Pittsburgh, PA (1888PressRelease)
February 08, 2007 - On March 3, exactly 100 years to the day when the first Mass was offered at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Oakmont, the parish will open its Centennial Year. A Mass will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Paul Bradley, Diocesan Administrator, and concelebrated by Father Frank Kurimsky, current pastor, and Father William G. Blough, former pastor, at 4 PM that day.
At a reception following the Mass, the St. Irenaeus Parish will present a gift to the Oakmont community– an historic marker to be placed near the town’s Clock Tower to commemorate all nine churches in Oakmont. Also at the reception, a display of historic photos will chronicle the first 100 years of St. Irenaeus’ parish life and feature pictures of all the churches in Oakmont. Invited guests include the pastors of all the churches as well as borough and school district officials.
Also in celebration of 100 years of faith, Holy Hour will be held the first Thursday of each month throughout the Centennial Year. St. Irenaeus was an early church father and bishop of Lyons, who lived from about 130 A.D. to 202 A.D. His most well-known words are: “The proper glory of God is man fully alive.”
To mark the feast day of St. Irenaeus in June, a Mass and social event will acknowledge those parishioners who have given hours of service to the parish through dozens of different ministries. And in the fall, the children of St. Irenaeus will highlight the importance of a faith grounded in knowledge with a presentation on the value of religious education.
St. Irenaeus Centennial Celebration will close formally in March 2008 when all parishioners will receive a published history of the parish, recording 100 years of commitment to faith, service and knowledge as spelled out in the Parish Mission Statement.
All St. Irenaeus parishioners, both past and present, and all other interested parties are welcome to join with the parish in celebrating this important year.
St. Irenaeus Parish
387 Maryland Avenue
Oakmont, Pennsylvania 15139
For Further Information:
Call (412) 828-3065
www.saintirenaeus.org
or secretary ( @ ) saintirenaeus dot org
###
