Greensburg Central Catholic to mark 60th anniversary with livestreamed Mass

Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School will commemorate its 60th anniversary with a livestreamed Mass on Sept. 27.

“The Mass is the greatest prayer that we can offer, and it’s through that celebration that we’re able to give back to the Lord for what he’s blessed us with at Greensburg Central Catholic,” the Rev. Tyler J. Bandura said.

Bandura, the school chaplain, will celebrate the 9:30 a.m. Mass at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg.

The school was dedicated in November 1959.

Last year, the Diocese of Greensburg rededicated the school and held a prayer service to kick off its 60th year.

“Now, a year later we’re concluding the year by having a Mass at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral,” Bandura said.

The diocese originally planned to have the Mass in May. Then the covid-19 pandemic hit.

Officials decided to postpone the event.

“Of course, three or four months ago, nobody knew what was going to happen with the pandemic, so we decided to do it virtually … then, of course, the bishop threw us a curve ball,” said Greg Bisignani, president of both the school’s alumni association and advisory council.

Bishop Edward C. Malesic planned to celebrate the Mass until Pope Francis appointed him bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland. Malesic was installed in that position this week.

However, GCC’s Mass will feature a prerecorded message from Malesic.

The school has held an annual alumni Mass for the last five years. Many alumni remain involved with the school long after they graduate, according to Bisignani, who graduated from GCC in 1985.

“This Mass, to me, incorporates what we try to do to show how much our alumni make the school shine,” he said.

There are some advantages to a virtual Mass, said Dennis Cremonese, director of Institutional Advancement for GCC. Alumni from all over the country can take part, not just those still living in the Greensburg area.

“We decided to do the Mass virtually and still do the celebration and open it up to supporters from across the country,” he said.

Cremonese is an alumnus, himself. He graduated in 1981.

A video about the school’s history will be played at the end of the Mass, which will be streamed live at gcchs.org as well as the school’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.