Days Gone By In Staunton

Thursday, April 10, 1975 -- GOLDEN JUBILEE FOR ST. MICHAEL'S -- On Sunday. April 13, St. Michael's parish will celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the present church which was constructed in 1924-25 and dedicated on November 11, 1925, and the Centennial-plus of the parish. It was in 1867 that the first St. Michael's church was built.

The celebration will begin with a Mass of Thanksgiving at 4:00 celebrated by the Most Reverend William A. O'Connor, Bishop of Springfield in Illinois, during which the Sacrament of Confirmation will be administered to about 60 members of the parish.

Former pastor, Father Michael P. Henehan, will deliver the homily; Josephine Johnson will be organist, A.A. Pingolt, lector.

The festivities will then move to the Coliseum at Benld with a Social Hour at 5:00, the Centennnial Banquet at 6:00, and dancing from 8:00-11. Invited, in addition to all adults of the parish, are these special guests, the Bishop, priests of the deanery, former pastors and assistants, nuns from Staunton, former and present nun and lay teachers in St. Michael's School, members of the Confirmation Class; members of the Staunton Ministerial Association, the Mayor and City Council, Superintendent of Schools, with their wives. John Minkanic will serve as toast master at the banquet. Moe's Combo will furnish music for dancing.

At a parish meeting last fall a Centennial Committee was elected, it includes Harry Odorizzi, Arthur Pingolt, Bley Courtney, Josephine Johnson, Clara Gryseiwicz, Dema Fanti. Olivia Karlovic and Dorrell Kilduff who served as chairman at committee meetings. It was decided very early in planning that with 1,200 to be invited it would be necessary to plan space for half that number or more; the Coliseum is the closest facility having that amount of space.

With the guidance of Father McCaughey, members of the committee and then sub-committees have been faithful workers. Josephine Johnson was chairman of liturgy and music for the Mass of Thanksgiving, Dorell Kilduff researched and wrote a parish history, using suggestions of her subcommittee, Harry Yauornik, Agatha Fritz, Elsie Stolze, Joe Bahn Sr., Amerlia Sitko and Marilyn Snell. This committee helped gather pictures and the Star-Times printed our souvenir booklet. Harry Odorizzi, Arthur Pingolt and Bley Courtney handled such arrangements as renting the hall, securing caterer and orchestra, borrowing tables which were graciously supplied by the Masonic Lodge of Staunton and the American Legion of Benld. The biggest task lies ahead for these men when, with the help of some K.C. men, they will set up the tables and arrange the hall for the banquet.

Clara Grysiewicz planned the invitations and arranged for their printing. Her committee consisting of Joyce Little, Viola Fiori. Shirley Murphy, Evelyn Hainaut, Alba Odortzzi, Irene Bergen, Catherine Halavonich, Susan Schmidt and Eleanora Steigemeier addressed and mailed the local invitations. Dema Fanti hunted up names and addresses of out-of-town special guests and handled their invitations. Dema Fanti, Clara Grysiewicz and Olivia Karlovic are tabulating the reservations. Olivia Karlovic and her assistant, Josephine Schnaare, in consultation with the caterer, John Cipriano, arranged the menu and table settings. Agnes Pingolt and her sub-committee composed of Sandy Haase, Theresa McCarl, Joyce Aloisi, Karen Banovz and Richard Kapp have made beautiful decorations for the tables and are arranging place cards for special guests' tables.

The attractive souvenir booklets are ready for sale at the regular Masses on April 12 and The Pastor and Centennial Committee members hope that parishioners and guests will enjoy and long remember this special celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of St. Michael's Church and the 108th anniversary of a Catholic Parish in Staunton.

Thursday, April 10, 1975 -- LIVINGSTON HIGH SCHOOL QUEEN CANDIDATES -- The annual spring dance of Livingston high school will be held Friday, April 18, at the high school gym. Four senior girls, Julie Bowles, Vera Schuette, Joanne Sirko and Lisa Wray have been selected by the students as candidates for the queen. From the four one will be selected on Friday as queen. The music will be furnished by Effic.