USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Ephrata > St. Clement's Mission House, Ephrata, Penna., 1914-1964 : an outline history > Part 2
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The Redemptorists are an organization made up of priests and brothers living in a community; they have houses or foundations all over the world. Their chief ex- ternal work is the giving of parish missions. They go from parish to parish on invitation of the pastor of the parish. A mission is a series of sermons and services extending over a complete week, usually a morning anda evening service each day. If a parish is large, the people are divided into groups, each group attending the mission for a complete week. A mission may be compared to the revival services conducted by many Protestant clergymen. The purpose of a mission is a rededication and a recommitment to the Most Holy Redeemer.
St. Clement's Mission House, the home of the Redemptorists in Ephrata, is less than half a mile from the "Ephrata Cloister". The Cocalico Creek forms the northern boundary of their property.
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The New St. Clement's Mission House was erected in 1925 when the Very Rev. James J. Barron was Provincial Superior and the Very Rev. Michael A. Gearin was Rector and Pastor. The first Mass in the new house was said on December 24, 1925. The domestic chapel was used as a "parish church" by the people until 1940.
3. THE NEW ST. CLEMENTS
At the present time (1964) there is a parish church and a parochial school in Ephrata. These were not envisioned in 1914. The church was built in 1940; the school in 1957. The fact that it took so long to erect a parish church and a parochial school is somewhat unusual in the history of parishes. In Ephrata it was due to the unusual circumstances of place and time. The main objective the Redemptorists had in coming to Ephrata was, you will recall, to give missions away from home. Of course, they were most willing to care for the spiritual needs of the scattered Catholics who lived in the vast territory assigned to them. They provided this service, but they knew it would take a long time before there was need of a church. They scarcely had any thought about the need of a school. We know now that growth came because more Catholics were attracted to the "Garden Spot of America." The Catholic growth in Ephrata is due, not to natural accretion or to conversions, but to a shifting of popu- lation. Now to return to our history .
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When an architect is engaged to draw up plans for a new building, the first question he logically asks is: "What is the purpose of this building? What is it to be used for ?" The purpose determines the plan. "Do you want a school or a church, an office building or a hospital ?" Everyone readily understands that the functional de- sign is different in each one of these cases. Since few persons have any idea of the construction of a convent, they do not realize that there is a vast difference between a mansion and a monastery. That is why a new St. Clement's had to be built.
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Years ago many wealthy estates dotted the countryside and the seashore of the United States. The era of large country estates with an army of servants and hired help has practically vanished. Those who have money and leisure prefer to travel. Instead of having one permanent home, they move from place to place, from one hotel to another, from one country to another. This also relieves them of any servant prob- lem. As a result, estates and mansions are put up for sale. The reasons why the owners wish to dispose of them are also the reasons why no other private individual or family wishes to purchase them.
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Retreat given to twenty-two Air Force Chaplains and business seminar held at St. Clement's from October 10 to 20, 1961. Very Rev. John J. Brennan Rev. Gerald Reilly Retreat Master (Superior)
Some of these estates were bought by religious communities, both Catholic and non-Catholic, at what was considered a bargain price. It has been the universal ex- perience of these communities, both Catholic and Protestant, that extensive remodel- ling and renovations had to be made. The net result was that these communities found it much more economical and practical to abandon the existing buildings and to erect completely new buildings better suited to their needs.
The Redemptorists came to Ephrata in August, 1914. That was the very month World War I started. No building could be done then or for some years after. It was not until December 2, 1924 that ground was broken for the new St. Clement's. Since a race track was of no possible use to a religious community, the new building was erected right in the center of the track.
After the new building was finished, the Redemptorists invited the Bishop of Harrisburg and the diocessan clergy for a festive get-together, or "house-warming" on January 12, 1926. By this time, Bishop Shanahan had died. The Most Reverend Philip McDevitt had succeeded him. The Bishop and the assembled clergy expressed their genuine appreciation for the missionary activity of the fathers.
The following statistics will give you some idea of the extent of these labors. They are for only one year - 1925.
SUMMARY OF APOSTOLIC LABORS FOR 1925
Missions and renewals of missions 23
Confessions during these exercises 22,431
Retreats to religious and laity 28
Confessions during these exercises 6,483
Forty Hours Devotions 37
Confessions during the Forty Hours 10,957
Sunday assistance to other parishes 90
Confessions 7,692
These statistics prove how well St. Clement's Mission House fullfilled its de- clared purpose - the giving of missions and other missionary activities.
It may be well to give some parish statistics in this place. They will prove how painfully slow was the growth of the parish and how discouraging it must have been for the fathers.
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Retreat in preparation for Ordination to the Holy Priesthood May 13 to 18, 1962
Top row, left to right :-
Francis Bach, Edmund Campion, Robert Berger, Raymond Orloski Front row: -
Jerome Kurland, John Smith, John Batz, William Haviland Very Rev. John J. Brennan Rev. Charles Fallon (Superior) (Retreat Master)
The number of Catholics attending Sunday Mass can be judged by the figures for Palm Sunday, April 5, 1925:
Ephrata 17
Lititz
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New Holland 9
The number of confessions for the whole year of 1925 was 431, divided as follows:
Ephrata 31
Lititz
350
New Holland
50
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"Let us stress what we have in common rather than what divides us." Pope Paul VI, August 6, 1964
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The Final Landmark of the Clare Point Stock Farm - The Judges' Stand
4. ST. GERARD'S HALL
After the new St. Clement's was built in 1925, the community of professed priests and brothers vacated the old building and moved to the new. The original Willson house was then vacant. In 1929, it was decided to use it as a preparatory training school for young men who desire to become brothers. With some interruptions, it has been so used since then. To be more precise, it served for this purpose during three periods: -
1. From 1929 to 1937;
2. From 1944 to 1957;
3. From 1961 to the present.
The reader will recall that it was the original desire of Mrs. Clara Willson that her home and property be used for educational purposes. In the secret and mysterious ways of Divine Providence, her wish is thus fulfilled but in a way she never dreamed of. The house was placed under the patronage of St. Gerard Majella, another Re- demptorist canonized saint and the heavenly protector of religious brothers. The Will- son Mansion was first baptized "St. Clement's Mission House" and then re-baptized "St. Gerard's Hall".
Perhaps many readers would like to know something more about Redemptorist Brothers and the distinction between priests and brothers.
Priests are ordained. Before ordination, they have a long course of study and training for a minimum of twelve years after graduation from elementary school: - four years High School, four years College and four years in the School of Theology. In addition to this, the Redemptorist priest has a full year of novitiate and another year of graduate work, which is something like the internship required of medical students. That makes fourteen years in all.
Brothers are not ordained. They are helpers or co-adjutors of the priest. They do not preach or say Mass or administer the Sacraments. Their work is to take care of the sacristy and sanctuary as sacristans; to have charge of the office as office-brothers. Office brothers keep the account books, they answer the phone, receive callers at the rectory in the manner of a receptionist. When qualified for the work, brothers act as
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LI
Profession Ceremony at Ephrata, October 1947
The upper photos give a good view of St. Clement's Mission House and St. Gerard's Hall - both from the air and from the ground.
maintenance men, general repair men and do a host of manual jobs in the church, rec- tory, school, convent or garden. The work of Brother Andrew in Ephrata is well known and remembered --- he could do almost anything and everything.
Most Redemptorist priests start their long journey to the priesthood soon after graduation from grammar school. In past decades, the future brother graduated from the school of "hard knocks". He learned a trade or profession before asking for ad- mission to the Redemptorist family. Within recent years, it has become more usual to admit young men after graduation from High School, before they went into business or their trades. In either case, the candidate is required to make an apprenticeship or period of basic training to test his ability and fitness. That is the purpose of "St. Gerard's Hall".
St. Gerard's Hall is a Redemptorist Training School for Candidate Brothers. Here they receive their introduction into religious life and community living, together with the basic and initial training in the various types of work expected of the Re- demptorist Brother.
They have their own chapel, sacristy, kitchen, dining room, etc. They take care of the house and do all the work needed in the home --- their home. They take turns in putting out the vestments for Mass and Benediction and in caring for the altar. They cook the meals, do the laundry, attend to the general cleanliness of the house. In this way they receive practical "on the job" training. In addition, they attend classes in Religion, sacristy work, office work, business English, business mathematics, etc.
At present, after a yearat St. Gerard's, the candidate brother is transferred to the Novitiate at Ilchester, near Baltimore, Md. There he continues his preparation and testing for another year. If he is suited for the life, he is admitted to profession. Profession is the term used for the public act by which he dedicates himself to the service of God through the profession or taking of the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
From 1946 to 1957, the Novitiate for the brothers was not at Ilchester, but in Ephrata. That was only an experiment.
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During those years (1946-1957) the brothers' novitiate was located on the top floor of St. Clement's Mission House. It was necessary to remodel that floor so that it could be used as a novitiate. That meant that most of the missionaries had to be trans- ferred -- to make room for the novices.
The local house chronicler jovially but with a subtle hint of sarcasm records the incident as follows: -
"February 28, 1946. Atomic bomb hits St. Clement's Devastating con- sequences. Father Alphonse Funk blown out to St. Philomena's, Pitts- burgh. Father Joseph Coughlin hurled through the air to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Community, New York. Father Augustine Struth soars into the stratosphere and lands in St. Bonfiace's, Philadelphia. Father Lawrence Meighan sails across the wintry spaces to St. Joseph's, Rochester. Father Thomas Tapp is bounced by the concussion high up in the Poconos."
The first investitue took place on March 14, 1946. The experiment came to an end in 1957. It was considered better to have the brother novices join the novices destined for the priesthood. The combined novitiate was returned to Ilchester, Md., where it is now.
The training school for Candidate Brothers was re-activated on April 10, 1961. The term starts on August 15 and ends towards the middle of the following June. The Candidates then are permitted about two weeks' vacation at home and report at the Novitiate in Ilchester, Md., to make a ten days' retreat prior to the reception of the Redemptorist habit on August 1.
a. First period (1929-1937).
On February 26, 1929, Very Rev. James Barron, Provincial Superior, sent a cir- cular letter to all the houses of the Province announcing his intention of using the Willson Mansion as a preparatory training school for candidate brothers. He ap- pointed the Rev. Henry Jung as first director. The school was opened on March 1, 1929. Brother Stanislaus is the oldest living alumnus of the school. Father Henry
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OF
This picture was taken on the occasion of the profession of the Brothers in October, 1947. The priests, who are circled, point out some you might know.
Upper tier, left to right
Fathers Stroh, McKenna, Bergman, Struth, Schruefer Lower tier, left to right
Fathers McGowan, Frawley, Daley II, Daley I, Keegan
Father McGowan was missionary here in 1924.
Father Frawley was Provincial Superior in 1947, when this picture was taken.
Jung died on April 26, 1935. The house chronicler records the cause of his death as "apparently a stroke." On May 3, 1935, the Rev. Joseph Stolz was named to succeed him. The school was discontinued on November 18, 1937. The candidate brothers were transferred to Ilchester, Md.
b. Second period (1944-1957).
On the feast of St. Gerard Majella, October 16, 1944, St. Gerard's Hall was re- opened. The Rev. Maurice Driscoll was appointed Director. In August, 1947, the Rev. John Keegan succeeded him. In 1959, Father Keegan was transferred to Al- phonsus Church, New York. During his time here, Father Keegan was known as a human dynamo in every sector of our extensive parish and endeared himself to every- one by his apostolic zeal.
The Rev. Joseph Berton supervised the Training School from 1956 to the Fall of 1957, when the school was discontinued again and the candidates transferred to Ilchester. In 1958, Father Berton was transferred to Brooklyn, N.Y.
During this second period, various Fathers were successively associated with the candidate brothers; viz. Fathers Leo Henighan, John Ryan, Michael Bergman, Joseph Daley, Il, Daniel O'Leary, John Wise and Edward Droesch. Father Droesch was sta- tioned here from 1946 to 1959 when he was transferred to Washington, D.C. He was admired by all.
c. Third period (1961 to the present).
On April 10, 1961, the school was reactivated. The Rev. Paul Stroh was named Director. On May 5, 1964, Father Stroh suffered a stroke. On June 23, 1964, the Rev. Richard Vail was appointed to succeed him.
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WEST
COCALICO
Adamstown
CLAY
Denver 3
EAST
COCALICO
ELIZABETH
RAPHO
PENN
Elizabethtown
Lititz
EPHRATA
Akron®
Mant
MOUNT
WEST
JOY
WARWICK
DONEGAL
Mount Jay
WEST EARL
New Holland
EARL
EAST
EAST
DONEGAL
HEMPFIELD
WEST
Marietta
HEMPFIELD
Calu mbia
Mountville
EAST
Lancaster
LAMPETER
LANCASTER
Washington
WEST
Strasburg
Millersville
LAMPETER
PARADISE
MANOR
PEQUEA
Christiana
STRASBURG
CONESTOGA
SADSBURY
EDEN
BART
PROVIDENCE
Quarryville
MARTIC
EAST
DRUMORE
COLERAIN
DRUMORE
LITTLE
BRITAIN
FULTON
CONOY
CAERNARVON
EARL
EAST
East Petersburg
UPPER
MANHEIM
LEACOCK
SALISBURY
LEACOCK
Torte Hin
Ephrata
BRECKNOCK
5. PARISH WORK
Intertwined in our rambling reminiscences so far, we mentioned various and im- portant phases of parochial work. We will now retrace our steps to the beginning and try to unify and explain this part of the spiritual labors of the Redemptorists of St. Clement's Mission House.
It must be emphasized again that the original and chief purpose of the coming of the Redemptorists to Ephrata was the giving of parish missions. There was also some idea of transferring the convalescent home for sick confreres from Saratoga Springs, New York, to Ephrata. That never came to pass.
A few weeks after St. Clement's Mission House was established in the former Willson Mansion, the Most Reverend Bishop confided to the Redemptorists the pastoral care of the Catholics living in twelve townships:
Ephrata, Warwick, Penn, Elizabeth, Clay, West Cocalico, East Co- calico, Brecknock, Caernarvon, Earl, East Earl, and West Earl.
The document containing this contract and the particulars was issued on Sep- tember 30, 1914. It was signed by Bishop Shanahan, together with the diocesan con- sultors (Father H. Christ, J. A. Huber, J. McGrath, W. F. Boyle and J. F. O'Don- nell) and by Father Schneider, the Redemptorist Provincial. Documents of this kind required Roman approval. It was approved by the Roman Congregation of Religious on January 15, 1915. (6995/14)
In an earlier letter that Father Kaul, the pastor of St. Anthony's Church, Lan- caster, had written to Father Schneider, he told him that the Redemptorists will have the care of souls "between Lancaster and Reading, Lebanon and Columbia". This sounded much more imposing than it actually was since the Catholics were few and farbetween. The first census taken at the end of 1914 revealed only five Catholic families numbering twenty-eight souls. This was no disappointment to the Fathers because from the very beginning they understood conditions in this regard. They were not seeking a large parish but an active mission house. The small domestic chapel in the original mission house (the present St. Gerard's Hall) was amply sufficient for the small congregation.
On November 5, 1915 Father William White was transferred from Saratoga Springs, New York, to Ephrata to do parochial work. He worked zealously and well until his death in St. Joseph's Hospital, Lancaster on February 5, 1923.
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Standing, left to right
Father Mulligan, Brother Linus, Fathers O'Regan, L. Kissner and Zilles
Seated, left to right Very Rev. Joseph O'Reilly --- Rev. William White
(Superior) *
* * *
Father O'Reilly was a renowned pulpit orator and a famous preacher of Priests' retreats. He gave a number of retreats to the diocesan clergy of the Harrisburg Diocese. He was also a prime mover to have the Ephrata Cloister taken over by the Pennsylvania Historical Society. About 65, 000 tourists visit the Cloister every year.
"Sunday morning was an event enjoyed by all, the Fathers as well as the people -- it was a real family gathering. After the Mass, the women took over and prepared a good breakfast for the few Priests at home (the others were absent on missions) and for those who received Holy Communion. At Christmas there was a Christmas tree with presents and candy for the children.
"At Lititz were the Dengates, Seabers, Klunks and the Guiney families. They had trolley service to Lancaster where they attended Mass until Father White rented a room on East Main Street. There was good train service between Ephrata and Lititz in those days, making it convenient for Father White to spend Sunday doing apostolic work, seeking lost sheep, etc.
"During the week, Father White would drive in horse and buggy over the side roads and lanes around Ephrata.
"I was stationed in Ephrata from February, 1917, until August, 1918, when I received the assignment to enter the Army as Chaplain. World War I ended before I received my commission. Then I was assigned to the mission bands in Pittsburgh, Pa., and in Limo, Ohio. In 1922, I was transferred to my beloved Ephrata and remained until 1929.
"The people in the area referred to us as 'The Catholics'. The boys who swam in the Cocalico Creek around the dam, called the Cocalico 'The Catholic Creek' and the former Wilson Farm 'The Catholic Farm'.
"The diocesan clergy were true friends from the very beginning, especially Father Steffy of Sacred Heart Church, Father Kaul of St. Anthony's, Father Crist of St. Joseph's, and Fathers Brown and Grueggeman of Columbia. If we arrived late in Lancaster on our return from a mission, we were always welcome to stay in their rec- tories over night.
"We also had many friends in the Knights of Columbus in Lancaster. I remember es- pecially Mr. Donovan and Mr. Reilly.
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There are a few people who still remember Father White. They all agree that he was a truly apostolic priest. They will tell you how he combed the whole area in search of the few Catholics who might be here. If we try to visualize what he did and how he traveled, we are astonished at what he accomplished and how he must have fought against discouragement. He went as far as Lititz on the one side and New Holland on the other. At first he went alone by horse and buggy, then Father Ebner accompanied him and later Father Daul chugged along in his old model T Ford. In 1917 Father White started the out-mission in Lititz. In 1919 he added the out-mission in New Holland. He planted the small mustard seed in each of these places. He worked, he prayed, he pleaded. Today he must be happy in Heaven to see the abun- dant fruit of his initial labors.
On the opposite page, you will find a photograph of the community at St. Clement's in 1922. It is a choice possession of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Mondo who are among the few who still remember Father White. The Mondo family lived in one of the cottages on the Mission property from 1920 to 1952. Mrs. Mondo made altar cloths and surplices for the Priests. Mr. Mondo made thousands of cigars at home so that Father White could sell them to his fellow Redemptorists all over the East in a fund raising campaign. One year they sold over 98, 000 cigars!
In a letter to the author, Father Ebner wrote on August 26, 1964: -
"I was assigned to the mission band in Ephrata in February, 1917. Ephrata then had only one Catholic family -- the family of Thomas Wright. They came from Philadel- phia. Tom Wright was the manager of a small factory in Ephrata. The Conlin family lived in Akron. Dorothy Conlin was then a little girl. She can tell you much about the early history. She is now Mrs. Nicklaus and lives in Lancaster. The McPolands lived in Milway; the father was a maintenance engineer at the oil pumping station. The Wilers, Storbs, Snaders and McWilliams lived in New Holland. When weather permitted, all of these families came to Ephrata by trolley car or by horse and buggy.
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"I am now 76 years of age, am blind in one eye and have only partial vision in the other eye. My broken hip is doing nicely. My most pleasant memories are memories of my happy years at St. Clement's and of the people who were so friendly to us."
At the present time and almost from the beginning, the parish was divided into three sections for more effective administration and better pastoral care: Ephrata, Lititz and New Holland. But there was and is only one residence for the priests who labor in these sections: St. Clement's Mission House in Ephrata. Likewise, there is only one pastor. The Rector at St. Clement's is the one official pastor. The priests who take care of the mother parish at Ephrata and the out-missions at Lititz and New Holland are assistant pastors.
St. James Church at Lititz is about nine miles from Ephrata. Our Lady of Lourdes Church at New Holland is about seven miles from Ephrata. Lititz is approxi- mately fourteen miles from New Holland. You can easily see why this arrangement of three churches is for the best interests of all concerned and why it is necessary to stress that, while there are three churches, there is only one parish.
This unity of the parish is well exemplified in the one parochial school to which all the children from the three sections go, as will be explained in the section on Our Mother of Perpetual Help School.
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L
ST. JAMES CHURCH, LITITZ
The first Mass in Lititz was said by Father White on Sunday, June 21, 1917, in a rented room on East Main Street, opposite the present Post Office. According to the Domestic Chronicles, written at the time, the following were in attendance: Mr. and Mrs. Frank C. Dengate, R. O. Melzr, Robert Melzr, Jr., Isabel Melzr, Elsie Klunk, Karl Tressler, John Roth, Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus Stiffel, William and Mary Stiffel, Mrs. Nathan Seaber and two of her five children, Mrs. Stack- haus, Winfield, Edwin and Dorothy Stackhaus, Arthur Guiney, little Miss Steigerwalt, Charles A. Katz, H. Little, also four visitors from Bally, Pa., and one visitor from Oneida, N.Y.
THE FIRST MASS IN ST. JAMES CHURCH WAS OFFERED ON SUN- DAY, APRIL 4, 1920, BY FATHER WHITE. THE FIRST HIGH MASS WAS OFFERED BY HIM ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 1921.
LITITZ
In 1917 Father White rented a small front room in Lititz on East Main Street west of Cedar for $15.00 a month. On June 17, 1917, the Feast of our Mother of Perpetual Help, he offered the first Mass. Mass was celebrated every Sunday, a sermon preached and religious instruction given to the few children who attended. At the end of the year (1917) Father White reported that the average attendance of adults and children was about twenty-three. He also reported that he discovered about sixty Catholics in and around Lititz. Some had become quite luke-warm in the practice of their religion, partly because the Church in Lancaster was so far away and the means of transportation was difficult for them and partly because of the hostile attitude of some of their neighbors in those days.
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