St. Michaels Church

St. Michael’s Early History and Growth The history of Catholicism in Greenville dates as far back as 1838. It was in that year that a priest (name unknown) from the diocese of Philadelphia on one of his missionary tours, celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in Greenville. The home privileged to witness the first Mass was that of a Mr. Bryan McNally, a Catholic, an emigrant from Ireland, and a pioneer tailor in Greenville. His home was located on what is now North Race St., a little north of the northwest corner of North Race and Main Sts.  Besides Mr. McNally there were present at this Mass: John and Ferdinand Schmidt, Martin Lindeman, John O’Hara, John McCoy and John Hoffman. The Schmidt brothers had come from Germany and were attracted to Greenville by employment offered on the old Erie Canal. Hoffman, also a native of Germany, was a blacksmith for the canal constructors. McCoy and O’Hara had come from Ireland; the former was a contractor in the canal construction, while no record of the occupation of O’Hara has come down to  us.

Drawing of the original church Read More About St. Michael's From the History of Mercer County, 1877 From the History of Mercer County, 1888

Other missionaries sent out by Bishop Francis Patrick Kenrick from Philadelphia cared for the spiritual needs of the little Catholic group in Greenville and environs intermittently for the next few years. We know, for instance, that in the summer of 1842 Father Hugh P. Gallagher of Loretta, Cambria Co., following the path of the canal, stopped in Greenville and celebrated Mass in the same McNally home. Present at this Mass in addition to those mentioned above were: Mark and Bridget Doyle, Patrick and Anna Doyle, and James Doyle; Richard, John and Patrick Marley of Greene Township, John Savage and Mrs. Schoonmaker. All of these were natives of Ireland with the exception of Mrs. Schoonmaker. Father Gallagher returned to Greenville at intervals for over a year and was succeeded by Father John Reid of the Pittsburgh diocese who took care of the Greenville Catholics for some years following. During Father Reid’s time a number of families were added to the congregation. Among them were: Michael Mitchell and family from Ireland; Michael and Matthias Schumacher and their wives, Bernard George and his father, Nicholas Romelfanger and family, Leonard Sauers, Christopher Frum and Theodore Kirk. All of these except the Mitchells had come from Germany.

It was in August of 1842 that Greenville was favored with a visit from Bishop Kenrick of Philadelphia. Coming from Mercer and on his way to Meadville and Erie, he stopped off in Greenville overnight (August 4th-5th) and celebrated Mass in the morning in the home of Mrs. Schoonmaker who was a Catholic and whose husband is recorded as being “well disposed toward the Faith”. At this time three persons received Holy Communion and five were baptized. It is worthy of note that one of the latter was the wife of Mr. Bryan McNally who at this time is described as a woman “advanced in years”. Thus was rewarded the kindness that provided an altar and chapel for the King of Kings on His first visit to Greenville.

Again in 1846 Greenville was visited by a member of the hierarchy, this time by Bishop Michael O’Connor of Pittsburgh. About his visit here he wrote in his Diary for August 21, 1846: “Travelled through Sharon to Greenville. Greenville is a rising town said to contain 1500 inhabitants. Being on the canal, much business is done here. Rev. M. Mitchell said Mass here in a school house. Confirmed one. About one hundred Catholics reside in the district. They promise to take immediate steps to have a church erected here.”  

FIRST CHURCH

The above-mentioned promise to erect a church was fulfilled two years later in 1848. Signs of religious bigotry manifested themselves among the various property owners as soon as it became known that Father Reid was looking for a site for a Catholic Church. A little strategy solved the problem. Two parishioners, John and Ferdinand Schmidt (the latter, a grandfather of Fred Smith, a present-day [1950] parishioner) who were then laborers at the blast furnaces, came to Father Reid’s rescue. They purchased the necessary lots ostensibly for their own purposes, and then immediately deeded them over to the little Catholic congregation.

Ferdinand Schmitt, who together with his brother John, purchased the land for the original church, and deeded it to St. Michael's congregation.

The original church, a narrow frame structure, was sufficiently enclosed for Mass to be celebrated therein before the end of 1848 and in 1849 it was dedicated as St. Michael’s Church. The interior was lighted with oil lamps, had the customary three altars and two sacristies, a baptismal font and stove near St. Joseph’s altar and in the rear a confessional and stove. There were three windows on either side, oblong in shape, part colored and part frosted glass. It had both a center and two side aisles and seated about 275 people in its pews which ran four to the width of the church, each pew seating four persons.

Interior of the original church

With the growth of Greenville, St. Michael’s congregation grew also, and in 1869 an annex was added to the church as well as a gallery, belfry and bell. The bell was solemnly blessed by Bishop Tobias Mullen, on September 4th, 1869, the 16th Sunday after Pentecost, and named after St. John the Baptist. Because Mr. John Savage had made the largest single contribution ($45.00) toward its purchase, Father Tracy accorded him the privilege of naming it. Very human-like, he chose his own patron, St. John the Baptist.

By 1889 the need of a larger and more permanent structure for a church was recognized and Father Bernard Donohoe, pastor at that time, broke ground for the present church on October 15th, 1889. The cornerstone was laid in 1890. Almost four years elapsed before it was completed, at a cost of $35,000. Apparently the workmanship and materials used were the very best, for it has well stood the test of time. It must have been more than adequate for the congregation of that day and, though it isn’t so large as might be desired to day, it still deserves the title of one of the most beautiful churches of our diocese. Completed in 1893, St. Michael’s Church was solemnly dedicated by Bishop
Tobias Mullen on June 25th. The following is an extract of the account of the Church Dedication which appeared in the June 29th issue of the Advance Argus. Prior to the ceremonies in the church “the parade formed about 11 a. m. after the special trains had arrived and marched up Main Street east to the Nypano crossing, then back to North High Street to the Church.

The streets of Greenville were crowded with spectators during the passage of the procession. The weather being delightful, many adherents of other churches came to witness the imposing ceremonies.

Inside of the new church

The new building was designed by D. K. Dean & Son, of Erie. The structure is 106 feet long and 50 feet wide, has a basement 10 feet deep and is heated by the Smead system. The masonry was done by Andrew Dambacher, contractor, the brick work by Peter McGrath, the carpenter work by Weaver, of Sharon.

SAINT MICHAEL’S SCHOOL

Year, fifty-one years after the opening of our school, we again have Sister M. Ursula with us. Because the school was opened at the mid-semester the enrollment was small the first half year (about two students to a grade), but in the fall of the same year the two class rooms were filled to capacity.

Its first graduation class ceremonies for the two-year course were held in 1906, and for the full high-school course in 1910.

Sister M. Ursula, only living [1950] Sister of the three original Sisters of St. Michaels 

Besides the nuns already mentioned, other Sisters of Mercy who pioneered in Catholic education in Greenville were: Mother M. Austin, Sister M. Nolasca, Sister M. Clare, Sister M. Antonia, Sister M. Sebastian, Sister M. Mercedes, Sister M. Pierre, Sister M. Regis, Sister M. Philippa, Sister M. Eugenia, and Sister M. Bernard. The above names and many more, too numerous to mention will, we are sure, call back many fond memories for the members of St. Michael’s Alumni. Catholic education has always rested on the sure foundation of the utterly devoted, consecrated and sacrificial lives of our teaching Sisterhoods. Certainly the Sisters of Mercy by the quiet, self-effacing inspiration of their lives, and the self-sacrificing devotedness of their labors in Greenville have proved that they have no peers. In this Centennial we wish to thank them for their loyalty and devotion. Living or dead we commend them to God.

Three Pioneer Sisters of St. Michael's, Jan 1909.  Left to right, Sister M. Ursula, Sister M. Theresa, Sister M. Alexius.

Graduates of the two-year high school course in 1906 were: Sister M. Fabiola (Cherubina Christopher), Mrs. Mary Doran Denslinger, Mrs. Katherine Doran Williams, Clara Hoffman, Mrs. Nora Bresnan Henderson, Mrs. Mary Robinson Barrett, Sister M. Antoinette, (Mary Walsh.)

Rectory, Convent and Cemetery

St. Michael's Rectory - 1950

(Click image to enlarge)

This was moved a little farther north and the Sisters occupied it for several months as a temporary convent. When the new rectory was completed, the old parish house was remodeled to provide a very comfortable convent for the Sisters. The temporary convent was sold to William Doran who moved it to its present location at 101 North Second Street. An addition has since been built making it a full two-story home. It is now owned by a parishioner, Gerard Murrin. To the old rectory and first permanent convent an extension was added in 1919-1920. Extensive repairs were also made at that time, and the entire structure was veneered with dark-stained shingles. This also in time became too small as the enrollment of the school increased; and additional teaching Sisters came to care for the pupils. Thus in the summer of 1945 plans were drawn up for a complete remodeling of the convent. A one-story addition, nine feet wide, was added to each side to broaden the building, and at the rear a three-story addition sixteen feet deep was built.

St Michael's Convent - 1950  

                                                                       (Click image to enlarge) 

CEMETERY 

No history of a parish would be complete without mention of that “God’s Acre” where rest our dear dead. To them is due a big debt of gratitude for the fine religious opportunities we now enjoy. It was their labors and sacrifices that made possible so much of what we now possess. 

Priests of Saint Michael’s

So very little is known of the priests who first cared for the spiritual welfare of Saint Michael’s congregation that we cannot do much more than list their names and the dates of their administrations. The baptismal and marriage records of the parish go back to August and September of 1850 respectively. However, it would seem from Bishop Michael O’Connor’s notes that at this time and perhaps for a few years thereafter, Greenville was cared for twice a month by priests from the Pittsburgh area. The first to sign him self as pastor in the parochial registers is Father Andrew Schweiger, who records himself as “pastor of West Greenville (as it was then known) and Sharon. The date is March, 1858. If he was indeed the first pastor, or if some of the priests who preceded him actually resided here, the location of their residence is unknown. Perhaps they lived with some parishioner, or they might even have used part of the church as a rectory. From other histories of this period the latter seems to have been not uncommon. 

Following is the list of priests who served St. Michael’s congregation from its earliest years: Fathers Hugh P. Gallagher (1842-1843) John Reid and M. J. Mitchell (1844-1850), M. J. Mitchell (1850-1851), T. A. Smith (1851-1853), Peter M. Garvey (1854-1854), Arthur McConnell (1854-1856), J. Reiser (1856-1856), Arthur McConnell (1857-1857), J. J. Gallagher (1857-1857), Andrew Schweiger (1858-1859), Joseph Gobbels (1859-1861), F. J. Hartmann (1861-1864), John J. O’Keefe (1864-1866), Kiearan O’Branigan (1866-1868), Thomas Tracy (1868-1876), Bernard Donohoe (1876-1897), P. Cosgrove (1897-1898), J. Lenahen (1898-1898), Rt. Rev. John P. Kearns (1898-1936), Fathers John Willis (Assistant—1906-1907), James J. Kearns (Assistant—1908-1936), James J. Kearns (Pastor—1936-     ), Charles J. Hacherl (Assistant—1936­1937) John C. Cronin (Assistant—1938-1944; 1946-    ) and Francis J. Johnston (Assistant—1943-     ).

Besides these, the names of Fathers C. M. Sheehan—1854, Rock—1856, Skopez—1857, Injohn—1865, occur a few odd times in the old parish records.   

Father Francis J. Johnson

Assistant 1943 -      

Inasmuch as Father Thomas Tracy, Father Bernard Donohoe, Monsignor John Kearns and Father James Kearns have served St. Michael’s for the longest periods of time, it seems only proper to cover the periods of their pastorate more completely.

FATHER BERNARD DONOHOE — PASTOR 1876-1897  

Father Bernard Donohoe, the son of James and Brigid (Keirnan) Donohoe, was born in Ardlenny, County Cavan, Ireland, on August 15, 1852. He attended the national schools till the age of twelve and then was sent to a classical academy, located on the banks of the celebrated Lough Sheelan, in his native county. There he spent six years acquiring a knowledge of the humanities. In August, 1870, he left Ireland, came to New York City, and soon afterward entered St. Bonaventure’s College, Allegany, New York. 

During his long pastorate of twenty-one years in Greenville, Father Donohoe witnessed a large increase in the size of the parish that added to his many labors. Moreover, in the years when Jamestown was not an independent parish, he attended St. Bridget’s congregation as a mission, celebrating Mass there once a month. It is also known that regularly for years he offered Mass on week days for a group of Catholic miners in Orangeville.

which our rectory lies as well as a four acre tract as an extension to St. Michael’s cemetery. In addition, he finished the interior of St. Brigit’s church, Jamestown, and paid off a considerable debt still due on that building when Father Tracy left. Of his work in Greenville, the Mercer County History of 1888 records that “he has done a great deal toward building up St. Michael’s congregation, which is today in a more flourishing condition than during any period of its history.” The same account mentions that in 1888 St. Michael’s parish had over five hundred souls and a Sunday school of one hundred pupils.

Comparatively speaking, those were still pioneer days in the Erie diocese, days of the horse and buggy, days wanting in the many conveniences, comforts and facilities we now enjoy. Accordingly it is difficult for us of today to appreciate fully the labors of the priesthood of those earlier years. There are, of course, still a fair number of present-day parishioners who remember Father Donohoe well. All agree that he was a zealous, kind, devoted pastor.

At the death of Monsignor Kearns the following sincere and spontaneous tribute was paid to him by his life-long friends and educational associates, the Sisters of Mercy. We quote it as it appeared in local and diocesan papers, under date of March 13, 1936.

 “Last week local papers carried the sad details of the death and funeral rites of one of the most distinguished prelates of the Erie diocese, the Rt. Rev. Msgr. John P. Kearns, pastor of St. Michael’s Church, Greenville, Penna.

Here indeed was a man upon whose life we may reflect, with profit to ourselves: a gentleman of the “old school”; a scholar in the best sense of that much-abused word; a philosopher, unspoiled by the pseudo-trends of our modern age; an idealist who preserved his idealism amidst the crass realism of our times, and throughout the long span of 70 years; a man with a vision constantly ranging beyond time, into the beautiful distances of Eternity—a priest of God whose highest boast was his priesthood, and his unswerving devotion to his flock.

How easy it should be to write of such a man, and yet how difficult. One cannot measure spiritual values on the scales of time, nor span years of zealous priestly service with a bridge of mere words. Those who knew “Father John” intimately, remember him as a pioneer priest who went to Greenville al moat forty years ago. A tall, silent man with the consecrating oils still fresh upon his hands, and the fires of spiritual conquest burning in his eyes. In the kind, open countenance, welcoming smile and slightly stooping figure, one might easily recognize the true pastor.

citizen. His was a familiar figure on the Greenville streets, in the homes of the sick, in civic and recreational centers, and wherever life was lived cleanly and vigorously. Frequently he stimulated the cultural and artistic life of Greenville, contributing perhaps more than any other one person to its general betterment. The many friends who thronged St. Michael’s Church while his body lay in state there, gave ample proof of the esteem in which Monsignor Kearns was held.  

Someone has said that we may count the virtues of the departed by the tears shed over them by the poor. As one approached the sanctuary of St. Michael’s Church to view the holy remains of its pastor, one had the opportunity to observe those who wept. There were the tears of hundreds of little children, who had somehow lost their guardian, their kind and gentle friend, their priestly idol; there were the tears of nuns, who for many years had been heartened and encouraged in their works of charity by this saintly, spiritual guide; there were the tears of men and women, weighed down with the burdensof life, mourning the loss of a counselor and advisor; there were the slow, bitter tears of the aged, who were to miss in their last hours the consolation of this true friend and devoted pastor. From all there were tears of gratitude.

“Father John” was buried on the brow of a hill overlooking his departed flock, in the consecrated spot known as St. Michael’s cemetery, where repose the remains of hundreds over whom he had himself pronounced the “Requiescat.” There was something peculiarly significant in the fact that he was laid to rest on a bright spring day, with the taste of early spring in the air, with nature itself giving promise of renewed life. For “Father John” was above all else, a firm believer in the “Eternal Springtime.” He had a simple abiding faith in the glory of the life to come, and he communicated that faith and confidence to all with whom he dealt. Death was to him not a mystery, but a symbol of, a key to, the complete and more perfect life.

“Father John” shunned worldly honors, preferring to engrave his name on human hearts rather than on marble. When in 1931, through the recommendation of his Bishop, the title of Domestic Prelate was conferred on him, he received the honor quietly, seeming, as his friends said, to dignify the purple that he wore.”

Monsignor Kearns was born in Hubbard, Ohio, December 5, 1866, the son of the late Michael and Mary Dougherty Kearns, natives of Ireland. He attended St. Bonaventure’s College at Allegany, N. Y., and was ordained a priest May 1, 1897.

Father James J. Kearns—Pastor 1936

The chronicle of a century of progress in St. Michael’s Parish, Greenville, Pennsylvania, would be indeed incomplete without mention of its present well-beloved Pastor, Reverend James J. Kearns, who has served the, parish for almost his entire priestly life of forty-two years. At this time it is the pleasure of the Centennial Committee to present a modest tribute to one who has served the spiritual interests of St. Michael’s people loyally and well.

Father James Kearns was born June 3, 1876 in Elk City, Clarion County, the fifth son of Mary Daugherty and Michael Kearns. He received his early education in the public schools of that district, later moving to Reynoldsville. Upon completing high school, Father James began an intensive study of instrumental music. Endowed with unusual musical ability and a rich baritone voice, he soon became the center of choral and choir groups, and a member of the then well-known Keystone Band. As early as 1900 he was touring Clearfield and Jefferson Counties, giving concerts, and acting in amateur plays. 

Those who knew Father James best during his early years of service, recall particularly, his self-sacrificing devotion to his priest-brother, and his great zeal in instructing and directing the young people of St. Michael’s Parish. Long before the so called Youth Movement took root in this country, certainly before the Little Theatre Movement caught the public fancy, Father James pioneered in Catholic theatre, guiding and directing the cultural and social life of the younger members of St. Michael’s Parish. During the past four decades, Father James personally directed 12 major musical shows, many of which were recalled for a second and even third performance in Greenville, New Castle, Sharon, drew his youthful “thespians” from the rank and file of St. Michael’s Grade and High School. To the heavier, adult parts of the large musicals, residents of all sections of Greenville, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, contributed talent. 

When no suitable play was to be found among current Broadway productions, Father James wrote his own plays, adapting them to local conditions and talent. The most popular among these were Kid Kapers and Carmelita, written, staged, and directed by the Greenville priest, and played seven different times before enchanted audiences. On one of these seven occasions, on April 29, 1935, KID KAPERS was presented over the National Broadcasting Company network to the delight of all who heard it. 

In the hands of Father James, however, the drama was never an end in itself, but rather the means to a far nobler end, namely, the organizing of the youth of the Parish for the purpose of promoting their best spiritual, as well as cultural, and social interests. As a result, many of these young troubadours sang and danced their way into the religious life. Today they are passing on this heritage as teaching Sisters in many Diocesan schools. Others have gone out from the ranks of ST. MICHAEL'S PLAYERS into business, professional, and happy family life, better Christians, better citizens, for this special training.

In 1936, at the death of Monsignor John Kearns, Father James, after his long tenure as Assistant, was appointed Pastor of St. Michael’s, this at a time when the community and the parish were recovering from the effects of a depression. The new Pastor assumed the parish debt willingly. With the cooperation of his self-sacrificing people, and that of his hard-working Assist ant priests, he began to liquidate the debt, and at the same time, to enlarge and to improve the Church property. Within the past fourteen years, St. Michael’s Grade and High School has been renovated, the Church redecorated twice, and St. Michael’s Cemetery beautified. 

Undoubtedly the greatest material contribution made to the Parish by Father James was the enlarging, renovating, and refurnishing of the local Convent. Today the Sisters’ home in Greenville is one of the most comfort able and well-appointed convents in the Diocese. 

Today, in a spirit of joyful reminiscence, the old and the young pledge renewed loyalty to their devoted Pastor, Father James, and they wish for him many more golden years of service. Gratitude is a noble and delicate virtue; it dwells more surely in the heart than on the lips. In this centennial year St. Michael’s people express their gratitude to God for the blessings of their Holy Faith. They thank all who have served them in His Name.

PARISH GROWTH AND COMPOSITION

ST. MICHAEL’S AND THE WAR

Saint Michael’s first association with the armed services of World War II was in the person of Father Charles J. Hacherl, who served as an assistant to Father James learns from June of 1936 to August of 1937. At this time Father Hacherl joined the United States Navy as a chaplain. He served in that capacity during peace time, throughout the entire war period, and after the war until May, 1947. Severing his relationship with the armed services, he returned to the diocese of Erie in July, 1947 and was appointed pastor of Saint Nicholas’ Parish, Crates, Pa. As recently as September of this year he was promoted to a larger parish, that of Saint Elizabeth’s in Smethport, Pa.

Father Charles J. Hacherl, Assistant 

1936 - 1937

Field Mass, Camp Reynolds, August 15, 1943 

Father John C. Cronin, Assistant, 1936 - 1944, 

1946 -

Until it became a camp for Prisoners of War, Camp Shenango and Camp Reynolds had been used as a Replacement Center which prepared and equipped American troops for overseas duty. At one time it had a capacity of thirty thousand men. The length of stay for those preparing for foreign duty varied from a few days to two or three weeks or even a month. Because of the nature of the camp, a large number of Catholic Chaplains, probably between three hundred and three hundred and fifty were readied here for foreign service. St. Michael’s Rectory became their second home during those days and Father James Kearns their very genial host.