St Adalbert High School - Albertonian Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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an Christian of aid' Powerhouse ' ' Education of The birthdate of St. Adalbert Parish as given in the records of the Pittsburgh diocese, is May 1883. Growing out ofacrying need of the newly settled Poles for services in a tongue known to them, the second oldest Polish parish in Pittsburgh owes its existence to the zealous efforts of members of St. Adalbert's committee. Under the guidance of the first assigned pastor, Rev. Victor Zareczny, the faith and generosity of the Poles resulted in the initiation of work on the erection of a church building, St. .Iohn's parish on 14th Street graciously provided facilities for the divine liturgy each Sunday in the course of the building. With frequent changes of resident pastors and the filling of the interim by Polish priests of religious congregations, the task of building was greatly impeded. By 1884 the parishioners were able to offer their prayers in a temple of their own. The appointment of Rev. Ladislaus Miskiewicz in 1885 provided the impetus for expansion. The steady stream of immigrants necessitated an edifice of larger proportions. Under his leadership the present church building took form at a cost of S80,000. ln October of 1890 the church was dedicated by Rt. Rev. R. Phelan. ln 1911, during the pastorate of Rev. John Gorzynski, the needed repairs were combined with the work of remodeling at a cost of 5IS22,000. It was then that the 150 foot steeples were removed. ln 1923, thanks to his efforts the wooden altars were replaced by marble ones costing S-l0,000. These were consecrated on November 29, 1923 by Rt. Rev. Archbishop Regis Canevin, Bishop H, Boyle, and Bishop J. Swint. As a preparation for the Golden Jubilee in 1923 the build- ings were sandblasted on the outside and renovated on the interior at a cost of S20,000. The present pastor, Rev. Ladislaus Rokosz, from the time of his arrival in the parish as pastor in 1942, has continued the work ofhis predecessors, Rev. Joseph Frania, and Rev. Theo- dore Schultz, maintaining the buildings in condition and making improvements: periodic renova- tions, roof repairs, storm windows, so that the value of the church property now exceeds a half- million dollars. lt was here that through the decades hundreds of our forebears received spiritual life through Baptism, were restored to God's friendship through Penance, opened their hearts to the Eucharistic Christ, professed loyalty to God through Confirmation, sanctified their love through Matrimony, gained strength and grace through participation in the Mass, and made a final stop after death before being laid to rest in the parish cemetery.

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fl -mr . '--...Q 1. 1, .A 3 yi -M f '--Rx -,.' w f- C ,i fa S e ix our gaze on . . -my r ' ' , A ' i Pl fin P n i arun 0 e aris i C if r J L A lhc holy hishop was horn ot il iiohlt- fniiiilx' 'I ' in llolioiniu in 056, liuslim-d for tiod's sc1'v1vu, 4 hc rcccivctl his tuirlv udiicatioh LlllLiL'l' St. .-Xdgil-f - ,j A hcrl oi' hizigtlttliiirg, Shortly ziltcr his oxdiiiaiioii, 1 V thc- young mlm was raised to ihc iiislioprit' of 2 ihfilgllt. llis first cart- was totlividt- thu i't-vuiiiics if ' A of his strc into tour paris: ohm duvoitd to thc i j upkcup or' tiilvrics and ornniiit-ms of tht- t'hiii't'li, 5 in second to the iiiuiiitwiiairivt- ol his txiiioiis, ti third io tht- rt-lit-t' of thc poor, xxhilt- thu fourth hc ruscrvcd for his owii List' Liiid that of his hoiisc- hold rind guests. lfirod with holy foul, hit pr't-.ivlitwi .issitloiislt and visitcd thc poor iii thvir hoiiit-s .md tht- prisoncrs iii their diiiigooiis. liisiroiiixigtwl hx' his fLll1llfC to iiiuku illl imprt-ssioii iipoii his ilovlt, hu loft his sou for liohiu, Rvutillt-ti hx' liiilw lloluslaus, ho rt-tiirm-tl hopiiigto1't-Qcivt' support from uivil power iii his work, His polilit-gil UlipUIlK'l'llS matic- it iiiipossililuiorhiiiiioiit'i't'oi'iii his diitit-s, and shorilv .1i'lurxmietl ht' .igiiiii lol! ijfllglltj for thu iiioiiastmzw iii lioiiit-, limpowcrt-tl lw l'opt- liwgorx' V iopix-.inli tht' gospel to thc lictitlicii it ht- tioiiiid it iiiipossililt- to rt-turn to liolie-i1ii.i, i't1lliuril1liii provoltt- blood- shed bv Ll rutiirii to his ii.lllYU l.iiid, .Xdiillwt-i'i turned aside to visit his iiitfiiil, liiiltu liolt-f4l,1ii,-4 of lloltmd, l'iidt-r thc- p4iti'oimgt- or tht' lgitttfr, hc tiirccicd his sfloris loiht't'oiix'tix'sioiioi'p.12gtiii ilriissiims. With his voiiipaliiioiis ht- iimdt- soh- verts in llaiwig hut wits ortlurcd to luzivt' iw those opposed to his work, llciiisiiig to iiluiiitloii their Cliristitiii mission, Atl.iliie'i'i .md his lirvih- rch wcrc dons to duaith on April 23, +V, .Xtl.il- hcrt's hotly was thrown into thu WJli'I'.lllii, hciiig washed up on tht' l'olish uoiisi, it mist-x't'iitii.illx' t-iishrincd in Kliiit-fiiog iii H130 tht' italics wt-ru li'-lllSlillCki luv form' to llriigiic. We seek perfection bu means of CHRISTIAN EDUCATICN and the aid of our Administrative System. 6 Club Action ...... Z0 Religious Pursuits . .JZ Sports Ventures . . . Z4 Scholastic Endeavors.I6 Classroom Sessions . Z8 Friends and Patrons . . . 40 4

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Direct and fashion men to purity Graduation time brings into focus the enormity of our debt for a truly Catholic education to our beloved pas- tor, Father Rokosz. Blessed with his paternal interest, our school days at St. A's High will remain memorable for all time to come. We acknowledge his effi- cient stewardship in the material well- being of the parish, and in the new edifice nearing completion. We express our sincere thanks for all and promise to show forth the fruits of a fine Catholic education by becoming worthy adult parishioners. We go forth intolife knowing that our feet have been set on the right road and that the prayers of our assistant pastors follow us. The many services rcnd ered, the guidance bestowed on us, have marked them indeliblv in our hearts and minds. May God's blessing enable them to lead many others onward. a 1 GQ Qc , 6 Parish +G- Priests