1971 - FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
1971 - FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
In 1971 came Father Andrew Duignan, native of County Cavan,
Ireland, who was ordained in 1958 after completing his seminary studies at St.
Peter's in Wexford, Ireland. During his stay, Father Duignan oversaw the
inauguration of St. Anne's first parish council in 1971. The officers of this
new body were James Maltman, President; Francis (Mike) Nolan, Vice President;
and Mary Pallante, Secretary Vatican Council. The main altar was removed and a
new altar placed at the front of the sanctuary to facilitate the priest
celebrating Mass while facing the congregation. The ornate altar decoration and
Oriental rugs were replaced, and the altar rail removed.
It was also in 1971, on October 17, that St, Anne's celebrated the Golden
Jubilee of its founding as a mission church. Bishop George H. Guilfoyle presided
at a concelebrated Mass, and Monsignor Lucitt (homilist at the dedication of the
new church in 1950) again served as homilist. After the Mass, parishioners
attended a dinner dance at Gloucester Catholic High School. Father James R. Ryan
who had come to St. Anne's as assistant in October, 1968, gave the welcoming
remarks. The blessing was prayed by Reverend Thomas J. McIntyre, the second
parishioner to become a priest, having been ordained at St. Peter's Basilica,
Rome, in December of 1966. The "Toastmaster" was Father William L.
McKeever; who was then Pastor of St. Margaret's Church in Woodbury Heights.
Remarks were delivered by Bishop Guilfoyle, Father Duignan, and parishioner Mike
Nolan, who had chaired the event. The Benediction was done by Reverend James P.
McIntyre, the third priest from the parish, who ordained on May 22, 1971. Both
McIntyres went on to important positions in Diocesan administration.
The program booklet for the 1971 observance listed the organizations active in
the parish and their presidents: the Men's Club, Joseph Bennett: the Altar &
Rosary Society, Rita Storey; the Senior Club, Marie Mick; the Youth Adults'
Club, Maryanne Hoppe, the Adult Club, Frank Pallante; and the PTA., Catherine
Mitchell.
St. Anne's had long provided education in the Catholic religion to parish
children who did not attend the parochial school. This was done through a
Confraternity of Christian Diction (CCD) program, in which some of the nuns and
some parishioners taught classes, usually after one of the Sunday Masses, but
sometimes in their own homes. The CCD program was very active through the 1970s,
in general a time of a great deal of youth-oriented activity in the parish.
There were dances, parties, hayrides and field trips. Much of the youth-oriented
activity was led by assistants, first Father James R, Ryan, who served until
October, 1972, and then Father Michael T Mannion, or Father Mike.
Father Mannion, born in 1945, led a varied life before his ordination. He worked
as an English teacher in Belgium, an elementary teacher in Uganda, a paramedic
in India, and a deacon in Liverpool. He was ordained in 1971 in St. Peter's
Basilica, Rome. He came to St. Anne's in July of 1972.
In March, 1974, Father Mike founded the "Discovery" programs for teens
of the parish. The program involved weekend retreats for teens to express their
feelings and discuss their concerns. Father Mike and Mr. and Mrs. Joe Angelastro
provided adult supervision. Father Mike also helped to start a parish
newsletter, its first issue was May 1, 1974. The vehicle, although short-lived,
was written mostly by parishioners and covered dish supper, and a list of
baptisms, marriages, and deaths, and a dinner/dance honoring Tom Pallante as
"Man of the Year." This event was sponsored by the Men's Club under
Bill Harker, and honored Tom for his lifelong contributions to the church, school
and community.
While pastor of St. Anne's, Father Duignan was appointed to the post of
associate director of the Diocese's House of Charity to the post of associate
director of the Diocese's House of Charity program. He maintained pastoral
duties during this assignment. In December of 1974, however, Father Duignan was
appointed "Vicar for Religious of Camden Diocese and Diocesan Coordinator
for the Marriage Encounter Movement." This new assignment caused him to
leave St. Anne's to devote his full-time efforts to his new assignment. He was succeeded by Father Patrick Chiarilli, who was named as parish administrator on
December 3, 1974.
Father Pat, as he was known, brought a flair for gardening and decorating the
church. The newsletter showed that in April of 1975, there was a party for
parishioners to Sweet & Sour Pork and Beef Burgundy. In May of that year,
the CCD teachers (Jodi Laggy, Sister Anne Marie Granger, Ellen Held, Mrs.
Andrews, Roe Muziani, Louise Sorim, Ann Muziani, Sister Frances O,Dell, Steven
Cerkez, Catherine Mitchell, Jack & Wilma Shrift, Lee DeNardo, Jim & Rita
Mac Mullin and Rita Graebe) were treated to dinner at The Farm in Cherry Hill.
Another notice in the newsletter called for volunteers for the Rosary Making
Club, which had been active had included Pauline Garret, Helen Henry, and the
prolific Mary Pinto, who made a rosary a day. Mary had also been active for many
years in the care of the sanctuary. The newsletter noted that there were only
twelve members left, and only four were still active as "many of the women
had gone to work" and no longer had time. The club had sent out over 800
rosaries were missions in West Africa.
Father Pat had the sad task of overseeing the closure of the parish school at
the end of the 1974-75 school year. Father Mannion was reassigned in August of
1975, and Reverend Daniel Penney came to be the assistant pastor. A native of
Mt. Ephraim, Father Dan was born in January of 1934. He was ordained in 1961 at
the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Camden Catholic High School in
1942. He completed seminary at St. Mary's in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in
1789, it is the oldest seminary in the country. Ordained in the Cathedral in
Camden, Father Poyatt celebrated his first Mass at St. Rose of Lima Church on
June 12,1949.
Father Poyatt's time brought the interior renovation of the original church
building, known as "the Annex." In a recent conversation, Monsignor
Poyatt related that he recently found a ticket to a spaghetti dinner at St.
Anne's on April 25, 1981. The cost per ticket was $3.00.
During this time, the religious education director of the parish was Sister
Michael Dolores, S. S. J., Sister worked with Father Bill in the Westville
Ministerium, comprised of clergy from St. Anne's, St. Luke's Episcopal Church,
Westville Methodist Church, and St. John's Church. This organization sponsors
ecumenical liturgical and social events in the borough. Sister Michael Dolores
also helped to start an Ecumenical Vacation Bible School for borough children.
This annual event was established in August of 1981.
In 1986, the parish helped Father Dan Penney celebrate his twenty-fifth
anniversary in the priesthood with a simple Mass and party.
Father Bill's time as Pastor also saw the installation of St. Anthony Como as
permanent deacon. A new Nativity set was purchased for the parish, replacing the
original plaster one that had been a Christmas tradition for years. Father
Poyatt remained as pastor until June, 1990.
Father Roy Hardin succeeded Monsignor Poyatt. Father Hardin had previously
taught German at Gloucester Catholic High School. Father Roy undertook the task
of renovating the stained glass windows, started the refurbishing of the stain
glass windows, which needed some replacement panes and new hinges. He also
commenced work on the foundation, the church masonry and other projects. On June
5, 1992, Father Dan Penney succumbed to a sudden heart attack and died. Father
Roy as the principal celebrant at the Mass of Jesus Christ the High Priest
traditional at the death of a priest, and Msgr. Poyatt delivered the homily. The
Mass of Christian Burial was offered the next morning; Bishop Schad was the
celebrant and Father Pat Chiarilli delivered the homily.
Father Fredrick G. Link joined St. Anne's as priest "in residence" in
November, 1992. Director of the Diocesan Deaconate program, Father Link was to
help out with parish duties and become very active in the liturgies. He is a
great advocate of devotion to the Blessed Mother, and resurrected the old
practice of a novena to St. Anne, mother of Mary and parish patron. Father Link also demonstrates a talent for gardening.
Sister Joan Paulley also came to St. Anne's in 1992 to assume the post of
Director of Pastoral Ministry. Sister also participates in the Westville
Ministerium, is active as a Eucharistic Minister and helps with the decoration
of the church and planning of special liturgies.
In July of 1993, the news of the death of Monsignor Martin J. Killeen reached
his former parishioners. He had been named "Reverend Monsignor" in
December, 1957.
Father Link had to assume the administrative duties of the parish when illness
forced Father Roy to leave St. Anne's in February, 1994. Father Fred served in
this capacity until the arrival of Reverend Andrew J. Bolcar on September 6,
1994. Father Fred resumed his "in residence" status again allowing him
to concentrate on his work with the Deaconate.
Father
Bolcar, born in Phillipsburg, New Jersey in 1932, served in the U. S. Air
Force and attended several colleges prior to completing seminary at St.
Vincent's in Lactrobe, Pennsylvania. He was ordained at Immaculate Conception
Cathedral, Camden, on May 22, 1965. Father Bolcar's other parish assignments
included St. Nicholas in Egg Harbor, St. Martin de Porres, Hammonton; St Teresa
in Runnemede; Holy Maternity, Audubon; and St. Joseph, Somers Point. On arriving
at St. Anne's, he immediately became active in the Westville Ministerium.
Father Bolcar and Father Link supervised the redecoration of the church interior
in 1994, after seeing to the completion of some of repair work started by Father
Hardin.