USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Metropolitan Boston; a modern history; Volume V > Part 8
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attractively furnished and decorated. The choir loft, provided with a beautiful Estey organ of the latest design, accommodates about fifty singers; the altar is of Tennessee marble, and the sacristy is fitted with every possible con- venience. Thirty small mission stained glass windows light the interior.
The present pastor of the parish, Rev. Charles A. O'Brien, though his time here has been short, is already making his vigorous efficiency felt throughout all the activities of the church and parish. He has had a quarter of a cen- tury of experience in the service of the Church in the Boston diocese and is well known as a man of more than average ability and of deep consecration to his work.
Rev. Charles A. O'Brien was born in Boston, Massachusetts, May 1, 1877, received his edu- cation in the local schools, preparing for college in the Boston English High School, and later in Boston College. When his college course was finished he began his theological training in St. John's Seminary, where he was ordained a priest in 1903. After his ordination he was assigned as a curate to the Church of the Sacred Heart of Weymouth, with Father John B. Holland, an account of whose life and work appears elsewhere in these volumes. For two years he remained at Weymouth, gaining his initial experience under the kindly and wise guidance of Father Holland, and at the end of that time he was appointed an assistant at St. Frances de Sales Church in Roxbury, where he remained for ten years. His next appoint- ment was to St. Mary's Church, at Lynn, Massachusetts, and there he rendered very ef- ficient and successful service for a period of twelve years, giving to that parish the benefits of the experience gained in his earlier charges and broadening his own wisdom and skill. On March 14, 1928, he came to St. Jerome's Church, in North Weymouth, as its first pastor, and already he is exerting a strong influence over the lives of his people. He has been actively at work organizing the various societies, directing their work, ministering to his people, and in- spiring and stimulating the spiritual life of the parish. There is a Sunday School with an en-
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rollment of two hundred and forty children, and every organization of the church is in a flourishing condition. Since coming here, Father O'Brien has bought a beautiful rectory con- taining twelve large rooms, and he is planning other improvements to the church property. He is a member of the Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters, and as a pastor, as a citizen, and as a helpful friend and advisor, the people of St. Jerome's find Father O'Brien a tower of strength and an inspiration to better living.
REV. JOHN B. HOLLAND-The Sacred Heart Church, of Weymouth, has been fortu- nate in the long and successful pastorate of Rev. John B. Holland, who came to the parish thirty-five years ago, when Weymouth and South Weymouth were in one parish which included twelve hundred and fifty souls. Now the last-named place is organized as a sepa- rate parish with an independent church and a goodly membership, while the parent parish, in spite of this important reduction of territory, ministers to about twenty-five hundred souls. Father Smyth's first church was at South Weymouth, known as St. Francis Xavier. The Catholics worshipped here until the church was burned in November, 1869, then wor- shipped for a time in the old town house on Washington Street, opposite the cemetery. In 1872 the foundation of the church in East Weymouth was built. The cornerstone of the Church of the Immaculate Conception was laid in 1873, and two years later the church at North Weymouth, St. Jerome's, was constructed- all wooden churches. Father Smyth went to Hingham, two years later to Cohasset, then a year at Scituate, and one year at Kingston, later building the Sacred Heart Church, the only brick church in this section, and still in use. In 1928 a beautiful new church of St. Jerome (see under separate heading) was completed in North Weymouth, one of the finest in this section.
After the work Father Smyth did here he went to Roxbury and in 1878 built two stone churches which are still standing. In 1883 he went to Boston. He was succeeded by the Rev. John J. Murphy, who remained until, his death, January 17, 1907. He was succeeded by Father Holland in the active work of the parish in 1902. Upon the coming of Rev. Jeremiah Millerick, North Weymouth became a separate parish.
Rev. John B. Holland was born in Cam- bridge, Massachusetts, November 8, 1855. His father, a native of Ireland, was a gas fitter by trade and came to this country as a young man, locating in Boston in 1860. There he spent the remainder of his life and died at the age of seventy-three years. The mother, Isabella (Murphy) Holland, died at the age of seventy- two years. She was the daughter of a famous surgeon of the British Army, who died in Ireland. She was one of four children, two sons and two daughters, all of whom came to America. The two brothers went to California and died there. The two sisters remained in Massachusetts where they spent their lives. Of the five children of Father Holland's par- ents, only one besides himself was living in 1928, Isabella, who is associated with the Women's Professional Club and also has charge of the advertising department of this organ- ization.
Rev. John B. Holland was reared in his birthplace, Cambridge, until he was four years of age and then was brought by his parents to Boston, where he attended the public schools, and prepared for college in the famous Boston Eng- lish High School, which was then located on Bedford Street, which is now one of the com- mercial centers of Boston. After graduation from the Boston English High School, Father Holland matriculated in St. Charles' College, in Maryland, completed his course there with graduation, and then began his theological training in St. John's Seminary, Brighton, Mas- sachusetts, from which he was graduated and where he was ordained a priest in December, 1893. He was at once assigned to the Church of the Sacred Heart, at Weymouth, and here
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RECTORY OF SACRED HEART CHURCH, WEYMOUTH, MASS.
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he has remained for a period of thirty-six years. He began the active work of the parish on January 1, 1894, and on March 18, 1902, after nine years of faithful service as an assistant, was made pastor. At that time he had charge not only of the present territory of the parish of the Sacred Heart, but also included that in South Weymouth and numbering about twelve hundred and fifty souls. Since then the growth has been very great, and the last-mentioned place has been set off from the original parish, with a church of its own, this parish having about six hundred and fifty souls. The parent parish has, in addition to the losses entailed by the setting off of an independent parish in its original territory, also greatly increased in membership, including now some twenty-five hundred souls, double the number which re- ceived the ministrations of the church when Father Holland took charge. There is a Sun- day school with an enrollment of four hundred, and in 1914 the parochial school was opened. This, too, now has an enrollment of four hun- dred and is taken care of by fourteen teachers, twelve Sisters of St. Joseph, a special teacher for gymnastics, and another special teacher for elocution and public speaking. The school was started in two rooms, but as it grew, better ac- commodations were provided, the building being remodeled and made larger, until now it can take care of four hundred pupils. This provides for future growth, and is an indi- cation of the progressive and hopeful spirit of the pastor. The children come from Braintree and other surrounding towns, as well as from Weymouth, and the school has attained for itself a reputation for excellent organization and for skilled instruction and management. The upper church seats about nine hundred people, and the lower church, now used as a Sunday school room, provides seating for six hundred. It is well planned and built, and its interior is most attractive and harmonious. At the end of the centre aisle is a massive marble altar, of rich and beautiful design, hand carved, and on either side are two smaller altars. Two bronze tablets, one on the right side and one on the left, commemorate the courage and de-
votion of one hundred men of the parish who enlisted in the World War, two of whom gave their lives, one of these being the first to fall in the great struggle; and two elaborate and beautiful oil paintings, one on either side of the altar, add grace and interest to the environ- ment of the central altar. Extending round the walls of the church are fourteen oil paintings portraying the chief incidents in the life and crucifixion of the Saviour, and fifteen artistic stained glass windows mellow and beautify the light which illumines the interior of the church. A choir gallery, providing for about one hundred singers, is fitted with one of the finest toned organs, and the whole interior of the church is so planned as to create an at- mosphere of restfulness and of spiritual in- spiration.
The present rectory is the old Cowing House, which was purchased by the church in 1922 and is one of the choice creations of archi- tecture, having been built in 1730. The build- ing now occupied by the Sisters, formerly the rectory, is the original building which, in the early days of the stagecoach, was the last stopping place for stages on the way to Boston. It was the famous old house known as Wales Tavern, built in 1720. It has been preserved in perfect condition and is an object of special interest to architects, who regard it as one of the finest specimens of the architecture of its time, and who frequently copy parts of it, for reproduction in period buildings. The en- graving on the opposite page will, we feel sure, be a source of great pleasure of the parish- ioners.
During the thirty-five years of his connection with the Church of the Sacred Heart, Father Holland has won the deep regard and the very high esteem of his parishioners. In the par- ishes which have been separated from this one, too, there are many who look back to the time when Father Holland and his ever ready sympathy and understanding helped them through critical times in their lives, or when his genial friendliness added to the joy of sun- shiny days. In all denominations and among those who are not interested in any church
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Father Holland has won a richly deserved regard, and it is hoped that he may be spared many years in which he may continue to render most valuable service to those with whom he has been associated.
REV. ALBERT C. MULLIN-The Church of the Blessed Sacrament, in Quincy, Massa- chusetts, is distinguished in several fields, es- pecially is it known for its unique success in work with young boys and girls. On July 1, 1927, Rev. Albert C. Mullin was appointed pastor and there is every prospect that his pas- torate here will be one of marked efficiency and successful achievement.
Rev. Albert C. Mullin was born in Cam- bridge, Massachusetts, December 16, 1877, member of a family which has been located there for many years. After attending the local schools he entered Boston College, and when his course there was finished he began his preparation for the priesthood by entering St. John's Seminary, at Brighton, Massachu- setts, from which he was ordained a priest in 1901. His first assignment was to St. Joseph's Church in Somerville, where he served as an assistant or curate for a period of twenty- three and a half years. He was then appointed pastor of the Church of the Nativity, at Merri- mac, Massachusetts, and there the term of his service was two years, at the end of which time he was assigned to his present charge, at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, in Quincy, July 1, 1927. The parish has a mem- bership of about eighteen hundred souls in the winter, but in the summer this number is greatly augmented by the summer population, running up to three thousand. The church building, which is of Quincy granite, seats about eight hundred and is well appointed and harmoniously decorated. A very large and beautiful altar faces the center aisle, and on either side of it are two smaller altars, also of attractive design and workmanship. The
church has a Sunday school of some four hun- dred pupils and the Sodality of the Blessed Sacrament unites the women of the parish in mutual Christian activities, while the Holy Name Society performs the same service for the men. The St. Vincent de Paul Society takes care of the poor of the parish, and all three organizations are active and flourishing. In addition to these organizations, the Church of the Blessed Sacrament has made for itself a reputation and has become noted for two of its special achievements. It has a bugle and drum corps, known as the Blessed Sacrament Fife-Drum Bugle Corps, and which is com- posed of one hundred and fifty boys and girls ranging from eight to fifteen years of age. This large group is thoroughly trained by competent musicians and is under the direc- tion of Father William Coneys, assistant pas- tor of the church. Each and every member of the corps, from the oldest to the youngest, ' eight years of age, is always ready to play before any audience as soloist, and the group as a whole is most proficient. They fill many engagements, in halls, at various benefits, and in parades, appearing not only in the towns surrounding Quincy but in Boston, as well. There is also a Red Cross Ambulance Corps which is made up of children ranging from eight to fourteen years of age. Both organiza- tions are fully uniformed and are under the careful instruction of Lieutenant Ivan Smith, of the United States Navy. The two unique organizations have attracted much attention and have won for the Church of the Blessed Sacrament an unusual renown in this part of the State.
REV. DENIS F. MURPHY-Facing the Fellsway, at the corner of Fourth Street, in Wellington, stands the fine Old English brick church edifice which was completed in Decem- ber, 1927, by St. James' Parish. It is one of the many beautiful Catholic churches which add
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grace and beauty to the various districts of Greater Boston, and though the parish is only eight years old, having been organized in 1919, and the permanent church has been completed but a year, St. James' is already ministering to a large congregation. Since September, 1925, Rev. Denis F. Murphy, second pastor of the church and parish, has been laboring effectively and the fruit of his labors is the present fine, nèw church edifice, which replaces the old temporary building and which is a credit to the community.
St. James' Parish was organized to meet a well-defined need. In early days the Wellington section of Medford had been a part of the Im- maculate Conception Parish of Malden. When the Wellington farm and other farms in this sec- tion were divided into house lots the section grew rapidly and among the newcomers was a generous proportion of Catholics, who soon began to desire a church of their own. In ac- cordance with this wish Cardinal O'Connell carefully looked over the field and in December, 1919, appointed Rev. John J. O'Donnell, who had been connected with St. Patrick's at Watertown, Massachusetts, as a curate for a number of years, to be the first pastor of a new parish in the Wellington-Glenwood section of Medford. There was no church building of any kind and the new parish owned no land upon which to build. A committee of men from the new parish, therefore, met with Father O'Donnell, early in December, and arranged with him to secure the use of the Wellington Club House for services on Sunday. The Wellington Im- provement Association was quite willing that the club house should be used for that purpose, and on Sunday, December 21, 1919, mass was celebrated for the first time by Rev. Father O'Donnell. Arrangements were made that two masses would be celebrated each Sunday, one at 9:00 A. M. and the other at 11:00 A. M., and that Sunday school for the children of the parish should be held in the club house on Sun- day afternoons until arrangements could be made for a temporary church. When the first services were held the house was packed and each Sunday brought a large crowd of wor-
shippers, so in a few weeks Father O'Donnell arranged for a separate service with celebration of mass for the Glenwood section, in the fire- house on Spring Street, with a Redemptorist Father to come from Roxbury and assist by ta- king charge of one of the two meetings, the two priests alternating at the two meeting places.
Early in January Father O'Donnell purchased the land fronting on the Fellsway and running along Fourth Street to Bradbury Avenue. The next step was to secure a temporary building for use until the parish was in condition for the building of a permanent church. During the World War the Knights of Columbus had put up a hospital hut at Parker Hill, Roxbury. This was secured, taken down and removed to Wellington, and there reerected. The first mass was said in this building late in May, 1920, and plans were at once made for the building of a new church edifice. In June, 1920, Rev. Ralph W. Farrell was appointed curate to assist Father O'Donnell, and for six years Father O'Donnell labored among the people of Wellington, con- tinuing his service until September, 1925, when his faithful service was rewarded by appoint- ment to St. Anne's Church, Neponset, Massa- chusetts.
Rev. Denis F. Murphy was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, and after completing his early and preparatory education entered Holy Cross College, at Worcester, Massachusetts. After graduation he became a student in St. John's Ecclesiastical Seminary, at Brighton, Massa- chusetts, where he was ordained a priest, De- cember 1, 1901. His first appointment was to St. Michael's Church, at Lowell, Massachu- setts, and after eleven years of service there he came to Cambridge as assistant pastor at St. Paul's Church. There he continued to serve until September 8, 1925, when he came to St. James' Church here in Wellington. Thirteen years of successful experience at St. Paul's, added to his eleven years in his first charge, had given Father Murphy long and valuable ex- perience, and when he came to this parish, September 8, 1925, he at once began preparing for the building of a new church. Ground was broken July 13, 1926, at the corner of Fellsway
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and Fourth Street, and on May 22, 1927, the cornerstone was laid by Rev. Denis F. Murphy, assisted by Father John H. Powers, who had been appointed assistant in St. James' Parish after Father Farrell was assigned to Hudson, Massachusetts. On September 19, 1927, Father Powers having been transferred, the Rev. John Connors, the present curate, came as assistant to Father Murphy. Meantime, the building of the new church was going rapidly forward, and on December 25, 1927, it was ready for use. The building is one which is a credit to the parish and an ornament to the community. Built in Old English style, of water struck brick, with granite trimmings, it has a seating ca- pacity of one thousand. The pews are of oak, the altars, of beautiful design, are imported from Italy, and many stained glass windows, a large proportion of which are memorials, make beau- tiful and mellow the interior lighting. The whole church property is a valuable one, sit- uated as it is at the corner of Fellsway and Fourth Street, and both the parish and the com- munity in general have reason to be proud of the Church of St. James.
Father Murphy has completed the first big task of his pastorate in the building of the church, now he is giving careful attention to the various organizations of the parish and is deep- ening the religious life of the members of his flock. A fine rectory, which will be started in the spring of 1929, will be the next material im- provement to the parish. It will be located on the Fellsway near the church, and will be built in Old English style of water struck brick with granite trimmings-the same style of architec- ture as the church. In the meantime, Father Murphy has already fairly earned the respect and confidence of his parishioners, and the esteem of those outside the parish with whom he has been brought in contact.
MONSIGNOR ARTHUR T. CONNOLLY -A half century of earnest and effective serv-
ice represents the record of Monsignor Arthur T. Connolly, in the work of the church, and thirty-six of those fifty years have been devoted to the interests of his present parish, the Church of the Blessed Sacrament. He is the son of Thomas Connolly, who was born in Ireland, but came to this country as a young man and located in Boston, where he entered the employ of George W. Lyman. That connection was continuously maintained to the time of his death, which occurred at the age of fifty-five years, and during the long period of his asso- ciation in that connection he became one of the trusted and respected of Mr. Lyman's em- ployees. He was also greatly respected by his associates in social and civic connections, and his death at so early an age was the cause of deep and sincere grief and regret. He married Margaret McGrath, and they became the par- ents of nine children, of whom three are living at the present time (1928): Monsignor Arthur T. Connolly, of further mention; Mrs. Esther Gumplerect; and Joseph. The mother of this family died at the age of forty-four years.
Monsignor Arthur T. Connolly was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, December 2, 1853, and spent his boyhood days in the place of his birth. He received his early education in the public schools, graduating from the high school, and then matriculated in Boston College. Be- fore completing his college course he had de- termined to enter the ministry, and with this end in view he entered St. Charles College in Bal- timore, Maryland, from which he was gradu- ated in 1872. When this course was completed, he entered the Grand Seminary, in Montreal, Canada, where he was graduated and ordained a priest, December 21, 1878. His first appoint- ment was in Cambridgeport as assistant to Father Scully for ten years, and one year later he was assigned to St. Joseph's Church in Rox- bury, Massachusetts, as an assistant to Father O'Beirne, who served the St. Joseph's Church from 1881 to 1892. In the service of this church Monsignor Connolly remained until June 19, 1892, when he came to what is now known as the Church of the Blessed Sacrament. St. Jo- seph's parish at that time covered a very large
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territory, and what was to be the new parish of the Blessed Sacrament was then included within the limits of St. Joseph's. There was one building here, which contained a hall. That hall was used as a place of worship until the congregation became so large that it was neces- sary to build a church. The raising of funds for this purpose was not an easy matter, for there was a debt of nearly $75,000 on the prop- erty, but with characteristic energy and de- termination, aided by reliance upon Divine help and guidance, Monsignor Connolly decided to work toward that end. After giving careful thought to the matter he decided, however, to give his first attention to a school, and at the end of two years he had succeeded in having the lower part of the building in which the hall had been used for worship remodeled so that it could be used for a school and had enrolled three hundred children, who were placed in charge of seven sisters. Later, this building was torn down. Monsignor Connolly kept at work improving the school accommodations, and when a stone building in the neighborhood was for sale he purchased the building, took it down, and used the stones for the erection of a school building which would accommodate four hundred children.
The good schools had helped greatly in building up the parish interests, and in 1911 Monsignor Connolly had the satisfaction of seeing the cornerstone of his much-wished-for new church laid. The new building was com- pleted in 1917, and is a most beautiful church, seating about eleven hundred people. Massive arches support the roof, and the building is lighted and adorned by two beautiful chancel windows and twelve others, all of exquisitely designed stained glass. The pews are of solid oak, and the altar is a piece of very fine artistic work, carved by Kirkmyer, one of the best artists of his line in the country. After the church was completed, a fine new school build- ing was erected, which, at the present time (1928) has an enrollment of thirteen hundred children, presided over by thirty-one sisters, and there is also a high school which is at- tended by about four hundred pupils. Monsig-
nor Connolly's school is one of the largest, and the other buildings for the accommodation of the sisters and for the general activities of the parish also rank among the best in the diocese. All the Catholic societies are represented in the parish organizations, including the Holy Name, and the St. Vincent de Paul, for the assistance of the poor and the sick of the par- ish. Monsignor Connolly is assisted in the gen- eral work of the parish by three assistant priests. The rectory is built according to plans suggested by Monsignor Connolly, and is a beautiful and well-appointed dwelling place.
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