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St. Mary Parish celebrates a century of service, traditions
Josh Echt
Chardon
The Book of Matthew contains a parable involving a father who gave his sons varying amounts of talents.
One son buried his talent.
The others didn’t and were rewarded by their father as a result.
Using one’s God‑given talents to better others’ lives is a formula that’s worked for parishioners at St. Mary Parish in Chardon, which celebrates its centennial anniversary September 11, according to St. Mary Pastor Father Tom Gilles, the pastor since 1992.
“From its founding until the present, the faithful of this parish have taken the initiative of discerning the parish’s needs and looking ahead to the future,” Father Gilles said. “My greatest joy has been to encourage this initiative, as St. Mary’s has entered the new millennium and now its second century as the Catholic community of Chardon.”
Many of the parish’s 2,600 households are actively involved in the church’s 70 ministries, coordinated by Parish Life Facilitator Carol Burtnett. The ministries range from the very large to very small. The largest, the 150‑member bereavement ministry, has several duties: It provides a luncheon on the day of a funeral, makes phone calls to the bereaved and helps the family in need plan the funeral liturgy.
COURTESY ST. MARY PARISHIn contrast, a ministry called Mary’s Helpers is a dedicated team that cleans the church each week.
Ministries are developed as the need arises, such as Vacation Bible School, Faith in Action and Ten‑Minute Catechism. Vacation Bible School attracts 200 children for one week each summer, thanks to the generosity of nearly 80 adults who lend their talents in varying roles.
In the Faith in Action ministry, trained volunteers help physically challenged citizens and the elderly with simple chores, transportation, or companionship so they can maintain independence as long as possible.
Parochial Vicar Father Tim Kalista leads Ten‑Minute Catechism, in which he delivers presentations--complete with kitchen timer--on various church teachings one Sunday per month after Masses.
Another ministry is the community supper, added last year as a response to both the flagging economy and a way to encourage fellowship within the community. Different parish ministries volunteer on a monthly basis to serve hot meals at the parish cafeteria the last Thursday of each month.
In addition to those ministries, the parish also contains an RCIA ministry and a nearly 600‑student parish school of religion (PSR) program, headed by Anna Marie Zalar.
Chardon and the surrounding area experienced its first growth spurt after World War II and St. Mary’s outgrew its original church. Father James A. Walsh undertook the construction of a new brick church that seated 450 parishioners and an eight‑classroom school building. St. Mary School, Geauga County's first parochial school, opened in 1961. It later doubled in size. Then‑Auxiliary Bishop John Whealon dedicated the new parish on August 15, 1962.
The second influx of parishioners occurred in the 1980s, just in time for a major expansion of facilities to support the many activities the parish had undertaken. This culminated in the dedication of a 900‑seat church on October 17, 1999, along with new school and parish offices, meeting rooms and a banquet facility. The priests continue to enjoy the charm of a nearby century home, built in 1869.
“With God’s help, the people will continue to be the lifeblood of the parish, as they have been throughout its long and grace‑filled history,” Father Gilles said.
Echt is a freelance writer.