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"Change" and "Motion" are perhaps the
best two words to describe the character of St. Pius X Parish. The original
members of the parish have seen striking changes over the years since they
helped Father Murray establish the parish in 1957, and subsequently build the
church in 1961. As with the sister parish, Our Lady of Grace in Colchester
village, Father Murray visited families from house to house, searching out
families of Catholic tradition in the towns of Jericho and Essex, and
inviting all to "taste and see the goodness of the Lord" in the
ecumenical efforts so widely encouraged by Bishop Robert Joyce. With the
growth of IBM in the 196O's a remarkable and noticeable change began to take
place. There was a veritable population explosion in the town of Essex
with housing developments beginning to appear. A mix of geographic
backgrounds soon changed the composition of the parish family. No longer was
St. Pius X a collection of local people with Vermont origins, but now they
were to be blended with the many who would come from all parts of the country
and abroad. As growth continued, the hamlet of Essex Center, a town of little
dirt roads that are recalled by such names as Sand Hill, Old Stage, Chapin,
Bixby Hill, and Lost Nation, was to become an outer suburb of sprawling
greater Burlington. Jericho, while retaining much of its original charm, has
also seen residential and commercial growth amid its picturesque setting.
Only in recent years has commercial development begun to also become a part
of Essex. The current prognosis is for
continued growth and development.
The contribution of diverse talents and backgrounds have brought to Essex
and consequently to St. Pius X an ever mobile population and character. Some
newcomers have settled in to become as native as allowed by Vermont
tradition. Other have come and gone, contributing and enriching themselves by
association with our parish family. Fr. James Murray, the founder, was
followed by Fr. James Engle, Fr. Patrick Hannon, Fr. James Ryan, Fr. John
Ledoux, Fr. Peter Rousseau, Fr.
Edward Moore and Father William Giroux. Under the leadership of Father
Rousseau, an expansion of the church facilities was undertaken and completed
in 1991. In 2003 one of our own parishioners, Gerry Scilla, completed his studied for the
diaconate and was ordained as a
permanent deacon for service to the Diocese of Burlington.
In June 2003, Deacon Gerry was assigned by
Bishop Kenneth Angell to serve at Saint Pius. Today the parish is comprised of
approximately 850 families and is under the leadership of Father Richard W.
Tinney.
The blessings of a kindly God have prospered the Church in Essex. With
our help and with many willing hearts and hands, His work will continue to
flourish in the shadow of the great mountain to the east.
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