[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 19, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E69]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN HONOR OF MONSIGNOR MASAKOWSKI

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 19, 1999

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring a momentous 
occasion to the attention of my colleagues--the Centennial Celebration 
of the St. John the Baptist Church in Larksville, Pennsylvania. On 
Sunday, January 24, the community will gather to commemorate this 
anniversary and I am pleased to have been asked to participate. His 
Excellency, the Most Reverend James C. Timlin, D.D. of the Archdiocese 
of Scranton will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving to begin the 
festivities.
  The church was founded by a group of Polish immigrants, mostly 
peasant farmers from Galicia, who settled in the Wyoming Valley to work 
in the coal mines. Toward the end of 1898, a group who had been 
attending another local church, decided to construct a Polish Roman 
Catholic Church in Larksville. They formed a committee to meet with the 
Bishop and obtained permission to begin construction. A wooden frame 
church was completed in December 1898 with Reverend R.A. Nowicki as 
Pastor. The church was officially dedicated in February 1899.
  A school and parish meeting hall were constructed soon after and the 
parish continued to grow. On December 18, 1919 tragedy struck the 
parish when fire destroyed the church, school, and part of the rectory. 
The sturdy immigrant parish was not to be discouraged and quickly began 
the task of rebuilding.
  Under the leadership of Reverend Paul A. Kopicki, construction of a 
new St. John the Baptist Church began in May of 1920. On December 25, 
1920, the new church was dedicated at midnight mass.
  The new church was reborn spiritually as well, with Father Kopicki 
starting the parish picnic, minstrel shows, and children's talent 
shows. A choir was formed under the leadership of Benjamin Jachimowicz. 
By 1928, the church had a new rectory and by 1935, a new school was 
opened. The school, which was run by Bernadine nuns, closed in 1959 due 
to a shortage of teachers and lack of space.
  Mr. Speaker, the list of priests who have been spiritual leaders of 
St. John's is lengthy. On September 7, 1971, my good friend Father John 
Masakowski became the twelfth pastor of the church. Father John is from 
my hometown of Nanticoke and brought years of experience and wisdom to 
St. John's. Father Masakowski reinstated the now-famous parish picnic 
and renovated the interior of the church. He reorganized the church 
societies and had a grotto constructed to Our Lady of the Pines in the 
church park. In 1990, Father John was made Monsignor, much to the pride 
of his faithful parishioners. This year, they will celebrate his Golden 
anniversary of ordination.
  Mr. Speaker, I have enjoyed the parish picnic at St. John's many 
times over the years of my tenure in Congress. Its parishioners are 
decent, hardworking people, many of whom I am proud to call friends. I 
am pleased to have this opportunity to bring the history of this proud 
and thriving parish to the attention of my colleagues. The history of 
the church is a testament to their dedication and perseverance. I 
congratulate Monsignor Masakowski and the congregation on this 
momentous milestone.

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