St. Susanna

1961-1970

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Year                  Summary                                                                                                             Population                                                                                                                                         

1962

In February 1962, Fr. William Blome succeeded Fr. Felix as pastor.  In August, Fr. Blome purchased six acres of land across Southwest Street from the church property, for $20,000 (site of the church built in 1990).

1963

In April, 1963, the sacrament of Confirmation was administered, for the first time in three years to 183 candidates.  In August the parish observed its Silver Jubilee with a special Mass.

The school situation was becoming critical.  A portion of the cafeteria was partitioned into classrooms, bringing the total to twelve.  392 pupils were being taught.  Many other parishes also suffered from overcrowding.  To provide relief, the Archdiocese directed that beginning with the 1964-65 school year, no school would be permitted to have a first grade.  Others were allowed to drop second grade if they found it necessary.  This situation would continue until parishes felt they could re-instate the dropped grades without hardship.  Consequently, St. Susanna had no first grade again until 1972.

1964

In November 1964, the parish rented a house across Reading Road from the school for use as a convent for six sisters of Notre Dame.  Four were St. Susanna teachers and two were on the staff of St. Francis de Sales in Lebanon.

1965

In the summer of 1965, Fr. Blome decided to eliminate the annual festival and replace it with a parish picnic.  Parishioners were asked on picnic Sunday to drop in the collection basket the same amount of money they would have spent at the festival.  Group First Communion classes were eliminated that year, and parents were told that they were now responsible for deciding when their children were mature enough to receive the Eucharist.

1966

In February, 1966, a series of Sunday night "Cana II" lectures were held for married couples.  These provided insight into the problems of married life.  In March, a team from "The Better World Retreat Movement" gave a Mission.  Father Blome celebrated his Silver Jubilee with an afternoon Mass on May 28, followed by a covered dish supper.  The event was reported in the first issue of "The St. Susanna Messenger," edited by Roberta Heitman.  This paper appeared monthly for approximately eighteen months.

1967

At the end of 1967, there were 300 pupils in St. Susanna school and 150 in C.C.D. classes. 

The Rosary-Altar Society was quite active at this point.  The women served weekly luncheons to the Kiwanis Club during the summer months.  An on-going activity was to collect used white sheets to be made into bandages for cancer patients.  There was an annual "Sheet and Pillowcase" Bingo and Card Party, as well as a Christmas Bazaar. 

Late in 1967, the parish was given the opportunity to purchase a farm on Mason-Montgomery Road.  Fr. Blome determined that the whole parish plant could be re-located to this site for a cost of $900,000.  The Archdiocese gave the go-ahead, but a parish vote showed little support, so the project was abandoned.  About this time, Fr. Blome was given permission to say Mass occasionally in three area nursing homes.

1968

In 1968, Rose Grehl, long the backbone of the parish bingo and monthly card parties, was hired to work at lunchtime in the school cafeteria.  The first annual school Science Fair was held in April.  In May, the new "Learning Center" (now the Science Lab) was dedicated, and has been in almost constant use by the students and parish-at-large ever since.

1969-1970

In 1969, Fr. Blome left the parish and Fr. Raymond Haun was named pastor.  Barbara Wesseler, a lifelong parishioner, became the first former St. Susanna student to be hired to teach in the school.  In September, Fr. Donald McCarthy was appointed to help with masses on weekends and Holydays.  An addition to the school consisting of two classrooms and lavatories was begun, and was completed in time for the 1970-71 school year.  Fr. Haun observed his Silver Jubilee with an afternoon Mass and reception in September.

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