An overflow crowd attended a Feb. 26 Mass at Rochester’s Church of the Annunciation to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1967 fire at St. Philip Neri Church in Rochester that claimed the lives of Father George Weinmann and Sister Lilian Marie McLaughlin, SSND. Father Weinmann, St. Philip Neri’s pastor at the time, had rushed into the burning building to rescue the Blessed Sacrament, and Sister McLaughlin followed to assist him.
People attend a 50th-anniversary Mass Feb. 26 honoring Father George Weinmann and Sister Lilian Marie McLaughlin, SSND, who were killed in a 1967 fire at Rochester’s St. Philip Neri Church.
Father William McGrath reads the poem “I Held An Angel In My Arms” by Rochester firemen Peter Fantigrossi. Fantigrossi wrote the poem about Sister Lilian Marie McLaughlin, SSND, whom he carried out of a fire at St. Philip Neri Church in 1967.
People attend a 50th-anniversary Mass Feb. 26 honoring Father George Weinmann and Sister Lilian Marie McLaughlin, SSND, who were killed in a 1967 fire at Rochester’s St. Philip Neri Church.
Father Dennis Bonsignore gives the homily during a Mass marking the 50th anniversary of the 1967 fire at Rochester’s St. Philip Neri Church. The fire claimed the lives of Father George Weinmann and Sister Lilian Marie McLaughlin, SSND.
Father Dennis Bonsignore gives the homily during a Mass marking the 50th anniversary of the 1967 fire at Rochester’s St. Philip Neri Church. The fire claimed the lives of Father George Weinmann and Sister Lilian Marie McLaughlin, SSND.
Father Robert Werth greets Kathleen Weinmann Kenny during a Mass marking the 50th anniversary of the 1967 fire at Rochester’s St. Philip Neri Church. The fire claimed the lives of Father George Weinmann and Sister Lilian Marie McLaughlin, SSND.
People attend a 50th-anniversary Mass Feb. 26 honoring Father George Weinmann and Sister Lilian Marie McLaughlin, SSND, who were killed in a 1967 fire at Rochester’s St. Philip Neri Church.
Bishop Salvatore R. Matano greets people attending a 50th-anniversary Mass Feb. 26 honoring Father George Weinmann and Sister Lilian Marie McLaughlin, SSND, who were killed in a 1967 fire at Rochester’s St. Philip Neri Church.
The tabernacle which housed the Blessed Sacrament Father George Weinmann and Sister Lilian Marie McLaughlin, SSND, were attempting to rescue in the fire is currently located at Rochester’s Sacred Heart Cathedral. (Courier photo by Jeff Witherow)
