For over 95 years, the parish of Holy Innocents has served the people and the neighborhood of Juniata. Monsignor Martin Lynch founded the parish on its December feast day and built the parish one building at a time. For 25 years, Mass was celebrated in the “Red Chapel” until our beautiful cross-shaped church was completed in 1953. The church has seven entrances, a biblical number representing completeness, or spiritual perfection. Seven entrances also spell the word, WELCOME, or in Spanish, BIENVENDIOS. For eight decades, our five pastors of Irish descent have welcomed people from many countries. Presently, Holy Innocents is the home for people from over 20 different countries, taking the words of Jesus to heart, “That all may be one.”
Our IHM sisters have been welcoming and teaching our children since 1929. Thousands of boys and girls have been schooled in the Catholic faith through the selfless efforts of our sisters and our many lay teachers. Entrances become exits when our Eucharistic celebration challenges us “To go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” The many ministries of our parish go forth to care for God’s people. And now the good people of Holy Innocents serve as the parish “doors”. Each one of us called to “welcome the stranger.” Each one of us is called to “serve the needy.” And may each of us, through God’s grace, always remain open to the Lord’s challenge.
