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Focusing on the lives of any person or family who has lived in Little Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania at anytime throughout history to recent times, through data and family stories.

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ST. HILARY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

340 Henderson Avenue
Washington, PA 15301

196O's

St. Hilary Roman Catholic Church began as a Polish congregation on Henderson Avenue, at the corner of Bruce St .and Henderson Avenue (Rt. 18 North).  The small building reeked of age and thousands of candles burnt down to nubs over the years, along with thousands upon thousands of times that incense curled its way from its holder, sweeping over the small congregation.  

Mass was said in Latin or Polish until around 1964, when Vatican II came into effect.  The new church had been built by this time.  It was the newest "modern" architecture, a huge white edifice set at an angle on the lot.  It was in stark contrast to the old church, both inside and out.  The old church had a very small entrance; some called it cozy but others said it was stifling & crowded. Some voiced concerns about the possibility of fire happening to the old wood structure, especially with all the candles lit. 

The old church felt like home, especially in comparison to the new church, despite the new church's expansiveness and larger lobby area.  As a young child, the old church was impressive, with its ornate altar where the priest said Mass with his back to the congregation.  I can still see the brocade-type design on the back of his flowing long robes, and how the Priest's sleeves of his outer garment would open widely as he held the chalice high above his head.  On three sides of the church, but especially in the front, were statues who seemed to embody the same sternness as the Nuns who taught us in school.  Indeed, everything about attending church as a child was very, very serious.

There were side areas right and left of the main altar, with racks of votive candle sitting below very large statues.  Attached to the front of both racks was a metal coin box; if you had coins (pennies, nickles, dimes), you were allowed to light a votive candle (or a couple) using very long sticks.  You'd put the end of the stick into the flame of a lit candle, then light a new one of your choice.  And you were supposed to pray for someone if you lit a candle - but many of the young children wanted to light candles even if they had no coins, just to watch the dancing flames.

The new church altar faced front while the old church altar had taken up the entire back wall.  The altar area of the new church was no longer separated by the communion rail of the old church, where my class had made our First Holy Communion, a very solemn ceremony.  Afterwards, our class was lined on the stairs leading to the school for a group photograph, the girls in white dresses and veils and the boys in white shirts and dark pants.

Our Confirmation during 8th grade was held in the new church, where the absence of the rail was quite noticeable to classmates who wished they could lean against it while kneeling on the hard bottom step in front of the altar.  The organist, my second cousin Louis Florian, played the selections from a new organ positioned to the left of the altar area.  The old church had its organ high in the balcony where the chorus stood, high above the back of the church, and to me the music sounded better coming from there.  The new confessionals made one feel exposed, while the small confessionals in the back of the old church felt like confidences shared there were absorbed into the dark wood walls.

Map to St. Hilary Roman Catholic School and Church.

Below are links that will help you learn more about the Brethren, and more about the congregation in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

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Submit Your Surnames - coming in 2006

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The ancestry of the LANE family were German Baptists,
who adopted the official name of The Church of the Brethren in the early 1900s.  See Families of Ten Mile Church of the Brethren

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If you are looking for documents, newspaper items, obituaries, etc. for
families of Washington Co., PA and surrounding areas, see my primary website at:

"Little Washington," Washington Co., PA: Genealogy and Family History

Washington PA Newspapers

McDonald Area Newspapers (also on the Little Washington website).

Learn about some Washington Co. towns, boroughs and villages in the Town-Talk pages.

Washington PA Uptown Landmarks -1 and Uptown Landmarks -2 -- Personal Perspectives

Washington Hospital and School of Nursing - Personal Perspectives

I want to say a special "Thank you" to friends Vic and Janet. 
Without their help, I would not have completed these web pages.

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(c) Judith Ann Florian
159 E. Main St.
Girard, Ohio 44420

Copyright Notice - Data / info. for individuals and surnames may be reproduced for personal family histories only, but not for any commercial use or sale. Please give credit to Judith Florian and Catherine L. Caldwell for locating newspaper items and original documents. You may use J. Florian's research conclusions if credit is given. No other data or images may be reproduced without permission. © 2005-present, Judith Florian, Copyright All rights reserved.

This page was last updated on Friday, January 16, 2009 00:15