The weekend preceding the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was joy-filled for parishioners of Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Elysburg, as they celebrated their 75th anniversary Mass just a day after a lifelong member made her final profession.
In late summer 1950, Bishop George L. Leech announced the formation of the first parish in Elysburg named in honor of Mary under her title of Queen of the Most Holy Rosary.
Father Thomas Eovacious was named as the first pastor. Mass was celebrated in a temporary church for the parish’s first year until their new church was built and consecrated in October 1951.
Amidst the joy and celebration of the dedication of the church was a feeling of sadness as their pastor was taken seriously ill just days before the ceremony. Eight days later, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish held its first funeral in the new church for its own pastor, Father Eovacious.
Despite the sorrow parishioners faced, they continued to support each other and be faithful disciples. Seventy-five years later, the fruitfulness of Queen of the Most Holy Rosary is prevalent in the community.
The 75th anniversary Mass was celebrated by Bishop Timothy Senior on September 7. In his homily, the bishop spoke about the fruitfulness of the parish.
“We call to mind this gift of the parish community here in Elysburg. The fruitfulness, the gifts of a parish community, and the graces over so many years. We give thanks to God for all of that,” Bishop Senior said. “This parish community’s fruitfulness has been abundant in the lives of those who have encountered Jesus Christ.”
“Parish fruitfulness is based on the formation of the members of the parish as disciples of Jesus Christ,” Bishop Senior said. “To be faithful followers of Jesus, the parish community becomes the context where we come to know the Lord and deepen our relationship with Him. Being a disciple of Jesus is not for a lone ranger. We need a community of faith to build up our commitment to Jesus.”
Throughout the 75 years of the parish, the community has been there to help and support each other through both times of joy and sorrow, the bishop said.
“Over 75 years how people of various ages and through many ups and downs have chosen the truth,” the bishop said. “For many of you as well, this parish has been a context for moments of joy, baptisms, Confirmations, first Communions, marriages and perpetual professions. But also for moments of sadness, where the community helped carry you through the difficult moments like the death of a loved one, serious illness, financial problems.”
Bishop Senior continued, “We all have those moments, but the great gift of a parish community is that we don’t go through it alone. We have that community and support. We have that support to help grow in our faith. Here we encounter Jesus in the sacraments, we hear His Word proclaimed and we are formed as disciples.”
As proof of his words, the bishop congratulated a lifelong parishioner on her perpetual profession of vows as a Sister of Saints Cyril and Methodius as the congregation erupted into applause.
“The parish had a wonderful celebration yesterday at the Basilica of Saints Cyril and Methodius for the perpetual profession of Sister Mary Kate Mench. Congratulations Sister and God bless you,” he exclaimed.
“This reminds us of the beautiful gift of the vocation to the consecrated life,” the bishop said. “What a great gift it is to our Diocese and also to the community here in Elysburg and the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius.”
Bishop Senior told the parishioners to give thanks to God and to take a moment to reassess how they are doing as followers of Christ. He encouraged them to continue to grow as individuals and as a community to continue to bear fruit.
“As we continue celebrating, we give thanks for 75 years of graces at this parish, let us call to mind how we are doing in our discipleship and how we are being formed, how the Holy Spirit may be challenging us and calling us to the paths that lead us to deeper union with Jesus, to set aside whatever may hold us back,” the bishop said.
“It is not that all of our problems are solved, we need to take up the cross and follow Jesus,” Bishop Senior continued. “It is part of being a disciple. We have that sense of purpose and renewed vision that God has a plan for us, that God is leading us to eternal life in heaven.”
FatherJoseph Scanlin, pastor of Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, reflected on the anniversary Mass and the time of celebration.
He said, “I think it (the Mass) was a beautiful time. Bishop Senior does a fantastic job when he goes to the parishes. He really has that sense of celebration and joy.”
“To the people of the parish, I would just bless them and wish them joy in their time here at the parish,” said Father Scanlin. “They have proved to be a very generous, loving, caring, devoted and hardworking parish. There is also a sense of true discipleship in the sense that they really care for one another. I find that very refreshing and very Christlike. I just wish them a future filled with God’s blessing.”
(Maria Resuta is a freelance reporter for The Witness. Photos by Chris Heisey, The Catholic Witness.)
By Maria Resuta, The Catholic Witness
