A Work in Progress St Pius Tenth Parish The First 150 Years

A WORK IN PROGRESS St. Pius Tenth Parish The First 150 Years

1854 ~ 2004 i

A WORK IN PROGRESS St. Pius Tenth Parish The First 150 Years by Gert Amesbury

1854 ~ 2004 ii

ST FEEHAN’S / ST. PIUS TENTH PARISH HISTORY This is more than a compilation of dates and places. I have tried to capture the spirit of the people who have made up this parish for the past 150 years. Our motto for the 150th celebration is: “Deep faith, hard work.” In this book, I would like to add “humor.” The life-giving sense of humor of these people, through the generations, helped keep their faith deep and made their hard work easier. The people of St. Pius Tenth Parish stand not on the backs of their predecessors from St. Feehan’s. We stand rather on their shoulders, reaching ever higher to serve even better the people of Chili, New York. Journey with me now through history. Really, it is “His-story,” God’s story. It is written on the hearts of our people. “God Will Provide.” He has, He does, He will.



Gert Amesbury

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Prologue������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� iii Letters of Congratulations������������������������������������������������������������������������������ vi Chapter I: ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1 Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning...” Chapter II: ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3 Exodus 3:6 – “I am the God of your ancestors...” Chapter III: ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6 Numbers 1:2 – “Take a census of the whole community...” Chapter IV: ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 8 Deuteronomy 5:2 – “our God made a covenant with us...” Chapter V: ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 13 Joshua 5:15 – “the place on which you stand is holy ground...” Chapter VI: ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 17 Judges 6:16 – “I shall be with you...” Chapter VII: ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 18 Ruth 1:16 – “wherever you go, I will go...” Chapter VIII: ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 25 Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “there is an appointed time for everything...” Chapter IX: ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 31 Song of Songs 4:1 – “you are beautiful, my beloved...”

Chapter XII: ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 42 Psalms 84:1 – “How lovely is Your dwelling place...” Chapter XIII: ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 46 Proverbs 3:13 – “Happy the man who finds wisdom The man who gains understanding...” Chapter XIV: ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 50 Acts 2:42 – “they devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the communal life, and the breaking of the bread...” Chapter XV: ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 59 Romans 1:8 – “I give thanks to God through Jesus Christ for all of you...” Chapter XVI: ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 65 I Corinthians 11:23 – “I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you...” Chapter XVII: ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 67 Revelations 1:4 – “Grace to you and peace from Him Who is, Who was, and Who is to come from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness...” Appendix I: Bishops������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 71 Appendix II: Associate Pastors��������������������������������������������������������������������� 72 Appendix III: Sisters������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 73 Patrons��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 76 Resources and Acknowledgments����������������������������������������������������������������� 83

Chapter X: ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 38 Wisdom 7:7 – “I prayed...and the spirit of wisdom came to me.” Chapter XI: ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 39 II Chronicles 3:1 – “Then, Solomon began to build The house of the Lord...”

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CHAPTER I: Genesis 1:1

W

e know why the Irish people left their homeland in the 1830’s and 40’s. They were impoverished, oppressed, hungry spiritually and physically. They were looking for a place of freedom to practice their religion. We don’t know why some of those families chose to bring their viable spark of Catholic faith to our little corner of the world: Chili, New York. Carl C. Moore, Jr. says in Chili Chapters: “Construction of one or more of the four rail lines presently crossing Chili probably provided impetus for the first significant waves of Catholics into this region.” Whatever the reason, we are very glad they settled here. One such family was that of Patrick and Mary Golden. One of their children, Walter, later to become a priest, was born on the ship crossing the Atlantic. Pat Golden liked to say he had “twelve boys and each one had a sister.” A reporter wrote that he had twenty-four children. Pat enjoyed cor­ recting the report: “Not 24, but 13: 12 boys and 1 girl!” His Irish sense of humor survived the crossing too. The families traveled seven miles to St. Patrick’s Church in Rochester, New York to hear Mass. It was a difficult trip by teams of horses and wagons, in all kinds of weather. We can only imagine how arduous this was. Don’t forget, they had to fast from midnight if they wanted to receive Communion. In our time, we jump in the car, buzz off to church, complain if Mass lasts over an hour and rush out of the parking lot, putting terror in each other’s hearts! Try, for a moment, to put yourselves in the places of these Irish families, eager to nurture their faith at all costs. Not easy, is it? But if they hadn’t been so steadfast in their faith, our parish of St. Pius Tenth would not be here today. We owe them so much. When more and more families came to the farms of Chili, making the same trek to Rochester, another solution had to be found. They asked the Bishop of Buffalo, Bishop Timon, if a priest could come to them in Chili. He gave per­mission to the pastor of St. Patrick’s for one of his priests to travel to Chili to say Mass. (Rochester was not yet a Diocese.) Thereafter, a priest would come by train one or two Saturdays a month and stay overnight at Pat Golden’s or John Cummings’ home. On Sunday morning, right in the home, he would hear confessions, celebrate Mass and baptize, instruct and care for the sick. Then – he would travel to Mumford or Scottsville for a second Mass. 1

The people of Scottsville built their church in 1853. Their energetic pastor, Rev. James McGlew, encouraged the people of Chili to do the same. He was the driving force behind the building of St. Feehan’s. He accepted land from Patrick Golden located near the New York Central tracks, on the east side of Mr. Golden’s road. Construction of the church began on November 5, 1854. It took a year for the men to finish it. The land was low, not good for farming and very swampy. It became known as the “Swamp Church.” The priests of Scottsville: Fr. Richard Story, Fr. James O’Donoghue, and Fr. Myles Loughlin, served the people of Chili up to 1869. Most of the lumber for the church was donated. Edward Maxwell, a stonemason, laid the foundation. Men of the founding families: Golden, Fullam, Cummings (John and Thomas), Callery, Curran, Glynn, Connally, Curvin, Carr, Green (Byron and William), White, Stone, Kane, Brady, Murphy, Porter, Sheridan, and Fox (Michael and John), provided the labor. Pat Golden prevailed in his effort to name the church “St. Feehan’s.” No one knew why he felt so strongly about the name. Was it because it was his father’s name, or the name of his parish in Ireland? No matter, St. Feehan’s it became.

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CHAPTER II: Exodus 3:6

The Rochester Diocese was established in 1868. Immediately, Bishop Bernard

McQuaid rearranged parishes. In 1869, he put St. Feehan’s under the care of the pastor in Churchville. In June 1873, the Rev. William Mulheron became the first resident pastor in Churchville. After one year, Rev. William Morrin, who served Churchville and St. Feehan’s for seven years, replaced him. At that time, the usual transportation was by horse and buggy. But sometimes, the priest would arrive in Chili on horseback. This is a good time to try and picture that, too. Rev. Angelo Lugero served one year. He was known for his sanctity. His blessing and the touch of his hand gave strength and health to many. When Rev. Dennis J. Curran was appointed pastor of Churchville and Chili in 1882, things began to happen. Described as an “aggressive character,” he moved quickly to better the Catholic life in the two parishes. He saw the water in spring in Chili as a serious drawback. He also knew that the people in Chili wanted their own cemetery. They had been taking their dead to be buried in Scottsville. The church bought three acres from Michael McEntee on Sand Ridge (now Chestnut Ridge Road). The land was uneven, sloping east with a deep gully. The men of the parish must have stood, looking in despair at Rev. Dennis J. Curran the monumental task of leveling the ground. Their 1882-99 shovels and picks were totally inadequate. But, God is good. Pat Mulholland, an Irish foreman on the construction crew of the West Shore Railroad, saw what was needed. After their work on the railroad one day, he brought his gang of “gandy dancers,” workers laying track, to the site. Teams of horses and scrapers and the rail­road workers made short work of the uneven ground and the gully. The first burial in the cemetery was that of Henry Gaffney. He was about 25 years old and a former seminarian. Many parish­ioners, including Patrick Golden, were exhumed in Scottsville and moved to the new cemetery St. Feehan’s Cemetery 1954 in Chili. 3

Miss Anna Mulheron, one of the oldest members of the church, was quoted in an article in the local paper. The occasion was the Centennial of St. Feehan’s in 1954. “When the first burial in the new cemetery took place in 1882, the hearse was drawn on a cutter. I recall vividly, because the cutter hit an obstruction in the road to the newly opened cemetery and the back door of the hearse flew open, hurling the casket into the snow.” She also mentioned that the spelling of the church from St. Fechan’s to St. Feehan’s was changed about the time of the Centennial. It was done for ease of spelling and pronun­ ci­ation. “It was originally spelled St. Fechan’s after an Irish saint whose history is ‘somewhat obscure.’ ” The people protested moving the church to higher ground. They said if it were moved, they wouldn’t attend. An angry Father Curran said from the pulpit, “I don’t care where you go to church, as long as you go. You can even go to Honolulu!” He later became the Vicar General of the Rochester Diocese. The church was moved. Elmer Taft saw to it. Sunday Mass was celebrated “en route.” Michael Mulheron told the story often that he served the Mass when the moving was halted for Sunday. It took ten days, using log rollers, a winch, a windlass around a tree turned by a horse and the willing help of the men of the parish. Henry Maxwell built the new foundation. Father Curran remained seventeen years. He is honored now for moving the church and building a dance hall. He wanted his people to dance under parish sponsorship and not go to “rough places.” Martha Green, the pianist, and fiddler James Green provided music for many happy evenings of dancing. The land the “Swamp Church” had occupied was raffled off. Patrick Traverse won it and built a house on the old foundation. No longer the “Swamp Church,” St. Feehan’s became known as the “Irish Church” (to dis­tinguish it from the “German Church” – Holy Ghost, on Coldwater Road – established in 1868). Father Curran was transferred to Avon in 1899. Father Michael J. Ryan then served one year. Rev. J.J. Bresnihan, another energetic worker, came next. According to the people, he was a “dandy speaker.” After his first sermon in St. Feehan’s, the congre­ Rev. J. J. Bresnihan 1900-14 gation sat in stunned silence. It must have been hellfire and brimstone, because as the people left the church, shaking their heads, they said, “Will any of us ever get to Heaven?” 4

Father Bresnihan worked fourteen years in Churchville and Chili. He made many improvements at St. Feehan’s: vestries were added, steel ceilings and walls, cement sidewalks and stained glass win­ dows. He enlarged the dance hall, adding a kitchen and dining room. Father Philip Golding replaced Father Bresnihan in 1914. There was some evidence that he was related to Fr. Philip Golding the Patrick 1914-32 Goldens. The Rev. Charles R. Reynolds, baptized and confirmed at St. Feehan’s, returned to say his first Solemn Mass, June 17, 1928. Father Golding served the longest of any of the pastors, eighteen years. Father Guilfoil came in 1932. He put in a new altar, and started a Interior of St. Feehan’s 1910 summer school, staffed by the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. He re­decorated the church. Fr. Edmond J. O’Brien came to the pastorate in 1940. He was in poor health and could not spend much time at St. Feehan’s. Rev. John J. Burke was appointed pastor of Churchville in 1944. He greatly improved the church properties in Chili. The interior of the church was renovated, ceilings lowered, new lights added and carpets laid. He saw to it that the hall was brought up to fire code and remodeled. It became a modern build­ing for meetings, dances and card parties. These flourished under his direction.

Fr. Joseph Guilfoil 1932-40

Rev. J. Edmond O’Brien 1940-44

Rev. John J. Burke 1944-54

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CHAPTER III: Numbers 1:2

1954

: Enter: Rev. Donald J. Murphy. If previous pastors were described as “dynamic,” “energetic,” and “hard-working,” Father Murphy soon became known as “perpetual motion!” People said, “Does he ever stop?” “Does he ever sleep?” One parishioner was heard to say that Father Murphy would be the only person to ever need a “walking casket.” If the phrases, “I have a dream,” or “Build it and they will come,” were popular then they would have described Father Murphy’s zeal perfectly. In his own words from his book, Yesterday, he tells how he came to Chili. “ ‘You can have the church in Chili as pastor, if you can live there.’ With these words, Bishop Kearney gave me a new mission. I had returned from being a chaplain in World War II, taught at Aquinas Institute for six years, and then served as chaplain at St. Mary’s Hospital. The Bishop continued: ‘Go to Churchville as an assistant to Father John Burke, who is not well. While there, see whether or not the out-mission of Churchville, St. Feehan’s, Chili, is able to stand on its own feet. If it is, you can have it.’ ” What a challenge! But Father Rev. Donald J. Murphy 1954-77 Murphy was up to it, even eager to meet it. He said his first Mass at St. Feehan’s on January 6, 1954. After looking over the facilities and meeting the 120 people who attended the Masses, Father Murphy dug in his heels. He knew then and there that he would accept the pastorship in June. He thought about the fact that 1954 would be the centennial of St. Feehan’s and began planning for it. He had to make a place to live, too. Enlisting the help of parishioners, he made the second floor of the “ell” livable. “Operation Bootstrap” was launched. He told the people they were getting ready for a resident pastor who would be appointed in June. (He wasn’t allowed to tell them that he would be that pastor.)

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Foremost in Father Murphy’s mind was the starting of a parish school. To quote Father Murphy again, “I was conscious of the words of Bishop McQuaid that a parish with a school always succeeds.” He enlisted the support of the Sisters of St. Joseph because he had a sister and cousin in the order. In the snowy weather of January, Father Murphy drove Reverend Mother Rose Miriam and the Assistant, Sister Helene, out to see the buildings at St. Feehan’s. It must have been quite a ride. Father Murphy drove the way he did everything else, full speed ahead, snow or no snow. Father Murphy was overjoyed when the Sisters said a school could open there with two grades, in September 1954. Two Sisters would live at St. Agnes High School and drive back and forth in a car provided by the parish. There was no way then that the Sisters or Father Murphy could know that in twenty years, the school would have 715 students, the largest enroll­ ment of any Catholic school in the Diocese. The Holy Name Men’s Group and the Rosary Guild were already up and running. They gave Father Murphy great support, spiritually and financially. Kay Peters of the Rosary Guild kicked off the fund-raising projects for the school by supervising a spaghetti dinner in February. The parish netted one hundred dollars. Tony Semler and his son Gene cut down trees by the driveway to facilitate parking. Tony had to assure himself that Father Murphy had the authority to have the trees cut down. When he was sure of it, he and Gene cut them down, milled the lumber and brought it back to the parish. This lumber was used to convert the ell of the wagon shed into a rectory (for the resident pastor who would come in June).

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CHAPTER IV: Deuteronomy 5:2

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ather Murphy next dove headlong into buying property on Chili Avenue. One of the more affluent men in Chili drove Father Murphy around to look at property he owned: one is now Chili-Paul Plaza, another the Bright Oaks tract. Neither met Father Murphy’s needs. He zeroed in on the Sachs property on Chili Avenue, but was told they would never sell. Another challenge. Father Murphy described “Operation Bootstrap” this way: 1) Keep the parish life growing and active 2) Get a school going 3) Provide a place for the pastor to live. Now he added number 4: Move the parish to Chili Avenue. It would require a shift in gears and a new name: “Operation Church Mouse.” All of these challenges reminded Father Murphy of the Normandy invasion of World War II, in which he took part. He says in Yesterday: “In the Normandy invasion, there was one operation – ‘Operation Overlord.’ Here we were faced with two: ‘Operation Bootstrap’ and ‘Operation Church Mouse.’ ” The first order of business was to finish the rectory. Long hours of hard work by many men and women got the job done by July. To everyone’s relief, it passed the tough Chili building codes. Next order of business: enroll the children for the two-room school to be ready in September. The two Sisters, Sr. Rose Irene and Sr. Joseph Michelle, true pioneers, were on hand in April to register the children. A neighboring pastor said, “If they open a school at St. Feehan’s, it will close in six months! ” A red flag went up. Another challenge. Rectory (wagon shed) 1954 Father Murphy, the Sisters and the parishioners resolved their school would open and stay open. Father Murphy trudged through February snow over the Sachs property on Chili Avenue. The Sachs family was willing to sell the property for a church: ten acres for ten thousand dollars. But Father Murphy, with his usual foresight, wanted to buy the land on Chestnut Ridge Road behind the Sachs property also. Then the people could approach the church and school from Chili Avenue or Chestnut Ridge Road. Such was Father Murphy’s vision on a snowy, February day, standing in an empty field. 8

On the day in May that St. Pius Tenth was canonized in Rome, Father Murphy drove past the lots on Chestnut Ridge Road. He tossed a medal in that area and prayed that the land would be sold to the parish. It was. The Sachs family sold their property to the parish, but asked fifteen thousand in the end. St. Pius Tenth was already helping the fledgling parish. At the end of June, the Bishop’s letter appointing Father Murphy as pastor of St. Feehan’s Church finally arrived. He slept in the rectory for the first time on July 17. No hot water, but he did have electricity. And a strange experience: the holy dead from the cemetery filed by his bed saying, “Thank God we have a pope!” The first time Father Murphy heard the name of his new church was at a retreat in June. Auxiliary Bishop Casey told him it would be St. Pius Tenth. Father Murphy said he was not surprised, because of the recent canonization. Problems with the name popped immediately into Father Murphy’s head: People would spell Pius, “Pious,” call the church St. Pius The Fifth, instead of the Tenth, and even St. Pius “Xavier.” (We can all remember Father Murphy’s vehement admonition: “The Tenth, the Tenth! St. Pius the Fifth is in Cohocton!”) Once the rectory was done, all attention went to the school. Before recycling was in vogue, Father Murphy recycled everything he could find. His favorite phrase was, “And we bought nothing new.” The labor was free, too: priest and people, working together, building, ever building. The spiritual life of St. Feehan’s was growing and intensifying. A third Sunday Mass was added at 12:15. A Jesuit from Lake Avenue would come to help, but Father Murphy had to pick him up after his own last Mass. Predictably, Father (full speed ahead) Murphy got a speeding ticket. From Yesterday: “It mattered little to that officer that I was in a cassock and had to be back for the next Mass!” (Don’t you wonder what kind of a ride the Jesuit had back to St. Feehan’s? He probably shook all the way through the 12:15!) A petition for a variance to build the church on Chili Avenue had to go before the Chili Zoning Board. The area was zoned residential. To his dismay, Father Murphy found out that the neighbors on Chili Avenue and Chestnut Ridge were circulating a petition against the variance. Yet another stumbling block. Father Murphy and the parishioners decided to fight fire with fire. They circulated a counter-petition. All those in favor of the church should also have a voice. They solicited hundreds of names. At the meeting, the opposing faction backed down and the parish received the variance.

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Life went on at St. Feehan’s even as plans for the Chili Avenue site unfolded. It was a double-barreled effort, requiring hours and hours of effort from priest and people. The big push now was to get the school up and running. Father Murphy was the chaplain of the National Guard at the Main Street Armory in Rochester. He told the men it would be nice if they would donate some time to the church, for a good cause (otherwise known as “friendly persuasion”). They came on a Saturday and covered the cement floor of the two-room building with asphalt tile in a few hours. Father Murphy says simply in Yesterday: “We were grateful.” The O’Brien brothers, Neil and Pat, put in a new septic system (volunteers, of course). The schoolrooms were ready: used desks (refinished) and black­ boards. We can only imagine how Father Murphy felt, looking out of his up­­ stairs window on September 8, 1954. The buses rolled in with the children and the two nuns were right there to greet them. The Sisters were indis­ pensable and spurred on the growth of parish and school. Sister Joseph Michelle’s first grade had 26; Sister School buses 1954 Rose Irene’s second grade had 15. Eleanor Volpe (the former Sister Joseph Michelle) writes of those early days: “I was one of the original Sisters of St. Joseph who together with Sister Rose Irene, started St. Feehan’s School. We opened with two grades. Sister Rose Irene taught second grade and I taught first. Rev. Donald Murphy, Pastor, records much of this history in the book Yesterday. I truly do have many memories of my five years at St. Feehan’s School and then St. Pius Tenth. Those were real ‘pioneer’ days.”

Sr. Joseph Michelle and 1st Grade, St. Feehan’s School

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Everyone took a deep breath and then planned St. Feehan’s Centennial Celebration. They published a booklet of the history. On Sunday, November 14, 1954, Bishop Casey presided at the Mass at 12:15. Before this, the men painted the interior of the church in one night. The women made new altar cloths and drapes. After the Mass, a horse and buggy, driven by the oldest members, Anna Mulheron and Patrick McCullen, led a parade of cars around Chili and North Chili. Scouts were going to be an important part of the parish. Don Wilbert was the first Cub master and Marvin Falls started the Boy Scouts. They served as leaders for many years. Christmas came and with it the Christmas crib Father Murphy built. He used manikins (donated from Sibley’s and Foreman’s) and an infant (also donated from a store) to represent Joseph, Mary and the Christ Child. Then came St. Nicholas in his Bishop’s robes and “Belzanickel.” St. Nicholas gave candy to the good children and “Belzanickel” scared the life out of the bad children! He was dressed in black and carried a whip, looking fearsome. They were characters Father Murphy “recycled” from Bavaria. Meanwhile, on the second front, the parish purchased the land on Chili Avenue and Chestnut Ridge Road for $28,000. The parishioners and Father Murphy decided to run a fund drive for the church themselves. They had done everything so far, so why hire someone from outside to run it? Bishop Kearney came and gave a very good talk to the people, praising the value of Catholic education. The people pledged $60,000 and paid $69,000. A sign was put up on Chili Avenue announcing the plans for a Catholic Church and School for the site. On Memorial Day, 1955, Bishop Kearney celebrated an outdoor Mass, blessing the Chili Avenue site.

Sr. Rose Irene with 2nd Grade Bishop Kearney blesses the grounds at the Chili Ave. site 1955

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Father Murphy, in later years, would publish his wartime diary, Bringing Up Father. In it he tells about the confusion of the Normandy invasion. He could see the men in his unit wan­dering around, with no direction from the officers. He found a break in a fence and in his authori­ tative voice, yelled in the darkness, “Over here. Here’s where we’ll take our stand!” And the men followed, not knowing a priest was giving the orders! And so it was here. Father Murphy more or less said, “Chili Avenue is where we’ll take our stand!” We all followed him, knowing full well that he was a priest and our shepherd.

Father Murphy 1944

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CHAPTER V: Joshua 5:15

In January 1956, Father Murphy heard from the Bishop. The continued use

of the name of “St. Feehan’s Church” was not in order. He also said that his blessing of the property on Chili Avenue constituted the beginning of a new parish whose name was “St. Pius Tenth.” St. Feehan’s dropped quietly into the history books and St. Pius Tenth became home to its parishioners. In the fall of 1956, a third classroom was opened in the school on Chestnut Ridge Road. Sister Laura came to the parish and took over the third and fourth grades. Now there were three Sisters. That was the minimum for a convent. Father Murphy writes in Yesterday: “With a convent in mind, we had been looking for a suitable house. There was a large house adjacent to our Chili Avenue property that was for sale. If we bought this we could use it for a rectory another day. It had three bedrooms, two baths, a sunroom that we could use for a chapel, as well as a two-car garage. We bought this for $20,248.” Mrs. Pat Cushing (the former Sister Laura) writes of her experiences: “I taught grades 3 & 4 one year in the ‘barn.’ Then I moved with the same class of 59 children, grades 4 & 5, to the former church. Sister Joseph Michelle (Eleanor) and I have favorite stories of those days. “When we moved into the convent, we still lacked furniture. I can remember my brother visiting us and I was so excited showing him our new blue refrigerator. When he saw how empty it was he took us shopping. One young man (I think it was Scott Uhl) was helping me clean the base­ment and noticed the Srs. Jos. Michelle, Rose Irene, empty fruit cellar, went home to tell his Mom Laura that we didn’t have any canned goods, and before we knew it donations came in and never stopped. The generosity of the parish family was unsurpassed. We did have beds to sleep in. Our community room had the most unusual table! If you sat on one side and opened the drawer, the person opposite saw her drawer disappear. (Hopefully, her fingers weren’t in the drawer.) “I remember going over next door early in the morning to get fresh eggs from the neighbor (free).

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“Labor Day was just that. We found desks that Father had received from who knows where. These were absolutely filthy. We were lucky to have some of Eleanor’s brother’s seminary friends to help us get ready for school the next day. “We were all teaching in the ‘Barn-Wagon-Shed.’ I taught 3rd and 4th upstairs. We had one overhead light fixture where nests of wasps found a nice warm place. We had one set of windows and a fire escape. Flies loved to buzz around and the boy in the last seat near the window would dissect them on his desk or drop them down Tommy O’Reilly’s back! Our blackboard was held up by an old couch. “In order to go to the bathroom, the children needed to go down the back stairs, through the 1st grade room to the lavatory. During winter these toilets often froze so they had to go next door to the neighbor’s house. Sometimes Sister Rose Irene and Eleanor had to chop the ice. The children were great and maybe considered themselves real pioneers – I know we did! They went outside to play even in cold weather, sometimes in the cemetery, while the three Sisters had lunch in Father Murphy’s kitchen behind my classroom. The second Sr. Rose Irene with children 1954 year I was there, I moved over to the old church with the 4th and 5th grades. I stood in the former sanctuary on one step higher to teach the whole class. I alternated between the two sides to teach each class separately. I’ve kept a book with all their names and even though it was a challenge teaching so many children, it was possible because they were quite good. Their parents had done such a wonderful job of raising them. Hopefully I’ll see them one day in Heaven! “Christmas brought St. Nicholas and Belzanickel. We weren’t invited to the performance, so Sr. Rose Irene and I stood outside and watched the horses come towards us. I guess they wanted to return to our garage where they were kept. I had to push Sr. Rose Irene away to save her from being run over. “There are so many stories I could tell. Eleanor and I should write a book. I see Paul Atwell at Transfiguration and we reminisce about the “Aching Arms.” I see Dick Sousa once in a while and he enjoys teasing me about teaching in a barn and an old church. I don’t see Father George Wiant much but I remember his family’s kindness to us.

14

“These are some of my memories of two wonderful years at St. Pius Tenth. Best wishes for your 150th Anniversary.” Good luck – Pat Cushing The women of the parish had a shower of household gifts for the Sisters when they moved into the convent in early August. Mass was held in the tiny chapel the next day. Three kneelers for the Sisters were about all the sunroom would accommodate. About this time, a Brownie Girl Scout troop was formed and started out with a baked food sale. The parish Scouting Program was alive and well. Now the focus changed to the new church on Chili Avenue. Robert McGraw was the architect. The building would be on high ground, set back from Chili Avenue. The area in front would be used for parking. The school, eventually, would extend from the rear of the church toward Chestnut Ridge Road. Neil Giuliano, a member of the parish and mason contractor, was the Fr. Murphy and Neil super­intendent of the Giuliano 1956 building program. With the help of many parishioners, heating men, plumbers, painters, electricians, Floor plan 1st church etc., the church was ready for the first Mass on Christmas, 1956. Although not completely finished, there was heat and room. The church on Chestnut Ridge Road was definitely too small. Now St. Pius Tenth Church had a presence and the sign declaring the possibility of a Catholic Church on the site was taken down. What once was a possibility now was a reality. Bernard Entress, a builder and con­ tractor, handled the carpentry work and the erecting of the prefinished, laminated arches. This was the first Catholic Church in the Rochester area to use these arches. Arches installed 1956

15

The brass tabernacle from the old church was brought over to the new. The pews, too, were from the old church. However, these had to be replaced and that was an expensive proposition. Joe Entress of Coldwater Lumber suggested using oak plywood for the pews. The parishioners could do the sanding and finishing. This amounted to a tremendous saving. Soon there were four Sunday Masses. An enlarged photo of St. Pius Tenth hung over the altar. On the front of the canopy over the altar were the words: “Let Us Give Thanks to the Lord Our God.” This motto was echoed in the hearts of all the parishioners. Operation Bootstrap was over. But Operation Church Mouse was still hovering about. There was still a lot of work to be done.

CHAPTER VI: Judges 6:16

The dedication of the new church was the highlight of 1957. Bishop Kearney

chose Sunday, May 19 at 11:00 for the dedicatory Mass. He praised the people for the work they had done since he was here two years ago to bless the field. To quote the Bishop: “Never did so few do so much with so little.” At the Mass, men who had done much of the work building the church brought up items to ready the altar for the occasion. They were: Neil Giuliano, Eugene Semler, Bernard Entress, Martin Wehle, George Thorne, Anthony Semler, Raymond Deverell, Robert Hendrickson, Walter Deverell, Paul Atwell, Eugene Schickler and James Glover. The program stated it well: “On these men rested the full responsibility for the building of this church. Their work will never be forgotten.” Two life-sized carved statues, one of the Blessed Virgin and one of St. Joseph, were placed in front of wrought iron screens. These statues were the work of Franz Mersa of Bressanone, Italy. Later that summer, a Carrara marble statue of Joseph Sarto (later St. Pius Tenth) as a child was delivered. This lovely statue stood in front of the new church for four years. Then some boys, showing off how strong they were, knocked off the hand and book he was reading. It was beyond repair. Rumor has it that Father Murphy, with a heavy heart, dug up a place on the property and buried the broken statue in it.

Interior of 1st church 1957 Fr. Murphy with broken statue of Joseph Sarto (later St. Pius Tenth)

16

Life-sized statues of St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin

17

CHAPTER VII: Ruth 1:16

“O

peration Church Mouse” struggled, survived and grew through the appeal for pledges for a new school. The Rosary Guild and Holy Name Men were very supportive of the new drive. Everyone could see the need for more space for the children. These groups were both affiliated with the Confraternities in Rome. The spiritual side of these groups brought God’s blessings on the parish. The Rosary Guild started each meeting with the rosary. The Holy Name Men renewed their pledge annually to honor the name of the Lord. They both recruited new members yearly so their numbers stayed strong. Bishop Casey came to launch the appeal in 1958. The goal was $75,000. The parishioners pledged $102,000; all the money went to build the school. No outside fundraisers were used. The school would be attached to the back of the church, extending 300 feet. It would begin with 12 classrooms with plans for an even­tual 18 classrooms. Many volunteer workers kept the parish run­ning and cost down. Helen Mannix ran the “office.” According to her daughter, Carolynn Gommel, “Mom Fundraising for school, ran the business of the church on our dining room March 18, 1958 table for years!” John Hartman was custodian and supervised a crew of “cleaning boys.” A group of women, Cathy Somers, Ethel Freitas, Joanne Sousa and others, taught the Junior High girls to sew. At this time, a uniform dress code began for the girls at First Com­ munion. The dresses were long, dotted swiss and the girls wore a lace mantilla on their heads. These were very inexpensive and each girl looked as nice as the other. The emphasis on elaborate dresses was removed and everyone was able to concentrate on the sacredness of the occasion. It was about this time that I offered to play the organ at St. Pius Tenth Church. Since it was a “do-it-yourself ” parish, I knew that was something I could do. Father Murphy seemed very glad and took me up to the loft to see the organ. “It’s a converted pump organ.” I laughed and said, “You mean it’s Catholic now?” He laughed too. “No, no, no. It’s electrified, so you don’t have to pump.” I thanked God silently. This organ was recycled from St. Mary’s Hospital chapel, had two stops and loud and soft. But it played. And I didn’t have to pump it! That began a “gig” of twenty-two years as a volunteer organist for the parish. Pat Woods also played and since we both had young children, 18

we split up the services. I played the 6:30 am weekday Mass and she did any evening services. We both played the Sunday Masses. On weekdays at that time, there were two choices of Masses, the White Mass, or Mass of the day, and the Black Mass, the Requiem Mass. I always had both books open, because until I saw the color of Father Murphy’s vestments, I didn’t know which one he was going to say. Everything was in Latin, of course. One morning after Mass, Father Murphy came up to the loft and said, “I’d rather say the Mass of the day, but we have to shorten it up. These people have to get to work.” I was kind of stunned. “We can’t leave anything out!” “Oh, I know. But, could you chant the Gloria? That would be faster.” I told him I would try it, went home and wrote out the Gloria in a chant only slightly resembling the Gregorian chant. Next day, Father Murphy was thrilled! We had shortened the Mass by a whole minute! It must have been a precious minute, because he was completely satisfied. On June 9, 1958, excavation for the school started. Neil Giuliano once again was the mason contractor. Robert McGraw and James Whitney were the architects. Twenty sky domes helped light up the rooms and long corridor. Neil laid the first block, Bill Faraone, the second. September of 1958 would call for another classroom. There were now 5 grades in the 4 classrooms on the old site. Father Murphy arranged with Father Sullivan from St. Helen’s to use one of his school’s empty rooms for one year. Chili buses took Dorothy McEvoy’s fourth grade to St. Helen’s. This grade was promised that it would be the first moved into the new school building. In October, Mission Sunday was celebrated with our Midget Missionaries. Boys and girls from the school were dressed in various orders’ religious garb. At Mass, each one would be called up by name and Father Murphy would tell them which country they were going to. One little boy came up and Father Murphy said, “And you are going to Africa!” The boy started to cry. Father Murphy laughed and said, “I guess he doesn’t want to go to Africa!”

Fr. Murphy at Mission Mass Midget Missionaries

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In 1959, “The Aching Arms” came into being. It began with eighteen groups so that the work of building and repairing could be spread out. Father Murphy was on most jobs and says in Yesterday: “All found fun in working. I learned that you can’t give someone a job that you won’t do yourself !” He was the only pastor driving around in a station wagon with ladders and paint cans sticking out the back window! In May of 1959, one schoolroom was completed in the new building. As promised, Dorothy McEvoy’s fourth grade occupied it. By September 8, 1959 six classrooms were ready for seven grades. Temporary partitions were put up in the school to make a convent for the Sisters. There were eight bedrooms, kitchen, community room and larger chapel. They moved out of the house on Chili Avenue and into the new facility on August 8, 1959. It was an amazing effort by priest and people to meet their deadline. Once again, they were building, ever building. Carolynn (Mannix) Gommel and her brother, Raymond, were in grades 7 & 8 respectively when they wrote a poem about St. Feehan’s / St. Pius Tenth. Here is part of that poem: In the month of November, year of 1854 Men from various families numbering 20 or more All good Catholics these, decided a church was their need. And with skill and devotion to build and proceed…

Renovation and addition, rectory

Church and school

Harry Pikuet planned and built a road with a “gentle curve” from the church to the house on Chili Avenue. Work then began on the rectory: rooms had to be added for a housekeeper downstairs, a common room and another bedroom upstairs. Father Murphy relied once more on Neil Giuliano’s sound judgment. The school officially opened on September 8, 1959. It was five years to the day since the school started in the wagon shed on Chestnut Ridge Road. Four Sisters of St. Joseph taught the first, fourth, fifth and the combined sixth and seventh: Sisters Walter Anne, Eileen Regina, Britta and Margo. Lois DeRycke and Mary Agostinelli completed the staff. The “pioneer nuns,” Sisters Rose Irene, Joseph Michelle and Laura, had moved on to other assignments. They left behind many friends among the parents and children. ✟        ✟        ✟

As time never stands still, it just has to move on, Priest followed priest, some just came and were gone Improvements were begun and others were planned And St. Feehan’s “Swamp Church” was moved to new land. In 1954, St. Feehan’s was on its own A celebration was held, the past was made known. The previous hall was converted and nuns were obtained Two school grades were begun, Another goal had been gained. …Our new church has been built and already blessed. Our new school is opened and is one of the best.

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Sister Walter Anne writes for our history a piece entitled Re­mem­ bering St. Pius Tenth: Times change and we with the times, but our happy memories of those special persons and places that have made a difference in our lives remain. They serve to remind us of a gracious God who has favored us with His abundant blessings. Six of the happiest years of my life were spent at St. Pius X Parish School. I came in 1959, a fledgling principal to a beautiful, totally new school, eager to spread the Good News of God’s love, especially to the children. The School opened with grades one through six, bringing to it a happy group of bright students. The place held a certain spirit that prevailed among both parents and children and that spirit helped me look 21

forward to the daily challenges of new beginnings. Parents, children, teachers had only one goal in mind – St. Pius X School must be the very best – and they worked willingly and tirelessly to fulfill their dream. In 1960, when Grade 6 became Grade 7, and in 1961, when Grade 7 became Grade 8, St. Pius X School presented to the Parish its first graduation class. It was a proud moment for all who came. The air was filled with joy and gratitude. So much had been accomplished in so short a time. The young graduates armed with their elementary school diplomas looked forward to a future filled with hope. When we recall the myriad memories associated with the school, one person stands apart from all the others – Father Donald Murphy. On the occasion of the Parish’s Tenth Anniver­ sary Celebration, it was said of him: “…behind every great success, there is a power that guides, directs, encourages and even pushes when a ‘push’ is necessary; one who does himself before he asks another; one who is humble, zealous and loves his God. Such a man is Father Murphy.…” Such a man he was, giving totally of himself to the best interests of the Parish, and especially to his dearly loved parishioners. As I look back, a thousand happy memories pass before my mind. Memories of: – The Aching Arms Men who gave up their free time to build from scratch the school, the church, the convent. – Nine pm silence observed by the Sisters was also the men’s time to keep perfectly quiet while continuing to work. – The unexpected visits from the Chili Fire Department to test the youngsters’ ability to react well in a fire drill. They left impressed with the manner in which the children behaved. – The Tenth Anniversary Play which highlighted the ups and downs of Parish life. – St. Patrick’s Day – Father Murphy’s favorite feast with music and dancing and uninhibited laughter. 22

– The time when I was recuperating and forced to stay in bed – the men wired a microphone from my bed­ room to the classroom enabling me to keep in touch with the students. – The station wagon purchased with green stamps. These, and so many other memories are a source of enduring comfort and joy bringing a deep sense of gratitude to God and to the people of St. Pius X. Along the way, you have been a joy and inspiration. You have proved that hard work and a cooperative spirit work miracles. For all that has been, a sincere, heartfelt “thank you,” and my warm, prayerful wish that God will continue to love and enfold you, embrace you and guide you till we meet again in eternity.

Happy 150th Anniversary! Sister Walter Anne, S.S.J. ✟        ✟        ✟

Nancy DeRycke writes about her mother Lois: One hot summer day in 1958, Lois was out weeding her gardens when Fr. Don Murphy drove in the driveway, jumped out of the car, and announced: “Lois, I want you to teach in my School – we need a teacher and you are the best.” She replied, “Sorry, Father, but I’m not going to do anything until my daughter is old enough to go to school.” He retorted, “We’ll give her an IQ test. Lois DeRycke, long-time If she passes, we’ll put her in 1st grade teacher at SPX and you can teach.” That was the begin­ ning of what came to be a long-term friendship and 25 years of teaching at St. Pius Tenth. My Mom worked very hard. She regularly had around 58 students with no Aides. Lois organized many of the Seasonal and Liturgical Pageants for the Parish. 23

We found this in Mom’s nightstand after she died on January 17, 2003: “I want to be thoroughly used up when I leave this earth. For the harder I work, the more I live… Life is no brief candle to me…It is a sort of splendid torch… I want to make it burn brightly as I can before passing it on to future generations.” ✟        ✟        ✟ A deadline of April 1960 was set to have Bishop Kearney bless the school and the rectory addition. Of course, with the addition of six more “Aching Arms” groups and the indefatigable Father Murphy, the rectory was finished on time and Father Murphy moved in on April 14, 1960. The piano came too. But it wasn’t easy! There were winding staircases at both ends of the trip. The ever-faithful Semlers provided the truck and the muscle. Bishop Kearney came on Sunday, April 26, 1960, and blessed school and rectory. He was very enthusiastic about the quality of the work that had been done. He also asked Father Murphy when he had taken a vacation. Father Murphy answered that he hadn’t been away from the parish on a Sunday for six years. It was arranged that a Redemptorist from New York City would take over the parish for three weeks. Father Murphy traveled in Europe, ending his vacation by saying a Mass at the tomb of St. Pius Tenth in St. Peter’s, in Rome, for the parishioners. From Yesterday: “I did not find greater reverence and devotion than at home at St. Pius Tenth Parish.… I could not help but thank God for the many spiritual and temporal favors that we had received. But our greatest gift is the gift of faith…something we take for granted.”

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CHAPTER VIII: Ecclesiastes 3:1

The Scout Troops of the parish, girls and boys, were able to camp free on a

piece of property Father Murphy owned on Canandaigua Lake. The girls were the first to use it. They went with their leaders, Helen Mannix and Mary Agostinelli in August 1960. Another set of pioneers! They spent three days and nights in the “wild” – no tents – and loved it. The boys followed. After that, the Boy Scouts went first and left their tents up for the Girl Scouts to use. Sister Teresina taught Scout troops at camp first and second grades at St. Pius Tenth School from 1960 to 1963. She lives at the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse now and gave an oral history to Mary Ellen and Bob Dunning: “Sister Teresina had fond memories of St. Pius Tenth. She taught all subjects and noted how the number of students in each class was quite large. Sister recalls living at the convent when it was at the other end of the school.” She couldn’t say enough about Father Murphy and how “wonderful he was to her.” Both Sister Teresina and Father Murphy were from Elmira, New York. With Sister being unable to drive, Father Murphy would take her with him to go back home to visit friends and family. “He was a very fast driver,” Sister said. “Father Murphy was very involved with the school and was in school almost every day,” said Sister. “He never asked his parishioners to do anything he wouldn’t do himself,” Sister continued. He was very resourceful at utilizing the talents and generosity of the parishioners to help furnish the school and church. “The parents were very cooperative. Parents, after putting in a full day’s work, would come in and work on the school in the evenings,” Sister recalls. Sister also spoke of when they were given their first car by the parishioners. “Sister Walter Anne took instructions and I was chosen to accompany her. Need I say more!”

25

Father Zwerlein began coming on Sundays to help with extra Masses. He must have been impressed with the zeal and hard work of the pastor and people. He loaned the parish $15,000 at low interest. After five years of serving our parish, Father Zwerlein died. His sister, Lucy, continued the loan arrange­ ment. Upon her death, she willed all of the money that had been paid back to the parish. This was a great gift and truly appreciated by all. The school moved happily along, with no tuition. All parishioners gave $1.00 a month to a School Collection. The work of the men in the “Aching Arms” helped to keep the cost of maintaining the buildings down. At this time, the women of the parish formed groups of “Handmaids of the Blessed Sacrament” to keep the church clean and beautiful. In June 1961, Father George Wiant was ordained to the priesthood from the parish. He had been in the Seminary when Father Murphy came to St. Feehan’s as pastor. His parents, George and Martha, were loyal workers and supporters of the parish. Father Wiant writes: I was ordained in June of 1961 and celebrated my first Mass at St. Pius Tenth on June 4, 1961. While attending St. Bernard’s Seminary, I worked on the construction of the first school there at St. Pius Tenth. Our family, the Wiants, moved to 326 Chestnut Ridge Road at Christmas time, 1939. We attended St. Feehan’s Church. I remember my parents talking about the collection at St. Feehan’s when they moved there. It was $9 a week. When I was ordained, I was the third vocation from St. Feehan’s. I was preceded by Fr. Charles Reynolds and Fr. Golden. Peace, Father George Wiant (An old parishioner) ✟        ✟        ✟ Six more rooms were going to be needed in the school in September of 1962. In July 1961, Neil Giuliano drove the first stake for the addition to the school. Gene Semler and his trusty bulldozer leveled the ground. A basement for the addition would bring much needed space to the parish. The cost, however, was prohibitive. 26

On the last day of his retreat that year, Father Murphy saw an article in the paper. It stated that New York State would subsidize in part schools that would incorporate a fallout shelter in new buildings. I can almost see Father Murphy dropping the paper and rushing to the architect! From Yesterday: “I hastened at once to the architect and told him to incorporate a basement in our plans and submit the plans to the State ASAP!” The plans were submitted even faster than ASAP. They were approved and the parish would receive $10,000 upon completion and inspection. What a gift. The ground was broken for the new school addition plus basement on December 4, 1961. The forms for the foundation were poured on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1961. Our school was the first of two schools in the state to receive the grant for the basement /fallout shelter. The offer was rescinded shortly after. Once again the quick thinking of the pastor paid off. When Father Murphy was in Paris in 1960, he commissioned an artist, Felix Oudin, to make three ceramic figures to be placed over the altar. The figures were of St. Pius Tenth and a boy and girl in First Communion attire. Once they arrived it was a chore to mount them. But once in place, they were very meaningful. St. Pius Tenth was the one who allowed children who had reached the age of reason (seven years old) to receive Communion. Before this, children had to be 12 to 15 years old to receive. ✟        ✟        ✟

Ceramic figures 1961

At this time, there were 423 children and sixteen teachers in the school. The State Grant for the fallout shelter was $25 per person. The parish expected $10,000. Actually, we received $12,000. If potential enrollment were met, the parish would receive $6,000 more. The weather turned cold, but the foundation and walls of the base­ ment were secure. The Goodstone Manufacturing Company delivered concrete beams for the basement. A crane moved around the structure and put each beam in place. When the last beam was in place, the jib of the crane broke! Neil Giuliano said, “That St. Pius Tenth. He waited until the last beam was in place before he let the pin break and wreck the crane!” That great Saint also saw to it that no one was hurt. 27

While all the building was going on, the women of the parish were collecting trading stamps. It was a big secret that they were trying to get enough to buy a new station wagon for the nuns. It was a proud day when they gave Sister Walter Anne the keys! In July 1962, we welcomed Father Robert Downs as our first full-time assistant. Father Gerard Krieg had been with us for a year, sharing time be­­ tween our parish and the Chancery Office, Marriage Tribunal. At a reception we welcomed one, and said goodbye to the other. Sister Madeline Cox taught at St. Pius Tenth School during this time. She writes for our history:

Fr. Robert Downs

I taught at St. Pius Tenth School from September 1962June 1963. The new addition where I was to teach was partly funded to be a fallout shelter. I had to wait for the floor to be laid in my new classroom while the other teachers were decorating their classrooms. Finally on Labor Day, Father Murphy, some volunteers and I moved into the grade 2-3 classroom. Areas not quite finished were the bulletin boards, and coatroom hooks which Father Murphy put in himself while I was teaching! Father Murphy moved the desks into the classroom himself. Since other classrooms were not finished, the children and I were often distracted by the sounds of hammers and saws. The day of the second grade students’ IQ test was no exception so I asked the workers to quiet the noise. Father Murphy then came to remind me that the workers were paid by the hour so other arrangements had to be made. I remember that every classroom in the school had a silhouette of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, in a window facing the outside. At night on the feast of St. Nicholas, December 6th, outside church Father Murphy dressed as St. Nicholas and passed out goodies to all the children in the parish. A fun time was had by all! Other memories include the parishioners saving S&H green stamps for a new station wagon for the Sisters. Also on 28

the feast of St. Patrick in the new school meeting room a celebration was held when all the school children sang Irish songs to the delight of Father Murphy, Sister Walter Anne O’Malley and everyone in the audience. In the early days of the new school there was no convent so the mid-section of the school was used for the chapel, bed­ rooms, bathroom, community room, dining area and kitchen. One Sister even had a large closet for a bedroom – no windows. Since the church was connected to the school the Sisters never had to trudge through snow for early Mass. In spite of the difficulties in teaching in a new classroom surrounded by unfinished construction, the year was one of my happiest because of the dedication of the lay teachers and Sisters, especially Sister Walter Anne O’Malley. God bless all of you as you continue preparing for the 150th anniversary of St. Pius Tenth Parish. In October 1962, the “men from Albany” came and presented the check for the fallout shelter. They were impressed with the workmanship and said it was the best fallout shelter they had seen. The project – six classrooms and the fallout shelter/basement – were completed in 12 months. Fifty groups of “Aching Arms” and their spouses blessed the basement with a party! When Father Murphy was in Germany in 1960, he commissioned a woodcarver to make a life-size figure of Christ crucified. He had in mind to build a wayside shrine, similar to the ones in Bavaria. He also asked the man to carve crucifixes for all the classrooms. Joe Entress was instrumental in building and placing the floodlit wayside shrine. In May 1963, collection baskets were eliminated in our church. This was to foster true tithing. Boxes were placed by the doors for contributions. Then it was between the parishioner and God what the fair share of his/her treasure would be. Offerings jumped from $963 on the last Sunday of April to $1,924 the Wayside shrine on SPX grounds first Sunday of May. 29

The fall term of 1963 saw this staff in the school: Sr. Walter Anne was principal; 8th grade, Sr. Mary Leonard; 7th, Sr. Felicia; 6th, Sr. Emerita; 5th, Sr. Bernetta; 4th, Patricia Cowan; 3rd, Lois DeRycke; 2nd, Mary Agostinelli and Mary Grassi; 1st, Sr. Joseph Anne and Charlene Noonan. There was still no tuition. With the outfitting of a kitchen in the basement in 1964, the children could buy a hot lunch for 25 cents. Sister Joseph Anne taught 1st grade at St. Pius Tenth School from September 1963 until June 1967. She had large classes of 45 to 50 first graders. She sent us a note about her years here: “I loved my years at St. Pius the Tenth. I remember Father Murphy said to the “Aching Arms” that he would not ask them to do any­ thing that he wouldn’t do.” Sister Anne Elizabeth spoke with one of the Sisters at the Infirmary where she was living. She said, “I had the little ones for many School staff years. Pius kids were a little special. I loved teaching them, especially the ones who found it hard. They were special.” Sister taught Remedial Reading. ✟        ✟        ✟ Another Mass was added on Sunday: 7:30, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 and 12:15. Attendance continued to grow. After meeting all the requirements, our first BINGO game in the Center (basement) was held on April 25, 1964. Four crews of five men and five women (volunteers) handled the games. There was no sign advertising our game. Popularity grew by word of mouth. Father Murphy making pizza and running among the tables selling “Papa’s Irish Pizza” didn’t hurt! It was a sight to behold: the pastor with his black shirt, Roman collar and sauce-stained white chef’s apron hawking pizza. When the game was over, there was always cleanup. Father Murphy flew around with a big push broom, the men put the chairs up on the tables and the women collected boards, and accounted for the money. Sometimes Father Murphy took the money to the rectory and put it under his bed! It was work and the bingo players were a different breed, sometimes hard to please. But all the groups had fun working on BINGO. Left­ over pizza and a pitcher of beer kept the workers happy. Once in a while, Father Murphy would serenade us with ten verses of “The Wild Colonial Boy.” 30

CHAPTER IX: Song of Songs 4:1

The Sisters needed a real convent. The rooms they were occupying in the

school were needed for classrooms. (I remember one of the Sisters telling me the cigarette smoke from BINGO seeped up through the floor of the “convent!”) Father Murphy tells in Yesterday about his meeting with Bishop Casey for approval of building a convent. “Bishop Casey said, ‘What are you here again for? Aren’t you through building yet?’ I merely gave him the story of the need for additional rooms, so the temporary convent would have to be dismantled.” The plans called for a two-story building with thirteen bedrooms. The architect at Coldwater Lumber Co. drew up the plans. As usual, a challenge was presented. Father Murphy wanted to use parish labor as much as possible. Any contracted work would be done by union labor. The difficulty was with the Business Agent for one of the unions. Father Murphy says in Yesterday: “He was very difficult.” He doesn’t mention how the problem was resolved. Maybe it was another case of “friendly persuasion!” The convent faces Chestnut Ridge Road. The chapel is in the front. It has a cathedral ceiling with one major stained glass window from floor to ceiling. The combined living room and dining room is spacious. A sunroom was added facing the school. The workers’ slogan was, “There’s no easy way to build a convent.” LeCesse Construction Co. finally agreed to rough in the convent. Jim Cullen, a parishioner and vice-president of LeCesse, was the important overseer. On the first of July 1965, LeCesse accepted the job. They finished their work October 22nd. Then, the faithful “Aching Arms” started the plumbing and heating and outside brickwork. September 1965 brought a change in the school staff. Sr. William Margaret replaced Sr. Walter Anne as principal. 8th grade, Sr. Mary Leonard; 7th, Sr. Florence Louise; 6th, Sr. Marcia; 5th & 6th, Sr. Therese; 5th, Sr. Joachim; 4th, Patricia Klocer; 4th, Judy Collins; 3rd, Lois DeRycke; 3rd, Jean Klier; 2nd, Mary Scardino; 2nd, Sr. Bernetta; 1st, Sr. Joseph Anne; 1st, Charlene Noonan. Bob and Mary Ellen Dunning also took an oral history from Sister Mary Ellen (the former Sister William Margaret): Sister Mary Ellen was Principal from 1964-1974. Sister remembers watching the new church being built. She particu­ larly remembers the Native Americans constructing the roof and 31

being amazed at how skilled they were. She often encouraged the students to watch the construction by bringing them over, class by class, to observe first hand. Sister had many memories of Father Murphy. While not obvious to many, she remembers how caring and sensitive he was. One incident in particular, she recalls, was when a very tragic house fire happened to one of the families in the parish. Father Murphy was on the scene right away and helped the family get re-established. Father Murphy always reached out to families in need. Sister reminisced about how involved Father Murphy was with the school – his every-other-week catechism classes and the handing out of report cards. Sister noted how “It meant a great deal to him to be invited to the various activities and performances the children were involved in.” She remembers Father’s dog, Guinness, accompanying him on his rounds through the school.

In the fall of 1965, the parish was marked for $55,000 for a Diocesan Appeal – the Joint College fund. It seemed an impossible amount. Once again the generous support of the parishioners was evident. They pledged $56,944. Also, in the fall of 1965, the Chancery issued an okay to use English in the Mass. November 29, 1965, was the first day for English. Actually we at St. Pius Tenth were reverting to a practice that was in effect years before. Father Murphy found in the Army that the soldiers assisted at Mass better using the “Father Stedman Missal,” Latin on one side of the page, English on the other. He says in Yesterday: “Coming to St. Pius Tenth I inaugurated the same practice…I continued to celebrate the Mass in Latin. The people followed the Mass in English with a leader…I was called into the Chancery one day because someone reported to them that I was celebrating Mass in English. Untrue! I explained what I was really doing. Then I was told to ‘cut it out!’ ” Now English was encouraged, except for the Canon.

✟        ✟        ✟

Father Murphy made a retreat at the Trappist Monastery in Piffard. He talked to the Abbot about a marble altar they were replacing. The Abbot agreed that St. Pius Tenth could have it. Now to move it to Chili! Not to worry. The St. Pius Tenth men took it in stride, rolled the pieces into a truck and brought it to St. Pius Tenth. They built a platform for it and cemented it in. The Trappists had given us a wonderful gift in this Carrara marble altar. In 1966, the convent was nearly finished. Two parishioners from County Galway, James and John Fallon, did all the plastering of walls and ceilings, working on stilts. May 14 was the deadline to move the Sisters in. Friday, May 13, the great move took place. It sounds easy, but here’s what had to be done: thirteen beds had to be moved into the thirteen bedrooms and we only had eight beds; the carpet installers had to finish their job. In typical “full speed ahead fashion,” the people laying carpet pulled out at 6:00 pm. Many hands moved in the beds (Yes, thirteen. From where? I don’t know.), the furniture, everything in place at 7:00 pm! Some new people joined the faculty that year: Sr. Alma, Sr. Eileen, Sr. Therese, Sr. Robert, Sr. Joachim, Mary McGee, Susan Haslip, Sr. Marie Patricia and Bernadette Murray. There were 711 students in the school.

Before the new church was built and we were still in the first Chili Avenue church, I played the organ up in the loft. Sometimes, hiding up there wasn’t a bad idea. For instance, one particularly hectic Monday morning, my phone rang at 8:55 a.m. When I picked it up, I heard the Pastor’s distinctive, authoritative voice, “Scramble! Funeral at 9:00. I forgot to call you. Here comes the hearse!” Click. No hello. I did scramble! I put on a raincoat and scarf, dark glasses and snuck in among the mourners. Safely hidden in the loft, I took off my disguise and played and sang the funeral! We had a wonderful staff of volunteer organists at that time who helped out with extra Masses and services. Only the stouthearted need apply! The ones that I recall who stuck it out were Nancy Touhey, Jane Zaepfel, Bill McHugh and Irene Speth. Some of us can remember one time when Bill was playing. On the last hymn, evidently there was a miscommunication. Father Murphy started singing one hymn and Bill started playing another. Father Murphy looked up at the loft and said, “I’m singing number 54, Mr. McHugh. What are you playing?” As I said, only the stouthearted, with a good sense of humor, stayed with that volunteer job!

32

✟        ✟        ✟

33

Masses were crowded, especially the 10:30 am Mass. Chairs were set up in the school hall so people had a place to sit and listen to the celebrant, although they couldn’t see him. We needed a bigger church, but our debt was still $160,000. Father Murphy wouldn’t even look at plans for a bigger church until we were debt free. The window for the convent chapel finally arrived. The artist who had done the design, Margery Walters, was killed by a thug in Paris. After her death, Muriel Pulitzer finished the window. It was made of very thick glass and arrived safely in a metal container. John Duval, a con­ tractor for aluminum windows and a parishioner, mounted the frame. “Aching Overcrowding in 1st Chili Ave. Arms,” Bob Stich, Church Jan. 1970 Charlie Schott and Bob Guinan put up the panels and everything fit per­ fectly. A light was installed in the ceiling focusing on the window. Passersby could see the beauty of the window at night, as well as during the day. The sanctuary light was a hanging lamp of metal and glass from India, belonging to Father Murphy. Bishop Kearney blessed convent and chapel on November 28, 1966. “While he Window in the new was here,” Father Murphy states in Yesterday, “he convent confirmed 160 children.” The Bishop in his talk em­­ pha­sized that St. Pius Tenth was “one of the leading parishes in the Diocese.” Later, Bishop Kearney wrote: “…as I reluctantly accept the will of the Council and the Holy Father that I retire from office…memories of your Confirmation will remain with me.” ✟        ✟        ✟ Bishop Sheen was installed as Bishop of Rochester in January 1967. With his coming came the Saturday evening Mass. This relieved the over­ crowding from the Sunday 10:30 and 11:30 Masses. Our entire debt was now $135,636. The convent was completely paid for, through the help of God and unbelievable sacrifices of the people of St. Pius Tenth Parish. The Fire Insur­ ance estimate of the worth of the entire plant was, in 1967, $921,000. 34

Father Murphy wrote to Bishop Sheen in the name of the parish, welcoming him to the Diocese. “Our parish is relatively small, 750 families and only established in 1955. Our school has 711 students. Our people are the best tithers and toilers. We are sending $200 to you for some parish in need.” This amount continued month after month, year after year. Bishop Sheen responded: “I was very much edified by your sharing of blessings…There is no more certain way of having your own debt lifted than by being mindful of the poor.” A parish credit union was still on Father Murphy’s mind. He pursued the possibility of a Federal Credit Union by inviting a representative from the New York State Credit Union to speak to the parishioners. Father Murphy says in Yesterday: “I had already tapped the shoulder of Bill McGrath to take part in this banking venture.” Knowing Father Murphy it was likely more than a tap. Another case of “friendly persuasion!” The application was made in April 1967, signed by Father Murphy, Bill McGrath (luckily he could still write after the tap on the shoulder!), Dan Stone, Jr., Gene Semler, Larry Voellinger, Mike Charleton, Ken Shelter, John Stich, Jim Tuohey and Kevin McBride. The appli­ cation was approved. On Sunday, June 18, 1967, the Credit Union opened its doors. The women who volunteered to help were Dorothy Brewer, Laura Izzo and Marge Stevens. From that small beginning, Father Murphy was pleased to find out in 1985 that our Credit Union assets were $3,000,000. ✟        ✟        ✟ St. Pius Tenth CYO basketball games continued at Florence Brasser Gym. The Holy Name Men sponsored the teams and the coaches in 1967 were Joe Guinan and Jim Law. In April 1967, a surprise construction job popped up. A building where St. Pius Tenth and neighboring parishes could teach religion to Churchville-Chili students was needed. Such a building was in use successfully at Gates-Chili High School. St. Pius Tenth parishioners bore the burden of getting permission from the Diocese to buy a piece of land adjacent to Churchville-Chili High School, put in a road and drill for water. The building cost $50,000, the road, $1300. The cost of maintaining the building would be shared by the three parishes. LeCesse Construction poured the foundation and with a gigantic effort of our parishioners the School of Religion opened on October 11, 1967.

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St. Pius Tenth School was filled to capacity in September 1967. All seventeen classrooms were full. Bingo was going well, providing the parish with much needed “outside income.” Now, besides “Papa’s Irish Pizza,” Father Murphy was going (running) between the tables selling “Diet Papa’s Irish Pizza.” (The only thing that made it “diet” was a big “D” he put on each piece!) The list of Sunday Masses grew longer in the fall of 1967. Now there were seven: six on Sunday and one on Saturday. By the beginning of 1968, Mass attendance was 3,000. More new teachers joined the school staff that fall: Sisters Myra, Eileen, and Marie Patricia and lay teachers Susan Haslip, JoAnne LoVerde and Agnes Dimino. There were so many graduates in 1968, the class picture was taken in 2 sittings. Sister Myra wrote for our history: Recalling nine wonderful years at St. Pius the Tenth easily brings a smile and many fond memories of a faith-filled generous and hard working People of God. The Pius spirit was both genuine and contagious. Father Murphy, our tireless pastor, together with many hands and “aching arms” created a tremendous community structure. Father Murphy was our principal too! I remember one faculty meeting when he asked that I require the four Junior High homerooms (198 students in all) to change classes in perfect silence. I had to leave the meeting in tears saying that I could not enforce the silence on such a crowd even if I believed it a priority. Father followed me from the library and waited for me to exit from my hiding place. He tenderly apologized for upsetting me and we parted as friends. The next day, however, Father was present in the Junior High hall “helping” us practice what he sincerely believed was best for all involved. He was both unique and special, especially to those who saw through his façade. Other happy memories: roast beef and spaghetti dinners raising dollars for a fast class trip to Washington, D.C. (a fast trip indeed and a full itinerary).

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Playground noon hours – 800 strong with a few safeties helping with primary grades, a couple of lunch mothers (volun­ teers) and one faculty member. Oh, there were the occasional “off limits” trips to the forbidden Bungalow. I think the same mischievous spirit that prevailed farther up Chestnut Ridge Road during the 1950s prompted those trips. Wasn’t it quite mysterious that the cows came to escape from their pastures during the noon hour? Some day we’ll all know, won’t we? Our High School Youth Group was another parish treasure. This special group on one occasion enjoyed a week­ end retreat away from home and certainly the 104 students impressed the small nucleus of about eight parents and three Sisters from Pius. I know I came home on Sunday evening very hopeful and graced by the wealth and blessing of the weekend. ✟        ✟        ✟ St. Christopher’s Parish came into being in 1968. Father Elmer McDonald was appointed founding Pastor. He came to St. Pius Tenth and spoke at all the Masses. His first Sunday Mass was in a rented building and 1150 adults and children attended. They were off to a good start. Father Murphy gave the new Pastor 136 census cards for the families from St. Pius Tenth who were now within the boundaries of the new parish. The children from those families who attended St. Pius Tenth School would stay in our tuition-free school. St. Christopher’s now stands on the corner of Union Street and King Road in North Chili. We were able to drop the 5:00 pm Sunday Mass and go back to six Masses.

37

CHAPTER X: Wisdom 7:7

In 1969, Stuart Bolger, the curator of the new museum in Mumford, wrote

a letter to Father Murphy regarding the old St. Feehan’s Church. From Yesterday: “He thought that since it was no longer in use, the museum would like to move it to Mumford.” I spoke with Stuart Bolger and he tells a little different story. He said that he told Father Murphy that he had to move a Protestant Church into the museum first. They settled in Chili before the Catholics came. Father Murphy accepted that “rather gracefully” as Mr. Bolger stated. But, when the last nail was put in the Protestant Church in the museum, Father Murphy was on his doorstep asking, “Now?” In September of 1969, the parish took on the task of renovating a house at 16 Colombia Avenue, very near the corner of South Plymouth Avenue. Once it was in good shape, it was thought that a family could get a loan from a bank and repay our investment. By this time, not only the Pastor but also the parishioners worked “full speed ahead!” Here’s what they did in two weeks: painted the house inside and out, wallpapered and brought the electrical work up-to-date. The chimney and stonework were painted and the garage was repaired. Father Murphy adds in his book: “etc.” Naturally, it was finished on time, even the “etc.!” Two hundred dollars worth of material and hundreds of hours of labor by both men and women of the parish once more accom­­plished the impossible. Also in September of 1969, Sr. Diane Dennie, Daniel Lupiani, Sr. Mary Jane, Sr. Carole, Irene Speth, Bernadette Smith, James Carges, Frances Malczewski, Louise Walsh and Sr. Marie de Sales joined the school staff. There was a change of personnel at the rectory in 1970. Father Downs left to be Pastor in Aurora and Father John O’Connor was sent to replace him. Once again, we welcomed one and said goodbye to the other at a reception.

Fr. John O’Connor

38

CHAPTER XI: II Chronicles 3:1

Bishop Sheen gave Father Murphy the okay to begin planning a new, larger

church on June 24, 1970. The parish Boy Scouts were the first to hear the good news. Father Murphy first publicly announced the permission at Pio Decimo, the camp on his property in Canandaigua. Steve Pikuet did the first clearing of the site, July 11, 1970. The next step was for Father Murphy to meet with the Chancellor of the Diocese and the Building Committee. Now he had pictures of the parishioners sitting in the school for Mass, unable to see or hear the celebrant. Father Murphy had for some years searched for the “perfect church” for our congregation. He looked at churches in Holland, Hawaii, Australia, the U.S. from New York to California, France and Italy. He was specifically looking for a round or octagonal one, economical to build. It had to keep the people close to the altar and the tabernacle had to be visible to all in the church. In Yesterday, he says: “The Holy Spirit led me to a church outside Buffalo, New York. It had many of the qualities I was searching for. It was eight-sided, prayerful and could seat at least eight hundred.” The Pastor there told Father Murphy that his congregation was very enthusiastic about the church, especially all the space. He gave Father Murphy the name of the architect and when he talked to him, the man was also enthu­ siastic about the new concept. The space was provided by using laminated arches and purlins, constructed by a firm in Binghamton, New York. Father Murphy contacted that firm and was told that they still had the plans and could duplicate them. Since the original church had been so well re­ceived, Father Murphy felt confident in signing on for this “package deal.” With these arches as the skeleton of the church, parish labor again could finish the building. The arches would be secured in steel shoes on eight foun­da­tions. All the arches met in a steel pressure ring at the summit of the building. Armed with an estimate of the cost of the church, $129,743, Father Murphy and some of the men of St. Pius Tenth went to see the Chancellor. The Chancellor was impressed with the “package deal,” the manageable cost, the size of the school, and the need for more room. He said that even though we were duplicating an existing edifice, we should meet with the Building Committee. He expected no trouble.

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Jim Cullen, a vice-president from LeCesse Construction Company and a parishioner, had the necessary qualifications to oversee the building. Although LeCesse was union, they would allow men from the parish to help where they could. LeCesse moved in on August 18, 1970 and broke ground. On August 21, Father Murphy, George Wegman and Martin Wehle presented the same plans they had shown to the Chancellor to the Building Committee. The Committee said unanimously that the “structure of the church was good” and approved the plans. They asked that Father Murphy and the men return another time with electrical, plumbing and air-conditioning plans. They agreed. Eager to have the church covered before cold weather, work pro­ceeded at the site. October 14th was the next date for a meeting with the Building Committee. Father Murphy went alone, expecting no trouble. One of the priests on the Committee was a stickler for air-conditioning. And he wanted air ducts under the concrete floor. The plans called for air conditioning units over the three entrances. It would be impossible to put air ducts under the concrete floor. One priest on the Committee was absent but left word that “Father Murphy is too old to build.” Another called in, saying, “It is useless to have a meeting, since excavations have already started.” The Committee took a vote: 3 for, 3 against approval. Father Murphy says in his book: “I stood there alone.” He must have felt very much alone and facing another challenge. He says further: “When it turned out a tie, I walked out. The Chancellor followed me. He said, ‘At least they didn’t say NO!’ ” Joe Entress was on that Committee and familiar with the plans for the church. He was in New York City that day. His vote would break the tie. Construction continued “legitimately.” In each of the foundations of the arches, Father Murphy put a memento, representing the countries that depicted the heritage of the parish­ ioners: a Sacred Heart badge for the U.S., a medal of Our Lady of Fatima (Portugal), a Miraculous medal (France), a medal from the catacombs, St. Calixtus (Italy), a medal of Holy Brother Konrad (Germany), a medal of St. Patrick (Ireland), a medal of St. Benedict (Palestine). Under the eighth arch, Father Murphy put the cross from his Army Chaplain’s uniform and his “dog-tags” from World War II. In early October, Lake Erie Steel Company came in and started erecting the arches. On October 15th, the school children came out to see the final arches put up. By December 1st, the decking on the roof was completed. Six weeks later, the hand-cut cedar shingles from Washington State were all in 40

place over the thirty pound felt already on the roof. Now the church was en­­ closed. All “Aching Arms” were called in to staple insulation in the interior. Sixty-five men showed up, completing the job in one night. The last Christmas Mass in the New church construction 1972 old church featured the two pageants and two High Masses. Che Pabalan sang “Birthday of a King,” and the choir sang the Latin parts of the Mass. In the new church, Red Wehle finished installing the heat on January 7th, 1971 and the space heaters were turned off. On January 25th, we moved into the new church. Father Murphy tells us: “…We put out a call for every able-bodied man to come and help move the pews that night. At 6:00 pm the men began coming and at 6:50 pm all the pews were moved from the old church to the new.” Two hundred men came to help. My husband, Curt Amesbury, and Tony Dichesere moved the pipes for the organ. They went up to the loft, removed the pipes one by one and numbered them. They didn’t know a thing about doing this, but Father Murphy assured them they could do it! Then they carried them over to the new church and put them behind the sanctuary, where the box that held them was reas­ sembled. They helped a professional organ tuner put it all back together! January 26th saw the first Mass in the new church at 6:30 am. Scaffolding was still in place, the church was definitely not finished, but it was warm and roomy and functional. George Freudigman, an airline pilot, volun­ teered to stain the exposed decking on the ceiling. This was at the highest circle of the eight segments, next to the pressure ring. Father Murphy says in Yesterday: “No one objected. He did a good job!” The goal was to remove the scaffolding by Easter. The good news for the parish was that with the old church empty, the children now had a gym! The marble altar was still there, but the gym was in use in two weeks. Richard Fleck was instrumental in outfitting the gym for basketball. A parishioner and one used to working in metal, he designed and installed backboards at both ends of the gym. In June, “Project Altar” began. The men of the parish built the platform in the new church and managed to move the heavy marble altar, again. It couldn’t have been easy! Father Murphy tells us: “With enough men present…the second time was easier than the first.” 41

CHAPTER XII: Psalms 84:1

The saga of the old St. Feehan’s Church and Genesee Country Museum

continued. After waiting almost seven years, on May 6, 1971, Father Murphy wrote to Mr. Wehle, president of Genesee Brewing Company. Part of his letter is in Yesterday: “I have gone the limit of telling our people that the church will be taken. I am tempted to have the Chili Fire Department use it for an experi­mental fire.” On November 3, 1971, carpenters arrived and put locks on the basement and church. Father Murphy was told the Museum would take the church, but not the steeple, which they said was added in 1880. Undaunted, Father Murphy climbed up in the steeple and found the original wooden cross. It had never been removed, just covered with the steeple. When the steeple was de­molished, Father Murphy, Ray Howarth and Kevin McBride made a concrete base in the cemetery. The cross from the 1880 steeple was placed on that base. When I talked to Stuart Bolger about the move, he sat and Father Murphy watches St. Feehan’s thought about it. He shook his head being moved and said, “That was something. The Museum crew moved the building, but Father Murphy’s “Aching Arms” helped. When Father Murphy climbed up on the roof to help replace the shingles, I said ‘NO!’ ” He also said that the pews are from St. Mary’s, Scottsville and the altar made from some of the pew ends. The stained glass windows were stored. Now they are in the building, not really installed. They were just placed in front of the church windows. In 1972, the sesquicentennial of Chili was celebrated. St. Pius Tenth took part with two floats: one carried the old St. Feehan’s Church in miniature, built by parishioner Henry Lindsay; the other float carried St. Pius Tenth School children in period costumes, depicting the first Miniature St. Feehan’s at July wedding in St. Feehan’s. 1972 parade 42

New Stations of the Cross arrived in July. Father Murphy had purchased them in Italy. The cross on each station is teak, while the figures are bronze. They were mounted on burlap-covered boards and blessed. Weekday Masses were celebrated at the Blessed Sacrament altar on the side of the church. Chairs from Father Murphy’s design were made in Jamestown, N.Y. They were unique in that each chair had a kneeler attached to the back and they could be turned around to assist at Mass at the main altar. (Speaking from experience, they were not “people-friendly” chairs!) In May 1973, the new church was dedicated. Bishop Hogan came and Father Hoctor, Father O’Connor, Father Brickler and Father Murphy con­ celebrated the Mass. The choir sang the Kyrie and Gloria in Latin, under the direction of Bill McHugh. The congregation joined in especially with “Christ be before me…” (St. Patrick’s Breastplate). The procession of parishioners bringing the things needed to set up the altar was similar to the one at the dedication of the first church: Jim Cullen, John Wiant, Robert Hendrickson, Frank Meleca (unable to be there), Tim Schwab (on behalf of his father Bill), Martin Wehle, Bill McGrath, Dick Sousa, Cliff Schallmo, Betty Pikuet, Frances Doane, two Sisters of St. Joseph, Jim Thomas and Chris DiRoma representing the youth and school children Daniel Connolly and Kathy Callahan. The stainless steel cross made by Raymond Deverell for the old church was placed atop the new. A dinner followed at the Party House. The artist who had designed and supervised the construction of the stained glass windows, Muriel Pulitzer, was on hand. She said that “The many arches soaring heavenward impressed me as many hands offering prayers to God.” Father Murphy told me once that she also said that she liked to think of the windows as her little prayer, skipping around our church. Bishop Hogan wrote the following week:

Muriel Pulitzer, Fr.

Dear Don, Murphy at dedication The dedication celebration was memorable. The crowd present was a tribute to you and your leadership, which inspired the involvement of so many. Their obvious pride is fully justified. May the Lord continue to prosper the work of your hands. I am most grateful for your generous kindness.

Gratefully yours, Joseph Hogan, Bishop of Rochester 43

The bell tower was next. Father Murphy asked F.L. Heughes Company on Lyell Avenue to fabricate three “I” beams of varying height, tied together with steel crossbeams. With little fanfare, the company delivered the bell tower and set it up with a crane. Concrete was poured around the uprights to a depth of several feet. Jim Cullen and Frank Meleca, using scaf­ folds, covered the steel structure with brick. They were there to help mount the bells. Father Murphy once again “recycled” material. Various Protestant churches had used the bells. Normally at the blessing of bells, a saint is invoked to guard each bell. Father Murphy says, “Since we were in a hurry” (how un­­ usual is that?), “we settled for Papa Bell, Mama Bell New bell tower 1973 and Baby Bell!” “Papa” weighs in at 1800 pounds, “Mama” weighs 1175 pounds, and “Baby” only 800 pounds. Mass attendance had grown to 2522 and another Sunday Mass was added. There were 5 on Sunday and one on Saturday evening. In September, 1972, Sister Mary Carmel joined the staff at St. Pius Tenth School. She gave an oral history to Mary Ellen and Bob Dunning: Sister taught 7th and 8th grade English at St. Pius Tenth from 1972-1978. Sister loved teaching and loved her students. She recalls how she particularly “favored the boys.” She always strived to have the best-behaved classes and run a tight ship. She kept her supplies closet well stocked and encouraged all students to take advantage of it. In there I have “everything under the sun,” she often said. Sister was an exceptional teacher and loved St. Pius Tenth. She recalled that some of her class sizes peaked at over 50 students per class. In 1973, Sister William Margaret (Sister Mary Ellen Cragan) was principal of the school. There was a kindergarten, but now she wanted to start a pre-school. There was one room not in use, a kitchen to be used in con­ junction with the gym. It was next to an outside door and would be ideal. However, there was a big cooler-freezer in that room that would have to be dismantled and moved to the basement. Jim Perna tackled the job of building the cooler-freezer in the basement. Bob Hendrickson and Bill Schwab set up the complicated controls. 44

Sister Mary Agnes Tierney was stationed at St. Pius Tenth School around this time. She wrote to share some of her memories with us: Any Port in a Storm: One Friday afternoon in December there arose a crippling snowstorm at just about dismissal time. Transportation became a problem. Gradually, one way or another, most of the children were able to get home. By 6:00 pm, there were 12 students who had no means of getting to their faraway homes in places like Scottsville, Wheatland and Caledonia. What to do? Stay at the convent of course! So we had 12 overnight guests ranging in age from first grade through middle school. None of them had previously been away from their parents overnight. There was some fear and trepidation. But Father Murphy, our stalwart director in this emergency, assured us that we were going to have “fun, fun, fun.” Joan Peck provided us with food from the school cafeteria, the McBrides loaned us sleeping bags and the Sisters were the “hostesses with the mostesses.” Everyone survived, more or less happily. Early Saturday morning the parents began arriving in the clear, calm daylight to claim their precious offspring. Our adventure was over and we were left with only the memory. Father Murphy the Entertainer: Just before St. Patrick’s Day, Father Murphy called for an impromptu assembly of the school children. His plan was to make them mindful of the approaching feast of St. Patrick by some Irish piano playing and a sing-along. Back in the school office an important message came for Father. Intent upon delivering the message, I entered the auditorium. An unforgettable picture of children totally engaged in side­ splitting, wholehearted, hearty laughter greeted me. Looking over in the corner, I saw the reason for their hilarity. Father Murphy was vigorously playing a lively tune and on his head was a mop-like wig. The Case of the Missing Tree: On the occasion of Father Murphy’s 40th anniversary, all the children were putting on an entertainment to honor Father. It involved several songs and at the end, a presentation of a ruby tree to Father. The children were all assembled in the auditorium and Father was hurrying down the school hall to join them. Just then the men from the nursery arrived with the tree. They were intercepted by Father. I explained to him that the tree was to be presented to him later in the assembly. No way! The men were directed where to plant the tree right then and there. The show went on and at the end the children sang the song of the tree presentation without the tree!

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CHAPTER XIII: Proverbs 3:13

“B

uilding 74” came into being because it was a chore to transport material from Chestnut Ridge Road. More storage was needed on the Chili Avenue site. A steel building was contracted out. It was built in 1974 and took its name from the year. All this took place “just in time” as Father Murphy stated. The Genesee Brewing Company said they would move the old church and the wagon shed in May. There would no longer be any storage space at the site on Chestnut Ridge Road. The Genesee Brewing Company refused to tear down the wagon shed but took the church piece by piece. The “Aching Arms” had to shift gears and dismantle the wagon shed. They were used to building “up,” not tearing “down!” In the process, it was decided to keep the part of the wagon shed where Father Murphy had lived for six years. After his retirement, the parish gave him life use of the “ell.” He wrote his book Yesterday in this little apartment. In June 1974, Sister Cyril replaced Sister William Margaret as Principal of the school. I started working as the school secretary that September. Sister and I learned together. She had never been a principal before, and I had never worked in a school office before. We had a lot of good times trying to get through that first year. Gratefully, she had a great sense of humor and as she used to say, “We’ll tackle that tomorrow morning. Everything looks better in the morning.” In January of 1975, Father Murphy received this letter from a college student, home on Christmas vacation: “During my vacation this year, one thing made my time at home very happy and special. This was the beautiful Masses, which I heard sung each Sunday. Even beyond the music, your Parish Mass has a quality that makes me proud of the Catholic tradition. There is a respect for the seriousness of this Sacrifice that is uncommon among churches today. I just could not let this vacation and holiday season pass without telling you that your Masses were a real inspiration. May God continue to bless you.” Our founding Pastor was an interesting character. He was quickwitted and always had an answer. One time when I was practicing at the organ, Father Murphy was setting up for the upcoming wedding. A visiting priest was coming to celebrate the Mass. When he came in, he introduced himself to Father Murphy. “I’m Father Duggan, two ‘g’s.’ ” Father Murphy didn’t miss a beat. “I’m Murphy, one ‘f.’ ” 46

It naturally follows that the Pastor’s dog would also be a character. This Irish setter, soon to be known as an “Irish shedder,” was different. Father Murphy put bowls of several kinds of beer on the floor. Whichever the dog picked would be his name. When the dog came in he slurped up the Guinness, so that was his name. Father Murphy tells the story of trying to replace Mrs. Fay as the rectory housekeeper. He and Father Frederick could cook, so they didn’t starve. Finally, a “temporary house-keeper” began service at the rectory. She baked two dozen cookies and had them cooling in the kitchen. The doorbell rang and she went to answer it. Guinness helped himself to all of them! Father Murphy says in Yesterday: “All the cookies were gone. The cook left.” ✟        ✟        ✟ At the Country Fair in August of 1976, a bicentennial quilt made by women of the parish was quite the drawing card. Forty women made the quilt. There were 140 squares in the quilt. 1976 also saw the parish sponsoring another Asian family. This one was from Laos: Van Hous, his wife and three children. Father Murphy met them at the airport and remarked later Bicentennial quilt August 1976 that they were a sorry looking lot. He drove them to the rectory (definitely a different kind of ride for them!) and fixed some Campbell’s chicken Laotian family noodle soup. He says in his book: “These people hate Sept. 1976 noodles!” I wonder if they really hated noodles, or did the ride from the airport kind of take away their appetite? The first family the parish sponsored moved to California after one Rochester winter. But this family stayed, learned English, got jobs and a decent place to live. Jack Quinn and his committee supervised this family. ✟        ✟        ✟

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In the 1976 school year, Sister Cyril became ill and had to retire as principal. Sister Marie Stanislaus came in and took over. Sister gave an oral history to Bob and Mary Ellen Dunning: “Sister Marie Stanislaus was Principal at St. Pius Tenth in 1976 and 1977. She relieved Sister Cyril while she was ill. She had a very good experi­ ence at St. Pius Tenth. She too remem­bers and was impressed by ‘how involved the parishioners were in supporting the school and the parish.’ Sister spoke of the surprise gift the Sisters and students wanted to present to Father Murphy on his 40th anniversary. It was a Crab Apple tree, but they didn’t want to call it that! So they renamed it the Ruby tree. When the nursery was delivering the tree, Father Murphy intercepted them and instructed them as to where to put the tree, not knowing who or what it was for. The tree was planted on the southeast side of the church (near the bell tower but closer to the church). The tree is still there at this writing.” Sister Helen Anne came to St. Pius Tenth towards the end of Father Murphy’s time as Pastor. Sister shared her memories with Bob and Mary Ellen Dunning: “Sister taught Suzuki violin. She was able to get parents and family members involved by encouraging them to attend the classes with their children. Sister taught by ear. Along with teaching at St. Pius Tenth, she taught students at Brockport and other colleges.” In 1977, John Firpo was ordained a priest. He is the first graduate of our school to be ordained and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Firpo. The 17th graduation of St. Pius Tenth School was held in church. Father Firpo sent along some thoughts for this history: My memories of growing up as a parishioner of Saint Pius Tenth Church are rich. From my family’s first attendance at weekend Mass in the summer of 1959, I experienced from the parishioners, Sisters and Priests an energy and faith that con­ tinues to sustain me today. The energy was often focused in the pastor, Father Donald J. Murphy, who had zeal for the Lord’s people. It was frequently expressed in Father Murphy’s acrobatic handshake and love poke to the ribs! As a kid until well after my ordination I learned that it was best to respond to Father’s questions and care from an arm’s length. Yet his love of God, care for his parishioners and acceptance of his own human idiosyncrasies would bridge any distance. 48

In a providential sort of way, Father Murphy’s colorful career and unconventional ways influenced my own decision to pursue the priesthood as a way of life. Until this day I still receive the friendship, encouragement and prayers of many parishioners as I continue to live my life as a diocesan priest. From my ordination on March 18, 1977 to celebrating my first Mass in the parish church on March 19, 1977, until today I speak proudly, in any of my assignments, of my home parish of Saint Pius Tenth in Chili, New York. On your anniversary as a parish I pray that our Lord will continue to bless the work of your hands and hearts.

Father John

And another thing happened that most of us hoped wouldn’t happen. Father Murphy turned 70 in June and had to tender his resignation to the Bishop. A petition was circulated to keep him at the parish, but to no avail. He says in his book: “Obedience meant I should write the letter. I had put my hands into the hands of the Bishop when I was ordained and pledged obedience to him and his successors.” Most of the parishioners were saddened to see Father Murphy forced out at 70. We were not always “one big happy family.” There is no perfect family or parish either, for that matter. Some people were not on the same page with Father Murphy so didn’t always agree with him. Some were using a different book entirely! But everyone could admire his faithfulness to his priesthood, his zeal, his loyalty to his parish, his energy and his “know-how.” When he left on June 28, 1977, all of the parish buildings were completed, our “Do-it-yourself Parish” was free of debt and there was $20,000 in the bank. Just before he retired, Father Murphy hired Sister Francella Quinn as principal of the school. She replaced Sister Marie Stanislaus. There was a reception to welcome the new Pastor, Father Gerald T. Connor. Father Murphy told us that Father Connor was an able administrator and that the parish was in good hands. On June 14, 1977, a group of parishioners, George Wegman, Gus DePrez and Mary O’Donnell, put on a skit at Father Murphy’s retirement dinner. The story went all the way from Father’s days in Elmira, to his Army days, to his other assignments, and finally as Pastor of St. Pius Tenth. There was a sing-along with familiar songs, but with words changed – all about Father Murphy. Father Murphy enjoyed it so much, the group got together every year after that to “play it again!” 49

CHAPTER XIV: Acts 2:42

When Father Connor took the reins of the parish in 1977, it was a change

of pace for him and for the parishioners. He came from his position as Director of Becket Hall to parish work. The parishioners adjusted well to a new chapter in our parish life. There was no driving force to build something, anything. Everything was built: the new church, the school, the convent, even building “74.” Now it was a matter of maintaining and improving the buildings and grounds. A new committee was formed, the “Building and Grounds” Committee. These men checked over the property on a regular basis and assigned “Aching Arms” groups to perform the needed tasks. The Handmaids continued keeping the church clean. Bingo con­ tinued and the Country Fair was always a great success. Father Connor was involved in the training of young priests. There­ fore St. Pius Tenth had a steady parade of new “priest interns” who remained three years and then moved on. Each one brought something different to the parish. Their youth, energy and zeal endeared them to the parishioners. We also had deacons, on their way to Holy Orders. All of these young men were involved with the school, with the Religious Education Department of the parish, and the youth. I remember in particular Father Dennis Sewar. He was very involved in the school, especially Junior High students. He started the “S.P.Y.” (St. Pius Youth) dances for the Junior High. They were a great success. When he would send a memo over to school, he always ended it with “peace, love and joy.” When I got to know his ways, he would simply write “p, l and j” and I knew what he meant! How blessed we were to have these young priests in our parish. For the first time we had Sisters as Pastoral Associates soon after Father Connor came. Sister Ann Vincent, Sister Anne Michelle, Sister Brigid and now Sister Mary Ann. When Sister Anne Michelle left to be the first Pastoral Administrator in the Diocese, we missed her quiet efficiency and broad smile. She writes for our history: When I came to be interviewed by Father Connor for the position of a Pastoral Associate, I remember distinctly the very first question I was asked: “What do you think of Vatican II?” I was delighted with the question and the fact that St. Pius Tenth was well on its way implementing the Vatican II directives made

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me feel I was in the right place. I was excited about the involve­ ment of the people and how they considered themselves “the church.” During the years we worked together, we became very involved with the Synod process. We came up with many good ideas that we implemented ourselves: the Social Ministry activities grew and we reached out to many of the needy, not only in our own area but also in the city of Rochester. We started a program of going to the Rochester Psyche Center and putting on parties and sing-alongs for the people. We got more involved with feeding the poor in the city, also rounded up volunteers and started going to the hospice in the city. We saw a need to gather the “senior citizens” together, so we began the club of “Seasoned People,” which is still going very strong. We also started a bereavement group. I had eight very happy years at St. Pius Tenth and learned a great deal about Parish Ministry from the staff and especially from Father Connor. He was an excellent teacher and helped prepare me for my present ministry. Good luck on your endeavor.

Sincerely, Sister Anne Michelle McGill, SSJ

The Parish Council and its committees flourished in Father Connor’s time. I guess we all have memories of the “blue haze” hanging over meeting areas from Father Connor’s pipe! Eventually he gave up his pipe, but it couldn’t have been easy. It was really part of him. We were able to discontinue our BINGO games. It was a great relief for parishioners who had worked on it for years. Sister Francella left mid-term. Steve Oberst moved up from teaching in our Junior High to the Principalship. Ginny Casey and I worked in the school office at the time. We were very pleased to help him adjust to his new position. It was a fairly smooth transition. Ginny and I felt like we were working for one of our kids. He must have felt like his mother was working for him. There definitely was a “generation gap,” but I like to think we all handled it well. Neither Ginny nor I had worked for anyone other than a “Sister Principal.” So it was different. But it all worked out, with God’s help, and he’s still the Principal at this writing. 51

A fund drive was initiated in the parish. The goal was for $800,000 for major repairs and renovation. A meeting room and larger quarters for the Credit Union were added to the front of the school building (the Chili Avenue side). The school office was enlarged, too. At the time of the actual con­ struction, Father Connor was on sabbatical and Father John Hempel was temporarily in charge. He did a good job of dealing with the builders and contractors for the renovations. Religious Education, now known as “Faith Formation,” set up a large office in the school. Ann Hastee and Sister Mary Cumbo ran that program. Our Faith Formation Program formally began in 1978 when Father Connor asked our Adult Education Committee to research other Religious Education Programs in other parishes of our size. Mrs. Alice Miller was the head of the committee and had to present the proposal to the Parish Council for two years. They finally approved the program. Previously the Assistant Pastor was in charge of Religious Classes for children in public schools. Since 1979, we have had five coordinators of Religious Education. Ms. Ann Hastee was hired as Faith Formation Director in 1986 by Father Connor and Sister Anne Michelle. They wanted a director who possessed a degree in theology and education. The title “Religious Education” was changed to Faith Formation, as they hoped to instill in our parish community the reality that we are continually deepening our faith life. Jesus is challenging us to a lifelong commitment to spiritual growth and development. Today, in 2004, there are over 600 students from our public schools in our Faith Formation Classes. Sacramental Preparation Programs and Vacation Bible School are offered for all parish children in St. Pius Tenth School and in the districts’ schools. Our Family Faith Formation Program, Monthly Classes and Vacation Bible School are all new programs in the last 15 years. For the future, we envision our programs moving more towards Whole Community Catechesis where all members of the families are invited to participate in Faith Formation. They learn together, share faith worship and pray together, and deepen their commitment to a lifelong journey of faith. We have been very fortunate since 1983 to have Deacons serving our parish. The Greek word for “deacon” means one who serves others. Serving others has gone on in this parish for 150 years. It may not have been “ordained service,” but parishioners were committed to look after the needs of one another, as any family would. The early church utilized men, who could be married and have families, to perform both service and leadership. That 52

role was discontinued after a few centuries with the growing importance of the role of priests. Like other bishops throughout the world, Bishop Joseph Hogan restored the permanent diaconate in Rochester after the Second Vatican Council and it was motivated by a growing shortage of priests. The role of the ordained deacon is to help others to recognize the service that they can and do perform as followers of Christ. That person is entrusted with the task of making sure that nobody is falling through the cracks or being neglected, such as the widows were in the New Testament. The permanent diaconate began at St. Pius Tenth in June, 1983, with the assignment here of Vic Yanaitis. Vic had two assignments. His main work was the Blue Collar Ministry with its concern for working people and social justice. At the same time he preached and assisted at liturgies with Father Gerald Connor at St. Pius Tenth as a liturgical base. Vic and his wife Rosemary were long-time parishioners of St. Pius Tenth. John Zierle was ordained a permanent deacon in 1984. He and his wife Kay were long-time parishioners of St. Pius Tenth, and he was also assigned here after ordination. Vic left to take on new assignments at Annuncia­tion Parish in Rochester and at St. Columba’s in Caledonia. John Zierle was a permanent deacon at St. Pius Tenth for nearly 20 years. His many duties included preparation for marriages, pre-Cana and baptisms, annulment investigations as well as preaching and liturgical cele­ brations. A special ministry was to the sick and coordinating hospital visits as well as following parishioners after their return home. John retired in 2003 after many years of dedicated service. He loved the generosity of spirit and family atmosphere of St. Pius Tenth Parish, which he served so well. Vic Yanaitis returned to the parish in 1997, assisting with preaching, care for the sick and sacramental duties until his retirement in 2001. Vic also loved the spirit and generosity of this parish. The third deacon to serve at St. Pius Tenth was Leo Aman, assigned in 2001. He and his wife Marian reside in Greece and were long-time parish­ ioners of St. Charles Parish. Leo has had previous assignments at St. Anthony’s in Rochester, St. Mary’s in Honeoye, St. Charles in Greece and 8 years in Campus Ministry at Nazareth College. His duties include hospital visitations, marriages, baptisms and preaching. Like his two respected predecessors, Leo enjoys the spirit and love that is so much a part of this great parish! ✟        ✟        ✟ 53

On April 22, 1988, Father Tim Brown, a graduate of St. Pius Tenth School, was ordained to the priesthood. He celebrated his first Mass on Sunday, April 24, 1988. Here are some of his memories: St. Pius the Tenth Parish has been like another family for me. It has always been there, the center of activity in so much of what formed my early years. We went to Church as a family and participated in the Mass and listened to a rather energized homily by Father Murphy. The School was a good setting for learning more about my Catholic Faith. I received a good education from teachers who were caring and wanted to see us grow and succeed. Altar serving, playing basketball, the Country Fair, help with the parish settling a Vietnamese refugee family in the early 1970s, working maintenance in the School, and even (now that enough time has passed) getting a phone call from Father Connor at 5:30 in the morning to shovel the Church walks (he said he didn’t pay me to sleep) are all wonderful memories. Looking back I must say that it was a real Blessing to live within a short ten-minute walk of the Church. It enabled me to attend daily Eucharist on occasion and think and pray that someday I might be a parish Priest.

Father Tim

Father Michael Brown, a graduate of St. Pius Tenth School and Father Tim Brown’s brother, sent some memories for our history: I share with you that I was ordained to the priesthood on April 8, 1989 at St. Catherine’s in Mendon. The following day was a Mass of thanksgiving at 10:30 in my home parish at St. Pius the Tenth. The most memorable part of that day was the gracious and generous support and appreciation of so many parishioners. The volunteer work of so many people made the day truly a celebration of coming back home. Being a newly ordained priest was exciting and nerve-racking at the same time not to mention the ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT I was able to feed off of from the two priests who stood next to me at the altar: Fathers Gerald Connor and Donald Murphy. Need I say any more? 54

Growing up in St. Pius the Tenth Parish was truly years filled with much energy and excitement. For it was through those years that a new Church was built and a Community and Family spirit flourished. So many hands and hearts contributed in so many different ways to bring alive what we come to know and experience today as Parish Life. People, Families and Friends celebrating Faith and gathered around the Table of the Risen Lord. Some memories I will always hold so dear: my home parish, St. Pius the Tenth.

Father Mike ✟        ✟        ✟

In 1990, the Rochester Diocese set in motion a School Reorgani­za­ tion Plan to provide for the future of Catholic Schools across the county. This meant dividing Monroe County into Quadrants. We would be in the Southwest Quadrant. What it meant for us as a parish was that our Junior High would be relocated. Our school would not be “our” school any more, but a Diocesan School. Our parishioners had been taught well to face challenge head on. We did. Parishioners gathered at Diocesan Town Meetings and told their side of the story eloquently and emotionally. We picked up signs and picketed. But, to no avail. Our 7th and 8th grades were closed. We became a K-6 Diocesan School. It was difficult for us. As you read this history, you know that the parishioners knew every brick that went into the school, every child who went through the school. These were our young people, the hope of tomorrow. Now they would scatter to other schools and our “family” would never School reorganization protest be the same. But – God Will Provide. He has at SPX Jan. 6, 1991 helped us accept this change. In recent years, enrollment in our much-loved school began to diminish. Increasing tuition, changing demographics, ever-fewer Religious Sisters on the faculty, cultural expectations on the use of family income – it’s hard to determine the reason for the decline in numbers. As additional families chose to enroll their children in CCD classes, rather than our school, our parish staff expanded with the hiring of our first full-time Religious Education Director. ✟        ✟        ✟ 55

I would like to relate a few stories about Father Murphy’s retirement years. My husband, Curt, and I were in Florida one winter and heard that Father Murphy was going to celebrate his 50th anniversary as a priest at St. Mark’s Church in Fort Pierce. It was only about an hour’s drive for us, so we went up to the Mass. It was good to see Father Murphy on the altar again. He seemed well and happy. He started out his homily with “It wasn’t my idea to live this long! But as long as I’m still here, I’m happy to celebrate my 50th anniversary with you.” He went on with some of his Irish wit, and then he got very serious. He started speaking of his parish “up north” and how wonderful the parishioners were, hard working and generous. Father Murphy had tears in his eyes when he spoke of St. Pius Tenth. Curt and I were misty, too, remembering. Then he spotted us in the congregation. “And there’s two of them right there!” He pointed us out and we had to stand up. We went to the hall for his reception after Mass. It was decorated with shamrocks and green. There was a big cake and Irish dancers were everywhere. Another time, we went with two friends up to Fort Pierce to see Father’s apartment. He sat us down and gave us each a tumbler full of wine. He said, “Drink up! I have to leave in 5 minutes!” (You get quite a buzz from chugging down a tumbler of wine in 5 minutes!) In the car, we said to each other, “He hasn’t changed!” We invited Father Murphy to our rental place in Jensen Beach. We were on the back balcony watching for him when we saw this little red car whizzing back and forth on the highway, the driver obviously lost. Curt said, “That’s got to be Father Murphy.” So, risking life and limb, he went out on the highway and flagged him down! Father Murphy’s sister, Sister Francis de Sales, was confined to a wheelchair in the Sisters of St. Joseph Infirmary. He went to visit her often. My sister, Sister Mary Ida, was coordinator of the Infirmary at the time. She told me Sister Francis had a “white knuckle, eyes shut tight” ride from her room to the Community Room with Father Murphy pushing, full speed ahead! In 1985, Father Murphy wrote his history of St. Pius Tenth, Yesterday. It was distributed to the parishioners and well-quoted in this history. Father Murphy kept accurate notes, had a wonderful memory and lots of pictures. We are all grateful to him for leaving us Yesterday, a loving account of our parish growth, material and spiritual.

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I approached the “Seasoned People” for memories for our history. Enrique Miyares, Jr. responded. He and his wife, Maria, joined the parish in August 1992. A funny anecdote. Our grandson, Jimmy, 4 years old at the time, saw Father Connor tapping me on the shoulder at the sign of peace to “work” as Eucharistic Minister. He asked his mother and grandmother if that “work” was paid for with the money collected at the entrance. They could hardly hold their laughs! Another response came from George R. and Marian F. Gould: We joined St. Feehan’s Church in January 1954. Our daughter Doreen attended 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades at St. Feehan’s. Daughter Barbara attended St. Pius Tenth grades 1 through 8. We were active in the Aching Arms, Girl Scouts, Rosary Guild, Holy Name Society and now the Seasoned People. George was the first usher at St. Feehan’s in 1954. He also helped paint the fence around St. Feehan’s Church at the Museum. Still another response came from Elaine Smith. Her husband Walter is now deceased. We joined St. Feehan’s in 1955. Two children went to school there, Lawrence and Stacy. I was involved with the Rosary Society, Handmaids and as an aide in the lower grades. A special memory is when Father Murphy had the women participate in trying out a new shampoo – Head & Shoulders. I think the church got a dollar for each person who participated. Leonard went to Washington Irving kindergarten. Then transferred to Pius, but went up to the carriage house on Chestnut Ridge Road. No sewers, the septic system was always backing up. The schoolrooms upstairs were cold and drafty. He always wanted to go back to Washington Irving, but eventually the new school was built and then all went well. ✟        ✟        ✟

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In May of 1994, Father Connor had a parish census taken up. Many members of the parish fanned out into the community bringing to the people of Chili the good news of our parish life. A parish directory was also printed up. Our records were updated from the census and the directory made it easy to identify new people and to keep in touch with each other. In September of 1994, the parish celebrated its 140th anniversary and the school celebrated its 40th year anniversary. A committee planned the activities, which included a parish dinner, a timeline, a fireworks display and many other events. On that occasion, Sister Rose Irene Reisdorf (now de­ceased), first principal of St. Feehan’s School, sent a letter to the parish:

CHAPTER XV: Romans 1:8

I

140th Anniversary 1994

SPX School celebrates 40 years 1994

Dear friends, Memories are precious and 1954 is a year to remember and celebrate! It was so long ago and I have been many places. But I remember when I was told to go to Pius X – they were just starting the school. I was glad to be a part of the beginning because I was active then. At first it was a small school – little did I know how the Pius X community would grow and what it would become. I can remember that Father Murphy was living upstairs. He didn’t want a telephone up there. There was one in my classroom. When I started teaching, I was told to “never leave your children alone.” Sometimes the phone call was for Father. I would take the message, and, looking at the children, I would put my finger to my lips and ask them to be quiet. Then I would go to the stairs and call the message up to Father. The little ones cooperated and were always “very good.” Congratulations on this happy occasion. May you cele­ brate the past – “those were the days” – and may you continue to grow in God’s love in the future.

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With best wishes and fond memories, Sister Rose Irene Reisdorf

t was sad for all of us to see Father Murphy declining physically and mentally. When his sister, Sister Francis de Sales, died, the last of his imme­diate family, one of his relatives wrote: “With her went his heart.” He seemed to lose the will to live and with dementia setting in, he was often lost and confused. Eventually, he had to leave his little apart­ment at the cemetery. Nursing homes, hospitals, and a VA Hospital became a way of life for him. Finally, the good Lord took him home on February 16, 1995. Father was 87 years old. The funeral Mass was a celebration of his life. Most Reverend Dennis W. Hickey was the celebrant. Father John Firpo gave the homily, giving all of us a chance to remember things and times Rev. Donald J. Murphy almost forgotten. Born: June 16, 1907 There were many tributes to Father Ordained: June 4, 1937 Murphy written in articles and newspapers. Died: February 16, 1995 Father Connor wrote on the front of the bulletin February 26, 1995: I received the call from the rectory on Thursday afternoon. Father Murphy had died. I breathed a sigh of relief. When we gathered for Mass that afternoon, I offered that Mass for him. I tried to get home but with it being President’s week­ end it seemed that all the flights were filled. I would only be on standby without much chance of getting a seat. The last year was very difficult for Father. He was aware that his mental capacity was diminishing. I know on one occasion that he mentioned he wanted to hang on to his inde­ pendence as long as possible and that makes perfect sense. His sister, Sr. Francis de Sales, had provided his whole purpose in life in recent years. When she died it affected him much more deeply than many imagined. Shortly after her death, he had a minor accident with his car and it became necessary for me to accompany his relatives to get the car away from him. It was a very difficult time.

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Soon everyone became aware of the fact he was not going to give up. People of the parish found him hitchhiking. The phone calls to the rectory were frequent, loving and filled with concern. The process of getting Father to go to a place where he would be safe and cared for was a slow and tedious one. There was a lot of sadness in those months. A man of such vibrance was literally slipping in front of our eyes. His physical health remained as good as ever and with his bound­ less energy he was as determined as ever. In a conver­sation one minute he was totally aware what was going on and a minute later he couldn’t follow the conversation. But, he was still Father Murphy with the Roman Collar and the black outfit, with the same drive. That drive let him build this parish, not only the buildings, but its people and a great number of volunteers. Those who have taken the time to read his notes from the war recognize that he was a fearless person, never fearing even death. It was the same spirit throughout his life. Father Murphy was not only a determined person but he had a strong personality. He loved the Church, loved the parish, loved its people. With the same fervor, at times, he stepped on people’s toes, not to harm or injure them but simply because the toes were there when he was about a task that was important to him. Years ago an older priest told me when I was first ordained, that if you go through life without any enemies, you never had any principles. Father Murphy always had principles. We thank God for the work that Father Murphy did. We thank God for the fact that the time of decline is over. I personally want to thank God that I have known him, for being permitted to follow in his footsteps and recognizing that while he and I might approach things in different ways, we both love the priesthood, the church and this parish. It is now our task, all of us, those who knew him and those who only knew of him, to pray that God will bless him with the Glory of Heaven. Father Dan Holland, currently Pastor of St. Pius Tenth, was at the time of Father Murphy’s death Pastor in our neighboring Parish of St. Theodore’s. He wrote in his column Pilgrim Companion February 26, 1995: 60

We lost a giant of a priest last week, on February 16th. I lost a mentor of sorts, who, over the years, became a friend. Father Don Murphy, who built up the community of St. Pius Tenth Parish out of the small rural St. Feehan’s Parish, went to his eternal reward. Born in Elmira, he was ordained a priest in 1937. Like so many men of his generation, the formative experience of his adult life was his experience as a chaplain in World War II. He was part of the D-Day forces, actually going ashore on Day 3. After he retired from the pastorate, he published his handwritten daily diary of his experiences crossing Europe from the beaches of Normandy. It is a stirring experience to read it. Father Don was an impatient man, of strong faith, keeping his sight on the goal of priestly ministry – to bring others to Christ, especially the children. His faith was active, not contemplative. He was a man of action, leading the way by his example. I’m not aware that he ever asked anyone to do something for the church, that he wasn’t himself willing to do – working alongside on any project. For several years while I was in St. Bernard’s Seminary, and after I had finished my regular summer job, I worked in Father Murphy’s parish’s summer Scout Camp. I didn’t know much about scouting, but I knew water safety through training by the Red Cross. I had been a director of lifeguards. It was a skill Father Murphy needed for his Scout Camp. We literally built that camp in the pine forest and fields of 26 acres of land Father Murphy had purchased with his war chaplain’s salary. Nothing was too good for the youth of his parish! Many years later, in the 1970s, I was an assistant pastor at St. Thomas the Apostle in Irondequoit. All through those years, Father Murphy was a frequent lunchtime guest, along with several other priests. Those conversations gave me an eyeopening experience of the joys and sorrows of priestly ministry. Father Murphy, and several other participants in those lunchtime conversations, inspired me with their dedication, their knowledge, their love for the church – its Popes, and Bishops, and its parishioners.

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When I first became a pastor in Elmira, I invited the newly retired Father Murphy to come for a week and take my place. I asked him, while there, to give me a written report on the parish’s finances and on the conditions of its buildings. He gave me a very thorough report, for he had developed real skill as an administrator of property and finances. Father Murphy had a couple years of increasingly poor health, mentally and physically, before his death. Good friends, family, and community agencies were a great help to him. Why am I telling you all this? Just to share with you, again, what this column is all about. Father Murphy was a true Pilgrim Companion to me for many years of life’s journey. Now that he has reached the end of his earthly pilgrimage, he rejoins his family and priest friends who have gone before him. May he now enjoy eternal rest and peace. Say a prayer for him, as a favor to me.

Father Holland

Another such tribute was written by Stuart Bolger from the Genesee Country Museum in his Director’s Daybook: The large domed church he had built was filled with the faithful at the funeral mass for Rev. Donald J. Murphy, unsung benefactor of Genesee Country Museum. Half the heads turned toward the altar at Pius X Church on Chili Avenue February 20 were finished off with silver or gray hair. They had worshipped with Father Murphy for three decades before his retirement. Many of the gray hairs belonged to men who had helped in the construction of Pius X. Energetic Father Murphy had organized his parishioners into energetic work teams. They hammered and sawed, plumbed, wired, sanded, painted and swept up. As volunteers. There were women at the funeral mass who had baked thousands of cakes, tens of thousands of cookies, and hundreds of hams. They prepared and served countless suppers, and cleaned up after. At the funeral mass these and many other admirers of Father Murphy were seated or kneeling or standing and singing, comfortable in their good suits, or cloth coats, or volunteer fire­men jackets or windbreakers and blue jeans or 62

sheriff’s uniforms. On the altar were six white-robed church­ men who read from the gospels, led responses, and conducted holy communion. At the wake the previous day, Father Murphy had lain in state beneath the dome in his brocaded green surplice. Among news clippings displayed nearby were photographs of Father Murphy. Young Donald Murphy with his graduating class at St. Mary’s grade school in Elmira. Rev. Donald Murphy ordained at St. Bernard’s Seminary; Father Murphy teaching at Aquinas Institute. Chaplain Murphy as a major during World War II. (He was with the troops at Normandy Beach on D-Day.) His four-star battle ribbon and other decorations were there alongside his remarkable wartime diary. The saddened assemblage on the solemn occasion of the funeral Mass broke into laughter several times when during the homily Rev. John A. Firpo referred to Father Murphy’s colorful career and unconventional ways. Many of us at the Museum were familiar with what Father Firpo termed Father Murphy’s “acrobatic handshake” and “love poke” to the ribs. Father Murphy’s relationship with the museum began in 1970 when he appeared with his Irish setter “Guinness.” Seven or eight old buildings were grouped about what would become the Village Square. “I’m Father Murphy,” he announced. “I have a fine empty old church for you. Historic St. Feehan’s just a mile or so from here on Chestnut Ridge.” He had built a big new church and no longer needed the old one. It was explained to the priest that the first church buildings in the Genesee Country were Protestant and that it would be inappropriate – unhistoric – to bring in a Roman Catholic church just now. The priest said he would be back. We didn’t know then the force we were dealing with. (Father Firpo in his homily at the funeral recalled this force. “When Father Murphy made up his mind, it was all over.”) Seven years later St. Feehan’s was en route to the Museum helped along by the Pius X parishioners whom Father Murphy had instructed to volunteer for the job. 63

Carpenter Steve Clary, who had never met Father Murphy, remembers waiting for coffee at the cafeteria. Someone came up from behind and applied a “Full Nelson” on him. It was his introduction to Father Murphy, who had dropped by to check on progress at St. Feehan’s. Progress was progressing. For carpenter Bob Van Houte, it was his first week on the job. He had finished his coffee and was back on the roof of St. Feehan’s nailing down wood shingles. A not-yet-familiar voice behind him asked, “Do you need any help? I know where I can get you some.” The priest was poised at the top of a twenty-four-foot ladder. Twice a year during the Museum season Father Murphy conducted masses at the relocated St. Feehan’s. These were soul-searing, hellfire-and-brimstone occasions. But not for the past year. Father Donald Murphy lay ill in nursing homes and hospitals. Places where he had gone countless times to minister to the sick or halt. On February 16, the gentle, wiry warrior passed on – worn out from eight decades of tireless work and giving of him­ self to others. In his own parting words, invariably, “God Bless.” Enrique Miyares gave us an interesting account of the day of Father Murphy’s funeral: Early in the morning of Father Murphy’s funeral, I was scheduled to preside over a Communion Service. Father Connor was away and unable to return and Father Vic Bartolotta had an 8:00 am Mass and the funeral Mass. As I entered the dark church, I almost stumbled on Father Murphy’s casket. He had been laid in state through the night in full camouflage uniform. I realized that I had to say something about the founder of the parish, whom I had met only during his declining years, to a congregation that knew him too well. My prayers for inspiration were answered as I found in the sacristy Father Vic’s notes for the eulogy! I read them fast, and citing a few facts before the Communion Service, I was able to come out up to the moment. At the sharing of peace, I especially went to the casket, and touching it, said, “Peace, Father Murphy.”

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CHAPTER XVI: I Corinthians 11:23

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hristmas, 1995, came on Monday. It was a long weekend of “going to Church.” The priests had a heavy schedule of Masses and crowds were huge. Father Mike McHale, who had served in the parish earlier, came back for a “visit” on the Saturday of that weekend. My husband and I went to the 5:00 pm Mass and he was there. He went around the church, his usual friendly, energetic self, shaking hands with everyone, joking and having a great time. He was working as Chaplain at R.I.T. at the time and so had some free days. He said he was going to spend Sunday, Christmas Eve, at St. Stephen’s in Geneva, where he had also served. “Then,” he said enthusiastically, “home to Corning for Christmas!” On Christmas morning, we walked into church and I prepared to play the organ. Sister Brigid Quinn, our pastoral assistant, came over to us. “Have you heard about Father Mike McHale?” We told her about seeing him on Saturday and how great it was to have him joking around. She put a hand on Curt’s and my shoulders. “I have to tell you, he was killed in a one-car accident early this morning, on his way home.” Curt and I both burst into tears and shook our heads in disbelief. She Rev. Michael A. McHale fought back tears and walked away. Born: April 5, 1953 I went behind the altar to find Father Ordained: March 31, 1989 Died: December 25, 1995 Connor. When he saw me he gave me a hug and we both shed more tears. No words could tell how we both felt at that moment. Finally, he said, “I’m especially going to miss him bursting into the rectory, shouting, ‘Honey, I’m home!’ ” He turned away. I asked Father Connor how we were going to get through this Mass. He said, “We’ll get through it, because we have to and we’ve both been at this a long time. We’ve seen our share of tragedies.” Father Connor managed very well. For myself, it was a good thing it was Christmas music I had to play. I didn’t have to use my brain. It was numb and I was on automatic pilot, reading music through misty eyes. When Father Connor announced Father Mike’s death at the end of Mass, there was one huge gasp of disbelief that spread through the whole congregation. 65

All that day, memories of Father Mike echoed around our family and the parish. Phone lines in Chili were busy, carrying the question, “Have you heard?” Carrying shocked voices, sobs and stories, remembering. Thinking back, we can all see him standing up for his homily and saying, “I’m home alone!” Then he mimicked the boy in the movie Home Alone. He said, “Father Charlie’s not there” (alluding to Father Charles McCarthy, who was in residence at the rectory), and Father Connor is on vacation. But don’t worry.” He held up his teddy bear puppet. “The parish is in good hands!” We all wondered if it really was! He went on to tell us, “Over at the rectory, Father Connor is the Father, I’m the Son, and Father Charlie is the Holy Spirit. He just sort of floats around!” Thank you for your priesthood, Father Mike, and the good memories you left with us. Rest in peace. ✟        ✟        ✟ In August and September of 1997, Father Connor and the Parish Council took on a complete renovation of the “new” church. The building was twenty-four years old now and needed work. We moved right out of the church and held Masses at the Party House on Beahan Road. This gave the workmen clear access to complete their task. (It was a strange experience, walking into the Party House and seeing the vestments draped over the bar!­) At the church, a wall was built behind the altar and a “real” sacristy was the result. On this wall is a large Greek Cross. A new organ was purchased, a new sound system put in, the marble altar was demolished and re­­ Renovation 1997 placed by a smaller, round wooden altar, the new tabernacle was put in a special place on the side with a canopy and pillars separate it from the main church. New carpeting was installed, the configura­ tion of the pews was altered, a step was removed from the Sanctuary and some of the lighting enhanced. Change is difficult. Some parishioners were happy with the renova­ tion, some were not. It was ever thus. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, “You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” God will provide! We moved on, adjusting along the way.

CHAPTER XVII: Revelations 1:4

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n June of 1998, Father Connor retired as Pastor of St. Pius Tenth, thus ending a term of twenty-one years. Combined with Father Murphy’s twenty-three years, the parish had enjoyed forty-four years of uninterrupted faithful, loyal service from these two dedicated Pastors. Who can forget the Family Christmas Masses with scores of little children sitting on the step of the Fr. Gerald Connor sanctuary with Father Connor? Or his admonition at the end of Mass to “Share Your Smile?” Or his pipe? Or his weather report? Or his “always being there?” We must never forget his love of the parish, the parishioners and of his priesthood. In June of 1998, a new era began at St. Pius Tenth. Father Foster Rogers came to serve as Administrator and later was named Pastor. Father Michael Mayer was the Associate Pastor. Christmas Mass The spiritual life of the parish flourished under their leadership. When Father Mayer left to become a Pastor, Father James Kiarie, from Kenya, came to serve us. He too has become well known and much loved by the parishioners. What a joyful man he is, breaking into song during his homilies. Spirit-filled, he is always eager to share the good news with us. The faithful, loyal service we were accustomed to continued, unbroken. In May 2002, parishioners were saddened at the sudden and public resignation from the pastorate by Foster Rogers. Bishop Clark further removed Foster from all priestly duties and offices. It was a sad and difficult time in the history of our parish.

Fr. Foster Rogers

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Fr. Michael Mayer

Fr. James Kiarie

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A steady hand at the helm of our floundering ship, St. Pius Tenth, was sorely needed. It came in the person of Deacon Leo Aman, a quiet, calm, take-charge leader. He righted our storm-tossed vessel and got it back on course. The hurt was still there, the disappointment lingered, but the parish was slowly getting back on track. We tried to do what Father Rogers had told us to do many times: “Keep your eye on Jesus.” We were blessed to have Father Dan Holland appointed as Pastor at St. Pius Tenth. Deacon Leo Aman Another faith-filled, cheerful, dedicated and loyal priest, he came in July 2002. He chose to live at St. Theodore’s Rectory in Gates, in the company of other priests, Father Connor among them. Father James also moved there. So there is no priest in residence on the cam­pus, another big change for the parishioners. But we know “God will provide,” and we “Keep our eye on Jesus,” Fr. Dan Holland and adjust. Wasn’t it Eleanor Roosevelt who said, “Life is just a series of adjustments?” How true that is. Carolynn Mannix Gommel, just before she retired from her position as Administrative Assistant at the Parish Business Office, wrote her memories. Some of them are included here: I was baptized in St. Feehan’s Church. In 1954 I, along with my older brother Ray, were recruited to be in Father Murphy’s School (St. Feehan’s). At that time my mother was drafted to be Father Murphy’s secretary to help with the record keeping for the parish. For many years, Mom was paid with “God Bless You’s” from Father Murphy.… In 1959, we were able to go to the new school with the new name of St. Pius Tenth. Sister Walter Anne O’Malley was our teaching principal.…My memories of the school are all pleasant.… Since my mother, Helen Deverell Mannix, was Father Murphy’s secretary, she needed a place to work….Our dining room became the parish office for 12 years…. During those years, I learned to type to help Mom with the ledger sheets to keep the collection records. 68

The only way to describe Father Murphy was a whirl­ wind. Constant motion. He did everything.…I truly enjoyed Father Murphy in the later years of his life. He would actually come into the office and sit in a chair, propping his western boot-clad feet on the edge of the desk and chat.…In his younger days, he chatted on the run. When Father Connor came to St. Pius Tenth in 1977, he asked if I would be able to work at the office one day a week. Since I was helping my mother anyway, I agreed. Growing up with the office in our house, 5 years volunteering and 27 years on the job, I am still here.…My mother retired in 1985, 9 months before my father passed away. Kay Blake Hunt and I worked together for many years. Kay always kept things in perspective. When some problem presented itself, she would assure me “It isn’t the big one.” After Kay retired, Connie Aman came to work for the parish. Connie just retired this year. Susan Vandervoort has taken Connie’s position and is a great asset to our staff. I was so excited to move to our present location in the school building.…We had a real office. I had come a long way from when I shared a desk with my mother and we had our typewriter and phone on a lazy susan so we could both use them by spinning them around. Many priests, deacons, interns and special people have come and gone from St. Pius Tenth. I will never forget Father Mike McHale. When he opened the door it was “Honey, I’m home!” and we would all laugh. I am sure he is truly missed by all that knew him. When it was announced that Father Holland would be our pastor, I was happy for the parish.…It is wonderful that he is with us now. As with Father Murphy and Father Connor, we are blessed to have him. The talents of those that work in our parish are a blessing.…I look around the parish and see other second and third generations that have come back to St. Pius Tenth.… You can see how appropriate the anniversary motto is: “Deep Faith and Hard Work.” The parish continues on.… Enjoy this year.… 69

Now what was first the convent for the pioneering nuns of St. Feehan’s School, then the rectory for Father Murphy and Associates and Father Connor and Associates, is now the Ministry Center. The staff now has their offices there; meetings are held there. The usual ebb and flow of parish life continues: births, deaths, marriages, joys and sorrows. At this writing at the end of 2003 and the beginning of 2004, the parish is involved in a pledge drive to construct a Parish Center, connected to the church. The goal is about $3,000,000 and includes the Diocesan collec­ tion, “Partners in Faith.” In the January 11, 2004 bulletin it is noted that we have a pledge total of $1,294,632. Hopefully the generosity of the St. Pius Tenth parishioners will provide this center. It will give us a place to gather for funerals, a place for the brides to prepare for their wedding ceremonies, extra seating for some of the overcrowded Masses and much needed storage and office space. St. Pius Tenth Parish is a “work in progress.” This history does not end, but this is as far as we can go. We don’t know what the future holds for us as God’s people, or for our parish. We leave it in God’s hands. Now is when we must remember the slogans of Pastors past and present. We will “Share our Smile” while we “Keep our eye on Jesus.” We will continue the journey as “Pilgrim Companions,” knowing full well that “God will provide.”

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APPENDIX I BISHOPS OF ROCHESTER DIOCESE: 1868 to present (2003) Bernard J. McQuaid Thomas Francis Hicke John Francis O’Hern Edward Mooney James Edward Kearney Fulton John Sheen Joseph L. Hogan Matthew H. Clark

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1868-1909 1909-1928 1929-1933 1933-1937 1937-1967 1966-1969 1969-1978 1979-present(2003)

Auxiliary Bishops: Lawrence B. Casey - 1953-1966 Dennis Walter Hickey - 1969-1999 John Edward McCafferty - 1968-1980

Gert Amesbury

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APPENDIX II ASSOCIATE PASTORS WHO HAVE SERVED AT ST. PIUS TENTH: Rev. Gerard Krieg Rev. Robert Downs Rev. John O’Connor Rev. Ronald Frederick Rev. Kevin McKenna Rev. William Laird Rev. Dennis Sewar Rev. Vic Bartolotta Rev. Paul Tomasso Rev. George Heyman Rev. Richard Beligotti Rev. Michael McHale Rev. Charles McCarthy Rev. Lance Gonyo Rev. Michael Mayer Rev. James Kiarie

APPENDIX III Sisters Who Have Served at St. Pius X Parish Living Sisters: Sr. Helen Anne Barry (1973-1995) Sr. Constance Bickford (1978-1979) Sr. Mary Elizabeth Borgyon (1972-1977) Sr. Diane Branch (1969-1974) Sr. Marie Stanislaus Chwalek (Principal, Nov. 1976-1977) Sr. Joseph Anne Collins (1962-1967) Sr. Madeline Cox (1962-1963) Sr. Mary Ellen Cragan (Sr. William Margaret) (Principal, 1965-1974) Sr. Mary Cumbo (1979-1992) Sr. Teresina Curran (1960-1963) Sr. Diane Dennie (Sr. Eileen) (1966-1972) Sr. Ann Vincent DeRitis (1981-1983) Sr. Catherine Gibbons (1993-1998) Sr. Anne Michelle McGill (1983-1993) Sr. Mary Jane Mitchell (Sr. Alma Mary) (1967-1970) Sr. Myra Monaghan (1967-1977) Sr. Walter Anne O’Malley (Principal, 1959-1965) Sr. Carole Proia (Sr. Joachim) (1964-1971) Sr. Francella Quinn (Principal, 1977-1979) Sr. Mary Agnes Tierney (Sr. Marie de Sales) (1969-1978) Sr. Mary Carmel Uschold (1972-1978) Sr. Jean Catherine Welch (1971- ) Deceased Sisters: Sr. Theresa Collins (1973-1986) Sr. Grace Conway (Sr. Clara) (1972-1977) Sr. Anne Elizabeth Cooney (1978-1982) Sr. Marie Patricia Costello (1966-1968) Sr. Florence Louise Grattan (1965-1966) Sr. Emerita Hagerty (1961-1965) Sr. Britta Hanley (1959-1962) Sr. Carlita Hautekeete (1977-1978) Sr. Mary Leonard Holenstein (Sr. Helen) (1963-1972) Sr. Rose Irene Reisdorf (Principal, 1954-1959) Sr. Cyril Smelt (Principal, 1974-1976)

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Sisters who resided at St. Pius X Convent (all living): Sr. Judy Greene (1984 -1985) Sr. Marie Suzanne Hoffman (1974 -1980) Sr. Anne Pfrang (1982-1985) Sr. Virginia Steinwachs (1982-1985) Sr. Maura Wilson (1971-1973)

Sr. Helen Anne Barry

Sr. Joseph Anne Collins

Sr. Diane Dennie

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Sr. Constance Bickford

Sr. Madeline Cox

Sr. Ann Vincent DeRitis

Sr. Mary Elizabeth Borgyon

Sr. Mary Ellen Cragan

Sr. Catherine Gibbons

Sr. Diane Branch

Sr. Mary Cumbo

Sr. Anne Michelle McGill

Sr. Myra Monaghan

Sr. Walter Anne O’Malley

Sr. Carole Proia

Sr. Francella Quinn

Sr. Mary Agnes Tierney

Sr. Mary Carmel Uschold

Sr. Jean Catherine Welch

Sr. Theresa Collins

Sr. Grace Conway

Sr. Anne Elizabeth Cooney

Sr. Marie Patricia Costello

Sr. Florence Louise Grattan

Sr. Emerita Hagerty

Sr. Carlita Hautekeete

Sr. Mary Leonard Holenstein

Sr. Rose Irene Reisdorf

Sr. Cyril Smelt

Sr. Marie Stanis­ laus Chwalek

Sr. Teresina Curran

Sr. Mary Jane Mitchell

Sr. Britta Hanley (no photo available)

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PATRONS PLATINUM DONORS – APOSTLE Timothy & Mary Ann Acker William F. & Joy A. Amering William & Gina Arieno Noel & Sally Bateman Dorothy Bennett Michael J. & Susan M. Bierley Mark & Anita Brown William & Mary Calnon Dorothy Charleton In Memory of Michael Charleton Felix M. & Cecilia F. Colaneri Gerald & Elaine Daley George A. & Ann S. Dedie Stephen and Eileen Desormeaux John W. & Kerry S. Dobbertin Terence B. & Jean Enright Mary Ann Fallon Richard H. & Joyce Fleck Mark J. & Maryalice M. Gillette Caryn Graby Daniel Holland Earl & Geraldine Howarth Bernie and Patti Iacovangelo Datta S. & Judith N. Kharbas Raymond & Eileen LeChase Karen Malburne Robert & Mary Elizabeth Malone Helen D. Mannix Kevin & Elizabeth McBride Daniel J. & Julia A. Meagher Patricia B. Naylon John L. & Kathleen M. Oechsle John & Kathleen Quinn Gloria A. Ricci 76

Thomas & Patricia Scheiber Joseph & Irene Schmidt Pete and Pat Seidenberg Richard & Joanne A. Sousa Nancy F. Tuohey GOLD DONORS – PROPHET John & Mary Allen Curtis & Gertrude Amesbury Leo M. & Yvette L. Bean Timothy T. & Renee N. Bell Frank & Susan Berardi Marjorie Boyles Bob & Mary Ann Brown Amy T. Campbell David G. & Kim M. Casilio David and Lisa Cecere Jeffrey & Lisa Clark Concetta I. Crawford Robert L. & Jeannette M. Criddle Ruth D’Ambra Carl & Susan DiVita Mary Ann Fallon Kathleen Falls In Memory of Marvin Falls Jeffrey & Marie Fehr Patrick & Bridget Gavin George & Marian Gould William & Isabelle Griffin In Memory of Cecelia Griffin James & Margaret Hanss James R. & Linda A. Helmbrecht Scott & Susan King Mark & Darlene Klier Ted R. & Marie Kolb Kevin M. & Kendra L. Kolb Anita L. Lueck 77

Victor L. & Kathleen P. Lynd James B. & Winifred A. Lyons Pete & Barbara Makarewicz James and Susan Marchand Samuel W. & Mary Lou Ognibene Dominic & Dorothy M. Peres Patricia Powell Patrick J. Roncone In Memory of Marilyn Roncone Richard E. & Gertrude W. Rowe William J. & Sylvia A. Rudnicki Gene and Therese Schickler Charles L. & Mary Ann Schott Kenneth & M. Jean Shelter Edward & Jennie A. Shortino Greg & Ann Snyder In Memory of John Conolly Richard Strassman In Memory of Elizabeth Strassman Mark E. & Rose M. Umiker Dave and Sabrina Veltre Deacon Vic & Rosemary Yanaitis John E. & Kathleen A. Zierle SILVER DONORS – ANGEL Paul & Karen Alberti Lowell & Lorie Benjamin Barbara Berner Daniel Blasi Bernard A. Capone In Memory of Mary Capone Dorothy Farrell Yolanda R. Fromm Bill & Kay Blake-Hunt Edward & Veronica Leicht David & Marcia LoVullo Bob and Mary O’Brien 78

Joan H. Peck Susan Seidenberg David J. & Dora A. Sirois Matthew and Janet Zelinsky COMMUNITY DONORS – DISCIPLE Sandra Aguglia Robert & Constance Aman Patricia A. Lynch-Grover & Gary A. Reginald B. & Nancy C. Amory Vincent & Nancy Ariola Mary Bailey Frank D. & Teresa L. Battaglino Alfonso & Elaine Bernardo Thomas & Aileen Bowers Ethel Braun Francis & Josephine Brennan Richard Brongo Patrick J. Brown Guy & Vicky Bushey John & Kathryn Butler Joseph D. & Donna G. Cady Charles G. & Arlene M. Campbell James & Alice Cassidy Robert & Teresa Ciejek Frances Cirri Anthony N. & Gloria J. Comunale Delphine Costello William & Ann Dadey Chester J. & Marlene A. Daniels Cosmo & Maria Dell’Anno Frances J. Doane Anne H. Dostman Joyce M. Duggan Robert F. & Mary Ellen Dunning Stuart G. & Diane L. Evans Patricia Falco 79

Steven C. Feiler Stephen & Susan Fish Frank J. & Louise K. Fisher Elizabeth Gates Margaret M. Gilbert Samuel C. & Grace M. Gillio Donna Hadfield Kevin & Ellen Hann James T. & Patricia P. Hasselberg Ann Hastee Joseph & Ann Healey Magdalena Hendrickson Donald H. & Patricia A. Herrman Mark Herzog Bill & Janet Heyen Jean & Bette Hoffman Michael & Lizzette Huether Florian E. & Constance Hurysz James & Virginia Ignatowski Carmen & Palma Indiano Thomas & Barbara Jonak Lawrence & Beverly Judd Gerald V. & Tanh T. Kavanaugh John & Mary Ann Kelch John & Joan Kircher Celine Knauer Robert S. & Barbara H. Kozak Maureen Krautwurst Arlene Lavell In Memory of Isabelle Wagner James & Salene Lechner Dale & Kristin Leibert Cynthia A. Leja Lena LoBello Frances G. Longo In Memory of Peter Longo Gabriel & Christine Magliocco

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Rose McAllen Jim & Im McDade John M. McEntee James D. & Maija McLean Carlotta Meli Dick and Alice Miller Henry and Maria Miyares Burdette B. & Ann S. Murphy David & Joan Nowak Margaret O’Connor Margaret M. O’Shea Richard J. & Sandra A. Perry James R. & Amy J. Prowak Joseph P. & Wendy L. Rausch Brian & Tina Reeves James & Carla Romeis Jane C. Rosemergy Karen Roy David J. & Rose Mary Rozzo Paul & Nina Jean Salmin David & Lori Santangelo Robert W. & Patricia L. Schmitt Robert & Joyce Schrenker Robert S. & Kathleen M. Sengillo Judith Severance Ann M. Sherwood Arthur & Patricia Shilen Anne Steimer Patricia Stevens John F. & Susanne M. Stich Paul C. & Violette C. Strassner, Sr. Eric & Cynthia Sundlof Sean & Sybil Sutton Michael A. & Dianne Torre James and Susan Vandervoort Robert F. & Gloria A. Walther Ken and Pat Warney

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RESOURCES AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Jim & Karen Wiesner Frank & Melanie Wojak Thomas W. & Diane E. Yehl Walter & Rose Zeller SUPPORTING DONORS Mary Ann Soper Stephen Buckley Anthony & Maria Dambra Avana G. Proctor Michael & Marietta Viscardi Doris M. Wolpert Dan & Ann Marie Kuntz Mary Pat Allen Arthur G. & Eileen K. Barrett Biagia DiFrancesco Colleen & Wayne D’Hondt Patrick & Mildred Vaccarelli

– The Booklet Prepared for the Centennial of St. Feehan’s Church (1954) – Yesterday by Rev. Donald J. Murphy (1985) – Bringing Up Father – Rev. Donald J. Murphy’s War Time Diary – Archives of the Sisters of St. Joseph (Special thanks to Kathy Urbanic) – Archives of the Diocese of Rochester (Special thanks to Sister Connie Derby) – St. Fechin of Yore – by Father George Wiant Thank you for the personal letters, memories and pictures shared by so many – too many to mention. Thank you to May Timpani for keeping pictures and news articles in albums through the years. Thank you to Carolynn Gommel at the Parish Office for her cooperation in helping us “dig” for information. Thank you to Sister Jean Catherine for sharing albums of pictures and articles from St. Pius Tenth Convent. Thank you to the 150th Core Committee for allowing me to compile this history. Thank you to the 150th History Committee for sharing memories, time and talent. Thank you to Bob and Mary Ellen Dunning for taking oral histories from some of the Sisters of St. Joseph who had served at St. Pius Tenth. A special thank you to Tom Bowers, for putting this all together! Thank you to Cathy Milks for her artistic work in compiling the display boards for the 150th celebration. Thank you to Mary Ellen Dunning for putting together the display boards depicting the Scout and Sport activities for the 150th. Thank you to Matt Amesbury for working on the slide show and to Bernie Best for completing it for our 150th celebrations. A note of thanks to Deacon Leo Aman for information on the diaconate program and to Ms. Ann Hastee for information on the Faith Formation program. And thank you to my husband, Curt, and my family, who have come to believe that my computer and I are fused together! I would like to assure them that we do come apart!

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