Published: May 23, 2009 12:09 am      

Cambria City pastor named

A Somerset County native has been chosen to lead the new, consolidated Catholic church in Johns-town’s Cambria City neighborhood.

The appointment of the Rev. Alan E. Thomas as pastor of Resurrection Roman Catholic Church becomes official on July 22, the same day that the five-parish merger takes effect.

“Reverend Thomas will provide the leadership and vision necessary to build a new faith community in Cambria City,” Bishop Joseph Adamec, who leads Altoona-Johns-town Roman Catholic Diocese, said Friday in a written statement.

Members of the new Resurrection parish will worship at what is now St. Stephen’s church.

The St. Rochus church buildings will be part of the new “parish complex,” officials have said.

Three other neighborhood churches – Immaculate Conception, SS. Casimir and Emerich and St. Columba – will close. And the current pastors of all five churches will be reassigned.

Thomas, 45, now leads two churches: St. Stephen in McConnellsburg, Fulton County, and St. Mary in Orbisonia, Huntingdon County.

But his local ties stretch back to childhood, as he was raised in Meyersdale and graduated from Meyersdale Area High School. His family operates Thomas Drug Store, a fixture in that southern Somerset County community.

In Thomas’ 17 years as a Catholic priest, he also has served as an assistant pastor at parishes including Holy Name in Ebensburg and St. John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Thomas said of his new appointment. “I’m happy to come back to Johnstown.”

His job will not be easy, as emotions have run high since the Cambria City merger was announced last year.

The ornate, century-old churches – built by various ethnic groups that migrated here to toil in booming mills and mines – carry great historical significance for Johnstown as well as generations of personal memories.

Thomas said he is well aware of that back story, and he believes he can help fashion “a unity from diversity” in Johnstown.

“I hope we can strive to build a unified parish while respecting the diverse backgrounds and especially the people from the past who helped to build those parishes,” he said.

Adamec said he is announcing Thomas’ appointment early so that the new pastor can work with Cambria City Transitional Council – a group of parishioners from the five churches – before the merger happens.

Thomas also is scheduled to celebrate an outdoor Mass at 4 p.m. June 28 at the St. Rochus Picnic Grove in Tanneryville.

Diocesan officials have said the gathering will give Resurrection parishioners a chance for “worship and fellowship” prior to the merger.

“I ask God to bless (Thomas), the transitional council and the parishioners of Resurrection Roman Catholic Church as they move forward in their remarkable journey,” Adamec said.