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sjchurch@earthlink.net 724-287-7590 |
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History |
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A rectory fire in 1943 destroyed all records before that date for church and cemetery.
A history written by Fr. John Palko is out of print. Perhaps one day it wil be on line here.
The diocesan archives have some information on St. John.
Some Historical Dates
1840 Land released to the Bishop of Philadelphia to be used “for the German Catholic Community of Clearfield Township.”
?? St. John Parish Canonically Established. This would be the usual date to consider as the anniversary.
Aug 6, 1843 Diocese of Pittsburgh Canonically Established with Michael O’Connor as first bishop.
Aug 15, 1853 Cornerstone laid for St John Church
?? Dedication of the Church Building. This is a date every parish should observe each year… if we knew the date.
1855 Fr. Richard Christy named first pastor. So there was definitely a parish by this point, at least. Pennsylvania has erected an historical marker because of his involvment in the Civil War.
1856 Four acres on which St. John’s church building sits were deeded to Bp. Michael O’Connor, first Bishop of Pittsburgh. This is also the year the parish’s Young Men’s Institute (now the Hall) was built.
1877 Bell tower erected.
May 14, 1953 Centenary Celebrations (Mass and Confirmation). This is when they thought it appropriate to celebrate the 100th. Maybe it’s when the bishop was available.
Feb 23, 1958 Clearfield Township defined as parish boundaries, as they are still today. Before that, the parish was much larger. In 1951, for example, the boundaries included (to the West) St. Paul, Butler at Bonnybrook Rd. and at Brinker Rd. and (to the South) St. Mary, Freeport at Sowers Run and at Riddle Cross Rd. East and North, the boundaries were still pretty much the township lines.