Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 21 March 1992 — Page 36

Page 2 ■ The Indianapolis Recorder ■ Saturday. Harch 21.1992

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Emory 6. Davis

Christian boohstorc started out of need In the summer of 1987, the Rev. taking them to people who wanted to Emory G. Davis, Sr. went into the read them. Cokesbury Book Store in Dallas, hoping Soon he converted his garage into a to buy a book written by an African- storeroom where he kept a few copies of American author. He’d planned to use the the books and materials people asked

book in a continuing education class at a denominational retreat. Hundreds of books were on Cokesbury’s shelves, but only one by an African-American writer, not the one Davis sought For several years, Davis dreamed of owning a bookstore. He knew other ministers and lay people were interested in reading works by African-American writers who were having no more success finding what they wanted than he had in Dallas. This experience prompted Davis to proceed with another idea of his REBOW, Religious Books on Wheels. Through Davis and Davis, a company he set up, he began finding books and other materials by African-Americans and

him to provide for them. Davis is book steward of the 10th Episcopal District of the AME Church in Texas and his business continues to grow. In 1990 Davis secured an 800 number and began mail-order book selling. Davis, a writer himself, has always had writers in his family. His mother, Tina Onita Holsinger of Richmond, Ind., prior to her 1915 marriage was an employee of The Indianapolis Recorder. Davis’ son, the Rev. Emory G. Davis Jr. is pastor of Bethel AME Church, Plainfield, Ind. His brother, the Rev. Fitzhugh L. Lyons, is pastor of Galilee Baptist Church, Indianapolis.

The history of St. Rita Parish, 1919-1992 St. Rita Parish, intended for four rooms at St. Rita staffed by new church was completed be- Daschbach. Another priest, Fathe black Catholics of Marion the Franciscan Sisters of fore Father Strange retired in ther William Fitzgibbon, is in County, was established in 1919 Oldenburg, Ind. 1973 from his position as pas- residence at the parish. Brother by Bishop Joseph Chartrand In 1954, the present school tor. Father Strange served St. Bernard Spitzley and Brother with FatherJoseph Bryan as the and gymnasium as St Rita's Rita for 37 years, from 1936 Robert Grochowoski also served founding pastor. The Knights of were completed. The kindeigar- until 1973. the parish. Columbus Chapel at Fort Ben- tenprogram, the first in the Arch- When Father Strange retired The Divine Word Missionjamin Harrison was moved to diocese, was opened in what in 1973, the pastoral care of the aries,withthehelpofthepeople. Arsenal Avenue near 19th Street, had been the school. With the parish was entrusted to the So- have succeeded in maintaining and dedicated on Aug. 3,1919 school well established, Father ciety of the Divine Word. at great expense, the physical asthetemporaiyStRitaChurch. Strange directed his energy to- Divine Word Missionaries plantofStRita’sandhaveadded A small school was also opened, wards building a permanent who have been assigned as pas- minor improvements. Their In 1936, Father Bernard church. The cornerstone of the tors or administrators to St. principal work has been pastoStrange became administrator present church was laid in 1958 Rita’s are: Father JohnLabauve, ral both in church and in the and later pastor. A larger school on Martindale Avenue. The FatherElmerPowell,FatherRi- school. They continue the was needed. The school at St. street was renamed in 1986 as chard Jeschke. Father Michael weekly novena to the infant of Bridget’s,nearlyempty,became Dr. Andrew J. Brown Avenue. Bonner and Father PoncianoM. Prague as begun by Father St. Rita School, to which pupils The old church building was Ramos. Those who have been Strange. Father Ramos has were transported from St. Rita converted into St. Rita Child assigned as associate pastors are: addeda weekly Hour of Prayer Parish. The school was staffed Development Center, a day care Father Arthur Kelly, Father Wil- before the Blessed ^aqament by the Sisters of Providence, nursery. liam Hegarty, Father Sylvester Exposed. Evangelizajtipn conIn 1945, Father Strange The pastoral offices and Jaworski, Father Lawrence opened an additional school of priests’residence adjoining the Thornton, Father Edwin Contlmiod on Page 7