Holy Rosary
Catholic Church
Served by the Scalabrinian
missionaries since 1890
911 E. Missouri Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri
<< The 1920's to the 1940's || Fr. Donanzan's Successors || The Fire of April 12, 1903 >>
(This material originally appeared in 1991 in the 100th Anniversary of Holy Rosary Parish booklet. The article was researched and written by Angelo Bongino.)
Fr. Donanzan's Successors
In order of service, these are the pastors who followed him: Fr. Joseph Chiminello, Fr. Emilio Donanzan, Fr. Peter Rigo and Fr. Mario Rauzi. Collectively, they made may imporvements to the church and its facilities, replaced stained glass windows, completed the school cafeteria, made several additions to the convent, remodeled the school basement, remodeled the rectory, the Gillis Apartments and the choir loft. The common thread among the group was a keen and relentless interface with community predecessors far behind.
Then came Fr. Angelo Moscato, one of Holy Rosary's own. He once lived at 1004 Pacific in the parish. He was graduated from Holy Rosary School in 1948 and his role as pastor in the parish has continued since 1980. His material accomplishments for the parish have been many. Perhaps his greatest gift to the community has been the rekindling of community pride and spirit that matches the very best of the past. The tireless drive to unify and multiply the parish is rooted in the first Donanzan era, for Fr. Angelo was an altar boy during that period. His part in the Scalabrinian Centennial held here in 1987 was an overwhelming success. Part of that effort included the complete refurbishing of the Venetian Hall and renaming it Scalabrini Hall. Recently, he has been motivating and guiding the Centennial committee to make the Holy Rosary Centennial an equally notable happening, April 7, 1991.
Others from the parish, in addition to Fr. Moscato, who have joined the priesthood are Fr. Michael O'Brien and Fr. Joseph Mancuso.
The women from the parish who have become nuns are Sister Angelita (Catherine Termini), Sister Teresa of Avila (Josephine Termini), Sister Marie Eugenio (Margaret Baccala) and Sister Stephanie Termini. Sister Gerard Majella (Catherine Ingolia) and Sister Antonia (Rose Ingolia) are deceased.
To his everlasting credit, Fr. Santipolo took part in one of the parish's brightest historical moments which occurred on March 9, 1891. He hosted Cardinal Francis Satilli, Prelate of the Catholic Church in the United States. Twenty men on horseback and a band led the Cardinal's carriage from Bishop Hogan's home in a colorful zigzag parade through downtown Kansas City to the steps of Holy Rosary.
The Cardinal's path down the church aisle to the main altar was strewn with flowers from the hands of two little Irish school girls. He gave a benediction in Italian. In his sermon he advised the audience to obey the laws of the U.S. and be good Catholics at the same time. The group replied twice with bursts of applause. Afterward many of them filed up to him kiss his ring. Miss Rose Mulligan presented the Cardinal with a large bouquet of roses. Miss Jennie Paretti and Mrs. Mary Chiesa presented him with a silver handled hat brush with the letter "S" carved into the handle. Little Jennie made a brief speech. With a gold gesture, Cardinal Satilli blessed her and departed, leaving behind a proud parish and a pastor mostly surely contented with a job well done.
<< The 1920's to the 1940's || Fr. Donanzan's Successors || The Fire of April 12, 1903 >>
(This material originally appeared in 1991 in the 100th Anniversary of Holy Rosary Parish booklet. The article was researched and written by Angelo Bongino.)
Index for the entire series
The Founding and Early Years of the Parish || The 1920's to the 1940's
Fr. Donanzan's Successors || The Fire of April 12, 1903
Holy Rosary School History || The Lodges
Church Organizations History || Spirit of the Parish