Published: September 05, 2008 01:48 pm      

Holy Cross parishioners to mark church's 90th

BY RUTH RICE

RRICE@TRIBDEM.COM

Members of Holy Cross Polish National Catholic Church in the Moxham section of Johnstown will mark 90 years as a congregation.

A Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at 3 p.m. Sept. 13 at the church, 534 Woodland Ave., by the Rt. Rev. Thaddeus S. Peplowski, bishop of the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocese.

After Mass, church members will attend a dinner at Hoss’s Steak & Sea House, 441 Theatre Drive, Richland Township.

The Rev. Paul Zomerfeld, pastor, emphasized that Holy Cross is a true Catholic church.

“We have full apostolic succession and are fully recognized by Rome,” he said.

Because the 46-member congregation is not growing in its present location, Zomerfeld foresees the church moving to a property on Mount Airy Drive in Richland Township, where a complex will be built.

“We need to move on to attract younger members,” he said.

Zomerfeld said that even though Mass is celebrated in English at Holy Cross, many Polish customs are practiced.

Members of the Polish National Union of America, a fraternal benefit society affiliated with the Polish National Catholic Church in Scranton, were the organizers of Holy Cross in 1917.

The church was given a step forward in 1919 when the Rev. Francis Hodur, one of the organizers of the Polish National Catholic Church, made a stop in Johnstown and spoke of the future religious enlightenment in the movemen of the church.

The Polish National Catholic Church was formed because followers were dissatisfied with the administration in the Roman church.

The church building in Johnstown was completed in 1920.

The church was rebuilt in 1939 and a full renovation of the interior took place in 1945.

In 1946, a tract of land was purchased for a cemetery.

In 1947, a house was purchased on Sam Street in Lorain Borough to serve as the rectory.

In 1960, a more modern rectory was completed.

The new rectory was dedicated on Sept. 10, 1961, by the Rt. Rev. Thaddeus F. Zielinski.

After 1961, more improvements were made to the church as its membership grew.