Let Me Tell You a Story ... 1938-1988:
Yes, our roots as St. Mary Church, Cleveland, Ohio go back some 50 years. And well should we know our past - and celebrate it. A nation's history, a family tree, a man or a woman's biography - this knowledge of yesterday is as important for faith as it is an awareness of our civic, family or personal identity. If sometimes today we think we are more sophisticated, more learned, smarter, our vision brighter and larger, - let's not forget we stand on the shoulders of the men and women who went before us. The evangelist Matthew thought it important enough to track the geneology of Jesus back to Abraham; but St. Luke leaped over many more generations to trace Jesus back to Adam, and . . . GOD!
LET ME TELL YOU A STORY . . . early in 1938 a group of men, residents of the Brooklyn district of Cleveland, met for the purpose of organizing a Byzantine Catholic parish. There were Stephen Monchak, Wasil Molchan, Wasil Zevchik, John Radio and Michael Kurak. The fruit of their labor was the compilation of the names of 137 families.
God's hand led them to send a committee to report to the dean, Very Rev. Edmund Tabakovich, who accepted their invitation to be present at an assembly of the faithful on August 15, 1938. Also attending were the neighboring pastors: Fathers Stephen Petrick, John Krusko, Stephen Gulyassy and George Hritz (retired and now the only one living today, in Seven Hills).
At this meeting present were 72 families, "the founders." The statutes of the new congregation were provided by His Excellency, Bishop Basil Takach. These were read to the group and unanimously accepted. Thus the new parish was canonically founded. The presiding official, the Reverend Dean, announced officially that from this day on, the parish was recognized as a part of our diocese, under the patronage of MARY, the Dormition of the Mother of God.
The election of committeemen took place; they took their oath of office, made the first collection for the new parish: $17.18 (the Great Depression was ending). They were:
Mike Kurak, Andrew Rash, Stephen Monchak, George Lesso, Wasil Molchan, John Freight, George Hallahan, John Chizmar, Mike Barilka, Joseph Furda, Basil Petruska, Mike Slepecky, John Mohnacky, John Maruchnicz, Henry Homer, Peter Zidik, Mike Korsnak, Mike Dudiak, Emil Skripko, Peter Hmelar, Andrew Hlebasko and John Lucash.
THE STORY CONTINUES . . . now the good people were anxious to have a suitable location for church services. "Finally it was decided to rent a small, one floor wooden shop where stone monuments were fabricated, on the corner of West 35th Street and Stickney Avenue. A rental fee of $30 a month was agreed upon, together with a three year lease and an option for the purchase of the building. Eagerly, the new parishioners transformed the mechanical shop into a temporary church. The total expenditure for pews, lumber and furnishings was $1,143."
"A little tower was placed on the roof to designate the building as a Church. This together with a simple little altar were made by two devoted parishioners. Plans were then made to bless this crude little place for worship. The building having been made acceptable, the congregation awaited it's first temporary pastor: Father Stephen Petrick. The eventful day of the blessing took place on the 25th of September 1938, when the Dean, Father Tabakovich, assisted by the Reverend Fathers Petrick, Krusko and Hritz, blessed the new church." (A)
At the first High "Mass" there was a big assemblage of people. The amount of the first basket collection was $333.20. Donations continued to increase until after a six month period they totalled $2,758.54.
In 1939 the congregation bought additional lots adjoining the first location. The lot on the Stickney side was bought for $500. A second lot was later purchased for $1,775. In the meantime, repeatedly petitioning Bishop Takach, they received the good news that "finally, in the early part of 1939, the Bishop gave his consent and sent them their first permanent pastor, the young Father Daniel Ivancho" (coming from Holy Ghost Church, ordained September 30, 1934 and leaving his pastorate at St. John Church, Minneapolis). His first baptism was James Wismar (July 9); first marriage, Francis Esper and Mary Slepecky (August 5); and first funeral, George Kocis (September 17).
"The parish eagerly cooperated with their new spiritual leader. His energy and tireless work brought on not only spiritual but also material progress. The wooden building - church was purchased outright as well as 3 more lots. A rectory was built at a cost of $13,000." (A)
"A recreation hall and auditorium were built adjoining the little church. This was such an excellent gathering place for the parishioners and kept them in a thriving communal spirit. Here Communion breakfasts were served, religious plays and concerts were given, and bazaars and entertainments were held." (A)
AND THE STORY GOES ON . . . gradually the little flock grew; financial strength increased - a symbol of the sacrificial hearts of the people. In a few years, careful thrift and economy brought the total cash on hand to $69,100. Plans were underway for a new church to be built on the corner of Biddulph and West 35th Street. But these ambitious plans could not be materialized because of the outbreak of World War II.
The efforts of the youthful pastor were climaxed when on August 29, 1946, the Apostolic Delegate in Washington, D.C. announced the "the Holy Father, Pope Pius XII, had appointed Father Ivancho (our pastor!) the titular bishop of Europus and coadjutor bishop with the right of succession to the Most Rev. Basil Takach, Apostolic Exarch of the Ruthenian Catholics in the United States of America." (B)
With Msgr. Fulton J. Sheen offering the homily, he was consecrated Bishop in St. Paul's Cathedral, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 5, 1946. St. Mary Church was the recipient of an honor that had never fallen on any parish in the history of our people in America!
But in November 1945, a newly ordained Fr. Emil Masich had been sent to St. Mary Church and the temporarily ailing Fr. Ivancho. With Bishop Ivancho's departure to assist the ailing Bishop Takach, at his Cathedral in Homestead, Pennsylvania, "Fr. Emil was appointed administrator of the parish. He was cordially received in the parish. His youthful vigor and zeal promoted the same good spirit the the Most Reverend Bishop had nurtured. He organized athletics and guided the youth activities of the congregation with much interest."
AND THE STORY GOES ON, as on April 1,1947, Fr. Nicholas Elko was appointed pastor. The good people responded to a money raising campaign so generously that plans for the new church were initiated. The ground breaking took place October 3, 1948 with Father Dean Tabakovich and Msgr. Tomislav Firis officiating. On May 9, 1949 our former pastor and good Bishop returned to bless the cornerstone for the church. On April 30, 1950 he officiated at the Solemn Blessing and Dedication of the new St. Mary Church, with Bishop Edward F. Hoban and Bishop Floyd L. Begin and the Rt. Rev. Abbot Theodore Kojis, O.S.B., attending. A new big page in our parish story and history!
AND THEN CAME Fr. (later Monsignor) Joseph Bodnar, appointed pastor on November 15, 1952, beginning 25 years of dedicated service and fond cherished memories and relationships. In 1955 increased parking problems resulted in the demolition of the old church and hall, which for the first time made off-street parking available. The news came from Rome, the the second St. Mary pastor had been elevated and consecrated there on March 6, 1955: Most Rev. Nicholas T. Elko. He continued to show interest in the development of the parish, as he conferred with Fr. Bodnar on the needs of a parochial school. (C)
In February 1956 the Corpus Christi Church property (4119 Stickney Avenue) was purchased from the Diocese of Cleveland for the amount of $34,828, with the intention of beginning a temporary school. With the permission June 10, 1956 from Bishop Elko to convert the former church into a school and former rectory into the convent, renovation work was completed for him to return to his former parish to dedicate the 3-room parochial school on August 19 (1956-1971). (D)
School bells opened the first scholastic school year on September 3,1956 as 84 enrolled students were met by 2 Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate religious order from Toronto, Canada, and Mrs. Bushi, a lay teacher. On September 5 a passenger school bus was purchased to transport the pioneer students. The PTU/Parent Teachers Unit was organized. In later years the Sisters of St. Basil the Great from Uniontown, Pennsylvania came to labor with love, talent and dedication, assisted by an increasing number of lay staff members. How quietly and arduously and effectively they have sacrificed and emptied themselves thru their teaching ministry in shaping the minds and hearts of the young (1973-1988). (D)
AND THEN September 1957 saw the enrollment increase to 134 pupils, with the addition of a 5th grade. The following year there came 191 students and 2 sixth grades. Plans were formulated in 1958 to build a new and bigger school next to St. Mary Church and to sell the old school to the Circle Work Shop for the Handicapped for $60,158.
Fr. Bodnar with the Parish Committee submitted the new school plans to Bishop Elko. Architect Nicholas Lesko was approved, and the contract for construction granted to M. Glagola, Inc. July 15, 1958. Bishop Stephen J. Kocisko (auxiliary bishop) came from Pittsburgh for the ground-breaking ceremony; and on March 1, 1959Bishop Elko officiated at the solemn cornerstone blessing. Work progressed, when on February 28, 1960, Bishop Elko returned for the dedication on the new school. The building was completely equipped, including a modern kitchen and cafeteria, managed by Mrs. Mary Danko. Kindergarten thru the 8th grade were provided in 1960-1961. The following year the enrollment totalled 374.
NO STORY CAN BE TOLD of the history of any Byzantine Catholic Church in the world without mentioning the position and role of the parish Cantor. The Cantor is an integral part of parish life, leading the congregation in singing the responses during Divine Worship.
"Thru the years, Cantors were often taken for granted - unsung heroes who continued to do their best for people in spite of many hardships and misunderstandings. Historically, Cantors were often Defenders of the Faith. They preserved the fullness of our heritage and liturgical tradition, especially during politically trying times." (E)
St. Mary Church has been blessed with the good fortune of having talented and dedicated men serving as Cantors with great devotion. In the early days they not only sang at all liturgical services, but were called upon to teach the elements of faith to the parish children, to conduct a choir, to organize and direct plays as part of the cultural activity of the parish, to prepare young boys to serve at the altar and to accept other duties proposed by the pastor.
In the past 50 years, Michael Kurak came in 1938; Michael Zaretsky followed him in 1940. For a short time Michael Stinich served starting in 1947, then to be followed by Professor Nicholas Kalvin, a memorable institution arriving in 1950, joining the parish school staff in 1959, the heartbeat of Byzantine Catholicism at St. Mary Church, until one month before celebrating St. Mary Church Golden Anniversary, he fell asleep in the Lord, July 15, 1988. Their lives fulfilled the words of the Psalmist: "I will sing to the Lord all my life, and make music to my God while I live."
CELEBRATIONS? . . . our story continues when on May 29,1977 the parish gathered for AN APPRECIATION DAY for Msgr. Bodnar, ending 25 years of dedicated service. "For some of the parishioners at St. Mary, he has been the only pastor they have ever known. To all he has been not only pastor, but a friend and part of the family." (D) Not well, he was transferred from his long-time pastorate, was to be succeeded in June by Fr. Michael Hayduk, who in turn was followed in October by Msgr. Basil Smochko.
On January 20, 1981, the adjacent old PRODUCERS property was purchased for $325,000. Loans were secured to renovate the building, and the Crystal Chalet catering hall was officially opened in November 1982. The property also houses a day care program, and one pre-school and two kindergarten classes of St. Mary School.
Then there came the present pastor, Very Rev. Dennis M. Hrubiak, on August 1,1985 to guide the parish family spiritually and to administrate the church and school. In his words, as St. Mary Church celebrates "BIRTHDAY #50" he said: "St. Mary Church has given witness to Christ as Savior through growth in parish community spirit. We are a parish family working together in a true Byzantine Catholic spirit to make Christ known and loved in our church, local community, city of Cleveland and the world."
Down thru the years prayers have been offered: "O Master, call Good Workers to the Harvest!", and four times young men of the parish have answered the call to the Holy Priesthood as parish vocations: the Fathers George Evancho (ordained April 23, 1964); John Lucas (March 25, 1966); Joseph Zombor, S.J. (June 14, 1967) and James Batcha (August 11, 1985) . . .
Devoted and appreciative faithful petitioned Jesus, the High Priest: "O Lord, hear our prayers and the prayers of your Church, and send us good, faithful and holy priests and religious!" Blessed was St. Mary Church with the litany of those who came to serve and give their lives joyfully for the sake of souls: - serving with Msgr. Bodnar were the fathers: Robert Radvansky and Nicholas Ivan (in 1956), John Volosin (1957), Nicholas Kraynak (1959), John Opalenick (1961), Alexander Nanko (1963), Robert Ruglovsky, Joseph Zombor, S.J. (1969), Paul Bovankovich and William Blum (1970) and Vladimir Wiwcharowsky (1974)
Assisting Msgr. Smochko were the Fathers Basil Hutsko (1979), Richard Janowicz (1980), Emil Masich (1981), Gary Francisko (1982) and John Zolota, S.M. (1985). With Fr. Hrubiak in parish ministry were the Fathers Bryan Eyman (1985), John Trompak (1987) and now in residence, Fr. Emil Masich.
AND SO THE STORY GOES . . . millions of sacrifices of individuals and groups, tens of millions of prayers and adoration, thanksgiving, reconciliation and petition! But, thru the years "neither he who plants, nor he who waters is of any special account, only God who gives the growth. We are God's co-workers (St. Paul reminds us) while you are his cultivation, his building." (I Cor. 3:7,9)
THE STORY commands us to pay respect and tribute to all those especially not mentioned who were instrumental in promoting from humble beginnings the growth and welfare of our Byzantine Catholic Parish Family. THE STORY IS NOT ENDED. With the Third Millennium of Christianity approaching, today's parish family writes new pages, responding to the Word of God proclaimed over 50 years, and made incarnate sacramentally in the Divine Liturgy we celebrate: the Jesus who is "the same, yesterday, today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)
Footnotes:
(A): Booklet, DEDICATION OF ST. MARY CHURCH, April 30, 1950
(B): Booklet, SOUVENIER OF EPISCOPAL CONSECRATION OF MOST REV. DANIEL IVANCHO, November 5,1946
(C): Booklet, SILVER JUBILEE COMMEMORATING 25TH ANNIVERSARY, July 21,1963
(D): Booklet, 25 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AS PASTOR, May 29,1977
(E): Cantor's Corner, BYZANTINE CATHOLIC WORLD, April 8 1984