Saturday, February 25, 2012
By LINDA M. LINONIS
youngstown
The Rev. John Keehner, pastor of St. Casimir Church, observed that “many of the religious traditions are family traditions” among the small, close-knit congregation.
A test of faith and fortitude is at hand because the church, which celebrated a century in 2006, is closing and merging with St. Columba Cathedral. Members have faced challenges before and met them with the grace of God. Today’s final Mass should be no different.
This week, Ann Cirelli, 93, a member since 1960; her daughter, Karen Kolenich, organist; Mary Ann Mlynarski, a 63-year member; Sandra Cika, baptized at the church; and Frank Laskowski, who will be 90 in March and a life-long member, reminisced about the church.
Cirelli recalled the Rev. Louis Kaszmirski, who served 1932-60, going door-to-door to collect from parishioners. “He knew when pay day was for the mills,” she said.
Mlynarski, once president of the Young Ladies Sodality, recalls trips the group took to the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. She attended the church school, Ursuline High School and graduated from college. Mlynarski returned as a third- and fourth-grade teacher in the early 1970s.
She has a notable link to the church history. Her grandparents, John and Franciska Jesionek Turowski, were charter members. Their 1901 wedding moved the Rev. Charles Ruszkowski to encourage the Polish people to organize the church.
Kolenich, a Sodality treasurer, said a fond memory was walking to the church to ring the bells at noon and 6 p.m. “I can remember being lifted up,” she said. “I grew up in this neighborhood,” she said. The church is on Jefferson Street on the North Side in Brier Hill. “We had bazaars, they’re now called festivals, with food and games in the church parking lot,” she said.
She added that her daughter, Lori Kolenich Ciminero, crowned the Blessed Mother in 1984; and later, granddaughters Alexis Kolenich and Brooklyn Ciminero, who performed the final one in 2011.
Cirelli said St. Casimir has a special place in her heart. “We had fun holding bake sales. I liked to work with the older people in the parish,” the now senior-plus citizen said. She also was in Good Will Workers, which sponsored Easter bread and pizza sales to benefit the church coffers.
She also appreciated the Polish priests at the parish who said Masses in that language. “There is just something special here,” she said.
Many memories are rooted in ethnic traditions. “Koledy” (carols) highlighted Christmas services. Cika said the choir would prepare well in advance. The choir of about 15, always sounded greater in number and received many compliments. The choir, Kolenich added, has sung at other churches. “We’re a singing congregation,” she said.
Cika said another custom is Christmas Eve dinner with op≈Çatki, a communionlike wafer, then Mass. “Coming here and singing at Mass ... it feels like coming home,” Cika said.
Another tradition is blessing of baskets with Easter foods. “We had no sweets and no meat during Lent. When we packed the basket, it just smelled so wonderful,” Cika said. She wrote an article for Polish American Journal on traditions.
The heritage reached outside the church. The late Florence Turowski organized the Polish Arts Club, which recently had its annual tea at Butler Institute of American Art. Mlynarski said the church has kept the Polish language in use.
Laskowski has fixed many things at the church. He also recalled the Ski Club, which featured sports activities. A World War II veteran, he said he appreciated the church’s patriotism by lighting candles and flying the U.S. flag. “It’s my whole life,” he said of how he felt about the church; a sentiment shared by members.
The Rev. Joseph Rudjak, who grew up at St. Casimir, said he was mentored by Father Kazmirski. “He was a great example of a pastor to families. He set the tone of the congregation being supportive of one another.”
Richard Scarsella, Sacred Places Dialogue facilitator, said St. Casimir was an “anchor in Brier Hill. St. Casimir embodied a social, cultural, ethnic and religious spirit that solidified the parish.”