St. John the Baptist
Transfiguration of Our Lord
St. Leo & St. Ann's
St. john's history
St. John the Baptist Church are going to lose nuns. The sisters who serve St. John the Baptist church are leaving.
The four sisters of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate will be leaving the 200 E. Dominick St. parish, according to the Rev. John F. Hogan Jr.
He announced the pending departure of Sister Mary Gemma, Sister Joan Germaine Riley, Sister Mylene Rosemarie and Sister Susan Marie. He explained that the general superior of the sisters, based in Malone, had informed him that they would no longer be able to serve at the church due, to the decline in available sisters and the need to consolidate.
Hogan said that the news would be met with great sadness in the congregation and was bittersweet since St. John’s is marking 100 years as a Catholic parish this year, having been established on Aug. 5, 1909. The sisters have been serving at St. John’s and elsewhere in the community for 74 of those years, according to Hogan. It is uncertain when the sisters will leave, but the hope is that they will be able to stay until after the 100th anniversary celebration at the church, planned for Aug. 16.
"It is with deep regret and great sadness that we find ourselves unable to continue to serve at St. John the Baptist Church next year," said the general superior, Sister Carole Marie. "This was not a decision that we reached easily and we ask your understanding and prayers."
Sister Carole Marie said that the decision was reflective of the signs of the times where there are fewer vocations to the priesthood and religious life. This has led to a "graying" population of priests and religious leaders whose numbers have been declining since the 1960s.
The work of the sisters has been mostly with children and youth, but also involved the community. "In 1939, Bishop Walter Foery asked the Parish Visitors to open a Catholic Charities office in Rome," Hogan explained. "They complied and many sisters worked in this office until 1952, when the office was assumed by lay persons. The great service of Catholic Charities provides to anyone in need and continues here in Rome to this very day."
Hogan said that the church is especially grateful to have had the assistance of the sisters over the years.
"During my nearly six years as pastor here at St. John’s, it has been a blessing and a joy to work with so many dedicated, prayerful and selfless sisters. They have enriched my life, my parishioners’ and so many others. One cannot bring to measure the influence they have had on countless Catholics and non-Catholics alike in our local community and in the Diocese of Syracuse. The sisters are certainly a great example of the love of Jesus Christ present among us. They will be greatly missed. Our prayers and best wishes go with them."
ROME, N.Y. — Father John F. Hogan, Jr., pastor of Church of St. John the Baptist, recently received news that Bishop Robert J. Cunningham will be celebrating the 100th Anniversary Mass of the Church of St. John the Baptist, on Sunday, Aug. 16 at 11 a.m.. Concelebrants will be Father Philip A. Hearn, parochial vicar, and Father Hogan.
The celebration will take place under the big top in the church parking lot. This will be a family celebration with food, games, children’s rides and more.
The original Italian Catholic parish of Rome was organized at a meeting of 60 representative men of that nationality at Duly Hall on July 26, 1909, and was incorporated Aug. 5, under the title of St. John the Baptist Church. Bishop Patrick Ludden approved the formation of the parish and the plans were thus formulated. From 1910-1914, services were conducted in the Ferlo block, 311 E. Dominick St. Father Vincenzo Giorgio was the first pastor assigned in 1910.
On Sept. 11, 1911, the property for the church on River Street was purchased from Bridget Weliken. A basement church was constructed first, and on Sunday, Nov. 30, 1911, Monsignor Grimes of Syracuse dedicated the structure. In 1914, the church was completed.
The second pastor was Father Joseph Panesi, who served from 1917 until his death in January of 1944. Under his guidance, membership in the congregation increased greatly and the church came to occupy a prominent place in religious and community life. During the 27 years of Father Panesi’s pastorate, many improvements were made on the church and additional property was acquired.
One of the earliest accomplishments attributed to the priest was securing the 3,000 pound refined bronze bell in 1921. Made in Valduggia, Italy, the $1,000 bell was dedicated and christened Oct. 31, 1921. A tower, higher, larger and stronger than the two already on the front corners of the edifice, was built to house the bell. It was designed by F. W. Kirkland, Rome, and constructed by a parishioner of St. John’s. In the fall of 1922, the congregation purchased a three-manual organ from the Presbyterian church. The instrument, on which improvements were made later, had 25 stops and a two-horsepower electric blower. It was installed in the balcony, which had to be enlarged. Soon after coming to Rome, Father Panesi acquired the rectory at Brook and River Streets and, in 1923, the house and lot next to the church were purchased. This structure served as the first headquarters of religious instruction for children of the parish and later became the residence of the sisters of the Order of Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, who were brought to the parish in 1935 to carry on religious education and social work. Growth of the congregation necessitated an enlarged church, and in 1924 an annex was built increasing the seating capacity from 400 to approximately 600. This renovation cost $27,000.
In 1926, the interior of the church was remodeled and redecorated, and memorial stained glass windows were installed.
The steady growth was further evidenced by the fact that, in 1926, the bishop of the Syracuse Diocese sent Father Francis J. Zimmer to become the first assistant in the parish’s history.
Still another achievement occurred in 1928 when Father Panesi dedicated the St. John the Baptist Cemetery on Lower East Dominick Street.
The parish continued to grow and with it the attendance at Masses so that the services became overcrowded, with worshippers being forced to stand on the outside steps. Conditions were eased somewhat with the conversion of the Church of Religious Education at Mohawk and Third Streets, into a mission church for Sunday Masses in 1948.
In 1944, Father Victor F. Ciciarelli, a native of Syracuse, became the third pastor of the congregation. Soon after he arrived, he made plans to free the parish of its mortgages. The last of four mortgages on the River Street property was burned in 1944, with Nicholas J. Rienzo and Gregory Andronaco, trustees of the church, officiating.
In 1945, St. John’s purchased the property of Carl C. Ubell at 146 Stanwix St., as a convent for the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate.
Through necessity and after many meetings, in April 1946, a building fund committee for a new church was formed. This committee worked for years. They estimated 2,500 families in the parish. They estimated costs, worked out plans for raising money and computed the costs. The first St. John Festival was held on the present site in 1949 to raise the money for the new church. Some years, two festivals were held each summer with church societies working to raise the $250,000 required to build the church.
The site selected for the church was a tumbledown building that was once a modern manufacturing plant owned by the Rome Brass and Copper Company. The church purchased the property from Revere Copper and Brass Company and razed the building in 1952.
The new church at 200 E. Dominick St. is 54 feet wide, the full width of the building, and 90 feet long and seats 600 worshippers. Architect Frank W. Brodrick of Syracuse drew the plans. Bishop Walter A. Foery blessed the cornerstone on Oct. 4, 1953. The formal dedication of the new church was on Sunday, May 23, 1954.
In February 1972, Pope Paul VI made the pastor, Father Ciciarelli, an Honorary Prelate, with the title of “monsignor.” The parish honored him on Feb. 29, 1972.
Father Anthony F. Tosti came to St. John’s as an assistant in September 1974 and he was appointed co-pastor in January 1976. Father Edward C. Madore and Father John M. Wood also served as associate pastors.
The 75th Jubilee was celebrated on Saturday, Aug. 4, 1984 with a dinner at The Beeches. A Jubilee Mass was celebrated by Bishop Thomas J. Costello on Sunday, Aug. 5, 1984. Former assistant pastors of St. John’s and former sisters who had served the parish, as well as parish sons who had been ordained, attended the celebration.
Father Anthony F. Tosti, a priest-son of the parish, was named the fourth pastor of St. John’s in 1985 when Msgr. Ciciarelli retired. Father Tosti served until July 1, 1991. In October, 1991, Father Anthony LaFache was appointed pastor. He stayed until July, 1992. Father Joseph J. Clemente became pastor in December 1992, until June 2003. Father Hogan has been pastor since July of 2003.
8 Pastors in 100 Years
Church has had eight pastors in 100 years
Officials at the Church of St. John The Baptist listed the eight pastors that have served there as well as other clergy and parish sons and daughters.
The Most Rev. Robert J. Cunningham, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, celebrates the 100th Anniversary Mass of the church at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Eight pastors:
Rev. Vincenzo Giorgio, 1910-1914
Rev. Alfi, 1914-1916
Rev. Joseph Panesi, 1917-1944
Rev. Msgr. Victor F. Ciciarelli, 1944-1985
Rev. Anthony F. Tosti, 1985-1991
Rev. Anthony LaFache, 1991-1992
Rev. Joseph J. Clemente, 1992-2003
Rev. John F. Hogan Jr., 2003-Present
Other clergy
(assistants and parochial vicars):
Rev. F. Zimmer, 1927-1929
Rev. Edward D. O’Connell, 1929-1940
Rev. Joseph Dellahunt, 1934-1934
Rev. Edward J. Kopp, 1934-1935
Rev. James Mulcahy, 1935-1935
Rev. Robert J. Casey, 1935-1937
Rev. Raymond J. Loftus, 1937-1941
Rev. Thomas J. Murphy, 1937-1937
Rev. William Dwyer, 1938-1938
Rev. James E. Woulfe, 1940-1948
Rev. Paul Byrne, 1941-1944
Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Culkin, 1944-1947
Rev. Charles M. Drumm, 1946-1948
Rev. Joseph Marangolo, 1947-1951
Rev. Joseph F. Kraus, 1948-1952
Rev. John B. O’Brien, 1948-1951
Rev. William J. Lynch, 1951-1956
Rev. Leonard M. Barry, 1951-1953
Rev. John K. Ryan, 1952-1955
Rev. John J. Martin, 1953-1960
Rev. Nicholas R. Maio, 1955-1970
Rev. Angelo Libera, 1957-1962
Rev. L. Peter Paige, 1961-1965
Rev. Alfred F. D’Antonio, 1962-1963
Rev. V. James Lauducci, 1963-1967
Rev. Felix F. Colosimo, 1965-1968
Rev. Msgr. John R. Madden, 1968-1968
Rev. G. David Sears, 1966-1967
Rev. Phillip A. Bottaro, 1968-1972
Rev. Philip A. Hearn, 1970-1971
Rev. James A. Quinn, 1971-1974
Rev. James T. Queen, 1972-1973
Rev. William C. Esposito, 1973-1974
Rev. James F. Cesta, 1974-1976
Rev. Anthony F. Tosti, 1974-1991
Rev. Lester E. Smith, 1976-1981
Rev. Carl C. Stirpe, 1979-1979
Rev. Francis C. Pompei, 1981-1981
Rev. Edward C. Madore, 1982-1985
Rev. John M. Wood, 1983-Died 2005
Rev. Peter Paige, 1986-1987
Rev. Thomas Durant, 1987-1992
Rev. James L. Manley Jr., 1988-1988
Rev. Joseph A. Pace, 1990-1990
Rev. Joseph Scardella, 1991-1991
Rev. Robert Conrad, 2000-2002
Rev. Gregory Golyzniak, 2003-2006
Rev. Arthur Krawezenko, 2006-Leaving July 2009
Rev. Fred Daley, 2008-2008
Rev. James Tormey, 2008-2008
Following priests from India spent summers here:
Rev. Joseph Kureethara
Rev. Frederick V. Pereira
Rev. Victor A. Pinto
Rev. Aloysius D’Souza
Rev. Oswald Lasredo
Rev. Valerian D’Souza
Rev. Peter Noronha
Rev. Denis Morae
Parish sons and daughters
Rev. Msgr. Guy Festa, Syracuse Diocese, 1939
Rev. Msgr. Carl Denti, Syracuse Diocese, 1942
Most Rev. Joseph DePalma, Sacred Heart Fathers, 1944
Rev. Joseph Mungari, S.A.C., Pallotine Fathers, 1945
Rev. Luigi Malorzo, C.P., Passionists, 1952
Rev. Benjamin Scarchilli, O.F.M., Franciscan, 1954
Rev. Alfred D’Antonio, Syracuse Diocese
Rev. Joseph Sestito, Ogdensburg Diocese, 1959
Rev. Anthony F. Tosti, Syracuse Diocese, 1965
Rev. Anthony Melachi, Oblates of Mary, 1975
Rev. Paul Angelicchio, Syracuse Diocese, 1977
Rev. Louis Galluppi
Rev. Anthony Fragapane, Syracuse Diocese, 1990
Sister Frances Cardillo, O.S.F., Allegheny Franciscans, 1951
Sister Rosaire Anne, C.S.J. (Angela DeMare) Sisters of St. Joseph 1961
Sister Carmella Therese, S.N.J.M. (Teresa DeCosty) Sisters of Holy Names 1962