[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 148 (Thursday, September 21, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

                                 ______


                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 21, 1995

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 100th 
anniversary of my hometown parish, Holy Trinity Church in Nanticoke, 
PA. This Sunday, September 24, Bishop James C. Timlin will celebrate 
the Pontifical Celebration Mass of Thanksgiving in honor of the 
church's centennial.
  According to historical documents, the church was founded when a 
group of Polish immigrants separated from another local parish to form 
the Holy Trinity Church. The cornerstone of the original church was 
laid on May 4, 1885. Rev. Francis Hodur, Holy Trinity's first pastor, 
led the church for 2 years. Seven different pastors served the church 
in the 20 years following Father Hodur. In 1919 Father Roman 
Wieziolowski began 48 years of service at Holy Trinity Church. Under 
his leadership a brick school with eight classrooms was built in 1923 
and 3 years later, construction of the present church was begun. Five 
years later the church was completed at a cost of $225,000. By then, 
the parish had 1,000 families and the school was always filled to 
capacity.
  In 1967 Father Walter Poplawski, who had served as an assistant under 
Father Wieziolowski, was appointed Pastor. Under his guidance repairs 
and modernization were undertaken to meet the liturgical renewal. 
Father Poplawski considered Catholic education a priority during his 
leadership at Holy Trinity and worked with other area pastors to merge 
the Nanticoke area Catholic schools into a central school system, which 
became the Pope John Paul II School. This newly formed school, which is 
housed at Holy Trinity and St. Stanislaus Churches, still serves the 
youth of the Nanticoke area.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to bring the 
history of Holy Trinity to the attention of my colleagues. An integral 
part of the religious community of northeastern Pennsylvania, Holy 
Trinity Church has a tradition of dedicated service to the faithful. I 
join with the community in congratulating the Holy Trinity Church on 
this milestone anniversary.

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