“I Remember ...

...when the girls that were in the choir had to go to the all students’ Mass at 9:00 am on Sundays and then had to attend the 10:30 a.m. Mass.”

...when years ago they would shut down the church during the winter and would hold Mass in the west sanctuary which they heated with a small heater.”

...when on Holy Thursday the altar would be decorated with fresh flowers, and the statues would be covered with purple cloth. Msgn. O’Sullivan would not allow anything but fresh flowers on the altar.

...when on March 1 of every year Msgn. McNamara would give out a box of chocolate covered cherries and the rest of the day off in honor of his birthday.

...when no singing or ringing of bells was allowed during Lent.

...when at one time, there was a wooden communion rail separating the altar and the church. A white cloth would hang from the railing and at communion time, the altar boys would cover the railing, and the people would kneel to receive communion.

...when all women had to wear hats or veils on their head during Mass.

...when everyone had to abstain from food and drink after midnight to receive communion on Sunday.

...when pews in the church were numbered, and each family was assigned one.

...when the wine and holy water were kept at the rectory and was brought to the church at Mass time by the altar boys.

...when, at the 9 a.m. Mass, the Senior Sodality boys were in charge of getting the altar boys to usher at the Mass. In the 60’s, George Collins and Ray Bosn organized the men to usher at all Masses.

...when the Mass was said in Latin, and most everyone used the prayer book, the Sursum Corda, Latin on one side of the page and English on the other half.

...when in the choir loft, there was a big pipe organ. It was taken out of the church and is now used as a bar in the K.C. building.

...when the sanctuary lamplight would go out, it would be pulled down from the ceiling on a chain to be re-lit.

...when at one time, the confessionals were on the right and left sides of the church. Now one is a door on the east side, and the other one is a place for the Icons and candles.

...when there used to be an altar on each side of the main altar.

...when the Stations of the Cross were painted in colors by Sister Antonella. Later on, it was decided to paint them all white.

...when one hundred fifty St. Mary’s Junior and Senior High School music students decked the altars of St. Patrick’s in robes, and with their battery lighted candles, presented “Carol by Candlelight” - a great enhancer for the community Christmas Spirit.