A FINAL FAREWELL...(St Lawrence Church in Cleveland, Ohio)

To the Editor: The Slovenian America Times

Inasmuch as St. Lawrence is to be closed next month, I thought that it might be instructive as well as appreciated by some to have some recollection of St. Lawrence. Although most of what is written has been published in the American Home a few years ago and in the February and March issues of the Slovenian American Times, I would like to offer this reflection:

 As once said, "Everything has a beginning and an end." The end is equivalent to a funeral where we do everything in life to stay alive but, when the time has come, we will all depart. However, we still have an immortal soul, which continues to live.  Blame for the demise of St. Lawrence can be spread extensively. Right now the ire is aimed at the office of Bishop Lennon. Though we all have our own opinions, those in charge have undoubtedly weighed many alternatives, then had to sever some of the treasures of historical facilities and traditions in order to keep the diocese viable. They did this with much subterfuge.  They loaded the clusters with the foreknowledge that these groups would recommend the elimination of one or more of those parishes that had the least representation and would put up the least squawk. Expediency and practicality again triumph over righteousness and tradition. The end result hurt placed on St. Lawrence can be felt over the Slovenian Community throughout the  greater Cleveland area. Ultimately we pray that "It must be what is best for the greater honor and glory of Almighty God."
Joseph T. Snyder   
May 15, 2010


I. The background and birth of St. Lawrence Parish:
In the first half of the 20th century, people were identified from the parish or neighborhood that they called home. The parish family was closely knit and gossip, folklore, fables, true facts and family nuances were freely disseminated. Slovenian immigrants from the early 1900’s tended to raise large families. I recall that on three streets alone (E. 80th, 81st, and E. 82nd,) there were roughly 120 homes with over 600 children born during the 20’s and 30’s; the average family at 5.4 children.

From these strong beginnings, St. Lawrence parish became the hub of all social, religious, and cultural activities. The culmination of the community efforts was the building of the now famous "New Church" whose cornerstone was laid in the 1930's, during the waning days of the Great Depression. We were all very poor; we just did not know it. Most of the men in the neighborhood found employment in the steel factories, and many nearby factories, including Pneumatic Tool, Draper, The Barrel Works, Bearing Bronze, Cleveland Wire Cloth, Valley Mold, Wedge Protectors, The Worsted Mills and even as far as White Motors, General Electric, American Steel & Wire, Thompson Products, Standard Oil and in other heavy industries, some now defunct.

That small neighborhood supported five taverns, The Slovenian National Home, three grocery stores, four candy stores two haberdashery shops, a funeral home, a print shop, a barber shop, two bowling alleys, a dry cleaner, two tailors, a dairy, plus three factories.
Along with these businesses, there were delivery trucks that brought bakery, milk, waffles, fish, produce, and other sundry items. The streets teeming with children playing and were mostly without regular traffic until the early 50’s. The children played in a couple of empty fields, Union Field, Chair works, the school yard, and St. Lawrence church basement.   Playgrounds as such were at Morgana, Garfield and Woodhill parks. Streetcar rides, and later bus rides took us to high schools, movie theaters, vaudeville shows, sporting events, picnics, downtown, the West Side, Broadway, East 93rd and Union, Euclid Beach, plus Edgewater and Gordon Parks for the few water buffs.

Our elders, that is anyone over 40, were treated with reverence and respect. A stern look or a finger shaking from the elderly, relative or not, was enough to quiet down even the more rambunctious. Running errands was a means of showing respect and maybe receiving a few pennies tip. Men wore suits on Sunday for Mass, then all day long. At a ball game or even at a summer picnic, these men kept on wearing their white shirts with neckties. When the Laurentians had their great teams in the early 50’s, you could see about 10-20 old timers - suits, hat, and all, cheering on their homegrown stars.

The women had their own dignity. They stationed themselves on the Blessed Mother side of the church during Mass, Novena, the Stations, or benedictions. Their matronly demeanor was classic Slovenian. Monday was clothes washing day, and grocery shopping was almost a daily exercise. The children were expected to help in all household chores, both indoors and outdoors. Daily meals were a true ritual, including a history lesson, a review of the news, some neighborhood news, much banter and laughter, then prayers after meals. Most women prided themselves with their culinary exploits. The highest compliment was when someone copied their neighbor's special recipe. Word got around that so and so made the best strudel, potica, soup, or any other delight. Then came the 1940 era.

II. St. Lawrence Parish:
Compared with the modern day parish communities, St. Lawrence was the ideal of what parish activities strive to achieve. Social functions, sporting events, music, a drill team, drama, elocution, choirs, Holy Name Society, The Newburg Junior League, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novenas, Benediction, Lenten and 40 hours devotions, which required a very active laity. The central figure in this labyrinth was our pastor, Canon, Monsignor John J. Oman. His famous assistants during our era were Fr. Baznik, Fr. Praznik, Fr. Slapsak, Fr. Sodja, Fr.(now Bishop) Pevec who helped keep spiritual, cultural and social functions in perspective.

In the 30’s and the early 40’s, we had a parish band with trumpets, drums, a complete brass and wind section under the leadership of Mr. Becky. We had many pianists, organists, and a variety of minstrels, thespians and singers. Each year all eight grades prepared and executed a 15 minute play or musical extravaganza for Fr. Oman’s birthday, May 22nd. The next day (announced just after Mass) was always a FREE day. The Drama Club, which spanned a couple of generations, put on an annual winter play plus a summer special. The minstrel show from the 30’s and the early 40’s still brings back fond memories. Some thespians later found their way onto Broadway and even Hollywood. The St. Lawrence band was featured in concerts, parades, and in our annual Corpus Christi procession.

This public display of our devotion to the Holy Eucharist was preceded by the sprucing up of the neighborhood around the three streets that were honored by the procession. The curbs and tree trunks were painted white with lime whitewash. Each street had their own Capelsa (Chapel): Crowfoot faced north, E. 82nd faced west, Mansfield faced south, and E. 80th faced east. At each chapel a benediction was given, then Mr. Novak (later Charlie Mlakar) rang the bells from the church tower with the special hammers which still ring in my memory. All of the altar Boys dressed in their red cassocks, the parish choir, the holy Name Society, the Lodges, the First Communicants in their whites, the Band, Drill Team, children from the school, and many of the out-of-the-neighborhood parishioners participated. Many women wore their traditional Slovenian costumes. Each house displayed a mini altar with statues of the Blessed Mother or their favorite Saint. In my wife’s case, as a pre-school girl, she had to kneel in front of their family altar while the procession passed. Many onlookers kept in the spirit of this solemn event by joining in the Holy Rosary. My recollection is faint on this matter, but it seems that the band played some traditional Slovenian hymns and some semi-liturgical dirges.

At St. Lawrence, Mr. Ivan Zorman conducted the 10:00 Mass choir; many of his alumni from Cricki and other Slovenian singing societies became the core of his constituency. He was a famous composer, poet, and Slovenian historian. He was a close friend of my father. In fact I had an older brother Joseph Ivan who was named after St. Joseph and Ivan Zorman. Assisting Zorman for some of the Masses were Marian Mauer, Henry Paulin, St. Assisium, St. Marie Sylvester, and Frances Adler, who put together a young adult choir for the 7:00 Masses.

Ralph Godec had his own choir at 11:15 Mass, then took over the main 10:00 choir when Mr. Zorman retired. Through the years liturgical polyphonic music, either in Slovenian, Latin or later in English has been a hallmark of the many excellent choirs. With this rich tradition, we prayed that the parishioners of today would not be deprived of the continuation of their dedication to St. Lawrence Parish.

Now that the final chapter of St. Lawrence is to be "celebrated" on Sunday, June 20, 2010 after The Mass honoring Msgr. Oman and Our Lady of Brezje on May 23rd, Corpus Christi Procession on June 6th. This closing of our parish is devastating to the many parishioners who now love and support St. Lawrence. The hearts of those baptized, confirmed, received the Sacrament of Matrimony and had their children baptized at St. Lawrence have been broken as the last vestiges of our spiritual and educational upbringing has been ruptured. The priests, sisters and all alumni are also deeply touched by this loss.