History of the diocese of Hartford, Part 35

Author: O'Donnell, James H
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Boston : D.H. Hurd Co.
Number of Pages: 580

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In 1881, it was determined to separate the Catholics of Bethel and Grassy Plain district from the mother church at Danbury. Accordingly, a building committee, comprising Thomas Doran, Michael Brauneis and Owen Murray, was appointed, and the work of securing funds for the erection of a new church was auspiciously and successfully carried on. Sufficient money liav- ing been collected to guarantee beginning the work, the construction of the church was entered upon with vigor and enthusiasm. The corner-stone was laid on Sunday, September 17, 1882, by Bishop McMahon. The serinon was preached by the Rev. Father Oates, C.S. S.R., of Boston. 1. The ceremony of dedication took place on Sunday, September 16, 1883, Father Byrne, being pastor. Bishop McMahon officiated. The Mass which followed the dedica- tory services was celebrated by the Rev. W. J. Slocum, assisted by Rev. M. P. Lawlor as deacon, Rev. H. Lynch as sub-deacon, and Rev. P. M. Kennedy, as master of ceremonies. The discourse was delivered by the Rev. P. P. Lawlor, of New Haven. The church is a brick edifice, Gothic in style with the tower on the side. It is 49 x 88 feet. The basement wall is granite, and the roof imitation clerestory. All the windows are of beautiful stained glass and bear the names of the donors. The distance from the ground to the top of the cross is 138 feet. The seating capacity of the church is 475.

The cemetery was purchased August 19, 1889, and a portion of it was blessed on June 14, 1891, by Bishop McMahon. The serinon on the occasion was preached by the Rev. W. J. Slocum of Norwalk. The number of bap- tisins administered in St. Mary's parish from1 1883, the year of its foundation until 1898, exclusive, was 406; the number of marriages, 81.

The first child to receive baptism after the organization of the parish, as far as the records show; was John Edward Philips. The first marriage recorded is that of Theodore F. Gillooley and Catharine E. O'Connor. The first death on the records was that of Mrs. Mary Crowe, February 27, 1890.

St. Mary's parish is in a flourishing condition. Both pastor and people

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are one in promoting the interests of religion and in advancing the welfare of the town. They have accomplished mnuch in the past, and if influenced by the memories which previous successes bring, the future will witness still greater things done for God and His holy church.

REDDING RIDGE MISSION.

BOUT the year 1879, the building of the church at Redding Ridge was commenced by Father Martin Lawlor, pastor of St. Peter's parish, Danbury, who at that time had charge of this mission. It was shortly afterwards connected with Ridgefield and attended by Father Thaddeus Walsh of that place, who continued the work on the church and completed the superstructure. About 1883, or soon after the death of Father Walsh, the mission was transferred to Father O'Connell and at- tached to Bethel. Father O'Connell continued attending it till his death. He built an addition to the church, formed a new sanctuary, erected an altar and frescoed the interior, making of it altogether a very pretty and substan- tial structure. There are about one hundred and thirty souls in this mission. The members of the congregation are Irish and of Irish descent. There are no manufactories in the place. Agriculture is almost exclusively the business of the inhabitants.

ST. PETER'S PARISH,

DANBURY.

HE services of the Catholic church were witnessed for the first time in Danbury in 1845, when the Rev. Michael Lynch, pastor of St. James' parish, Bridgeport, offered up the Adorable Sacrifice in the house of James Doyle of Grassy Plains. From his appointment to Bridgeport until 1849 Danbury, with neighboring missions, was attended by Father Lynch at about quarterly intervals. He said Mass alternately at the residence of James Croal, on Deer Hill, and at the house of John Hart, on Franklin street. At the time of the first Mass the Catholic population of Danbury was between sixty and seventy souls. The occasional presence of a priest increased their number. Becoming thus better known, they gradually overcame the preju- dices of their Protestant neighbors ; so much so, in fact, that they were ena- bled to secure the use of a building situated near the centre of Main street, the property of Charles Hall, and known as "Union Hall." Services were next held in the academy conducted by a Mr. Erwin. This property after- wards came into the possession of the Catholics, and stood almost opposite the new church on the west side of Main street.

In 1849, Danbury was placed under the jurisdiction of Norwalk, whose pastor was the Rev. John C. Brady. Father Brady continued to hold services in the academy until the appointment of the Rev. Thomas Ryan, who was ordained to the priesthood on March 16, 1851. Father Ryan displayed rare judgment in his administration of affairs, and with diplomacy worthy of a more experienced head, soon secured the use of the court-house for the increasing congregation. Here the Catholics assembled for divine worship

REV. PATRICK FOX.

REV. JAMES B. NIHILL.

REV. HENRY J. LYNCH, P.R.

REV. JOHN FLEMMING.

REV. WILLIAM MAHER, D.D.

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until June of 1851, when Father Ryan purchased from the Universalists, for $2750, their building, which stood on the northwest corner of Main and Wooster streets. The manner in which this purchase was consummated throws a light upon the prejudices entertained against Catholics at that time. Bishop O'Reilly was in town on the day of the sale, and during its progress walked up and down the opposite side of the street, an anxious, though an apparently indifferent spectator. To manifest interest openly in the sale would have defeated his purpose, for the Know-Nothing element, then ram- pant, would not have permitted property to be sold to Catholics, especially for church purposes. Nevertheless the purchase was affected through the shrewdness and liberality of three Protestant gentlemen, William H. Clark, Aaron Seely and Samuel Stebbins, whose names are still fondly cherished by the older Catholics of Danbury. Happy in the possession of a church, though humble indeed, they immediately refitted it in a manner suitable for Catholic worship, and it was dedicated the same year. Father Ryan's pastorate in Danbury terminated on October 10, 1851, having been transferred tempora- rily to Stonington. His successor was the Rev. Michael O'Farrell, who was ordained a priest on July 12, 1851. At this time the congregation had increased to the respectable number of 400. The arduous labors of this mission soon began to make inroads upon the health of Father O' Farrell, who, after a pastorate of eighteen months, retired to New Haven hospital, where he died. The first cemetery was purchased during Father O'Farrell's pastorate at a cost of $400. His successor was the Rev. John Smith, who came in 1853. The three years of his administration were signalized by the purchase of a lot on the southeast corner of Main and Centre streets, where St. Peter's church now stands, for which he paid $1200, and the erection of a parochial residence upon it at a cost of $3000. Father Smith was followed, in 1856, by the Rev. Peter Kelly, who in turn was succeeded, in 1858, by the Rev. Thomas Drea. At this period Danbury had as dependencies: Brook- field, New Fairfield, Newtown, Redding Ridge and Ridgefield. Father Drea's term of service lasted until 1860, during which time he added largely to the property of the church. A valuable lot of land extending from Main to Foster streets, and including two buildings, the academy already men- tioned, and another occupied by the Congregationalists, was purchased for $2500. On Father Drea's transfer to Bridgeport Bishop McFarland appointed the Rev. Ambrose Manahan, D.D., his successor. On September 1, 1860, Dr. Manahan purchased the Congregational church for $600. Father Drea had previously bought the lot on which this church stood. It was remodeled and suitably prepared for Catholic services, and used until the completion of the present church. Dr. Manahan was a priest of finc culture and superior intellectual endowments. He was a polemical writer of great ability, and his book on "The Triumphis of the Church" was one of the standard works of that time. He had gained the unbounded affection of his people, and his death was deeply regretted.

The Rev. Philip Sheridan followed Dr. Manahan in 1865. Four years after his arrival he conceived the design of erecting a Gothic stone church

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which would not only be an architectural ornament to the town, but a tem- ple worthy of the growing importance of the parish. To this end he removed the pastoral residence to the rear of the lot on the southwest corner of Main street, and on its site began the foundations of the new church. The soil here was sandy and humid, and great difficulty was experienced in securing a solid bed for the foundations. In some places the builders were obliged to grout to the depth of twenty-seven feet. The difficulties were . overcome, however, but at an expenditure of nearly $4000. The corner-stone was laid on Sunday, August 28, 1870, by Bishop McFarland, on which occa- sion the Rev. Augustine Hewitt, C.S.P., of New York, preached the sermon. The priests who assisted Father Sheridan were his brother, Rev. John Sheri- dan, Rev. John Smith, Rev. Father Plunkett, Rev. Father Bernard, Rev. John Flemming and Rev. Patrick Finnegan.

In July, 1874, the Rev. John Quinn succeeded Father Sheridan. The panic of 1873 had suspended the work on the church; but upon his arrival Father Quinn resumed work on the edifice, and the ceremony of dedication took place on December 13, 1875, Very Rev. James Hughes, V. G., officiating. The celebrant of the Mass following the dedication ceremony was the Rev. H. Glackmeyer, S. J., and the preacher, the Rev. William Hill, LL.D., of Brooklyn, N. Y. The cost of the church, with basement and tower unfinished, was $84;630. With Father Quinn as assistants were Rev. B. Bray and Rev. J. McMahon.

Rev. Martin P. Lawlor was appointed Father Quinn's successor in Decem- ber, 1876. His assistants were Rev. J. McMahon, Rev. M. Byrne, Rev. T. Mulvany, Rev. T. Smith, Rev. T. Walsh, Rev. J. H. O'Donnell and Rev. T. Dunn. Father Lawlor remained in Danbury until 1883, when he was trans- ferred to Meriden.

In August, 1883, Rev. Thomas L. Lynch assumed charge of St. Peter's parish. The works that mark his pastorate were the erection of the school and the purchase and re-fitting of St. Thomas' Convent. Before the school was entirely completed, Father Lynch was summoned to his eternal reward. Father Lynch's assistants were Rev. Thomas Dunn, Rev. Edward O'Donnell and Rev. James B. Nihil.

On December 10, 1886, the Rev. Henry J. Lynch, the present incumbent and the first permanent rector of the parish, was appointed by Bishop McMahon. A brief enumeration of the works accomplished during the past twelve years will bear testimony to zealous, untiring and profitable labor. The first work undertaken was the completion of St. Peter's school. On May 15, 1887, it was dedicated and a sonorous bell blessed for it by Bishop McMahon. A new cemetery was purchased in January, 1887, for $5,000, situ- ated near Lake Kenosia. After being suitably graded and divided into sec- tions and lots, it was blessed by the bishop on September 11th, of the same year, Rev. James Nihil preaching the sermon. His next achievement was the completion of the church by the erection of a sightly spire. A chime of bells costing $5,000, the gift of the ladies of the parish, was afterwards placed in the tower. About this time the basement of the church was finished, and

ST. PETER'S CHURCH, Danbury.

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on September 15, 1889, it was dedicated. The preacher on this occasion was the Rev. James A. Doonan, S. J. On the same day the solemn ceremony of blessing the chimes took place, when the Rev. J. O'Connor, S. J., pronounced the discourse.

The low, swampy and unhealthful grounds about this school were trans- formed into a fine play-ground by the introduction of a new system of drain- age and by scientific grading. The parochial residence, one of the finest in the diocese, was erected in 1891. It stands north of St. Peter's school, front- ing on Main street near Elmwood Park. South of the school on the corner of Wooster and Main streets is the handsome convent of the Sisters of Mercy. The corner-stone of this structure was laid by Bishop Tierney on June 29, 1896. Rev. F. J. McCarthy, S. J., preached the sermon. The ceremony of dedication took place on August 15, 1896. In the northern end of this building, entirely distinct and separate from the convent, are four class-rooms, two on the first and two on the second floor. On the third floor is located the parish library. It is abundantly supplied with choice literature and is sumptuously furnished. The library was opened on December 21, 1896. Its chief benefactor is Mrs. J. H. Benedict, a convert, who contributed $500 towards the purchase of books. It will be seen that St. Peter's parish possesses valuable property ; but besides that mentioned above, it still owns the old convent property valued at $10,000, and real estate worth $15,000. This latter property was the gift of Mrs. Cunningham, who is regarded as the principal benefactor of the parish.

The zeal of the clergy of St. Peter's is not confined to ministrations among their own parishioners ; an average of forty conversions annually to the faith demonstrate the existence there of an apostolate who are stimulated by the words of the Master: " And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold : them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd."

The number of baptisms administered in the forty years between 1858 and 1898, was 6, 143 ; in the same four decades there were 1, 107 marriages.

We have seen that at the time of the first Mass the number of Catholics in Danbury did not exceed 70. The present Catholic population is 6,000 souls, divided into 5,000 Irish and their descendants, and 1,000 of mixed nationalities, Germans, Italians, Hungarians, French, Poles and Slavs.

Twenty-one religious and benevolent societies are under the care of the clergy. Among them are : The Tabernacle Society, Branch of the Eucharistic League, Propagation of the Faith, Immaculate Heart of Mary, for the Con- version of sinners, League of the Sacred Heart, and three T. A. B. Societies.

The estimated value of St. Peter's parish property is $284,000.

St. Peter's school opened in September, 1886, with 400 pupils and eight rooms. At present there are 1,008 pupils, 17 rooms, withi 17 teachers and 9 grades. Sister M. Stanislaus is the Superioress of the convent. The standard of this school is above that of the public-schools, as is shown by the annual examinations for admittance into the high school.

The priests who have served withi Father Lynch as assistants are : Rev. James Niliil, Rev. Thomas Dun11, Rev. Edward Murray, Rev. Patrick Keat-

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ing, Rev. Daniel Lawlor, Rev. Richard Walsh, Rev. Jolin Downey, Rev. Richard Shortell, Rev. F. Bedard, Rev. George Synnott, Rev. James Walsh. Those serving the parish at present are Rev. John D. Kennedy, Rev. Matthew Traynor and Rev. Charles Coppens.

Religious harmony prevails and ever has prevailed in St. Peter's parish. Energetic, devoted and self-sacrificing priests have been the leaders, and the generous, devout people have co-operated. Together they have brought the parish to the front rank, where with zeal undiminished and with courage quickened they continue the exalted work of saving souls.

ST. THOMAS' PARISH,

FAIRFIELD.

HE Indian name of Fairfield was Unquowa, and its discovery was the result of a pursuit of the Pequots in 1637, by Roger Ludlow. Reach- ing the Iasco, the great swamp of the town, he became enamored of the beauty of the land in the neighborhood and established a settlement.

The Catholic history of Fairfield begins 215 years later, when in 1852 Rev. Thomas Synnott, pastor of St. James' parish, Bridgeport, celebrated Mass here for the first time. It cannot be definitely stated where the first Mass was said. The honor is given to the home of John McKenna and to the resi- dence of Mrs. Sarah M. Jarvis, who had received the precious gift of faith in 1842. It is not unlikely that both houses had the honor of the first and second Masses, and others thereafter, and that tradition has confused the merits of each. Father Synnott visited Fairfield frequently, though the number of Catholics was not large. Deeming it advisable to secure for this little band a house of worship, he began the erection of a church, which was dedicated in honor of St. Thomas Aquinas, on Sunday, June 15, 1854, by Bishop O'Reilly. The Mass which followed the ceremony of dedication was celebrated by Rev. Hugh O'Reilly, of Norwalk, assisted by Rev. James Lynch, of Birmingham, as deacon; Rev. James Kennedy, diocese of Halifax, as sub- deacon ; and Rev. Richard O'Gorman, of New Haven, as master of cere- monies. The sermon was delivered by Bishop O'Reilly. The church was a frame building, with a seating capacity of about 500. For nearly a quarter of a century the Catholics of Fairfield remained under the jurisdiction of Bridgeport, Rev. Father Synnott pastor. In January, 1876, they became an independent organization with the Rev. Martin P. Lawlor as their first resi- dent pastor. His pastorate was of brief duration, ending in September of the same year. Briefer still was the term of his successor, the Rev. John Quinn, who was succeeded in December, 1876, by the Rev. Thomas Mullen. Like those of his predecessors, the pastorate of Father Mullen was brief, as he died from an affection of the heart under peculiarly sad circumstances. On August 4, 1877, Father Mullen was summoned to administer the consolations of reli- gion to a man who had received fatal injuries during an altercation. The sight of the man's protuding vitals made a deep impression upon Father Mullen, who was naturally of a nervous temperament. After his return home he spoke to his mother of the sad occurrence, dwelling at some length upon

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the scenes that had fallen under his observation. The following day he was again called to the bedside of the injured man, and the painful impressions caused by the first visit were renewed. After leaving the house of the in- jured man, he visited another parishioner who was suffering from typhoid fever. Having concluded his duties he returned to the.pastoral residence, but the sight of the man's wounds was continually before his mind. Going out in the garden to walk, he was shortly seen to stagger and fall, and by the time help arrived he was breathing his last. Everything that medical science could devise was brought into requisition, but all proved ineffectual. The inexorable fiat of death had been pronounced ; his heart had ceased its pulsa- tions. His death occurred on August 5, 1877, in the thirty-second year of his age. His funeral took place on the 7th, the Rev. J. Fitzpatrick, of New Haven, pronouncing the eulogy.

Father Mullen's successor was immediately announced as the Rev. William A. Harty, of St. Mary's church, New Haven, who presided over St. Thomas' parish until Sunday, March 17, 1878. While his administration was also brief Father Harty gave evidence of the possession of the distinguishing faculty of liquidating indebtedness which has characterized his every pastor- ate since. The week following Father Harty's departure the Rev. Philip McCabe assumed charge. His relations with the parish ceased in September, 1879, when the Rev. Denis Cremin became the pastor. Father Cremin re- moved the church to another lot, enlarged it, built a basement to it and had it frescoed. It was accordingly rededicated in November, 1880. Father Cremin also purchased a house that stood adjacent to the church, and after thoroughly renovating it, used it as a convent and school. Father Cremin governed St. Thomas' parish four years, during which time he resided in a rented house. The Sisters of Mercy were introduced in 1882 and the school opened. On November 1, 1883, Father Cremin was transferred to Bridgeport. His succes- sor, the present pastor, the Rev. Thomas J. Coleman, followed immediately.

Upon his arrival Father Coleman began the task of erecting a pastoral residence; this he accomplished without incurring any indebtedness. For more than eight years the parish flourished under the pastor's guiding hand. The school's high standard was maintained; the people were united, devout, contented. Suddenly the work of years of patient toil and zeal and self- sacrifice was a pile of smoldering ruins. A conflagration, which broke out on the night of January 19, 1892, destroyed church, residence and convent. But pastor and people were undismayed by the dire calamity. Five days after saw them worshiping in a temporary structure, which strong and willing hands liad erccted. Work on the present commodious rectory was begun in 1893 and completed before the end of the year. Father Coleman now turncd his thoughts to the erection of a church; and his people cordially seconded his intentions. Ground was broken on June, 1894; the corner-stone was laid on July 4th, and the church was dedicated on Thanksgiving day, November 27th, all within the space of a year. Father Coleman also purchased an extension to the cemetery for $1,200.

St. Thomas' Church is a brick edificc, Romanesque in design, with a

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seating capacity of 650. Its total cost was $22,000. The population of the parish is about 600 souls.

Notwithstanding its reverses, the parish is again in a highly prosperous condition. The future is bright with promise, and pastor and parishioners are grateful to the Giver of all gifts, who has blessed them so abundantly.

ST. MARY'S PARISH, GREENWICH.

E have seen elsewhere in these pages that one of the original pur- chasers of Greenwich was an Irishman, Daniel Patrick. His fel- low-countrymen, however, did not settle here until about 1845, probably nearer to 1848. Among the first Catholics to seek homes here whose names are remembered were the McCormicks, Barretts, Dorans, Dalys, Egans, Foxes, and Smiths. It has been asserted that the first Mass celebrated in Greenwich was said by the Rev. H. O'Reilly, of Norwalk, in 1854; but it is not improbable that the Holy Sacrifice was offered prior to that year, as in 1854, the number of Irish Catholics in Greenwich was estimated at one hundred souls. Therefore, between 1850 and 1854 the number of Catholics there must have been sufficiently large to require the occasional visit of a priest.

After the formation of St. John's parish, Stamford, in March, 1854, Green- wich passed under its jurisdiction. From that time until 1860, Mass was offered up at intervals in private houses and in the Town Hall. In this year a small church was erected on William street. This was enlarged in 1888. In 1875 the Rev. M. A. Tierney improved the church by the erection of a choir gallery.

During Father Tierney's pastorate provision was made for the near for- mation of Greenwich into a parish. The first step was the purchase from James Elphich, for $4,200, of one of the finest sites in Greenwich for a new church. To the Rev. William H. Rogers, who was an assistant at Stamford, was intrusted the duty of organizing the Greenwich Catholics, and of begin- ning work on the new church, retaining in the meanwhile his position at Stamford. Upon the promotion of Father Rogers as the successor of Father Tierney, he relinquished jurisdiction over Greenwich, being followed in Jan- uary, 1877, by the Rev. Denis J. Cremin. Father Cremin's first work was the liquidation of what debt remained upon the property purchased by Father Tierney. He removed the house that stood on the lot, and having refitted it, occupied it as a rectory. He then began the construction of St. Mary's church. The corner-stone was laid on June 9, 1878, by Bishop Galberry, in the presence of many thousands of spectators. The Bishop was assisted by Father Rogers, of Stamford; Father Meister, of Mammaroneck, N. Y .; Father Walsh, of Waterbury, and the reverend pastor. The sermon was preached by Father Walsh. Miss Anna Caulfield's donation on the occasion was $300, for which generous gift she was presented with the silver trowel used by the Bishop in laying the corner-stone. The handsome edifice was dedicated on May 18, 1878, by the Administrator ad interim, Very Rev. Thomas Walsh,

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V.G. The mass which followed the ceremonies of dedication was celebrated by Rev. M. A. Tierney, assisted by Rev. John Russell as deacon, Rev. Father O'Brien as sub-deacon, and Rev. P. M. Kennedy as master of ceremonies. The preacher of the occasion was Rev. Lawrence Walsh of Waterbury. Before his transfer to Fairfield Father Cremin had the happiness of seeing his parislı free from indebtedness.

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History of the diocese of Hartford, Part 35

Author: O'Donnell, James H Publication date: 1900 Publisher: Boston : D.H. Hurd Co. Number of Pages: 580

Author: O'Donnell, James H
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Boston : D.H. Hurd Co.
Number of Pages: 580