USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Metropolitan Boston; a modern history; Volume V > Part 12
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REV. TIMOTHY J. HOLLAND, P. P .- Since June, 1924, Rev. Timothy J. Holland, P. P., has been the efficient and devoted pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Revere, where he is doing a splendid work. He was born April 27, 1863, in Salem, Massachu- setts, and as a boy attended the schools of his birthplace and of Peabody, Massachusetts. When his preparatory work was completed he entered Boston College, from which he was graduated, and then began his theological train- ing in St. John's Seminary, at Brighton, where he was ordained a priest in 1888. His first as- signment was as assistant at the Star of the Sea Church, in East Boston, where he remained for two years, then was assigned to Winchester and later to Arlington; he next went to the Church of the Sacred Heart at Malden Centre, which parish also has a church at Maplewood, where in 1902 he was made a pastor, serving these two churches up to 1924, a period of twenty-two years, when he came to Revere. These churches he saw double in size and greatly strengthen in their various organiza- tions and societies. It was while here he was made chaplain of Holy Cross Cemetery, and in 1909 he built the Gate House in Holy Cross Cemetery. Father Holland, now pastor of the Church of the Immacuate Conception, in Re- vere, is doing a work similar to that which he achieved in Malden.
The Mission of the Immaculate Conception, at Revere, was, in its early beginnings, connected with St. Rose's Church, at Chelsea. In 1871, a part of Chelsea was set off and named in honor of the Revolutionary patriot, Paul Revere. It adjoined the shore and soon began to acquire a character of its own, as a place of residence for people in moderate circumstances, but desirous of owning their homes. Until 1886 the few Catholics in Chelsea continued to worship at St. Rose's Church in Chelsea, but the creation of the new Everett parish provided them with a more convenient place. Rev. Joseph H. Mohan, pastor in Everett, kept well in mind the needs of the Revere people, and in 1887 he began con- ducting services for them in the Revere Town Hall. In 1888, he began the work of erecting a church there, and on July 1 of that same year the cornerstone was laid by Archbishop Wil- liams. The basement was ready for use by December, and in the following year, 1889, Revere was made a separate parish. The first pastor of the church, Rev. James Lee, took charge June 30, 1889, and his efforts resulted in the completion and dedication of the church in 1893. The church, a Gothic structure built of wood and providing accommodation for about nine hundred in the upper church and seven hundred in the basement, was named in honor of the Immaculate Conception, and is still meet- ing the needs of the parish. The land fronts on Beach Street and Winthrop Avenue, and close by stood the parochial residence, pur- chased by Father Lee in 1890. By 1895 the population of Revere had increased to 7,500, and the Catholics had become numerous enough to need the services of a curate, Rev. Mark J. Sullivan. Father Lee was widely known as the regular chaplain of the 9th Massa- chusetts Regiment, by whose members he was held in very high esteem. He remained at Re- vere until the time of his death, in 1916, when he was succeeded by Rev. Francis Walsh, who was in charge until 1924, when Father Holland was made pastor here. A school was organized in 1912, by Father Lee, and placed in charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and at the present time (1928) the enrollment is seven hundred
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children, who are instructed by twenty sisters. There is a complete high school, and the whole school organization is most complete and mod- ern.
Since coming to Revere, Father Holland has been very active in promoting the interests of the parish. He has built a church at the corner of Ford and Revere streets, to accommodate the beach section, a building which provides seating for about six hundred, and he officiates at both churches, thus completing a total of four churches since he was ordained a priest in 1888. Here in Revere he renovated the entire rectory, containing more than twenty rooms, and has greatly stimulated the general activities of the parish. He also renovated the convent, which provides a home for the twenty sisters who teach in the schools, also a chapel for them, in 1924; and the various church societies are all in a flourishing condition. Father Holland has the high esteem of all the members of his church and in the community-at-large he is recognized as a man of Christian character who is exert- ing a most wholesome influence in the com- munity, where, in addition to the members of his parish, he has a very large circle of admir- ing friends.
REV. FRANCISO G. MARTINS-On July 20, 1921, Rev. Franciso G. Martins became pastor of the Church of Our Lady of Good Voyage, at Gloucester, Massachusetts. He is the second pastor of this Portuguese Church and is much loved by his people.
The Church of Our Lady of Good Voyage had its inception in 1870. In that year a small number of Portuguese who were em- ployed in the fisheries of Gloucester began to feel the need of a priest to administer the rites of the Catholic Church in their own language. As time passed and the number of Portuguese families increased the desire for a church of their own grew and strengthened
into action. A meeting of the entire Portuguese Colony was called for November 26, 1888, but the weather and other circumstances made it necessary that the meeting be postponed until a month later. On December 25th the meeting finally took place and Father Joseph T. Serpa, then pastor of St. John's Church of Boston, addressed the gathering. The assembly re- sponded enthusiastically to the suggestions made, and immediately a committee of fifteen members was appointed to take charge of the work necessary for the establishment of a new church, which would be dedicated to Our Lady of Good Voyage. On September 27, 1889, a plot. of land, on which was a dwelling house, was purchased for $6,000. The congregation then set to work to raise funds for the church building. A bazaar was held in 1890 and another the following year. Plans were drawn by C. N. McClare of Cambridge, and on Sep- tember 26, 1892, the construction of the first church erected by the Portuguese in Gloucester was begun. It was blessed on July 9, 1893, by Rev. Father Felisberto V. De Bem, uncle of the first pastor, who followed this act by celebrating the first Mass in the new church in the presence of a large number of the parish- ioners, who were filled with joy at thus wit- nessing the consummation of their hopes. For more than twenty years the congregation wor- shipped in this first church. Then, on February 10, 1914, the much prized church was destroyed by fire. This was a great misfortune, but with the courage characteristic of the Portuguese mariner, the people did not sit down and grieve. They at once planned for the building of a new house of worship. For more than a year religious services were held in the Church of St. Ann, in Gloucester, which was generously offered by Rev. Father Dwyer, then pastor of the church. Meanwhile, committees and pastors were working hard to raise funds for the new building. Rev. Francisco Vieira De Bem, who had been pastor from the organ- ization of the new parish, had the full coopera- tion of his flock and the ladies of the parish worked unceasingly and most effectively. On May 23, 1915, the new church was finally ded-
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icated by the Rev. Bishop Don Henrique J. Reed Da Silva, and again there was great rejoicing in the parish. Among the many who aided generously in making the new building possible was the late James C. Farrell, who was an intimate friend of Father De Bem, and Mrs. Margaret Brady Farrell, after the early death of her husband, continued to gener- ously assist the church. It was Congressman Colonel A. Piatt Andrew who took the initia- tive in making possible the installation of the carrillon, the first of its kind in the United States, and it was he who aided in the em- bellishment of the new building. Father De Bem worked hard to pay off the indebtedness of the new church, and his aim was not far from being accomplished when death removed him from the field of his labor.
On July 20, 1921, the present pastor, Rev. Franciso G. Martins, took charge. Born on the Pico Island, in the Azores, March 25, 1867, he received his education in the schools of his native town and in the seminary at Angra, where he was ordained July 25, 1889. After serving as a pastor of Lagedo, for about two years he took a special examination, was made a pastor at the early age of twenty-four years, and was appointed permanent rector of the Church of Our Lady of Remedios of Fajan- sinha, Azores Island. Here he remained for a period of ten years, after which he served as pastor at San Rogae Pico. He was then ap- pointed by the Dean as a member of the board of synodal examiners, which position he held until 1921. In that year he came to visit in this beautiful country of the United States of America where he met Rev. Father De Bem, a former classmate of his who was then very ill, and, much to the sorrow of his parishioners, died shortly afterwards. Father Martins preached the funeral sermon of his friend, and a short time later was appointed pastor of the church. He knew of the great desite of Father De Bem to free the church from debt as soon as pos- sible, and at once set to work to achieve. that aim. In less than two years the balance of $4,000 was paid, and the church was conse- crated. Meantime, in July, 1922, His Eminence,
Cardinal O'Connell, Archbishop of the Diocese of Boston, blessed the carrillon destined for the Church of Our Lady of Good Voyage at Gloucester, honoring the modest parish with his personal presence and speaking works of encouragement and cheer to the people and pastor and later affirming by letter that he would always entertain pleasant memories of his visit to Gloucester. The carrillon cost $16,000, and on July 23, 1922, the tones of its twenty-five bells vibrated over the city for the first time, with Professor George B. Stevens, of this city, acting as carrilloner. On that same Sunday afternoon in the Cathedral at Boston was held the celebration of the suc- cessful flight by the Portuguese aviators, Cou- tinho and Cabral, from Portugal to Brazil, and it was Father Martins who was invited in the Cathedral on that occasion.
Since coming here Father Martins has also purchased land and built in the rear of the church, a beautiful rectory containing sixteen rooms. The wonderful carrillon has been in- creased from twenty-five to thirty-one bells, making it the second largest in the United States, and has become famous for the won- derful quality of its tone. On each Wednesday evening throughout the summer a concert, last- ing for an hour and a half, is given here by one of the most famous performers to be found in this country and abroad, Professor Lefévre, and these concerts are attended by great crowds of people who gather from all over this section of the State. The interior of the church is plain but rich and attractive. The central altar is very beautiful, and around the walls of the church the fourteen stations of the cross appear upon gold- tipped plaques. On the right a notable statue of Our Saviour falling under the weight of the cross is conspicuous, and all the furnish- ings and decorations are such as to produce an atmosphere of reverence and of worship. The oak pews seat about 500 people, and the choir loft makes provision for about fifty sing- ers. The financial condition of the parish is in a prosperous condition, owing to valuable legacies left by the beloved first pastor, Rev. Father De Bem, and under the vigorous leadership of
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the present pastor, Father Martins, the mem- bership and activities of the church are steadily growing.
Father Martins has the entire confidence of his people, among whom he is very popular, and his kindliness, ability, and genuine Chris- tian character have won for him the regard of the city of Gloucester. He is assisted in his work by Rev. John S. Perry, who was educated in the Holy Cross College of Worcester and in St. John's Seminary, and was ordained a priest by Bishop Williams in 1907.
REV. WILLIAM F. LYONS-St. Theresa's Roman Catholic Church, of West Roxbury, Massachusetts, is preparing for great things during the next few years, and an extensive building program has already been planned and is being put into operation by the present pastor, Rev. William F. Lyons, who has had charge since September, 1926. Father Lyons is a graduate of Boston College and of St. John's Seminary, and for nearly a quarter of a century was established at Lynn, where he rendered a remarkably efficient service. Here in West Rox- bury, as in Lynn and in Sharon, he has won the hearts of his people and their whole-hearted co- operation. St Theresa's parish will soon be the possessor of a set of buildings which will be a source of pride to its members and an added grace to the neighborhood.
Rev. William F. Lyons was born in Winches- ter, Massachusetts, July 23, 1877, and attended the public schools of that place, graduating from the high school in 1893. He then matriculated in Boston College, where he completed his course with graduation in 1897, after which he was ready for his theological training. Entering St. John's Seminary, at Brighton, Massachu- setts, he completed his course there, and was. ordained December 21, 1901. His first assign- ment was to the Church of the Sacred Heart, at Lynn, Massachusetts, as assistant, and so ef-
fective were his services there in that capacity that for a period of twenty-three and a half years, under the direction of three successive pastors, two of whom died while in charge, he continued his work there. Upon the death of each of the two pastors, he continued the work of the parish uninterruptedly until the next pastor was appointed, and not only in the work of the church and the parish, but in city affairs as well, he was very active. His long period of service gave him unusual opportunity to know his parishioners thoroughly, and their confidence and trust, as well as their affection, was his to a high degree. After twenty-three and a half years of devoted service in Lynn, Father Lyons was made pastor of the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, at Sharon, Massachu- setts, but he remained there but a little more than a year, when in September, 1926, he was appointed pastor of St. Theresa's Church in West Roxbury.
The history of St. Theresa's Church has been a varied and interesting one. The first church build- ing was constructed by the Rev. Robert John- son, on Baker Street. This church was a mission supplied from Dedham. On the destruc- tion of this edifice the mission was given over to the late Msgr. Magennis, who was at that time pastor of the section of Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, and West Roxbury. The present church building, which is soon to be replaced by a beautiful new edifice, was built about fifty years ago by Msgr. Magennis. Later, West Rox- bury was made a parish, and for a period of four years was under the guidance of Rev. Richard Barry. At the close of Father Barry's pastorate it became attached to St. Mary's Church at Dedham. In 1893, Father Cummins was appointed pastor at Roslindale, and the mission was transferred to his charge and re- mained a mission of the Church of the Sacred Heart at Roslindale until 1896. In that year Rev. Father Patrick Boyle was appointed pas- tor of St. Theresa's Church and parish, and from that time on it has had a career and a history of its own. Father Boyle remained in charge until his death, which occurred in April, 1901. He was succeeded by Rev. J. F. Brod-
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erick, a native of Chelsea, born in 1855, and a graduate of Boston College and of the Provin- cial Seminary in New York, where he was or- dained in 1881. He did his work exceedingly well, and later pastors continued the work, until in 1926, when Rev. Father William F. Lyons took charge, there were about two thousand souls in the parish, and the Sunday school had a membership of about five hundred and fifty.
Since coming to St. Theresa's, Father Lyons has been very active and successful. Although the old church building was in fairly good con- dition, he soon secured the cooperation of his parishioners in planning for a new and much larger and more beautiful place of worship, and in the spring of 1927 he began active prepara- tions for the task of making real his dreams of achievement in this direction. The large rectory in which he lived was moved back from the street about one hundred feet, adjoining property was purchased, and all the details of the plans for the new edifice were completed. The new church will stand in the center of the property, and will be built of seam-faced granite, in Eng- lish Gothic style, with a beautiful four-spired tower at the corner. The interior will be unique in the fact that it will be finished in artificial stone, instead of wood. Three altars imported from Italy will beautify and dignify the front of the church, and the entire interior, with its oak pews and harmonious decoration, will be of the finest workmanship. The choir loft, which will seat about one hundred, will be furnished with the finest organ that money can buy, and the building, when finished, will seat one thousand people. Even the erection of so beautiful a place of worship, however, does not represent the entirety of Father Lyons' build- ing plans. The present rectory will be used as a convent for the sisters who are to teach in the schools, while a fine new modern school building, providing for eight hundred children, will be erected in the immediate vicinity of the church. Also a new rectory, containing twenty- five rooms and representing the finest of archi- tectural planning, will be built. Such are the plans of Father Lyons for the parish of St. Theresa's, and his executive ability and power
of leadership are rapidly making those plans actualities.
Besides the Sunday school of five hundred and fifty children, there are numerous flourishing and prosperous societies connected with the church, and these are giving enthusiastic aid and co- operation. The Holy Name Society for men, a sewing club for the ladies, Children of Mary Society for the girls, a boys' sodality, the Men's Democratic Club, of West Roxbury, a Catholic club of three hundred and twenty-five men, and a Boy Scout club, which owns a building at Storrow Camp, where the Scouts spend the sum- mer, all are active and loyal in the general work of the parish and in support of the build- ing plans which are transforming the church property.
In the short period of his pastorate at St. Theresa's, Father Lyons has made radical changes for the better, and there is every pros- pect that the years of his incumbency here will be years long to be remembered by St. The- resa's.
REV. WILLIAM H. FINNICK-Since June, 1926, Rev. William H. Finnick has been pastor of St. Bernard's Church, of Concord, Massachusetts, and in the short space of less than two and a half years he has made ex- tensive improvements to the church property, has stimulated the general life of the parish, built up the church organizations and given to his people a wise and vigorous administration.
Rev. William H. Finnick was born in Chelms- ford, Massachusetts, June 22, 1876, son of Charles Finnick, a native of Ireland, who came to this country and was engaged in farming to the time of his death at the age of seventy, and of Mary (McKennedy) Finnick, also a native of Ireland, who reared seven children. She died at the age of seventy-five years. Father Finnick attended the local public schools and St. Patrick's parochial school, of Lowell,
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and then entered Holy Cross College, at Worcester. When his course there was finished he began his preparation for the priesthood in St. John's Seminary, at Brighton, Massachu- setts, where after graduation, he was ordained a priest on December 22, 1899. He was then assigned to the Church of the Immaculate Con- ception, at Marlborough, and there he remained for a period of twenty-three years, as curate and assistant. At the end of that time he was transferred to St. Joseph's Church at East Woburn, and was made a pastor, remaining in that parish for four years. On June 20, 1926, he was transferred again, this time to his present charge, the parish of St. Bernard's, at Concord, and here he is giving the full bene- fit of his years of experience elsewhere. St. Bernard's is a very old parish, numbering now (1929) about one thousand souls, and the church edifice which dates back many years, was formerly used as a Baptist church, then sold to Samuel Staples, who, in turn, sold it to Rev. Father Flood, of Waltham, who was pastor here and had charge of the Concord district. The church seats about nine hundred on the floor and seventy-five in the choir loft, the latter having a very rich-toned organ built by Hook & Hastings. The church is appropriately furnished and decorated. The beautiful cen- tral altar is of most artistic design, the two smaller altars, one on either side of the cen- tral one, are also of excellent design and work- manship, and two magnificent memorial win- dows, on the right and left of the altars, greatly enhance the loveliness of the front part of the interior. Eight more stained glass memo- rial windows sift the light into mellowness as it streams into the church, and in the vestibule are two more, these also being me- morial windows. The pews are of oak, and the color scheme is beautiful and harmonious, creating a restful atmosphere and intensifying the sense of quiet and peace which pervades the church. The rectory which is over two hundred years old was formerly the old Mid- dlesex County House, which was in charge of Mr. Staples, who finally turned it over to Father Flood. It has a gabled roof of gigantic tiles,
known as terra cotta tiles, estimated as a whole as weighing some eighteen tons. The walls are known as Penn hydraulic brick.
Father Finnick has made extensive improve- ments since coming here in 1926. He has built a shrine for the Little Flower Society, the church owns Monument Hall, which seats some six hundred people and in which all kinds of entertainments and social functions are given, and he is contemplating other im- provements. The church has the usual societies and sodalities, including the Holy Rosary So- ciety for women and the Holy Name Society for men. In all the work of the various organizations Father Finnick has encouraged endeavor, stimulated interest, and inspired his parishioners to greater effort. Throughout the parish, and also in the community in general he has the esteem and the best wishes of the citizens of the community.
REV. WILLIAM T. O'CONNOR-Since 1918 Rev. William T. O'Connor has been the energetic and efficient pastor of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in West Quincy, Massachusetts, and during the ten years of his pastorate here he has completed a large amount of remodeling and enlarging and has pur- chased the valuable bit of property known as St. Mary's Hall, as well as other properties which will be used in future extensions of the parish activities. Father O'Connor is a gradu- ate of Boston College and of Niagara Univer- sity, and has been in the active service of the church for thirty-four years. He has the en- tire confidence of his parish and of the com- munity in which he labors, and the work which he has already accomplished is but the begin- ning of the achievements planned for the future.
Rev. William T. O'Connor was born in East Weymouth, Massachusetts, December 31, 1867, and received his first school training in the place of his birth. When his preparatory
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courses were completed he matriculated in Bos- ton College, that institution which has pre- pared so many of the priests of this country for their theological training, and when he was ready to begin his definite theological training he entered Niagara University, where he was ordained a priest, May 19, 1894. After his or- dination he was assigned to Wakefield, Massa- chusetts, where he served as assistant for a period of twenty years. At the end of that time he was appointed a pastor and assigned to Nahant, Massachusetts, and there he per- formed worthy service from 1913 to 1918. The church, which seats about six hundred, was entirely remodeled, the parish house was pur- chased, and all the church property was put into splendid condition. The spiritual life of the parish, too, was greatly stimulated and strengthened, and the young pastor proved to be an able leader of his flock. In 1918 Father O'Connor was appointed pastor of St. Mary's Church in West Quincy, and for the past ten years he has been devoting his full energy to the task of developing the possibilities of this parish, both materially and spiritually.
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