USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Metropolitan Boston; a modern history; Volume V > Part 7
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REV. JOHN H. HARRIGAN-Among the most beautiful churches of the Boston Diocese is St. Ambrose' Church, of Fields Corner, Dorchester, Massachusetts, which was built and furnished under the direction of Rev. John H. Harrigan in 1915. The history of the parish
and of Father Harrigan's service here run parallel, for St. Ambrose has known no other pastor than its present able and devoted one, and the thriving condition of its affairs is due to Father Harrigan and to his many faith- ful parishioners who have given to him whole- souled cooperation and support.
In 1914 there were no church buildings in this district, neither was there a parish organi- zation. In that year Father Harrigan organ- ized the parish and gave it the name of St. Ambrose, to whom the soon-to-be erected church building was to be dedicated. He then promptly set about the task of building a place of worship, and by November, 1915, the lower church was completed and ready for occu- pancy. There the congregation assembled and there all church services were held until the growth of the parish warranted the building of the upper church, which was begun in 1920 and finished in February, 1921, when it was blessed by His Eminence Cardinal O'Connell. The church is in English Gothic Style, built of brick with granite trimmings, and, as has already been stated, is one of the most beauti- ful in the diocese. The lower church, which seats twelve hundred people, is fitted with a large central altar and two smaller ones, and has a choir loft which provides for about fifty singers. The upper church, which seats four- teen hundred people, is entered by three beauti- ful doors in each of which are set six stained glass panels. The center aisle leads to one of the most beautiful altars to be found any- where in this country. Designed by the fam- ous Carrara, of Italy, and executed by the most skilled artisans in this highly specialized field, this altar, of carefully selected Italian marble, is one of rare grace and beauty and is greatly admired by every casual visitor, as well as by the parishioners of St. Ambrose. Over the altar is a wonderful window in stained glass, representing the Last Supper, while on the left and right, respectively, are handsome windows, twelve by fifteen feet, rep- resenting the birth of Christ and the Resurrec- tion. On each side of the church are five stained glass windows, one of which, represent-
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ing Christ blessing little children, was given by the Holy Name Society, while another was presented by the St. Ambrose Society, and still another portrays Christ preaching to the elders in the temple. In the rear of the church over the choir loft is a large stained glass window of especially beautiful design, the lower part showing five panels and the upper part, in circular form, composed of twelve dis- tinct parts, representing the life of St. Ambrose. All of these windows were made in Munich, Bavaria, and are of the finest design and work- manship, equalling if not surpassing any to be found in this country. Around the walls of the church are fourteen stations of the cross executed in Munich. The choir loft of the upper church provides seating for about one hundred and fifty singers, and contains an organ made by Hook & Hastings, of Wal- tham, one of the best builders of church organs in the country.
In the spring of 1928, Father Harrigan be- gan the erection of a rectory. This was com- pleted the following year, in March, when the priests of St. Ambrose's moved into their new home, which is now a part of the church prop- erty. Constructed of brick and granite, it is an imposing structure located on Adams Street, at some distance from the church, and set back from the street a distance of about fifty feet. It contains about twenty rooms, of which those on the first floor include an office, re- ception room, dining room and kitchen, all well equipped, while the second and third floors have been made into apartments for the clergy. Besides these, there are a large com- munity room, and other spare rooms which can be used for special occasions. A school of twenty-five classrooms will soon be started, and this, too, will conform to the most modern requirements for schoolroom comfort, con- venience, and health. A convent which will provide accommodations for twenty-five Sisters is also a part of the building program which is now being carried out, and when the present plans for improvement are completed the par- ish property will have been greatly increased
in value. St. Ambrose has the usual church societies and sodalities, including a Holy Name Society, Blessed Virgin Society, The Little Flower, and St. Vincent de Paul, the last- mentioned society, one which looks after the needs of the poor. There are now (1929) about four thousand souls in St. Ambrose parish, and in the work of ministering to and directing the religious activities of these, Father Harrigan is assisted by two priests, Rev. Dennis J. Maguire, and Rev. John J. Morrison, who ably support him in his work. The members of the parish have been most gen- erous in their support and cooperation, and all working together have accomplished a great work.
The Rev. John H. Harrigan was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, December 3, 1867, and received his early education in the public schools of his birthplace. After leav- ing high school he entered Bryant & Stratton's Business College, and after graduating from that center of learning he entered Boston Col- lege, from which he graduated in 1889. His theological training was begun in St. John's Seminary at Brighton, Massachusetts, where he was ordained a priest during the Christmas season of 1893. He was then assigned to St. Francis de Sales Church, of Roxbury, as an assistant, and there remained for a period of fifteen years. At the end of that time he was transferred to St. Patrick's Church, at Stone- ham, Massachusetts, where he remained for five years. He was then made a pastor and as- signed to the Church of the Sacred Heart, at Hanover, Massachusetts. One year later, he came to what is now St. Ambrose parish, and began the task of organizing and of build- ing a church for the new parish. That was in 1915, and thirteen years of steady and de- voted work have not only brought into ex- istence one of the finest groups of church build- ings in this section, but have developed every phase of the religious life of the parish.
Father Harrigan has not only the entire confidence of his many parishioners but the kindly regard of all in the community who
ST. AMBROSE CHURCH, DORCHESTER, MASS.
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INTERIOR OF ST. AMBROSE CHURCH, DORCHESTER, MASS.
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know him, and those who are familiar with what he has achieved in the parish acknowl- edge that his work here has been a genuine benefit to the community-at-large.
REV. ERNEST ROVAI-Situated upon a point in Revere, Massachusetts, and dominating the immediate neighborhood much as the Chiesa del Vignola dominates the Plaza of Michael Angelo, in Florence, Italy, stands the recently completed Church of St. Anthony, the most beautiful Italian church in the United States. Into the creation of this building have gone the deepest religious devotion, the highest tech- nical skill, unlimited contributions of money, all being moulded into the thing of beauty which now graces the community and stands as the highest gift of Italian art. The Italian people have always delighted in creating beauty of line, of proportion, and of color, and in this beautiful building has been realized and made plain to the view the sensitive spirit of the Italian artist at his best. The master genius who toiled and planned in order that this noble building might be brought into existence is Rev. Ernest Rovai, who has been pastor of St. Anthony's since 1910. Aiming at nothing less than perfection, he has achieved, with the help of devoted people, interested individuals of prominence in city and church, skilled architect, and faithful contractor, a true expression of Italian-American religious art, and has built a church which carries its own message of spiritual nobility.
Rev. Ernest Rovai was born in Italy, where, after completing his early education, he entered a theological seminary in Fiesole, Florence. There he completed his course and was or- dained a priest in 1901. For a period of about seven years following his ordination he served as curate in different churches in his native land, but in 1908 he came to this country, locating first in Syracuse, where for two years he served
as an assistant in one of the large churches. In August, 1910, he was appointed pastor of St. Anthony's Parish, of Revere, Massachusetts, and since that time he has been giving to his people a ministry marvelously effective, and the crowning achievement of which has been the erection of the present beautiful church edifice. The church numbers about nine thousand souls, and Father Rovai is assisted in his work by two priests.
To trace the history of the most beautiful Italian church in the United States, however, one must go back nearly a quarter of a century to the founding of the parish of St. Anthony, in 1905, when there was not a building of any kind in which the parishioners might hold serv- ices and when the parish did not even own a plot of ground upon which to build. There were but a few families of the Catholic faith in this district, and the first services were held in a a store which the owner was kind enough to loan for the purpose. Later, as is the custom in the Roman Catholic church, a small "lower church," seating about five hundred, was built, and this was used until the growth of the parish war- ranted the building of the fine new church of which people and pastor had dreamed and planned, for years. Five years after the or- ganization of the parish, Father Rovai took charge, and during a period of nearly twenty years he was laying the solid foundations of spiritual and material growth which made pos- sible the final achievement and the realization of the dreams of years. Long before a church building could be started a large plot of ground was purchased, and on November 25, 1926, that ground was broken and work begun. Minute and careful planning had preceded that break- ing of ground, and the finest skill and artistry obtainable had been employed in the designing of the new building. Edward Graham, the archi- tect, had drawn plans which combined the best in Italian art and tradition. The contractor, too, Giovanni Capobianco, gave to his work the scrupulous care and the religious fervor of the true follower of the Catholic faith, and day by day the new building continued to rise until it stood forth in all its architectural beauty, its
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noble simplicity, and its consummate grace. Built of square blocks of granite, its lines and proportions are such as to veil, by their sim- plicity and beauty, the great size of the building, which both inside and outside stands as the ma- terialization of a spiritual message. Entering the church by any of the three doors the be- holder is impressed by the carvings of especial interest which appear over each, one of which is beautifully executed in bronze and represents the crucifixion.
The interior of the church is one of harmony and beauty of both construction and furnishing. The roof is seventy-five feet from the floor, and directly below it are, on each side, eleven double stained glass windows, making twenty- two in all. In the side walls, just above the line of the seats, are nine memorial windows on each side, eighteen in all, each of different de- sign and each given by some member of the church in commemoration of the virtues of loved ones who have passed on to the next life. Twen- ty-two beautifully polished columns of Carrara marble, imported from Italy, each more than forty feet high, support the roof and beautify the interior. The main altar is of superb mag- nificence and is probably the only one of its kind in this country. Given by Signor Massimino Cataldo, one of the generous benefactors of St. Anthony's Parish, it was imported from Flor- ence, Italy. It is mammoth in size, made of most valuable marble, and perfectly propor- tioned. Over its top a great archway in the form of a roof protects it from above, while railings and finials set it apart from the rest of the church. In the rear of the altar is a statue, four feet wide and eleven feet high, handsomely executed in Mosaic, and was made in Venice. It was donated by Signor Massimino Cataldo, who, as noted above, donated the altar, the two costing nearly thirty thousand dollars. As the officiating priest approaches the altar he passes through two marble and bronze gates, which were made in Florence, Italy, and ascends by four white steps, which are richly covered. Besides the main altar there are two others, smaller, but also very beautiful. The pulpit, from which the sermons are preached, is placed
a little to the right and near the front pews, thus bringing the speaker closer to a larger pro- portion of his congregation. The pews are of solid oak and attractively designed. Around the sides of the church are fine pieces of statu- ary depicting scenes in the life of Christ, carry- ing his cross on the way to Calvary, the cruci- fixion, and the resurrection, executed with such skill that the figures appear to be alive. The beautiful organ, built by the Estey Organ Com- pany, is one of the best that can be procured, and the interior furnishings throughout are in harmony with the grace and beauty of the building itself. In the tower of the church has been placed a sweetly toned bell, weighing three thousand pounds.
A distinctive feature of the St. Anthony's Church is the artistry of the grounds surround- ing it, on which have been placed statues and a fountain of rare worth and beauty. About seventy-five feet from the outer front door, on the lawn, stands a life-size statue of Columbus, so perfect in its workmanship and artistry that it attracts the attention of all who pass the church. It is mounted upon a pedestal of Quincy marble and is the gift of His Eminence Cardinal O'Connell, Archbishop of Boston. On the left side of the grounds is a most wonderful foun- tain, given by the residents of Torre le Nocelle, Revere. The bases of this unusual fountain are of granite and these are surmounted by four huge sunfish, from the mouths of which water pours. A massive, granite eagle, with outspread wings, surmounts the entire structure, and all is executed in so perfect a manner that this particular fountain is known as one of the most unique and perfect in the country. Altogether, church building and surrounding grounds make a beauty spot notable even among its superior surroundings, and a place of worship which a writer in a local publication has characterized as a "House of the Lord worthy of the Catholic faith and of Italy, the land of art."
Eighteen years of patient, faithful, and most able service on the part of Father Rovai have made possible this noble achievement, which is but a material expression of the type of Chris- tian life which is being inculcated into the lives
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of the people of the parish. As the truest types of art are always expressions of spiritual reali- ties, so this Church of St. Anthony epitomizes the best in Italian Christian art, modified and adapted to the new environment in which the Italian-Americans of this section are living and developing. To Father Rovai, who has won the highest and most sincere esteem of his parish- ioners and of churchmen in general, this beau- tiful church building will always be a memorial in the fullest sense. It also stands as his material contribution to the parish of St. An- thony.
REV. WILLIAM
J. REARDON-The Church of St. Thomas, situated in Nahant, Massachusetts, was organized in 1902 as a mission of St. Mary's of Lynn. The original structure was built by Msgr. Strain, but under the pastorate of Msgr. Teeling was superseded by the present building; and the parish, which regularly has a membership of about a thou- sand souls, is now under the charge of the Rev. William J. Reardon, who, by his kindly atti- tude, his devotion to the church and its people, has won the esteem and friendship not only of the members of his parish, but also of the com- munity-at-large.
Born in Franklin, Massachusetts, he was edu- cated in the public schools and the high school of that place, and then, going to Montreal, Canada, he took his theological training at the Grand Seminary, and Niagara University, from where he received his degrees and was or- dained priest in 1898. His first charge was at St. Patrick's Church, Brockton, where he re- mained seven months, and then went to Ames- bury, where he remained for ten years. Read- ing was his next church, and here he remained six months, then to St. Columbskill, Brighton, for nine years. At this time he was made a pastor and was appointed to Groton, where he
remained four years, then coming to the Church of St. Thomas in 1923.
The Church of St. Thomas, in Nahant, which he has done so much to build up to its present state of usefulness in the community, seats about five hundred persons. And, although the par- ish has a regular membership of about a thou- sand, this figure is considerably augmented dur- ing the summer months by the large number of out-of-town people who make their summer home here. In these months the parish consists of about two thousand souls. Father Reardon is ably assisted by one priest, and together they conduct the affairs of the church quite in a manner in keeping with the quiet dignity of the parish of St. Thomas.
REV. MICHAEL J. CUDDIHY-St. Jo- seph's Church, of Quincy, Massachusetts, is one of the offshoots of St. John's Church, and it is a very vigorous and rapidly growing progeny. Since its organization in 1915 it has developed greatly, and during the greater part of the time which has passed since the incorporation of the parish, Rev. Michael J. Cuddihy, its present pas- tor, has been in charge. He is, in fact, the first regularly appointed pastor of the parish. He completed the present church building, which had been started before he was appointed pastor here, and he has been a high tension "live wire" here now for thirteen years. During that period a rectory, a school, and a well-equipped amuse- ment hall have been brought into existence, the various societies of the church have been or- ganized and developed, and the spiritual life of the parish has been greatly strengthened. Father Cuddihy is especially successful with young people and has made the church life and activities very attractive for them.
Rev. Michael J. Cuddihy, pastor of St. Jo- seph's Church of Quincy, Massachusetts, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, September 6, 1873, and received his early education in the
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public schools, including the high school and the Boston Latin School, and then began study in St. Charles College, in Baltimore, Maryland. He then entered St. John's Seminary, at Brigh- ton, Massachusetts, from which he was gradu- ated and was ordained a priest December 15, 1897. His first assignment was to the church in Medford, Massachusetts, where he remained for a short time. He then went to St. Mar- garet's Church in Dorchester, where he re- mained for nineteen years, giving to the parish the most efficient and devoted service. He was appointed to his present charge, St. Joseph's Church at Quincy, in 1917, and here he has since been engaged in building up this church and parish. He came as the first regularly ap- pointed pastor, previous to which time the congregation had been cared for by the priests of St. John's Church. The present prosperous condition of the church is almost entirely the . work of Father Cuddihy.
The parish of St. Joseph's was originally a mission of St. John's parish, but in 1915 it was set off from the parent parish, and started on the work of raising the funds for a church of its own. By 1917, when Father Cuddihy was ap- pointed as its first pastor, a "lower church" had been built, though not so large as at present, and in this work Father Cuddihy proved him- self a true executive. In 1918, he purchased a house on Washington Street, which he com- pletely renovated and made into the rectory, which is a fifteen-room residence, well ap- pointed and planned. The task of completing the church was his, too, and he lost no time in forwarding this. The church is located on Washington Street, near the corner of Pray Street, with the grounds extending to Pray Street. The church edifice provides seating for about seven hundred and fifty people, and is attractively planned and decorated. The beautiful center altar and the smaller ones on each side are simply, but beautifully, ex- ecuted, and the choir gallery, in which is a beau- tiful Estey organ, provides accommodation for about fifty singers, and all the interior appoint- ments are appropriate and harmonious. Ten stained glass windows of artistic design and
workmanship, and five additional ones over the altar, soften and enrich the lighting of the church blending all the colorings into one harmonious whole. As was to be expected, Father Cuddihy early turned his attention to the matter of the establishment of a parochial school, and in 1927 the present school building was completed. The school now has an attendance of one hundred and fifty pupils, in three well-organized grades, of nine rooms, fifty children to a room, pre- sided over by a teaching force of the Sisters of the Order of St. Joseph. In the school building the Sisters have their living quarters for the present, and, ten Sisters who are instructors in the school, here make their home. The school building is of brick, trimmed with light sand- stone, and provides accommodation for four hundred and fifty children and ten Sisters. It is located in the rear of the church.
The parish has grown rapidly since the com- ing of Father Cuddihy, having increased its membership during that time from one thou- sand to about twenty-four hundred, an increase of about one hundred and forty per cent. A special feature of Father Cuddihy's work has been his interest in the young people of the parish. He believes in providing wholesome amusement for the young and prefers that their recreational activities and their church asso- ciations should not be separated. After the close of the World War he purchased of the government a building which was no longer in use. This the men of St. Joseph's parish took down, carefully, and then, after a beautiful concrete foundation had been constructed on the church property, built of the old material what is known as the Parish Hall. All of the work was done after working hours, by the men of the parish, working in alternate evening shifts for a period of four months. The build- ing seats more than four hundred people, and has been the center of the social life of the church and parish. It contains a large stage, with dressing rooms on each side, a piano, and ample space for an orchestra, and here all sorts of entertainments are given. The parish owns a considerable amount of scenery and other theatrical paraphernalia, and many pleasant
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hours are spent here by the young folks of the parish, and by the older members as well. A fine shower bath adds to the usefulness of the building when it is used for athletic purposes, and the Parish Hall has well repaid the devo- tion which brought it into existence. The grounds surrounding the church buildings are in keeping with the beauty of the structures which they enhance. Carefully landscaped and well kept, the extent of grounds which is in- cluded in St. Joseph's property is an addition to the neighborhood, as well as an added grace to St. Joseph's. A fine flagpole, one hundred feet high, declares the patriotism of the parish and is especially useful to the school. The Sodality of the Blessed Virgin unites the women of the parish for various kinds of work and for Christ- ian fellowship, and the Holy Name Society performs the same work for the men. There is a Sunday school with an enrollment of six hundred, and this, as well as all other phases of the parish work, is steadily growing. All the indebtedness of the parish has been paid off, and the parishioners are working toward the building of a convent for better accommodation of the Sisters. The pastor is assisted in his work by one priest, Rev. Francis P. Doyle.
REV. CHARLES A. O'BRIEN, pastor of St. Jerome's Church, heads a parish of North Weymouth which was formerly a mission of the church at East Weymouth, where a very beautiful church was built in 1914 by Father Allison, who was pastor at East Weymouth for several years. St. Jerome's parish includes some nine hundred souls, and since coming here as pastor in March, 1928, Father O'Brien has completed the very attractive and distinc- tive English Gothic church edifice which is St. Jerome's. The church is built of Wey- mouth seam faced granite and is regarded as one of the finest specimens of Gothic architec- ture in this section of the State. It seats about five hundred people, and its interior is most
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