St. Pius Church to celebrate 100 years

LYNN – St. Pius Church is kicking off its 100th anniversary celebration on Friday with “Family Fun Weekend.” The theme of the anniversary year is to “give back to our community.”?We are not just celebrating our past, but we are celebrating our present and future,” Donna Hartshorn, Chairman of the Spirituality Committee, said. “We are celebrating what this church has become.”The Roman Catholic Church, located on 215 Maple St., is turning 100 on June 2, 2012.Hartshorn has noticed St. Pius becoming more welcoming during her 33 years at the Catholic church.?We have become much more welcoming,” Hartshorn said. “Lynn has changed a lot through the years. There were people looking for a place to be and St. Pius was like ?come here.?”Hartshorn believes that what makes St. Pius so great is the diversity within the church.?You see so many different walks of life here, it?s great,” she said.The Rev. Neil J. Mullaney agrees. “We are celebrating 100 years of welcoming people no matter where they come from and who they are,” Mullaney said. “We are a very welcoming community.”Mullaney has been serving St. Pius for 12 years.Kathy Harrell, Co-Chairperson of the 100th Anniversary committee, has seen the church become a family friendly place of worship.?We have become very family orientated,” Harrell said. “We do a lot for families and the youth. It?s actually one of my favorite things about St. Pius.”That family atmosphere seems to bring in worshippers.?I am the type of person who is in the front pew so I don?t often see how many people are there,” Hartshorn said. “When I do finally turn around and see all those people, I am like ?oh my goodness.?”A 100th anniversary is a major accomplishment for a church, especially in a time when many churches are closing.?It is a significant milestone,” Mullaney said. “We are pleased to celebrate it.”In honor of their 100th year, parishioners will be doing community service projects all year long. “In these economic times, it is important to give back,” Harrell said. “We have always done a lot of community service, but this year we wanted to make it more pronounced. We want people to know what St. Pius does throughout the year.”The celebration starts Friday from 3-8 p.m. at St. Pius? first rock-a-thon, where people get sponsored for rocking in a rocking chair. Each pledge made is $20. All ages are welcomed and people can still donate. All proceeds go to My Brother?s Table.There will be a pasta dinner on Saturday at 5 p.m. and lunch and a dunk tank on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. St. Pius School Principal Paul Maestranzi and WEEI radio announcer Rob Bradford are some of the people being dunked. “It is going to be a wonderful weekend,” Hartshorn said.