The following text is the history of Saint Michael and St. Margaret from a published history of the parishes in the Diocese of Erie by Msgr. Robert Barcio.
The history of Catholicism in Greenville dates as far back as 1838. At that time a priest, whose name is not known, from the Diocese of Philadelphia on one of his missionary tours, celebrated Mass in Greenville.
The home privileged to witness the first Mass was that of Bryan McNally, an Irish immigrant and a tailor in Greenville. Besides McNally, John and Frederick Schmidt, Martin Lindeman, John O'Hara, John McCoy, and John Hoffman were also present. The Schmidt brothers, who had come from Germany, were attracted to Greenville by the building of the Erie Canal. Hoffman, also a native of Germany, was a blacksmith for the canal builders. McCoy and O'Hara as well worked on the canal. Several missionaries sent by Bishop Kenrick of Philadelphia ministered to the spiritual needs of the small Catholic community during this early period.
It was in August, 1842 that Greenville was favored by a visit from Bishop Kenrick who celebrated Mass before he moved on to Meadville and Erie. Again in 1846, Greenville was visited by Bishop Michael O'Connor, the first bishop of the Pittsburgh Diocese which was established in 1843. A church was constructed in 1848 largely through the efforts of the Reverend John Reid, a priest from the Pittsburgh Diocese who had served the Greenville Catholics for a number of years. The narrow frame structure was dedicated as St. Michael Church in 1849. With the growth of Greenville, St. Michael's congregation grew as well. Thus, in 1869, an annex was added to the church as well as a gallery, belfry and bell. However, by 1889, the need of a larger church was evident. Father Bernard Donohue, pastor at that time broke ground for the present church on October 15, 1889. The cornerstone was laid in 1890, but it was almost four years before it was completed at a cost of $35,000. The new church was dedicated on June 25, 1893 by Bishop Tobias Mullen. It was designed by D. K. Dean and Son of Erie.
With the erection of the present church, the old church was turned into a facility for religious instruction. In 1899, the Reverend John P. Kearns remodeled it to provide the first parochial school of the parish. The old school had only two rooms, but from the beginning provided for eight grades. From the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Mercy in Titusville came Mother M. Theresa Wuenschel, Sister M. Alexius Forsythe and Sister M. Ursula Rowbottom. The latter was with the school when the Centennial of the parish was celebrated in 1950. Father John felt keenly the need of keeping the education of his spiritual children under the wing of the Church, not only during the grade school years but during the high school years as well. Accordingly, in 1903, he built the new St. Michael's school with that in mind. In the Fall of 1906, St. Michael's became a full-scale four year High School. The first graduation for the full four years was held in 1910.
However, not until 1866 under Father O’Branigan is there a mention of a rectory. Father O'Branigan purchased the land where the convent stood and built a story and a half frame rectory. With the opening of the school in 1899 and the need of a convent for the Sisters, Father John Kearns erected the present parish house with the exception of a few additions that have been built throughout. When the new rectory was completed, the old parish house was remodeled to provide a very comfortable home for the Sisters. An addition was constructed 1919-1920 to provide accommodations for the increased number of nuns who staffed the growing school. In the Summer of 1945, it became necessary to further remodel and expand the convent. It was completed for the opening of school in September, 1946. No history of a parish would be complete without mentioning the cemetery where many of the pioneer parishioners are buried. In the very earliest days, the deceased of St. Michael's were taken to what was called "the Irish Settlement" (present day Immaculate Heart of Mary Church) on the Greenville-Mercer Road. However, in 1848, the ground to the north of the old church was allocated for that purpose. Later, during Father O'Branigan's pastorate (1866-1868), the present location in the rear of the school and convent was purchased from Eugene Rooney, a parishioner. The cemetery was solemnly consecrated by Bishop Tobias Mullen on September 4, 1869. In his time, Father Donohue added another four acres; and, Father John Kearns, by his purchase, extended the cemetery to its present size, approximately twenty one acres. When the new school was built, the bodies from the original tract were disinterred and moved to lots in the present cemetery.
The following priests served the St. Michael's congregation from its earliest years. They include Fathers Hugh P. Gallagher (1842-1843), John Reid and M. J. Mitchell (1844-1850), M. J. Mitchell (1850-1851), T. A. Smith (1851-1853), Peter M. Garvey (1854), Arthur McConnell (1854-1856), J. Reiser (1856), Arthur McConnell (1857), J. J. Gallagher (1857), Andrew Schweiger (1858-1859), Joseph Gobbels (1859-1861), F. J. Hartmann (1861-1864), John J. O'Keefe (1864-1866), Kiernan O'Branigan (1866-1868), Thomas Tracy (1868-1876), Bernard Donohoe (1876-1897), P. Cosgrove (1897-1898), and J. Lenahen (1898). Except for the Reverend Bernard Donohoe who zealously pastored St. Michael's for twenty-one years from 1876-1897 during its earlier period of development, the Reverend John P. Kearns was the longtime pastor (1898-1936) who witnessed its most significant growth and expansion. The oils of his priestly ordination were hardly dry on his hands when he arrived in Greenville on November 10, 1898. He would become a familiar and beloved figure in the Greenville community for almost forty years.
Three months after Father Kearns arrived, Catholic education was born in Greenville. Until the day of his death, his major interest in life, aside from his priestly ministrations, centered around his parish school. Father Kearns was born in Hubbard, Ohio on December 31,1866, the son of Irish immigrants. He attended St. Bonaventure College and Seminary at Alleghany, New York and was ordained on May 1, 1897 by Bishop James E. Quigley of Buffalo. All of the appointments prior to his coming lasted but a few months. He was first an assistant to Father James McCabe at St. Joseph's, Warren. Then, he was designated as pastor of St. John's, Tidioute and again as pastor of St. Clara's, Clarendon before he arrived in Greenville on November 10, 1898. He later became a member of the Bishop's Council in 1922 and was named a Domestic Prelate in 1928. On March 1, 1936, he passed to eternal glory and was laid to rest in St. Michael Cemetery, Greenville. The Reverend James Kearns who had assisted his elder brother for twenty-eight years was appointed pastor soon after the death of Monsignor Kearns. He was born in Elk City, Pennsylvania on June 3, 1876. He attended St. Bonaventure College and Seminary and was ordained a priest on June 13, 1908 by Bishop Charles H. Colton of Buffalo, New York. He was almost immediately assigned to St. Michael's where his unusual musical ability and rich baritone voice became the center of his ministry. He displayed great zeal in instructing and directing the young people of the parish. Long before the so-called Youth Movement took root in the country, Father James pioneered in Catholic theatre. He often wrote his own plays. Until the time of his death on May 21, 1951, he proved to be a very capable administrator. He liquidated the church debt, church property was improved and enlarged, the Grade and High School renovated, the Church redecorated twice, and St. Michael Cemetery beautified. Father James was interred in St. Michael Cemetery on May 25, 1951, one year after the parish had celebrated its centennial.
The immediate successor of Father James was the highly regarded Father John R. Keating who had pastored St. Adrian Church, Delancey, for almost twelve years. He soon earned the love and respect of the entire Greenville community. He was born in Oil City, a parishioner of St. Joseph Parish on June 11, 1904. Ordained on May 25, 1933, he was first assigned as an assistant to Monsignor John Link, pastor of St. Cosmas and Damian, Punxsutawney. He arrived in Greenville on February 23, 1952 and remained until his retirement in June, 1968. In the meantime, he was named to the Diocesan Board of Consultors in 1956 and honored as a Domestic Prelate with the title of Rt. Reverend Monsignor in April, 1963. One of the saddest days in the life of Monsignor Keating occurred when on the verge of constructing a new High School, he was instructed by Bishop Gannon to abandon his plans for a new school since a regional Catholic High School was to be constructed in Sharon - Kennedy Christian High School. Thus, in June, 1965, the last graduates of St. Michael High School received their diplomas. Monsignor Keating retired on June 13, 1968 and was named Pastor Emeritus. But, with his health rapidly deteriorating, he took up residence in the Shenango Valley Home for Senior Citizens. He passed to his eternal reward on September 10, 1973. After a funeral Mass in St. Michael Church, Greenville and St. Joseph Church, Oil City, his burial took place in St. Joseph Cemetery on September 13, 1973.
The Reverend Ralph N. Ciaiola who had served as an assistant pastor from June 3, 1954 to April 30, 1962 at St. Michael's was appointed administrator on June 4, 1966 and pastor on June 13, 1968. He was immediately faced with a debt of $171,000 as the share of the parish in the construction of Kennedy Christian High School. Papers for the debt were burnt in April, 1978 during a parish dance. Father "Ralph" over the years proved to be especially adept at fund raising, organizing athletic programs, and handling the physical needs of the parish. The parish cemetery was enlarged and a chapel was erected. Lateran Hall, a gymnasium and Social Center, and the mission church of St. Margaret, Jamestown, Pennsylvania were also built during his pastorate. After serving the people of St. Michael Church and its Mission, St. Margaret, more than 31 years as an assistant, administrator, and pastor, Father Ralph resigned due to ill health on February 2, 1990. Two months later, he entered eternal life on April 7, 1990. After a concelebrated Mass with Bishop Murphy, his burial took place in St. Michael's Cemetery.
Since the death of Father Ciaiola, the Reverend Thomas C. Kelley served as pastor from March, 1990 to June 15, 1994. He was followed by the Reverend Monsignor Joseph A. Book until March 11, 1999. Reverend Monsignor Andrew H. Karg succeeded Monsignor Book on April 24, 1999. In the earlier years, St. Michael's Parish was served by the following assistant pastors (parochial vicars). They include Fathers John Willis (1906-1907), Charles Hacherl (1936-1937), John C. Cronin (1938-1944; 1946-1954), and Francis Johnston, a nephew of the Kearns brothers (1943-1952). Since 1952, the parishioners of St. Michael's were ministered to by Fathers Ralph N. Ciaiola (1954), Monsignor John R. Snyder (1954), Edward M. Wilson, Stanley S. Staszewski (1967), Ronald E. Gmerek (1971), Walter E. Packard (1972), Paul A. Schill (1973), Philip M. Oriole (1974), Thomas E. Brown (1978), Stephen E. Jeselnick (1980), Monsignor Desmond McGee (1981), Stanley Swacha (1982), Jeffery Noble (1987), David Maciukiewicz (1989), Regis Meenihan (1992), John R. Boeckman (1994), David Foradori (1996), Dennis Veltri (1997), and Paul A. Schill (1998).
St. Michael Parish has been very fertile ground for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Those who were ordained priests were the Reverend Albert B. Mehler, C.S.Sp. (1901), Monsignor C. R. McQuillen, former Chancellor of the Erie Diocese (1924), Reverend William Fitzgerald (1929), Reverend John P. Wagener (1933), Reverend George H. Dwyer (1938), Reverend William P. McAndrew (1941), Reverend Francis Johnston (1943), and the Reverend Bernard F. Webber (1954). Joseph Wagener joined the Xavier Brothers in 1934. In 1950, Finbarr Ray became a brother in the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity. Twenty six young women from 1894 to 1950 entered the convent of the Sisters of Mercy from Titusville. Fourteen joined the Sisters of St. Joseph in Erie up to 1947. Among them was Mother M. Aurelia A'Hearn who was Superior of the Congregation for several years. Three became members of the Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary who once worked in the Erie Diocese in the latter part of the Nineteenth Century, but now are part of the Youngstown Diocese. Sister Mary Louise Julian entered the Benedictine convent in Erie in 1935; Sister Claire de Chantal Loughain, the Sisters of Visitation in Mobile, Alabama in 1899; Sister Mary Derrick, Sisters of Carmel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Columbus, Ohio in 1945; Sister Mary Bernadette Uhrin, the School Sisters of St Francis in 1938; and, Sister Regina Miklosovic, the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, New Haven, Connecticut in 1949.
It is hard to conceive of a flourishing Catholic parish without immediately thinking of its societies. Providing as they do for the material needs of a parish and setting its spiritual tone, they are of inestimable support to a pastor. The pioneers include the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Knights of St. John, the Knights of Columbus, the Rosary Society, the Catholic Benevolent Association, and the Catholic Daughters of America. Of later vintage were the Rosary and Altar Society, the Infant of Prague Guild, St. Michael Athletic Association, the Sodality of Our Lady of Victory, Girl and Boy Scout Troops, and the Newman Club. Also, a complete religious education program was provided for the public school children. Most of the church organizations today would not be recognizable by parishioners of a generation ago. In this millennium year, St. Michael congregation organizations include RCIA, Pre-Cana and PreBaptismal Teams, Pastoral Council, School Board, School PTO, Finance Committee, Booster Club, Michael's Mantle, (Parish Care and Concern), Good Shepherd Center (Ecumenical Center for the Needy), Knights of Columbus, Spiritual Formation Committee, and the Resurrection Choir. St. Michael congregation for several decades has kept pace with the growth of Greenville. When the parish celebrated its centennial in 1950, there were approximately seven hundred families. In the year 2000, it has more than doubled that number. Also, in 1999, the school celebrated the centennial of its founding and continues to play a vital part in the life of the parish.
St. Margaret, Jamestown
In 1874, when the Reverend Thomas Tracy, an Irish immigrant, was pastor of St. Michael Church, Greenville, he decided that it was necessary to build a church for the Catholics of Jamestown, Pennsylvania and vicinity. The church, a frame building, forty by eighty feet, seated approximately two hundred. It was nearly filled first in its earlier years as a mission and later as an independent parish. Among the original families whose homes served as chapels before the church was built, were John Savage, Michael Conway, John Flaherty, and Patrick O'Donnell.
The Mercer County History of 1888 records that Father Tracy announced to the congregation on the day of dedication in August, 1874 that whoever would give the largest donations toward paying the debt on the new church would have the privilege of selecting its name. After a spirited contest, Bridget Doyle, wife of Mr. Doyle, won the honor. Subsequently, the mission church was known as St. Bridget's. The Reverend Bernard Donohoe succeeded Father Tracy as pastor of St. Michael's in Greenville in 1876 and inherited the task of serving St. Bridget Church as a mission. He celebrated Mass there once a month until St. Bridget's became an independent parish. To Father Donohoe fell the responsibility of finishing the interior of the church and completing the payments on the parish debt.
In April, 1882, the Reverend Peter Brady was appointed the first resident pastor of the parish. He remained only until the following Autumn and was succeeded by the Reverend John Smith. Father Smith's pastorate extended until May, 1883 when the Reverend James H. McAdam come to shepherd the congregation. During Father McAdam's tenure, the lack of local employment occasioned the exodus of many of St. Bridget's parishioners from Jamestown. In addition, many of the old farm settlers had died and their children preferred other occupations than farming. Consequently, in the Spring of 1887, St. Bridget with only fifteen Catholic families left in Jamestown, St. Bridget's ceased to be an independent parish and once again became a mission of St. Michael Church, Greenville. After 1887, Mass was celebrated monthly by Fathers Donohoe, Cosgrove, Lenahan, John and James Kearns.
About 1920, because the number of families had dwindled to such a small number, St. Bridget's ceased to exist even as a mission. The church at Jamestown was left standing on its original site until 1932 when it was sold to a wrecking company and torn down. The lot on which it stood still remained property of the Diocese of Erie in trust for St. Michael Church, Greenville. However, during the pastorate of the zealous Father Ralph Ciaiola (1968-1990), the mission at Jamestown was once again a viable Catholic community. The Church of St. Margaret was constructed and continues to be served as a mission by the priests of St. Michael's, Greenville to the present day (2000).
St. Michael's priests have served as chaplains to the Catholic students at Greenville's Thiel College (Lutheran). Unique and profound ecumenical ties have been a feature of church life in the religious community in the city.