St Mary High School - Marian Yearbook (Marion, OH)

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Father Michael Mulvihill had the joy of standing at the high altar and praying with his congregation under the Gothic arches, themselves like silent hands folded in prayer. Lovely art glass windows inspired devotion and softened the daylight. Solid oak pews and kneelers could accommodate seven hundred fifty worshipers. lt had been erected at a cost of S45,000, raising the total value of the church property to about S75,000. The local newspaper lavished ornate praise on its beauty, while a souvenir booklet published on the occasion declared it was an attractive addition to a thriving county seat. The dedication took place on October 23, 1898. Father Mulvihill enioyed the fruits of his labor for another six years. Father Joseph Denning was named pastor in 1904. Under his direction a new and larger school was built, its cornerstone is dated 1905. With the turn of the century, Marion shook off its Gay Nineties' atmos- phere and sought to keep stride with modernism. The horseless carriage appeared on its streets. America's machine age began to unfold. Then came World War I and REVEREND JAMES A. its tragedy and grief were felt in the ranks of this Mid-western parish. Father Francis X. Cot- ter succeeded Father Denning from 1922 to 1928, during which time an addition of a science laboratory and commercial rooms was W -. BURNS ,J built. Father William J. Spickerman received his appointment to St. Mary parish in 1928. He guided his charges safely through Depression years. His watchful eyes have always fallen

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of death. And daily it sent out a sharp remind- er for Catholics to begin the day with the offering of a morning Sacrifice. But Father Mackey's improvements went far beyond the purchase of a bell. On September 26, 1868, he bought from Enoch Hock property fronting Main Street and worth S2,700. Father Peter McMahon and Father Philip Donoghue followed as pastors in 1870 and REVEREND WILLIAM M. CAREY 1871 and completed the history of the founda- tion of St. Mary Parish. A new era was to open in 1875. Father Joseph Quatman C1875-18805 looked out over his congregation and was concerned about the welfare of the little children whose big eyes stared seriously into his own. He responded to their silent accusation and directed his energies to establishing a Catholic school to protect their Faith and at the same time to make good Americans of them. Begun in 1875, the school was completed the following year. Four Sisters of Charity, Mother Seton's Sisters, came from Cincinnati to staff the little school. They enrolled in that first year about a hundred boys and girls in the first five grades. After five years of untiring service to Marion Catholics, Father Quatman was followed by Father William M. Carey, whose ill health, however, caused his replacement on February 24, 1881, by Father Burns. The Catholic popula- tion by now had outgrown its little church. Again men dreamed dreams. Their little square church had been useful, but now they would build for beauty and inspiration in Gothic architecture. On October 14, 1894, the cornerstone was laid. But the kind-faced Irish priest left for an assignment in Glendale, Ohio - he was to see no more than the beginning, but a good beginning, for in 1883 a priest's rectory was built, and a new cemetery purchased for S3,500.

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REVEREND MICHAEL MU LVIHILL REVEREND JOSEPH DENNING on needed improvements and these have included the creation of Moira Hall from unused space under the church, the remodel- ing of the school lavatories, the surfacing of the school play- 4-.1 ground, the purchase of an ath- letic practice field on Ballentine Avenue, and most recently the renovation of the Sisters' con- vent. In 1945 St. Mary parish was transferred from the Dio- cese of Cincinnati to the Diocese of Columbus, under the care of Michael J. Ready, newly con- secrated Bishop of Columbus. In 1948 Father Spickerman celebrated his fortieth anniversary as c priest. His pastorate has been striking for the breaking down of preiudice toward Catholics. Redecoroted Church, 1944 lOpposite pagei