History of SS. Peter and Paul R. C. Church, Altoona, PA

HISTORY OF SS. PETER ANDAPAUL R. C. CHURCH
Altoona, Pennsylvania
(Golden Jubilee 1911-1961. Saints Peter and Paul Church, Altoona, PA)
This parish made initial aspirations towards organization in 1909 when Father Paul
Brylski from St. Mary's, Gallitzin, Pa., occasionally offered spiritual services to the
Polish-speaking immigrants at St. Mary's Church at 1405 Fifth Avenue in Altoona, Penna.
SS. Peter and Paul Church 1911
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Father Julius J. Langer, assistant pastor at St. Mary's Church in Altoona, was
instrumental in petitioning the Most Reverend Eugene Garvey, then Bishop of the Altoona
Diocese, for permission in launching a program to organize and aid this flock where
language barred many from Church membership. The wish was granted, and immediately
in the early part of February, 1911, Father Julius J. Langer took a census of all
Polish-speaking people in Altoona. At that time there were approximately seventy-five
families listed.
Father Julius J. Langer, appointed as the first Pastor of the newly- organized
congregation by Bishop Eugene Garvey, offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the
Church basement of St. Mary's Parish, which served as a temporary Church. As the
congregation grew and accommodations proved inadequate, plans for purchasing a plot of
land on which to build a Church and Rectory became matters for serious consideration.
On March 23, 1911, the parish bought the present property from Abram and Catherine
Burket. Blueprints for a wooden-framed Church and brick Rectory were drawn up in July,
1911, and soon after the building program was launched with J. C. Ivory, the contractor.
After many suggestions and salient discussions, it was the unanimous decision that the
Church be named Saints Peter and Paul. The cornerstone was blessed and the Church was
dedicated in December, 1911. The Most Reverend Eugene Garvey, officiated at both
functions.
On November 22, 1911, land was purchased for a provisional cemetery from
Horace and Mary Robeson in Logan Township, Blair County. The site having been cleared
and conditioned for a suitable place of interment, the Most Reverend Eugene Garvey
officially blessed the plot, and designated it as the Cemetery of Saints Peter and Paul Parish.
REVEREND JULIUS LANGER First Pastor 1 9 1 1 - 1 9 1 8
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Deeply concerned with the religious training of his youth, Father Julius J. Langer
converted the Church basement into classrooms, where a parochial school system for SS.
Peter and Paul Parish began. Several lay teachers pioneered in this instructional work.
Contemplating on engaging a teaching order of religious nuns, two homes and land were
purchased from Frank Brandt on February 26, 1916, which, with necessary renovations,
would serve as a temporary convent for the Venerable Sisters.
In the fall of 1916, the Order of the Bernardine Sisters accepted the invitation of Father
Julius J. Langer to staff the new school. Sister Mary Ladislava, O.S.F. was named the first
Principal, and her assistant was Sister Mary Mathilda, O.S.F. They carried on the
educational program for our school until 1956.
Fortunately, after their departure, our parish was blessed with the coming of the Sisters
of St. Ann of Providence. This order was established in the Diocese of Altoona in 1952.
Sister Mary Linda, S.A., was named Principal, and Sister Mary Clemenza, S.A., as
assistant. With the work of these two good Sisters and two lay people, the staff of our
school was re-organized. Presently, four Sisters are assigned to the faculty of our school. It
is due to their efforts, as well as those
of their predecessors, and in particular, to the keen interest each pastor has taken with
regard to the spiritual, intellectual and physical development of the children of the parish,
that our school can be justly proud of its achievements.
REV. JOSEPH A. WOZNY 1918 - 1945
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In 1918, after seven years of arduous work, Bishop Garvey transferred the Reverend
Julius J. Langer and appointed as his successor the Reverend Joseph A. Wozny, who took
office on July 23, 1919.
During his incumbency at SS. Peter and Paul Parish, the Reverend Joseph A. Wozny is
credited with many improvements to the property. Under his direction, plans were made on
April 28, 1924 with Harry S. Hartman, contractor, to erect a combination school and
convent building. The present brick building, facing 19th Street, was completed in the latter
part of August, 1924. The formal dedication and blessing was performed by the Most
Reverend John J. McCort, successor to Bishop Gravey as bishop of the Altoona Diocese.
After twenty-seven years of faithful service, the Reverend Joseph A. Wozny was
succeeded by the Reverend Valentine Pomykalo. During his short, but fruitful three years at
Saints Peter and Paul Parish, the wooden-framed Church was launched and necessary
repairs on the Church roof accomplished.
REVEREND VALENTINE POMYKALO 1945 - 1948
In 1948, the Most Reverend Richard T. Guilfoyle, the Most Rev. John J. McCort's
successor, appointed the Reverend Casimir Ossowski the fourth Pastor of Saints Peter and
Paul. As his predecessor, Father Casimir Ossowski administered for the next three years.
During his pastorate, he succeeded in organizing the Holy Name Society, and the Parish
Boy Scouts. One of his major undertakings was the painting of the interior of the Church.
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On June 8, 1951, the Most Reverend Richard T. Guilfoyle transferred the Reverend
Casimir Ossowski and appointed as his successor the Reverend Walter J. Wernowski, our
present Pastor.
During the pastorate of the Reverend Walter J. Wernowski, numerous
improvements and progressive programs have been established. The attendance at Holy
Mass steadily, increased and the reception of the Sacraments evidenced the interest of the
parishioners in their parish. Like in any other parish, the Church organizations of SS. Peter
and Paul contributed much towards its spiritual development. The Societies of St.
Stanislaus Kostka Brotherhood, SS. Peter and Paul, Parents Club, Rosary Society, Young
Ladies Sodality, Children of Mary, Senior and Junior Holy Name, St. Cecilia Choir,
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Knights of the Altar, St. Hedwig, and the Ave Maria
Society deserve special acknowledgment for the tremendous assistance to the spiritual life
of SS. Peter and Paul Parish.
REVEREND CASIMIR OSSOWSKI 1948 - 1951
It is appropriately significant to mention that our first five vocations to religious life were:
the Reverend Sebastian Dzielski, O.F.M., ordained a Franciscan Friar Minor in 1926 and
four to the Sisterhood in the Bernardine Order— Sister Mary Borromeo, O.S.F. (Florence
Podgorski in 1929) ; Sister Mary Faligna, O.S.F. (Theophila Hryn in 1930) ; Sister Mary
Dolorine, O.S.F. (Blanche Piotrowski in 1937) ; Sister Mary Vianney, O.S.F. (Louise
Potopa in 1937). God blessed this parish with four recent vocations. These include two
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boys preparing by Bishop Paul P. Rhode, D.D., of the Green Bay Diocese At present
stationed at St. Francis Apache Mission in Whiteriver, Arizona for the Priesthood—John
Palko, a Sophomore at St. Francis College, Loretto, Pennsylvania; Stanley Halerz, a Senior
at St. Mary's High School in Orchard Lake, Michigan; one for the Franciscan Brotherhood,
George Lemme, now at St. Francis Monastery, Mt. Assisi, Loretto, Penna.; and one young
lady to the Sisterhood, Rita Fabian, now a novice in the Order of the Sisters of St. Ann of
Providence, known as Sister Mary Magdalene, S.A.
REVEREND SEBASTIAN DZIELSKI, O.F.M. Ordained May 20,
1926
Physically speaking, our parish can be justly proud of these significant developments
presented in chronological order.
1951.... Stained Glass Windows were installed in the Church. The cemetery ground was
leveled, three entrances were made, shrubbery planted, a retaining wall built, and road
macadamized.
1952.... New Liturgical Main Altar installed and furnished with drapes.
Bronze Tabernacle purchased. New roof built on Convent and School. Interior of Convent
repainted.
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1953..... New plumbing and automatic hot water tanks in School and Rectory.
Interior of School painted.
1954..... Peoples Natural Gas heating units replaced the hand-fired coal furnaces
in Church and Rectory.
Newly-laid concrete floor in the Church basement was covered with tile, kitchen equipped
with appliances, and necessary utensils.
1955..... Church floor covered with tile.
Sanctuary furnished with Communion Rail, Prieu-Dieu, and Sedilia. Major alterations
made in interior of school, including new fluorescent lights, desks for teachers and pupils.
School library equipped with furnishings and additional books.
1956..... Interior of Church redecorated, press-fiber ceiling installed, Sanctuary
Arch constructed.
Additional ground purchased for the Parish Cemetery.
1957..... Convent and School repaired, and partially refurnished.
School equipped with water fountains. Additional property acquired for School
Playground. Fire escapes on Convent and School completed.
1958......Vestment cases for both sacristies purchased.
Altar boys cassocks and surplices bought. One-car garage built to side of Rectory.
1959..... Church refurnished with Brass Candlesticks for three altars, Sanctuary
Lamp and Stand, Sacred Linens and Vestments, Paten and Sanctus Bell.
New Stations of the Cross canonically erected.
All Church statues refaced and repainted by Poli Brothers.
Station wagon purchased for Sisters.
It is pertinent to include the 1960 diocesan events which are so closely united with the
parish. On June 25, 1960, the Most Reverend J. Carroll McCormick, D.D., was appointed
the fifth Bishop of the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese by His Holiness, Pope John XXIII.
General rejoicing pervaded throughout the eight-county diocese when, on September 21,
His Eminence Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York, formally installed
Bishop J. Carroll McCormick as Ordinary of Altoona - Johnstown Diocese. In extending
warm wishes, the parishioners of SS. Peter and Paul joined the diocese in welcoming His
Excellency with prayerful sentiments.
Another memorable event for the Parish was the participation in the formal opening of
the newly-completed Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on November 13, 1960.
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The year 1960 was considered an important milestone not only in the history of the
Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, but it also marks great preparations for the Golden Jubilee
of SS. Peter and Paul Parish in June, 1961. In view of this, the entire Church and School has
undergone a complete renovating program. New
light fixtures, an electric reed organ, sound system, and acoustically-insulated ceiling were
installed in Church, and a new rug was laid in the Sanctuary. All the parish buildings were
re-wired and exterior woodwork painted. The classrooms were likewise painted and
necessary repairs have been made.
These remarkable achievements at SS. Peter and Paul Parish are indicative of the
congregation's generosity and loving attachment to their Mother Church. Since available
records do not contain all the contributions to our Parish life, these past fifty years, due
credit is directed to every member of this parish for every effort expended to SS. Peter and
Paul Parish. Special acknowledgement is due to the zealous Pastors who have labored and
directed this flock, which presently numbers 157 families.
We pray that through the Heavenly intercession of Saints Peter and Paul, under whose
Patronage we are entrusted, this Parish may continually grow in God's love and attain its
ultimate end among the angels and saints in Heaven.
Daughters of Parish in Religious Life
SISTER MARY ALPHONSINA Stella Goclowski
SISTER MARY MAGDALENE Rita Fabian
SISTER MARY DOLORINE Blanche Piotrowski
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SISTER MARY FALIGNA Theophila Hryn
SISTER MARY VIANNEY Louise Potopa
SISTER MARY BORROMEO Florence Podgorski
SS. Peter and Paul Church 1961
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