New Neighbors, New Parish Home

Agnes Bettie Kenney brought her Catholic faith with her when she arrived in the 1850's , and raised her children in the tradition as well. Early records show that The Irish Matriarch was a parishioner at St. John the Evangelist, at Valley and Eager Streets, in 1870. The family move to Homestead would be at a time when a new parish was being established, just a few blocks from their home. According to diocesan records, St. Bernard's Catholic Church began in 1891 ( see http://www.archbalt.org/parishes/closed-parishes.cfm ), and local families would attend there, regardless of their heritage. Agnes' children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren would receive the sacraments there. Her grandaughter would attend the early mass and attend Sunday School there, and had the privilege of being the May Queen in 1905.

As family members moved to points further north, St. Bernard's was not the busy parish it had once been. The building is still being used, by another denomination.