St. Gregory Thaumaturgus Parish Celebrates 150 Years of Faith and Fortitude
By Melanie Sisinni with Father Tom Brooks11/24/2025
On Saturday, November 22, St. Gregory Thaumaturgus Parish joyfully marked 150 years as a parish family and the 100th anniversary of its current church building. Bishop Lawrence Persico traveled to Northeast to celebrate the special Mass with pastor Father Thomas Brooks and Father John Collins, C.Ss.R., provincial superior of the Baltimore Province of the Redemptorists.
The theme for the celebration, “Thankful for the past, joyful for the present, hopeful for the future,” was proudly displayed on a banner at the front of the church, capturing the spirit of an afternoon filled with gratitude, remembrance and hope. This anniversary carried notable historical importance, as the celebration fell exactly 100 years after Archbishop John Mark Gannon visited the parish on November 22, 1925, to dedicate the then-new St. Gregory Church.
In his homily, Bishop Lawrence Persico reflected on the significance of the parish’s long history and the memories held within its walls. He invited parishioners to recall the baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, weddings, and funerals that formed the spiritual tapestry of their lives.
“These anniversaries remind us of all those who have gone before us to build up this community of faith,” said Bishop Persico. “For as meaningful as this sacred space is, when we recall events that have taken place in your lives, you are more likely to recall certain people than merely a place… and at the heart of these events are the deepest mysteries of our faith and the Eucharist itself.”
He reminded the congregation that they belong not only to St. Gregory’s, but to “a vast community, linking us to the past, present and future… a communion of saints, of this world and the next.”
As part of the celebration, Father John Collins represented the generations of Redemptorist priests who shepherded the parish from 1914 to 1996, as well as those who assisted earlier pastors such as Father David Hanley, whose ministry in North East began in 1898. His presence served as a reminder of the long line of religious men and women who shaped the parish’s identity.
The parish also honored the many religious sisters who have served St. Gregory’s throughout its history, including the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Sisters of St. Benedict, whose ministries supported parish life, St. Gregory School and the formation of countless young people. Their dedication, like that of the early parishioners who built the first wooden church on South Pearl Street in 1867, remains a powerful testament to the “faith and fortitude” that built the community.
As the Mass neared its conclusion, Father Brooks addressed the congregation with a final sentiment that deepened the significance of the evening.
“We have one more thing that I think is very, very special to add to our celebration this evening,” he said before revealing that the parish had received a special apostolic blessing from Pope Leo XIV in honor of its dual anniversary. The announcement was met with loud, sustained applause from the congregation.
Following the Mass, a celebratory reception was held in the St. Gregory School gym. Guests were welcomed with commemorative wine glasses as keepsakes before gathering for dinner, fellowship and the retelling of treasured parish memories.
As St. Gregory Parish steps into its next century, Father Brooks expressed gratitude for the legacy handed down by generations of clergy, religious and laypeople. He joined Bishop Persico and Father Collins in encouraging the parish family to carry forward the spirit that has sustained St. Gregory’s through moments of joy and challenge alike.
With Christ leading the way, parishioners continue to embrace the identity that has defined them for 150 years as a family of faith strengthened by perseverance, generosity and unwavering hope.
View photos from the event here.
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