Sts. Peter and Paul Croatian Roman Catholic Church marking centennial

By Linda Linonis | August 13, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

By LINDA M. LINONIS

Youngstown

History, heritage and homage to a Croatian background distinguish Sts. Peter and Paul Croatian Roman Catholic Church, which is celebrating its centennial.

The Rev. Joseph Rudjak, pastor since 2003, sees the church as a symbol of an “in gathering” in the city. “As Jesus gathered his Disciples, we gather,” he said, adding that though the church is Croatian in ethnicity, it welcomes people of all backgrounds.

Father Rudjak, the fifth pastor of the 100-year-old church, said the special history of the church is, in part, tied to the history of the city where Croatian immigrants settled and worked in industry.

Dave Ivko, anniversary committee co-chair, characterized the congregation as “a close-knit group that is very caring about one another.” He added that the members also “work very well together.” Ivko has been a member since being baptized 64 years ago.

Chuck Vogrin, a 71-year member since baptism, added that the parish of some 380 families is small enough for everyone to “know one another.” He pointed out the “gatherings” after Mass provide a way for members to connect. The church also connects with its neighbor, Tabernacle Baptist Church, and a pulpit exchange takes place.

Another avenue of connection is food. “We’re known for our chicken dinners ... they’re a tradition,” Vogin said, crediting Mary Ann Garasic with the project’s success.

Garasic, anniversary committee co-chair, oversees the homemade dinners. “We roast the chickens ... we get here at 2 a.m. to get started,” she said of the tasty effort that will be Nov. 20.

For the centennial, co-chairs Nancy Maltonic and Karen Cannatti coordinated “Croatian Pride” cookbook with a myriad of recipes including Croatian, Polish, Slavic and Mexican.

“We’ve sold about 500,” Maltonic said, adding that she carries a case in her car to supply anyone who wants to buy one. “If I need one, I have it,” she said. The cookbook features recipes from parishioners and friends including Grandpa’s Hladentina (jellied pig’s feet), Hungarian Sausage Soup, Croatian Potato Salad, Sarma (cabbage rolls) and Pogacha (rich bread).

Maltonic said it was only natural that the church mark the anniversary with a cookbook because food is an integral part of ethnic heritage and in fundraisers such as spaghetti and stuffed cabbage dinners.

In June at a dinner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Hall, about 445 people celebrated the anniversary and saw the presentation of the first Deputy John “Sonny” Litch Memorial Scholarship. It honors the Mahoning County deputy sheriff who died in the line of duty in 1981. Father Rudjak said the church wanted to honor Litch for his work in the community with the $1,000 scholarship. Darlene Litch, his widow, is a member.

The church offers a unique commnity outreach Tuesdays through its Croatian language class at 10 a.m. and Polish language class at 11; there is a Croatian liturgy at 9.

“Laughter, song and story” dominate the sessions, Father Rudjak said, which are open to beginners to advanced. In the 100th anniversary book, Father Rudjak wrote, “Our ethnic heritage is our gift to our diocesan church, our social organizations and our country.”

Father Rudjak, founder of the Ethnic Heritage Society, said valuing ethnic language and traditions will help take the richness of ethnic identity into the future.

Lillian Bergman is working on translating 30 Croatian hymns to English. For the 100th, Deacon George Paulicivic wrote “Zdra Mario,” a Croatian Hail Mary that the choir sang.

The church also supports the Dorothy Day House, St. Vincent de Paul Society and Beatitude House. The Holy Name Society, Altar Rosary Society and Daughters of Sts. Peter and Paul offer avenues to be engaged in church activities.

John E. Bistrica, a member since his baptism in 1923, added that a prayer chain demonstrates the church’s caring. Bistrica, a talented handyman, was involved in the remodeling of the church santuary.

The sanctuary is home to a Piet statue of Mary holding the body of Jesus. “It focuses on the bond between mother and son,” Father Rudjak said.

Vivid stained-glass windows also highlight the sanctuary, where pictorial representations include St. John the Evangelist, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Agnes and St. Anthony and St. Catherine of Alexandra, Egypt. Father Rudjak said the trade winds of the Adriatic Sea, on which Croatia has a coastline, carried influences from other parts of the world including a devotion to Sts. Anthony and Catherine in Egypt.

Croatian and American flags also are displayed.

In the diocese reconfiguration plan, Sts. Peter and Paul is merging with St. Stephen of Hungary and Our Lady of Hungary. A worship site will be determined.

Sts. Peter and Paul Croatian Roman Catholic Church, 421 Covington St., is celebrating its centennial.

Picnic: A picnic is scheduled Sunday at Strossmayer Croatian Picnic Grounds, 4204 Smith Stewart Road, Vienna. There will be a procession and Mass at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Joseph Rudjak, pastor, followed by music and dance performances. Barbecued lamb and pork and a Croatian kitchen will be available at noon. Happy Hearts Junior Tamburitzans will perform at 1 p.m. and Vatra Band from Pittsburgh at 3. There is an admission fee.

Concert: Easy Street Productions will present a Broadway-style concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Morley Pavilion in Mill Creek MetroParks. The event will be hosted by St. Elizabeth Health Center, St. Patrick Church, Sts. Peter and Paul Church, and Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Church, all Youngstown churches celebrating 100th anniversaries in 2011. The free 90-minute show will feature many of Easy Street’s regular vocalists and dancers, Little Rascals and the Little Big Band.

The beginning: In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Croatian immigrants, drawn by work in the steel mills, settled in Youngstown on the lower North Side in an area dubbed “Monkey’s Nest.” They attended Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church but wanted a Croatian church. Banding together in the Croatian Association, the group bought two lots on the corner of Arlington and Covington streets in 1908. One house was used as a church and the other, the parish house. The Rev. Michael G. Domladovac was ordained June 10, 1911, in Cleveland. He celebrated his first Mass the next day, June 11, at Sts. Cyril and Methodius and also became pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul. He said his first Mass July 2, 1911, in the little wooden church. A building project began and the cornerstone was laid Aug. 3, 1913. A dedication was July 11, 1915.

Early 1900s: Father Domladovac, who became a monsignor, was reassigned to St. Paul Church in Cleveland and the Rev. John Stipanovic was named the second pastor, serving from 1917 until his death in 1970. Monsignor Stipanovic, named a domestic prelate in 1948, earned an international reputation as an advocate for Croatian independence. He was instrumental in forming the Croatian Catholic Union. After World War II, he assisted Croatian refugees.

1920s though ‘40s: In 1921, new bells were installed and a new organ was purchased in 1923. The parish completed the school in 1929 and faced the Great Depression. After WWII, mothers gathered a donation to remodel the sanctuary in honor of sons who died in the war. New altars were installed along with statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph and Sts. Peter and Paul. In September 1946 when the altars were consecrated, Pfc. John E. Bistrica, still a church member, was among 10 military veterans who led the procession.

1950s-’90s: The school flourished and four buses were bought in 1953. In 1968, the sanctuary was enlarged and altar railings removed. A moveable altar was added. Monsignor Stipanovic died in 1970 and the Rev. Benjamin Radetic became pastor. The school closed in 1973. A new organ, bought in 1978, replaced the original. The social hall was remodeled in 1982. In 1999, new acrylic covers were placed over the stained-glass windows on the north side of the church and Monsignor Radetic retired. The Pieta, statue of Mary holding the body of Jesus, was moved from the back of the church to the former location of a confessional on the right side of the sanctuary. Also in 1999, the Rev. John Francis Warner became pastor.

2000s: In anticipation of the 90th anniversary, the church interior was refurbished. Plantings of shrubs and flowers replaced fence in front of the church. In 2003, the Rev. Joseph Rudjak became the fifth pastor. An elevator was installed in 2006 and near its entrance, a gathering dspace under a porch was created. A pastoral associate, Sister Rose Huber of Humility of Mary and Deacon George Paulicivic joined the parish team in 2007.

Website: Church site is www.sspeterpaulcroatian.catholicweb.com.

Source: History from Sts. Peter and Paul anniversary book