New priest for Monongah

Father Vincent E. Joseph will replace Father Soosai Arpudam Aarokiadass, better known as Father Dass, as pastor of Monongah’s Holy Spirit and Fairmont’s St. Anthony Catholic churches.

Father Joseph will begin his tenure in Monongah on June 21.

Father Dass, who came to Monongah in 2014 from Welch’s St. Peter Church, will switch to Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Oak Hill, where Monongah’s Sr. Rose (a Michna) was principal for many years.

St. Anthony is on Marylou Retton Drive in Fairmont.

Once, St. Stanislaus and Our Lady of Pompeii had separate priests who spoke Polish (St. Stanislaus) or Italian (Our Lady of Pompeii) till the bishop named an Irish priest, Father John McNulty, for both churches.

Both St. Stanislaus and Our Lady of Pompeii churches are gone – by fire and by demolition.