79 November 7, 1979 Rev. Victor Maksimowicz Pastor Maksimowicz leads enthusiastic flock Rev. Victor Maksimowicz, pastor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church of Mount Joy, was born in Scranton, Pa., and grew up in Throop, Pa. His father was a coal miner, and Victor learned as a little boy how to pick good coal out of the coal dumps, discarding the slate and stone. His family never had to buy the anthracite coal. He was educated in the public schools, because his parents could not afford to send him to parochial schools. A friend of Victor's decided to become a Franciscan father and went off to seminary. While Victor worked for a year in a factory after graduating from high school, he also corresponded with his freind in the seminary. He thought he ‘detected something’’ in himself that was leading him too to become a Franciscan. When Victor visited his friend in the seminary, he decided to become a noviate. As a novitiate he had a year of training learning about the life of a Francis- can. After two years he took simple vows and after three years the solemn vows of his chosen order. For two years Victor Makisimowicz studied col- lege courses, followed by two years of philosophy, and then four years of theology. In 1954 he was ordained. As a Franciscan, Father Victor was .ot a parish priest. He lived in a friary and practiced communal life and prayers. His first assignment was to a parish in Bridgeport, Conn., where he was an associate pastor. Then he taught Spanish for three years in a high school in Buffalo. Later, he taught religion and Spanish in a large high school in Baltimore. At his request, Father Victor was assigned to parish work again, this time in Hamburg, NY. The church there was a large parish of 900 families and growing. There were three priests there. Father Victor describes his time there as a “terrific experience.”” He learned all phases of the priestly life there. He says, “Iloved it there,’’ and when the Bishop asked the Franciscans to take the two parishes here, Marietta and Mount Joy, Father Victor was at first reluctant to come. Since coming here, how- ever, Father Victor feels that it is ‘‘a challenge to express your priestly role when you are in charge of something. 1 have never been more thankful to God than since coming here. Life here has been fulfilling as a priest, helping the people in following Christ.” On his first evening here a little over a year ago, Father Victor attended a meeting of the building committee of the church. He was impress- ed by the enthusiastic and tremendous woik being done by the members of the church in raising money for their new church in Mount Joy. The Assumption B.V.M. Church in Mount Joy has always been a mission of some nearby church. Then, two years ago their building was condemned and had to be torn down. The members of Assumption Church had to attend Presentation B.V. M. Church in Marietta. The members of Assump- tion had intended to hold their last service in the old Mount Joy Church on Christmas, 1977. They loved the old church building. When they arrived for their final service in the old church they were confronted with a sign: “DO NOT ENTER!” Officials were worried that snow might collapse the roof. It was a great disappointment to the people who had been looking forward to their final service in the old church at Christmas. Before they could build a new church, the members of Assumption had to convince the Bishop that they could support a new church. The Catholic community around Mount Joy is growing; so the Bishop assented to their request for a new church. As many segments as possible from the old church have been incorporated into the new church building on Union School Road. The lintel, windows, old corner- stones, stations of the Cross, and statues all come from the old church and have becomes integral parts of the new church. The people feel very comfortable in their new church with so many reminders of the past. When the new church was dedicated several weeks ago, the Bishop announced that the church would now be a parish, no longer a mission. Father Maksimo- wicz can now add ‘‘pastor”’ after his name, instead of ‘‘administrator;’’ a pleasant change for him. The enthusiasm of his parishoners which impress- ed him when he first came here, continues to please him. “These people are alive,”’ he says, ‘‘willing to do anything.”’ “Family life is strong here. The Church is part of their families. They partici- pate as families in the Church. There is much fellowship here. “We're beginning. The plans are to grow, to provide for the needs of the family, to provide for all phases of the family—youth, middle- age, and old age. Our job is to provide spiritually for for the people as a faith-com- munity, really ‘following Christ. ‘““We can pray by living our lives with others. Helping each other is a form of prayer. Our whole life can be a prayer. If we offer ourselves to God and do it for His Honor, we offer it up to Him in praise. ‘““We are supposed to see Christ in each other. “If only mankind would follow the message of Christ—"’ SUSQUEHANNA TIMES—Page 7 Halloween masquerade party at St. John’s Episcopal, Marietta St. John’s Episcopal Parish Hall in Marietta was the site of this year’s Parish Halloween Masquerade Party, held Friday, Oct. 17th. Halloween posters were exhibited and judged. The winners were Anna Hammill (pre-school division); Donna Landis 71st & 2nd grade); Angie Roberts (3rd & 4th); Sandy Warren (5th & 6th); and Jack Kyler (Jr. High). The winners of the costume contest were Chris- tina Secrest (prettiest), Tim Hoffmaster (ugliest), Brandi and Shawn Brown (most original), and Pamela Nye (funniest). The party committee (Betty Anderson, Beth Warren, Alice Bradley, Irene Stotz, and Darlene Hoffmaster) directed games and served refreshments to the participants and the audience. Left to right; Greg Zimmerman, Doug Shelly and Dean Bricker Bricker, Shelly, and Zimmerman playing trumpets together since 77 Dean Bricker, Doug Shel- ly, and Greg Zimmerman have been playing their trumpets together ever since the fall of 1977, when Donegal High band director Glen Leib presented them with the trumpet trio selection ‘‘Bugler’s Holiday." Since then the three voung brass players have branched out into playing for business luncheons, vouth clubs, homes for the elderly, banquets, and con- certs. They consider their music their ministry, and also perform at many local churches. After they played in the last PUFA Command Per- formance at DHS, the trio was approached by Tim Eshleman Productions with a proposal to cut a record. Tim Eshleman, a Donegal High grad, is a student at Penn State majoring in electrical engineering, and specializes in on-site record- ing with his production company. Bricker, Shelly and Zim- nierman accepted Eshle- man’s offer, and taping sessions began at Calvary Bible Church after long practices, much discussion, and pulling together of loose ends. Choosing a title for the new album turned out to be the most difficult part of the job, though. Eventually the Trumpeters (that’s their group name) decided on “Glory To His Name’ for their disc. Some of the selections on this album are the title cut, “Glory To His Name,” “Onward Christian Sol- diers,’” **Battle Hymn of the Republic.”” “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder.” and "Count Your Blessings." The Trumpeters are all 1979 graduates of ‘Donegal High. Greg is now attending Penn State, York Campus, Doug is studying at Lancas- r Bible College, and Dean ~ 4 freshman at Houghton Colle 2¢ in Houghton, New York If vou would like to buy a copy oi ‘Glory To His Name." or want concert imformation, call the Trum- peters: Greg Zimmerman 653-1735: Doug Shelly at 653-1741: or Dean Bricker at 653-2412. Methodist women plan bazaar for Sat. Nov. 10 The United Methodist Women will sponsor a Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 10th, from 9am to 4pm at Chiques United Metho- dist Church, located along Route 230. 2 miles east of Mount Joy. Featured at thc Bazaar will be holiday crafts, home baked goods, candies, a country store, plants and Dr. B. Douglas Whiting, a professor at Lancaster Theo- logical Seminary in Lancas- ter, will be the guest minister in the pulpit of the English United Presbyterian fresh vegetables, and a white elephant sale. There will be a fish pond for the children. The kitchen will be open throughout the day serving home made soups and sand- wiches. This is an annual affair and the proceeds are used in the many projects of the United Methodist Women. —Mary Butzer Dr. B. Douglas Whiting at English Presbyterian Church of Marietta at the Sunday morning worship service on Nov. 11th at 11am. The public is cordially invited to attend.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers