Tidbit: St. Joseph (Scranton, PA)

For his role in the formation of the Catherine McAuley House, a refuge for homeless women and children, St. Joseph's Father Ozalas was named a prelate of honor and elevated to Monsignor by Pope John Paul II.

Tidbit: Holy Family (Scranton, PA)

In a letter to the parish marking Holy Family's centennial, Bishop James C. Timlin wrote: "From the dedication 10 decades ago to the present, its families have worshiped, received the sacraments and lived their baptismal promises in that parish."

Tidbit: St. John the Evangelist (Scranton, PA)

Father Healey set the groundwork for reconstruction and restoration of the church facade after its fatal brush with a fire truck.

Tidbit: St. Mary of the Assumption (Scranton, PA)

The last pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption, Monsignor Dale R. Rupert, restored the stained glass windows that lined the sanctuary. The windows reflected the parish's devotion to Mary, depicting her variously as Mother, Intercessor, Comforter and Queen.

Tidbit: St. Anthony of Padua (Scranton, PA)

At the final Mass at St. Anthony of Padua, Father Cyril Edwards said, "We'll move on. We're a strong, faith-filled people."

Tidbit: St. Michael (Old Forge, PA)

In 1997, Father Brozena donated new double stained glass doors to be hung at the entrance to St. Michael's church (Old Forge, PA) in memory of his parents.

Tidbit: Sacred Heart of Jesus (Mayfield, PA)

Each year, the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Mayfield, PA) Christmas decorations drew crowds from miles around. "It's a shame; the traditions never come back," said parishioner Jane Orlando.

Tidbit: St. Mary of Czestochowa (Scranton, PA)

St. Mary of Czestochowa (Scranton, PA) prepared for weeks for an annual quilt bingo. Veronica Kraieski, one of the quilters, noted: "I used to say 'We're coming for our therapy.' We share recipes and have a social hour."

Tidbit: St. John the Baptist (Taylor, PA)

A parishioner for 43 years, Linda Kavulich remembered how her grandmother's husband carved his name into one of St. John the Baptist's (Taylor, PA) wooden pews with his fingernail; "This is home, it's home," she said.

Tidbit: Immaculate Conception (Taylor, PA)

On Christmas morning 1950, while Mass was being held in Immaculate Conception (Taylor, Pa.), the rectory was robbed of more than $1,000 by a "smooth talking, well dressed thief."

Tidbit: St. Joseph (Scranton, PA)

The dedication of the people of St. Joseph's to their Lithuanian heritage was emphasized with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989. Suddenly released from behind the Iron Curtain, the people of Lithuania needed help re-establishing an independent nation.

Tidbit: Holy Family (Scranton, PA)

At Holy Family's 1991 centennial, Monsignor Siconolfi said, "The founding members were all Slovaks who came mostly from Scranton's South Side and Pine Brook area."

Tidbit: St. John the Evangelist (Scranton, PA)

Bishop Timlin said at St. John the Evangelist's final Mass, "I loved St. John's. We thank God for all the glorious memories we have of this parish."

Tidbit: St. Mary of the Assumption (Scranton, PA)

At the closing Mass of St. Mary of the Assumption in Scranton, PA, Ida Kalinich, one of the oldest parishioners, locked the church doors.

Tidbit: St. Anthony of Padua (Scranton, PA)

Anthony of Padua was a Franciscan friar renowned as both a preacher and miracle worker. On one occasion, the appearance of an apparition scared a young novice into returning Anthony's book of psalms that he had borrowed without asking. Since then, Anthony has held a place in the Catholic canon as the finder of lost articles.

Tidbit: St. Michael (Old Forge, PA)

St. Michael (Old Forge, PA): Father Brozena hosted successful ham dinners, where "parishioners, as well as visitors, came to taste the best ham, cabbage, mashed potatoes, green beans and applesauce."

Tidbit: Sacred Heart of Jesus (Mayfield, PA)

Sacred Heart of Jesus (Jermyn, PA): Initially, the Italians were not considered parishioners, but they were welcomed in 1913 by Father Wilczkiewicz. He spoke conversational Latin, close enough to their native language that the Italian immigrants felt comfortable in the parish.

Tidbit: St. Mary of Czestochowa (Scranton, PA)

St. Mary of Czestochowa in Scranton, PA was named after the Marian icon, a painting of Mary holding the Christ Child, was brought to Poland in 1382.

Tidbit: St. John the Baptist (Taylor, PA)

Father Stas was also the editor of "Jednota," a Polish-language newspaper. He remained at St. John the Baptist in Taylor, PA until his death in May 1917.

Tidbit: Immaculate Conception (Taylor, PA)

At Immaculate Conception in Taylor, PA, all the little girls wanted to be the May Queen, but were afraid to climb up the ladder. Consequently, whoever was chosen had to be talked into it.