 |
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
|
|
1947: Archbishop John T. McNicholas decides to found a parish in the Mount Carmel Area. Donations come from St. Martin Parish in Cheviot ($10,000) and John Wargo of Pennsylvania ($6,000) to buy property and build a church. The church is initially to be named St. Patrick, but instead is named St. Veronica in memory of Mr. Wargo's mother.
April 24, 1949: Rosemary Veronica Nieman, daughter of Joseph Nieman and Catherine Rohr, is the first person baptized at St. Veronica. The Rev. Francis J. Heider, pastor of St. Thomas More Church, Withamsville, conducts the baptism. Father Heider celebrates Mass at St. Veronica until 1953. Miss Nieman, now Rosemary Tankersley of Mount Washington, reflects on being the first person baptized in parish history: "My maternal grandparents, Julia and Peter Rohr, were two of the first parishioners. My aunt, uncle and four cousins were also parishioners. I grew up on a farm on Clough Pike where a subdivision now sits. I attended Anderson primary and elementary schools, so therefore I went to catechism at St. Veronica every Saturday morning. "Nothing much was ever made of my baptism. If it weren't for my mother casually mentioning it to me one day, I might have never known (she was the first baby baptized at St. Veronica). I might have asked the question, "Why is my middle name Veronica?" All in all, this must have made an impression on me because I too gave my daughter the middle name Veronica. Her first name is Catherine. "The St. Veronica I knew was a tiny church with a right-side addition. It looked just like Immaculate Heart of Mary or St. John Fisher. St. Veronica was extremely hot in the summer and very crowded, even though five or so Masses were held every Sunday. I remember the St. Veronica statue on the wall of the arch of the altar. I must admit I felt a little possessive of it. "Today's parishioners should be proud of the progress the parish has made in 50 years. There's a beautiful new church, a nice parsonage and a solid school." April 9, 1949: Mary Catherine Understein and Peter Understein receive first communion from Father Heider at St. Veronica, a parish first. May 1, 1949: St. Veronica Church is formally dedicated by the Most Rev. George Rehring, auxiliary bishop. June 26, 1949: Louis Edward Massie and Mildred Joan Merice, St. Veronica members, are the first parishioners married, however, they walk down the aisle of St. Thomas More Church. May 29, 1950: The Mass of Christian Burial is celebrated for the first time at St. Veronica. The deceased is Michael Wiener, 84. October 20, 1951: The first wedding at St. Veronica Church unites the former Helen Merice and William Buchanan. Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan, who live in Bethel, Ohio, have six children, 12 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Here's what Mrs. Buchanan recalls of her wedding day: "Father Francis Heider married us. My husband is a convert, and when he was taking instruction, he and Father Heider would end up talking about hunting and fishing. "One day, Father Heider couldn't keep the appointment, and he called me and said he was Dr. Green and wanted to know if I took all the pills he prescribed for me, but I recognized his voice. He didn't get to trick me. "St. Veronica Church was a satellite of St. Thomas More. "Our organist was Mrs. Neff. The organ was a Baldwin No. 5. "When I came in the front door, I glanced to see if Bill was waiting for me. The sun was shining bright. The parking lot was full and so was the church."
July 1953: The Rev. Joseph M. Wolfer, pastor of St. John Fisher, Newtown, takes over Mass and Sacramental responsibilities at St. Veronica.
1959: An addition to the church and a rectory are built. Father Wolfer becomes St. Veronica's first resident pastor and serves until his transfer in 1961.
July 1961: The Rev. Philip A. Kesting is named pastor. He serves until his 1974 transfer. During his pastorate, the parish hall and eight classrooms are built. Father Kesting, at age 85, is the oldest living former pastor of St. Veronica. He retired in 1989 and because of a stroke, is no longer able to celebrate Mass. He resides at St. Rose Parish in the East End. Father Kesting, who was ordained in 1941, recently recalled his years at St. Veronica: "I put the buildings up because the people wanted them. We had catechism classes Saturday morning in the school with 300 children. We had classes for St. Veronica and St. Thomas More children. The high school students had classes on Monday. "We began Bingo in the parish hall. We rented the hall out on Saturdays for wedding receptions. "I enjoyed the people of St. Veronica. I must have met 400 families, about 90 percent of the people. I knew about every one there. I'd visit them in their homes. I'd go out and visit in the afternoons. Once in a while, people would invite me to stay for dinner. The people were very friendly."
June 1974: The Rev. Francis Fritz is appointed pastor. September 1975: School open with Paul DeFazio as principal, and the Rev. Francis Fritz as pastor; 225 students are enrolled. September 28, 1975: The school is dedicated. The first teacher hired was Susan Churchill. Today she teaches fourth grade at St. Veronica School. "As a new college graduate, I was given the unique opportunity to be the first teacher hired in a Catholic school that was to open its doors for the very first time. Since this experience was quite contrary in 1975 to the many parochial school closings and mergings, all eyes were watching the outcome of St. Veronica School. With eight excited teachers, 212 anxious students (and parents) and one very enthusiastic principal, Paul DeFazio, we not only succeeded but grew rapidly from what was once a cornfield community. "High academic standards and strong discipline were musts for a solid beginning, but it became clear years later that something was missing. After several principals and years of increasing enrollment, a new era began under the leadership and love of Mr. Bill Schlater. For the next nine years, St. Veronica School was nurtured. it grew not only in academics, athletics and the arts, but more importantly in spirituality. This completeness made for years of 'Christ's peace' in our hallways and hearts. "In 1995, St. Veronica took another step forward under the present administration of Mrs. Kay Stefanics. Science and technology have been a needed dimension. With a new computer lab we can now better instruct our 475 students. "Once again, as St. Veronica looks to the future, there is a need to expand our school today. Hopefully, the cornerstone of commitment to our children that was in place 23 years ago when I began will keep our St. Veronica philosophy steadfast. Christ is the reason for the school. He is the unseen but ever-present teacher in its classrooms. He is the model for the faculty. He is the inspirations of the students." June 4, 1976: St. Veronica School graduates its first eighth-grade class, 21 students. Mary Jean Patt, now 36, was one of those graduates. She lives in Union Township, works as a business manager and remains a St. Veronica member. This is what she remembers about being a part of the first graduating class: "My memories of St. V's have more to do with impressions. As the first eighth-grade class, we had to set an example for the younger grades. We had to act like Christian young ladies and men. I don't know how well we did this, considering within the first month of school we had one teacher quite. The Mr. D. (Paul DeFazio) taught us until a new teacher was hired. I remember we were also right across from the principal's office. "The school year could only get better. With the new teacher came new rules and programs. We were able to volunteer to go into the first grade and help out the teacher. I enjoyed doing that, and I know everyone else who volunteered did also. To this day, I still see some of those students who remember me helping out in class. "Then there were graduation services. Us young ladies wore long dresses, and the young men had to wear suites and ties. We had a Mass then went over to the cafeteria, where the seventh grade had a reception for us. I gave a speech about the year in review. Then we were allowed to "party" and celebrate our passing into high school. "I enjoyed my time at St. V's and treasure those memories. Even now, more than 20 years later when I see one of my ex-classmates, we talk and get caught up with each other's lives and maybe reminisce about St. V's."
1979: An eight-classroom addition to the school is completed.
August 1980: The Rev. Francis H. Niehaus is appointed pastor and serves until 1982. The Rev. Hans H. Gruenbauer joins the parish as associate pastor and serves until 1989.
July 1982: The Rev. J. Paul Gruber is appointed pastor.
September 20, 1985: Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk dedicates St. Veronica's new church building. The hymn "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name" was sung as the archbishop led celebrants and the congregation in a procession from the parish hall to the church. The Rev. J. Paul Gruber is pastor. January 1989: The Rev. Dennis J. Caylor is appointed St. Veronica pastor. Reflecting widespread residential growth in Union Township, the parish continues to grow rapidly. Fr. Caylor left St. Veronica Parish in 1998. May 1998 Rev. Mr. Walter Srode appointed permanent deacon to St. Veronica. July 1, 1998: The Rev. Michael Flaherty becomes St. Veronica Parish pastor. March 30, 2000 Fr. Rick passes away unexpectantly July 2000 Fr. Benedict O'Cinnsealaigh appointed Weekend Associate. July 2002 Parish debt is paid off July 1, 2003 New building construction begins! The parish expanded the current parish hall, added parish offices, parish center and additional classrooms. August 2004 Fr. Ben gets re-assigned and Fr. Frank Voellmecke becomes Weekend Associate. August 22, 2004 New Parish Center is dedicated.
St. Veronica Parish
Comments to the Webmaster.
|
||||||||
 |
|||||||||
