By A.J. Panian

Published: Wednesday, January 16, 2013, 9:00 p.m.
Updated: Wednesday, January 23, 2013

The friendship forged by the Very Rev. Daniel C. Mahoney, VF, and the Rev. Richard P. Karenbauer goes back nearly 50 years.

In the 1960s, Mahoney and Karenbauer were classmates at St. Vincent Seminary in Unity — the fourth oldest Roman Catholic Seminary in the United States.

In succession, the men were eventually ordained in 1970 as priests by the late Bishop William G. Connare of the Diocese of Greensburg.

“He was ordained 30 seconds before me,” recalled Mahoney of Karenbauer. “He's always been a hard worker ... a good guy. We go back a long time.”

Now, Mahoney again will follow Karenbauer with today's announcement that Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt of the Diocese of Greensburg has appointed Mahoney as temporary administrator of St. Florian Church following Karenbauer's official retirement Wednesday as pastor of the church in United.

The sacramental and pastoral care of St. Florian Church will be directed by the administration of Mahoney on a temporary basis until June, when a permanent appointment will be made, according to Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt in his official announcement of the appointment.

Mahoney — the pastor of Holy Family Parish in Latrobe since 2007 and vicar forane, or dean, of Deanery IV of the Diocese of Greensburg — said his goal will be to supply St. Florian with continued “pastoral leadership” during his time there.

“The idea of an administrator is to hold the fort at a parish until a permanent successor is named,” Mahoney said. “I want to help the parish to move forward with some of its own goals.”

Mahoney will remain in both of his previously appointed positions while administering St. Florian, according to Brandt's official announcement of appointment.

“He'll be very fine. He'll do well here. The parish is very welcoming and there won't be any problem,” said Karenbauer of Mahoney.

A.J. Panian is an editor for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-547-5722 or apanian@tribweb.com.

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