The "The Home For Friendless Children" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting in St. Anthony of Padua Church in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Beautiful church that is one of the oldest Catholic churches in Lancaster.  The parish was founded in 1870 with the dedication of the church coming in 1875.  The majority of the congregation at the time was German speaking with all Masses celebrated in Latin and the sermons preached in German.  When World War I ended, the German language was discontinued.  In the 1920s the population of the parish became Italian with the Mass celebrated in Italian.  

St. Anthony of Padua Church in Lancaster, PA

St. Anthony of Padua has always been known to welcome parishioners of varied ethnic backgrounds.  In 1987 the upper church was restored and the lower church was restored in 2019.  St. Anthony has helped Catholic immigrants by celebrating Mass in the lower church in several languages.  During the 1960s and 70s Mass was celebrated in Spanish and from 1986  to June of 2015 in Vietnamese.  Truly a welcoming church for all!  They say they are a continuation of the life of Christ in the lives of our parish members.  My visit in the 1960s was interesting and I could see many parts of the service that shared the same theology that my church, St. James Episcopal, shares with its members as well as visitors.  I recently read a short article that dealt with St. Anthony Church that was titled "Personal Moments in the History of The Home For Friendless Children, 1900-1941."  The article told about a group of 7th and 8th graders in the church who were working on a play they were going to perform about the history of the parish.  They were going to call the play "A Circle of Hands."  

The Title for the play.

The basic idea for the play told that the people who formed the parish used their hands to create a church that is our heritage, and that their spirits remain, watching over us, as we do the same for coming generations.  Research for the play took place in the church's archives and at that time they uncovered some interesting historical information about the Home for Friendless Children which was located at the corner of South Ann and East End Avenue.  Frank and Bernardine McClain lived in a duplex that still exists on the 400 block of E. King Street.  They were known to have walked to church as they harmonized their favorite melodies while walking to Mass at St. Anthony.  They had been married on Valentine's Day in 1888.  Bernardine was the niece of Monsignor Bernard Keenan, pastor of St. Mary's Church in Lancaster.  It was she who laid the groundwork for the establishment of St. Anthony's in 1870.  Their only child had died in infancy so they decided to dedicate their lives to the children of the Home for Friendless Children who were orphaned boys and girls from the ages of 4 to 12.  

The Home for Friendless Children in Lancaster, PA

Frank was known as "The Red Rose of Lancaster" since he always wore a red rose in his lapel.  He earned a Doctorate of Law from Villanova University and served as Mayor of Lancaster from 1910 to 1914.  He resigned that position so he could become Lieutenant Gov. of Pennsylvania from 1915 to 1919.  During his time in public service he proposed measures to give assistance to Homes for Friendless Children.  Mr. and Mrs. McClain contributed as much as they could of both their time and money.  They were both trustees of the home and Frank enjoyed his role as Santa Claus every Christmas by delivering gifts to all at the home.  He encouraged the citizens of Lancaster to donate to the cause.   The Home for Friendless Children was closed in 1941 and sold to the state in 1955.  It was then demolished and the Garden Spot apartments were built at that location.  The photo that I have included shows the home with the happy boys and girls standing in front of it.  

The Home for Friendless Children showing the children on the steps/

Everyone who knew Frank and Bernardine are hoping that the boys and girls are still with them now and joining in the never-ending Circle of Hands.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.