Members of the Catholic community of the Panther Valley, whose ancestors labored unceasingly to establish as many as 11 churches in Summit Hill, Lansford, Coaldale and Nesquehoning, celebrated 175 years of Catholicity on Sunday.

The Most Rev. Alfred A. Schlert, bishop of the five-county Diocese of Allentown, presided at a Mass of Thanksgiving held in St. Joseph Parish of the Panther Valley.

The Rev. Eric J. Gruber, the church’s current pastor, the Rev. Robert George, a former pastor, and several other priests from the diocese also took part. The service was followed by a dinner held at Capriotti’s in Tresckow.

The occasion officially marked the 175th year of existence of St. Joseph Church, however, church members and the committee members overseeing the celebration opted to make the event one of “inclusion.”

They celebrated the histories of the 11 other parishes that are now part of the last standing Catholic church in the four towns.

While St. Joseph’s was founded in 1850 and is considered the “Mother Church of the Panther Valley towns of Summit Hill, Lansford and Coaldale, parishioners celebrated the founding and histories of its consolidated parishes, including:

• St. Patrick’s/Sacred Heart, churches, Nesquehoning, established in 1839.

• St. Michael the Archangel Church, Lansford, started in 1891.

• St. Mary Church, Coaldale, established 1892.

• St. Ann Church, Lansford, established 1907.

• SS. Peter and Paul Church, Lansford, established 1908.

• Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Nesquehoning, established 1913.

• St. John the Baptist Church, Coaldale, established 1914.

• Immaculate Conception Church, Nesquehoning, established 1914.

• SS. Cyril and Methodius Church, Coaldale, established 1920.

• St. Stanislaus Church, Summit Hill, established 1924.

Through the years, those churches became affiliated by merger/consolidation with the former St. Katharine Drexel Church, Lansford, and St. Francis of Assisi Church, Nesquehoning, and then those two churches were merged into St. Joseph Parish of the Panther Valley.

Native son is homilist

The Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. Orsulak, a son of St. Michael Church and current pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Church, Reading, served as homilist to the celebrants.

“Father Tom” detailed the history of the churches built by those of Irish, Slovak, Italian, Lithuanian and Polish immigrants who journeyed to America for a better life about a century and three-quarters ago.

“They came in dozens, scores and hundreds,” Msgr. Orsulak said, adding, “Our ancestors brought with them customs and traditions, but, most importantly, they brought here their Roman Catholic faith.”

“The Irish came and formed the parishes of St. Joseph, Summit Hill; Sacred Heart, Nesquehoning; St. Anne’s in Lansford; and St. Mary’s in Coaldale,” Msgr. Orsulak said. “After the Irish came the Slavs, East Europeans, founding Immaculate Conception Church, Nesquehoning; St. Michael, Lansford; and Ss Cyril & Methodius, Coaldale. The Polish arrived and founded St. Stanislaus here in Summit Hill, and Ss Peter & Paul in Lansford.”

“The Lithuanians always had a strong presence in Schuylkill County, so it was no surprise that they founded St John the Baptist just up from the hospital.”

He spoke of how important it was for the immigrants and the priests and sisters, to be “assured that the faith that they received in Europe would be passed on to their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; some of them here today.”

He spoke of how those who took residency in the Panther Valley towns not only built the churches, but many had their own schools where, he said, they passed their faith to the next generation.

Rev. Orsulak said, “We have a lot to celebrate, most especially 175 years of the Blessed Sacrament having been present in these towns, at this church, the ridge of the valley, where Jesus has present and has been here.”

He said the result of the Catholic faith helped produce vocations, strong marriages and families vibrant parishes, and priests, sisters and deacons who opted to serve.

“Our ancestors,” he said, “ensured the faith they learned in Europe was passed on to their next generation here in our churches.”

He acknowledged the most recent pastors to serve St. Joseph’s, including the Revs. James Ward, James Torpey, James Burdess (deceased), Allen Hoffa, Bob George and Eric Gruber.

Bishop offers address

At a dinner program held that evening, Bishop Schlert addressed the celebrants, saying, “It’s wonderful just to see the element of faith in a Mass that was beautiful, music that was beautiful and participation that was beautiful.”

He praised “175 years of the presence of the Holy Eucharist in the Panther Valley,” commenting, “We’ve see immigrants, our ancestors who worked in the mines and on the railroad, build churches, monuments of faith, and while the great thing about this celebration is, yes, it’s about 175 years of a parish, but, also it’s (a celebration) of faith in our areas.”

Noting change in the diocese has brought “differences,” the bishop said, “They (differences) disappear when we gather together around the altar. And there is no reason why that shouldn’t continue”

Pledging his support of the parish’s future, he continued, “We have to have a vision of what needs to be done. It rests with us. We have to have a vision of unity. Our future is that not of the parishes we used to come from You are showing that change is a testament to the faith of your ancestors, and what you build now is going to be a testament to you.”

Pastors speak

The Rev. Bob George, who pastored St. Joseph’s and helped the parish in its yearlong celebration of anniversary events until being reassigned to St. Columbkill Parish, Boyertown, in June, offered words of praise for the local parish.

A native of Mahanoy City, Father Bob told the crowd, “It’s always great to come home. I’m a coal cracker. I left (Mahanoy City) in 1986 and never dreamed about coming back, so it was an absolute pleasure to have served here for four years.”

Saying the valley is “unique to the rest of the world,” he said when the 175th anniversary planning began 18 months ago, it was planned to celebrate the 11 original churches and their successors (St. Katharine and St. Francis).

“We’re a family, a community of togetherness, and so we thought it was more important to celebrate 175 years of Catholicism.”

He said parishioners should “be proud of your ancestors for helping us to get to where we are today, that is, to show the continuity of our faith.”

He praised Msgr. Orsulak’s earlier message that, he said, “reminded us the Eucharist is the same here as it was yesterday, today and tomorrow, and that’s what we’re celebrating.”

Rev. Gruber offered the parish’s appreciation to the bishop and clergy members who helped the parish celebrate the anniversary.

He accepted citations from Sen. David Argall and Marguerite Green, representing Rep. Doyle Heffley, which were recorded in the state Senate and House, respectively.

Commenting on his new assignment, Rev. Gruber, a native of Palmerton, said, “It’s a privilege to be here I am grateful.”

He said he looks forward to helping the parish to prepare the “next generation of the Panther Valley to continue our Catholic faith.”

Other participants included Rev. Hoffa, who was master of ceremonies for the Mass, concelebrants Msgr. Orsulak, Msgr. Francis Schoenauer, Msgr. Msgr. Vincent York, Msgr. John Chizmar, dean of Carbon County, Rev. Ward, Rev. George, Rev. Gruber and Rev. Robert Finlan and the Very Rev. Eugene Ritz, Vicar for Clergy for the diocese. They were joined by deacons Joseph Cannon of the host church and Edward Girard of St. John XXIII Church, Tamaqua, and St. Richard Church, Barnesville.

At the dinner, Deacon Cannon asked the invocation and Very Rev. Ritz pronounced the benediction.

Parishioner Nathan Halenar was the emcee for the dinner program.

James Logue Jr. contributed to this report.