Evangelist Church, Pittsburgh, I88, I9o
St. John's Hospital, Pittsburgh, II5
St. John's Hospital Nurses' Home, i96
St. John's School, Pittsburgh, I3I
St. John's School, Uniontown, I98
St. Joseph Hall, Mount Mercy College,
I52
St. Joseph House of Hospitality, I85 
St. Joseph's Academy, Seton Hill, II4
St. Joseph's Chapel, Mount Gallitzin, i95
St. Joseph's Church, Coraopolis, I95
St. Joseph's Church, Mount Oliver, I8990
St. Joseph's Church, New Kensington,
I95, 200
St. Joseph's Church, North Oakland
(Donegal), Ioi
St. Joseph's Church, Liberty Avenue,
Pittsburgh, I90-9I
267CATHOLIC PIT'TSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
St. Joseph's Church, Liverpool Street,
Pittsburgh, I9I
St. Joseph's Church, Sharpsburg, 98
St. Joseph's Convent, New Kensington,
I98
St. Joseph's Dormitory, Seton Hill College, I95
St. Joseph's Hospital, Pittsburgh, I I3,
I99
St. Joseph's Orphanage, Pittsburgh, 34,
II12
St. Joseph's Protectory, 55, 63, 182, I83,
185
St. Joseph's School, New Kensington,
I94
St. Justin's Convent, Pittsburgh, I98
St. Kieran's Church, Pittsburgh, 193
St. Lawrence School, Pittsburgh, I96
St. Leonard's School, Monessen, I95
St. Luke's Church, Carnegie, 90o
St. Luke's Church, Mansfield (Carnegie), 98
St. Mary Magdalene Church, Pittsburgh,
I98
St. Mary of Mercy Church, 162, 163-64,
I98
St. Mary of the Mount Church, 19I
St. Mary of the Mount School, 193
St. Mary's Academy, Pittsburgh, iii, 15I
St. Mary's Church, Freeport, 54, 57-58
St. Mary's Church, McKees Rocks, I92
St. Mary's Church, McKeesport, 199
St. Mary's Church, New Castle, I05, 196
St. Mary's Church, Forty-sixth Street,
Pittsburgh, 90o
St. Mary's Church, Lockhart Street,
Pittsburgh, I88
St. Mary's Church, Sharpsburg, I94
St. Mary's Hall, Duquesne University,
ISo
St. Mary's High School, 162
St. Mary's Lyceum, I94
St. Mary's School, McKees Rocks, 195
St. Michael's Church, Braddock, 197,
200
St. Michael's Church, Homestead, 196
St. Michael's Church, Pittsburgh, 96, 90o
St. Michael's Seminary, 3I, 53
St. Patrick's Church, Cameron's Bottom,
104
St. Patrick's Church, Pittsburgh, 21, 45,
93, 95-96, I29, 187, 189
St. Patrick's Church, Sugar Creek, 99,
186-87
St. Paulinus Church, Clairton, I98
St. Paul's Cathedral, Pittsburgh, 30, 32,
35, 54, 55, 6I, 63-64, 65, 68, 85-90,
94-95, I8I, I82, I88-89, I92-93
St. Paul's Cathedral Convent, I96, 200
St. Paul's Cathedral Record, 189
St. Paul's Cathedral Rectory, I96, 200
St. Paul's Cathedral School, 194
St. Paul's Church, Butler, I93
St. Paul's Church, Pittsburgh, 23, 27-28,
94, I88
St. Paul's Monastery, 33
St. Paul's Monastery Church, I90
St. Paul's Orphan Asylum, 33, 45, 55, 63,
II2, 113, I29, 171, I83, i85, 191
St. Paul's Parish, Pittsburgh, 128, I29,
130
St. Paul's Retreat House, 158, 185, I94
St. Peter's Church, Allegheny, 54, 59, 61,
62, I31, I82
St. Peter's Church, Brownsville, I02, I88
St. Peter's Church, Butler, ioI
St. Peter's Church, McKeesport, 90o
St. Peter's Church (North Side), Pittsburgh, 97, 184, 190
St. Peter's Church, Fernando Street,
Pittsburgh, 194
St. Philip's Church, Crafton, 98, 187, 193
St. Philomena's Church, Pittsburgh, 31,
33, 125, 129, I30, 189
St. Philomena's School, Pittsburgh, I94
St. Pierre, Legardeur de, 7
St. Raphael's School, 194
St. Rita's Ladies Catholic Benevolent Association Home for Infants, I7I-72
St. Rosalia's Church, Pittsburgh, 195
St. Scholastica's School, Aspinwall, I95
St. Stephen's Church, Pittsburgh, 191
St. Titus Chapel, Woodlawn, 194
St. Titus School, Aliquippa, I96
268See also Education; Religious orders
of men; Religious orders of women
Schramm, Rev. S. J., I35
Sears, Taber, I99
Seneca Indians, 5
Seton, Elizabeth Ann Bayley, 148
Seton Hill College, Greensburg, II4,
I39, I47-49, 158, I94, I95
Sewall, Father, 15
Shanahan, Rt. Rev. J. F., 6i
Shawnee Indians, 5
Sheil, Most Rev. B. J., i55
Shickel, William, 192
Sisters Adorers of the Sacred Heart, ig9
Sisters of Charity, 32, 33, 46, III, II3,
128-29, 130, I34, 147-49
Sisters of Divine Providence, I 5, 134
Sisters of the Good Shepherd, I20, 134
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth,
II8, 134, I58
Sisters of the Holy Ghost, 118
Sisters of the Incarnate Word and the
Blessed Sacrament, 118-I9
Sisters of Mercy, 29-30, 33-34, III, 113,
ii6, 117, 129-30, 131, 134, I46, 15I53, I62, 193
Sisters of Notre Dame, 33, 34, II2, 130
Sisters of the Order of St. Francis, II9
Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of
Refuge, I20
Sisters of St. Agnes, II6
Sisters of St. Francis, 46, II4-15, 134
Sisters of St. Joseph, 46, II2-I3, 134
Sisters of SS. Cyril and Methodius, 118
Sisters of Third Order of St. Francis,
I14-15, II9, 120, 134, I72
Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart
of Mary, 116
See also Benedictine Sisters; Bernardine Sisters of the Third Order of St.
Francis; Daughters of Divine Charity; Daughters of the Divine Redeemer; Daughters of Mary Help of
Christians; Dominican Sisters; Felician Sisters of St. Francis; Little
Sisters of the Poor; Mission Helpers
of the Sacred Heart; Missionary
St. Ursula's Church, Allison Park, I97
St. Veronica's School, Ambridge, I95
St. Vincent Archabbey, I6, I07, 123
St. Vincent Archabbey Church, i99
St. Vincent College, 115, 123, 144-47,
I56, 157, 158, i88
St. Vincent Monastery, 187
St. Vincent Monastery Church, 192
St. Vincent Priory, 123
St. Vincent Seminary, I99
St. Vincent de Paul Church, Germantown, 38
St. Vincent de Paul Society, 40-4I, 172,
I8I-85
St. Vincent's School, Latrobe, 138
St. Xavier's Academy, Latrobe, 45, III,
I58
SS. Peter and Paul's Church, Beaver, Ioo
SS. Peter and Paul's Church, Pittsburgh,
I9I, 193
SS. Simon and Jude's Church, Blairsville, 187'
Salesian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament,
I71, 174
Salmon, Father, 17
Salvage bureau, I72, 184
Sauer, M. Luella, 175-80
Sauers, Fred C., 191
Schmid, Garden, and Erickson, I97
Schneider, Rev. Theodore, io
Schoener, Rev. George, I93
School Board, I32, 135, I39, 142
School of Sociology, Duquesne University, 172
School Sisters of Notre Dame, 116
School Sisters of St. Francis, 118
School Sisters of Third Order of St.
Francis, II 8
Schools, 32-33, II1-20, 123-27, I28-43
academies, 45
colleges, 33, 1O9, 144-53
normal, I34, 135, 137, I38, I39
parochial, 28, 32, I09, 128-43
secondary, 79, I09, I35, I36, I38, 1404I
seminaries, 27, 3I, 108-09, I46-47
superintendent of, 76, 132-34, 135, 136
INDEX
269CATHOLIC PIT'TSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Franciscan Sisters; Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity;
Missionary Zelatrices of the Sacred
Heart; Nuns of St. Clare; Pallottine
Sisters; Passionist Nuns; Salesian
Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament;
School Sisters of Notre Dame;
School Sisters of St. Francis; School
Sisters of Third Order of St. Francis; Slavish Sisters of St. Vincent de
Paul; Ursuline Sisters; Vincentian
Sisters of Charity
Slavish Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul,
I73
Slovak Franciscan Fathers, I26
Smith, Philip, 98
Smith's Relations, 9
Sodality Social Service and Farmrest, I72
Sotter, George, 199, 200
Sportsman's Hall, i6, I7, 2I, 107, I45,
I87
Stanislaus, Father, C. P., 96
Stillinger, Very Rev. James A., 23, 24,
30 Io4-o05, Io7, I45, I48
Stone, Very Rev. Fidelis Kent, C.P., 86,
95
Stotz, Edward, 19I, 193, I96
Strange, Sister Aloysius, iii
Strange, Sister Elizabeth, i i
Strong, Carlton, 193-94, I95, I96, I97,
I98
Strub, Rev. Joseph, 123
Sullivan, Rev. Daniel R., I49
Sullivan, John B., I56
Sullivan, Leah, I62
Sweeney, Mrs. Anna, i6i
Synod Hall, 200
Synods, diocesan, 50, 66, I32
Taillon, Abbe, 4
Tallon, Jean, 5
Tarentum, 8, 58
Tarragona, Archbishop of, 5I-52
Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, I3I,
I32
Thomas, Rev. Charles A., I64
Timmons, Mrs., 28
Tobin, Very Rev. F. L., 6i, 65, 66, 132
Toner Farm, I83
Toner Institute, 125, I85, 194, 199
Total abstinence, 7I
Total-abstinence societies, 34-35
Travelers Aid, I74
Trimble, R. M., I95
Trinity Hall, Mount Mercy College, 153
Tschenhens, Rev. F. X., 30
Tuigg, Rt. Rev. John, 48-52, 54, 55, 60,
62, II3, I48, I49, I50
United Presbyterian, 46
Ursuline Academy, I93-94
Ursuline Sisters, 46, II6, I5I
Van der Vogel, Sister Frances, IIo
Vatican Council, 46
Vernet, Father, 7
Verot, Bishop, 40
Views of Pittsburgh and Environs, I87,
I88
Villiers, Chevalier de, 7
Vincentian Home for Incurables, II7-I8,
173
Vincentian Sisters of Charity, II7-I8,
I38, I58, I94
Virot, Joseph, 6
Wall, Very Rev. Dr. Stephen, 62
Wall Memorial Home, I95
Walsh, Rev. Thomas, I05
Walsh, Thomas, I89
Walter, Father, O. S. B., 157
Ward, Rev. John, 98
Warde, Mother Francis Xavier,  i
Washington, George, 7
Washington County, Io6
Waters, Rev. Patrick, I02
Watterson, Rt. Rev. John Ambrose, 6i
Waynesburg, I03
Weber, Edward J., I94, I95, I96
Weisenberger, Rev. Aloys-ius, ioi
Westmoreland County, Io6-07, I84
Wexford, 98
Whelan, Bishop, 40, 97
Wilcox, Mark, I2
270INDEX
Wilson, Doctor, 3I
Wilt, Rev. Hugh J., O. S. B., "The Religious Communities in the Diocese," IIO-27
Wimmer, Rt. Rev. Boniface, O. S. B., 32,
33, 49, I07, 122-23, I45-47
Wirsing, H. M., I96
Wiseman, Nicholas, 26
Women, organizations of, 167-68. See
27I
also Catholic Daughters of America;
Catholic Women's League; Religious orders of women
Wood, Most Rev. J. F., 49
Young, Most Rev. Joshua, 35, 53
Zinendorf, Rev., 5
Zwercher, Rev. Edgar, O. S. B., 65EARLY CATHOLICITY IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
who have hereunto caused our names to be set and have put our marks,
the first of us assigning being one of the chiefs and the other deputies of
the Six Nations, to give and to grant to the said Garrett Pendergrass, his
heirs and trustees forever, for and in behalf of the Six Nations to settle
on a tract of land on the north side of the Aligani River opposite Ft. Pitt,
in form of a semi-circle from said landing; hereby granting him and his
heirs full liberty to build houses, make improvements and cultivate the
said land or part thereof and we do by these presents promise to answer
all objections that any Indian tribe or tribes may have to the making of
this settlement...
"In witness whereof in the month of February in the year of Our Lord
one thousand seven hundred and seventy.
"Anonguit, (mark) a turtle
"Enishshera, or Captain Henry Mountare (his mark)
"Connehraca, or the White Mingo (his mark a circle)
"Signed and agreed before James Elliot.
"Recorded, Bedford, Igth September 1772.
Garrett Pendergrass, jr."
Bedford was in 1772 the county seat for Western Pennsylvania. However, from the earliest records of Westmoreland County, which was established in I773, it is evident that Mr. Pendergrass sold a number of other
properties which he had in this district; especially one in Ligonier and
another at the mouth of the Youghiogheny River.
The first record of any Catholic acquiring land in Western Pennsylvania dates from March 8, I774, when Patrick Archbold bought of Alexander Johnston "for three pounds lawful money 300 acres in Armstrong
township on both sides of Covishamrack Creek." The deed was recorded
on September i8, I775. Mr. Archbold belonged to the GreensburgSportsman's Hall congregation. He had a farm, Downpatrick, in Donegal
Township on the Four Mile Run in Ligonier Valley. The oldest transfer
of land in the Butler settlements is dated January 2, I776 and reads as
follows in the records of Westmoreland County: "Know ye all men by
these presents that I, John Conwell, of the County of Westmoreland in
consideration of the sum of seven pounds and ten shillings lawful money
of the said Province to me in hand paid by James Gillespie of Buffalo
Creek sell unto the said James Gillespie land which I improved in the
I3CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
year I77I and further I772 situate lying and being on the north-west
branch of Buffalo Creek and James Richardson, being the spot on which
the said Gillespie now lives." This transfer was recorded on July II, I776.
This record also proves that some of the settlers in the Butler district
came earlier than is generally stated. In the third, the Monongahela colony, another Gillespie is known to have been the first who acquired land
near Brownsville. The late Father Martin Brennan, who made studies of
early Pennsylvania history, wrote in his St. Peter of Brownsville in I936:
"Attracted by the stories of the rich Ohio valley, Neil Gillespie, who had
first settled in Wilmington, Delaware, journeyed over the mountains to
the city of Brownsville, and there he selected a location full of promise
and rich in fulfillment. In I778 he established on Indian Hill, WestBrownsville, a home. The deed is dated March 3, I784."
The Revolutionary War at first brought increased persecution to Catholics, because England had granted religious toleration to the Catholic
Canadians by the so-called Quebec Act. This became another cause for
some radical Protestants of that day to separate from England. We can
see this from an address of the First Continental Congress drafted by John
Jay of New York, passed on September 5, I774, and sent to England. The
address contained this sentence: "We cannot express our astonishment
that a British Parliament should ever consent to establish in that country
a religion that had deluged your island in blood and dispensed impiety,
bigotry, persecution, murder and rebellion throughout every part of the
world."
England, however, which had granted that Act only because it could
not suppress the Faith of that French colony, did not change its policy
as far as the home country or its other colonies were concerned. As late
as August I775 John Penn received instructions from England, "to allow
toleration to all Protestants and not permit Catholics to settle or to hold
office."
Still the records of the meetings at Hannastown and Pittsburgh on
May i6, 1776 show that the Catholics in Western Pennsylvania were in
favor of independence, because the general tendency was for religious
liberty. This came soon afterward. In October I775 these laws were suspended and the Declaration of July 4, 1776 swept them away. Finally,
when the sixth article of the Constitution of 1787 declared that "no reliI4EARLY CATHOLICITY IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
gious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public
trust" Catholics became free in the Land of Liberty, and those in Western
Pennsylvania soon felt the benefits of such a law.
THE AMERICAN PERIOD
(I783-I843)
The success of the Revolution freed the Catholic Church from English
penal laws. The days of the "Mass-houses" were over, and the building
of churches began. In Conewago Father Pellentz, then pastor of Western
Pennsylvania, began the erection of a stone church in I785 and completed
it in I787, the year of the signing of the Constitution of the United States.
The original structure is still standing. However, more important became
the missionary activities of the "Catholic Gateway to the West." These
enterprises soon led to the founding of the first parishes in Western Pennsylvania itself; namely, Sportsman's Hall and Loretto.
In I784, when the Reverend John Carroll was appointed prefect apostolic
of the United States, the territory west of the Allegheny Mountains had
only a few scattered Catholics and no priests. Moreover, it was hard to
supply the latter, because the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda had
limited the powers of this superior with respect to missionary priests, requiring him to accept only such missionaries as were sent by Rome. Undoubtedly, this was due to the particular conditions prevailing in the
Church in the United States after the suppression of the Society of Jesus.
The Right Reverend Prefect Apostolic expressed his desire repeatedly to
have this obstacle removed. Thus he wrote on January I2, i785 to his
Vicar-General, Father Farmer: "I shall request permission to give faculties
to other clergymen... of whose virtues I have documents." But as he
stated in two other letters of August of the same year, he had not yet
received those powers.
During those critical months, in July I785, the Catholics who lived in
three districts of southwestern Pennsylvania, at Muddy Creek, Ten Mile
Waters, and Shirtee Waters, sent a messenger to Father Farmer in Philadelphia. This emissary carried a petition signed by seventy-three Catholics
appealing for his help to obtain the services of a missionary "at least
once a year." This was indeed a very modest request. Father Farmer suggested to the Prefect Apostolic that Father Sewall, who was then stationed
at Frederick, Maryland, minister to them and later proposed the name of
I5CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Father Cause of Philadelphia. But Father Carroll felt that he could not
spare any priest; so nothing was done.
Two years later Father Cause, who had meanwhile become assistant at
Conewago, went westward to investigate conditions. Here in the neighborhood of Greensburg he found another settlement, mostly German
Catholics. He held services for them. According to tradition he celebrated
the first Mass in the house of John Probst, one of the prominent members
of the colony, who lived a few miles west of Greensburg.
This visit encouraged the pioneers to organize a parish. Therefore, on
March io, I789, they bought an acre and a half of land on the outskirts
of Greensburg for a church and a cemetery. The price of five shillings,
which Mr. Philip Freeman asked, was a nominal one. This ground, on
which the main portion of the plant of the present Most Holy Sacrament
Parish of Greensburg stands, became by this transaction the oldest church
property in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Toward the end of the same year
this congregation quite uniquely received its first pastor.
The Reverend Theodore Brouwers, O.F.M., who had been prefect
apostolic of Curacao, West Indies, from I776 to I787, resigned his office
and came to Philadelphia in I788. Here, most probably through Father
Cause, he heard of the great need of a pastor in the Greensburg colony.
After he had received the faculties to locate there from the Right Reverend Prefect of the United States, he bought a farm in this new parish
from Mr. Arthur O'Neil of Chester, because he knew from experience that
Catholic pioneers were hardly able to support a priest. When he arrived
at his new home, however, he saw his mistake. The land, which lay in
Derry Township, was too far removed from the main portion of his congregation. At the same time he did not wish to live in Greensburg where
he feared the trustee system. During the winter Father Brouwers boarded
with the Christian Ruffner family, ancestors of the Lambings of a later
date. Finally, on April i6, I790, he secured a more favorable farm of 300
acres, called Sportsman's Hall, now St. Vincent Archabbey. Thus within
a little over a year the Greensburg congregation and its pastor owned a
town lot and two farms, which was considered a large church estate for
those days. This was the source of much trouble.
Father Brouwers did not live long to enjoy the fruit of his transactions.
He died on October 29, 1790, after he had made a rather faulty testament.ST. PAUL'S CHURCH AND FIRST ST. PAUL'S CATIIEDRAL
FIFTH AVENUE AND GRANT STREET
DEDICATED I834
DESTROYED BY FIRE 1851EARLY CATHOLICITY IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
This flaw was used by a certain Father Fromm to attempt to acquire these
farms for his personal use. Thus began a celebrated court case in which
Bishop Carroll finally succeeded in forcing this intruder from these church
lands in I798.
This state of affairs became very detrimental for the Church in Western
Pennsylvania. Under such conditions the priests who passed through this
region, contributed most to the upkeep of the Faith. Among them was
Father Lawrence S. Phelan, who resided in Greensburg and its vicinity
from I795 to I796. Moreover, Brownsville and Pittsburgh, the two main
river ports of those days, were often favored by long stops of missionaries.
In 1792 Father Flaget, the future bishop of Bardstown, Kentucky, was
forced to remain in Pittsburgh for six months to wait for a good river
stage; during the next year Fathers Badin and Barrieres were detained
two months; in I796 Father Fournier spent the winter there, till he could
travel southward; in 1798 Fathers Dilhet and Salmon gave spiritual comfort to the few Catholics who were then in and about Pittsburgh. During
the same year Father Patrick Lonergan came to the colonists in the
Monongahela Valley; he ministered also to the Catholics in Pittsburgh
and in Butler County.
Finally, the year I799 brought a permanent relief with the arrival of
two great missionaries, Fathers Demetrius Gallitzin and Peter Helbron.
They became very active in promoting the Faith in Western Pennsylvania
during the next years. The former had been an assistant at Conewago,
from where he went to McGuire's settlement on top of the Allegheny
Mountains in August I799. Here, on Christmas night, he dedicated his
log chapel and thereby inaugurated the founding of Loretto, which developed into a center of several Catholic villages in the district. For this
reason he has well been called the "Apostle of the Alleghenies." In I827
Bishop Conwell of Philadelphia appointed him the first vicar-general of
Western Pennsylvania. Later the bishoprics of Cincinnati and Detroit
were offered him, but he loved his parish too much to accept such honors.
He continued his apostolic labors until shortly before the creation of the
Diocese of Pittsburgh. He died a saintly death on May 6, I840.
Father Peter Helbron, a former pastor of Holy Trinity Church, Philadelphia and "a martyr to church trusteeism," came to Sportsman's Hall in
November I799. Here he revived the parish and made it the center of
I7CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
religious activities in the western part of the state. His church records,
the oldest in this part of the United States, are the best proof of his extensive missionary journeys during the next sixteen years. Thus he visited
the Jacob's Creek colony, near present Connellsville, where Irish laborers
had built a small log chapel. From time to time he ministered to the
Catholics in the Monongahela district, especially Washington, Waynesburg, and Brownsville. Twice a year he held services in Pittsburgh and
several times he traveled through a large part of the country west of the
Allegheny River, with Buffalo Creek (now Sugar Creek) and Slippery
Rock as his main stations. Once he went as far as Lake Erie. On this trip
he baptized ninety children. He fully deserves to be called the "Apostle
of Western Pennsylvania." He died at Carlisle on April 24, i8i6, as he
was returning from Philadelphia, where he had been treated for an ulcer
in the throat.
It is also noteworthy that the young Russian prince-priest Gallitzin and
the elderly German Capuchin Helbron became great friends. To mention
only two incidents from their letters: On November 22, i8o6 Father
Helbron wrote to Bishop Carroll: "Col. O'Hara at Pittsburgh made me
a present of a fine lot in Pittsburgh. We collected for a church more
than Iooo dollars. I hope with your approbation to lay the cornerstone
next spring with the assistance of Mr. Schmidt (F. Gallitzin) of Clearfield (Loretto). The only help to me is Mr. Schmidt and I to him." During the next year Father Gallitzin wrote to the same prelate: "I have
hardly recovered from a severe spell of sickness which attacked me at
Greensburg... and I have not been able to say Mass again. Mr. Helbron will be here tomorrow and stay with me till I gain sufficient strength
to discharge my duty."
These two pioneer pastors of the diocese were alone until I807, when
Father Lawrence S. Phelan became the first resident priest in the Butler
colonies and when in i8o8 Father William F. X. O'Brien began his
pastorate of Pittsburgh. The Butler settlements, with Mr. Connel Rogers
as their secretary, made their first appeal for a resident pastor to Bishop
Carroll in I803. However, from the correspondence in the Baltimore
archives, it is evident that this could not be granted until four years later.
The letters of Mr. Rogers on November I2, i8o6, of Father Phelan on
March 7, I807, and of Father I-elbron on June i6, I807, prove this beyondEARLY CATHOLICITY IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
a doubt. It is uncertain when the church was built. Mr. Rogers, who gave
detailed descriptions of the place and of conditions, never mentioned a
church. The pastoral residence was bought in I805.
The subject of a resident pastor in Pittsburgh was already mentioned
in letters of missionaries who stopped there during the last decade of the
eighteenth century. Later, in i8oo, Father Patrick Lonergan thought of
making it the center of his missionary activities, but he left for the South
during the next year. The wishes of the Catholics of that town could not
be granted until Father Badin made the following appeal to Bishop
Carroll on January 7, I808:
"The Chapel in Pittsburgh is under roof. I officiated there on the 2oth
of December and found 30 Catholic families in the town alone who would
have obligated themselves in writing for the maintenance of a priest, if
their church were finished and debts paid."
A few months later the bishopric of Philadelphia was established. It
can well be said that the Most Reverend John Carroll, who by this change
became archbishop of Baltimore, conferred his last favor on Western
Pennsylvania: he appointed Father F. X. O'Brien, whom he had ordained
during that year, as first pastor of Pittsburgh. Thereupon Father O'Brien
went west in October and stopped a few days with Father Helbron at
Sportsman's Hall for an interview. Thence they proceeded to Brownsville
to validate the marriage of Major Noble, the most illustrious convert of
those early days, and finally after a short visit to Washington they went
to Pittsburgh. We are fortunate to have a good description of the Pittsburgh parish by its first pastor written at that time. He wrote on November i6, i8o8, to Archbishop Carroll:
"From the best information I could obtain there are not more than
four or five families (at least to be known as such) in Brownsville and
some scattered families in the neighborhood. From Brownsville we went
to Washington, where there are only two or three and some in the country around. We spent a day there and proceeded to Pittsburgh where we
arrived on the 5th inst. I was well received by Mr. Beelon who has shown
me every mark of attention in his power and at whose house I lodge for
the present. I have seen the church. It is not finished, only covered in;
neither the floor, windows nor anything else is done. What is still worse,
the congregation has not the means of finishing it and the trustees are
already involved in debt. It is a square building, as was reported, but it is
I9THE MOST REVEREND HUGH CHARLES BOYLE, D. D.
SIXTH BISHOP OF PITTSBURGH
CONSECRATED JUNE 29, 1921CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
much too low. It is fifty by thirty. I am necessitated to say Mass on Sundays where I can; one time in a house half finished, another time in the
Academy which, if it can be procured, I believe we shall make use of
until the church is completed. It is supposed that there are Ioo or perhaps
150 Catholics in Pittsburgh and the adjacent country, but they are mostly
poor."
For some time Father O'Brien was very discouraged. He even carried
on a correspondence with Father Gabriel Richard with the aim of accompanying him to Detroit. He changed his mind, however, after the people
made greater efforts to support him. He wrote on March 2, I809 to the
Archbishop: "The two congregations have subscribed nearly 400 dollars.
The church at this place will be so much forwarded, as to admit Mass
being celebrated by the first of May."
It is well known that this first church stood in front of the present
Pennsylvania Station, near the new post-office building. In I8II the Right
Reverend Michael Egan, O.S.F., Bishop of Philadelphia, visited Pittsburgh for the first time to confer the sacrament of confirmation. For the
same purpose he also stopped at other places in this district: Loretto,
Sportsman's Hall, Brownsville, and Sugar Creek. In a letter to Archbishop
Carroll he expressed his delight at what he saw in these words: "I have
been highly gratified at the rapid increase of religion in the congregations
I have visited and this gratification could be greatly augmented had I a few
more zealous priests to send to their assistance. Reverend Mr. Gallitzin is
scarcely any longer capable of attending to the very numerous congregation committed to his care; I have promised him an assistant when in
my power. In Pittsburgh also they are crying out for another priest to
assist Mr. O'Brien who has several other stations to attend. The Reverend
M. Helbron's advanced age renders it necessary to provide for his assistance." The Bishop did not mention in this report Father Phelan at Sugar
Creek. Most probably that missionary had already left that congregation
shortly before. This seems to be confirmed by the entries in the baptismal
register of Father Helbron. He visited that congregation again during the
next spring and, on April 26, I8I2, he baptized there fifteen children, one
of them born on September 2I, i8II. Father Phelan returned to Ireland.
This was the only visit of a bishop to Pittsburgh for a long time. Bishop
Egan died in I8I4. Then the whole Diocese of Philadelphia had only
20EARLY CATHOLICITY IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
thirteen priests, three of whom were stationed in Western Pennsylvania.
Unfortunately for the Church in the state the next sixteen years were a
period of extraordinary troubles. First the trustee tyranny in Philadelphia
induced several priests to decline the burden and honor of its bishopric,
which in this way remained vacant for five years. Then in I8I9 the Very
Reverend Henry Conwell, Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Armagh,
Ireland, was appointed and consecrated the next year. The new bishop
was already seventy-five years old and the Hogan schism and the Harrold
difficulties prevented him from coming to the western part of the state.
All this had an influence on the Church in Western Pennsylvania.
Father Helbron, the pastor of Sportsman's Hall, died and for a year the
parish was vacant with Fathers O'Brien and Gallitzin supplying from
time to time till Father Charles B. Maguire, O. F. M., came in I8I7. Father
O'Brien was frequently sick and in I820 he resigned on account of ill
health, whereupon Father Maguire went to Pittsburgh. Father Terence
McGirr, the next pastor of Sportsman's Hall, had constant difficulties
with the church trustees. Father Gallitzin alone could minister to his
parish without any serious troubles.
During that time, under the guidance of Father Maguire, the Church
in Pittsburgh became the most prominent in Western Pennsylvania.
Father Heyden expressed this later with these words: "He made the
Church in Pittsburgh what it is." His zeal for religion endeared him to
his parishioners, his genteel manners won him the esteem of the nonCatholic population, and his learning earned him a professorship at the
academy, which later became the University of Pittsburgh. He was also
well qualified to attend to the spiritual wants of German immigrants
and others who began to arrive in Pittsburgh at that time. He had studied
in Rome, taught in Louvain, and for a time ministered to Germans in
the Netherlands before he arrived in America. It became necessary to
double the seating capacity of St. Patrick's Church by adding to the
building, and in i827 he decided to erect a second and larger church on
the corner of present Fifth Avenue and Grant Street. During the following years he busied himself with its construction, intending to have it
surpass any other church in the state. He did not live to see it finished.
He died during the cholera epidemic in July I833, lamented by his devout
congregation and the whole community. The church was dedicated under
2ICATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
his successor, Father John O'Reilly, who had come to Pittsburgh in I832.
It became the first cathedral of Pittsburgh.
To obtain the cooperation of the Germans in building this second
church, Father Maguire had promised to transfer St. Patrick's to them
for their own services. Father O'Reilly carried out this wish of his predecessor, and after May 4, I834 the Germans worshiped in that church.
When the new Pastor thought it necessary to demand a rent, a dissension
arose and one part of the German congregation built their own chapel,
the so-called "factory-church." This condition continued five years, until
Father Prost of the Redemptorist Order was sent to bring harmony among
them. He fulfilled this task by founding a new parish under the patronage
of St. Philomena in I839. From this new center of German Catholics in
the city gradually fifteen other parishes were established in and about
Pittsburgh.
Meanwhile a great change took place in ecclesiastical matters in Pennsylvania. In 1830 the Reverend Francis P. Kenrick, professor in Bardstown
Seminary, Kentucky, was consecrated bishop and appointed coadjutor to
Bishop Conwell of Philadelphia. This great theologian and energetic
churchman soon made his influence felt in the whole diocese and he
seemed to take a special interest in the religious affairs of Western Pennsylvania. This is notably evident from his frequent visitations. Within
thirteen years he went twelve times beyond the Allegheny Mountains.
His diary is today the main source of information on Catholicity in this
district during that time. Thus it proves that the increase of parishes was
phenomenal. On his first journey Bishop Kenrick visited all of them.
Coming from Bedford, he confirmed at Sportsman's Hall (St. Vincent
since I835), Pittsburgh, Blairsville, Cameron's Bottom, Ebensburg, Loretto,
and from there went to the East again. In 1842 he followed the same plan,
but with a greatly extended route. He confirmed at St. Vincent, Blairsville, Freeport, Pine Creek, Pittsburgh, Chartier's Creek (Crafton), Butler, Sugar Creek, Murrinsville, Mercer, Greenville, Meadville, Erie, Elk
Creek (McKean), Crossingsville, St. Hypolitus (Frenchtown), Centreville, Oil Creek, Pitt-Hole, Franklin, Shippensville, Clarion, Red Bank
(Shanondale), Brookville, Curwinsville, and Clearfield, and from there
journeyed eastward to Bellefonte. Moreover, this second list indicates that
he did not visit the parishes around Loretto as during his first trip.
22EARLY CATHOLICITY IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA        23
Another proof of this growth is given by the number of churches which
were built during that period. Bishop Kenrick blessed twenty-three
churches within those thirteen years and in i842 he commissioned the
Very Reverend M. O'Connor, V.G., to dedicate those of Sugar Creek
and Murrinsville. He vigorously counteracted with direct demand or rare
eloquence the trustee system, which had become so detrimental to Catholic parishes in the United States. Thus invariably he refused to bless a
church or a cemetery unless the title to the ground was vested in himself
as bishop of the diocese. He preached everywhere and in every kind of
building: in Catholic churches, and if there were none in that town, in
Protestant meeting houses, courtrooms, school halls, and once even in a
large prison chamber. He held conferences with the clergy, proposed a
seminary, and made two appeals to Rome to have this part of the diocese
erected into a separate bishopric. Thus he wrote from Brownsville on
July 25, I835, to the Sacred Congregation of the Propagation of the Faith
about the religious condition of this district:
"From the visitation of the diocese which I am making for the fifth
time, it appears to me clearly to the advantage of the Church's work to
have the diocese of Philadelphia divided and erect a new episcopal see at
Pittsburgh. I am convinced that it would be to the advantage of spiritual
life, if a bishop be placed over the western part of Pennsylvania..... The
city of Pittsburgh is quite large, it is strong in resources and good men
and has a population of 20,000. It has two churches, one of which is new
and was dedicated under the invocation of St. Paul. In size and beauty
it easily surpasses any other church in Pennsylvania. There are 8,ooo Catholics in the city, including the immediate neighborhood and many thousands in the whole district."
He even proposed three candidates. The first was the Reverend John
Hughes, who had repeatedly accompanied him on these visitations. He
became later archbishop of New York.
After two years, in a letter from Pittsburgh, he repeated this petition to
the Roman authorities. At that time he recommended three pastors of
Western Pennsylvania for that bishopric: the Reverend Fathers John
O'Reilly of St. Paul's, Pittsburgh; James A. Stillinger of St. Vincent and
Blairsville congregations; and Thomas Heyden of Bedford. The last one
was shortly afterward nominated for the bishopric of Natchez, but he
declined the miter.CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
This was not the only occasion that Bishop Kenrick expressed his admiration for the clergy of Western Pennsylvania. In I832 he wrote to
Father Stillinger, with whom he corresponded regularly: "A good priest
is a great treasure, St. Vincent of Paul used to say. We have, thanks to
God, several such in the diocese." His diary expresses similar thoughts
frequently, and gradually he provided this district with excellent priests.
To name only the most prominent, Father Heyden took care of the Catholics in Bedford and Somerset counties; Fathers Gallitzin and Lemcke
ministered to the faithful in the Allegheny Mountains; Father Stillinger
was pastor of Westmoreland and Indiana counties; Father Michael
Gallagher at Brownsville provided spiritual assistance to the people of
the southwestern district; Father Cody had charge of Butler and adjacent
territories; four priests resided in Pittsburgh and two in Erie for Englishand German-speaking congregations. Therefore we are not surprised that
this great prelate wished to resign his post in the East to be the bishop
of such spiritual leaders.
Rome decided otherwise. In the Fifth Provincial Council at Baltimore,
Bishop Kenrick's vicar-general and friend, the Very Reverend Michael
O'Connor, was recommended as bishop and approved by the Holy See.
He continued the great work of the great administrator of Philadelphia,
later archbishop of Baltimore.
24CHAPTER II
THE FIRST BISHOP OF PITTSBURGH
Paul E. Campbell
THE date of the consecration of its first bishop is the birthday of a
diocese. It was on August 15, i843, that the Very Reverend Michael
O'Connor, distinguished Roman doctor, seminary rector and professor,
able pastor of St. Paul's, Pittsburgh, and vicar-general of the bishop of
Philadelphia, was consecrated first bishop of the newly erected Diocese
of Pittsburgh. With vision, zeal, and vigor he administered the infant
diocese for seventeen years, from August I843 until his resignation in May
I86o, and saw it develop into lusty manhood.
The period of his episcopate was not a long one, but it was a period
of great formative activity. The United States was emerging definitely
from the colonial, pioneering status into a predominantly industrial nation. There was ferment and change in Europe and on this side of the
ocean. In I843 Daniel O'Connell was holding his immense "liberation"
meetings in Ireland; Kossuth was leading the fight for Hungarian independence; during this period Mazzini and Garibaldi were promoting
revolution in Italy; Prussia was emerging as the strong state which was
later to form the nucleus of the German Empire; Francis Joseph mounted
the throne of Austria, to hold sway for seventy years down into the first
World War. It was the period of the first railroads, the first telegraph
lines, the first Atlantic cable-developments that revolutionized men's
thinking by bringing them closer together than ever before in history.
Those commonplaces of today, the postage stamp and the daily paper,
came into general use at this time.
American history of those seventeen years, during which Tyler, Polk,
Zachary Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, and Buchanan were presidents, saw
the slavery agitation building up to its subsequent climax, the Civil War;
saw the Indian wars and the war with Mexico, part of the great territorial
expansion in the Southwest; saw the flood of immigration bring over
four million new citizens from Europe; saw the gold rush to California.
It saw our industrial development taking shape, the emergence of labor
unions, and our first money panic.
25CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
It was in this setting and against this background that Bishop O'Connor
undertook the foundation of a unit of the Catholic Church in Western
Pennsylvania. There were Catholics here long before that, with their
priests and churches, and with an inspiring record of sacrifice and devotion; but with him came the complete organization of the Church, with
the institutions through which she gives her children the full benefit of
her centuries-old experience, guards them from error and from the dissipation of their energies, and keeps before them the true purpose of their
earthly existence.
Michael O'Connor was born in Cork, Ireland, on September 7, I8Io.
He received his elementary education in his homeland, and at the age
of fourteen was sent by his Bishop to Paris for a short time, and then to
Rome to pursue his studies for the priesthood. He completed his course
at the Propaganda, and passed brilliantly his examination for the degree
of Doctor of Divinity. By dispensation he was ordained to the priesthood
on June i, I833, and received his doctorate on March 3I, I834. He won
his doctor's cap and ring by a public act in the field of theology and Sacred
Scripture, the same test by which St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Bonaventure became doctors of the University of Paris in the thirteenth century.
Cardinal Wiseman, then Rector of the English College, praised the brilliant student in high terms. It is related that the Holy Father playfully
twined his kerchief around the head of the kneeling Doctor O'Connor,
and said: "If it were a crown of gold you would deserve it." Pope Gregory
XVI made use of his accomplishments in the field of languages so frequently that he came to be known as "the Pope's Linguist." Doctor O'Connor received appointment as vice-rector of the Irish college and professor
of Sacred Scripture in the Propaganda. After a short time in these offices
he was recalled to his native land, and his Bishop appointed him curate
of Fermoy and later chaplain of the Convent of the Presentation in
Doneraile.
But the young priest desired above all else to teach in the fields in
which he had distinguished himself. Bishop Kenrick of Philadelphia had
invited him, while still in Rome, to come to Philadelphia and take charge
of the diocesan seminary. Later, in I839, when Doctor O'Connor was
preparing to stand examination for the chair of dogmatic theology at
Maynooth, Bishop Kenrick's brother, the Reverend Peter Richard Ken26THE FIRST BISHOP OF PITTSBURGH
rick, afterward archbishop of St. Louis, renewed the invitation. The young
doctor saw an opportunity in his preferred field of teaching; he accepted,
came to America, and was at once appointed to a professorship in St.
Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia, afterward becoming its president. He kept in touch with pastoral work by attending the mission at
Norristown and through building the Church of St. Francis Xavier at
Fairmount.
Bishop Kenrick and the rector of the seminary became fast friends.
The bishop was indefatigable in the visitation of his diocese and frequently called upon Doctor O'Connor to accompany him. It is recorded
that Bishop Kenrick visited the parishes of Western Pennsylvania twelve
times in the thirteen years that they were subject to his jurisdiction.
Father O'Connor held his Ordinary in high esteem, and in later years
wrote and frequently delivered a lecture on "Archbishop Kenrick and
His Work." This lecture is one of the most beautiful monuments of
Christian friendship in our language.
In the late thirties it became evident that the State of Pennsylvania
must be divided into two dioceses. Bishop Flaget had spoken in favor
of this division as early as I825. Prince Gallitzin desired to have his favored
Loretto an episcopal see, and at one time there was much to be said in
favor of such a move. In January I836 the official documents erecting
the See of Pittsburgh, transferring Doctor Kenrick to it, and appointing
Father John Hughes, afterward archbishop of New York, coadjutor and
administrator of Philadelphia, were actually prepared at Rome. At the
instance of Bishop England of Charleston the plan was cancelled. The
Third Provincial Council of Baltimore in 1837 again considered the
division, but took no action. The primitive facilities for travel and communication made the administration of the vast field a superhuman task.
Bishop Kenrick decided to send Father O'Connor to Pittsburgh as pastor
of its principal church, St. Paul's, and vicar-general with administrative
control over the western part of the state.
We can well conjecture that Father O'Connor left his work in the
seminary with keen regret, but Providence guided Bishop Kenrick in
his selection of a vicar-general. The new pastor of St. Paul's arrived in
Pittsburgh on June 17, I84I, and records the fact in his notebook thus:
"June I7, I84I, arrived at Pittsburgh on this day (Thursday); lodging
27CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
at Mrs. Timmons, at $4.00 per week." One month after his arrival Father
O'Connor undertook the erection of a parochial school, organized a literary society for the young men of the city, and opened a reading room.
He thus gave early proof of his zeal for education, an outstanding characteristic of his work as a priest and as a bishop. The Catholic Institute,
a literary society organized on January 6, I843, fostered the "literary
improvement of its members," and strove to give them "a more thorough
acquaintance with history and Scripture connected more especially with
the development of Catholic principles." It was the profound conviction
of Father O'Connor that education and culture are essential factors in the
orderly Catholic life.
In i842 Father O'Connor received Bishop Kenrick on his episcopal
visitation of the western part of Pennsylvania. It had now become imperative that a separate diocese be established with Pittsburgh as its see.
There was rumor that the Pittsburgh vicar-general would be chosen as
the first bishop. Father O'Connor did not desire to become a bishop. He
now determined to present to the Holy Father his plan to become a
member of the Society of Jesus. The Fifth Provincial Council of Baltimore forestalled him. The Fathers of the council decided on the erection
of the new see and recommended Father Michael O'Connor to the Holy
See as its first bishop. When Doctor O'Connor knelt before the Holy Father to ask his permission to become a Jesuit, he was startled to hear his
friend, Pope Gregory XVI, say: "You shall be a bishop first, and a Jesuit
afterwards."
It is evident that there was some thought of elevating the Pittsburgh
priest to the See of Charleston, then vacant through the death of Bishop
England. In a letter to a Presentation nun in Ireland, Father O'Connor
writes: "Pittsburgh, the smoky queen, is the place on which I am to be
inflicted, and not Charleston which has been saved, I suppose, by the
prayers of its departed worthy prelate, from this misfortune."
In humble obedience Father O'Connor accepted the burden of the
bishopric assigned to him. He was consecrated bishop of Pittsburgh on
August 15, I843. The Jesuit memoirs relate: "The heavy honors of the
Church were accepted through obedience, and instead of washing dishes
at St. Andrea, the would-be novice is crowned with a mitre at St. Agatha,"
the church of the Irish College in Rome. Bishop O'Connor knew at first
28THE FIRST BISHOP OF PITTSBURGH
hand the problems and the needs of the diocese committed to his care.
Before leaving Europe he determined to seek Catholic support for the
outpost of the Faith which he would be struggling to maintain and foster.
He made his appeal in Germany for the Germans in his diocese, in Ireland for the Irish in his diocese, and we finally behold the strange spectacle of an Irish-born bishop appealing to a German mission society in
England for aid to his American diocese. From Catholic France also he
sought donations for vestments and funds. In Ireland he presented a
special appeal. Silver and gold the Irish had none, but they gave of their
sons and daughters. Eight seminarians of Maynooth and seven Sisters
of Mercy volunteered. With this group he set sail and arrived in Pittsburgh on December 2I, I843. He told them that he had no inducement to
offer but plenty of labor and little for it. These candidates for the priesthood and these missionary Sisters of Mercy came to know, in the hard
school of experience, the truth of this frank statement.
The new bishop had no illusions. His youth and his zeal gave him
courage. Only a young and vigorous man could grapple with the prob-.lems facing him-the spiritual administration of a flock of 45,000 scattered over an area of 21,000 square miles, with only sixteen priests to help
in the work. The limits of the new see were rather vague. Bishop O'Connor made an agreement with Bishop Kenrick, which was later approved
by the Pope, whereby the new diocese would include Bedford, Huntington, Clearfield, McKean, and Potter counties and all west of them in
Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh's first bishop was ready to spend himself that
the Cross might rise over Pennsylvania's hills and fields as a beacon of
truth and justice in a society that from its very beginning was tormented
by worldly pressure, and he spent himself in seventeen years of toil and
devotion to the work of his Master.
Elsewhere in this volume the work of religious orders is treated in detail. It is not beyond our province, however, to give here an estimate of
the work of the Sisters of Mercy, who were invited to come to the new
diocese by its first bishop and were personally conducted by him to their
field of labor. We quote the diocesan historian, the Right Reverend Monsignor A. A. Lambing: "These were the first of the Sisters of Mercy to
establish a house in the United States; and the permanent benefits which
they have conferred on religion, not only in the diocese of Pittsburgh but
29CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S
ONE HUNDRED
YEARS
A symposium preparted by the Catholic Historical Society of Western
Pennsylvania. Published under the
patronage of His Excellency the
Most Reverend Hugh C..Boyle,
D. D., in commemoration of the
one hundredth anniversary of the
establishment of the Diocese.
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY PRESS
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS'943CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
throughout the whole country, is the best encomium which could be pronounced on the zeal and foresight of Doctor O'Connor in introducing
them."
There were thirty-three churches in the Diocese of Pittsburgh at the
time of its erection. We list here only those within the present limits of
the diocese. In the City of Pittsburgh Father O'Connor's own church, St.
Paul's, now became his cathedral. There were two other churches in the
city: St. Patrick's with the Reverend E. F. Garland as pastor; and St.
Philomena's (German), of which the Reverend John N. Neuman, afterward bishop of Philadelphia, was pastor. He was assisted by three other
Redemptorists, the Reverend Julius P. Saenderl, the Reverend F. X.
Tschenhens, and the Reverend Peter Czackert. The Reverend A. P. Gibbs
resided in Pittsburgh and attended a number of small congregations and
missions in Allegheny and other counties: St. Philip's, Broadhead (now
Crafton); St. Mary's, Pine Creek; St. Alphonsus, Wexford; St. Peter's,
McKeesport. In Westmoreland County, St. Vincent's (old Sportsman's
Hall), Latrobe, and Mount Carmel (near Derry) were cared for by the
Reverend James A. Stillinger. This pioneer priest had charge also of two
churches in Indiana County: SS. Simon and Jude, Blairsville; and St.
Patrick's, Cameron's Bottom. In Butler County we find St. Peter's, Butler,
with the Reverend H. P. Gallagher; Donegal (now North Oakland),
St. Joseph's; Murrinsville, St. Alphonsus; St. Mary's (now Herman),
under the Reverend H. P. Gallagher of Butler. In Armstrong County
were St. Patrick's, Sugar Creek, and St. Mary's, Freeport; the Reverend
Joseph Cody, residing at Sugar Creek, administered both parishes. In
Washington County we find only St. James, West Alexander; in Greene
County, only St. Ann's, Waynesburg. The Reverend M. Gallagher was
pastor of St. Peter's, Brownsville, in Fayette County, and from that point
administered a number of stations in Greene County, Washington County,
and Fayette County. The only church in Beaver County at this time was
the Church of SS. Peter and Paul, Beaver. The remaining churches of
the total of thirty-three were in those counties of the diocese that were
later separated to form the new dioceses of Erie and Altoona.
Bishop O'Connor encouraged his scattered flock to build more churches
as centers of Catholic life. In every quarter he sought priests and candidates to the priesthood. The Maynooth seminarians were ordained in
30THE FIRST BISHOP OF PITTSBURGH
turn as soon as they had completed their studies. In the first year of his
episcopate (I844) he opened a diocesan seminary, St. Michael's. It was
first located on the cathedral property, shortly after moved to Birmingham, now the South Side of Pittsburgh, discontinued for a period of five
years (I85I-I856), reopened at the Summit in Cambria County for one
year, and finally established in Glenwood, now part of the City of Pittsburgh. There for a score of years the seminary trained the priesthood of
the diocese, but in I876, on the division of the diocese into the dioceses
of Pittsburgh and Allegheny, St. Michael's closed its doors.
The pressing need was for priests and churches. The Bishop wrote incessantly to mission societies in Europe for men and means. He suffered
disappointment in the failure of some priests to adjust themselves to the
trying conditions of his missionary diocese. Doctor Wilson, first rector
of his seminary, was a learned man but he was neither a good disciplinarian nor a leader of men. In writing of his failure, in a letter preserved
in the portfolios of the Irish College at Rome, Bishop O'Connor gave the
norm of a successful priest in his diocese: "A man who will turn himself
to anything he may be deemed fit for and where he may be useful, will
find abundance to do and much good to accomplish."
The Bishop had words of high praise for the zealous priests he found
in the diocese. He pushed forward rapidly the education of the Maynooth
seminarians who came with him. To the Reverend Thomas McCullagh
belongs the distinction of being the first priest ordained in and for the
Diocese of Pittsburgh. Bishop O'Connor ordained Father McCullagh in
the cathedral on February 4, I844.
The Bishop wrote frequently of conditions in Pittsburgh to the mission
societies of Europe that were providing him with resources. We quote
from a letter to Archbishop Edward Milde of Vienna (January io, I848):
"In my episcopal city, Pittsburgh, we have three churches of which two
are used by the English and one by the Germans. The latter church,
named St. Philomena's, is in charge of the Redemptorists, and is attended
by all the German Catholics who reside in Pittsburgh and environs, and
in or near the cities of Allegheny and Birmingham.... St. Philomena's
church was built by the Redemptorists after many exertions and through
great economy; it is a beautiful, attractive, and capacious building. These
Fathers conduct schools at Pittsburgh, Allegheny City, Birmingham, and
31CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
in other places. In the house of the Redemptorists live five priests who
zealously and successfully care for souls. The piety of this community is
so admirable that the individual members not only give comfort to their
directors but they also influence all those who love the church."
Later in the same letter the Bishop praises the activities of Father
Mosetizh, who had laid plans for a church in Birmingham; of the pastor
at Butler, Father Creedon, a native of Ireland, who had a good command
of the German language; of Father Hugo Gallagher and Father N.
Hoeres, pastor and assistant pastor, respectively, of Prince Gallitzin's
famous Loretto; of Father Thomas Heyden, pastor of Bedford; of Dom
Boniface Wimmer, founder of St. Vincent Abbey; and of many other
zealous priests who were giving self and service to the cause of religion
in various outposts of the diocese. He signed himself "M. O'Connor,
Missionary priest, Bishop of Pittsburgh."
His letters to mission societies stressed his need of more churches. In
the letter from which we have just quoted he makes it clear to Archbishop
Milde that he needed nine additional churches for the purely German
parishes or for those places where the Germans form the majority, as in
Allegheny; Birmingham; Somerset; Meadville; in Vogelbaccher's Settlement; in Clarion County; in St. Joseph's Parish, Cambria County; in
Butler, Sharpsburg, and Williamsburg. The best index of the tireless
activity of Bishop O'Connor is the fact that there were in the Diocese
of Pittsburgh, though greatly reduced in area, seventy-seven churches and
eighty-six priests at the time of his resignation, May 23, i86o.
A later chapter of this volume deals with the history and development
of the school system. On the accession of Bishop O'Connor the Sisters of
Charity, working in the diocese since I835, had charge of St. Paul's
Orphan Asylum and two schools in Pittsburgh. As pastor of St. Paul's,
Father O'Connor had undertaken the erection of a parochial- school and
one of his first acts as bishop was the opening of this first parochial-school
building at St. Paul's, April 14, I844- We have noted his record of the
achievement of the Redemptorist Fathers in the conduct of schools.
Within eight years he was able to write to the Governor of Pennsylvania
that 2,ooo children of Pittsburgh and vicinity were attending schools of
their own choice in vindication of a principle and as a protest against
a system of common schools that ignored religion. Ever a champion of
32THE RIGHT REVEREND MICHAEL O'CONNOR, D. D.
FIRST BISHOP OF PITTSBURGH
1843-.186oTHE FIRST BISHOP OF PITTSBURGH
the Catholic cause of the freedom of education, he wrote open letters to
Governor William  Bigler of Pennsylvania. In these letters as they appeared in the Catholic, the Bishop's own paper, he pleads for a prorata
distribution of school funds. He sums up his plan in these words: "Make
every school in which a parent has confidence a public school, and give
every teacher a share of what is appropriated for education in each district in the proportion which the number of pupils intrusted to his care
bears to the whole number of children educated in the district." The
present school system of the Diocese of Pittsburgh owes its sturdy beginnings to the zeal of its first bishop.
Bishop O'Connor never ceased his efforts to bring laborers into his
vineyard. The Presentation Brothers came in I845 to take charge of St.
Paul's Boys School, but their career in the diocese was short. In I846
Bishop O'Connor received a religious order that has done yeoman service
in the diocese since that time-the Bavarian Benedictines under Dom
Boniface Wimmer. In 1847 a community of the members of the Third
Order of St. Francis came from Ireland and settled at Loretto; St. Francis
College is their monument. In the next year the Sisters of Notre Dame
opened a convent and. a school at St. Philomena's, Pittsburgh, on the invitation of the Redemptorist Fathers who had established themselves
there in I839. In I852 Bishop O'Connor made a trip to Europe for the
express purpose of securing a group of Passionist Fathers for service in
his diocese. On his return he conducted the first three Passionists to Pittsburgh, and gave them a piece of property for their original foundation
in America, St. Paul's Monastery, Pittsburgh.
It does not come within our province to give at this point the story of
the humanitarian institutions established by Bishop O'Connor. The Reverend John O'Reilly, Pastor of St. Paul's, had established St. Paul's Orphan
Asylum in I838. The Sisters of Charity conducted this institution until
they were withdrawn from the diocese by their superiors in I845. In that
year the Sisters of Mercy succeeded to the charge of the orphan asylum.
Solicitous for the spiritual welfare of the colored Catholics of the city,
the Bishop opened a chapel for them in the first year of his episcopate,
June 30, I844, but the misrepresentations of the Church's enemies alienated
the colored population and the chapel was closed. In 1847 the Sisters of
Mercy, under the advice and with the help of their Bishop, founded
33CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Mercy Hospital, an institution that has served the city and the community
since that day. It seems strange in the retrospect that Pitsburgh, which
had been blessed with numerous active and public-spirited physicians,
and had had a medical society since i82I, had never built a hospital, except a temporary "pest house," used during the cholera epidemic of I833;
it was Bishop O'Connor, with the meager resources of his poor flock and
the sacrificing labors of the Sisters, who gave the city and all of Western
Pennsylvania the first hospital where the sick and injured poor, as well
as other patients needing nursing and medical and surgical care, could
be accommodated. A rented house in the Triangle was its first quarters,
but in i848 a four-story brick building was completed on Boyd's Hill;
around this have arisen the other buildings of the immense hospital which
is today one of the foremost in the state.
St. Joseph's Orphanage had its origin (I849) in the care of orphan
girls by the Sisters of St. Philomena's Convent, found a new home on
Troy Hill, Allegheny, in I85I, suffered a destructive fire the same year,
and established a new home on the same site in I856. With this building
as a nucleus of later construction, the asylum cared for orphans of German parentage until I938, when the trustees placed the orphans elsewhere and turned the buildings over to the diocese as a high school.
The new Bishop devoted the first two years of his episcopate to vital
organizational work. In the summer of I846 he began his first episcopal
visitation of his vast diocese. Traveling often on horseback, he went from
settlement to settlement, administering the sacrament of confirmation,
laying the cornerstones of new churches, dedicating those recently completed, and bringing the atmosphere of the ancient Church into cultivated areas freshly carved from the wilderness. In cope and miter, crozier
in hand, he preached to the little gatherings of his people, sometimes
under the open sky with the Pennsylvania forests for a background, sometimes in the courthouse or other public building. On more than one occasion the Catholic Bishop was hospitably given the use of a Protestant
church to house the congregation anxious to hear him; all were hungry
for the words of counsel coming from this man, strong in faith, profound
in knowledge, and solicitous for the welfare of all his fellow men.
From his first days in Pittsburgh Bishop O'Connor had encouraged
the formation of total-abstinence societies. It is surprising to find that the
34THE FIRST BISHOP OF PITTSBURGH
two societies at St. Paul's and St. Patrick's churches had a total enrollment
of over 3,ooo at a time when there was only one non-Catholic group of
the kind in Pittsburgh, a Welsh society with 400 members. As early as
January IO, 1842 Father O'Connor wrote to his friend, Doctor Cullen, in
Rome: "We have established it [the temperance movement] on a more
religious basis than it is in Ireland. The pledge is administered generally
before the altar. We profess to regard it as a religious act, and though we
cannot refuse to give it to some Protestants who come publicly for it in
the crowd, we have declined all official connection with Protestant societies." In I85I he graciously received the famous Father Mathew when
he visited Pittsburgh on his "temperance tour" of the United States. As
an example to his flock, the Bishop himself took the pledge before the
zealous Capuchin reformer.
With a group of zealous laymen the Bishop established, March i6, I844,
a diocesan weekly newspaper, the Pittsburgh Catholic. This publication
gave the Catholic group a corporate sense. It drew the members of the
most isolated Catholic family into close touch with their fellow Catholics
in the diocese and in the world. A Catholic newspaper was an indispensable medium of Catholic expression in that controversial age. The Bishop
served as the first editor and contributed to it frequently through the
years. He was deeply conscious of the value of a Catholic paper in his
far-flung diocese; he looked upon it as an organ of Catholic expression
and as a moral force in the community. The Catholic ably defended the
flock against Know-Nothingism and other anti-Catholic outbursts of the
period. It is now the oldest diocesan paper in the country.
The growth of the diocese made division imperative, and in I853 the
thirteen northern counties became the Diocese of Erie. Bishop O'Connor
chose the new and poorer diocese as his portion, but he served only four
months as bishop of Erie. At the urgent petition of his clergy and people,
the Holy See restored him to Pittsburgh, and the Reverend Joshua M.
Young, bishop-elect of Pittsburgh, became the bishop of Erie.
Pressure of work undermined the health of Bishop O'Connor, and he
yearned to carry out his original design of becoming a Jesuit. In I855 he
had the joy of completing a new cathedral to take the place of the one
destroyed by fire in I85I. This noble structure, on the present site of the
Union Trust Building, served the cathedral parish for half a century.
35CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
The Bishop had journeyed to Rome in i854 to be present at the declaration
of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. "It is stated," writes Father
Clarke, "that some changes in the wording of the decree were due to his
learned suggestions." In I857 he made an extended tour of Europe and
the Holy Land in the hope of regaining his health. On his return he
sought to have a coadjutor appointed, and the office was offered to two
men, the Reverend John B. Byrne of Washington, D.C., and the Very
Reverend Edward Purcell, brother of the Archbishop of Cincinnati. Both
declined the honor. Under medical advice, Bishop O'Connor made a tour
of the West Indies and Mexico in the winter of I857-1858. Though a sick
man, he continued to solicit funds for his hard-pressed diocese; it is
recorded that he brought home from his tour a sum of $25,000. In July
I859 he went again to Rome to present his resignation. It was accepted
with reluctance. Since, in his own words, it had pleased Divine Providence
to afflict him with a malady which unfitted him for his work in the
diocese, he finally carried out his purpose of resigning in May i86o, and
entered the Society of Jesus.
Thus came to an end his seventeen years of service as bishop of Pittsburgh. His career of twelve years as a Jesuit does not come strictly within
our province. We note here only that he made his novitiate in Germany
and then returned to this country, first to Boston College, then to Loyola
College, Baltimore, where he labored with characteristic energy and zeal
as a professor, also preaching and lecturing throughout the United States
and Canada. He died on October i8, I872, and was buried in Woodstock,
Maryland.
Bishop Michael O'Connor was a writer and a lecturer of no mean
worth. His sermons, at the dedication of churches and at the consecration
of bishops, were profound and eloquent. He was always ready and willing to take anyone's place in preaching; a holy, virile simplicity was the
mark of the man and the note of his speech. Great, strong thoughts in
plain words carried his message home to the humblest of his hearers. On
the lecture platform he was not without distinction; he spoke often on
his favorite subjects: "Sogarth Aroon," "Archbishop Kenrick and His
Work," "The Temporal Power of the Popes," "The Catholic and Protestant Editions of the Bible," "Beauty and Truth," "Algiers," and "Address
to Pius IX." His various letters on the school question, which were pub36THE FIRST BISHOP OF PITTSBURGH                    37
lished in the Catholic or other newspapers of the day, are unanswerable.
Statesmen, lawyers, and scholars consulted him; they were astonished at
the variety, extent, and accuracy of his learning, at the clearness and
cogency of his reasoning. No one who listened to him in conversation,
sermon, or lecture could fail to observe that he touched and sounded his
subject in its every part and always presented its greatest strength.
Bishop Michael O'Connor, first bishop of Pittsburgh, was one of the
most brilliant lights that has ever shed its luster on the Church in the
United States. During seventeen years the Catholics of the Diocese of
Pittsburgh, writes Archbishop Canevin, "had enjoyed the advantages of
an episcopal administration, all things considered, the most brilliant and
the most successful in the history of the American Church."Nihil Obstat:
LAWRENCE A. O'CONNELL, LL. D.
Censor Librorurm
Imprimatur:
)I HUGH C. BOYLE, D.D.
Bishop of Pittsburgh
3I July I943
COPYRIGHT I943
CATIHOLIC HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
Printed in the United States of AmericaCHAPTER III
BISHOP MICHAEL DOMENEC AND BISHOP JOHN TUIGG,
I860-I889,
John Canova
BISHOP MICHAEL DOMENEC (I860-I876)
THE sunny hills of Tarragona gave the Pittsburgh Diocese its second
bishop. Don Miguel Domenec, in whose veins coursed Moorish blood,
was born in the little town of Ruez, a few miles away from Tarragona,
Spain, in October i8i6. His early education, begun in Madrid, was interrupted when his father, a man of high social position, became involved
in the Carlist movement and, when this failed, was compelled to seek
refuge with his family in Paris, France. Here young Don Miguel, feeling
that God was calling him to the priesthood, entered the seminary of the
visitor-general of the Lazarists in the United States. Later the first bishop
of Buffalo met Domenec and induced him to join the American missions.
On February Io, I838 both arrived at the Barrens, Missouri, and Domenec
continued his theological studies to the time of his ordination to the priesthood, on June 30, I839. His first assignment was to Cape Girardeau,
where, with two other Lazarist Fathers, he erected a college of the Congregation. In 1842 he was back to the seminary at the Barrens teaching
and preparing young Lazarists for the holy ministry, laboring zealously,
at the same time, in missionary work in the wilds of Missouri. A larger
field opened to him in I845, when Bishop Kenrick entrusted the diocesan
seminary of St. Charles, Philadelphia, to him and his Lazarist Fathers.
In conjunction with this work he ministered to the people of Nicetown,
and afterward became pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church at Germantown, which he had erected. His qualifications as trainer of theological
students, his zeal and success in pastoral work, pointed him to the bishops
of the province as the man worthy to assume the responsibility for the
burden laid down by Bishop O'Connor in i86o. Promoted to the vacant
See of Pittsburgh, September 28, i86o, Bishop Domenec was consecrated
in St. Paul's Cathedral by the Most Reverend- Francis Patrick Kenrick,
Archbishop of Baltimore, on December 9 of the same year.
38THE RIGHT REVEREND MICHAEL DOMENEC, C. M., D. D.
SECOND BISHOP OF PITTSBURGH
I86o-I876BISHOP MICHAEL DOMENEC AND BISHOP JOHN TUIGG, I860-I889  39
The charming personality of the Bishop and his kind and tactful ways
calmed the fear of the clergy and the laity at the evidence of his zeal.
They soon learned to love him and to admire his piety.
His administration, however, coincided with the beginning of a chaotic
decade. The Republican jubilations and noisy parades over President
Lincoln's election had hardly subsided when fear of secession and of war
took hold of the country. Immediately after Christmas the city was
thrown into an uproar. The streets were thronged with people, and the
Arsenal, in the Lawrenceville district, became the center of great excitement. President Buchanan's cabinet was polluted with secessionists. His
Secretary of War, John B. Floyd of Virginia, "a fire eater and a slave
holding monomaniac" according to the press of the day, had been stripping the Arsenal for a long time, sending thousands of muskets to the
Southern states. There citizens, becoming aggressive, were actually drilling
for war. In December Floyd had ordered the Arsenal to deliver I24 guns
to several ports well within the proposed southern lines. Loyal Pittsburgh
reacted violently against this act of treason, and more violently after December 20, the date of South Carolina's secession. Ten thousand small
arms had left the Pittsburgh wharf, but when on December 28 five heavy
cannons were trucked to the Monongahela shore, violence broke out.
Press editorials inflamed patriotic sentiments and suggested preventing
the transport of these arms "by interposing the bodies of U. S. citizens before the timber wheels engaged in the Job." Objections and riots notwithstanding, by December 31 twenty-five of the great guns were being loaded
at the wharf. They did not leave Pittsburgh, however, and the violence
of the demonstrations brought an order from Washington countermanding their removal. In the first contest between the North and the South,
Pittsburgh had come out victorious.
Complying with the proclamation of President Buchanan, Bishop
Domenec issued a letter, his first official act, asking that a triduum of
prayers be offered by the people of the diocese and a Mass be sung on
January 4, for the preservation of the Union. He placed particular emphasis on the point that, after prayer, the most important duty of the Christian
patriot was to stand by the Union. In this, Bishop Domenec stood unflinchingly throughout the war years. After the excitement caused by the
fall of Fort Sumter and the answer given by the local boys to "FatherCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Abraham's" call for volunteers, a most anxious period for the Church in
both North and. South began. It was a conflict of opinions regarding slavery. Not a few southern bishops and priests maintained that slavery was
defensible on moral grounds. Bishop Verot of Savannah defended its lawfulness. Whelan, Bishop of Wheeling, complained bitterly to the Archbishop of Baltimore of the attitude of certain northern prelates in allowing party sermons and permitting the display of flags in churches. The
answer the Archbishop gave caused him great amazement and no little
consternation; he was told of a rumor that an order had been issued by
the administration for his arrest. While no religious issue was mingled
with the Civil War, yet it was quite usual for fanatics with nativist leanings to taunt Catholics with disloyalty to the Union and sympathy for
the rebels' cause, because of their affiliation with Rome. During the month
of April Bishop Domenec, writing to the Archbishop, gave expression to
his apprehensions of danger to the Church over the war. He told of raising the flag over the cathedral and of delivering a speech to a committee
of fifty, but that it had been misrepresented even by the Catholic papers.
The interest of the Church, he added, had made it absolutely essential to
do something to avert hostility. The following month he was happy to
inform the Archbishop that his words had good effect in allaying hostility
and disarming bigotry; some had even gone so far as to apologize for
what they had previously said and to ask forgiveness. At the same time
the task of the American bishops was rendered doubly difficult by reason
of the partisan action of the Catholic press and the expression of views on
the part of clergymen who, misunderstanding the real issue of the war,
insisted upon injecting into the controversy the question of the morality
of slavery. The feud which sprang up between Brownson's Review and the
New York Freeman's Journal over the attitude to be assumed toward the
question of slavery and the constitutionality of secession was a fruitful
source of trouble in many parts of the country, the Pittsburgh Diocese not
excepted.
Meanwhile financial conditions in Pittsburgh were growing bad. Many
pastors were complaining that no money could be had. One of them
wrote: "I never knew such bad times even in Ireland. Think of our position who have debts and interest to meet with everybody idle." The development of the Conference of St. Vincent de Paul in the diocese was one
40BISHOP MICHAEL DOMENEC AND BISHOP JOHN TUIGG, I860-I889  4I
of the accomplishments of Bishop Domenec who, at this period, urged
its formation in all the city parishes for the alleviation of the suffering of
the poor.
Toward the end of I86I the federal government adopted the policy of
using influential Catholic bishops to counteract the work of southern
delegates, who were striving to obtain recognition of the South's secession
and belligerent status by England, France, and Spain. Archbishop
Hughes, delegated by Seward, had left hurriedly at the beginning of
November for England and France. On Christmas Eve he was received
at the Tuileries and remained for over an hour, pleading the cause of the
Union before Napoleon III and the Empress. He reported to Seward that
he felt his mission to the French Emperor had been successful and left
for Rome. Writing from there on February 2I, after repeating the expressions of respect and esteem voiced by the Holy Father for the American
President, he reported to Secretary Seward that he was not leaving for
Spain, as his object could as well be achieved in Rome. Another envoy was
to approach the Spanish Court in favor of the Union. In April Bishop
Domenec and five other bishops left for Rome in order to attend the
canonization of the Japanese martyrs. He returned to America through
his native Spain and had several interviews with the Queen and her ministers. Of his mission Archbishop Hughes said afterward: "Bishop Domenec, of all those who have been sent by the Government of the United
States to arrange these matters, is the only one who had ever really succeeded in his mission."
His return to Pittsburgh in September was saddened by the Arsenal
explosion, which bereaved many Catholic families, and it was with real
pathos that a few days afterward he penned his pastoral, earnestly appealing for prayers that God would restore peace. But, as though the distractions and sufferings caused by the war were not oppressive enough, more
troubles had been accumulating during his absence and were now demanding his attention. Bishop O'Connor was in town and time had to
be given to settle diocesan matters according to ecclesiastical and civil law.
His Vicar-General, on his return from Europe, had tendered his resignation and wanted to leave the diocese. People were objecting to the policy
followed by Doctor Keogh, editor of the Pittsburgh Catholic, in regard
to the war. The draft of 300,000 men was depopulating Pittsburgh andCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
the whole district. All enthusiasm for the war was waning, and draft
dodgers, in imitation of the New York draft rioters, were threatening
violence. Newspapers added to the malcontent by emphasizing the incompetence of generals and belittling their strategy. Fear of invasion after
General Lee's thrust into Pennsylvania sent all able-bodied men out of
factories and mills to the work of fortifying the city. With the new year,
feelings toward the administration became hostile, and murderous utterances against Lincoln were often heard. Fomented by newspaper controversies and heated exchanges, war passions were running high, and dissenters were regaled with the newly coined epithet, "copperhead." Bishop
Domenec at this period felt the bitterness of profound discouragement and
expressed to the Archbishop of Baltimore his intention to resign, but the
Archbishop, though himself severely tried, opposed any such action. Yet
troubles kept accumulating for the poor Bishop. Eleven of his priests had
been drafted and would have had to serve their time had not the congregations to which they were attached promptly contributed to the sum
required for their release. Later, when the country was expecting the details of the sanguinary Battle of Gettysburg, the Bishop, who was confirming in Blairsville, received the sad intelligence that his faithful friend
and counselor, Archbishop F. P. Kenrick of Baltimore, on the morning
of July 8 had been found dead. The appalling evidence of the great
catastrophe of Gettysburg, wounded men streaming into Baltimore by
the thousands, the frightful unrest verging on panic that had taken hold
of the city the day before had filled his soul with deep apprehension; grief
had hastened his death. At the Archbishop's funeral Bishop Domenec
looked for the last time on another of his friends, Archbishop John
Hughes, not the Hughes of former years, the powerful debater, the
scourge of bigotry, the ardent patriot, but a feeble man who shortly was
to pass on to his reward. A dejected Bishop came back to Pittsburgh, and
for the next six months we find him immersed in work-visiting his
diocese, preaching, lecturing, and giving retreats to congregations and religious communities.
On the military front the year I864 saw General Grant invested with
the chief command of the armies of the United States; Sherman's march
to the sea; Early's raid into Maryland and Pennsylvania, which frightened
almost to a panic the population of the eastern counties of the diocese;
42BISHOP MICHAEL DOMENEC AND BISHOP JOHN TUIGG, I860-I889  43
and lastly, Sherman's siege and capture of Atlanta. There was on the
home front a presidential election in a charged atmosphere; and low
morale among the people, fearful of invasion, and depressed by stringency
of money and the long lists of wounded and mourning advertisements.
For the diocese it was a year in which old sores dating from the previous
administration were festering again. It began with a recrudescence of complaints reaching the Bishop which eventually induced him to accommodate himself to a policy seemingly peaceful yet dangerous. Criticism centered on the conduct of the diocesan seminary and on the directives of
the Pittsburgh Catholic. As a result the Very Reverend E. McMahon,
for thirteen years rector of the cathedral and administrator of the diocese
under two bishops, and the Very Reverend James O'Connor, president of
the seminary and administrator of the diocese after his brother's resignation, left the diocese for that of Philadelphia. Reverend Doctor Keogh, a
priest of extraordinary learning and ability, secretary to the Bishop and
editor of the Pittsburgh Catholic, also resigned and assumed the direction of the seminary for a time, only to join his friends later in Philadelphia. It was unfortunate for the diocese that no one of equal ability
could be found to replace these valuable priests, for the half-measures
adopted by the Bishop only caused the situation to deteriorate. Reverend
John Hickey, since i863 pastor of the cathedral, took over the duties of
secretary and chancellor. The appeal made to the Lazarist Fathers to take
charge of the seminary brought no result and the group of five priests
appointed to manage and direct the Pittsburgh Catholic made no history. Bishop Domenec was however successful in his negotiations with the
federal government in securing exemption from military service for his
priests and in extirpating certain abuses which were giving him concern,
and in a particular way he curbed the undue influence laymen were trying
to exercise in Church matters.
With the occupation of Savannah by Sherman's army a feeling began
to prevail that the war of rebellion was coming to an end. This was justified by the events which followed in rapid succession: the fall of Charleston in February I865, the failure of Johnston to check Sherman's further
advance, Lee's unsuccessful attack upon Grant's forces before Petersburg,
the route of Lee's troops and occupation of Petersburg and Richmond after
the Battle of the Five Forks, and finally the surrender of Lee at AppomaCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
tox Court House. Five days after the latter had taken place, at the time
when Pittsburgh was preparing to join with the national celebration of the
return of peace, tidings of the great tragedy arrived. "President Lincoln
Assassinated"-"The President and Seward Dying"-the headlines went
on and on, relating the sickening details of the tragic story and breathing
at the same time a spirit of retaliation and reprisal against the South; no
more concession to southern pride, no further thought of mercy to rebels
and traitors; there was nothing for them but submission to the halter for
all who had earned it-or expatriation. Free from the hysteria of the moment, on Easter Sunday, the day after Lincoln's death, Bishop Domenec
spoke with great emotion from the pulpit, deprecating the national calamity. Later in the week he issued a letter to his people. "An awful calamity," he said, "has suddenly fallen upon our beloved and afflicted country.
Our Chief Magistrate, one so universally loved, the chosen one of the
people, the idol of the nation, is taken away from us; and alas! taken by
the cruel hands of a wretched assassin!" It was not enough, he said, to
bewail in sorrow a nation's loss, and he ordered "that prayers for our
rulers be most faithfully recited in all the churches under our care and do
further urge all the faithful in their daily prayers to implore the blessing
of God upon our sorrowing country." With the capture of Jefferson Davis
a few weeks later, the Civil War came to an end.
With the collapse of the southern rebellion many predicted a financial
panic. Happily it did not materialize, for the successful operations of the
federal Treasury succeeded in restoring business confidence. The crisis
when it came was to prove disastrous to the diocese in more than a material way. For the time being the capital poured into the city during the
war left wide evidences of wartime prosperity. As far as Western Pennsylvania was concerned, a new business, the oil-refining business, was
drawing country-wide attention. The great oil excitement was on in full
force. Coal oil from the Allegheny field near Oil City, which until the
historic Drake well of i859 had been dispensed as a cure-all throughout
the entire country, had now become not only a commanding product but
a dangerous source of wild speculation and gambling. T'he city alone was
boasting of sixty-three oil companies with an aggregate capital of over
$22,000,000. These speculations inspired a mad behavior; money was being spent lavishly in the gratification of personal vanity and appetites.
44BISHOP MICHAEL DOMENEC AND BISHOP JOHN TUIGG, I860-I889  45
Fashion, extravagance, and speculation ruled the hour. These factors in
general and the expansion of steel production in particular had drawn a
large number of people from the eastern part of the country. From I86o
to I866 the population of metropolitan Pittsburgh alone had doubled and
would triple before the end of I869. Since abundance of money was encouraging lavish expenditures and extravagance, civic developments, abandoned during war years, came now to the fore. The Monongahela incline
gave access to the hilltop; the new Union Station was thrown open to the
public; and the city fathers, not to be outdone by Allegheny, began the
half-million-dollar City Hall on Smithfield Street. Religious bodies also
began to vie with one another for better and more luxurious edifices, and
the building craze came into bloom on a magnificent scale. Bishop Domenec had been occupied for a time with counteracting one of the usual
anti-Catholic campaigns in which the Christian Advocate, the Daily Commercial, and the Pittsburgh Leader were involved, but soon another more
important problem required his attention. The old Catholic centers had
greatly increased and new communities were coming into existence. This
practically forced the Bishop to adopt a policy of expansion. At first it involved no danger, and the Bishop encouraged it by lecturing in various
parishes in order to swell their building funds. Unfortunately a halt to the
movement was not or could not be called at the proper time and it seems
that the subsequent years of prosperity never evoked the fear of an eventual financial collapse.
Beginning with the dedication of the new St. Patrick's Church in December, the history of this diocesan period, almost to the day the division
of the diocese was announced, is a continuous recital of cornerstone laying,
dedication of churches and chapels, and improvements of all kinds and
sizes, wise or otherwise. Thus the records of the period give us the dedication of 60 churches, the building of St. Paul's and St. Michael's asylums,
the rebuilding of St. Xavier's Academy after its disastrous fire, the costly
additions to the cathedral inspired by Reverend John Hickey, consisting of
the installation of a new organ, "the best in the country," the erection of
the two cathedral towers, respectively 282 and 285 feet high, which supposedly were to complete its facade but necessitating another expense; the
taking down of the central spire and replacing it with a dome; the installation over the entrance of a large stained-glass window imported from Paris;FOREWORD
This year the Diocese of Pittsburgh celebrates the centenary of its
founding. Due to the inconveniences of travel brought about by the great
war, we have resolved to celebrate this hundredth anniversary without
the presence of friends from a distance who would be forced, if they came,
to endure the hardships of travel and the grave disorder that we have
come to accept as the accompaniment of the making of war. We shall
confine the observances to purely local events, almost entirely religious
in character.
The making of this book is designed to record the growth and development of the Faith in the Diocese, in terms of the institutional and material spread of its influence. The district now embraced by the Diocese of
Pittsburgh was, a hundred years ago, very different in character from
what it is today. Its people were almost entirely engaged in agriculture;
they were few in number, and the Church functioned as a missionary
establishment, in nearly every section. The growth of mining, and of the
making of steel and of steel products, brought great numbers of men and
of families, not alone from other sections of this country, but from other
countries as well, and the district began to have towns and villages, and,
in general the pattern with which most of us in our lifetime have come to
be very familiar.
The growth of the Diocese is in large measure the result of migration
of Catholic people from other sections of this country and from other
lands, to which often agents of the great industries were sent to keep up
the labor supply needed, as the industries grew in size. These Catholic
people were often ignorant of the language, were unacquainted with the
way of life in American towns and cities, and were under the necessity
of finding pastors who could minister to them and guide them in this
new social environment. These pastors came with them, or were requisitioned from the dioceses from which their parishioners came in other
lands, by Bishops here in Pittsburgh. Both the people and their pastors
were most desirable additions to the personnel of this Diocese, and their
zeal and generosity soon provided them with parish buildings adequate
to their needs and, architecturally, of good quality. They brought, in
addition, the habits and customs of the countries in which they were
vCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
and-the last of all extravagances--the building of the cathedral rectory
and episcopal residence at twice the original estimate. Yet the growth of
the diocese was not to be reckoned by the mushroom growth of its buildings alone. It was during this period of prosperity that many of the orders
and congregations of men and women who to this day carry on in the educational, pastoral, and charitable fields with ever noticeable success were
introduced into the diocese. The Sisters of St. Francis, the Ursulines, the
Sisters of St. Joseph, the Oblate Fathers, the Sisters of Charity, the Carmelites, the Little Sisters of the Poor, the Capuchins, and the Holy Ghost
Fathers all came at this time. The latter two, arriving as they did at the
very height of the financial crisis, did not chance to partake of the prosperity of earlier years nor of the patronage of any exalted Maecenas, yet
the hands of Lady Poverty did not blight or retard their successful development. Of the above-mentioned only the Oblate Fathers, who in I869
had been approved by the Bishop and permitted to open a house and
chapel in East Liberty, did not, their zeal and piety notwithstanding, succeed in making a lasting foundation. It is perhaps worthy of notice that,
during the period considered now, the monotonous routine of diocesan
affairs was broken with a rather unusual regularity with each return of
dog days. Generally, in the summer months, when other pestiferous recurrences take place, as was the case with cholera, petty diatribes would
break out, causing annoyance and drawing sharp rejoinders. The usual'
superinduced anti-Catholic plague would unfailingly flare up, at times
aimed at the Bishop's pastorals and more often at the Church in general.
One of such outbreaks occurred in I870 after the declaration of papal infallibility by the Vatican Council and another came later the same year,
when with unbounded jubilation the secular press carried the news of
the fall of papal Rome, the imprisonment of Pius IX, the unification of
Italy, and the crumbling of Napoleon's imperial government. The characters of these tragicomical performances generally were always the same
ones: the Christian Advocate, the Daily Commercial, the Presbyterian
Banner, the United Presbyterian, and, occasionally, the Pittsburgh Dispatch. Although these eruptions were virulent at times, as when the
encyclical condemning pantheism and rationalism was attacked by undignified and less edifying ministerial scribes (confer the Christian Advocate of February I865 for a veritable lexicon of rare epithets), yet they
46BISHOP MICHAEL DOMENEC AND BISHOP JOHN TUIGG, I860-I889  47
merely ruffled the usual peaceful disposition of our Catholics and died
down with the autumnal frost.
The jolt that was to carry the diocese to the brink of the precipice came
suddenly but not unforeseen, since Pittsburgh bankers had apprehended
the coming crisis as early as i867 and the financial flurries of I87I had
given no uncertain signs of the approaching storm. Had wisdom and caution prevailed, half the building program could have been postponed and
the stability of the diocese would have been greatly enhanced. It was not
to be so, but Bishop Domenec cannot be assessed alone with a responsibility his intimate advisers had shared and later conveniently shelved.
But before the storm unloosed its force, a great soul was mercifully
spared the anguish and fear which the apparent disintegration of the work
he had so admirably initiated would have caused him. On October i8, I872
the Right Reverend Michael O'Connor, the first bishop of Pittsburgh and
afterward a humble and devoted member of the Society of Jesus, was called
to receive the crown he well deserved. The whole diocese mourned the
death of this truly wonderful man, but no one perhaps sorrowed more than
the Sisters of Mercy, whose friend and protector he had been all his years.
In 1873 the panic was at its worst; recurring failures for the next halfdozen years told the far-reaching effect of the crisis. Monsignor A. A.
Lambing, Pastor of the Point Church in i874, went through the painful
experience and relates: "Banks regarded as solid were breaking by the
dozen; long standing business firms were going under; men supposed to
be wealthy were going into bankruptcy; the hard-earned dollars of the
laborers and tradesmen were lost in insolvent banks; and strong and willing men stood round the factories and wharves, or wandered through the
streets in the vain hope of securing a little work to support their destitute
families.... It is little wonder then, that so many churches and other
religious institutions of the diocese were driven to the wall, and found it
almost impossible to carry their heavy burdens." The same writer, who
seemed to know Bishop Domenec's mind, tells us of the dismay and embarrassment of the Bishop and how under an almost unbearable mental
strain "his life became almost a torture to him." It is easy to surmise that
the Bishop devised and tried many remedies; it was, however, extremely
unfortunate that the solution he adopted precipitated a debacle which almost disrupted the diocese and caused his days to end in suffering andCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
sorrow. He left for Rome in November and at the end of the following
month he notified his Vicar-General, Very Reverend John Tuigg, that he
had accomplished his purpose; Rome had divided the diocese, creating
the new See of Allegheny, and he himself would be its first bishop. In
January a wire from Rome to Father Tuigg announced that he had been
appointed bishop of Pittsburgh and that Propaganda would determine the
limits of the two dioceses. The division became publicly known on January
20, but nothing definite transpired as to the limits until a few days before
Bishop Tuigg's consecration. Saying farewell to the Pittsburgh Diocese, in
a public letter, Bishop Domenec explained that his action was justified by
the growth of the diocese from 50,000 to 200,000 souls, that the good of
religion demanded it, and that he was following in his predecessor's footsteps, the Erie Diocese having been created ten years after Bishop O'Connor became bishop. Reminding the priests and people that in his first pastoral to them, he had prayed for unity, he added: "It is to this union that
we must attribute the progress which Catholicity has made in our midst.
Therefore, Venerable Fathers of the clergy and beloved children of the
laity, we recommend to you this union, and especially that you should be
all united with your Bishop whom God sends to you. He well deserves
your confidence and your love."
After Bishop Tuigg's consecration the same prelates who had witnessed
it gathered in the evening to see Bishop Domenec's enthronement in St.
Peter's Cathedral, Allegheny. On that day, March I9, I876, his jurisdiction over the Pittsburgh Diocese had ceased, but not his connection with it.
BISHOP JOHN TUIGG (I876-I889)
The third bishop of Pittsburgh, the Right Reverend John Tuigg, was
born in County Cork, Ireland, February I9, I82I. While studying at the
College of All Hallows, Dublin, he was adopted by Bishop O'Connor for
the Pittsburgh Diocese. He came to Pittsburgh to complete his theological
studies and was ordained by Bishop O'Connor on May 14, I850. He served
as assistant at the cathedral until the erection of St. Bridget's Church in
the spring of I853. In July of the same year the Bishop charged him with
the organization of the Altoona congregation. There he worked with
great success until his elevation to the episcopate of Pittsburgh. Bishop
Domenec appointed him Vicar Forane in I868-an early sign of the
greater dignity that yet awaited him. Reviewing his success as pastor at
48THE RIGHT REVEREND JOHN TUIGG, D. D.
THIRD BISI-IOP OF PITTSBURGCII
I 876-I 889BISHOP MICHAEL DOMENEC AND BISHOP JOHN TUIGG, I860-I889  49
Altoona and after a glimpse of Doctor Tuigg's character, a contemporary
writer reflected: "Does not his past foreshadow him for a successful future? Does it not tell in unmistakable words what the Catholics of this
Diocese may expect from his administration? His bed, it is true, will
not be a bed of roses-but Bishops' beds are not generally of that nature.
His prudence will enable him to pluck the roses and avoid the thorns.... All things carefully considered, the Right Reverend John Tuigg, D. D.,
in his new and extensive field of labor will be greeted with a hearty cooperation in all his undertakings." The writer turned out to be a minor
prophet, for this was written March i8, the day before Bishop Tuigg's
consecration.
The following day the Metropolitan, Archbishop J. F. Wood of Philadelphia, assisted by the Right Reverend Michael Domenec of Allegheny
and the Right Reverend Tobias Mullen of Erie, consecrated Bishop Tuigg
in the presence of the bishops of the province. In attendance were the
Abbot of St. Vincent's, Right Reverend Boniface Wimmer, O. S. B., and at
least I40 priests of the dioceses of Pittsburgh and Allegheny. That same
evening they witnessed the installation of Bishop Domenec in St. Peter's
Cathedral, Allegheny. The impressive ceremonial of that day stilled the
anxiety of many a mind. A few days afterward the discontent became
audible. Even before Bishop Tuigg's consecration the Pittsburgh Post carried an article protesting the division of the diocese. The boundary line
became the common subject of conversation and provoked many unfavorable comments among the clergy and laity. Sympathies and antipathlies
divided the priests of the two dioceses, especially when clerical changes
were made in the official family of the new Bishop and of the cathedral.
Exaggerated worry about the financial status of what remained oc the
Pittsburgh Diocese elicited an exchange of correspondence with contradictory views in regard to existing liabilities. At the same time anonyrmous
pamphlets and petitions were given circulation which did not ole vwate
matters. Dissension was increased in April of the following year, when
accountants were called in to report on the amount of the diocesan debtx
and the Reverend John Hickey was relieved of the cathedral rect'rship.
The attempts of the Metropolitan to settle the controversy failed and the
case was referred to Rome for adjudication. Bishop Tuigg, fearing the possible loss of four churches, allowed himself to be involved in civ-il uits,CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
thus weakening further the credit of the diocese. There is no gainsaying
that these troubles in the case and the overwrought nerves of the bishops
magnified the seriousness of the situation.
When the Reverend Ferdinand Kittell was sent to Rome in i877 to
plead Bishop Tuigg's cause, the Propaganda was already in possession of
some of the facts and seemed to be unfavorably impressed with the division and indebtedness of the diocese. Bishop Domenec, summoned to
Rome, arrived there in April and presented his side of the case. He successfully proved that the diocesan assets would meet the liabilities and
would turn over to Bishop Tuigg $6i,ooo-money which had been advanced to the cathedral and other churches and institutions. The reunion
of the two dioceses was, in turn, presented as an absolute necessity. Action
in the matter was distasteful to Rome and it caused intense suffering to the
poor prelate. Bishop Domenec realized that by resigning he was not only
depriving himself of his see, but perhaps making his return to America
impossible. The Propaganda understood and heartily sympathized with
the Bishop, and in accepting his resignation destined him to a more exalted position as reward for his painful sacrifice. Perhaps what tipped the
scale in favor of Bishop Tuigg was the news which reached Rome of his
courageous behavior during the railroad strike in Pittsburgh at the beginning of July. This news created a sensation in Rome and enabled Father
Kittell to wire Bishop Tuigg on July 22: "Diocese reunited, hold Synod,
prudent policy of reconciliation advised." Unfortunately, as things stood at
horne, it was impossible for Bishop Tuigg to heed this advice. Crushed in
mind and broken in health, Bishop Tuigg soon turned over the administration of the diocese to his Coadjutor. His life was a succession of tragic
events too disconcerting and humiliating to relate. "His prudence will
enable him to pluck the roses and avoid the thorns," belied the prophet.
Undeniably the weakness and malice of men, the unbalanced reactions to
the provocations of the contending parties, made this the most lamentable
period in the history of the diocese. One detailed account will clarify the
assertion. After Bishop Domenec's resignation nothing was heard in Rome
of his whereabouts until the following February, when word of his death
reached Pittsburgh. Ignoring the fact that Bishop Tuigg had furnished the
information, and a pontifical Mass of requiem had been offered in the cathedra! for the late prelate, and that Bishop Mullen, one of the executors.50BISHOP MICHAEL DOMENEC AND BISHOP JOHN TUIGG, I860-i889  51
named by Bishop Domenec, had declared under oath to the Register of
Wills that the Bishop was dead, the Pittsburgh Commercial and other
newspapers maliciously commented: "A startling Rumor-Bishop Domenec reported not dead but imprisoned for life."--"A startling rumor has
obtained circulation to the effect that Bishop Domenec, late of the Roman
Catholic Diocese of Allegheny, is not dead as reported, but held a prisoner for life at Rome. It is an open secret that the Bishop has been accused
of misappropriating or squandering some $8oo,ooo of the Diocesan funds
while Bishop of Pittsburgh, and that he had been summoned to Rome to
give an account of his official management of the affairs of the Diocese.
It is also known, at least to his friends, that he went to Rome with the utmost confidence in his ability to defeat an intrigue to depose him, and it
is more widely known that he is reported to have died in his native city
of Tarragona in Spain, on the fifth of January last. It is a strange circumstance, to say the least, that so closely following the announcement of his
death a rumor should gain circulation that he is not dead. The story, as
we have heard it repeated, is substantially this: That Bishop Domenec,
after a hearing at Rome, was degraded and sentenced to imprisonment
for life in a solitary cell, to be fed on black bread and water.... It may be
proper to add in this connection, that Bishop Domenec here was regarded
as a man of integrity as well as piety and learning, and that those who
knew him best, and who were familiar with his official conduct, utterly
deny the allegation that he had misappropriated the funds of the Diocese
or used a dollar that did not rightly belong to him." Other malicious statements followed, accusing Bishop Tuigg and his friends of being prevented from breaking into Bishop Domenec's apartments by a Mr. Fetterman, the Bishop's counsel, who had threatened legal action if trespass
was committed. The fatuity and insolence of the press, which underhandedly was aiming at Bishop Tuigg, was silenced when the Archbishop
of Tarragona, in answer to Bishop Tuigg's inquiry, sent the details of
Bishop Domenec's sad death. "Contrary to the opinion that Bishop Domenec's health was seriously affected by affairs at Rome, it is told that he
went from Rome to Barcelona in the fall of 1877, and spent several months
preaching in the churches of that city, twice a week, before overcrowded
audiences attracted by the eloquence and personal popularity of the man.
On the 3oth of December he left Barcelona to visit Ruez, his native city,CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
and to visit once more the scenes of his youth before his return to the
United States. At Tarragona he was taken suddenly ill; the Archbishop of
Tarragona repeatedly urged him to accept his own residence, but the
Bishop insisted upon going to and remaining at the capital House of Beneficence. Here he grew worse and received the last Sacraments from the
hands of the Archbishop with great devotion, and during the few days of
his last illness he manifested a holy resignation and a perfect willingness
to die. To the Archbishop of Tarragona the dying prelate uttered his last
words:'A thousand thanks, Sir. You know that my mission is not to incommodate anybody.' The Bishop died January 7, I878. He was buried at
Tarragona, in the cloister of the Cathedral. His funeral was elaborate, conducted by the Archbishop of Tarragona and attended by the clergy, civic
and military officials, by the population of the city, led by the military
band from the garrison." So poor was the Bishop that the Archbishop of
Tarragona had to defray the expenses of the funeral. Thus in poverty,
away from his See, died the second Bishop of the Pittsburgh Diocese.
By a bull dated May 15, I885, the Reverend Richard Phelan was appointed Coadjutor to Bishop Tuigg and in December the Sacred Congregation directed him to take over the reins of the diocese. In I883 Bishop
Tuigg's activity had been impaired by a stroke of paralysis. Lingering
years of constant pain and suffering followed his retirement to his beloved
Altoona. Relentlessly the disease continued its progress until, on December
7, I889, he passed to his reward. The burial took place at St. John's Cemetery, Altoona. There his remains now rest.
Archbishop Canevin says of him: "He combined the qualities of firmness and gentleness to a degree rarely found in the same individual; strong
and unyielding when confident of the justice and propriety of any position
he took, he was kind and courteous to those with whom he differed. Proofs
of his executive ability, his piety and his self-sacrificing zeal abound
throughout the diocese over which God called him to rule."
52CHAPTER IV
BISHOP PHELAN
George i. Bullion
A BRIGHT chapter in the history of the Diocese of Pittsburgh was
in the making when, some time in 1848-I849, Bishop Michael O'Connor, first bishop of Pittsburgh, applied to St. Kieran's College in County
Kilkenny, Ireland, for students to the priesthood willing to work later in
the vineyards of the Lord in America. Richard Phelan, one of the students, answered the call, even though, at the time, he had the opportunity
to enter the famous ecclesiastical school at Maynooth. So in December
of I849 Richard Phelan left home for America. In January I850 he resumed his studies in St. Michael's Seminary, located at that time near
where St. Michael's Church now stands on the South Side of Pittsburgh,
then known as Birmingham. When St. Michael's Seminary closed, he
entered St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, Maryland, in I851, where, under
the Sulpician Fathers, he received minor orders and then was ordained
subdeacon and deacon by Archbishop Francis Patrick Kenrick, D. D., of
Baltimore. The Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania, was established April 29,
I853 and Bishop Michael O'Connor was transferred from Pittsburgh to
this new diocese. Father Joshua M. Young was designated to succeed
Bishop O'Connor as bishop of Pittsburgh, and Richard Phelan, while
still only a deacon, was chosen to go with Bishop O'Connor to Erie, in
exchange for Reverend D. Coady of the new diocese, who in turn was
to go to Pittsburgh. Richard Phelan hastened to Erie in I854, but the
opposition of the people and clergy of Pittsburgh to the removal of
Bishop O'Connor to Erie delayed his ordination to the priesthood. He
therefore spent some weeks of the spring of I854 in the Cleveland Seminary. Shortly after Bishop O'Connor's recall to the Diocese of Pittsburgh,
which occurred on February 20, I854, Richard Phelan was returned to
Pittsburgh. He was finally ordained to the holy priesthood by Bishop
O'Connor on May 4, I854 in the chapel of the episcopal residence. This
chapel later on was converted into a classroom in the boys' parochial
school attached to old St. Paul's Cathedral.
53CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
reared, and so made valuable contributions to the Catholic life of the
Diocese. Their zeal and devotion to the Faith has been of a high order,
and their example has been an inspiration to all of us who are native to
this country. They have become a homogeneous group with the Catholics
whom they found here, and they and their children have been the largest
contribution to the growth in population which occurred in the Diocese
in the last century.
The development of the sense of the supernatural, without which there
can be no Catholic life, should be noted as one of the qualities which has
marked the last hundred years in the Diocese. The effort, in a material
way, to keep up with the growth in population, to provide churches and
schools and their accessories, has made great demands upon the people
of the Diocese, but it has not diminished the warmth of faith and devotion
which, after all, are the great goals to be attained in every Catholic diocese.
It should be remembered that the foreign-born people of the Diocese have
provided from their own meager earnings the resources that were needed
to provide their own churches and institutions by voluntary offerings, and
that they have done this adequately and in keeping with the work done
by native-born Catholics. They have in all matters adjusted themselves to
the traditions and temper of their fellows in the new land and have made
and are making a magnificent contribution to the Faith here in the
United States. Their sons and daughters are filling acceptably the places
of the priests and nuns who came with their fathers from these older
lands, and have helped in the staffing of parishes, schools, and institutions.
The sons and grandsons of these immigrants are found in the armed
forces of the nation in an astonishing number.
The adjustments which the new arrangements in an industrial order
made necessary-the change from agriculture to industry-were made
easier by the coming into a new country in which immigrants had taught
themselves to look for profound changes in their way of living. To receive pay in money seemed to them much more desirable than to receive
it in food and clothing and shelter. It might be true that when they had
paid their bills at the month's end, the wages in money were exhausted;
still, it was counted a good thing to have been possessed of money for
even a little while, and to have bought for money what they had formerly
procured by hard work with their hands. There were moreover, as there
viCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Shortly after his ordination to the priesthood Father Phelan was sent
to take charge of the small mission at Cameron's Bottom, Indiana County,
and the surrounding territory, which was sparsely populated. Toward the
end of that summer of I854 he visited Pittsburgh, where he found the
priests of the city overworked on account of the cholera and smallpox
epidemic then raging in that city. Records show that there were over 700
victims of the dread diseases in less than 3 weeks. Father Phelan offered
his assistance and remained in the city during the months when the epidemic was at its height. When the epidemic showed signs of abating, he
returned in the fall of that year to Cameron's Bottom, only to be recalled
to Pittsburgh by Bishop O'Connor in February I855 and appointed assistant at St. Paul's Cathedral. He remained at the cathedral three and
one half years, aiding with the work of several small congregations in
outlying districts, in addition to his work at the cathedral. Then in i858
Father Phelan was appointed pastor of St. Mary's Church, Freeport and
the missions of Armstrong County. After ten years at Freeport he was on
July 2I, I868 named by Bishop Domenec pastor of St. Peter's Church, old
Allegheny, now incorporated in Pittsburgh as the North Side, when his
immediate predecessor, the Very Reverend Tobias Mullen, was selected
to be bishop of Erie. When Bishop Tuigg returned from Rome in I883,
Father Phelan, was appointed his vicar-general. Two years later, on
August 2, I885, he was consecrated titular bishop of Cibyra and coadjutor
with the right of succession to Bishop Tuigg. The newly consecrated
coadjutor bishop was preparing to leave St. Peter's to take up residence
at St. Paul's Cathedral, when on November I3, i886, fire almost totally
destroyed the church at St. Peter's which he had spent so many years
erecting. He then determined to remain at St. Peter's until the church,
so much a part of him, had been rebuilt. St. Peter's Church was rededicated April 22, I888. Meanwhile, in his capacity as vicar-general, he had
to make frequent visits, which in those days meant long and arduous
trips, to Bishop Tuigg, who since Bishop Phelan's consecration resided
at Altoona. At the death of Bishop Tuigg, December 7, i888, Bishop
Phelan automatically succeeded to the See of Pittsburgh. Finally in June
I891 Bishop Phelan took up residence at St. Paul's Cathedral after spending twenty-three years at St. Peter's. In 1893 he celebrated the golden jubilee of the foundation of the Diocese of Pittsburgh and began the work of
54BISHOP PHELAN
establishing an industrial home for boys, known later as St. Joseph's
Protectory, but designated at the time as "The Memorial Building of the
Diocese of Pittsburgh in Honor of Its Golden Jubilee." In 900oo Bishop
Phelan laid the cornerstone of the new St. Paul's Orphan Asylum at
Idlewood, near Crafton, Pennsylvania. On May 3I, I9OI the Diocese of
Altoona was established. This removed from the Diocese of Pittsburgh
five counties which had entailed much work for the bishop of Pittsburgh
during the preceding'rears. That same year old St. Paul's Cathedral on
Grant Street was sold, the deed being delivered to the new owners on
September 28, I9OI. Finally, long hours of work and ill health demanded
that Bishop Phelan be given an assistant to help in the care of a constantly growing diocese. So on February 24, I903 Reverend J. F. Regis
Canevin was consecrated titular bishop of Sabrata and coadjutor with
the right of succession to Bishop Phelan. From the day of the consecration of Bishop Canevin, Bishop Phelan took up residence at St. Paul's
Orphan Asylum, Idlewood, leaving much of the care of the diocese to
his younger assistant. He scarcely ever left the asylum from that date;
even when the cornerstone of the new St. Paul's Cathedral was laid he
did not attend, but let Bishop Canevin perform that function. Bishop
Phelan celebrated the golden jubilee of his ordination to the holy priesthood on May 4, I904 in the Church of the Epiphany, Pittsburgh. This
was one of the few times he left the asylum, and it could be seen then
that the "spending of himself and being spent" in the interest of the Lord
all these years and the persistent ailment of rheumatism were fast beginning to take their toll. Bishop Phelan died at St. Paul's Orphan Asylum
at Idlewood on December 20, I904. The funeral services were held at
the Church of the Epiphany, Pittsburgh. The burial of Bishop Phelan,
the first bishop of Pittsburgh to be buried in his own diocese, took place
at St. Mary's Cemetery, Pittsburgh. Bishop O'Connor had been buried
at Woodstock, Maryland; Bishop Domenec at Tarragona, Spain; and
Bishop Tuigg at St. John's Cemetery, Altoona.
Bishop Richard Phelan was born January I, I828 on the Isle of Saints,
in the Townsland of Sralee near Ballyragget, County Kilkenny, Ireland.
He was the eldest of nine children born to Michael Phelan and Mary
Keoghan. His family possessed comfortable means and was respectably
independent, his ancestors for generations having owned the homestead
55CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
where he was born. His father was an extensive farmer and was ambitious for his children; his mother was hospitable, kind, and pious. Four
of the children came to America. One, the Very Reverend Patrick Canon
Phelan, P.P., entered the ranks of the clergy in Ireland in the Diocese
of Ossory. Two of the daughters became nuns; one entered the Order of
St. Bridget, near her native place, and the other became a Sister of Mercy
in Pittsburgh. Bishop Phelan received his elementary education from
private tutors in his father's house and in the schools of the parish.
From the earliest days after his ordination Father Phelan was a zealous
worker. He was one of America's pioneer priests. Their lot was "scattered
parishes, humble inconvenient churches, far-apart missions; and sick-calls
that meant sometimes, thirty miles on horseback on lonely roads, in the
darkness of the night and the inclemency of the weather." At that time
the Diocese of Pittsburgh comprised a territory nearly twice its present
size, with only twenty-five priests and twenty-five churches to administer
to 40,000 Catholics. Under these circumstances Father Phelan began his
priestly career.
At Cameron's Bottom, Indiana County he early experienced the hard
and rough labors that all pioneers must endure. Cameron's Bottom
was a most uninviting place. "It was a hard beginning for the young
Levite who bade farewell to a happy home in Erin, where an unbroken
family circle, father, mother, and eight brothers and sisters, saw the
eldest born, the heir to a fair inheritance, renounce forever the pleasant
things of life and depart for unknown dangers in a strange land. The
voyage over the seas, then, was of weeks and even months in slow sailing vessels, and we can imagine that the young missionary, barely in
his twenties, must have cast back through the long days and nights, many
a tender thought on a home, beautiful, in its wealth of field and wood,
and meadows dotted with sheep and kine, where the blue sky of Ireland
bent smiling over head, and its ever fresh carpet of green covered the
earth far and wide; where the lark song greets the early worker and the
birds warbled all day long. Was there a faltering of purpose? or sigh of
regret? Subsequent events have told us the contrary. The voyage was
accomplished and the young Richard Phelan had set foot on American
soil, and in the bleak winter weather had begun his journey by canal
and stage to the town of Pittsburgh.
56BISHOP PHELAN
"After a few months spent at Cameron's Bottom, Indiana County,
Father Phelan temporarily relinquished his mission, on hearing of the
awful scourges of cholera and smallpox which had broken out in Pittsburgh. The few priests were overworked, the people terrified, and death
and desolation stalked through the city. Father Phelan never rested day
or night and ministered to all who needed his assistance. At Mercy Hospital, he went from bed to bed and seemed to bear a charmed life. Sometimes, so eye-witnesses have informed us, the horrible virus of the loathsome diseases came off on his fingers during the holy anointings; he
would calmly rub it off with cotton and smile at those who begged him
to beware of contagion. God destined him for something great and no
disease harmed him. When the plague subsided, Father Phelan went
quietly back to his little country mission at Cameron's Bottom. But soon
higher duties claimed him. He was recalled to Pittsburgh and made
assistant at old St. Paul's Cathedral. He attended to the heavy duties of
that parish and was also chaplain for the Sisters of Mercy at Mercy Hospital. Every day the young priest walked the distance between Grant
St. and Stevenson St., in all weather, for early Mass at the hospital,
attended to the patients and then returned to the Cathedral. There was
no church nearer to the Cathedral than St. Patrick's, Liberty Ave., or
St. Brigid's, Wylie Ave., and all the intermediate territory was in the
Cathedral Parish, and one can easily imagine that his duties there were
innumerable."'
Father Phelan was sent from the cathedral to Freeport by Bishop
O'Connor in order to handle some discordant elements arising in that
growing parish. The manner of his appointment to Freeport is interesting and indicative of the spirit of both Bishop and pastor. "On a Friday
early in September, i858, Father Phelan, who had lately added to his
duties the care of some missions, principally in the Monongahela Valley,
while residing with the Bishop, was told by Bishop O'Connor at dinner
table that he was appointed pastor to Freeport. When the young priest
inquired how soon he should report for duty, he received the laconic
reply,'Tomorrow, sir.' Father Phelan went to Freeport and soon showed
his sterling worth. Fearless and uncompromising where duty was con1 All quotations are from the Pittsburgh Catholic, especially the Jubilee Issue of May 5,
1904.
57CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
cerned, he readily restored harmony, and then began a period of labor
which established a flourishing condition of affairs.
"Freeport is situated on the west bank of the Allegheny River, in the
southern point of Armstrong Co., 28 miles above Pittsburgh. At that time,
the Pennsylvania Canal passed through it, and later the Western Pennsylvania Railroad, with a branch still later from there to Butler, 2I miles
distant, joined it with larger neighboring towns, while on the other side of
the Allegheny River,' the Allegheny Valley Railroad had already extended its line to Kittanning. The church building in Freeport was begun
about I827 and was dedicated on the 8th of September I832. This little
house of God, though still standing when Father Phelan came, had been
replaced by a more stately edifice, the present church, which was dedicated,
on the last Sunday of the year I85I. A pastor of Phelan's early years was
not pastor of one congregation only, he was lucky if he had less than a
county or two to look after, and Father Phelan was no exception. Father
Phelan first resided at Freeport in a rented house until about i862, when
he purchased a house opposite the church. During his pastorate at Freeport, the congregation attained the zenith of its prosperity up to that time
and numbered about 200 families, because there were then several Can
Coal Oil Works in the vicinity. But, with what was considered a good
parish at that time, the good Father had half a county to take care of. To
the south on the west bank of the Allegheny River, six miles distant, was
Natrona, then known as Soda Works, where toward the end of his pastorate at Freeport, Father Phelan celebrated Mass two Sundays in the
month; and where he secured lots for a church, which he was about to
build when he was transferred to another field of labor. Below Natrona
was Tarentum, from which he would receive an occasional sick-call. Up
the Kiskiminetas River, which empties into the Allegheny River from the
east near Freeport, was Leechburg, six miles distant, where he occasionally
said Mass for the accommodation of older people there. But his wide
field was towards the north. Kittanning was about I6 miles distant
to the north, on the banks of the Allegheny River, with its church not
finished as yet in the interior, nor was it finished till some time after
Father Phelan's departure. This was a monthly Sunday station. Eight
miles above Kittanning, on the same eastern side of the river, was Ore
Hill Furnace, a monthly week-day. station, as were the other furnaces to
58BISHOP PHELAN
be mentioned. Two miles farther up the river, and an equal distance up
Mahoning Creek, was Stewartson Furnace; io miles farther up the same
Creek and i8 miles across the country from Kittanning was the Mahoning
Iron Works; 15 miles up the Allegheny River from Kittanning, was the
American Furnace Works, a monthly station; and 8 miles northeast from
the same town was Pine Creek Furnace, not a regular station, but where
Mass was occasionally said, for the benefit of the aged people. The good
Father generally made his rounds on horseback, and in winter used a
sleigh.
"Father Phelan visited his native land for the first time in August,
i862, and before his return, the Kittanning Church with all the furnace
missions, was cut off from Freeport and received a resident Pastor. The
congregation of the Soda Works, later to become Natrona, continued to
increase, and demanded a Sunday Mass at this time. But with the discovery of Petroleum Oil, the canned coal oil industry died out, although the
can works were converted into refineries of the new product, but did not
employ, perhaps, more than one fourth of the men."
Meanwhile Bishop O'Connor resigned his see on May 23, I86o, and
Bishop Domenec succeeded him on December 9, I86o.
"So things went on with Father Phelan at Freeport till July i868, when
the Very Rev. Tobias Mullen, Vicar General of Pittsburgh and Pastor of
St. Peter's Church, old Allegheny, was appointed Bishop of Erie. Father
Phelan was named successor to Bishop Mullen at St. Peter's, and was
followed in turn at Freeport by Rev. John Hackett.
"When Father Phelan came to St. Peter's in i868, the church was a
rather poor affair, located on Anderson St., on the spot now occupied by
the Railroad Freight House, opposite the Park. Father Phelan with the
keen business tact, which made him remarkable, bought ground near the
site of the old Western Penitentiary, now West Park, and began, on the
corner of West Ohio Street and Sherman Avenue, a splendid Gothic
edifice, the new St. Peter's, one of the finest structures in Western Pennsylvania, with an unsurpassed location. The new St. Peter's was erected
in three years and dedicated in I874."
On January i6, I876 Bishop Domenec was transferred from the Diocese
of Pittsburgh and appointed the first bishop of the newly erected Diocese
of Allegheny, which was cut off from Pittsburgh. The city of old Alle59CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
gheny was named the episcopal city and St. Peter's, the cathedral of the
new diocese. Bishop John Tuigg was then consecrated on March 19, I876
to succeed Bishop Domenec as bishop of Pittsburgh. But the division of
the Pittsburgh Diocese was, to say the least, not well received by the
people and clergy of the parent diocese, with the result that shortly after
the consecration of Bishop Tuigg, Bishop Domenec departed for Rome,
where he resigned the See of Allegheny on July 29, I877. Bishop Domenec
immediately retired and "after mature deliberation the Holy See entrusted the administration of the vacant See of Allegheny to the Bishop
of Pittsburgh, by official documents bearing the date August 3, I877.
"In i883 Father Phelan was appointed Vicar General by Bishop Tuigg
who had just returned from Rome. This position he held until his consecration. Previously Father Phelan had been entrusted with the administration of the Diocese, both under Bishop Domenec and Bishop Tuigg
when they were absent in Europe."
It is not necessary to enter here into details of the administration of
Bishop Domenec and Bishop Tuigg, the second and third bishops of
Pittsburgh. "So thoroughly had the Diocese of Pittsburgh been organized
by the first Bishop, that little was left to his successor beyond the usual
duties of providing for the wants of an increasing population. The first
years of Bishop Domenec's Episcopacy were years of prosperity in the
diocese. Following the close of the rebellion, until the financial crisis of
I873, there was a season of the greatest progress for Pittsburgh. The
Diocese tasting of the material prosperity, suffered with the reverses of
i873. In some instances embarrassments ensued which took years of rigid
economy to correct. During Bishop Tuigg's Episcopate, the diocese passed
through years of trouble. The financial trouble that burst upon the country in the years I872 to I873 persisted, even to his day and were severely
felt in this diocese during his administration. Mistakes were made and it
was the stern duty of the Bishop to remedy them. It was indeed a stormy
period, requiring the greatest tact and prudence."
In I885 it was found necessary to appoint a coadjutor to Bishop Tuigg.
On August 2, I885 Father Phelan was consecrated titular bishop of Cibyra
and coadjutor with the right of succession to Bishop Tuigg, who on account of sickness could no longer perform his duties fully. An interesting
notice was printed in the Pittsburgh Catholic announcing the day of con60BISHOP PHELAN
secration as follows: "In order that the Reverend Clergy of the Dioceses
of Pittsburgh and Allegheny may be enabled to attend the consecration,
they will have early Masses on the morning of that day, in Pittsburgh
and Allegheny, and in the country churches they are dispensed from
holding their usual Sunday service." The episcopal consecration took
place in St. Paul's Cathedral. Archbishop P. J. Ryan of Philadelphia was
the consecrator; Bishop T. Mullen of Erie and Bishop J. F. Shanahan
of Harrisburg were the coconsecrators. Reverend Stephen Wall was assistant priest; Reverend F. L. Tobin and Reverend M. Carroll, deacons
of honor. Reverend Aloysius Blakely, C. P., was deacon of the Mass, and
Reverend P. Kaufman, subdeacon; Reverend Jerome Kearney was master
of ceremonies. Bishop John Ambrose Watterson, Bishop of Columbus,
preached the consecration sermon. Responding to an address presented
by the clergy of the diocese on the day of his consecration, Bishop Phelan
said in part: "If I have hesitated to accept the position to which the august
head of the Church has called me, I assure you that it was not through
any want of confidence in our clergy, but through distrust of my own
abilities. The responsibility is very great, the duties many and onerous;
some of them not always pleasant, and to the fulfillment of which only
a deep sense of responsibility could compel us. The same is measurably
true of the priesthood, as we know from experience. I know well that
there are others here who could fill this position with dignity and efficiency. Not the least of the motives which impelled me to accept it, were
the generous words of encouragement I received from many of you, and
the belief that my appointment is acceptable to our beloved Bishop, and
to the great majority of the clergy."
"After his consecration, Bishop Phelan, prepared to move from Allegheny to St. Paul's Cathedral, to take residence there, but his plans were
changed, when St. Peter's Church, the work of years of labor, was destroyed by fire. Shortly after midnight on the morning of November 13,
i886, a messenger boy discovered that St. Peter's was on fire and gave
the alarm. Before the flames could be stayed the entire building was
ruined, except the walls and spire. Everything combustible about the
building lay in ashes. Pastor and people gazed in horror.'We'll build
another and finer one, and we'll build it at once,' Bishop Phelan said
when told of the church's complete destruction. And he did. The work
6iCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
of restoration of St. Peter's was commenced without delay and vigorously
pushed forward. The new St. Peter's was dedicated on April 22, I888, and
it stands with greater splendor today than before, a monument to the
energy and strength of purpose of Bishop Phelan.
"The destruction of St. Peter's in Allegheny by fire prevented Bishop
Phelan from going over to Pittsburgh, as he would not leave a ruined
church, and the labor of rebuilding on strange shoulders. This burden,
with his characteristic nobility, he took upon himself, together with the
heavy duties which devolved on him during the long and sad illness of
Bishop Tuigg. This period of Bishop Phelan's life was one of the most
trying to the soul of a man. The aged Bishop Tuigg lived in Altoona,
where he resided permanently since Bishop Phelan's consecration. He
was incapacitated for business and constantly demanded the presence of
his vicar general and coadjutor. The journeys Bishop Phelan was obliged
to take, the distracted state of the diocese, the responsibility that fell on
him without full authority, made his life a burden, very heavy to bear.
But Bishop Phelan was no ordinary man. His endurance was equal to his
trial. He passed through the years it lasted, with a record above reproach,
and gained the respect and admiration of priests and people alike."
Bishop Tuigg died December 7, I889, and Bishop Phelan automatically
succeeded to the See of Pittsburgh as its fourth bishop.
Bishop Phelan remained at St. Peter's until June I891, when he took
up residence at St. Paul's Cathedral, Pittsburgh, occupying the episcopal
residence on Grant Street.
On August 2I, I893 the fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of the
Pittsburgh Diocese was commemorated in the cathedral. Bishop Phelan
pontificated. The sermon was delivered by Very Reverend Doctor Wall,
V. G., who in the course of his remarks was prompted to say: "Now at
the present time, without wishing to flatter or eulogize the prelate who
presides over this diocese, it must be said, that our Bishop is indeed a
worthy successor of those who have preceded him in his office. This is
only a just thing to say on this occasion. It is a great satisfaction to you
all to know that the diocese is in safe hands. This is appearing more and
more every day, that a spirit of concord between priests, between people,
and between one and all in connection with their Bishop is very gratifying
to consider."
62During this golden jubilee year of the diocese, St. Joseph's Protectory
had its beginning, when on April I9, I893 Bishop Phelan issued to
clergy and laity a letter setting forth the need of such an institution in
this diocese for protecting and assisting working boys without homes. "It
is not to be an institution for the lawless and vicious," he said, "but a city
home for industrious boys." The managers of St. Paul's Orphanage offered
a desirable site, and clergy and laity were asked to help in the erection of
a suitable building. So generous was the response that by November 2,
1893 the building was under roof. The work lagged during 1894, but
in I895 it was given new life, and the building was finally dedicated on
the Feast of the Patronage of St. Joseph, May 5, I895, with Bishop Phelan
officiating. In i896 the first trade, printing, was introduced. In i899 an
additional building was erected to be used as a workshop. At the opening
of this Protectory the Franciscan Brothers were placed in charge, to be
followed some time later by the Brothers of Our Lady of Lourdes, whose
motherhouse was located at Oostacker, near Ghent, Belgium. Later the
institution was directed by diocesan clergy, who still remain in charge.
Bishop Phelan laid the cornerstone of the new St. Paul's Orphan Asylum
on May 27, Igoo. The needs of the diocese in this matter had outgrown
the accommodations of the building on Tannehill Street, Pittsburgh, and
it was decided to erect a new building at Idlewood, on the Pan Handle
Railroad, near Crafton. The new site, comprising seventeen acres of
ground with a good orchard and several acres of timber, cost $28,000. It
was expected that the new buildings would finally have a capacity of
I,200 children.
During Bishop Phelan's time old St. Paul's Cathedral was sold, the
deed being delivered to the new owners on September 28, I90I. Ten years
had been given to the consideration of this sale. The matter had been presented to Rome several years previous to the date of sale, and canonical
authority had been granted to sell the consecrated building. The proceeds
of the sale were to be used to pay the debts of the cathedral and to erect
a new parish church, the balance to be applied to the construction of the
new cathedral. With the approbation from Rome, there was the unanimous consent of all persons immediately concerned-members of the
diocesan consultors, the church committee, and representatives of the
congregation-to sell the property for $I,300,000. The Court of Common
63
BISHOP PHELANFOREWORD
are in every developing society, opportunities for bettering themselves far
in excess of any that existed in the settled and rigid society out of which
they had come.
There has been a small, but fortunately a growing, seepage of laborers
out of the mills, the factories, and the mines on to small farms in the
neighborhood of the towns in which they lived and an attempt, very
generally successful, to assure the family living from the land.
There has been, again fortunately, no great amount of wealth come to
any great number of Catholic people in the Diocese. The goods of this
world are distributed, as they should be in a Christian society, fairly
equitably, among the people of the Diocese. What has been done in the
matter of the institutions in the Diocese, for the care of orphans, of old
and friendless people, and of the sick, has been done out of the generosity
of people whose resources are limited, and by individual gifts that were,
of necessity, small. This is not to set aside an acknowledgment of great
gifts from those who were able to make them, nor of the help that has
come from non-Catholic sources. In the aggregate these gifts have
amounted to a large sum. The institutions in the Diocese are adequate to
the needs of the poor, the sick, and the orphans, and they are adequately
maintained.
A century is not a long period in the life of the Faith, but it is too long
a period to be dealt with in detail in what must be, at best, a short introduction. What we all need to remember most is the goodness and the
blessings of Almighty God during the last one hundred years, and to
pray that He may, in the future, as in the past, bless and assist us in our
effort to make His Kingdom come, and His Will be done among men.
This book attempts to outline what we have managed to accomplish
toward these ends in the century now closing, and it asks from the people
of the Diocese a continuation of the generous impulses that have enabled
it to achieve them in at least a small measure.
I4 HUGH C. BOYLE
Bishop of Pittsburgh
viiCATHOLIC PITTSBURGH'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Pleas, Allegheny County, approved the sale on May 3I, I9oI. This was
the passing of an old landmark. The first Mass in old St. Paul's was
offered on June 24, 1855, the day of consecration. The celebrant was
Bishop Michael Portier of Mobile; the preacher was Archbishop John
Hughes of New York. The last public service was held in old St. Paul's
on Sunday, May io, 1903. On Monday, May II, I903, Reverend William
Kittell, Chancellor, offered the very last Mass in the old cathedral. "A
great city's business development literally swallowed the precious church.
The cross yielded, did not surrender, but moved forward. Remorseless
Mammon has robbed us of the beauty of this church but it cannot rob us
of the glory of its history."
The Diocese of Pittsburgh had already been dismembered once before
when the Diocese of Erie was established on April 29, I853. Now the time
had come to dismember it once again, because it was considered to be too
large for its administration by one episcopal see. In October I899 Bishop
Phelan and the bishops of the province met in the archiepiscopal city of
Philadelphia, Archbishop P. J. Ryan presiding, to consult about the division of the Pittsburgh Diocese. Pittsburgh had grown. Bishop Phelan
should be relieved of such a large responsibility. The bishops of the
province selected Altoona as the seat of the new see. The first petition of
the bishops was not acted on in Rome. So on Tuesday, February 26, I90I,
the Archbishop and his suffragan bishops assembled in Philadelphia, and
Rome was again petitioned. A cablegram came in reply from Rome, announcing that Right Reverend Monsignor Eugene A. Garvey, V. G., of
the Diocese of Scranton and Rector of St. John's Church, Pittston, Pennsylvania, had been appointed the bishop of the new Diocese of Altoona.
When the official bulls arrived on August 6, I9oI, it was discovered that
the official date of the foundation of the new see was May 31, I9oI. Five
counties were given to the Diocese of Altoona by this dismemberment of
the Pittsburgh Diocese: Cambria, Bedford, Blair, Huntingdon, and Somerset. Bishop Garvey was consecrated on September 8, I9go, the Feast of
the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the Cathedral Church of St.
Peter's, Scranton, Pennsylvania. He took possession of his see on Tuesday
evening, September 24, 9goI.
Soon after this dismemberment of the diocese, it was seen that the
work of administering the constantly growing diocese was still too heavy
64THE RIGHT REVEREND RICHARD PI-ELAN, D. D.
FOURTH BISHOP OF PITTSBURGH
1889-I904BISHOP PHELAN  
for Bishop Phelan, who by this time was growing old and feeble from his
persistent ailment, rheumatism. So on February 24, 90o3 Bishop J. F.
Regis Canevin was consecrated titular bishop of Sabrata and coadjutor
with the right of succession to Bishop Phelan.
On September 6, I903 the cornerstone of the new St. Paul's Cathedral
was laid by Bishop Canevin, Bishop Phelan being unable to officiate or
to be present.
On May 4, 1904 Bishop Phelan commemorated the golden jubilee of
his ordination to the holy priesthood. Bishop Phelan left the seclusion of
his retirement at the orphanage in Idlewood to attend the ceremonies.
"Friends privileged to see him and extend their congratulations scarcely
recognized him, so changed was his facial expression by the full grown
beard which he had permitted to grow during his retirement." Mass was
celebrated at the Church of the Epiphany, Pittsburgh. Archbishop P. J.
Ryan of Philadelphia was the celebrant of the pontifical Mass; the assistant priest was Very Reverend F. L. Tobin, V.G.; Reverend Edgar
Zuercher, O.S.B., the deacon; Reverend R. McDonald, subdeacon;
Bishop M. J. Hoban of Scranton preached the jubilee sermon. His Eminence James Cardinal Gibbons occupied the throne of honor in the
sanctuary. Surrounding him were the other visiting archbishops and
bishops. Bishop Phelan occupied a throne near the Cardinal. Very Reverend Patrick Canon Phelan, brother of the jubilarian, had come from
Ireland to grace the occasion, bearing with him a letter from his own
Ordinary, who also sent three gifts of bog oak, representing the Irish emblems, the Round Tower of Ireland, the harp, and the cross. Present also
were the aged Sister Mary Rosalia of the Sisters of Mercy and two nieces,
both Sisters of Mercy, Sister Mary Josephine and Sister Mary Ephraim.
Bishop Phelan died at St. Paul's Orphan Asylum on Tuesday, December 20, I904, in his seventy-seventh year of age, the twentieth year
of his episcopate, and the fifty-first year of his priesthood. He received
the last rites of the Church from the hands of Reverend Michael Lynch,
Superintendent of the Orphanage. His mortal remains were removed to
the parish house of the Church of the Epiphany on Wednesday afternoon.
The following day his body was laid in state in the church. The funeral
services were held on Friday, December 23. Bishop J. F. Regis Canevin
pontificated; Very Reverend F. L. Tobin, V.G., was assistant priest;
65CATHOLIC PITTSBURGH S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
Very Reverend J. Rommelfanger was deacon; Very Reverend M. A.
Lambing was subdeacon; Bishop P. J. Donahue of Wheeling, a close and
intimate friend of the deceased, preached the sermon. The burial took
place in St. Mary's Cemetery, Pittsburgh.
The great interest manifested by Bishop Phelan in the spread of religion in the Diocese of Pittsburgh was abundantly shown in the synods
held during his time. His first synod, really the sixth held in the diocese,
was the most important of his episcopate. It was called in Pittsburgh on
Tuesday, February 7, I893. Its deliberations lasted three days. At the
pontifical Mass in the Cathedral, which opened this synod, Very Reverend Francis L. Tobin, Rector of St. Mary's Church, Pittsburgh, preached
the sermon, in which he discussed the duties of a synod. Much constructive work was done and undertaken at the many conferences, and the
synod went down in history as "the great synod." The second synod was
held on Wednesday, April I5, I896 and adjourned the same day. The
third synod was opened on Thursday, November 9, I899 and adjourned
in the afternoon of the same day. His last synod was called on Thursday,
October 30, 1902, lasting also only one day. Two things worthy of particular notice took place at this synod. "Part of the legislation was the
creation of a Mission Band, to inaugurate and prosecute with vigor, the
Public Hall Apostolate in the diocese, that is, the spreading of the faith
and the knowledge of it among the separated brethren. Secondly, a Commission on Sacred Music was appointed. This latter being a new board in
this diocese, to regulate all music sung in the churches of the diocese."
Bishop Phelan in his prime was of splendid physique and of robust
frame. With his rugged health and superb constitution, he was capable of
hard and protracted labor. "To those associated with him intimately, he
was a man of strong contrasts. As a churchman, he was found stern,
affable, dignified, bending, as the occasion demanded. As a private citizen,
and a companion in the brief hour of relaxation and ease he permitted
himself, he revealed an entirely different phase of character. He was
hearty, at these times, genial, appreciative and appreciable. To have met
him in a business matter, unacquainted with his manner, and unfamiliar
with his ways, was to deem him abrupt and brusque. He'went straight
to the point. He knew nothing about circumlocution and had a hearty
abhorrence of shifty ways and evasive methods. Yet, there was no one
66BISHOP PHELAN
more ready to listen to a counter presentation of fact, none more amenable
to argument, nor more quick to grasp its salient points, and to express
unqualified approval. In his prime, Bishop Phelan was best seen in the
pulpit. He knew nothing of the claptrap of the rhetorician, or the smooth
unctuous manner of the polished orator. At the same time he did not
despise the rules of oratory. His delivery was quick and abrupt, his
gestures few but forcible, and his voice was clear and incisive, its tones
emphasizing the truth he felt within him. His sentences were short,
epigrammatic, crisp and catapultic. He would repeat his thoughts, that
he might leave no room for misunderstanding or no excuse for forgetfulness. In his relations with the clergy, Bishop Phelan always held their
respect, obedience, affection and esteem. He wielded his authority magnanimously, beloved and revered by all. He yielded to his priests a large
and generous confidence. With his clergy he was as cheerful as he was
spirited, frank and communicative. He was prodigal of himself and considerate of others. He loved the good will of his clergy and their approval,
and he desired to make his mind coincide with theirs.
"With all the fiery quickness of his spirit, his majestic impetuosity
was held controlled by a consummate judgment. No detail was ever too
minute for his personal inquiry and continued supervision. Events were
comprehended in their various aspects and relations. He never seemed
above the object on hand and was always equal without an effort to its
solution, even when no precedent existed to guide him to a decision.
"As Bishop Phelan is more deeply studied, we find in him that secret
power which was the source, from which sprang the religious and material prosperity of the Pittsburgh Diocese, as well as the good will of a
united and well-ordered commonwealth of priests and people."
Bishop Phelan was a superior man and a great bishop.
67CHAPTER V
ARCHBISHOP CANEVIN
Thomas F. Coakley
HEN Archbishop John Francis Regis Canevin turned over the
administration of the diocese to his successor on June 29, I92I, the
venerable prelate who ruled the Diocese of Pittsburgh for eighteen years
actually, and virtually for twenty-five years, left a precedent of his own
making in the way of achievements.
From the early days of his official position in the diocese, Archbishop
Canevin was pre-eminently a builder. Once each month during the twentyfive years that he was practically in control of the diocese, he erected a new
church or a new school or a new hospital or a new convent or a new parish house or a new charitable or ecclesiastical institution. In other words,
every thirty days for a quarter of a century he added some permanent acquisition to the diocese in the shape of a building, and in doing so he
created a monument to his energy more enduring than bronze.
Some of these edifices represented millions of dollars, notably the St.
Paul's Cathedral and the cathedral high-school and grade-school groups,
the Church of the Epiphany downtown, the Mercy, St. Francis, and Pittsburgh Hospital groups, St. Paul's Orphan Asylum, and the De Paul Institute. He built to cope with the amazing expansion of the diocese. The
present St. Paul's Cathedral is exclusively his work, and the bronze tablet
that was unveiled at his funeral, after the medieval manner shows the
Bishop with the cathedral in his arms.
When Bishop Canevin took charge of the diocese there were but
225,000 Catholics in the entire ten counties of Western Pennsylvania.
When he laid down the cares of its management there were more than
225,000 Catholics within the corporate limits of the City of Pittsburgh
alone. The diocese itself numbered some 700,000 Catholics, a threefold
growth. The population of the parish schools kept steady pace with the
growth of the diocese under the genius of Archbishop Canevin, who saw
it grow from 32,000 when he took hold to more than 75,000 when he
turned over the diocese to Bishop Boyle.
68THE MOST REVEREND J. F. REGIS CANEVIN, D. D.
FIFTH BISHOP OF PITTSBURGH, I904-I920
TITULAR ARCHBISHOP OF PELUSIUM, I92I-I927ARCHBISHOP CANEVIN
When Bishop Canevin's influence began to be felt in the diocese, there
were scarcely 300 priests under his charge. He saw the number steadily
grow until it actually doubled; but surprising as these figures are, they are
not to be compared with the extraordinary growth of the nuns of the
diocese, whose numbers expanded from just about I,ooo when Archbishop
Canevin took charge of affairs, until they numbered approximately 3,000
when he laid down the cares of his office.
During Bishop Canevin's reign I34 new churches were erected in the
diocese. The hospitals increased in number from three to eight, and their
capacity was greatly increased. The ordinary increase in population in the
diocese when Bishop Canevin assumed the reins of government was
about I3,000, but so great was the increase in the population in the diocese
that it jumped to 28,000 a year, and the marriages nearly trebled, their
number having increased from 1,850 to about 5,500 per year.
So in cold statistics the period during which Bishop Canevin was in
charge of the diocese offers some surprising food for thought. But there are
many other things than mere figures. Some of the great events of the
diocese during the past generation were due to the zeal and activity of
this astonishing man. In the old Cathedral Lyceum at Fifth Avenue and
Grant Street he founded the first Catholic club for boys in Pittsburgh. It
had a character all its own, and many of the charter members have since
made their mark in the world of religion, education, art, finance, industry,
and commerce, and all of them attribute their first step upward to the
influence of Archbishop Canevin.
It was in this club house that the Catholic Truth Society was organized
with Bishop Canevin as its first president. He wrote many pamphlets
which the Society published, some under his own name, some under a
pen name which he frequently employed.
When he took up the reins of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, no one in this
city or no one in Western Pennsylvania had ever heard of retreats for
women in-this district or of the Passionist Nuns. It was Archbishop Canevin who brought these Sisters to the Diocese, encouraged them, and made
their work grow and flourish.
Likewise, it was rare for a layman to make a retreat in the City of
Pittsburgh; but now, because of the influence and encouragement of
Archbishop Canevin, the diocese has not only annual retreats for men, but
69