Part VI

The final immigrant group to have a parish of their own in our region were the Poles, who organized SS. Cyril and Methodius in 1910. Bishop Canevin appointed Father John Robaczewski their pastor in April 1910. Until they were able to construct a parish church, Mass was offered in the Lithuanian Hall.
 
Father John Woshner, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul, opened a school in 1910, having purchased a home for that purpose. The addition of two rooms enlarged the school, which lasted for eight years. The following year, Father William Dunlea replaced Father Coyne as pastor of Saint Francis de Sales. In July 1911, the parishioners of SS. Cyril and Methodius arranged the purchase of several parcels of land for their purpose of constructing a school and a church in a combination building which would serve as both. The cornerstone was blessed in 1912, and Bishop Canevin dedicated the church in 1913. The school was served by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
 
When Father Tonner died suddenly in 1914, he was succeeded by Father William Jordan, who addressed the mortgage of the new church at Saint Mary, as well as problems with the roof which leaked. Father Jordan knew the school was not large enough to accommodate the students, and after years of hard work, ground was broken in 1922.
 
At Mother of Sorrows, a number of pastors had attempted to make the parish successful, but the burdens and difficulties caused them stress, resulting in short stays at the parish. In 1914, Bishop Canevin spoke about the parish to the assistant priest at Saint Michael, Butler, Father Carmine Cillo. With just ten years of priestly service, Father Cillo accepted the challenge, and became pastor in 1915. Under his leadership a period of growth began for the parish.