The Depression Years

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Although its effects were not immediately felt, the Depression nonetheless hit the parish very hard. Fr. Calvey spent the remainder of his pastorate trying to make ends meet, keep the school open, and help the newly unemployed.

Food baskets could always be obtained at the rectory. The pastor bought truckloads of coal from parishioner-owned companies and delivered it to the needy or had it available in the parish parking lot.

Keeping the school open proved to be one of the greatest difficulties. Fr. Calvey paid only the interest on the loan - he preferred to use the money to care for the poor. Even then, the school almost closed in 1935. An anonymous gift of $520 from "friends of the parish" helped the pastor pay the $2,500 June interest payment, which allowed the school to remain open.

The parish continued to grow and the stress of ministering to his expanding congregation in these difficult times took its toll on Fr. Calvey. A second priest was needed. In March 1933, Fr. Joseph Dreher was assigned to the parish as associate pastor. St. Patrick's was fortunate to be able to support an assistant - many parishes could not during the Depression.

During these years of desperate need, Fr. Calvey did whatever he could to aid his parishioners. Finally, in 1936, he needed a break and he took his first vacation in eight years, traveling to Guatemala and El Salvador. When he returned, he threw himself back into the parish, unaware of the tumor growing in his brain. He fought, but the tumor weakened him. He developed pneumonia and died on May 25, 1937, the 30th anniversary of his ordination.

It fell on Fr. Dreher to lead the parish in prayer as it grieved the death of its beloved pastor. There were Masses every week and a solemn Month's Mind Mass was celebrated on June 25 with the seventh and eighth grade girls' choir singing. A memorial plaque honoring Fr Calvey was hung in the school and dedicated on Sunday, August 1, at a special ceremony.