Jubilarians
SEVEN PRIESTS MARK GOLDEN JUBILEES, THREE CELEBRATE SILVER JUBILEES
By Rev. Msgr. Timothy P. Stein
Editor, The Catholic Register
Pope Benedict XVI has set out to encourage "spiritual perfection" in priests.
To give impetus to that effort, he announced March 16 that a "Year of the Priest" will be held, beginning on Friday, June 19, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and concluding on June 19, 2010 during a World Meeting of Priests at the Vatican.
As a fitting prelude to the Year of the Church in the Universal Church, the local Church of Altoona - Johnstown is, this month, marking the jubilees of 10 priests.
Seven priests, ordained in 1959, are celebrating their golden jubilee. They are: Father Sylvester J. Bendzella, Father Donald E. Boslett, Monsignor Arnold L. Gaus, Father John J. Marshall, Father Paul M. Robine, Father Carl A. Spishak and Monsignor Samuel J. Tomaselli.
Six of the jubilarians were ordained May 23, 1959 by the late Bishop Howard J. Carroll at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Francis University in Loretto. Father Boslett was ordained May 30, 1959 in the Chapel of Saint Turibius at the Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus OH, by the late Archbishop Eggidio Vagnozzi, apostolic delegate to the United States of America.
Three priests, ordained May 19, 1984 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona by the late Bishop James J. Hogan, are celebrating their silver jubilee. The silver jubilarians are Father Mark S. Begly, Father David S. Peles and Monsignor Timothy P. Stein.
In announcing the Year of the Priest to members of the Vatican's Congregation for Clergy, Pope Benedict said priestly ordination creates new men who are bestowed with the gift and office of sanctifying, teaching and governing. The priestly ministry, he said consists of total adherence to the ecclesial tradition of participating "in a spiritually intense new life and a new life-style which was inaugurated by the Lord Jesus and which the apostles made their own," according to a report from Catholic News Service.
The news service continued by noting "The Pope underlined the necessary and ‘indispensable struggle for moral perfection which must dwell in every authentically priestly heart.'
"The Pope said he was calling for the special year for priests in an effort to foster the priest's yearning ‘for spiritual perfection, upon which the effectiveness of their ministry principally depends.'"
GOLDEN JUBILARIANS
(Ordination Class of 1959)
Father Sylvester J. Bendzella, a senior priest, is the son of the late Joseph and Mary (Tomechko) Bendzella, and a native of Saint John the Baptist Parish in Barnesboro. He studied for the priesthood at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Catonsville MD and Saint Mary Seminary in Baltimore.
He served as parochial vicar at Saint Michael Parish, Clarence and Saint Stephen Parish, Johnstown. Father Bendzella served as pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish, Central City; Saints Cyril and Methodius Parish, Windber; Saint Michael Parish, Clarence and Saint Mary Parish, Snow Shoe. Father Bendzella has also served in hospital chaplaincy in Johnstown and at the Veteran's Home in Hollidaysburg. Prior to his retirement from active ministry he was in residence at Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Altoona.
Father Donald E. Boslett, a native of Saint Patrick Parish, Spangler, is a senior priest, the son of the late Russell and Viola (Dunlap) Boslett. After attending the primary grades at Saint Patrick School, he enrolled at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus Oh, where he was ordained a priest.
Father Boslett was parochial vicar at Saint Leo Parish, Altoona; Saint Mary Parish, Nanty Glo; and Saint Therese Parish, Altoona. He has served as a teacher at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, Ebensburg, and as a teacher and athletic director at Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School, Altoona. As pastor, Father Boslett served at Saint Joseph Parish, Williamsburg; Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish, Ashville; Saint Joseph Parish, Portage; Saint Mary Parish, Altoona; and Saint Joseph Parish, Renovo.
Monsignor Arnold L. Gaus, pastor of Holy Name Parish in Ebensburg, is the son of the late Carl and Margaret (Beyer) Gaus of Saint Benedict Parish, Johnstown. He attended the parish school, graduated from Johnstown Catholic High School, and studied for the priesthood at Saint Vincent Seminary, Latrobe.
Monsignor Gaus served as parochial vicar at Holy Name Parish and as a teacher at Bishop Carroll before being named pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Bakerton. He has also served as pastor of Saint Patrick Parish, Gallitzin. He was named a Monsignor with the rank of Chaplain to His Holiness by the late Pope John Paul II in 1987.
Father John J. Marshall is the son of the late John and E. Josephine (Weitz) Marshall. A native of Saint Clement Parish, Johnstown, he is a senior priest. After completing his elementary school education at the Southmont School and Saint John Gualbert Parochial School, he graduated from Johnstown Catholic High School, and completed his studies for ordination at Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe.
As a parochial vicar, Father Marshall served at Saint Therese Parish, Saint Mary Parish and Cathedral Parish, all in Altoona; Saint John Gualbert Cathedral Parish, Saint Benedict Parish and Saint Columba Parish, all in Johnstown; and at Saint Boniface Parish, Saint Boniface. He has been the pastor of Saint Michael Parish, West Salisbury, Saint Mary Parish, Pocahontas, Saint Mary Magdalen Parish, Frugality, Saint Richard Parish, Blandburg, Saint Brigid Parish, Lilly, and Saints Casimir and Emerich Parish, Johnstown.
Father Paul M. Robine is the pastor of Saint John Vianney Parish in Mundy's Corner. The son of the late Martin and Mary (Weidmann) Robine of Saint Leo Parish, Altoona. He is a graduate of Altoona Catholic High School and studied for the priesthood at Saint Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, and Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia.
Father Robine served as parochial vicar at Saint Benedict Parish, Johnstown and Saint Joseph Parish, Portage. He was chaplain at Mercy Hospital, Altoona, and an instructor at the School of Nursing. Father Robine has taught at all three diocesan high schools. He was also pastor of Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Everett and Saint Aloysius Parish in Cresson.
Father Carl A. Spishak is a senior priest, the son of the late John and Mary (Kollar) Spishak of Saint Stephen Parish, Johnstown. He completed his studies for the priesthood at Saint Francis Seminary, Loretto.
As parochial vicar Father Spishak served at Saint John the Evangelist Parish, Bellefonte and Saint Francis Xavier Parish, Cresson. He has served as an instructor at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, Ebensburg. From 1970 to 1975 he was pastor of Holy Family Parish in Colver, and then served as a United States Navy Chaplain until 1980. Returning to the diocese he was parochial vicar at Assumption Parish in Portage, and was then named pastor of Saint Francis Xavier Parish. He subsequently served as pastor of Saint Matthew Parish in Tyrone, Saint Joseph Parish in Renovo, and Holy Rosary Parish in Juniata, Altoona. He was then named parochial vicar of Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Altoona, where he remains in residence. Father Spishak has also served as director of the diocesan Vocation Office, and as dean of the Altoona Deanery.
Monsignor Samuel J. Tomaselli, a senior priest, is a native of Saint Joseph Parish, Portage, the son of the late Samuel and Agnes (Galioto) Tomaselli. He attended Saint Joseph Grade School, graduated from Portage High School in 1950, attended Saint Francis University in Loretto and Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, and completed his studies at Saint Vincent Seminary.
He served as parochial vicar at Saint Agnes Parish, Lock Haven; Saint Joseph Parish, Renovo; and Saint Patrick Parish, Johnstown. Monsignor Tomaselli served as pastor of all four parishes in the greater Somerset area: Saint Peter in Somerset, Saint Joseph in Boswell; Saint Michael in Listie; and Saint Gregory in MacDonaldton, remaining pastor of Saint Peter Parish until his retirement from active ministry in 2008. Named a Monsignor with the rank of Chaplain to His Holiness by the late Pope John Paul II in 1987, Monsignor Tomaselli has also served as dean of the Southern Deanery and as chaplain to the Somerset State Mental Hospital.
SILVER JUBILARIANS
(Ordination Class of 1984)
Father Mark S. Begly, a native of Assumption Parish, Pittsburgh is the son of Ruth (Straw) Begly and the late Arthur Begly. Now serving as pastor of Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Lakemont, Altoona, Father Begly attended Assumption School; graduated from North Hills High School, Pittsburgh; attended Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania; and received a bachelor of science degree in education from Penn State University. He holds a master of divinity degree and a master of arts degree in moral theology from Mount Saint Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg MD.
Father Begly has served as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, both in Altoona; teacher and assistant principal of Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School, Altoona; parochial vicar at Saint John Gualbert Cathedral Parish, Johnstown, and served in hospital ministry. Prior to being named pastor in Lakemont he was pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish in New Baltimore. Father Begly serves as the Diocese's Interfaith Minister.
Father David S. Peles, pastor of Saint Mary Parish, Nanty Glo, is the son of the late Francis and Evelyn (Kmecak) Peles of Saint Stephen Parish, Johnstown. He attended Saint Stephen School and West End Catholic School, graduated from Westmont High School, received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Saint Francis University, Loretto and a master of divinity degree from Mount Saint Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg MD.
Father Peles served as parochial vicar at Saint John Gualbert Cathedral Parish, Saint Clement Parish and Saint Benedict Parish, all in Johnstown, before being appointed pastor in Nanty Glo in 2001.
Monsignor Timothy P. Stein, pastor of Saint Mary Parish in Altoona and editor of The Catholic Register is the son of the late Charles and Josephine (Ferramini) Stein of Saint Bartholomew Parish, Wilmore. He attended Wilmore Elementary School; graduated from Forest Hills Senior High School, Sidman; and is a 1980 graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism. He completed studies for the master of divinity degree at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus OH.
He served as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Parish in Altoona. Named to serve at the Register as assistant editor in 1986 and editor in 1989, he was in residence at Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Lakemont, Altoona and at Saint Michael the Archangel Parish in Hollidaysburg, before being named pastor of Saint Monica Parish in Chest Springs in 1996. Pastor of Saint Mary Parish since 2004, he was named a Monsignor with the rank of Chaplain to His Holiness by the late Pope John Paul II in 2001.
+++
Religious jubilarians joined Bishop Joseph for dinner at his residence on June 4, 2009. Pictured left to right: Sr. M. Elaine Peers, R.S.M., 60 years; Sr. Fran Stein, R.S.M., 60 years; Sr. Helen Marie Burns, R.S.M., 50 years; Bishop Joseph and Sr. Mary Elizabeth Guidry, S.S.C.J., 25 years.
