holding on to the memories of her neighborhood she had collected information and memorabilia for years. Here she is writing about her church, Holy Ghost on Kenilworth. As you read, you will see that she has added much to her story. Most of the collected material is now at the St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cathedral in Parma, Ohio. What is included in this website was shared with a private collector many years ago. Permission has been granted for its use and the copyright is held by Susan Mandzak. (1989.) If something is underlined, it is linked to another page. SUSAN MANDZAK (See also Memories) “It is the duty of the historian to state facts as they were, without embellishment or hiding the truth, so that the reader may fully understand time that influenced the events and so grasp with deeper understanding the monumental efforts that have brought us to this day. “The founders of Holy Ghost Church were immigrants of what was then Austria-Hungary, later to be known as Czechoslovakia, and since the occupation by the Soviet Red Army in 1944, known as Trans-Carpathian District (Zacarpatska Oblast.) “As their forefathers before them, fleeing with only the shirts on their backs from Attila the Hun in the fourth century, the Hungarians in the eighth century, the Tartars in the twelfth century, the Turks in the sixteenth century and the Austro-Hungarians in the eighteenth century, they fled to America. With great difficulty they left behind them their beloved homeland, the magnificent Tatra Mountains, that had served them so well in time of need as a refuge, a safe retreat a springboard for attack. It was from the Tatras that the uprising spread throughout Czechoslovakia in that memorable autumn of 1944. They fled to America, the land of milk and honey, where the streets were paved with gold and there was only love and peace. Most arrived between 1880-1920. “An intelligent, freedom loving, hard working people, they hoped to escape the poverty, the serfdom, and the tyranny of a country where they must first learn the tongue of the state before learning their own. They took their meager savings and whatever food they could carry, with name and destination pinned onto chest, set off for Germany to book passage on a ship. Too poor even to afford third class, they were huddled like cattle in the hold of the ship, without air, without light, without facilities, very little water and food. For thirty days and sometime even up to six weeks, they stayed there. Many became seasick, sick with dysentery, pneumonia, malnutrition and even tuberculosis. Upon arriving at Ellis Island many were refused entrance and must take passage on the next ship and return home. “They arrived only to find a new form of prejudice. Ridiculed, not knowing the language, called “Hunkies”, unable to find work due to the great panic of 1875, most settled in New York, Vermont, and Pennsylvania, working the mines and quarries which they understood. The 1890’s brought another financial panic and so many pushed further west, hoping to find work. Some arrived in Cleveland. “They were unaccepted by the Roman Catholics for maintaining the Orthodox style of worship and scorned by the Orthodox for yielding to the Pope of Rome. “Cleveland at this time was already a pretty well established industrial city. Situated on the river and the lake, with its rich farmland and rolling country- side, it reminded them of home. “Coal oil was being manufactured here, the first in America. America’s first horse-drawn railway, to be followed in 1884 by (the) first electric street railway, was already in operation. The vital Central Viaduct, connecting Jennings Road (West 14th Street) to the east side was built in 1888. The steel mills were already established in the “flats” along the river banks. Commerce was lively and produce from the surrounding farms was easily and cheaply available. “Delighted with their “paradise”, they settled in the “flats” within walking distance to the mills where most of the men worked. (They couldn’t afford the three cent trolley fare.) Schools were available for their children and there was talk of a university to further the education of the children on College Avenue, Professor Street, (and) University Avenue. “On the “heights” (now the W. 14th St. area), Pilgrim Church whose parishioners were the first settlers of Cleveland, coming from Connecticut, had sold their property on Howard Street to the Irish Catholics, and completed their church which now stands as a national landmark. The Irish were the third wave of immigrants and were well established in industry and politics. They remodeled their newly purchased church, calling it St. Augustine where it still stands, nationally renown for feeding the poor as they have been doing for the last one hundred years, meanwhile opening their arms to the deaf-mutes when everyone else turned away and befriending the Hispanics in their quest for the same goals our parents sought, all the while lovingly caring for the severely handicapped. “After she (**Added--Susan’s sister Alice Mandzak) had married, her husband John one day suggested they attend a series of Novenas at St. Augustine Church being held especially for the sick. They attended these Novenas for a couple years. One day John said to Alice, “Alice, I don’t think you realize it, but you haven’t been sick for a long time.” It was true! She was healed! It was a miracle! Even the doctors said it was a miracle, Both the ‘petite mal’ where she lost conciousness (sic) for a minute while standing on her feet and the ‘grand mal’ when she had seizures and fell to the ground were totally cured! This miracle has been in effect for almost sixty years! It seems almost unbelievable, but it is true! “Father Walsh, well known for his leadership and kindness set the example for his followers. He in turn was followed by the equally well known and loved Father McNulty, who with his assistant, Sister Corita is continuing to feed the poor every day, sometimes feeding thousands a week. “The second wave of immigrants had been the Germans, who had already built their church on the corner of Jennings Road and Branch Avenue. The successive waves brought the Syrians, who today harbor the emotionally disturbed, the Greeks, the Russians and Ukrainians, and the rest of Eastern Europe. “Who can ever forget the compassionate Reverend O. E. Wittlinger of Zion Church (German) and his equally compassionate wife and their two wonderful children, Paul and Hildegarde who were good friends with my sister Alice and myself. They had a pool-table in the school hall and we often played pool there. “The Rev. Wittlinger, a farmer at heart, had a barn in the back yard with a hayloft upstairs where we kids would often play hide and seek. It was here he kept a couple of goats and a few chickens and turkeys. He also had an incubator to hatch eggs. As he walked his rounds in the neighborhood to visit the sick, he would take them some goats’ milk or eggs and on occasion a chicken or turkey. “My sister Alice at this time was ill with epilepsy and needed to go to City Hospital every Monday morning, a visit that took several hours. Since my mother was an invalid, unable to take her, and my father had to work to support us, there was no one to take her. Mrs. Wittlinger volunteered to take her every Monday morning for several years. She would also help Alice with her Latin homework in the evenings, since she had been a teacher before she married, to make sure Alice got good grades. “A few years later my father developed leukemia and being weak he often sat on the front porch on the glider. Several times a week the Rev. Wittlinger would stop to visit my father, who was a Byzantine Catholic and not a member of the reverend’s church, but a sick man who enjoyed and was honored by the visit as well as the goat’s milk or chicken the minister brought. “It meant so much to all of us—but the neighbors also respected the minister and his family. People of this caliber do not often exist and they did so much to promote good will among the different nationalities and religions. “Who can ever forget the Oberdoersters, and their daughters Lois, Marjorie and Isla, who were our closest friends? They lived across the street from us and owned the Queen Dairy which was located in back of their home. My brother Mike worked for them while he was in high school, helping both in the dairy and with the delivery, in a small truck, while many horse-drawn wagons were still in use. They delivered as far as Brooklyn which was considered in those days a wealthy suburb many miles away. Eventually they sold the dairy and it was moved to another location and the name was changed to Dairy Queen. “As members of Pilgrim Church, they often invited us to Pilgrim Church where we joined the “Campfire Girls” and played tennis at their tennis courts on the church grounds. The well known Dr. Bradley, a great leader…was a very warm and friendly to us. “Leaders of this caliber come to a church once a century. The community had them all at the same time. Those who were fortunate to be touched by any one of these men, still speak of them with reverence and awe. Those of us who were touched by all three are marked for like. “Amid the babel of tongues and social relationships with their intricate complications, the seemingly insurmountable difficulties, they practiced and taught ecumenism. They did not try to secure intellectual agreement, but moral. There were no Protestants, Catholics, Greek Catholics, (and) Orthodox. Under this magnificent leadership, the people were all one, serving the same God, each in his own peculiar way, acknowledging and respecting the right of others to be different. Catholics attended Protestant Bible Classes, and Protestants attended Greek Catholic Masses, and everyone attended Catholic Novenas. “To this day, on Good Friday, the entire area is blocked off and traffic rerouted. The various churches march from 4 directions, carrying banners and shrouds. They meet on the corner of West 14th Street and Starkweather, each taking a turn to conduct services in their own language—because Christ died for all people regardless of race, color or creed. “Jennings Road (West 14th Street), a broad avenue with huge trees and beautiful mansions the wealthy farmers had build, was a veritable ‘millionaire’ s row’. On Sundays one could see the parishioners arriving for services at both Pilgrim and St. Augustine Churches, some driven by their chauffeurs, some sporting the new electric car. In the afternoon, the people would gather for a concert in the park, played by a big band in the shell which had been erected for this purpose. In the winter, they would ice-skate on the little wading pond which had been built in the middle of the park. On the other end of Jennings Road, a ‘dinky’ would take you from Clark Avenue to Brainard Street. Walking on farther down the hill, one would find gypsy camps— with gypsies singing and ‘telling fortunes.’ “It was a good life. The work was hard, twelve hours a day, seven days a week for twelve dollars a week. They scrimped and saved to send money ‘home’ to bring loved ones here. Best of all, they were free! They could worship in their own way. The first Greek Catholic Church (Hungarian) had been built on the East Side-on Buckeye Avenue, and St. John the Baptist Church, the mother church of our present Cathedral (St. John’s Byzantine Catholic Cathedral in Parma), was just across the river on Scovill Avenue. “On Sundays and Holy Days, the people gathered on Jefferson Avenue, and reminiscent of the pilgrimages back home, with a deep abiding faith, they would go singing across the ‘Flats’, over the river, across the railroad tracks to St. John’s on Scovill. No hardship was too great for them. “Others, meeting on Starkweather Avenue, would walk across the Central Viaduct. The three cent fare on the trolley was too much to pay. “Thus they flourished—enough to dare dream of a church of their own—in an area such as this. In 1909, Reverend Emil Burik, who was then pastor of St. John on Scovill Avenue, obtained permission of the Most Reverend Soter S. Ortinsky, the first Bishop of Eastern Catholics in the United States, to meet with prospective parishioners. The first meeting was on September 14, 1909, in Justis Hall on Literary Road, S. W. On October 8, Holy Ghost Greek Catholic Church was granted a charter by the State of Ohio. Within a few days, the people met again to accept the by-laws, which, with the exception of one amendment (Article VII) are still in effect today. “The services were temporarily conducted at ‘The Star Turn Hall.’ The property on West 14th Street and Kenilworth was obtained for $17,650.00. Early in December of the same year, (1909) Mr. Joseph Duvolosky was contracted to build the church at a cost of $15,000.00. On February 6, 1910, (The) Very Reverend Stephen Janitzky dedicated the cornerstone. Carved into every stone and knit into the very fabric of the structure was a determination to serve and worship God as their fathers had, back in the homeland. "At this time, Bishop Ortinsky did not yet have the full jurisdiction of an Ordinary—so within the territorial limits of the Roman Catholic Diocese, the local Latin Rite Bishop had governing authority over the Eastern Catholics. Following the Papal Edict of 1907, known as ‘Ea Semper’—it was mandatory that the church properties be assigned to designated authority. This meant the newly acquired property would have to be deeded to The Most Reverend John P. Farrally, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Cleveland. This order met great opposition for which the church (Holy Ghost) was vigorously denounced from every Roman Catholic pulpit in the area as being too ‘independent.’ Another consequence was the denial of use of existing cemeteries for the burial of Greek Catholic families. This prohibition resulted in the purchase of twenty-one acres of land in Parma, Ohio at a cost of $6,000.00 for a cemetery. "In 1909, the congregation numbered 50 families; 400 in 1918; and 900 in 1938, during which at the insistence of Reverend Hanulya, 150 families organized another parish called St. Mary’s Greek Catholic Church on West 35 Street (and State Road.) “In 1918, Reverend Joseph P. Hanulya arrived at Holy Ghost where he remained until his death in October 1962, having been named Pastor Emeritus on October 15, 1953. With his arrival, a new era was ushered in. As an expert in Canon Law, Father Hanulya defended many law suits in the United States, winning all cases for the diocese. He encouraged saving and home buying among his parishioners. During the Great Influenza Outbreak of 1918, he faithfully visited the sick of his parish, personally nursing them if need be, bring Dr. Eugene Mankovich (a parishioner) whenever needed and going to the local drugstore for medicine at his own cost. With each new arrival who could not speak the language or was not acquainted with the city, he would personally take him to apply for a job, filling out the forms, using his influence to secure the job. He worked untiringly and his people loved and revered him. "In 1924, he installed the Iconostas. (** See Holy Ghost Church) made in Budapest at a cost of $6,133.66, it was assembled on its present site. The copper crosses on the towers were installed at this time at a cost of $200.00. "There was no full scale parochial school, but the children came to the church hall (basement) after regular week day school sessions, for instructions in Religion, Rite, and Language, to which Father Hanulya added violin classes. The children were taught by Father Hanulya and those ‘unsung heroes’ of our church, the cantors. "The cantors led the responses to every daily liturgy and all vesper services. They directed choirs, writing their own arrangements, supplying their own supplies (there was not printed music sheets.) They wrote and directed stage plays, attended all wedding and funeral services. They accompanied the priests for the blessing of all homes, being doled out 25 cents as his share, if he were in the good graces of the pastor. Added to this, they taught classes every weekday. All this for the sum of $45.00 a month, which over a period of 80 years has grown to $250.00 a month. With this they were expected to support a wife and raise and educate his children. They were dedicated men who neglected their wives and families for the good of the church. Theodore Pochapsky, cantor from 1925 - 1939, did such a fine jot, the choir of Holy Ghost was rated as the finest in the city of Cleveland. He in turn, was followed by Nicholas Benyo, who did an equally fine job and so the choir continued to rank as the finest in the city. "Who can ever forget when we used to go to class at the church after attending public school all day. We were there to learn to read our language Rusyn and about our religion. Our cantor, Mr. Pochapsky was our teacher. During Lent and special seasons during the year, our class would join with the class of Our Lady of Mercy, a Slovak Roman Catholic church, for a number of days and then they would join us at our church for an equal number of days. What fun we had and how much we learned about each other. Father Hanulya and Father Krispinsky would often take over and added so much to our knowledge and our joy! "We would be remiss not to mention the other unsung heroes -- our janitors, whose dedication meant so much to the progress of our churches. They kept the fires tended, shoveled the snow, rang the bells, morning and night, as well as during Liturgy and for the announcement of a death. Often they served as "altar boy." This for the sum of $20.00 a month which was gradually raised to $150.00 a month. Mr. (John) Jurchenko is still remembered with love and respect. "(My sister) Alice was born in a small town in up-state New York where there were no Byzantine Catholic churches, so she was baptized in a Roman Catholic church. My parents moved to Cleveland, Ohio. When Alice was going to make her first communion Father Hanulya said she would have to be confirmed. Since they were new in the city and hadn’t made many friends, my mother asked Mrs. Basista, a Russian Orthodox woman to be Alice’s sponsor. In spite of their strictness both Fr. Hanulya and Fr. Kappanadze of St. Theodosius Russian Orthodox permitted this, much to the surprise and joy of the parishioners of both churches, providing even then that there was an understanding between the two faiths. "Friendships formed then are still strong 50-60-70 years later. One day, please God, we will all learn to respect each other instead of the childish denigrating one so often hears, I am sorry to say, even from the mouths of our priests. "In 1918, as a result of the influenza epidemic, many children were left orphans. To provide for them an orphanage was opened under to care of two sisters and three postulants. Later these sisters and postulants were dismissed. In 1920, (the) Very Reverend Mother Macrina with two other sisters and six candidates opened a Motherhouse as a new branch of Sisters of St. Basil the Great for Carpatho-Rusins. On June 19, 1921, the six candidates received their veils and made their first vows. In June 1923, all sisters were transferred to the St. Nicholas Orphanage of the Greek Catholic Union in Elmhurst, Pennsylvania and later on to the Motherhouse of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. "In 1920, with so many pupils attending classes, Father Hanulya saw a need for a school. A house was purchased for this purpose (at) 1437 Kenilworth Avenue. It was planned that several houses would be purchased, but, unfortunately, three years of Special Collections brought in only $2,000.00. World War I and the recession following it in 1919 had taken its toll. The money collected was used instead to purchase the “Jennings Property” with the intention of donating it to the newly arrived Bishop Basil Takach for use as a residence and Seminary. This offer was rejected by the Bishop who decided to stay in Pennsylvania. "Very slowly the church and the parishioners progressed. Men worked twelve hours a day. The woman, after spending the day baking bread, washing clothes by hand, cooking over a coal stove, sewing, caring for children, would go to work at night, scrubbing office buildings and schools. They returned home about midnight, and would then resume their crocheting of albs and altar linens to beautify their church. They made great sacrifices, denying themselves even the simplest pleasures that they may make a better life for their children and further their education. The stock market crash of 1929 and the depression that followed were devastating. Too proud to ask for relief, many suffered untold hardships. Barely getting back on their feet again, they were set back once more by the recession of 1937. "The 40’s with World War II and the War with Japan brought many changes. Jobs became more plentiful and money became easier. The pattern of life as it was known till now was altered. With “affluence” families migrated to the suburbs. There were many mixed marriages. Membership in the church started dropping. In October 1953, Father Hanulya was made Pastor Emeritus and Reverend George Durisin was made Pastor. There was talk of “super highways.” "Father Durisin renovated the church, contracting Mr. R. Cellighin (?) of Celligan (?) Studios. The church was painted, new lighting fixtures were installed, and a new altar and side altar made of Italian marble replaced the old. "As home owners moved out and rented the homes to transients, the neighborhood began to deteriorate. Membership continued to drop. Against the advice of his committeemen, but with the encouragement of Bishop Nicholas Elko, Father Durisin broke ground for a new school, designed by Mr. Nicholas Lesko, on February 17, 1957. The first scholastic year began September 1957, staffed by Teacher Sisters of St. Basil the Great of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. The first class graduated in June 1960. The school was eventually closed in ?. The cost of the school was ?. "The 60’s brought freeways and super highways. Four thousand families of the immediate neighborhood were displaced. The community deteriorated drastically and membership dropped to an all time low. "Reverend George Durisin served as pastor from December 1953 to January 1961 and was replaced by Rev. John Kostival who became pastor in January 1961 to September 1961 when he was removed at the request of the people because of his unwillingness to cooperate. Rev. Alexander Nanko served the remainder of 1961. Rev. Robert Barter served from January 1962 till September 1963. Msgr. John Gernat became pastor in September 1963 till 1964 when he was removed at the people for his unwillingness to cooperate. Rev. Robert Ruglovsky served a few months in 1964 and Rev. Lawrence Slavik became pastor in 1964 till 1969. "Reverend Lawrence Slavik arrived in 1964. Feeling the pattern of deterioration of the community and the resulting low membership was irreversible, he decided to build a new church and move the entire congregation to a new location. With the removal of Bishop Nicholas Elko and since a new bishop had not been appointed, he proceeded without approval of superiors, thereby planning the seed for future controversy. Holy Spirit was constructed on the grounds of the cemetery. Many of the parishioners transferred to the new church. "Of the remainder, many had no transportation to the new location. Others, feeling bitter and betrayed, went to the Archbishop Kocisko demanding Holy Ghost remain open and in use, hoping the new bishop would assign them a priest. Meantime, whatever priest could be spared had liturgy for the people on Sunday. "In 1969, Bishop Mihalik was installed as the first Bishop of Parma. His first duty was the blessing of Holy Spirit Church. In 1969, he assigned Father Joseph Fecak to Holy Ghost. In 1975, he assigned Fr. Hillarion Benedik, to be followed in 1975 by Father Daniel Gurovich who left in 1977 to be married and join the Orthodox Church. "Again, the church remained without a priest in residence. Father James Kubajack served till 1980 and was replaced by Father Nicholas Repko. "In 1982, Bishop Mihalik assigned Reverend Edmund Jadwisiak. During his stay, one of the parishioners, Miss Ann Seemon, died. In her will, she left the church $100,000.00 and her home, which was later sold for $26,000.00. "Reaping the benefits of the money, Father Jadwisiak proceeded to renovate the church. Against the advice of the Committeemen who had appealed for help to Bishop Mihalik, who in turn refused to interfere, he replaced the floor in the sanctuary and removed the marble altars, replacing them with wooden ones. He added an enclosure connecting the rectory to the church, which because of improper planning is not able to be used for the intended purpose. With the addition of this structure, and because of the architecture chosen, the church has permanently lost its value as a “national landmark.” Father Jadwisiak then proceeded to remodel the church hall (the basement), closing all entrances but one. He disposed of the kitchen equipment (stove, refrigerator, etc.). He installed a new (drop) ceiling and lights. At this point the money ran out. As of this writing, things are at a stand still. Soon after Bishop Mihalik’s death in January 1984, Father Jadwisiak requested a transfer. "In 1984, Reverend David Hannes was assigned to Holy Ghost by Vicar General Andrew Vaida, since a new bishop had not yet been appointed. With his youth and fresh outlook, Father David has brought a new hope and vigor to the church. "At the present time Holy Ghost has ?? souls, the majority being sixty years of age or older, ranging to 94. The properties consist of the church and the rectory. "No church can live on its past. Throughout the good times and the upheaval, the church has remained steadfast in its purpose. Our heritage is not a prized possession to be placed on a pedestal and held inviolate. It is a vital power, coming down through the years, outwardly changing, but in essence the same, yesterday, today and forever. The seeds of our destiny are nurtured by the roots of the past. We must now look forward to the future, making sure we do not loose sight of the vision that inspired the founders and sustained those that followed them." Susan Mandzak (her signature), 1989 |
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