USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Metropolitan Boston; a modern history; Volume V > Part 11
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REV. WILLIAM LUDESSI, pastor of the Church of the Sacred Heart, of Waltham, Massachusetts, is a native of Italy, born March 19, 1889. He was educated in Rome and or- dained a priest in Verona, Italy, in 1915. Soon after his ordination he was appointed a chap- lain in the Italian army, where he served for some time, gaining experience and render- ing valuable service. Later, he was trans- ferred to a mission, where he served as a teacher and as an assistant at the altar until he came to this country. He first came to Waltham, Massachusetts, as an assistant to Father Dalla Porta, who founded the parish and built the church where Father Ludessi is now pastor. He next located at Springfield, Massachusetts, where he superintended the building of St. Ann Mission's Church at West Springfield, and remained here for one and one- half years as assistant pastor, after which he was appointed pastor of Mt. Carmel Church, Springfield, and assisted in the building of the rectory, serving as pastor until November, 1928, when he was assigned to his present charge as pastor of the Church of the Sacred Heart, at Waltham.
The Church of the Sacred Heart, at Wal- tham, was built in 1926 by Rev. Raymond Dalla Porta, assisted by Father Ludessi, Fa- ther Dalla Porta continuing as its pastor until Father Ludessi took charge. The church edifice seats about four hundred and fifty people. It is well planned and is one of the beautiful small churches of the diocese. Its furnishings are of the best quality, the pews are of oak, and the large altar, together with its attractive interior decorations, gives the at- mosphere of quiet beauty which is so desir- able in a place of worship. The rectory, also built of brick and handsomely trimmed, was completed in 1927 and contains fourteen rooms. Under Father Ludessi's skillfull leadership, the parish, which numbers about six hundred and fifty families, is steadily growing, and ground has already been purchased for the erection of a new school building. About one hundred children attend the Sunday school, and this too, is steadily enlarging its membership. The
usual sodalities, including a junior and a senior Holy Name Society, the Christian Mothers, the Children of Mary, and Boy Scout troops are in a flourishing condition, and Father Ludessi is stimulating interest in all of these. He is assisted by one curate.
In addition to his responsibilities as pastor of the Church of the Sacred Heart, Father Ludessi has other important responsibilities. In 1928 he received from Italy an appointment as provincial, and in this position he acts as the representative of the order of the Stigmatine Fathers, having general oversight and direction of all the Italian priests and parishes of his or- der. This order, known as the Stigmatine Fa- thers, came to the United States in 1906-two Fathers having founded it in Pennsylvania. Later they came to Massachusetts and still later to New York State, organizing churches in each State. There are now (1929) twenty-eight churches, some sixty Fathers and Brothers be- ing engaged in the work.
Near the Church of the Sacred Heart, on a hill, is located a seminary for the prepara- tion of young men for the priesthood, and here Father Ludessi has his office and serves as rector. In this college are about fifty students who are being trained in the special duties of this order. Thus as pastor, rector, and pro- vincial, Father Ludessi finds his days full of responsibility and active work, but he is meet- ing the demands of all three positions in a manner which is winning for him the hearty cooperation of his associates and the warm approval of his superiors. Within the parish of the Sacred Heart he has the full confidence of his people, and throughout the city of Wal- tham he is respected for his genuine worth and ability.
REV. JOHN A. DRONZEK-Devoted to the work of his church and the teachings of the Christian faith, sincerely loved by the mem- bers of his parish and all who know him, and
Je Ather G. Drenge
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active in the social and civic life of his com- munity in and near Lynn, Massachusetts, the Rev. John A. Dronzek, of St. Michael's Polish Church, stands among the spiritual leaders in this part of the State. There is no phase of church work in which he is not keenly in- terested. He has, as a matter of fact, done much to promote the organization and ad- vancement of societies connected with St. Mich- ael's and has spent his time and energies tire- lessly in behalf of the church which he heads, and which was founded in 1903. Before that year services were held and Masses said by Monsignor Teeling in St. Patrick's Church, the parish having been considered in the na- ture of a mission. The new building was com- pleted in 1906, and St. Michael's had as its first pastor the Rev. Stephen Duda, who was, however, here only a short time when he was succeeded by the Rev. Jacob Takuskie, who continued as pastor until his death on June 6, 1925. Father Takuskie was responsible for the erection of the beautiful new school building with eight classrooms, which is presided over by the Sisters of St. Francis and which in 1928, was attended by four hundred children. They also have a physical training department and teach elocution, for both of which there are special teachers. The church property now consists of a church, school, convent and rectory.
Father Dronzek was born in Boston, Massa- chusetts, March 20, 1893. He came to Lynn in May, 1925, as an administrator and has been engaged in the general work of the church since that time. He attended the public schools in Boston and, upon completion of his prelimin- ary schooling, went to Detroit, where he became a student at. St. Mary's College, from which he was graduated. He then studied philosophy at St. John's Seminary, in Brighton, Massachu- setts, where he remained until he was ordained a priest on August 9, 1916. His first appoint- ment was as an assistant at St. Mary's Church, where he remained seven years. At the end of that period he went to Ipswich, where he was engaged as an administrator until the win- ter of 1924-25, when he came to St. Michael's, in Lynn, in the same capacity.
The parish numbers about two thousand five hundred communicants, while the church build- ing seats about six hundred. Connected with the church are a number of important societies and organizations. Of these, St. Michael's Polish National Alliance has celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary, and is entering upon its second quarter-of-a-century period of exis- tence, and now owns its own hall. The Sacred Heart, a benefit society for men, has about three hundred members, and St. Hedwig's So- ciety for women has two hundred members. The Sodality of Our Ladies of the Rosary is also active in the affairs of the parish, and St. Theresa's Guild is one of the leading groups of its kind. There is also the St. Michael's Polish-American Political Club, which includes the St. Stanislaus organization and the or- der of St. Francis, composed of boys; there has been organized also a young Ladies' Guild, and St. Michael's Athletic Club, which is very active and has received a number of prizes. In addition to all these there is a fine musical organization known as St. Michael's Orchestra, which, together with the vocal music of the school, is taught by Father Dronzek, assisted by one teacher; also there is the Polish Politi- cal Club, located in Saugus, the purpose of which is to secure naturalization papers for the Polish residents of this section.
Active in all of these organizations and head- ing the affairs of the church itself in a man- ner fully in keeping with the dignity of the church is the Rev. Father Dronzek, who is ever working in the interests of his church, its congregation and the community-at-large. He has won the esteem and love of his people, for his tireless energy in developing the growth of St. Michael's parish.
REV. FRANCIS J. JUSKAITIS-Since 1917 Rev. Francis J. Juskaitis has been con- nected with the Roman Catholic Church of the
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Immaculate Conception in Cambridge, and in 1922 he was appointed priest in charge, which responsible and holy office he is filling with ability and faithfulness. He is a graduate of St. John's Seminary and was ordained in 1917. Father Juskaitis has organized the parochial school, renovated the church building, and pur- chased the convent, and he will soon add more classrooms to his school.
Rev. Francis J. Juskaitis was born in Lithuania, November 15, 1883, and received his education in the public schools of his native district, graduating from the high school there in 1899. Five years later, in 1904, he came to this coun- try, locating in Brockton, Massachusetts, where he attended school for two years, preparing for college. He then entered Valparaiso University, at Valparaiso, Indiana, from which he was graduated with the class of 1911, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. For another year he continued his studies there, receiving in 1912 the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then be- gan his theological course in St. John's Semi- nary, at Brighton, Massachusetts, from which he was graduated and ordained as a priest in 1917. His first appointment was as assistant at St. Peter's Church in South Boston, where he remained for one month. At the end of that time he was appointed pastor in charge of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, at Cambridge, where he has since remained, de- voting himself to the work of the parish, in- tensifying its spiritual life, and adding greatly to its membership.
The Immaculate Conception Parish was founded in November, 1909, with Rev. Joseph Krasnickas as its first pastor, and in 1910 the present church building, which provides seat- ing for about eight hundred and fifty people, was erected. Thus Father Krasnickas provided for the growth of the parish through a long term of years. The interior of the church is attractive, with oak pews and imitation marble altars. Father Krasnickas remained here until March, 1918, Meantime, Father Juskaitis had become associated with the parish, and when Father Krasnickas was transferred, Father Juskaitis ministered to the church, and in 1922
took full charge of the parish. At the present time, after ten years of the present pastorate, there are about two thousand souls in the Im- maculate Conception Parish.
Perhaps the most important of all Father Juskaitis' achievements here has been the or- ganization of the parochial school. The time was not ripe for this until 1926, and even then there was no school building, but Father Jus- kaitis was resourceful and determined, and the first floor, or basement, of the church was utilized for this purpose. The result has been most satisfactory, and at the present time (1929) the school numbers about one hundred and seventy-five pupils, in six grades, presided over by the Sisters of the Order of Jesus Crucified, who were brought here from Elm- hurst, Pennsylvania. Father Juskaitis has reno- vated the church building, added to the teach- ing force, and generally quickened the life of the parish. In 1926, the year in which he organized the school, he purchased the building which is used as a convent and which provides accom- modation for about fourteen sisters, and he will shortly add four more classrooms to his school. Last, but not least in importance, he has paid off all the indebtedness of the parish, which is now financially in a free and prosperous con- dition. There are in the church a number of sodalities, the Holy Name Society, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which has for its aim the help of the needy; Apostleship of Prayer, Lithuanian Association of Labor, Immaculate Conception Society, St. Joseph and St. John's Society, Children of Mary, Total Abstinence Association, Blessed Virgin Sodality, and the Knights of Lithuania, many of which were or- ganized by Father Juskaitis. There are also the societies of St. Francis, the Little Flower of Italy Society, and St. Stephen's Society, for men.
Father Juskaitis is a member of the following societies, in the work of which he is deeply interested: The Lithuanian Roman Catholic Alliance of America, the Knights of Columbus, St. John's Council of the Lithuanian Association of Labor, the Knights of Lithuania, and St. Stephen's Society. He is also an active and
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William J. Droyer
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interested member of the Priests' Eucharistic League for the Propagation of the Faith.
Twelve years of devoted service have greatly endeared Father Juskaitis to his many parish- ioners, and have won for him the esteem of the community in general, as well as of those whom he serves so faithfully.
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REV. WILLIAM J. DWYER-One of the most beautiful Roman Catholic churches in Boston Diocese is St. Bernard's in West New- ton, of which Rev. William J. Dwyer has been pastor since 1922. West Newton was the second of the Newton villages to be organized as a parish, and before it was thus organized the peo- ple of the district depended upon Waltham for religious attention. Rev. Bernard Flood, then pastor at Waltham, did not neglect the faith- ful Catholics of this section, and it is a matter of record that services were held first in a tent and later in a hall. As the Catholic population grew, it became apparent that more suitable and permanent accommodations for religious worship must be provided, and in 1871 the cor- nerstone of the first St. Bernard's Church was laid. The dedication took place in 1874, and in 1876 West Newton became a separate parish, with Rev. Michael T. McManus, previously curate at St. Patrick's Church, Lowell, as pas- tor. For a period of about six years Father Mc- Manus labored in the new parish, and then, in 1882, he was promoted to the pastorate of St. Patrick's Church, South Lawrence, and Rev. Christopher McGrath, of SS. Peter and Paul's, South Boston, took charge of St. Bernard's. He died in 1886, after a successful pastorate of four years, and was succeeded by Rev. Lawrence J. O'Toole, who was still in charge in 1899. Father O'Toole purchased the parochial house and property in 1887, and two years later the church, which was a brick building seating eight hun- dred and fifty worshippers, was destroyed by fire.
Once more the people of this district found it necessary to worship in some temporary place of assemblage, and from the time of the fire to the completion of the new building they worshipped in City Hall. The new church was dedicated in 1890, with solemn and impressive ceremonies. Built of brick, with brown stone trimmings, the new church seats more than a thousand people, and the effect of its tall, Gothic spire is enhanced by the raised ground upon which the church is built. By 1899 the congre- gation was estimated at more than two thou- sand, and at the present time (1928) the parish numbers about thirty-five hundred souls. In 1922 Rev. William J. Dwyer succeeded Father Kelliher, whom death had removed from his place as pastor of St. Bernard's, and since that time he has been very busily engaged in min- istering to his people, erecting suitable build- ings for the work and services of the parish, and generally promoting the religious life of the parish
Rev. William J. Dwyer was born in England and came here as a child and was reared in Cambridge. He received his early and prepar- atory education here, but when he was ready for his theological training he went to Rome, Italy, and entered the American College, where he completed his course and was ordained a priest in 1887. He then returned to this coun- try and was appointed a curate at St. Mary's Church, Cambridge, where he remained for a period of nineteen years. From St. Mary's he was sent to Medway, Massachusetts, where he was made a pastor at St. Joseph's in 1906, and there he remained until 1910. In that year he was appointed pastor of St. Ann's Church, in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and while in charge of that parish he built a beautiful church at Magnolia. His work there was exceptionally effective and successful, and in 1922, upon the death of Father Kelliher, pastor of St. Bernard's Church, West Newton, he came to this parish as pastor.
Since coming here Father Dwyer has greatly improved the church property and has stimu- lated every department of the church and parish activities. In 1924 he completed the present
Bos.ıi-5
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beautiful school building, and now (1928) this school has an attendance of four hundred and fifty pupils, who are taught by the Sisters of Notre Dame. The convent in which the sisters make their home was built under the super- vision of Father Dwyer and provides accommo- dation for fifteen sisters. The beautiful eight- een-room rectory, too, was erected under his direction, and the entire group of buildings, with the beautifully kept surrounding grounds, is greatly admired by all who pass this way. All the usual societies and sodalities are well or- ganized and active and the parish work in gen- eral is rapidly going forward. The Newton Catholic Club, which has a building across the street from the church, is connected with the church, has a large membership, and takes an important part in Catholic activities in the parish.
During the six years which have passed since Father Dwyer came to St. Bernard's the re- ligious life of the parish has kept pace with the material growth, and both within the parish and in the community at large Father Dwyer has the respect and kindly regard of all who know him.
ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST CHURCH OF WINTHROP and REV. JOHN T. O'BRIEN-To that noble pioneer of the Cath- olic faith in New England, Rev. James Fitton, the existence of numerous strong and influ- ential churches of the present time may be traced. As missionary, as builder of churches, and as a Christlike character he is revered among the Catholics of the past and present generation for the good work which he ac- complished, and the records of numerous parishes in Boston Diocese show that back in their beginnings it was Father Fitton who set in motion the course of events which led to the establishment of a new parish and, eventually, of a new church. It was while
Father Fitton was pastor of the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer, located at the corner of Maverick and London streets, in East Boston, that mass was first said in the district which is now the Parish of St. John the Evangelist, in Winthrop. Father Fitton, then the only Catholic pastor in East Boston, used to drive from Ma- verick Square to Winthrop twice a month to say mass in the home of a parishioner. While nu- merous changes have intervened between that small beginning and the building of the present beautiful church of St. John the Evangelist, of Winthrop, still it was Father Fitton who saw the possibilities here and made the first effort to meet the growing need. Back in the time of the Civil War the Revere Copper Works were busy and flourishing at Point Shirley, and there was a Catholic population of about one hundred and fifty people in that section. As time passed a chapel was built close to the water's edge and there the people worshipped and participated in the Holy Mass until 1866, when the copper works, with many of the men and their families, removed to Ely, Vermont. Then the chapel was placed on a scow and taken to East Boston. From 1866 to 1887 the Catholics who remained in Winthrop journeyed to East Boston by stagecoach or walked to the Star of the Sea Chapel, which was located about where that church is now situated. This chapel was built by Father Fitton as a mis- sion of the Holy Redeemer Parish. In 1875 St. Mary Star of the Sea was made a separate parish and Winthrop therefore became a mis- sion of that parish.
In 1881 Rev. Father Clarke, then pastor of the Star of the Sea Church, had Mr. Jessop, the well-known confectioner of Boston and at that time a resident of Ocean Spray, purchase the land now occupied by the buildings of the Parish of St. John the Evangelist, but just after the purchase was made Father Clarke was transferred to the newly established parish of the Sacred Heart, and Rev. Father John B. O'Donnell became pastor of St. Mary's Star of the Sea. That was in 1881, and in 1883 Father John B. O'Donnell was succeeded by Rev. Hugh Roe O'Donnell. Father O'Donnell was an
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ardent and effective worker in the cause of temperance, both in his own district and in cooperation with prominent temperance workers outside the parish, and to him was entrusted the task of building a chapel for this district. Early in the spring of 1887 the building which is now known as St. John's Parish Hall was begun, and on Sunday, June 19, 1887, it was dedicated. At that time Winthrop was the home, during the summer, of many well-known people, and the money for the building of the church was raised mostly by summer collections. The altar was given outright by a resident of New Jersey who spent his summers in Win- throp. At this time there were only twelve resident families and perhaps twenty more people either employed or boarding here, who were permanent parishioners. Early in 1895 the church was opened on Sundays the year round, and Sunday school, which was in charge of the Sisters of Mercy, was held after mass. In the fall of 1906 St. John the Evangelist Parish was made a separate parish and set off from St. Mary's Star of the Sea. By this time Winthrop was gradually making the change from a town with a summer population only, to a fair-sized town with a permanent all-year population, and as the years passed the parish of St. John the Evangelist grew rapidly. Final- ly, the old church building became inadequate, and after much planning the present beautiful church building was begun. The lower church, which was first completed, has three altars, one large one in the center, and a small one on each side. It is furnished with oak pews and has a very fine organ made by the Estey Com- pany. The upper church was completed in 1925 and the entire building represents one of the finest types of church architecture, being characterized by simplicity and beauty of line and proportion. The roof is supported by twenty very handsome columns. There are three magnificent altars, made in Italy, that grace and give dignity to the services, while over the whole harmonious plan of decora- tion twenty stained glass windows, most of which are memorials, and a beautiful round rose window admit a flood of mellow light,
tempered and softened and tinted with exquisite colors. The pews are of oak and provide for seating some eleven hundred people. The parish numbers now (1928) about three thousand souls. In 1928 Father O'Brien had a number of chan- ges made in the front of the church which add materially to its beauty. A beautiful rectory, containing twenty-five rooms, and complete and homelike in every detail, has been erected, and as the well-organized work of the parish has been carried forward other buildings have been planned and built. There is a gymnasium, containing an upper and a lower hall, and the old church building, known as St. John's Hall, in the rear of the present church building, is used for entertainments of various kinds.
The present pastor, Rev. John T. O'Brien, who came here in 1925, the year of the com- pletion of the present church edifice, was ordained and made a priest at St. John's Ec- clesiastical Seminary, at Brighton, Massachu- setts. For some time he was connected with the Gate of Heaven Church in South Boston, which dates back to 1865 and which has a congrega- tion of nearly ten thousand. Later, he was pastor of the church at Sharon, where he re- mained for a period of ten years, giving to the parish most faithful and effective service. In 1925 he came to the Church of St. John the Evangelist, as pastor, and here he is devoting his time and energy to the work of advancing the interests of this parish.
The societies of the parish are well organized and include a boys' club, a girls' club, and the usual sodalities for single and for married women, clubs and societies for men, including The Holy Name Society, the Knights of Co- lumbus, and the Catholic Order of Foresters; also a baseball club, and numerous gymnasium classes and clubs. The parish also maintains a fine chapel at Point Shirley, which is open for the summer residents from July to September. The music in the church is furnished by a large surplice choir of boys who are under the direction of Herbert Sheehan, the well-known organist, which is said to be the best of any church of its size in the diocese.
Thus from a little struggling parish holding
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services only in the summer, has developed the strong and influential parish of St. John the Evangelist, which now is, in turn, also support- ing in the summer season the chapel men- tioned above. Throughout the year are car- ried on the many-sided activities of a large and successful church organization. Since 1925 Father O'Brien has given to his church and to his parish the best that is in him, and re- ceives in turn, the reverence and respect which his work in behalf of the church have in- spired.
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