Published: July 10, 2009 01:48 pm      

Parishioners to note church's anniversary on Sunday with Mass

BY RUTH RICE

RRICE@TRIBDEM.COM

The 100th anniversary of St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church, 143 Railroad St., Cassandra, will be celebrated with a Mass of Thanksgiving at 4 p.m. Sunday.

The Most Rev. Joseph V. Adamec, bishop of the Altoona-Johnstown Roman Catholic Diocese, will be the celebrant, along with the Rev. Charles F. Bodziak, former pastors and area clergy.

Following the Mass, a banquet will be held at the Royal Ballroom in Portage.

The cornerstone for the church was laid in October 1909 by the Rev. Michael V. Munley, the church’s first pastor.

Land for the church was donated by William Leap and James Franey.

The wooden structure was completed Dec. 20, 1909, and the first Mass was celebrated Dec. 25, 1909.

Within two years, parishioners began work on the rectory, which was completed in 1912.

The town of Cassandra was laid out in 1888 on 13 acres of property owned by Mathiot Reade.

The town was incorporated as a borough on Sept. 23, 1980, and named after Reade’s daughter, Cassandra.

Bodziak said the parish looks to the future with eager expectations, knowing God will fortify and strengthen the people through the future, wherever it may lead.

The pastors of St. Agnes were Munley, 1909 to 1922; the Rev. James P. Padden, 1922 to 1928; the Rev. Richard J. Vereker, 1928 to 1966; the Rev. Edward McConnell, administrator, from 1946 to 1947; the Rev. Joseph C. Cummings, administrator, from 1954 to 1955; Monsignor Rodney Hemler, 1966 to 1968; the Rev. Walter V. Byrne, 1968 to 1989; the Rev. David H. Roesch, 1984 to 1988; the Rev. Robert L. Ruston, 1988 to 2001; and Bodziak, 2001 to present.



Milestone

What: Mass of Thanksgiving to celebrate the 100th anniversary of St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church.

When: 4 p.m. Sunday.

Where: St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church, 143 Railroad St., Cassandra.