USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Metropolitan Boston; a modern history; Volume V > Part 6
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A man of great ability and of deep devotion to his work, the present pastor of St. Stephen's is well fitted to carry on the work so well begun by his illustrious predecessors, Fathers Cullen and Heffernan, and he is already plan- ning more improvements for the charge which is his. He has the entire confidence of his parish and of the community, and is making his influence strongly felt for good among the young people of his parish.
REV. THOMAS R. McCOY, in 1927, was appointed pastor of St. Ann's Church in Som- erville, Massachusetts, where he is steadily de- veloping the parish.
St. Ann's Church of Somerville was built to accommodate the Catholics of Winter Hill, in the northern part of the city. Previously, for some time, Father McGrath, of St. Joseph's, had hired a hall in the Foster School-
house on Sycamore Street and held services there for the residents of that neighborhood. In 1881 a wooden church was built on Thurs- ton Street. It was dedicated on September 25th of that year, and a few days later Rev. John B. Galvin, who had served in St. Mary's, Charlestown, was appointed resident pastor of the new parish. He erected a parsonage on Medford Street in 1885, and these accommo- dations served the parish until 1894, when a singular accident occurred. On November 27, 1894, in the midde of the day when the church had been unoccupied for hours, a fire occurred in the church and almost completely destroyed it. For a time the congregation worshipped in Odd Fellow's Hall, at the corner of Broad- way and Marshall Street, but subsequently the old church, which fronts on a side street, was partially restored and used until the present church was erected on the corner space be- tween the old church and the parochial resi- dence. This is a large Romanesque building, constructed of brick, with stone trimmings, and surmounted by a fine tower. The lower church which has three altars and seats about eight hundred, was finished late in 1898, serv- ices being held there for the first time on Christmas Day of that year, and here the con- gregation worshipped until the upper church was finished in 1899. The exterior of the building compares favorably with that of any of the other churches of Somerville, and the interior is most attractive. The roof of the church is supported by ten arches which rest upon pillars. Eight beautiful memorial win- dows attract the attention, and further toward the altar are two combination windows which contain nearly life-size figures of eight of the Apostles. The upper part of these windows are composed of nine circular windows, of which one on the right is a gift of the Sodality of Blessed Virgin Mary and one on the left is a gift of the Holy Name Society. At the end of the center aisle stands a magnificent gold-tipped altar, and on the right and left are smaller altars, one on each side. Back of the central altar light is admitted through three
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memorial windows. At the rear of the church is the choir loft which provides seating for one hundred singers and has a rich toned organ. It is lighted by four windows, oblong in design at the base, and the upper part forming ten circular windows. The upper church seats about 1,000 people. Father Galvin continued in charge until 1909, when he was succeeded by Father Butler.
Father Butler continued the work which had been so well begun by the first pastor, and in 1915 he organized the parochial school. There were then only three class rooms in the basement of the hall and about one hundred and fifty pupils who were presided over by three Sisters. In February, 1916, a school building was finished and opened with four class rooms. Here the first eight grades are still located. Later a Junior High School was inaugurated and at the present time it has an enrollment of about six hundred and fifty children, who are taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph. The Sisters formerly resided in a small house at No. 103 Sycamore Street, but a convent has been built which accommodates sixteen Sisters. In addition to the regular work of the school, they also have charge of a de- partment of music, and at the present time (1929) about one hundred pupils are being in- structed in this department. The school and the convent are lasting memorials to the en- ergy and devotion of Father Butler, who was greatly beloved and who remained at St. Ann's until 1927, when he was succeeded by the present pastor, Father McCoy.
Rev. Thomas R. McCoy came here Decem- ber 28, 1927, succeeding Father Butler. Father McCoy received his theological training in St. John's Seminary, at Brighton, Massachusetts, where he completed his course with gradua- tion and was ordained a priest in 1899. He was then assigned to the cathedral in Bos- ton, where he served under Archbishop Williams for a period of thirteen years.
Since coming here he has done a splendid work, stimulating every department of the parish activities, and continuing with zeal the
work which his predecessors began. The parish numbers now (1929) about 3,000 souls, and the usual societies and sodalities are flourish- ing. The Holy Name Society, the Blessed Virgin, the Tabernacle Society, for women, in- terested in raising funds for special parish purposes, all are active and rapidly growing in membership. The Sunday School has an enrollment of 1,000 members and is still grow- ing. Father McCoy has won in a high de- gree the confidence and esteem of his parish- ioners, and the work of St. Ann's is going steadily forward.
Father McCoy is chaplain of Mt. Benedict Council, No. 79, Knights of Columbus, in which he takes a very active interest, partici- pating in its plans and achievements, and in- spiring its members to new endeavors.
REV. MICHAEL J. O'CONNOR-Though the history of St. Bridget's Roman Catholic Church, of Framingham, Massachusetts, goes back for more than half a century, it was not until 1911 that it was made a separate parish and given a priest of its own. Since that time it has been served by five able pastors, the fifth of whom is the present popular and greatly ad- mired Rev. Michael J. O'Connor, who to his priestly experience and training has added a lifelong interest and taken a very active part in military affairs, covering a period of over one- quarter of a century.
In the summer of 1869, Rev. John Walsh, pas- tor of St. George's parish of Saxonville, went to Europe, leaving his brother, Rev. Michael Walsh, in charge of the Saxonville parish, which then included all sections of Framingham. It happened that during this time a building which had been erected in 1829, had been used by the Universalists for twenty years, and then sold to the Episcopalians, who used it for ten years, was about to be sold again. Father Michael Walsh perceived that a Catholic population would eventually develop in that neighborhood
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(the building was on Main Street, in Framing- ham Centre) and promptly purchased the build- ing and started what is now the parish of St. Bridget's. Until 1878 the infant parish was cared for from St. George's, by Rev. Antonio J. Rossi, but in that year a new parish was formed to include Ashland, South Framinghanı, and Framingham Centre, with St. Bridget's as the only church in the district. Services were held in the Town Hall at Ashland until a build- ing was started and South Framingham Catho- lics worshipped in Waverly Hall, with Rev. John Cullen as pastor in charge. In 1883 the parish of St. Stephen's was organized and it then included St. Bridget's Church as a mission. From then until 1911 St. Bridget's was part of St. Stephen's parish, under the pastorate of the Rev. John F. Heffernan, services being held there regularly with the pastor and curates of St. Stephen's in charge.
As the town grew, however, the number of Catholics steadily increased, and on May 12, 1911, Cardinal O'Connell, then archbishop of Boston Archdiocese, announced St. Bridget's as a separate parish and appointed Rev. Augustine D. Malley as the first pastor. He was a vig- orous and efficient man, who had been chaplain of the State Prison for a number of years, and during the early years of his pastorate at St. Bridget's he was chaplain of the Woman's Re- formatory, at Sherborn. He acquired a large tract of land on Worcester Road, and a large dwelling house on the property, thoroughly ren- ovated as a rectory, became the center of many of the activities of the parish. In 1915, after four years of worthy service, Father Malley was succeeded by Rev. Maurice Lynch, who with his fine character and kindly ways endeared himself to many of his parishioners. Early in February, 1917, he left for California, in search of health, but on February 26, 1917, in his fiftieth year, death ended his life of service.
Meantime, Rev. William F. Cahill had been left in charge of St. Bridget's, as acting pastor, which office he filled for two months and then was assigned to Blessed Sacrament Church at Walpole. Rev. Maurice J. O'Connor, D. D., for many years prominent in the Boston Bos.ii-3
Archdiocese, came to St. Bridget's, March 26, 1917, and remained in charge until May 27, 1924. During his pastorate all indebtedness was removed from the church property, more land was purchased, the church was remodeled and thoroughly renovated, and many improvements made in the rectory. A remarkable spirit of cooperation and of aspiration was aroused, and a fund was started for the future erection of a new church edifice. Father O'Connor also took a deep interest in community affairs, was active in the local civic league, serving on the board of trustees for several years, and ac- complished much for Catholic girls attending the State Normal School, organizing the Thomas A'Kempis Club for Catholic girls at that institution. He was a prominent temper- ance worker, for years an active official in the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of the Archdiocese of Boston.
On May 27, 1924, Dr. O'Connor was suc- ceeded by the present pastor, of the same name, Rev. Michael J. O'Connor, who was born in Ireland, but came to this country as a boy and after completing his early and preparatory courses entered Holy Cross College. Before his ordination to the priesthood in 1901, he had served in various military units, and in that service was laid the foundation of his lifelong interest in military affairs. After his ordination he served for six years as curate at Stoneham, Massachusetts, and then was assigned to St. Francis de Sales Church in Roxbury, where he was stationed until the entrance of the United States into the World War. Meantime, while he was still assistant pastor of St. Francis de Sales Church, the trouble between the United States and Mexico brought a call for troops on the border and as chaplain of the "Fighting Ninth," one of the first regiments ready for service, he was with the first group of men who pitched tents on the torrid banks of the Rio Grande. When the troops returned from the Mexican border Father O'Connor resumed his duties at St. Francis de Sales, in Roxbury, but he had been back in his parish but a short time when the troops of the National Guard were sworn into the United States Army and the
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United States entered the World War. The Ninth Regiment was again called into service and again Father O' Connor donned the khaki uniform and was one of the first Catholic chap- lains of the United States Army to arrive in France. There he earned the lasting gratitude and the great admiration of the boys with whom he served, facing death calmly and undisturbed, ministering to the maimed and suffering, coun- seling and advising in times of stress and dan- ger, and, withal, inspiring and cheering through the dark days that followed. After the close of the war Father O'Connor was located at St. Peter's in Cambridge, until 1924, when he came to St. Bridget's Church, in Framingham. The announcement of his appointment to this church was received with great enthusiasm in Framingham, and memories freshened with the thrills of war-time stories of the brave chaplain of the 101st Infantry, formerly the "Fighting Ninth" of the Yankee Division. Not a few young men of St. Bridget's parish had served with him and great was their joy when the announcement of his appointment to St. Bridget's was received. Here Father O'Connor has been giving most efficient and devoted service for the past four years, and in 1926, upon the occasion of the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination, his many friends and admirers had opportunity to express publicly their appreciation of his war- time service. St. George's Theatre, with a seating capacity of fifteen hundred, was filled to overflowing by citizens from all walks in life and of every creed, and four generals, Major-General Clarence R. Edwards, Major- General Edward L. Logan, Brigadier-General Alfred F. Foote, and Brigadier-General Thomas F. Foley, all Yankee Division heroes, were on the stage. Two fellow-chaplains, Chaplain Lyman Rollins and Chaplain Chellis V. Smith, added their testimony to the worth of Father O'Connor's service, the first mentioned, broken in health, traveling one hundred and seventy- eight miles from the mountains of New Hamp- shire, to be present. Rev. Francis Duffy, of the 69th New York, and other clergymen, and rep- resentative citizens and town officials, also spoke
in testimony of the spiritual and patriotic serv- ice of Father O'Connor. A generous purse was presented to Father O'Connor by St. Bridget's parish, Alice M. Dalton making the presentation, while World War veterans and others also made presentations. Father O'Con- nor is proving himself a most worthy successor of the illustrious and successful pastors who have preceded him. He has the high confi- dence of his parishioners and of the church au- thorities, through whose generous contributions to the object he was enabled in the spring of 1929 to begin the erection of a beautiful church of English Gothic style, which will seat about eight hundred people. It is felt that the beau- tiful steel engraving of him found on these pages will be a gratification to his parishioners and many friends.
REV. GEORGE A. REARDON-St. John's Church, in Swampscott, is in charge of the Rev. George A. Reardon, a priest who has won the esteem and affection of his parish and the community. There is no church work in which he is not always ready to take his full part, and many of the societies and organizations con- nected with St. John's owe their development and success to his earnest efforts in their behalf.
Within the sanctuary on the Gospel side, a tablet in memory of the Rev. John C. Harring- ton, rector of St. Joseph's Church, in Lynn, has been erected. Father Harrington was born in 1841, and died in 1913. The first mass celebrated in Swampscott was offered up by Father Har- rington, St. John's Parish being at this time a mission of St. Joseph's, Lynn.
The Rev. Father Colman, born July 26, 1861, was the first resident pastor, and accomplished a great amount of work during his pastorate. Following Father Colman's death, the people of the parish erected in his honor a tablet "to perpetuate the memory of his unswerving fidel- ity to the sacred cause of religion and Catholic
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education and as an affectionate tribute of gratitude and love for the incomparable bless- ings of his apostolic zeal and ardent charity." These tablets are on the walls of the church to the right and left of the altar.
The present pastor of St. John's, Father Reardon, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, January 23, 1873, educated in Boston College and at St. John's Seminary, where he was ordained a priest December 16, 1898. His first charge was as an assistant to Father J. Rossi, at Brigh- ton, where he remained until July 16, 1920. In that year he was assigned to Ayer, where he was made pastor and remained until July, 1923, when he was appointed pastor of St. John's Church.
St. John's Church itself is one of the loveliest edifices of its kind to be found in its vicinity. Entering at the center aisle, one sees ahead the marble altar, to the right and to the left two smaller altars. Light is admitted to the chancel by six beautiful stained glass memorial win- dows, while the church proper is illuminated by twenty-four stained glass windows, twelve on either side, and the organ loft is lighted in this way by a rose window. The pews, carved of thick oak, give an impression of rich but quiet dignity. The church, which was founded in May, 1904, is situated on Shore Drive, Swampscott, in the heart of this town's residential district. It became a resident parish in 1906, Father Patrick Colman having been its first pastor. The parish now consists of about one hundred and fifty families, while the church itself seats about a thousand persons.
A twelve-room school was built for the edu- cation of the children of the parish by Father Colman in 1922. About three hundred and fifty children are daily attending school. Beside the elementary grades, a junior high school has been established. The school is under the direction of the Sisters of St. Joseph's. For their ac- commodation Father Reardon, in 1927, com- pleted a lovely convent. He is assisted in his work by two priests, the Rev. Francis T. Ma- honey and the Rev. Joseph H. Casey. The beau- tiful rectory built in connection with the church contains about twenty-five rooms.
REV. HUGH M. SMITH-One of the hand- some churches of the Boston Archdiocese is St. Joseph's Church of Needham, Massachusetts. It is presided over by Rev. Hugh M. Smith. Father Smith was born at Castle Tara, Cavan County, Ireland, on August 22, 1864. After at- tending the public schools of his native place he took up classical studies at the Royal University in Dublin. Coming to this country in 1891 he entered Niagara University, New York, where after a successful course he won class honors. With the intention of studying for the priest- hood he took up divinity studies at Mt. St. Mary's College, Maryland, and was ordained a priest of the Boston Archdiocese by Cardinal Gibbons on June 19, 1896, in the cathedral of Baltimore. His first assignment was as as- sistant pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Brockton, where he remained until 1902. He was ap- pointed the first pastor of St. Edward's Church, Medfield. For twenty-one years he remained in Medfield. He had the satisfaction of seeing the parish which he founded gaining in number, in- creasing in influence, working with its pastor for the moral and spiritual welfare of the com- munity without distinction of creed. In town affairs Father Smith always took an active part. He frequently appealed to his fellow- townsmen, saying, "As citizens of this beautiful town, instead of fighting among ourselves and sewing the seeds of hatred, should we not work together for the common good of all?" He was one of the charter members of the local Board of Trade and served for two years as its pres- ident. He was the first priest to say Mass at Medfield State Hospital and this service has continued every Sunday up to the present time, thus giving comfort and consolation to the patients at that institution. His years in Med- field were years of service and sacrifice and many outside his own congregation appreciated his noble work. When eventually he was trans- ferred to Needham by Cardinal O'Connell, the parish which he organized amid difficulties, was in a flourishing condition and free from debt. When the news of his transfer spread through the town of Medfield a farewell reception was hastily arranged and the ministers of all the de-
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nominations in the town attended the meeting and paid eloquent and impressive tributes of respect and esteem for Father Smith, wishing him every success in his new field of activity. When he arrived in Needham in July, 1923, he found the parish loaded down with a heavy debt, but thanks to the kind and generous co- operation of his parishioners, he has already paid off $40,000 principal and interest. But, besides reducing the debt of the church, he purchased new property adjoining the rectory on Highland Avenue, consisting of 17,000 square feet of land at a cost of $10,000. In speaking of this new acquisition, Father Smith declared in a statement to his parishioners: "After mature consideration we decided to buy this property before any undesirable building or developments are placed upon it. A church whose activities for the benefit of mankind will continue through the centuries, should make provisions for future needs. In view of the past achievements of this parish no man can set limits to its future progress. Some day a school or convent will stand on this lot. In the meantime it is our plan and purpose to make our church property one of the beauty spots of Needham. It will reflect the spirit which has made Needham one of the nicest towns in New England."
REV. FRANCIS W. MALEY-Since 1922 the pastor of the Church of St. Joseph, of East Lynn, has been the Rev. Francis W. Maley, a native of Boston.
Rev. Francis W. Maley was born in Boston, Massachusetts, November 30, 1857. As a boy he attended the local public schools, and later continued in his studies in the Boston Latin School, after which he matriculated in Boston College, from which he was graduated with an honorable record. He then entered St. John's
Seminary, at Brighton, Massachusetts. Gradu- ating from this, he entered the Catholic Uni- versity of Washington, District of Columbia, where he received his theological degrees and was ordained a priest in 1903. Following his ordination he was appointed to the Church of St. Francis de Sales, in Charlestown, as a curate, and after a term of service there was trans- ferred to St. Augustine's Church in South Bos- ton. His third appointment was to the Church of St. John, in East Bridgewater, where he was made a pastor in 1897. He was later trans- ferred to the Church of the Annunciation in Danvers, then to St. Joseph's Church in West End of Boston, where he remained until 1922, when he came to the Church of St. Joseph in East Lynn. Meantime, in 1897, he had con- tinued his studies and received the degree of Master of Arts from Boston College.
The mother parish, St. Mary's, the oldest of the parishes of Lynn, was founded in 1835, and for nearly forty years it remained undivided, uniting the faithful in all parts of the city into one church. By 1874 the house of assembly was outgrown and the district east of the depot was set off as a separate parish and dedicated to St. Joseph. The task of organizing the new parish was entrusted to Rev. John C. Harring- ton, who had previously been a curate at St. Mary's. A site was purchased at the corner of West Green and Union streets, and in 1875 the cornerstone of the present church edifice was laid, and the lower church was dedicated July 4, 1875, by Bishop Williams. Ten years later the upper church was completed and dedi- cated, with a seating capacity of twelve hun- dred. The church is well designed and con- structed. The interior is of very rich design, and furnished with oak pews and beautiful altars and windows, and its decorative character and fine situation make it a conspicuous land- mark in this section of the city. The rectory on Green Street was built in 1916 by Father Edward J. Dolan. It is of Colonial design, built of tapestry brick, with stone trimmings, containing twenty-five rooms. Father Dolan served here from 1913 to 1922. Near the rectory is the parish school, built of brick, with stone
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trimmings, three stories high. The school has an enrollment of nine hundred children and is presided over by twenty Sisters of St. Joseph, who live in the convent, which contains thirty- two rooms and provides accommodations for twenty-five sisters. In 1925, Father Maley com- pleted an extensive addition to the convent, also renovated the school building, and redeco- rated the church edifice. The parish also owns a cemetery on Boston Street, near Cedar Pond, and Father Maley has spent a vast amount of time and labor beautifying this consecrated ground, making of it one of the finest cemeteries in this section of the State.
In all the work of the parish, the various so- cieties and sodalities, the school, the church ministrations, Father Maley has taken a deep and abiding interest and has served with devo- tion and consecration. In the schools, especially, he has labored long and effectively for the de- velopment of the best possible curriculum and teaching force, and he has the satisfaction of knowing that the parochial school of St. Jo- seph's is doing its work faithfully and well. The parish numbers about 6,300 souls, and in the work of caring for this large number Father Maley is assisted by Father William J. Clarke, Father Michael Heenan, and Father Neil J. Hurley.
As faithful pastor, sympathetic friend, and trusted adviser, Father Maley has won the entire confidence and esteem of his many parish- ioners and associates, and all accord him the deference which is his due.
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