Part XVI

Growth in the suburban parishes was evident throughout the 1960’s as both Holy Trinity and Saint Malachy realized their worship spaces were inadequate for the number of people attending Mass. Pope John XXIII called an ecumenical council that would be known as Vatican II, but didn’t live to see the council completed. His successor, Pope Paul VI, continued to convene the bishops of the world, along with others, to see the council to its finish in 1965.

Holy Trinity Parish broke ground for a new church in August 1964. Plans indicated that the new building would accommodate 1100 worshippers and cost half a million dollars. The design of the new church was contemporary, with the roof resembling windblown sails. Another groundbreaking took place, when, in 1965, Bishop Vincent Leonard, Auxiliary Bishop of the Pittsburgh Diocese, officiated at the ceremony for the new church at Mother of Sorrows.

Liturgical changes resulted from the Vatican Council. Some people were shocked, while others welcomed the permission for Mass to be celebrated in English, instead of in Latin. All the parishes in our area began to implement the changes as they were approved, including new music that was composed to accompany the English liturgy. Looking back, some would say there was not enough instruction that explained the changes to the faithful, and yet, most people accepted them, and learned to participate in the responses and songs, as well as to serve in liturgical ministries like commentators and readers.

Following the Council, we began to see men and women leave the priesthood and religious life in large numbers. The blip that was the post-war boom was coming to an end, and fewer were electing to serve the Church in this way. Lay ministries, however, began to expand. The Vatican II call to holiness of all the baptized was beginning to bear fruit in small ways.