Parish History

A BRIEF HISTORY OF HOLY FAMILY PARISH ~ NAZARETH, PA 

 Holy Family Parish is located in the northwestern corner of Nazareth, Pennsylvania. The town was given its biblical name by the leaders of the Moravian Church who in 1740 had come here at the invitation of George Whitfield, an evangelist friend of John Wesley, to establish a school for orphaned Negroes. George Whitfield had purchased 5,000 acres of land from the daughter of William Penn, founder of the State of Pennsylvania. Later the Moravian Church repurchased this land from him. For the next 115 years the area served as a closed Moravian settlement. Then in 1856 a charter for an open settlement was requested and granted. In 1858 the Borough of Nazareth was established. 

In the early part of 1900, German, Polish, Slovak, Hungarian and Italian immigrants came into the Nazareth area to work in the cement mills. The Catholics among them traveled by horse and buggy to attend Mass at the Holy Ghost Church in Bethlehem or at St. Joseph's Church in Easton. A tragic accident was to be the cause of the establishment of a parish in Nazareth. On February 15th, 1907, Stephen Mullitch, a brother-in-law of John Keppel, was killed in a cement mill accident. His funeral was held at St. Joseph Church in Easton. John Keppel's daughter, Theresa Keppel Deutsch, reported in a family history, that her father told her that Fr. Regnery, pastor of St. Joseph, was so impressed by the devotion of the people who came to his church by horse and buggy in the cold winter weather that he suggested to John Keppel that a Catholic Church could be established in Nazareth. He asked John Keppel to gather a small group of men to secure names of Catholics in the area to petition Archbishop Ryan for permission to build a church in Nazareth. John asked Stephen Recker, Joseph Reichel and Elias Stranzl to help him. They collected 300 signatures. Archbishop Ryan was impressed by their efforts and granted them permission to build a church with a loan from the Diocese of Philadelphia. Fr. Peter J. Fuengerling, who was serving as Assistant Pastor in Sacred Heart Church of Allentown, was selected as pastor. He was chosen because he was fluent in several languages. Fr. Fuengerling accepted and began his work in a private home at 131 East Center Street in Nazareth, where he said Mass in an upstairs room. A temporary chapel was soon set up in an old wagon workshop on the southwest corner of Center Square. 

In 1900 Mr. G.A. Schneebeli, a prominent local businessman, who had helped found the Nazareth Waist Company in 1886 and the Dexter Portland Cement Co. purchased a tract of land west of Nazareth to serve as a cemetery. When the land proved too rocky, he subdivided the tract into building lots in April, 1908. Fr. Fuengerling was able to purchase five acres along Center Street. Ground breaking for the church, which would have a school on the second floor, took place in May of 1908 and the cornerstone was laid on August 15, 1908. The church was completed in the autumn of that year and the first Mass was offered on November 18, 1908. Although the church could accommodate 450 people, far fewer than that regularly attended Mass during those early years. This made it difficult to repay the $ 25,000 diocesan loan. Fr. Regnery, oversaw the construction of the church. He was chauffeured back and forth by horse and buggy by John Keppel. His wife, Theresa, cooked his meals during his stay in Nazareth. 

In many ways, the new parish followed European customs, such as the separation of people by gender in its seating arrangements. Men and boys took their places on the right side of the church, while the women and girls sat on the left side. At that time it was customary for the women to cover their heads in church. Generally, the women wore full-length black dresses with Babushkas (3-cornered scarves) on their heads. Although the congregation came from varied backgrounds, German was used by the congregation. 

The MSC Sisters from Reading, PA, were asked and agreed to educate the children. They also agreed to live in two upper rooms adjacent to the classrooms of the school until a convent was built for them. So in September, 1910, the Sisters began teaching forty students. They persevered in this work in the old school until the new one was opened on November 16, 1954. 

At first glance, the future looked promising for the parish, but was fraught with serious difficulties. Most of the hard-working immigrants did not attend Mass or support the parish. Although a rectory was built for Fr. Fuengerling in 1911, both he and the Sisters lived in incredible poverty during those early years. So, in 1912 Fr. Fuengerling asked to be relieved as pastor. Fr. Neuenhaus from Haycock was sent to replace him, but he could not raise enough money to purchase coal to heat the buildings. He, too, asked to be relieved. So in 1913 the Diocese of Philadelphia considered closing the parish and offering the buildings for sale. But Monsignor Masson of Allentown persuaded Archbishop Prendergast, the new Archbishop of Philadelphia, to entrust the parish to the care of the MSC Fathers from Reading. The MSC accepted the challenge and sent Fr. Greifenberg to serve as pastor. This hardworking missionary went door to door to get acquainted with his parishioners and ask for help. Many people were reluctant to offer money, as they were sending most of their earnings back to their families in Europe. However, when they found themselves unable to return to Europe during World War I, many began to settle permanently in the Nazareth area. Over time, this made them more receptive to assist the parish financially. In the interim Fr. Greifenberg and the Sisters grew their own vegetables and raised their own chickens to supplement gifts of food from the people. 

Fr. Greifenberg's own musical talent and love of music also helped lure parishioners to the church. He was responsible for the formation of the "Edelweiss Gesangverein" or Edelweiss Glee Club. The majority of the hymns that were sung in the church were German in language and origin. 

The parish not only survived, but in 1918 Fr. Greifenberg began the Sacred Heart Mission Church in Bath. This mission rapidly developed into a separate parish. Fr. Post became its first pastor in 1920. It was also during Fr. Greifenberg's time that men like John Groller, Ignatz Wukovitz and John Bowers successfully started the Holy Family Sick and Relief Society to provide benefits to sick members, as well as aid to the spouses of deceased members. By 1922 the Society was granted a charter under the State's Insurance Laws. 

 

In 1923 Fr. Greifenberg left Nazareth to begin a high school seminary in Geneva, IL for students who wished to become MSC priests. His successor, Fr. Frenzkowski, continued the work and expanded it over the next sixteen years. During his long and fruitful tenure two more mission churches were established, one in Stockertown in 1925 and another in Clearfield in 1935. A convent was also built for the sisters in 1927. For 17 years they had endured the hardships of living in two upper rooms of the school. With enthusiastic women of the parish Fr. Frenzkowski established the altar and rosary society in 1929. And with energetic men he began the Holy Name Society and a Boy Scout troop in 1937. 

When Fr. Struckholz replaced him as pastor in 1939, he found 250 children in the school and another 200 students in the religious education program. Five young men from the parish had also entered the seminary of the MSC in Geneva. Fr. Struckholz expanded the work of his predecessors by upgrading the church basement into a suitable place for parish meetings. Unfortunately, he died of a heart attack in 1946. 

Fr. Zaun, who had been his assistant, replaced him for one year. Then Fr. Walsh, a former army chaplain, arrived as pastor in 1947. He noted the crowded conditions in the school and began a building campaign to build a new school. Over the next five years he was able to raise $90,000 and work on the school began. 

In 1952 Fr. Anthony Wortmann, a man of exceptional vision, was sent to replace Fr. Walsh. He and his assistant, Fr. Geusic, launched a major building drive in 1954 to not only pay off the debt of the new school, but to erect a new gymnasium. When it was completed in 1956, Archbishop O'Hara of Philadelphia came to bless the new buildings. Fr. Geusic was very active in initiating local sports programs. He also served as Director of the Easton District of the CYO (Catholic Youth Organization). In later years the gym was named after him. 

In 1954 Fr. Wortmann was also able to purchase ten acres of land for the upper cemetery from Samuel, Anthony and Henry Laurito and the Congregation of the United Brethren of Nazareth. He also commissioned Enrique Monjo of Barcelona, Spain, to create the monument that graces the cemetery. The Iberian marble relief, known as "Faith in the Resurrection" was installed in 1960. 

Fr. Wortmann also realized the need for additional playground space for the children near the school. So he went to the Lone Star Cement Company to negotiate the purchase of ten acres of their land that abutted the gym. He spoke with E.A. "Doc" Griffin to settle on a price. "Doc" told him that the policy of the company was not to sell, but to rent land which they owned. When Fr. Wortmann asked about the cost of the rental, he was told that could have the land for one dollar per year. When Fr. Wortmann replied that he didn't have a dollar in his pocket the Lone Star V.P. paid the first dollar out of his! The two men became close friends, and the property has played a major role in school and parish activities, not the least of which is the annual festival. 

The last major project for this amiable pastor was the planning and construction of a new church that could handle the ever growing congregation of the parish. In 1963 ground was broken for a new 900 seat church. Due to the constraints of the building site, the church possessed an unusual diagonal orientation. The final cost of the church was $ 500,000. 

It was ironic that Fr. Wortmann, who was the driving force behind the construction, was now blind and never saw the fruit of his efforts. It was also with great sadness that the parishioners said farewell to the old church which had served them well for half a century, although the basement is still used for some parish functions. 

When Fr. Wortmann died in 1965 his assistant Fr. Sirak became pastor. He strove to pay off the debts that remained from the building projects of his predecessor and to initiate the liturgical reforms approved by the Second Vatican Council. 

Fr. Camilli replaced him in 1971. After eliminating the remainder of the debts, he purchased a shop across the street from the church and had it renovated to serve for meetings, adult education programs and religious education classes. This is the present Wortmann Center. He also animated parishioners to build a new rectory for their priests. The old one, constructed in 1911 was cramped and outdated. So in 1977, Fr. Camilli and his associates Frs. Tobias and Huber moved into their new, spacious quarters. The basement of the new rectory also offered much needed secretarial and archival space. Fr. Camilli continued to encourage parishioners to embrace the reforms of Vatican II. Many responded enthusiastically, serving as lectors, cantors, Eucharistic ministers and advisory members of the pastoral and financial councils. 

In 1982 Fr. Paul served briefly as administrator until Fr. Cipar became the new pastor. During his tenure as pastor Fr. Cipar had a mausoleum constructed on the grounds of the upper cemetery. He also undertook the task of adding four new classrooms to the school. The Moravian Church opened its facilities to accommodate some of Holy Family's students until the work was completed. This spirit of cooperation was emblematic of the ecumenical movement which has led to new rapport between the Catholic and Protestant Churches of Nazareth. 

When Fr. Cipar departed in 1990 Frs. Ellis and Geusic kept things going until Fr. Weber was appointed pastor. He approved the final addition on the second story of the school. In 1990 Deacon Michael McGouldrick was sent to serve Holy Family Parish. He did this principally at Gracedale, the County home, until his death, sixteen years later. 

Fr. Weber's successor, Fr. John Kavcak, arrived in 1999. He had grown up in the parish and had become an MSC priest. During its existence, Holy Family Parish has encouraged eleven of its sons to join the MSC: Fr. Joseph Gaspar, Fr. Philip Yandrisevits, Fr. John Paukovits, Fr. Leo Paukovits, Fr. Joseph Marositz, Fr. Francis Timar, Fr. Philip DeRea, Fr. Joseph Viti, Fr. John Kavcak and Fr. Lawrence Wildonger. Another of its sons, Francis Paukovits, had become an MSC brother, while Fr. James Connolly had become a priest of the Allentown Diocese. 

Not to be outdone by the boys, thirteen of the girls became religious sisters: Sr. Mary Paracleta (Recker) OSF, Sr. Rose Lechner MSC, Sr. Mary Borgia (Deutsch) MSC, Sr. Frances Yandrisevits MSC, Sr. Frances Damian (Recker) OSF, Sr. Mary Rosaline (Marositz) MSC, Sr. Mary Seraphia (Tarnock) MSC, Sr. Mary Bernice (Domitrovitz) MSC, Sr. Donna Paukovits MSC, Sr. Barbara Beck OSF, Sr. Barbara Brown OSF, Sr. Rosemary Schwartz CFJ, and Sr. Rosemary Sommers, MSC. 

When Fr. Kavcak left in June of 2005, Fr. Joseph Muller replaced him as administrator until Fr. Joseph Tobias arrived as pastor in October. He, like his predecessors, energetically faced the challenges of his time, while planning for the future. Fr. Tobias saw the need for more meeting/activity space for a vibrantly growing parish and school. As early as 2007 there was talk of building a parish center. In preparation for the future, in 2009 the original convent, later used as the preschool building, were razed. In 2015 the former church was razed and in 2016 he began a capital campaign to build a parish center. The Holy Family Parish Center was completed in 2018. On September 29, 2019 Bishop Alfred Schlert dedicated the Parish Center at Holy Family. 

Fr. Tobias saw the parish through the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic and retired in July of 2020. Fr. Jonas Tandayu was appointed as the new pastor and carried the parish through the rest of Covid-19. It had been a challenge getting people back in the pews but now Father can  confidently face challenges and plans for the future, because he has a parish filled with dedicated, generous and talented people who appreciate their heritage, priests and who love their parish. 

In August of 2023 the MSC Sisters returned to the parish. Sr. Rosemarie Sommers, a daughter of the parish, began ministry within the church and school communities. 

Holy Family is now one of the largest and most vibrant parishes of the Diocese of Allentown. As of August 2023, Holy Family serves more than 5,600 parishioners. One hundred and thirty eight children are enrolled in the school, while approximate 300 students take part in the religious programs that are provided. The parish gym and playgrounds not only serve the children of the parish, but have become centers for many athletic organizations in the area. Hundreds of parishioners are actively involved in the assisting the parish on a host of committees, as members of the Altar and Rosary Society and as Knights of Colombus. They also serve as musicians, choir members, cantors, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, acolytes, coaches, athletic board members, fundraisers, scout leaders, volunteer teachers and monitors. 

Original compilation written by Marjorie Griffin Keppel (Mrs. Stephen C. Keppel, Jr.) And Fr. Joseph T. Muller. MSC 

Updated 8/25/23 

PASTORS OF HOLY FAMILY PARISH 

Fr. Peter Fuengerling, 1908-1912 

Fr. John Neuenhaus, 1912-1913 

Fr. Bernard Greifenberg, MSC 1913-1923 

Fr. Paul Frenzkowski, MSC 1923-1939 

Fr. Frederick Struchholz, MSC 1939-1946 

Fr. Paul Zaun, MSC 1946-1947 

Fr. Michael Walsh, MSC 1947-1952 

Fr. Anthony Wortmann, MSC 1952-1965 

Fr. George Sirak, MSC 1965-1971 

Fr. Michael Camilli, MSC 1971-1982 

Fr. John Paul, MSC, Administrator  March-May 1982 

Fr. Daniel Cipar, MSC 1982-1990 

Fr. William Ellis, MSC, Administrator  March-June 1990 

Fr. Stephen Geusic, MSC, Administrator  June 1990- June 1991 

Fr. Norbert Weber, MSC 1991-1999 

Fr. Jacob Welle, MSC, Administrator  August-November 1999 

Fr. John Kavcak, MSC 1999-2005 

Fr. Joseph Muller, MSC Administrator  June-September 2005 

Fr. Joseph Tobias, MSC 2005 – 2020 

Fr. Jonas Tandayu, MSC 2020- Present 

MSC PRIESTS WHO HAVE SERVED AS PAROCHIAL VICARS AT HOLY FAMILY 

Fr. Berthold Schuh 1937-1938 

Fr. John Schag 1943-1945 

Fr. George Sirak 1945-1947 

 Fr. Fr. Bernard Bretz, 1947-1951 

 Fr. Michael Miller 1985-1989 

Fr. Jacob Welle, 1951-1953 and 2001-2007 

Fr. Stephen Geusic, 1953-1959 and 1980-1993 

 Fr. Carl Dillon, 1954-1959 

Fr. Walter Downs, 1959-1960 and 2010-2015 

 Fr. Michael Vasti, 1959-1965 

Fr. Gregory Stenzel, 1960-1963 

 Fr. Thomas Carney, 1963-1965and 1990 

 Fr. Charles Becker, 1963-1965 

 Fr. Norbert Weber, 1965-1967 

 Fr. Paul Reed, 1965-1966 

 Fr. Joseph Tobias, 1967-1969 and 1976-1979 

Fr. Daniel Cipar, 1969-1970 

Fr. Michael Camilli, 1969-1970 

Fr. Gerald Sommer, 1969-1970 

Fr. William Ward, 1969-1973 

Fr. James Remigio, 1973-1975 

Fr. Richard Huber, 1974-1981 

Fr. Andrew Torma, 1981-1982 

Fr. John Fahnestock, 1982-1985 

Fr. Michael Miller, 1985-1989 

 Fr. Martin Kopunek, 1989-1991 

 Fr. John Paul, 1992-1996 

Fr. John Schweikert, 1996-1999 

Fr. Anton Ripp, 2001-2005 

Fr. Joseph Muller, 2005-2009 

Fr. Simione Volavola, 2007-2011 

Fr. Antony Lazar, 2009-2010 

Fr. Jonas Tandayu, 2011-2012 

Fr. Joseph Kanimea, 2012-2019 

Fr. Pushpadason Santhanthony 2015-2016 

Fr. Juan Romero, 2016-2017 

Fr. Frank Natale, 2017-2020 

Fr. Robert Alexander Anthony 2019-Present 

Fr. Franklin Das, 2020-2022 

DEACONS WHO HAVE SERVED AT HOLY FAMILY  

Deacon Michael McGouldrick, 1990-2006 

Deacon Donald Dupont, 2007-2012 

Deacon Joseph Pufko, 2007-2009 

Deacon Frank Danyi, 2008-2017 

Deacon Thomas Ely 2015-Present 

Deacon Michael Toolan 2015-Present 

Deacon Richard Haddon 2015-Present