THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY D. COSTA, BARBIN, B. BOYLE, BRADFORD, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, DEASY, DeLUCA, DENLINGER, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, GEORGE, GOODMAN, HARKINS, HENNESSEY, HESS, KAVULICH, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KULA, MAJOR, MALONEY, MANN, MILLARD, MURT, READSHAW, ROCK, SAINATO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, STABACK, THOMAS, VEREB, VULAKOVICH AND YOUNGBLOOD, JULY 18, 2011

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JULY 18, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing and honoring the 100th anniversary of Saint Raphael

Parish of the Morningside community of Pittsburgh.

WHEREAS, On September 30, 1909, several hardworking and pious

families of the Morningside community sent a letter to Bishop

J.F. Regis Canevin requesting the establishment of a new parish

for the purpose of worshipping locally; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of the parishioners' hardship, Bishop

Canevin approved their request and established the Saint Raphael

Church in 1911; and

WHEREAS, A rented house would temporarily serve as both the

church and rectory of its first pastor, Father John Gallagher;

and

WHEREAS, On August 6, 1911, the parish would celebrate its

first Mass; and

WHEREAS, In September 1911, ground for a new church was

broken on Chislett Street for a facility that would accommodate

the needs of 500 parishioners; and

WHEREAS, Construction of the church was finally completed and

the church was dedicated on December 24, 1911; and

WHEREAS, The new structure would serve and endure as a house

of worship to the parish for more than 45 years; and

WHEREAS, In 1915, as the parish and the number of Roman

Catholic families began to increase, the Saint Raphael Parish

Grade School was constructed; and

WHEREAS, In 1926, the Saint Raphael Parish Co-ed High School

was opened to serve the educational needs of the burgeoning

population; and

WHEREAS, In 1930, the Saint Raphael Parish Co-ed High School

graduated its first and only co-educational student body; and

WHEREAS, At the behest of then-Superintendent of Schools,

Bishop Hugh C. Boyle, the remaining male student body was

absorbed by Central Catholic High School, an all-boys

institution; and

WHEREAS, On March 23, 1958, ground was broken for a new

church as a result of the generosity of the people of

Morningside; and

WHEREAS, In 1959, the cornerstone was laid and the completed

church was dedicated by Bishop John Wright; and

WHEREAS, The former church building--known today as Gallagher

Hall--still stands and serves as both a gymnasium and a hall for

the school and the site of countless other parish activities;

and

WHEREAS, In 1973, the Saint Raphael Parish Co-ed High School

was forced to close its doors as a result of the opening of

several regional schools; and

WHEREAS, Notwithstanding, the Sisters of St. Joseph from

Baden continued to skillfully and faithfully instruct the

students of Saint Raphael Elementary School through 2009; and

WHEREAS, The Saint Raphael Elementary School serves as the

integrating force for the development of spiritual, physical and

intellectual gifts within the framework of Roman Catholic

tradition; and

WHEREAS, Saint Raphael Parish's rich and longstanding

tradition of faith, charity and worship is the foundation of its

100 years of prosperity and success; and

WHEREAS, Saint Raphael Parish enjoys a robust membership of

nearly 1,400 families, which continues to contribute to the

legacy of the church and surrounding community; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize and

honor the 100th anniversary of Saint Raphael Parish as both a

faith community and as an asset to the Greater Pittsburgh area.