• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe

St. Joseph in Taneytown creatively honors 21 pastors

June 23, 2010
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Local News, News, Saints

St. Joseph in Taneytown has had a host of illustrious pastors over the course of its 213-year history.

Father Demetrius A. Gallitzen, the founding pastor, earned the title “Apostle of the Alleghenies” for traveling by horseback over a 250-mile radius to minister to Catholics of the region. The son of Prince Dimitri Alexeivitch Gallitzin, envoy of Catherine the Great of Russia, he is under consideration for sainthood in Rome.

Then there’s Father Francis P. Wagner, a World War II paratrooper, who led St. Joseph from 1959-63. Father Wagner was known as the “people’s priest” who helped erect the school building.

Other pastors included Father Paul F. Dolan, a generous and anonymous donor to the poor, who bought and drove school buses during his 20-year pastorate from 1974-94.

Each of the 21 pastors who have served St. Joseph was honored in a special way when parishioners recently erected an outdoor “Pathway of the Pastors.” The name of each priest was inscribed on a 16” square brick, along with the years of his service at the Carroll County parish and a brief caption describing his ministry.

“It really gives you a sense of where our parish came from and where our parish is today,” said Linda Webster, a parishioner who came up with the pathway idea with her husband, Larry Webster.

“We didn’t just want to have a name on the bricks,” she said. “We wanted to have something of the personality of the priest – something special so people would know the man and not just the title.”

Father Joseph F. Lane, pastor from 1933-40, was described as “the happy priest” – “always smiling and jolly.” Father John T. Kerr, pastor from 1967-74, was remembered as a “gentle man” – “quiet, elegant, distinguished faithful friend.”

Monsignor Martin Feild, current pastor since 1994 and the first monsignor to lead the small faith community, was honored for his love of “food, flowers, jokes” and for establishing the Trinity Garden, among other accomplishments.

Monsignor Feild said the pathway is a great way to highlight the history of the parish.

“It will outlast a lot of people,” Monsignor Feild said. “A bit of the history is lost if it isn’t in some form where people can see it.”

Larry Webster believes the pathway, established during the Year for Priests, could not have happened at a better time. The Holy Name Society installed the pathway through the courtyard gardens.

“We spaced the bricks 24 inches apart so your eyes are drawn to that specific brick when you approach it,” Webster said. “We watched people along the pathway and they stopped at every single brick like we had hoped.”

Money for the pathway was raised through Lenten fish fries and donations.

Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org

Also see:

Taneytown parish embraces Catholic legacy

Copyright © 2010 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

George P. Matysek Jr.

George Matysek, a member of the Catholic Review staff since 1997, has served as managing editor since September 2021. He previously served as a writer, senior correspondent, assistant managing editor and digital editor of the Catholic Review and the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

In his current role, he oversees news coverage of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and is a host of Catholic Review Radio.

George has won more than 100 national and regional journalism and broadcasting awards from the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association, the Catholic Press Association, the Associated Church Press and National Right to Life. He has reported from Guyana, Guatemala, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

A native Baltimorean, George is a proud graduate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School in Essex. He holds a bachelor's degree from Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore and a master's degree from UMBC.

George, his wife and five children live in Rodgers Forge. He is a parishioner of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Three more pro-life activists convicted on federal charges for blockade at abortion clinic
  • Cardinal Dolan: Are Sunday Masses just too long?
  • St. Maria Goretti High School faces uncertain future after difficult decision by archdiocese
  • Archbishop Lori announces appointments, including three associate pastors
  • Bishop Strickland will not resign, but says he will respect Pope Francis’ authority if removed

| Latest Local News |

Radio Interview: Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage

St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore awarded $2 million VA grant

‘The Following of Christ’: The ‘hidden’ book that helped make Mother Seton a saint

| Latest World News |

U.S. Border Patrol records sharp increase in arrests; situation of migrants in Mexico deteriorates

English police apologize to woman arrested for silently praying outside abortion facility

Papal commission incorporates global feedback in safeguarding guidelines

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Question Corner: Does insufficient faith keep us from being healed?
  • U.S. Border Patrol records sharp increase in arrests; situation of migrants in Mexico deteriorates
  • English police apologize to woman arrested for silently praying outside abortion facility
  • Papal commission incorporates global feedback in safeguarding guidelines
  • U.S. bishops, advocacy groups caution against government shutdown
  • Para compensar todos los reclamos de abuso: la Arquidiócesis considera reorganización
  • Radio Interview: Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage
  • God has the same love for all, pope says at Angelus
  • Take leap of faith and dare to love your family, those in need, pope says

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED