COURTESY PHOTOS

Students from St. Dominic School in Delhi Township celebrate the opening of the parish’s 75th anniversary celebration.

St. Dominic Parish celebrates generations of faith

By Carmen M. Hubbard

ST. LAWRENCE DEANERY — Father Jim Walsh, pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Delhi Township, beams when discussing the faith community’s legacy and array of ministries.

"I’m like a proud grandpa. There’s a lot of people involved. We have over 90 different ministries happening in the name of St. Dominic," he said. "People are alive in the Lord, and that’s what you hope for. A real parish family of faith makes my job meaningful."

The students at St. Dominic School marked that sense of faith and family on Sept. 8 as they kicked off the parish’s 75th anniversary celebration with the unfurling of banners to be displayed in visible places, including one inside the church that will remind parishioners that they continue to be "Generations Growing In Faith" — the theme of the 75th anniversary.

Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarcyzk will preside at a special Mass at 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 19 to mark the occasion. A founder’s dinner is scheduled for Oct. 18 in O’Connor Hall at the parish center.

According to the church’s history, farmers and florists in the township had requested a parish in 1908, but permission wasn’t granted from the archbishop until 25 years later. Archbishop John T. McNicholas sent Father J. Aloysius Grimmelsman to begin a new parish for about 70 families.

On Oct. 29, 1933, Father Grimmelsman, who became the founding pastor, offered the first Mass. A one-story, four-classroom brick building with a temporary chapel in the basement was constructed for $27,500 in 1934. Its school opened in September that same year, with Sister of Charity Mary Emma McKinley serving as the first principal. Parishioners Anthony and Bernadina Robben gave six acres of land for the construction of St. Dominic.

During the 1930s St. Dominic parishioners added a chapel with a kitchen and a dining room in the basement. Father Basil Haneberg served as assistant pastor and teacher to accommodate staffing needs. In the 1940s more classrooms were added to the school to accommodate 180 students. St. Dominic parishioners attended a Christmas Eve and midnight Mass in 1956. Archbishop Karl J. Alter dedicated a new church on June 2, 1957. Father Grimmelsman retired as pastor of St. Dominic in 1969 after 36 years of service.

Today St. Dominic Parish serves some 2,100 families, with 532 students enrolled at the school under the guidance of Al Grote, the first lay principal. The school was recently awarded the No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon by the U.S. Department of Education.

"God’s presence and God’s activity are here in our midst. God has blessed us, and people have responded in thanksgiving," said Father Walsh, who has been pastor for eight years.

Generations of families such as Lisa McDonald’s have helped spread Christ’s word and maintained the church’s longevity. Her parents, the Stadtmillers, were among the original parishioners who helped build St. Dominic.

"I’ve always wanted to stay close to my mom and wanted my kids to be close to their grandparents," said McDonald, who is the church’s administrative assistant. "It’s a family atmosphere here. People know you can count on them through your triumphs and your tragedies."

Many other activities are planned through July 2009 to mark the parish’s anniversary. There will be special Masses celebrating all those married and buried at St. Dominic, including an All Soul’s Day memorial Mass scheduled for Nov. 3. For the holidays, custom-made sun catcher ornaments depicting six of the church’s stained glass windows will be sold. In addition, a DVD celebrating the past, present and future of the mission of St. Dominic has been created. Musical celebrations, an athletic reunion and Lenten evening of prayer are also scheduled.