Holy Martyrs Parish History

With the expansion of Springfield Township (Montgomery County) and the surrounding areas after World War II the Oreland area was in need of its own church. Prior to the establishment of Holy Martyrs as we know it today, Catholic families in the Oreland area had to travel by car or train to St. Luke's in Glenside to attend Mass. On March 6, 1946, John Walsh of Park Avenue wrote a letter to the Chancery Office of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia citing the need for a Catholic Church to be established in the Oreland, Pennsylvania area; this letter was acknowledged by the Chancery Office on March 11, 1946.

And thus, to serve the need of Catholics in the Oreland area Holy Martyrs was originally started as a mission church of St. Luke's. In 1946 St. Luke's purchased property in the 400 block of Oreland Mill Road and built a mission church. Priests would travel from St. Luke's and say Masses at the mission church until 1949. The original church location is now the site the Jehovah Witness Kingdom Hall.

On January 6, 1949 Holy Martyrs became a parish with the appointment of Father James J. Boland as its first rector and pastor. In 1949 St. Luke's donated the existing property and church to Holy Martyrs. The parish rented the property across the street from the church at 433 Oreland Road for the use of Father Boland as the first rectory.

On February 10, 1950 the parish purchased the property at 414 Oreland Mill Road; this property was to be used as the rectory and for the expansion of Holy Martyrs Parish within the 400 block of Oreland Mill Road. However, when the site plans were submitted to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for approval, it was suggested to Father Boland that due to the engineering study and an August 3, 1950 flood at the Oreland Mill Road location, it might be best if he looked for an alternative site since the cost of the building a flood retaining wall along the top of the creek in this area would be expensive.

In November of 1951 Father Boland entered into an agreement of sale with John and Marie Walsh and several other properly owners for the purchase of the properties located on the north side of Ulmer Avenue and at the northeast sides of Montgomery Avenue, Allison Road and Clement Road. These properties were purchased on or about November 13, 1951. Plans for the use of these properties included a school to be built on the property between Montgomery Avenues and Allison Road at Ulmer Avenue and on the properly at Allison Road between Clement Road and Ulmer Avenue. Plans included building a church, rectory and convent.

During the early years of Holy Martyrs, the children in the parish attended St. Luke's school and masses were said at the Oreland Mill Road site. In 1949 and 1950 there were about 278 families and individuals registered in Holy Martyrs. Tire original church seated about 144 and during the early 1950s live masses were offered on Sunday. It was during these early years of Holy Martyrs that priests such as Msgr. John Rowan and Msgr. Francis Furey (later Bishop) came from St. Charles Seminary on Sundays to help Father Boland with his Mass schedule.

From 1950 through 1952 Father Boland traveled to other church’s seeking assistance through special collections to help Holy Martyrs on its building campaign and on Sundays at Holy Martyrs there were special collections for the building campaign.

In May of 1951 St. Luke’s informed Father Boland that its school was becoming over crowded partly because of the children from Holy Martyrs attending the school and from the expansion, of the area. This caused Father Boland to move forward with plans for a school.  In October 1952 the architect firm of Gleeson and Montgomery was commissioned to draw up plans for Holy Martyrs School. Original plans for the school did not include a basement and this phase was added prior to the ground breaking which occurred in November 1952.

Sometime in August or September of 1953 Masses began being offered on the first floor of the new parish building. Use of the first floor as the church area was to be temporary pending construction and completion of the formal church. The original plans for the parish included a church and a convent to be constructed on the property at Allison Avenue and Clement Road.

During the late 1940s and early 1950s of Holy Martyrs history, its boundary lines included parts of the Flourtown, Erdenheim, Upper Dublin and North Hills areas. However with the opening of the parishes of St. Genevieve (1953) and Queen of Peace (1954) the boundary lines and family membership of Holy Martyrs were reduced forcing abandonment of the original plans for the parish. In 1954 the parish consisted of about 465 families.

Since plans for the parish were changing, it was decided to build a new rectory in 1955 and in 1956 the current rectory at the corner of Allison and Ulmer Avenues was completed. Father Boland and the assistant pastor. Father Joseph S. Rodgers, moved from the Oreland Mill Road site into the new rectory and the former rectory at 414 Oreland Mill Road was later sold.

In 1961, the parish consisted of about 651 families, in 1964 about 731 families and it was during this period the Mass was changing from Latin to English and altars were being changed so that the celebrant would face the congregation. During the 1960s priests such as Father O'Neill from Father Judge High School would come to offer Sunday Masses.

Confirmation, 1966 Cardinal Krol & Fr. Boland

During the 1950s and 1960s Father Boland continued as the pastor at Holy Martyrs and Masses continued to take place on the first floor of the parish church school building. The first floor contained the altar located in the northeast portion of the building, opposite the sacristy, folding metal chairs, wooden kneelers and tile floor. On the second floor was Holy Martyrs School which opened in September 1954.

On June 14, 1958 the Reverend Francis Girard celebrated his first solemn mass and became the first ordained priest from Holy Martyrs parish.

In 1971, Father Boland, because of age, submitted his letter of resignation as pastor of Holy Martyrs to Archbishop John Krol and later that year with the appointment of Father Szal, Father Boland became the Pastor Emeritus of Holy Martyrs. Father Boland continued to reside at Holy Martyrs until he moved to St. Joseph's Villa in Darby, Pennsylvania where he later passed away.

On September 1, 1971, Father Ignatius J. Szal, .JCD, was appointed as the second pastor of Holy Martyrs Parish. During Father Szal's tenure he had visions toward the future growth of the parish and formed the Holy Martyrs Apostolic Council, now known as the Pastoral Council and he immediately started to form plans for the restoration of the church. From August through November of 1973 the first floor of the parish building was closed so that the first restoration of the church could begin. This included moving the altar to the center of the building, laying carpeting throughout the first floor, adding formal pews with kneelers and updating the confessional boxes. During the restoration period Masses were held in the basement of the building. During Father Szal's tenure the Holy Martyrs mortgage was satisfied. He also spearheaded the construction of the kindergarten, library and computer room in the downstairs hall and air conditioned the church.

Fathers Szal, Bowe  & Tribuiani

In 1980 Father Szal requested from the Cardinal that he be permitted to appoint Eucharistic Ministers. Holy Martyrs continued to prosper with Father Szal as its Pastor until his retirement in November 1989 at which time he was appointed the Pastor Emeritus. Father Szal continued to live at the rectory for a time until he moved back to his native Minersville. Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania area to be with his family.

In November 1989 Father Ross J. Macartney was appointed as the third pastor of Holy Martyrs. It was during Father Macartney's tenure and due to the permanent loss of the assistant pastor that he enlisted the aid of the Vincentians to come to Holy Martyrs to help with the Saturday and Sunday mass schedule. Father Macartney continued as Pastor until June 1996. Because of poor health he was reassigned to Maternity BVM in Philadelphia where he served as an Assistant Pastor. During Father Macartney's tenure the second phase of the restoration of the church / school building was started.

In June 1996 Father David A. Doyne was appointed as the fourth Pastor of Holy Martyrs.

During 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 the second major improvement initiative continued to take place at Holy Martyrs. New windows were installed on the second floor of the church / school building. The flat roof of the church / school building was changed to a peaked roof to help prevent some of the rain water run off from flooding the basement. The exterior of the building also received changes; the parking lot was re-paved and relined and planting areas were placed around the outside of the building and trees and plants ware placed around the church / school building.

In 1999, the program for designing and installing stained glass windows in the church was begun. In December, 1999, Byers Studio assembled and installed the first window dedicated to the memory of Fr. Ross Macartney.  During the course of the next two years, the beautiful, colorful stained glass windows were installed in the church proper and vestibules. The windows in the main church appropriately depict the a chronology of Christian martyrdom.

In 1995 when the cross was mounted on the roof of the church, Father Macartney blessed the cross and a prayer service was held. The school children of Holy Martyrs watched as a crane hoisted the cross to its current location.

About 1995 Philadelphia Archdiocese Cluster 74 was established with Holy Martyrs Parish as one of its member parishes. In 1998 Holy Martyrs Parish continues to be one of the six area parishes assigned to Archdiocese Cluster 74, which comprises churches in Cheltenham and Springfield townships.

On June 15, 1998 Father Doyne was reassigned to St. Stanislaus Parish in Lansdale, Pennsylvania and Father Michael J. Ryan was appointed as the fifth Pastor of Holy Martyrs Parish.

On August 7, 1998 former Pastor Father Ross J. Macartney passed away after a long illness.

When Holy Martyrs Parish was first started there were about 278 families and individuals registered in the parish.

In 1998, Holy Martyrs celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Parish.

 

As of the beginning of 2008 there are about 750 households registered in the parish.

In January, 2009, Father Ryan and parishioners celebrated the 60th Anniversary of Holy Martyrs Parish.

Residents at Holy Martyrs Parish
Rev. William J. Mahoney	March 1959	October 1962
Rev. Peter J.Kelkemans,CICM	October 1962	June 1964
Rev. Charles J. Noone	January 1973	January 1982
Rev. Edward M DePaoli	January 1982	February 1986
Rev. Raymond F. Tribuiani	February 1986

Deacons at Holy Martyrs Parish
Rev.Mr. Michael J. Blaine	September 1990	June 1991

Ordained Priests from Holy Martyrs Parish
Rev. Francis Girard Mahoney	June 14, 1958
Rev. Christopher J. Jungers	June,1984

Prior to the opening of Holy Martyrs School the Catholic children in the area attended St. Luke's in Glenside. In May 1951 St. Luke's informed Father Boland about the over crowding of its school, partly because of the Holy Martyrs children.

In November 1952 ground breaking for the church / school took place and construction began. New and updated plans for this parish building now included a basement, 1^st and 2^nd floor with the first floor acting as the temporary church.

During 1953 it was hoped that the school would be in operation by September. However, because of a construction workers strike in June completion of the building was delayed.

In anticipation of the school opening in September 1953, the parish on June 3,1953 purchased the lot and house at 207 Ulmer Avenue for temporary use by the Sisters of Mercy as a convent. At this point in time construction of a church and convent at Allison Avenue and Cement Road were in the original plans and when they were completed this property would be used at the rectory.

The school was originally scheduled to open for the school year of 1953, but due to a strike delaying construction work on the interior of the second floor put the unfinished convent which was having a second floor put on the original and other major work, opening of Holy Martyrs School was delayed requiring St. Luke's school to handle students beyond their desires.

In April 1954 the Sisters of Mercy started registration for the 1954-1955 first school years at Holy Martyrs so that they could determine their staffing needs. 285 children were registered . Originally the Sisters of Mercy had assigned 8 sisters to Holy Martyrs, but due to staffing needs elsewhere this number was reduced to 4.

On September 5, 1954 Holy Martyrs School officially opened with Sister Mary Salome as its first Principal. On September 12, 1954 Archbishop John O'Hara officiated at the school blessing ceremony. On September 22, 1954 the Sisters of Mercy, consisting of Sister Mary Salome, Sister Mary Demetria, Sister Bernice Marie and Sister Martin Marie moved into the convent.

On June 12, 1955 Holy Martyrs School conducted its first closing exercise and graduation. The first graduating class consisted of Joseph Axford, Anthony D'Aquila, Michael Dooley, Geraldine Eble, Gerald Feefe, Raymond Franke, James Girard, Agnes Hill, Kevin Kennedy, Harrison Kornbau, Margaret Miller, Mary Pat Mullen, John Raidy and Herbert Swinburne.

Sr. Edna Marie

Holy Martyrs School registration for the year 1954-1955 total 286 students with 158 boys and 128 girls and a graduating class of 15 students. The largest registration for Holy Martyrs School was during 1962-1963 with 460 students registered, consisting of 240 boys and 220 girls; 49 students graduated during that school year, and during 1964 and 1965 with 460 students registered, consisting of 238 boys and 222 girls; 57 graduated during that school year.

In the school year 1982-1983 Holy Martyrs opened its first kindergarten class with an enrollment of 17 pupils consisting of 10 boys and 7 girls. In September of 1994 Mrs. Catherine McGough was appointed the first lay principal of Holy Martyrs due to the Sisters of Mercy withdrawing their staffing because of needs elsewhere. In the school year 1995-1996 Holy Martyrs opened its first pre-kindergarten with an enrollment of 23 pupils consisting of 10 boys and 13 girls.

Holy Martyrs School Halloween Party - 1979

During the school year of 1997-1998, there was a total enrollment of 173 pupils consisting of 92 boys and 81 girls: 13 students graduated during this school year.

In September of 1998 Sister Sharon McCarthy of the Sisters of Saint Joseph took over as the Principal of Holy Martyrs.

In 2003 Mr. David Hayden became principal of Holy Martyrs School.

During the history of Holy Martyrs school its CYO programs were always strong and there were many accomplishments. For details on the CYO accomplishments see the separate section for the CYO.

Principals of Holy Martyrs School
Sister Mary Salome	1954	1955
Sister Mary Constance	1955	1959
Sister Edna Marie	1959	1965
Sister James Mary -aka Kathleen Kelly	1965	1971
Sister Marie Bernadette Kinniry	1971	1979
Sister Kathleen Keenan	1979	1982
Sister LaVerne King	1982	1985
Sister Mary Jean Oesterle	1985	1990
Sister Maureen Conklin	1990	1994
Mrs. Catherine McGough	1994	1998
Sister Sharon McCarthy, SSJ	1998	2003
Mr. David J. Hayden	2003

Holy Martyrs CCD program was originally started to assist the children of Holy Martyrs who attended public school with continuing religious education. It prepared these children with the necessary religious instruction so that they could receive their sacraments of first Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation along with the children who attend Holy Martyrs School. During the early years of the program there were religious education classes held for both grade and high school students.

From 1946 through 1953 on Sunday morning the Sisters of St. Joseph from St. Luke's conducted the CCD program in the back of the original Holy Martyrs Church on Oreland Mill Road.

After 1953 the CCO program was run by the Sisters of Mercy and the parents of Holy Martyrs parish.

Currently, the individual assigned to run the CCD programs is the Director of Religious Education. Over the years this function has changed from just coordinating the CCD program to now coordinating the spiritual enlightenment of both the children and adults of Holy Martyrs Parish.

The Director of Religious Education is responsible for coordinating such programs as Bible Study, Family Stars, Sacramental Preparation, Pre-Jordan, Children's Liturgy of the Word, Parish Religious Education Program (formerly know as CCD) and Life Teen.

Directors of Religious Education at Holy Martyrs
Sister Marie Germaine	June 1979	June 1983
Betsy Curran	June 1983	June 1986
Helen Lafferty	June 1986	October 1992
Linda S. Tonelli	October 1992	June 1996
Maryellen Carrol	June 1996	July 1998
Jeanne Guerin	July 1998
Carol Galante

Holy Martyrs CYO Program

The Parish CYO was started in 1958. One of the first CYO programs was football and possibly the first game was played in October 1958 between Holy Martyrs and St. John Bosco at Hillcrest Field.

In the history of the CYO program there have been many coaches, assistants, helpers and players. Their accomplishments have been great and their first place finishes, trophies and awards are many and are on display in the school foyer and trophy case.

 
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