Hundreds join parade for priest

By ERIC SEIVERLING

eseiverling@yourmvi.com

The coronavirus didn’t stop Mon Valley residents from helping a local priest celebrate an important milestone Sunday.

An estimated 233 cars joined seven fire trucks and four police vehicles in a surprise parade through Monessen to help mark Father Mike Crookston’s 40th anniversary of joining the priesthood.

Led by Monessen municipal fire Chief Delmar Hepple, the parade involved parishioners from Epiphany of our Lord Church in Monessen and St. Sebastian Church in Belle Vernon.

The parade started in the parking lot of La Eda’s family restaurant and proceeded through Monessen Boulevard and onto Pennsylvania Boulevard, where an unsuspecting Crookston was outside the parish house at Epiphany of our Lord Church. Unaware of what was happening, Crookston was taken aback by all the noise and commotion driving toward him.

“I thought there was a fire near here,” Crookston admitted after the parade. “It was amazing how everything fell into place.”

Spearheaded by the parish’s secretary, Tara Manderino, the day began with Manderino telling Crookston she was going to visit him to give him an anniversary gift. 

Manderino was soon followed by Betty Geis, Deb Genemore and Evie Yatchyshyn — “the Pierogi Ladies” — who visited Crookston and asked him to step outside to look at an anniversary sign that was placed outside. 

Thanks to perfect timing, it was at that moment the parade came into Crookston’s view.

“I had tears in my eyes,” he said. “It was a beautiful experience. I was touched by the overwhelming love.” 

Along with hundreds of cars, the parade included firetrucks from Monessen No. 1 and Hilltop fire departments, Rostraver VFD No. 1, Webster, Carroll Township and North Belle Vernon. 

Police units from Monessen, Charleroi and Donora were also part of the parade.

“I don’t think he understood what was happening until the second fire truck drove by,” Manderino said with a laugh. “If we could get 50 cars in the parade, that would have been great. We had a little more than what we expected.”

Crookston rejoined Epiphany of our Lord Church in 2012 after getting his start in the priesthood in Monessen in 1980. He’s also served at churches in Uniontown, Belle Vernon, Irwin and at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Crookston said he had no intention of becoming a priest after studying speech therapy at Edinboro University. But a friend who happened to be a priest mentioned to him the prospect of joining the priesthood.

“I planned on going to graduate school,” he said. “I never gave it much thought.”

Manderino, who has known Crookston for the past four years, said she’s glad he chose to join the priesthood.

“He’s a very caring person,” she said. “Everybody enjoys listening to him.”

And Sunday’s parade only reinforced to Crookston that he made the right choice 40 years ago.

“It all has to do with the people here,” he said. “It all comes down to the warmth and the goodness of the people.”