St. Colman Day celebration celebrates Irish Heritage
and honors contributions to the parish

(Plain Press, December 2009) Over 700 people gathered in St. Colman Church on November 14th for the celebration of St. Colman Day at the 5 p.m. Mass celebrated by Fr. Jim O’Donnell, who grew up in the parish. The mass was followed by a dinner, which featured food and drink donated by area restaurants.

The parish, threatened with closing last March, successfully won an appeal and remains open. The St. Colman’s Day raffle, the parish’s largest fundraiser of the year, offered cash prizes of up to $10,000.

St. Colman Parish dedicated its third annual St. Colman Day to celebrating the Irish Heritage of the parish. The parish also honored individuals and organizations “who throughout the years have made extraordinary contributions of their time, talents and resources to the parish.”

St. Colman Pastor, Father Bob Begin gave awards to honorees and the family members of those honorees who are now deceased.

A booklet issue in celebration of the event gave descriptions of the honorees and their involvement with the parish. What follows are some brief summaries of the descriptions the honorees in the booklet.

John and Katherine Carey, founders of Careys’ Funeral Home on Lorain Avenue, were honored for their long time support and active participation in the parish.

Hugh and Ann Gallagher, whose donation made the lighting of the St. Colman towers possible, were honored for their support of the parish. The couple founded Gallagher Advertising, which specializes in gifts and church carnival supplies.

John “Norm” McCarthy was honored for his contribution to keeping St. Colman as a viable spiritual institution and his many years of service to the parish from serving alter boy and singing in the choir, to serving in leadership positions on parish committees such as Friends of St. Colman Foundation and the St. Colman Endowment Fund.

Jack and Helen McChrystal were honored for their lifetimes of service to the parish. Both Jack and Helen grew up in the parish and they raised seven children in the parish. Jack was involved in sports programs at the parish in the 1960s and Helen taught in the parish school until it closed in 1974.

Neil and Ceil O’Donnell were honored for their long term involvement in the parish and activities such as the St. Colman Booster Club, the CYO, and Thanksgiving Bazaars. Neil was a founding member of the St. Colman Club, which has taken on a number of building repair projects including the rebuilding of the front steps of the church.

John and Rita Patton were honored for their generous giving of their time and talents. The couple participated in the Boosters Club and the Social Dramatic Club at the parish. John worked with Jack McCrystal to help establish CYO Youth Boxing. The couple helped to fund the communion rail in the Convent Chapel, the permanent announcement sign on the St. Colman property and the portraits of the early Pastors in the vestibule.

Bishop Ray Gallagher and the St. Colman Social Dramatic Club were honored for their unique contribution to the parish. Parish historians say the Fr. Gallagher took the existing Social Dramatic Club at the parish and molded it into something special. The club sponsored family events such as parish picnics, held dances for adults and holiday themed parties and even had its own publication, The Socialiet.

The West Side Irish American Club, originally located at W. 64th and Detroit Avenue, was honored for its long-term relationship with St. Colman Parish. Club members begin each St. Patrick’s Day with Mass at St. Colman before venturing downtown to participate in the Annual St. Patrick Day’s Parade.

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