By LOU BALDWIN
Special to THE CS&T
How many parishes have had their first church cornerstone donated by the pope himself?
For one, St. Eugene Parish in Primos, which celebrated its 50th anniversary Oct. 16.
It may not be the largest parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, but St. Eugene’s has a delightful history, as recorded by parish historian Dave Hudiak and the parish historical committee.
The old cornerstone consists of two bricks sent by Pope Pius XII, which were recycled from the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome — they had been part of the ceremonial wall that bricked up the Holy Year door in 1933.
Pope Pius XII had a special reason to honor the new parish. Although it was, technically, dedicated to St. Eugene, a 7th century pope, it really memorializes Pius XII, himself — his birth name was Eugenio Pacelli.
When Father Dennis F. O’Neill arrived as St. Eugene’s founding pastor in October 1955, he found himself with 600 families — drawn mostly from neighboring Holy Cross Parish — a property that consisted of the old Whitaker estate, and a $128,000 debt for its purchase.
First Masses were celebrated Oct. 30, 1955, for 455 worshippers at the Clifton Heights Fire House.
A few months later, arrangements were made to use the Penn Fruit supermarket on Baltimore Pike — something that was possible only in an era when almost all businesses closed on Sunday.
The parish was a year old when ground was broken for a 10-room school, convent and combination gymnasium-auditorium — which served as the parish’s first church.
Of course, that meant more debt, and a fundraising drive with the slogan, “A day’s pay a month for 30 months.” Thanks to a dedicated team of collectors, the drive was successful and St. Eugene’s was on its way to solvency.
St. Eugene school welcomed its first students in September 1957 — 363 children in grades one to six — about 60 children to a room. Students in grades seven and eight temporarily attended Holy Cross School.
The faculty was under the direction of Immaculate Heart of Mary Mother Maria Incarnata (who doubled as a classroom teacher) assisted by Sisters Miriam Michael, Anne Aloysius, James Dolores and Henry Marie, and Mrs. Margery Keefe.
With a parish hall, of course, there came a parish bingo.
At first it was held on Sunday evenings, but it was so successful it was expanded to Thursdays. The parish joke was “Never have a viewing on a Thursday or Sunday night. Nobody will come to pay their respects —they’ll all be playing bingo.”
Other social activities included the Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl schoolboy football games; parish picnics in Penn Pines Park; carnivals; beef-and-beer nights; spaghetti dinners; New Year’s Eve parties; scout activities, and Holy Name Society golf and bowling outings.
Father O’Neill retired at 75, in 1979, while the permanent church was under construction.
That church, where Auxiliary Bishop Michael F. Burbidge celebrated the parish Jubilee Mass, was completed by Father Richard Holmes, St. Eugene’s second pastor.
The 550-seat church, gently sloping toward the altar, combined brilliant stained glass windows depicting Old and New Testament themes, set off by stone interior walls. Retained from the former church was the central crucifix, which had been lovingly crafted by founding parishioners John Springer and Louis Barnes.
The old building reverted to its original intent: a gymnasium — possibly the only one in the country with a brick cornerstone donated by a pope.
Father Holmes completed the payment of the parish debt before his 1989 retirement, when he was succeeded by Father Joseph J Meehan, the present pastor.
“People are involved and do good things, it’s a very spiritual parish,” said Father Meehan, who was not a stranger when he took up his post: He’d been a resident priest at St. Eugene’s in the 1960s, and was delighted to return.
The parish of today has roughly 1,400 families and about 3,000 people.
The school, with a lay faculty, is a bit smaller than it had been, with 217 children this year.
The pastor takes special pride in the parish St. Vincent de Paul Society, which provides, in a quiet way, food and clothing to those with needs regardless of where they are from. The parish RCIA team has introduced five or six new members to the faith most years for the past decade.
Continuity and size both contribute to the sense of togetherness in the parish, according to parishioner Steve Brookes: “The neighborhood really hasn’t changed. People are comfortable with it. Many who grew up here stayed, and people really know each other.”
Brookes is a relative newcomer, a member of St. Eugene’s for “only” 20 years — but he and his wife, Peggy, are immersed in parish work, including Pre-Cana, Home and School, C.Y.O, Eucharistic ministry, lectoring, and the parish finance committee.
Because it’s a small parish, you can see the results of your work, Brookes said. “You feel, ‘If it’s not me who does this, who will?” Many people are eager to volunteer, he added, and that sense of dedication “comes down from the top.”
St. Eugene prides itself on its music ministry, headed by longtime parishioner Donna Fox.
“We have a children’s choir of about 40 kids, and an adult choir of About 35 people,” Fox said. “For this anniversary, we cut a holiday CD, with both choirs,” she said. “Our children have also sung at Phantoms’ games and Wings’ games, and we had a float in the Clifton Heights Fourth of July Parade. The kids are excellent.”
Fox was born in the parish and attended school there, as do her children. “I’ve grown up with St. Eugene’s,” she said. “People come here from other areas just to hear Father Meehan — he’s made it special here.”
Favorite devotions include Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration, First Saturday Holy Hours, and special Lenten and Advent programs. The spirit of volunteerism is typified by the number of people who are willing to come to the church to clean it twice weekly.
“We don’t have a sexton. Volunteers do it all,” Father Meehan said. “I love this parish.”
Lou Baldwin is a member of St. Leo Parish and freelance writer.