Beloved pastor returns chalice to Saint Regis Parish

By Phil Brown
Contributing Writer

TRAFFORD – Father James D. Tringhese was touched deeply by the generosity of his parishioners at Saint Regis Parish shortly after he arrived 30 years ago.

Parishioners helped their then 47-year-old priest purchase a new chalice to replace one that had been damaged during years of service at the altar.

On June 16, Father Tringhese brought that chalice home after it held the Precious Blood of Christ at Masses throughout the Diocese of Greensburg for decades.

The retired priest, who delivered the homily at Mass for the feast of the church’s patron, Saint John Francis Regis, presented the chalice as a gift to the parish that has never been far from his heart.

The evening was a homecoming for Father Tringhese, who served parishioners of Saint Regis and the Trafford community for 17 years.

When he realized he needed to replace his original chalice, he informed his new congregation that he intended to purchase a new one.

A week later, one of his parishioners, Jean Sorokach, handed him an envelope  with a substantial donation toward his purchase.

“I was so touched by Jean’s kindness and generosity,” he said. “I always knew that this chalice belonged to Saint Regis and to its family of faith. I had to decide, where would that chalice belong? In my mind, I decided it belonged here.”

During the Mass, Father Tringhese was warmly greeted by Father Daniel E. Carr, current pastor, who arranged to receive the chalice on the feast day of Saint Regis.

“Adding the feast day of our patron saint to our church calendar was a tradition I wanted to bring to Saint Regis,” Father Carr said. “Including Father Tringhese and his generous donation in our celebration is a perfect way to begin this tradition.”

Upon his arrival for Mass, Father Tringhese was applauded by parishioners who filled the pews to honor their beloved priest. After Mass, Father Tringhese and the Saint Regis faithful had time to reminisce during a potluck dinner in the social hall.

During his homily, Father Tringhese reflected on the important ministry of Saint Regis during a time of upheaval in the Church’s history.

Saint Regis served when the Church was in chaos in the wake of the Protestant Reformation led by Martin Luther, a movement that started in 1517. Many of the faithful had left the Catholic Church as a result of the teachings of Luther and other Reformation figures, he said.

Father Tringhese said Saint Regis led many in France back to the Church by making its teachings relevant to the lives of individuals and delivering his instruction verbally.

He said that approach served him well when he faced challenges during his ministry at Saint Regis Parish, where he spent the early months of his ministry listening carefully to determine the best approach to serving his flock.

“In a real sense, it’s a challenge that continues to face priests today,” he said.

Father Tringhese entered the Minor Seminary in 1966 at the former Saint Joseph Hall, Greensburg, while attending classes at Saint Vincent College, Latrobe. He later attended Saint Francis University, Loretto, and the former Saint Francis Seminary.

He was ordained May 4, 1974, and served as Parochial Vicar at various parishes in the Diocese of Greensburg before becoming pastor of Saint Regis in June 1995. In 2012, he was transferred to Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Uniontown, where he remained until his retirement in 2018.

Since his retirement, Father Tringhese has returned to Saint Regis for funerals, speaking engagements and social events.

“Parts of my heart will never leave here,” Father Tringhese told parishioners. “Parts of Saint Regis will never leave my heart.

“I will never forget my days here,” he said. “I come here grateful to have spent 17 years in this parish.”