1946 - TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY
1946 - TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY
Father Fahey possessed the foresight to realize that the
postwar years would be years of growth for the borough and that such growth
could not help but extend to the parish. With that in mind, Father Fahey began
to encourage the development of plans to accommodate this envisioned growth and
the eventual need for a larger church. Fund-raising activities commenced again,
and on April 11, 1949, Father Fahey officiated at the ground breaking ceremonies
for a new church at the church on a site adjacent to the mission church at the
corner of Gateway Boulevard and Highland Avenue. Construction commenced in
August.
Father Fahey did not live to see his vision fulfilled. He died on January 13,
1950, about eight months before the completion and dedication of the new church.
Reverend Martin J. Killeen was named administrator in February. Father Killeen
was born in Philadelphia in 1913, lived in Atlantic City, and attended Holy
Spirit High School. He graduated from St. Charles College, Catonsville,
Maryland, the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and North
American College in Rome, Italy, Father Killeen was ordained on December 8,
1939.
On March 18,1950, the Men's Guild (formerly the Catholic Club) sponsored "A
Nite in Ireland" show and dance to benefit the church building fund. In the
program booklet for this event, the Men's Guild is described as a "group of
Catholic men organized to promote the best interest of St. Anne's Parish for the
guidance of Catholic youth and to promote social and athletic activities among
members of St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church." Ads in the booklet included
those from the DeLuxe Diner, owned by R.E. Slawter, which was located on what is
now the Rectory parking lot; Wilson's Outlet Store at 136 Broadway; the Embassy
Theatre; Margiotta's Grocery Store at Delsea Drive and Olive Street; H. E.
Binkley $0.05 to $1.00 Store at 158 Broadway, and Joe's Diner, owned by the
Domico family and featuring "Italian Spaghetti." (Nearly all of the
printing work of parish program booklets through the years was done without
charge by Gateway Printing, the company of parishioner Anthony K. Tumolo.)
Dedication of the new church was at a grand ceremony on September 10, 1950.
Reverend Edward V. Lucitt, pastor of St. Mary's Church, Gloucester, spoke a
sermon entitled "The House of God." Mindful of all of the hard work
done by Father Fahey in bringing this day to fruition, Father Lucitt spoke in
tribute to Father Fahey, saying, "It was not given to him who planned to
see. Sometimes we work and plan and never see the fulfillment of that
labor."
The new church was erected by the construction firm John D. Lawrence of
Westville. Built of brick, the 50 x 103 foot church featured trimmings of Indiana
limestone, Gothic style stained glass windows and fireproof floors. The
seating capacity was set at 500 persons. The estimated cost of the new building
was $100,000. Most of the stained glass windows and furnishings for the church
were donated by parishioners and friends of the parish.
Monsignor Augustine T. Mozier, Vicar General of the Camden Diocese, presided at
the dedication ceremony; principal celebrant was Father (later Monsignor)
Killeen. Father O'Rourke, then pastor of St. Anthony's in Camden, returned to
participate. Numerous clergy from surrounding parishes attended, as did the
Mayor of Westville, Joseph Tarpine, along with some members of the borough
council and the police department. As previously noted, Father William L.
McKeever, St. Anne's first parishioner to become a priest, participated in the
dedication. At this time, Reverend McKeever was pastor at St. Matthew's Church
in National Park. The dedication event received extensive newspaper coverage,
including a front page photo on the Philadelphia Inquirer of Monday, September
11, 1950.
The dedication ceremony was also attended by representatives from the Sisters of
Mercy (of North Plainfield, NJ) who were responsible for the religious education
of the youth of St. Anne's prior to the opening of the school. The Sisters who
came to teach at St. Anne's were stationed at the Cathedral in Camden.
Father Killeen was officially named pastor in January of 1951. During this time,
the parish was again featured in local newspapers showing a well-attended dinner
to honor Father William T. Eagan, O.S.A., who had given assistance to the
growing parish for the preceding sixteen years. Father Eagan taught at the
Malvern Prep School and helped at St. Anne's until health problems forced him to
retire. The news story featured a list of the parishioners who turned out to
honor him, along with a photo of Father Eagan flanked by Father Killeen and his
assistant, Father James Gallagher.
It was during Father Killeen's term as pastor that Mrs. Effie Ennis, who had
moved to Westville in 1939, began her donation of twenty-six years of dedicated
care of the sanctuary. She put a great deal of time and energy into cleaning
the church, caring the altar linens, and overseeing the careful cleaning of the
statues and altar furnishings. Mrs. Ennis replaced Ellen Vair, who had given
generously of her services since the time of the Spark sisters, and who had to
give up her devoted church work due to her hip fracture.
The Men's Guild had begun formulating plans for a parish school, and fundraising
for the building of the school commenced under Father Killeen. There was a
"Brick Club," where anyone can purchase a brick for one dollar, pledge
fund, and other activities.
Father Killeen served until 1954, when Father James L. Schad arrived as the new
pastor. Father Killeen turned over to Father Schad all of the monies that had
been raised for the school. Father Schad worked tirelessly at fundraising, and
inspired parishioners to do the same. There were carnivals, Communion breakfasts
and raffles. Assistant Pastor was another Reverend James Ryan. St. Anne's
sponsored a Boy Scout Troop, a Cub Scout Pack and Brownie Troop around this
time.
The dream of St. Anne's School became reality with ground breaking held on May
1, 1955. While the school was being built, a house at the corner of Third and
Highland was purchased to become the new Rectory, and the house at 308 Summit
was redone to become a convent. Again, parishioners donated money to furnish the
convent and its chapel.
On March 17, 1956, the Men's Club (formerly the Men's Guild) sponsored a St.
Patrick's Party in the church hall to benefit St. Anne's School. Officers of the
1956 Men's Club were William Harker, Emilio (Milly) Pallante, William
Ronnenburger, William Thomas, Raymond Yheaulon and Harry Blaschke. Program ads
again include many old Westville names and businesses: the Frandan Restaurant;
Barry Brothers Coal; Drell's Store; the Acme Market managed by Edgar Rowand; and
the Gateway Cleaner, which was on Route 130 across from the church.
Father Schad received a new assignment (at nearby Holy Redeemer Parish) in June
of 1958. He is now Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Camden. Although
officially "retired", he is still quite active in the Diocese and
occasionally celebrates Mass at St. Anne's.
Father Schad was succeeded by Father (later Monsignor) Dennis Rigney. Father
Rigney presided over the 1959 ceremonies marking the first graduation from St.
Anne's School. Church and school fundraising continued through parties and
diners. Old tickets show that adult admission to a Baked Meat loaf Supper on
September 14, 1957 was $1.00. By the following year, the price had risen to
$1.25. In June, 1959, it was Baked Ham at $1.50.
The Parish Calendar of May 20, 1961 notes that the assistant was Reverend
Patrick M. Tierney. Father Tierney had come to the parish in September, 1957. He was
born in County Westmenth, Ireland and had been raised in County Longford. He
attended St. Patrick's Seminary in Carlow and was newly ordained when he arrived at
St. Anne's. (In a recent telephone conversation, Monsignor Tierney recalled
serving the Holy Redeemer mission parish, the huge class sizes in the school,
and the kindness of parishioners.) Father Rigney was pastor until 1961.
In 1961, it cost $1.00 per year to subscribe to The Parish Calendar, which had
been a vehicle of communication in the parish since its earliest years. The
price had risen only a quarter since the April, 1930 edition! The booklet listed
the "Order of Divine Services, Rules and Regulations" and included an
inspiration writing, along with listings of contributions for the proceeding
month and some advertisements. (In the March, 1931 issue, there is a strongly
worded notice from Father Ryan to the parishioners to support the business that
advertised. This came after an unfriendly refusal to advertise from a store
"within the boundaries of this of this parish" whose proprietor told
the ad solicitor that he didn't need to advertise because the parishioners who
comprised an estimated 75% of his customers, would do business with him anyway.
Father Ryan admonished parishioners to "buy all your needs from those
merchants who by their advertisements in your Parish Monthly Calendar are telling
you they want your business and mention your Parish Monthly Calendar.")
In 1961, Father Andrew Wisniewski arrived to serve St. Anne's as pastor. During
these years the spiritual life of the parish continued to be enriched by the
beautiful First Communion ceremonies, May Procession and First Friday devotions
directed by Father and the Sisters who served the thriving school. It was during
this era that St. Anne's launched its Tuesday night Bingo to help support the
school.
"Father Andy" was born on November 15, 1894 in Poland. He studied for
the priest-hood in Washington, D.C. and was ordained on January 15, 1925. He had
several lengthy parish assignments, both as assistants and as a pastor, before
coming to St. Anne's, including almost four years at St. Joseph's parish in
Camden, a predominantly Polish parish. Father Andy was pastor at St. Anne's
until his retirement on September 30, 1967.
The people of the parish feted him with a testimonial dinner on October 29,
1967. Speakers include Father Patrick Tierney, who had left St. Anne's in April,
1962; the current assistant, Father William Francis, who served from January,
1964 to Semptember,1967; parishioner Daniel Maher; and the new pastor. Opening
prayers were offered by Father Vincent Doyle, assistant from September, 1967 to
October, 1968; closing prayers were offered by Reverend Charles Walling, from
the neighboring St. Luke's Episcopal Church.
The new pastor was Father (later Monsignor) John Lubicky, who served until
February, 1971. Father Lubicky was a native of Philadelphia. He attended St.
Bonaventure grammar school, Roman Catholic High School, and St. Mary's Seminary,
Baltimore. He was ordained on May 22, 1948. Father Lubicky oversaw the purchase
of the house at 213 Woodbine Avenue to be the new rectory, and the old house at
234 Highland Avenue was demolished. He also began renovations to the sanctuary.
During this time, St. Anne's sponsored a championship CYO basketball team.
