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Fond memories pervade St. Casimir at final Mass
By Sean Barron
YOUNGSTOWN
You would be hard pressed to find an aspect of life at St. Casimir’s Church that Stanley Kosinski Sr. hasn’t had a hand in.
After all, Kosinski was baptized at the church in 1927 and has been a member since.
“I’ve been here all my life, including my first Communion,” he recalled.
Kosinski has been at St. Casimir’s over the years for countless gatherings — many festive, some poignant. His most recent visit was, by many people’s accounts, bittersweet: He was part of a standing-room-only crowd that attended Saturday’s 4 p.m. Mass of Farewell at the church, 149 Jefferson St., on the North Side.
The 106-year-old church, which had for years been an anchor for many Polish residents of the city’s Brier Hill area, merged in November 2010 with St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown.
In his 85 years at the church, Kosinski has served as an altar boy and rector, as well as on committees to celebrate St. Casimir’s 90th and 100th birthdays. Kosinski also helped remodel the dark brick church in 1952, he said.
Despite his deep connection with St. Casimir, Kosinski is ready to attend St. Columba and look to the future, he said after the 90-minute Mass.
He worked for the R.L. Lipton and Star Bottling Cos., and said he appreciates that the Rev. John E. Keehner, pastor, made the transition easier.
Another lifelong member is Kosinski’s 39-year-old daughter, Marly, a Web producer for WKBN-TV 27.
“The church is like a family; we all know each other,” she said, noting she had four nieces baptized there. “If somebody wasn’t here, we’d all know they’re not here.”
St. Casimir’s has many older members who will join St. Columba, which has a lot of younger families, noted Marly, who’s taught religious education for about a year.
She feels a bit sad about the closing, she said, yet is relieved that “we can give our all to St. Columba.”
Delivering the homily Saturday was Bishop George V. Murry of the Diocese of Youngstown, who used the story of Jesus’ 40 days of temptation detailed in the Books of Matthew, Mark and Luke as a metaphor for how many parishioners may feel about the merger.
After having been baptized, Jesus spent 40 days in the Judean Desert, where he was tempted by Satan and faced loneliness, trials and tribulations, Bishop Murry explained. Likewise, adjusting to the closing of St. Casimir’s will probably be trying for some people, he said.
“I’m with you today because I share that sorrow, yet the good news is that Jesus Christ can bring hope and peace,” he said.
A shortage of priests, higher costs to maintain buildings and more families moving to the suburbs are the main reasons for the closing and merger, the bishop noted.
The final Mass also offered commemorations for several celebrations that took place in the church. Candles were lighted to honor those who celebrated their first Holy Communion and the Sacraments of Healing, entered religious life, became teachers and students and got married. Also recognized were parishioners who were baptized and confirmed.
Another challenge for St. Casimir’s was that many members moved, so it no longer was a neighborhood parish, noted Father Keehner, pastor since 2006. It is hoped that everyone will feel welcome at St. Columba, he added.
Tentative plans for St. Casimir’s include using the building for a cultural center, he said, adding that the convent and rectory are being rented.
The transition is difficult for many members, but should prove positive in the long run, Father Keehner predicted.
“It’s sad for people and I was sad with them, but I know people at St. Columba will be stronger because the people at St. Casimir’s have joined them,” he said.