USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > The town and city of Waterbury, Connecticut, from the aboriginal period to the year eighteen hundred and ninety-five. Volume III > Part 19
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THE PARISH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
friend. He was particularly fond of children. In their company he was as one of them, and it is needless to say here that they reciprocated his affection. Many of them have now attained to manhood and womanhood, but time does not dim their recollections of Dr. Hendricken.
On Sunday, April 22, 1872, the Rev. James Lynch preached his farewell sermon to his flock in Middletown, and during the week
THE REV. JAMES LYNCH.
following arrived in Waterbury as the successor of Bishop Hen- dricken. Having witnessed for seventeen years the zeal, ability and wonderful foresight of their pastor, and knowing that under his administration the parish of the Immaculate Conception stood peerless in the Naugatuck valley and ranked with the foremost Catholic parishes of New England, the parishioners dared not hope
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
to find in Bishop Hendricken's successor the combination of quali- ties adequate to conserve and render permanent the prosperity they had attained. A few months, however, sufficed to show that the mantle of Bishop Hendricken had fallen upon worthy shoul- ders.
When Father Lynch arrived in Waterbury he was in the prime of life, being about forty-four years of age. Like the majority of priests of that day in charge of English speaking congregations, he was born in Ireland. At an early age he prepared himself for the sacred ministry. Ordained to the priesthood at All Hallows col- lege, Dublin, in June, 1854, he intended to devote his life to the ser- vice of God in the diocese of Toronto, Canada. On his way thither he stopped at New Haven to visit his sister, and his brother Thomas, a respected member of the Waterbury parish. Bishop O'Rielly, who was very favorably impressed with the young priest, requested him to remain and labor in this portion of the Lord's vineyard. The vicar-general of the diocese, the Very Rev. Father Hughes, fully shared the views of the bishop and prevailed upon Father Lynch to make Connecticut his home. His first appoint- ment was to Birmingham, where he remained about three years. During his pastorate there he enlarged the church and purchased the lot and erected the church at Seymour. He was for fifteen years the faithful, devoted pastor of St. John's parish, Middle- town. In that time he liquidated the debt of the church, com- pleted the spire, erected the parochial residence and convent, founded the parochial school and purchased the cemetery. His zeal and kindness, his unobtrusive manner and his profound sym- pathy with the people won for him an abiding place in the hearts of all.
Endowed by nature with an amiable disposition which was nour- ished and purified by years of unselfish devotion, gifted with pru- dence garnered from varied and arduous missionary labors, filled with zeal born of his own good impulses, and quickened by the knowledge of the rich spiritual harvest that awaited him, Father Lynch entered upon his duties as pastor of the Immaculate Con- ception parish. By careful management combined with strict economy he paid the parish debt of $38,000 in an incredibly short space of time. And the wonder was how it was accomplished. Apparently he devoted no time to financial matters, yet his annual statements of the financial condition of the parish were agreeable surprises.
On August 1, 1876, having received the appointment of vicar-gen- eral, he left Waterbury to assume charge of St. Patrick's parish,
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THE PARISH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
New Haven. He died there December 6, 1876, from an accident that had befallen him at Bridgeport a short time before.
Father Lynch's successor, the Rev. Lawrence Walsh, was born at Providence, April 10, 1841. Evincing in his early youth marked tendencies towards the priesthood, he was sent by Bishop McFar- land to St. Charles's college, Ellicott City, Md. Graduating with honor from this fa- mous institution, he was sent to the Grand seminary, Montreal, to complete his stud- ies. He was ordained a priest in 1866. His first appointment was to Woonsocket, R. I., as assistant. From there he was trans- ferred to Hartford as assistant to the Very Rev. James Hughes, then pastor of St. Patrick's parish. His first pastorate was at Collinsville. From Collinsville he was appointed pastor of St. Peter's church, Hartford, where he THE REV. LAWRENCE WALSH. remained until his appointment to Waterbury in August, 1876.
Here he displayed the same love of souls that shone so con- spicuously in his former missions. His devotion to the old land abated not a jot nor tittle. His voice and pen were always at the service of the oppressed mother country. His labors for the Irish cause made his name a household word throughout the United States and Ireland. While pastor of the Immaculate Con- ception parish Father Walsh occupied the honored and respon- sible positions of president, secretary and treasurer of the National Land league. As treasurer, over $1,000,000 passed through his hands.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
Father Walsh embodied in his character the noblest qualities of the priest and the sterling traits of the patriot. His love for, and practical charity to the poor were boundless. A larger hearted priest was never ordained. There was not a selfish fibre in his body. He lived for his church and for the land of his ancestors. But his constant and arduous labors, both as a pastor of a large congregation and as an official in the Land league soon began to make inroads upon his health. He realized that a transfer to another field of labor was necessary in order to preserve his strength for the accomplishment of the work to which he had dedicated his life. After seven years of zealous labor in Water- bury he was transferred to Westerly, R. I., and on Sunday, July 29, 1883, he bade an affectionate farewell to his parishioners. When it was formally announced that he was to leave Waterbury, his parishioners assembled, August 4, to manifest in a public manner the respect in which they held him. John O'Neill, Esq., was chosen chairman and John H. Moran secretary of the meeting. Father Walsh was received with every demonstration of joy. Each society presented an address and an appropriate testimonial as follows: The Ladies' Charitable Sewing society, represented by Miss Alice Cassidy ; St. Aloysius society, by James H. Freney; the Waterbury Temper- ance society, by Henry Byrnes; the Holy Name society, by Dennis Gaynor. Martin Meyers presented the address of the parishioners together with a substantial purse. Father Walsh made an appro- priate response, expressive of his profound gratitude to his people, and of his regret in leaving them. His removal from Waterbury was at his own request, and his sudden death occuring soon after, justified his grave apprehensions regarding the state of his health. While on a visit to Boston at the beginning of 1884, he was stricken with apoplexy and died suddenly at the Commonwealth hotel on January 3. The news of his sudden death was a shock to the Cath- olics of the entire city. In life he was deeply loved, in death sin- cerely mourned. His remains rest in St. Francis' cemetery, Provi- dence. That tomb contains the dust of "one whose life-work as a priest, citizen and patriot has received the benediction of his fellow countrymen."
The successor of the lamented Father Walsh was the Rev. Wil- liam A. Harty, whose successful pastorate began on August 4, 1883, and terminated January 1, 1886. After his ordination at Rome, Father Harty served as assistant pastor of St. Mary's parish, New Haven. His first appointment.as pastor was to Fairfield, a position which he occupied for eight months. Exhibiting here those ster- ling qualities which have made him a prominent member of the
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THE PARISH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
priesthood of the diocese, he was appointed to the rectorship of the cathedral at Hartford. For four and a half years he dis- charged faithfully the responsible duties of rector of the cathedral parish, extending its influence for good and displaying marked abilities as an administrator. Transferred to St. Thomas's parish, Southington, he entered upon his new duties with characteristic energy. His zeal was manifested in the thorough renovation of the church, and in making many other necessary improvements. When he severed his connection with Southington he had the hap- piness of knowing that, financially and otherwise, the parish was firmly established.
Waterbury then became the scene of his labors. Although the period of his residence here was brief, he accomplished much. Prominent among his works were the purchase of a splendid prop- erty east of the city for a cemetery and the renovation of the inte- rior of the church. This latter work is an evidence of his posses- sion of excellent taste and correct judgment in matters of art, and an illustration of his ability as a financier. The renovation of the church cost over $15,000, and yet it was accomplished within a year, without the addition of a dollar of debt to the parish. The church was reopened for divine worship on Sunday, September 28, 1884. The services consisted of a solemn pontifical mass celebra- ted by the Right Rev. Lawrence S. McMahon, bishop of Hartford, assisted by the Very Rev. James Hughes, vicar-general, archpriest, the Rev. Thomas Broderick of Hartford and the Rev. Michael Tierney of New Britain (now Bishop Tierney), deacons of honor; the Very Rev. Father Leo., O. S. F., of Winsted, deacon; the Rev. M. P. Lawlor of Meriden, subdeacon; and the Rev. James H. O'Donnell of Waterbury, master of ceremonies. The sermon was preached by the Rev. John H. Duggan, pastor of St. Patrick's church. In the evening solemn pontifical vespers were sung, Bishop Hendricken officiating. Vicar-general Hughes was assistant priest, and the sermon was preached by the Rev. Thomas Shahan, D. D.
During his residence in Waterbury Father Harty deeply impressed his strong individuality upon all matters bearing on the interests of religion. Secure in the confidence of his flock he greatly advanced their temporal and spiritual interests. A pro- found student, a ripe scholar and an eloquent preacher, assiduous in his attention to details, he soon gained the respect of the people of all denominations, and exercised a potent influence for good among them. And when in obedience to the request of Bishop McMahon, he returned to the cathedral at Hartford as its rector, they bade him farewell with every manifestation of sincere regret.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
Father Harty was succeeded, January 1, 1886, by the present incumbent, the Rev. John A. Mulcahy. He was born in Ireland, and came to this country when quite young. Shortly after his arrival he entered the English and business course of studies in Bryant & Stratton's school at Hartford. Believing that God had called him to the priesthood, he entered St. Charles's college, where he remained six years, completing the course. His philo- sophical and theological studies were made at St. Joseph's semi- nary, Troy, N. Y., where he was ordained to the priesthood on May ·7, 1873. His first appointment was as assistant to Father Lynch in the parish of which he is now pastor, and when Father Lynch was transferred to St. Patrick's church, New Haven, in August, 1876, Father Mulcahy accompanied him. He labored there until Febru- ary, 1877, when he was appointed pastor of East Hartford, a mis- sion which included Glastonbury, Wethersfield and Rocky Hill. His labors in this field are eloquent evidences of his zeal and energy. He erected the parish church at East Hartford and St. Augustine's at Glastonbury, liquidated the debt on the church lot in Wethersfield, and collected money for the erection of a church at Rocky Hill. In November, 1878, he was transferred to Thomp- sonville, which mission then included the present parishes of Haz- ardville and Broad Brook. For three years he labored in this por- tion of Christ's vineyard, during which time he purchased new and more eligible sites in Hazardville and Broad Brook and erected upon them substantial churches. His success in Thompsonville is attested by the fact that the parish indebtedness was reduced $9000, and by the purchase of a lot on which the new church stands. On November 1, 1881, he was appointed pastor of the Sacred Heart parish, New Haven, succeding the Rev. Stephen Sheffrey, deceased. His four years of earnest and zealous labor there bore rich fruit. The church's indebtedness was reduced $22,000, and sufficient property for a school and convent was pur- chased adjoining the church on Columbus avenue.
On January 1, 1886, Father Mulcahy assumed charge of the par- ish of the Immaculate Conception. The work accomplished by him from that date to the end of his pastorate is revealed in part in the account which follows of parish institutions.
On April 18, 1887, Father Mulcahy sold to Irving G. Platt the property known as St. Patrick's chapel, formerly the Methodist Episcopal church. On August 7, 1889, by virtue of a vote of the trustees at a meeting held two days before, he leased to the sisters of the Congregation de Notre Dame of Montreal the convent prop- erty, so called, at the corner of South Elm and Union streets, for
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THE PARISH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
999 years, from September 1, 1889. Upon the acceptance of certain conditions by the lessees, the delivery of the lease was approved by Bishop McMahon. The granting of the lease was only carry- ing out the intentions of Dr. Hendricken, the founder of the convent.
On September 11, 1894, Father Mulcahy was appointed vicar-gen- eral of the Hartford diocese, to succeed Vicar-general Hughes, retired on account of failing health. Bishop Tierney, previous to his departure on his ad limina visit to Rome, appointed him admin- istrator of the diocese-a position which he filled from June I to August 18, 1895; and a fortnight later Father Mulcahy announced to a sorrowing people his transfer to St. Patrick's, Hartford, and the termination of his Waterbury pastorate .* He was succeeded by the Rev. William J. Slocum, of Norwalk, who preached his first sermon to his new flock on September 8, 1895.
In this sketch as in the other sketches, mention is made particu- larly of the labors and successes of the pastor in the temporal order. There is no intention of exalting the temporal above the spiritual, nor of conveying the impression that a pastor's success is solely to be measured by the amount of property purchased or indebtedness paid. But circumstanced as the Catholics have been (and as they still are in many places), their pastors were obliged to exhibit in some degree the qualities that lead to success in temporals, as well as those of a faithful shepherd of souls. At the same time it is gratifying to place on record the fact that the spir- itual interests of the people have always been faithfully conserved. In all the years that the Immaculate Conception parish has existed its spiritual welfare has been the dominant thought of its successive pastors. For this they were ordained and for this placed in their responsible position. That in the midst of so many and so trying difficulties their spiritual labors have been crowned with success is a source as well of wonderment as of joy and thankful- ness. To implant the seeds of strong faith and to extend the kingdom of Christ among men was the term of their ambition, and their divine Master has bestowed the reward.
ST. MARY'S SCHOOL.
The first of the great works inaugurated by Father Mulcahy, was the erection of St. Mary's school. Its corner-stone was laid by Bishop McMahon, on August 29, 1886. The sermon on the occasion
* During his entire Waterbury pastorate Father Mulcahy was a member of the board of education of the Centre district, and was for some years chairman of the board-a distinction enjoyed by no other Catholic priest in the United States.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
was preached by Father Harty, rector of St. Joseph's cathedral, Hartford. A large number of clergy assisted at the ceremony, and
it was witnessed by an immense concourse of people. On Septem- ber 3, 1888, the school was solemnly blessed by the bishop, and on the day following was opened for the recep- EFEEH tion of pupils. As for the building, it is an imposing struc- ture, and there are few school buildings in Connecticut superior to it. The rooms, twelve in number, are large, well lighted, and furnished with St. MARY'S PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, COLE STREET. an excellent system of ventilation and heating. They are all of equal size, twenty-five by twenty-nine feet.
The school was placed in charge of the Sisters of Charity from Convent Station, N. J. The first superior was Sister Rosita. After she had served the school for two years, failing health necessitated her transfer to another field of labor. She was succeeded by Sister Marie Agnes, and the present superior is Sister Claudine. On Jan- uary 4, 1888, occurred the first death among the teachers. The deceased was Sister Rachel Cronin, aged twenty-four years. She had been stationed in Waterbury only four months, but in that time had won the esteem not only of the pupils of the school, but of the entire parish. She was interred in the Sisters' plot in St. Joseph's cemetery.
An event of great interest in the history of the school was the presentation of a large and handsome American flag by the four local divisions of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, May 13, 1890. It was the first flag-raising over a school in Waterbury.
ST. PATRICK'S HALL.
The work of demolishing the old church on East Main street was begun in May, 1888. For many years it had served the purpose of a public school, but time was making sad havoc with the vener-
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THE PARISH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
able structure, and it was deemed advisable to remove it and in its place to erect a building that would be an ornament to the city and a benefit to the younger portion of the parish. St. Patrick's hall, as the new building was called, is another fruit of the zeal of Father Mulcahy and the generosity of the people. In building it the interests of the youth of the parish were chiefly considered. The object was to provide them with a place for divine worship and Sunday school, and to furnish a gymnasium and reading room for the improvement of mind and body. On Sunday, April 11, 1889, the Sunday school room was opened, the celebrant of the first mass within its walls being the Rev. James H. O'Donnell. It was the successful aim of Father Mulcahy to have a reading room in St. Pat- rick's hall second to none in the dio- cese. His interest in the enterprise may be inferred from his presenta- tion to the library fund of $1150, the amount donated to him by his parish- ioners on his return from Europe in September, 1890. The library con- ST. PATRICK'S HALL, EAST MAIN STREET. tains (September, 1895) about a thousand standard volumes, ready for distribution, besides magazines and papers. The building serves an admirable purpose also for society meetings. The associations that meet there are the following: The four local divisions of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Sheridan and Barcelona coun- cils of the Knights of Columbus, the Roman Catholic Total Absti- nence and Benevolent society, the St. Aloysius Cadets and the Children of Mary.
The hall is in the Romanesque style of architecture and presents a massive but graceful appearance. The building measures a little
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
over fifty-seven feet on East Main street and is about 100 feet deep. The first floor contains two large stores and in the rear a gymna- sium and reading room. The second floor contains, besides two offices, a Sunday school hall, fifty-four by sixty-eight feet. The third floor contains the large hall used for society meetings, lec- tures and other parochial entertainments. It measures fifty-eight feet by eighty, and seats nearly a thousand persons. The East Main street front is of white Vermont granite, trimmed with brown stone, and presents a striking appearance. The cornice is of brown stone and the dormer roofs of blue slate with terra cotta crestings. The architect was Joseph A. Jackson.
ST. MARY'S CONVENT.
St. Mary's convent, adjoining St. Mary's school, was ready for occupancy on November 27, 1889. The building measures fifty feet by sixty, and has accommodations for over 100 pupils. The estab- lishment, including the school building proper, embraces fourteen class rooms, with sittings for 850 children.
The convent walls are built of pallet brick. The roof is of Bangor slate, and has an iron cresting. The tower over the main entrance rises high above the roof and is surmounted with a gilt cross. On the first of the three stories there is an entrance on the north lead- ing to a school- room and a recita- - tion room, and another entrance on Cole street lead- ing through an in- ner vestibule to a reception room, a music room and a main hall. The hall connects by folding doors with the chapel, which occupies the cor- ner of the building and measures ST. MARY'S CONVENT, COLE STREET. twenty-nine feet by
nineteen. The music room also opens into the chapel. In the second story there is a hall extending from front to rear. On the
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front are bedrooms for visiting sisters and for the superior; on the south side is a "community room" and an infirmary, each supplied with a fire-place. On the third floor are fifteen bedrooms for the sisters, having no connection with one another. The dining room and kitchen are in the basement. The building is heated by steam.
The entire cost, including the grading of the grounds and the laying of the asphalt walks, was $20,000, everything having been constructed with a view to excellence and permanency. The archi- tect was Joseph A. Jackson.
The number of sisters in St. Mary's convent is seventeen.
SOCIETIES OF THE PARISH.
From time to time societies have been organized in the parish of the Immaculate Conception for philanthropic, reformatory and literary purposes. An account of these organizations is given in the chapters relating to these subjects. The more strictly religious societies of the parish are mentioned here.
The Scapular society has been in existence almost from the beginning of the parish. It has a membership of 175.
The Holy Name society was organized in the summer of 1879. It began with a membership of 450, and the records show that at the present time (1895) there is the same number of names upon the roll.
The Young Ladies' Sodality was organized May 28, 1883. It has a membership of 85. .
The " Children of Mary " was organized in August, 1889. It has about 150 members.
The "St. Aloysius Cadets" was organized August 19, 1889. Its present mem- bership is 140.
The League of the Sacred Heart was organized November 1, 1892. It has a membership of 1800.
ASSISTANTS, AND PRIESTS BORN IN THE PARISH.
The following are the priests who have served as assistants in the parish of the Immaculate Conception, including those who have served temporarily:
With the Rev. Michael O'Neile, from 1847 to 1855: Peter Cody.
With the Rev. Dr. Hendricken, from 1855 to 1872: Peter Cody, M. O'Riley, Charles McCallion, J. Sheridan, P. F. Glennon, J. A. Couch, J. O'Farrell, J. Smith, James Bohan, J. J. McCabe, J. Daly, Michael Rodden, J. Campbell, John Fagan, Daniel Mullen, John Lynch, Philip O'Donahoe, Thomas Walsh, J. Rey- nolds, P. A. Smith, J. Mulligan, Richard O'Gorman, R. J. Sullivan, C. Lemagie, Thomas Kane, A. Princen, Bernard Plunkett, Maurice Herr.
With the Rev. James Lynch, from 1872 to 1876: Richard O'Gorman, Maurice Herr, M. J. McCauley, J. A. Mulcahy, James Fagan.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
With the Rev. Lawrence Walsh, from 1876 to 1883: J. B. Creedon, J. O'R. Sheridan, Patrick Finnegan, Patrick Duggan, Michael Donahoe.
With the Rev. William Harty, from 1883 to 1886: P. J. Finnegan, J. O'R. Sheridan, Michael Donahoe, James Walsh, J. H. O'Donnell, Frederick Murphy.
With the Rev. John A. Mulcahy, from 1886 to 1894: P. J. Finnegan, James Walsh, Frederick Murphy, John Flemming, J. H. O'Donnell, P. F. Dinneen, Patrick Kennedy, William Lynch, J. J. Downey.
The parish of the Immaculate Conception has given to the church the following priests:
William Hill.
Christopher McAvoy, O. S. A.
F. H. Kennerney.
Michael J. McGivney .*
Jeremiah Fitzpatrick. *
John Donahoe. *
Thomas Galvin .*
John Tennion.
Joseph Read .*
William White.
Martin P. Lawlor.
Thomas Shanley.
Patrick P. Lawlor .*
William Lynch.
ST. JOSEPH'S AND CALVARY CEMETERIES.
On December 1, 1857, Father Hendricken bought for the parish St. Joseph's cemetery, paying for the same $2000. The first person interred there was John Rice, whose funeral took place October 17, 1858.
Calvary cemetery is owned by the corporation of the Immacu- late Conception parish, and comprises about sixty-seven acres. In 1885 the Rev. William A. Harty purchased fifty-three acres, and the Rev. John A. Mulcahy the remainder in August, 1891. The first interment in Calvary cemetery was that of Thomas Harry, infant son of P. J. Bolan, June 22, 1892. The cemetery was conse- crated by the Right Rev. Michael Tierney, bishop of the diocese, May 24, 1894. The sermon on the occasion was preached by the Rev. J. H. O'Donnell of Watertown.
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