HANCOCK – The past and the future came together in a big way at St. Peter in Hancock April 25 when more than 300 parishioners crowded into the tiny brick church to celebrate their parish’s 175th anniversary.
Meladie Thomas cradled her 4-monthold daughter, Charlotte, in her arms during an anniversary Mass celebrated by Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien. Not too far away sat Regina Heller – a faithful parishioner who will turn 101 in June. Many other families, whose members spanned generations, filled entire pews whose wooden frames were draped with rosaries.
“The people of our parish are great,” said Heller, smiling broadly as she acknowledged being the oldest parishioner. “I’ve been here all my life. I’ve never known any other church. It’s very special.”
In his homily, Archbishop O’Brien noted that the people who founded St. Peter included the descendants of devoted Catholics who had fled persecution in the metropolitan areas after Maryland enacted anti-Catholic laws. Irish immigrants, who had come to the region to build canals and railroads, were also among those early pioneers.
“It was a hardy people who founded this parish,” Archbishop O’Brien said. “They realized that their life and future was not their own. God had to have a place.”
Father John “Jack” Lombardi, priest administrator since June, told The Catholic Review that prior to the dedication of the church in 1835, Catholics worshipped in area homes. Father Timothy Ryan oversaw the building of the church, and many early parishioners wanted to name the parish “St. Timothy” after his namesake. With Irish canal workers preferring “St. Patrick,” Father Ryan decided to select “St. Peter” as a compromise – reasoning that no one would argue with naming the parish after the first pope.
Parishioners have always shown great devotion to their faith, said Father Lombardi, who was joined at the Mass by Father Paul G. Witthauer, a former St. Peter pastor.
“The people are very friendly and there’s a beauty of faith and a great devotion to the divinity of Christ and love for Our Lady,” Father Lombardi said. “We have a small-town feel. It’s wonderful to see families still worshipping together. It’s very refreshing.”
There are 250 registered families between St. Peter and its mission church of St. Patrick in Little Orleans. St. Patrick is also marking a milestone year, with Auxiliary Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski scheduled to celebrate the mission church’s 150th anniversary with an Oct. 16 Mass.
Jim Mason, St. Peter’s unanimously- elected parish council president, said his faith community takes pride in its small size.
“We all work together on whatever needs to be done,” he said.
St. Peter parishioners are known throughout the archdiocese for making and selling thousands of apple dumplings every fall. People flock to the parish from many miles away to enjoy the sweet treats.
In celebration of St. Peter’s and St. Patrick’s anniversaries, a team of six parishioners made two four foot by seven-foot quilts. Parish families also enjoyed a reception with Archbishop O’Brien following the April 25 Mass.
“In this beautiful church, we proclaim Christ is present in every area of our lives,” Archbishop O’Brien said. “We open our heart to all who would know Christ.”
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