Long Awaited Organ Dedication and Concert Planned at Mount Pleasant Parish

By Melissa Williams Brown
Contributing Writer

MOUNT PLEASANT – May 26, 2022 – A long-awaited organ dedication that waspostponed twice due to COVID-19 will take place on Pentecost Sunday, June 5, at3 p.m. at St. Pius X Parish in Mount Pleasant. 

Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg was once home tot he organ’s console. Christopher Pardini, director of liturgy and music at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Parish, will present a concert. It is free and open to the public. 

Sheryl Nagy, director of liturgical music at St. Pius X and Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary parishes, said the console of the organ was the console for the Cathedral organ. St. Pius X Parish obtained it when anew one was installed at the Cathedral. It was refurbished and three new manual swere built by the Walker Technical Company/Colby-Sterner Organs in Zionsville, Pa. 

The organ was installed in early December 2019 under the pastoral leadership of Father Richard J. Kosisko. Joseph Klocek, previous facilities and business manager was also instrumental in bringing the project to fruition. A dedication planned for the spring of 2020 was canceled due to the Coronavirus pandemic and rescheduled for the fall of 2021. That was canceled due to the illness and death of Father Thomas A. Federline, pastor of St. Pius X and Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary parishes. 

Part of the cost for the project was offset by donations made from a generous parishioner who faithfully gave to the project for years on a monthly basis, as well as other parishioners when the project began. 

Nagy said the previous organ was a small pipe organ that was better suited for home use, and at two and half ranks, wasn’t big enough to support singing of the assembly. 

“The new organ with its many settings and beautiful sound has added to the beauty of the liturgies. We have chimes for the first time, a favorite of many. It is an honor and a joy to play,” said Nagy. 

Father Kosisko, now pastor of Holy Family Parish in Latrobe, said he was 110% satisfied with the finished product. A choir area was created with an incorporated speaker system and the restored console from Blessed Sacrament Cathedral.

“The church had a practice organ that served the church well. It was time to upgrade to fill the space. The choir was growing so the organ enhanced the sound and quality. It is definitely an improvement. The restored console is a nice part of history,” said Father Kosisko.

Pardini is all too familiar with the console and the workings of the organ since he played it at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral. 

Father Daniel E. Carr, parochial vicar for St. Pius X and Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary parishes, could not be more pleased with the music ministry program since arriving in Mount Pleasant this past January.

Music has always been a major part of his life. So much in fact that he was actually a member of the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Parish choir under the direction of Pardini before entering the seminary. Father Carr also took piano lessons from Pardini.

“So, I both appreciate the importance of having good music at Mass and know how much work needs to be put into it to make it beautiful. I truly appreciate the investment that was put into the organ at St. Pius X.

People come to church to encounter God in a way that they can’t anywhere else. And while the center of this for us as Catholics is the sacrament of the Eucharist, the whole experience of liturgy top to bottom is supposed to help us lift our minds and hearts to God,” said Father Carr.

“Sheryl (Nagy), our combined parish choir and our cantors do a marvelous job of helping us to do this every week at St. Pius X and Visitation parishes. This was especially clear during Holy Week. I’ve received a lot of positive comments about our Triduum celebrations, in no small part thanks to the efforts of our music ministry.”

The choir and the St. Pius X Christian Mothers will host a reception after the concert at St. Pius X Social Hall.