10 priests, 11 sisters join 90th anniversary celebration

Ten priests and eleven sisters were honored guests at the 90th a,nniversary celebration of St. Paul Parish.on Saturday evening, October 10, 2009

Beginning the celebration was a procession around the parish grounds. Altar boys carrying the cross, two members of the Hoban High Pipers Pride bagpipe group, a Knights of Columbus honor guard, the priests and parishioners were in the procession.

The Rev. Fr. John M. Jenkins, Pastor Emeritus of St. Paul, was celebrant of the Mass. He provided some cogent details on the history of the parish. He was pastor for the construcion of the new church and the gymnasium. The John Jenjkins Gymnasium was named in his honor
Fr. Jenkins was pastor of St. Paul from October 15, 1981 to October 4, 2004 when he retired as Pastor Emeritus. He now resides at Holy Cross parish in Euclid. He was succeeded by the Rev. Fr. Ralph W. Thomas who became St. Paul associate pastor on June 12, 2002, administrator pro tem on October 4, 2004 and pastor on June 7, 2005.

Remarks from the pulpit also were made by the pastor and by the Most Rev. Gilbert Sheldon, Bishop Emeritus of Steubenville who lived for a while at St. Paul when he was vicar of Summit County (1978); and vicar of the Southern Region (1979)

The priests who were honored guests for the anniversary were:
[Dates they served at St. Paul are listed for each associate]

The Most Reverend Gilbert Sheldon, Bishop Emeritus , Steubenville
Rev. John M. Jenkins, St. Paul Pastor Emeritus, Euclid.
Rev. Ralph W. Thomas, Pastor of St. Paul
Rev. Mr. Frank Lonteen, Deacon of St. Paul
Rev. Ralph Coletta, Pastor Emeritus, St. John the Baptist Church
Rev, Charles T. Dedrick, pastor of St. Mary, Elyria, Associate 1978-1982
Rev. Albert Kunkel, Pastor Emeritus, of Sacred Heart, Barberton, Associate, 1990-1991
Rev. David Halaiko, Pastor, Nativity of our Lord Church, Green, Associate, 1976-1977
Rev. Joseph Weigand, Pastor Emeritus of , St. Mary, Elyria
Rev. Paul Wysocki, Associate, 1964-1965

Sisters who were honored guests and the dates they served at St. Paul were:
Sr. Maura Bartel, 1965-1968, 1969-1972
Sr. M. Peter Brumter, 1951-1961
Sr. Elaine Eggert, (Sr. Ronald) 1973-1979
Sr. Beatrice Fitzgerald, 1960-1963
Sr. Martha Fox, (Sr. Jerome), 1960-1964
Sf. Juanita M. Henley, (Sr. Marcella), 1969-1970
Sr. Shirley Ann Nugent, (Sr. Reginald), 1955-1966
Sr. Bernadine Robinson, 1946-1949, 1969-1970, 1981-1983 Principal
Sr. Rosemarie Robinson, 1962-1965, 1969-1972
Sr. M. Siena Ward, 1955-1961
Sr. Mary Ann Wiesemann-Mills, (Sr. Petrina), 1961-1966

The dinner in Boeke Hall was a sell-out with the maximum of 250 tickets sold. The parish earned $3,122.12 from dinner and raffle tickets after expenses, Ron McAvoy reported.

Winner of the $1,000 raffle prize was Joan Mills.

For historic purposes we list here is the menu:
Chicken Picata, Swiss steak with potatoes Wanda, green beans Italian style, tossed salad and cake. Cash bar with wine, beer and soft drinks. Music provided by Joe Pappano and Friends.

Members of the 90th anniversary committee were Paula Adam and Steve Kunkle, Bob Capanna (who prepared the history exhibits displayed in the narthex) Joe and Maggie Colant Sandi Denholm, Ron and Ellen McAvoy, Rosemary Mileski, Terry Nesline, Vi Pappano and Marilyn Spiros

Helpers for the Sunday celebration in the Parish Activity Center were Tony and Mary Bachmann Robin Daley, Ron and Ellen McAvoy, Dave Nesline, Maggie Syvanych, Rosemary Vavro and Tod and Lori Warnmes

The first Mass at St. Paul was celebrated on Columbus Day, Oct. 12, 1919 in the auditorium of the Firestone Park School. Fr. James Hanly, the first pastor, was appointed in September 1919 and died May 25, 1920 of pneumonia just six weeks after the first Mass was celebrated in the new church on Easter Sunday, April 4.

You also might want to check:

An album of photos by Tony DiDonato on the Sunday celebration.

Photo album of Sunday celebration in Parish Activity Center which includes a photo of the 90th anniversary cake. Photos provided by Ron McAvoy and Tony DiDonato

Photo History Link at left. Photos are being added as received.

The Jenkins Years post earlier this month

1980 history which lists sisters who served at St. Paul (download PDF file

List of Associates who have served at St. Paul (download PDF file)