USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Metropolitan Boston; a modern history; Volume V > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
Father Fitton was one of the outstanding fig- ures in the work of the Catholic church in New England for many years and the builder of many churches. Born in Boston in 1805, of an English father, and a mother of Welsh lineage, who was a convert to the Catholic faith, he was baptized by Father Matignon, educated by Bishops Cheverus and Fenwick, and before his ordination as a priest was a teacher. It is an interesting fact that John J. Williams, later Archbishop of Boston, was one of his pupils. Bishop Fenwick directed the completion of Father Fitton's training for the priesthood, and ordained him, in the ember days of December, 1827. For several years Father Fitton was a missionary priest traveling throughout New England, and in 1828 he gave religious instruc- tion to the Passamaquoddy Indians. Later, he established the first Catholic church in Hart- ford, and the first in Springfield. In 1832, he opened a Catholic boarding house in Worcester, and this was the origin of Holy Cross College. In 1849 he went to Newport, Rhode Island, and in 1855 he came to East Boston as pastor of the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer. He died in 1881, and was succeeded by Rev. L. P. Mc- Carthy, who was born in East Boston, ordained in 1870, and who from 1870 to 1876 had served as Father Fitton's assistant at the Sacred Heart parish, which was ministered to by the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer. In 1877 he was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart parish and he remained there until the death of Father Fitton in 1881, when he was made pastor of the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer. Father Fitton had founded a school here in 1859, and this, in 1928, took care of six hundred and fifty pupils. In 1892 a new high school was built and named in honor of Father Fitton, the Fitton School. This splendid school is presided over by seventeen Sisters of Notre Dame, who prepare the stu- dents for college.
The Church of the Most Holy Redeemer has at the time of writing (1928) a membership of more than five hundred families, and to the work of ministering to these Father Whalen is giving his best effort, ably carrying on the work which was so well begun by his prede-
81
METROPOLITAN BOSTON
cessors and proving himself a worthy successor of even the great Father Fitton.
REV. WILLIAM J. FENNESSY-When Rev. William J. Fennessy came to St. Colman's Church in Brockton, as pastor, he had had about eighteen years of experience in some five dif- ferent localities. At this time only a part of the present basement of the church had been built. In April, 1929, it is expected that serv- ices will be held in the beautiful new church edifice which is now nearing completion. Father Fennessy has accomplished a fine work during the thirteen years of his pastorate here, and the completion of the beautiful building now under construction represents the realization of the plans of many years. The building is a worthy fulfillment of his hopes and plans, and the town as well as the members of the parish appreciate the fact that the new church is a real contribu- tion to the beauty of the neighborhood.
that was not so large as it is at the present time, and Father Fennessy shortly began to build an addition to the lower church, making it one hundred and twenty-six feet long and fifty-six feet wide. From the time he took charge of the parish he looked forward to the time when the upper church might be erected, and now (1929) his hopes are being realized. The new church of seam-faced Weymouth gran-
ite is nearing completion, it provides seating for eight hundred people, and is worthy in every way of the parish which it will serve and the town which it graces. It is located on a corner of Wendell Avenue and Lyman Street and its grounds will be laid out in harmony with the church building and the surrounding neighbor- hood, and both the interior and the exterior of the church will be finished beautifully and in the most harmonious manner. A tower sixty-five feet high gives dignity as well as charm to the structure, and one of the best of landscape gardeners will add his bit to the work of making a harmonious blending of building and grounds. The interior of the church is being finished ac- cording to the demands of the best taste and the highest quality of workmanship, and one of the the other harmonies of line, proportion, and color the still more subtle and inspiring har- monies of sound. Accommodations are pro- vided in the choir loft for a mixed choir, and there is also a spacious room provided for the convenience of a boys' choir. There are three very beautiful altars of oak. The sanctuary is most beautifully finished in oak and well pro- portioned, all of the finest workmanship, and the pews are of solid oak. A vast amount of planning has been necessary in the construction of this beautiful new building, and to Father Fennessy its completion will represent an im- portant milestone in the history of his service in St. Colman's parish.
Rev. William J. Fennessy was born February . finest organs that can be procured will add to 2, 1867, in Framingham, Massachusetts, and re- ceived his early education in the public schools of his birthplace. When his preparatory course was completed he matriculated in Montreal Col- lege, and after completing his course there he began to study in St. Joseph's Seminary, at Troy, New York, where he received his theo- logical degree and was ordained in 1885. His first appointment was to the Church of the Im- maculate Conception in Marlboro, Massachu- setts, as a curate. He was later sent to Dedham, Massachusetts, going from there to St. Joseph's Church in Roxbury. From there he went to Gloucester, where he remained until coming to Brockton, where, in 1915, he was appointed pastor of St. Colman's Church, and since that Since Father Fennessy came to this parish it has nearly doubled in size, and all the or- ganizations formed in connection with the church have greatly increased both in mem- bership and activities. The fact that the cor- nerstone of the upper church was laid in Oc- time he has been devoting himself to the task of organizing the forces of the parish, raising money for the new church, and generally pro- moting the spiritual life of the parish. The con- gregation was worshipping in the basement, but
Bos.ii-6
82
METROPOLITAN BOSTON
tober, 1928, and is to be completed in April, 1929, is eloquent testimony both to the carefulness of the planning and to the efficiency of the methods by which the necessary funds have been raised. The rectory was built in 1910, five years before the coming of Father Fennessy, and is a com- modious residence containing eighteen rooms.
Zeal, ability, and steady aim have enabled Father Fennessy to accomplish a splendid work here, and in the years to come the church edi- fice will stand as a lasting memorial to his devotion and ability, as well as to his good taste. During his work in this parish Father Fennessy has been supported by various able curates. He is highly respected in the com- munity, as well as among his parishioners, and is exerting a strong influence for good among the people of his parish.
REV. THOMAS C. GARRAHAN, who was pastor of the Church of St. John the Evangelist, of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, until November 7, 1928, when he was assigned to the Church of the Sacred Heart, of East Boston, is well known in the Boston diocese.
Rev. Thomas C. Garrahan was born in Framingham, Massachusetts, November 24, 1874, son of Christopher T., who was one of the first of the Catholic faith to settle in that town. As early as 1840 Christopher Garrahan located in Framingham, where he followed the trade of a mason to the time of his retirement, and where he died in 1904, at the age of eighty years. He married Catherine Ford, who died in 1917, aged eigthy-three years, and they were the parents of eight children, of whom only two are living: John F., a mason by trade, who lives in Framingham; and Rev. Thomas C. Margaret A., who died in 1925, was also a resident of Framingham. Father Garrahan at- tended the local public schools, graduating from Framingham High School with the class of 1895, and then entered Boston College. After graduating from this college in 1898, he en-
tered St. John's Seminary, at Brighton, Massa- chusetts, where he remained until he was grad- uated and ordained a priest by the late Bishop Brady, on December 19, 1902. His first as- signment was to St. Mary's of the Assumption, in Brookline, where he remained ten months. In October, 1903, he was assigned to St. Stephen's Church in his home town, Framing- ham, as assistant. He was also appointed chaplain of the Women's Reformatory, at Fram- ingham, and for a period of twenty-three years he was the able helper and friend of the beloved Father Heffernan. He was greatly beloved in St. Stephen's where his love of children was especially noticeable, his appearance upon the street being the signal for the prompt gathering of groups of "his boys." At the Women's Reformatory, too, his work made him greatly beloved and respected, and the superintendent, Miss Jessie Hodder, also the matrons and in- mates, paid sincere tributes to the value of his service, at the time of his leaving. Between the time of the failure of Father Heffernan's health and the taking over of the parish of St. Stephen's by Rev. James H. Flannery, Father Garrahan was acting pastor, and on May 24, 1926, he began his duties as pastor of the Church of St. John the Evangelist at Hopkinton.
The parish of St. John the Evangelist traces its early beginnings to the parish of Milford, formed in 1846, but it was not made a separate parish until August, 1877. When the parish of Milford was formed in 1846, it included the pres- ent parishes of Hopkinton, Medway, Holliston, Ashland, Upton, Marlboro, Maynard, Rock Bot- tom, Westboro, and Cordaville. Rev. Father Boyce, of Worcester, was appointed first pastor, with an assistant, Rev. Father Gibson, who in- stituted regular monthly services in the various towns, the priest traveling from place to place to minister to the various groups. Prior to this time Catholics of Hopkinton had attended Mass at the homes of Dominic McDevitt and Edward McGovern, both of Milford, but after the arrival of Father Boyce services were held at the home of John McDonough. In Novem- ber, 1849, a meeting was held at the home
Rev. Thomas l. Garrahan
83
METROPOLITAN BOSTON
of John Wilson, a non-Catholic, for the purpose of devising means for the erection of a church building. The twenty-two men from Hopkin- ton were enthusiastic, and seven hundred dol- lars were subscribed within a few moments. A citizen, E. A. Bates, who owned considerable property on Cedar Street, offered an acre of land and two hundred dollars, provided a build- ing was erected within a certain time, and the offer was accepted, but the building was not begun before 1851. Toward the close of 1849, Father Boyce was succeeded by Father Ham- ilton, who immediately undertook the task of erecting the church, but he was succeeded by Father Farilly the next year, and it was the lat- ter who built St. Malachi's Church, in 1851. Father Farilly was transferred to Milford in 1854, and died there in August, 1857, after which Rev. P. Cuddihy was appointed, and he divided the parish, keeping Milford, Hopkinton, Med- way, Holliston, Marlboro, and Upton. In 1866, Father Cuddihy gave up Hopkinton, Marlboro, and Ashland, and upon the retirement of Father Cuddihy in July, 1866, his curate, Father Bar- ry, was appointed first resident pastor of Hop- kinton, with Westboro, Ashland, and Cordaville also in his charge. This was the real begin- ning of Hopkinton parish. On April 23, 1870, Father Barry was succeeded by Father Minetti, an Italian by birth, but he returned to Italy in October, 1872, giving place to Father John P. Ryan. Soon after this the Boston Diocese was divided, Westboro and Cordaville being given to Springfield Diocese. This left Hop- kinton and Ashland as one parish.
In August, 1877, Hopkinton was made a separate parish, and Rev. John S. Cullen, curate at Hopkinton, was transferred to Ashland, as pastor. Meanwhile, the establishment of fac- tories in Hopkinton had greatly increased the Catholic population, until the number had reached two thousand. St. Malachi's Church was in poor condition and not large enough, and in 1875 arrangements had been made for the erection of a granite edifice to be known as the Church of St. John the Evangelist. Land on Church Street was purchased at a cost of $6,000. From a natural vein of granite run-
ning through Hopkinton, Mathew Gannon gave the material from his quarry on Ash Street, and the laying of the foundation of the new building was begun in May, 1876, the first sod being turned by Father Ryan, who super- vised the entire work until January 11, 1881, when failing health made it necessary that he leave his work. The building had been com- pleted, except the upper church interior and the spire, and St. Malachi's had been torn down and disposed of. Father Ryan had paid during 1880, $13,000 of the debt, which had totalled less than $25,000, and his death in March of that same year brought deep sadness to the parish. He was buried from the church which he had built, March 29, 1881, and on Sunday, April 24, 1881, Father Mohan took charge as pastor. By 1888 the debt was liquidated. On the morning of April 4, 1882, citizens of Hop- kinton were awakened by the burning of the principal factory of the town. Then came the announcement of the fact that the company would rebuild not in Hopkinton, but in Fram- ingham. This was a severe blow to Hopkinton, but Father Mohan went on with the reducing of the church debt, and on June 6, 1885, Rev. M. D. Murphy, of Woburn, took charge of the parish. In four years' time the church was dedicated, and a parish reunion was celebrated, Most Rev. Archbishop Williams performing the dedication ceremony and celebrating pon- tifical high Mass, and Most Rev. Archbishop Ryan, of Philadelphia, delivering the sermon. The death of Father Murphy occurred two years later, and he was succeeded by Rev. John F. Cummings, who has since risen to a very high place in the diocese of Boston. He accomplished much for St. John's in the seven years of his pastorate, and was suc- ceeded in June, 1900, by Rev. John C. Cronley, during whose pastorate the beautiful new rec- tory on Main Street was purchased. This was originally the home of one of the most pros- perous boot shop owners in town, relic of the days when Hopkinton was engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, but it was remodelled and transformed into the present beautiful building which graces the church
84
METROPOLITAN BOSTON
property. Father Cronley was succeeded by Rev. Francis X. Dolan, D. D., who served until 1915. Rev. Father Keating was the next pastor, and during his short pastorate of three years the last mortgage was cancelled and the church property freed from debt. Rev. James H. Flannery took charge in 1918, and remained until the spring of 1926, when he was trans- ferred to St. Stephen's Church in Framingham, where he is still doing a splendid work.
On May 24, 1926, Rev. Thomas C. Garrahan took charge of the parish of St. John the Evangelist, of Hopkinton. He immediately re- established the devotional exercises, ceremonies, and parish activities of earlier days, and de- voted himself to the carrying out of a program which brought improvement in every depart- ment of the parish life. As ever, his special care was for the children and young people, and a notable result of his teaching and example was the dedication of their lives to the service of God by three young men of the parish who have begun study for the missionary priest- hood. By his efforts much was accomplished financially for the Propagation of the Faith So- ciety; and a memorial room at Maryknoll was established. The church property, too, received special attention, and much was accomplished, including rearrangements, improvements, and artistic decorations, better lighting and heating facilities, restoration of all the bells and of the pinnacle crosses, the replacement of old walks with monolith squares, and the insertion of glass in the outer doors of the lower chapel.
Situated on one of the highest points of Mid- dlesex County, the Church of St. John the Evangelist is one of the most attractive church buildings in Central Massachusetts, and it is the church home of one of the most loyal groups of parishioners to be found anywhere. Built, as it is, of native granite, well designed by one of the best architects, its interior has been made as beautiful as its exterior. The roof is supported by six massive columns, and numerous stained glass windows soften and mellow the light as its enters. Twelve me- morial windows, a large round stained glass
window in the back of the choir loft, which seats about seventy-five, and a number of beautiful stained glass windows over the cen- tral altar, together with seven large oil paintings by the Masters, depict the principal events in the life of the Saviour. The windows' effect is a soft radiance of light over the interior with its oak pews and its harmonious decorations, and a very beautiful brass handrail with two adoring angels on either side of the altar add a distinctive touch to the environs of the altar. In Father Garrahan the parish had a pastor worthy of its splendid past and of its future hope.
On December 19, 1927, Father Garrahan observed the twenty-fifth anniversary of his or- dination to the priesthood. After celebrating a solemn high Mass at 10:30 A. M., he en- tertained relatives at dinner, and in the evening he was tendered a testimonial by the members of his parish. An earnest worker for the parish and a generous helper in promoting the general welfare of the town, Father Garrahan was popular with all classes of people in Hop- kinton, and when, on November 7, 1928, after two and a half years of most successful work in Hopkinton, he left to take up his duties in the Sacred Heart Parish in East Boston, leav- ing his successor, Rev. W. J. Duffy, in his place, he left a host of friends behind him.
The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in East Boston, to which Father Garrahan has been assigned, was built by the beloved Father Fitton, while he was pastor of the Church of the Holy Redeemer, the land being purchased in 1869 and the church built in 1873-74. The church was dedicated by Archbishop Williams on the feast day of the Sacred Heart in 1874, and from 1874 to 1881, Rev. L. P. McCarthy, the first pastor, worked for the interest of the parish. He was succeeded by Rev. Michael Clarke, who erected a handsome parochial residence and a large schoolhouse. In 1906 Rev. James H. O'Neil was made pastor of the Church of the Sacred Heart, and for twenty-two years he served there most faithful and ably. He died in 1928, and it is as his successor that
85
METROPOLITAN BOSTON
Father Garrahan has taken up his pastoral du- ties at Sacred Heart Church, in East Boston.
REV. CHARLES J. SULLIVAN-As pas- tor of St. Lawrence's Church, in the Chestnut Hill section, Rev. Charles J. Sullivan has been doing an effective work in Brookline since 1926.
St. Lawrence's Church, of Brookline, Massa- chusetts, is an outgrowth of the Church of St. Mary of the Assumption, of which it was formerly a mission. A pastor of the mother church selected and purchased the site on upper Boylston Street and erected there a mission chapel in which the first services were held on Easter Sunday, 1897. Two weeks later the edifice was dedicated. In January, 1898, a new parish was defined, and Rev. Thomas F. McManus, previously curate of St. Patrick's Church, Lowell, was assigned the task of or; ganization. The congregation then numbered between eight and nine hundred, chiefly Irish- Americans, with a sprinkling of Canadians. Since that time the congregation has increased to about 1600 souls, and the church property as well as the parish activities has been much enlarged and improved. The present church is of stone, unconventional and attractive in design, and is well planned to meet the needs of the parish. There is a Sunday school with an enrollment of about three hundred children, and every department of the church and parish is growing.
Rev. Charles J. Sullivan was born in Norwich, Connecticut, but as a boy came to Boston, where for a time he attended school. Later, he returned to Connecticut and continued his studies in the public schools of Stafford Springs, graduating from the high school there. He then matriculated in St. Charles' College, in Baltimore, Maryland, from which he was grad- uated in due time. He was now ready for his theological training, which he received in St. John's Seminary, at Brighton, Massachu- setts, completing his course there with grad-
uation and being ordained a priest, May 24, 1904. After his ordination he went to Rome, and for two years continued his studies in the American College there, receiving at the end of that time the degree of Doctor of Canon Law. Upon his return to this country he was located at Medford, Massachusetts, for a year and then assigned to the Gate of Heaven Church, at South Boston, where he remained for two years. His next appointment was to St. Cecelia's Church, in Boston, and there he remained for another two years. At the end of that time he began a long period of diocesan work, first as vice-chancellor under Cardinal O'Connell, in which position he served for ten years, then as secretary to Cardinal O'Connell for four years, making, in all, fourteen years of diocesan work. He was then made a pastor and assigned to St. Andrew's Church at North Billerica. There he remained from 1923 to 1926, during which time he built a chapel at Nulling's Lake, and in addition to his parochial work, had charge of two missons. In 1926 he came to his present charge as pastor of St. Lawrence's Church in Brookline.
Since coming here Father Sullivan has made extensive improvements to the church property. He has laid out the grounds most beautifully, has changed and improved the rectory, build- ing a large addition to the old structure and making numerous repairs and changes in the older parts. He has also redecorated the church and put down new carpets. He takes a very active interest in the various organ- izations of the parish as well as in the large and flourishing Sunday school, and is stimulating the interests and activities of all of the societies. There is a Holy Name Society, a Blessed Vir- gin Society, a sodality for the boys, a Junior Society for both boys and girls, connected with the Sunday school, and a Knights of Colum- bus organization.
Although Father Sullivan has spent much time and energy in diocesan work, he has also been able to accomplish a vast amount of valuable work in the various parishes with which he has been associated, winning the hearty cooperation of his parishioners and the
ยท
86
METROPOLITAN BOSTON
approval of the citizens of the communities in which he has served. In Brookline, he is receiving the earnest support and cooperation of his people, and in this work he is ably as- sisted by Father Cassidy, who has been an assistant in Brookline for twenty years, and by Father Mullin, who has been located here for five years.
REV. JOHN H. LYONS-In Abington, Massachusetts, Rev. John H. Lyons has for more than thirteen years been the devoted and efficient pastor of St. Bridget's Church. He has greatly strengthened every department of the parish organization and put buildings and grounds in splendid condition.
St. Bridget's Church, of Abington, is one of the older churches of Plymouth County. Be- fore 1850 services were held for the few Catho- lics of the town of Abington by clergymen from Quincy, among whom Rev. Bernard Carraher and Rev. J. T. Roddan are especially mentioned in the records. In 1851 Father Roddan was made pastor of Randolph, and from that place began to devote more attention to the increas- ing Catholic element in Abington. In 1854 he purchased seven acres of land in East Abing- ton, now Rockland, but later another site was preferred and his purchase became a Catholic cemetery. From 1856 to 1863 Rev. Aaron L. Roche was pastor at Randolph and served the people of Abington. By this time increasing numbers of Catholics had made necessary a local house of worship in Abington. A lot was obtained, and in 1863 the present church, standing at the corner of Plymouth and Central streets, was erected. It was dedicated by Bishop McFarland of Hartford. A new parish was now formed, including Abington, Rockland, Whitman, Hanover, Hanson, Halifax, Marsh- field, Kingston, Plympton, Duxbury, and Ply- mouth, over which large area, but compara- tively small congregation, Father Roche was
appointed pastor. Upon his death in 1869 Rev. Michael Moran was made pastor, but in 1872 he was transferred to St. Stephen's parish in Boston and was succeeded by Rev. James C. Murphy. Father Murphy purchased an estate for a church in Rockland and erected a church in Plymouth, and in 1876 he was transferred to the last-mentioned town, where he labored to the time of his death in 1879. Rev. William P. McQuaid was the next pastor at Abington, and he accomplished a great work in develop- ing the missions. In 1880 he erected churches at South Abington and at Hanover, and in 1882 at Rockland. In 1883 Rockland, with Hanover and Pembroke, was made a separate parish and given over to the care of Rev. John D. Tierney. South Abington, afterwards known as Whit- man, remained a mission of Abington until more than ten years later. In 1887 Father McQuaid was transferred to St. James' Church in Bos- ton and Rev. John F. Mundy was pastor at Abington for a time. He was soon succeeded by Rev. George J. Patterson, who improved the rectory and grounds, bought land for parish purposes in the rear of the church, and greatly stimulated the activities of the various parish organizations. He gave encouragement to the Young Men's Catholic Lyceum, an association founded in 1878 and occupying quarters in the old Town Hall, opposite the church. In 1897 Father Patterson was succeeded by Rev. P. H. Billings. Father Billings built the present rec- tory in 1904, and continued to lead the life of the parish until 1916, when he was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. John H. Lyons.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.