USA > New Jersey > The Catholic Church in New Jersey > Part 23
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In October, 1867, the Rev. John Francis Salaun, of Brittany, France, who had come to the diocese of Newark from Cleveland, and volunteered his services on the cholera ship in the Lower Bay, N. Y., remaining there from April 24th to July 5th, 1866, and assistant at St. Peter's, Jersey City, took pastoral charge in succession to Father Killeen. He remained until July Ist, 1876, when he was appointed first resident pastor of Long Branch, where he built a church. He was later transferred to Seton Hall, named first pastor of South Orange, resigned, and returned to France in 1889, where he died October 19th, 1895. His succes- sor was the Rev. Michael E. Kane. Father Kane, born in New- ark, made his studies in Seton Hall, where he was ordained priest June 24th, 1865.
He had been assistant in St. James's, Newark, pastor of St. Mary's, Elizabeth, and again reappointed assistant in St. James's,
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Newark, January, 1871-July Ist, 1876. Father Kane paid off all the debt of the church, and built the fine school-house in Red Bank. He died April 4th, 1891.
The present rector, the Rev. James A. Reynolds, educated at St. Charles's and Seton Hall, a member of the class of '82, has built one of the most beautiful churches in the State, which was dedicated by the Most Rev. Francis Satolli, Apostolic Delegate.
St. Mary's, Plainfield, 1851.
A HALF century ago Plainfield was a small hamlet. Over the mountain, in what is still called the "Second Valley," stood the little Catholic chapel of Stony Hill, erected for the benefit of the German farmers tilling the pleasant fields of that smiling spot. The chapel was eight miles away, counting the distance in both directions, from the homes of the little band of Catho- lics then dwelling in Plainfield, a journey delightful to make in the soft air of May or when the golden haze of October lay broodingly over the mountains, covered with their autumn tapes- tries; but it was another matter when the fierce sun of July and August burned down on the shut-in Jersey valley and on the side of the steep hills, or when the icy winds of midwinter whirled the snow through the ravine and beat back the souls who braved these terrors to hear Mass. Elizabeth was twelve miles distant, Stony Hill but eight, and these Irish immigrants were used to suffer for their faith. So they toiled through heat and cold to the chapel built by their German brethren, nor thought the alter- native of staying home worthy to be entertained.
Time went on, and the intrepid Plainfield Catholics increased in numbers, and the possibility of building a church for them- selves and getting the archbishop to appoint to them their own pastor was discussed among them. One of the members of the congregation, appointed delegate for the rest, went to New York to see Archbishop Hughes, and laid before him the fact of the great distance from Plainfield that the chapel of Stony Hill stood, its incapacity to accommodate the increasing numbers seeking it, even at so much sacrifice, and their ability to support a priest, at least, although as yet a church they had none.
The archbishop, recognizing the justice of their request, sent the Rev. James I. McDonough in 1851 to take charge of the Catholics in Plainfield and the vicinity.
It was much to have secured a priest; a church to say Mass
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in was beyond the possibilities of his small congregation when he came among them.
Out on what is now Somerset Street, not far from "the Notch," and on the way to the next valley which he had trodden bravely with the rest, stood, as still stands, the house of James Verdon. This was the cradle of Plainfield Catholicity. Here Father McDonough gathered his little flock on every alternate Sunday ; here was said the first Mass within the limits of Plainfield.
Increase in numbers continued steadily in this growing par- ish; Mr. Verdon's house soon became too small, and in Mr. Ver- don's barn the Plainfield church was sheltered for a long time. It was not long before the barn as well as the house was out- grown, for there was some- thing like a hundred souls in the little congregation by this time, and they felt they could afford a building a little more like a church. A hall was rented for their use, and this stood in the centre of the vil- lage.
The parish of St. Mary's at this time stretched from Rar- itan to Westfield, with the THE FIRST ST. MARY'S CHURCH, PLAINFIELD. pastoral residence in the for- mer town, and until 1868 Mass was said in Plainfield only every two weeks.
Father McDonough's stay among his new flock was brief; it was in 1854, the third year after his appointment, when he was succeeded by a younger priest, Rev. Daniel Fisher, who trans- ferred his residence from Raritan to Plainfield. Two years later this pastor was in turn removed to become the President of Seton Hall College, then in Madison.
Father Fisher's removal brings us to the third pastor of St. Mary's and the first to serve the church for any considerable length of time. Father Terence Kiernan, following Father Fisher in 1856, remained in Plainfield until his death, which oc- curred suddenly in 1869. His successor was Rev. John Connolly, who, because of his frail health, was given Father Morris as as- sistant, until the not-unexpected death of the pastor a year after his appointment gave the charge to Father Morris.
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Father Morris, recognizing the rapid growth of the parish and its insufficient accommodations, began raising funds to build a permanent church. In 1875 the corner-stone of the fine Gothic church was laid. The pastorate of Father Morris ended two years after the dedication of the church in 1882. Two priests, Fathers De Burgh and Callahan, were placed in charge for a few
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months each until, January, 1883, the Rev. P. E. Smythe was sent to Plainfield from Jersey City.
In 1888 the fine brick building, St. Mary's School, was built on the corner of Sixth and Liberty streets.
The solemn consecration of St. Mary's Church took place with all due observance on the last Sunday in September, the 30th day of the month, 1900, by the Bishop of Newark, Rt. Rev. W. M. Wigger. The sermon was preached by Rt. Rev. Mgr. Mooney. The Most Rev. M. A. Corrigan, Archbishop of New York, who, when Bishop of Newark, dedicated the church, was present in the sanctuary.
The Rev. P. E. Smythe was appointed permanent rector of St. Joseph's Church, Jersey City, in succession to the Most Rev. Archbishop Seton, and the Rev. Andrew M. Egan was appointed pastor of St. Mary's January 6th, 1902.
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Father Egan, born in Newark, August 21st, 1855, made his preparatory studies partly in St. Charles's and in St. Hyacinth's College, Canada, was graduated from Seton Hall in the class of '76, and ordained in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Newark, May 22d, 1880. His missionary career began in St. Mary's, Bergen Point, then to St. Michael's, Jersey City, again to Bergen Point from February, 1883, to 1892, when he was appointed rector of St. Virgilius's, Morris Plains. Here his ministry was characterized by energy, zeal, and tact. Among his other duties was the care of the insane in the State asylum, and never at any time was there friction between the pastor and the staff, by whom and by the directors he was held in the highest esteem. He built the rec- tory, tastefully laid out the grounds, so that the place became one of the many attractive spots in that locality, and erected a parish hall. His departure was universally regretted.
St. Rose's Church, Short Hills.
THE story of this parish is best told by its founder, Bishop McQuaid.
ROCHESTER, N. Y., March 28th, 1882.
DEAR FATHER CORRIGAN: Your favor of the 26th is at hand. Some of the facts relating to the beginning of the mission of Springfield I can furnish.
When I took charge of Springfield as an outlying mission of Madison in April, 1848, Mass had been said only on week days. Daniel Coghlan then lived in Springfield, and it was in his house that all religious services took place and that the priest found good care and generous hospitality.
After the opening of the Morristown church in 1849, which was subsequent to the formation of the Dover mission in November of 1848, Mass was said in Springfield once a month on Sunday. That Sunday Morristown was left without Mass. The first Mass was in Madison and the second in Springfield. Before the build- ing of the church the Catholics of Springfield and neighborhood met in Mr. Coghlan's house for Mass, for Lenten devotions one evening in the week, and the children every Sunday for catechism. After Daniel Coghlan's removal to Whippany the same facilities were kindly granted by his brother, Thomas Coghlan.
In 1852, owing to increasing numbers, it was judged advisable to build a church. As the non-Catholics of Springfield and Mil-
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burn were grossly and stupidly bigoted, it was necessary to pro- ceed warily in buying a lot for the new church. Fortunately a suitable site was found on the main road leading to Elizabeth, just where the road from Newark strikes it. The property be- longed to one * * * * He agreed to sell one acre for $250, having paid $750 for three and a half acres, with house and barn, a short time before. Then, after the story got out that the Catholics were about to build a church, this man refused to complete the bargain, on the plea that his wife refused to sign the deed-a com- mon dodge among people who do not wish to keep their agree- ments. When it became known that he had backed out, no one in the neighborhood would sell at any price. An offer was then made to the man's wife of $300, and then of $400, for the same bit of ground for a church, seeing that the enemies of the Church were combined against us. She refused, no doubt in the hope of extracting more money, for when she found that the church was to be built elsewhere, she offered the ground at the last-named price. Her offer was indignantly refused.
The site on which the church was built was a free gift from Daniel Coghlan, and was always at our disposal, but as the ground was wet and the location not as desirable as other sites, it was judged better to pay for a choice site rather than accept this as a gift.
The disappointment occasioned by the afore-mentioned gentle- man's want of honesty in keeping to his bargain delayed the com- mencement of the church until the autumn. Promise had been made to the people that they should have a church before the expiration of the year. Ground was broken for the foundations of the church on St. Theresa's Day, October 15th, and the church was blessed on the Sunday after Christmas, I think it was Decem- ber 26th, by the Very Rev. John Loughlin, V.G., deputed by Bishop Hughes. The day of the dedication all indebtedness was liquidated except two notes of $100, each payable to Houston of Chatham, one in six months and another in twelve months. The first was paid at maturity; the second was met by my successor, Rev. M. A. Madden. The money for building this church was collected in small sums all over the extensive but not populous mission of Madison. An old collection book shows contributions from Madison, Morristown, Mendham, Baskingridge, Providence, Chatham, Columbia, Hanover, Whippany, Speedwell, etc.
In September, 1853, on my removal to Newark, Rev. Father Madden took charge of the mission of Madison. In a few years,
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finding the church at Springfield too small for the congregation, he built an addition.
After the removal of Seton Hall College from Madison to South Orange in 1860, Springfield came under the administration of the priests of the college. It did the young priests of the col- lege good to ride over from the college on a crispy winter's morn- ing to get a slight taste of the pleasures of missionary life. It was about this time that Catholic families from New York began to move into the Short Hills.
These are the chief facts that come to my memory in connec- tion with the establishment of the Springfield mission. Should there be any particular points on which you desire information, - and within my power to communicate, it will give me pleasure to help your good work.
Very sincerely in Christ, BERNARD, Bishop of Rochester.
P. S. I think that in The Freeman's Journal of December, 1852, you will find an account of the dedication of St. Rose's Church. In the last century after the Revolution French emi- grants settled at Elizabeth. A priest visited them occasionally. If I am not mistaken, some lived a while near Springfield. Their compatriots at Madison (old Bottle Hill, as it was called) were often attended to by a priest from St. Peter's, New York. He came by boat to Elizabeth, thence by stage to Madison. These visits became quite regular as far back as 1805, although I think that the French priests lived in Elizabeth at an earlier date.
St. Rose's Church is small and not imposing. It is not sur- mounted by sky-scraping steeple or cross, yet its walls have echoed many an eloquent sermon, and in it have ministered at one time or another as pastor more priests who have attained emi- nence in the Catholic Church than in any other parish in New Jersey. It was the first parish entrusted to a clergyman who has since become the head of the greatest and largest diocese in the United States, Archbishop Michael A. Corrigan, of New York. Among its former pastors were the Rt. Rev. W. M. Wigger, Bishop of Newark; Rt. Rev. B. J. McQuaid, Bishop of Roches- ter; Rev. W. J. Wiseman; and Rev. James H. Corrigan, president of Seton Hall College, and Rev. George W. Corrigan, brothers of the archbishop.
Rev. P. Moran, of St. John's Church, Newark, began to make monthly visits to the parish, which comprised Milburn and Spring- field. Father Moran used to say Mass and teach catechism in the
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house of Charles Fury, of Springfield. This was in 1832 The Furys and Mrs. Matthew Dougherty were the only Catholics in these villages at this time. Rev. Father Guth frequently made visits from Madison to this straggling settlement. In 1841 two men with families, Terence Hogan and John Kenny, and Maurice Lonergan, single, were the only Catholics in Milburn. In Spring- field were Charles Fury and family, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Lynch, Mr and Mrs. Michael English, Arthur McCormick, Daniel Coghlan, and Bryan Dunigan. In 1847 Rev. Louis D. Senez, of Madison, was assigned to celebrate Mass on week days in the house of Michael Eng- lish, and teach catechism at the residence of John Hogan on the Short Hills road.
In the first years of its ex- istence the church had many trials. A spirit of hostility was excited by its erection among the Protestant resi- dents of the locality. Of these some were Irish Prot- estants - Orangemen - and their bitterness caused much annoyance. At one time an effigy of St. Patrick was hung on the large cross over the entrance to the church on that saint's day, and on other occasions various indignities were cast upon it.
During Father Madden's term as pastor the sanctuary was shattered by lightning. In 1859 the church was robbed, the carpets were torn from the floor and scattered in shreds about the edifice, and the vestments destroyed.
ST. BONIFACE CHURCH, PATERSON.
The Rev. Louis Schneider assumed pastoral charge in 1868. Father Schneider was an indefatigable worker. By his efforts its present site and the other property now owned by the church were purchased. The property then consisted of six acres of land, with a dwelling-house and a hat-shop. The shop has since been remodelled as a school. Father Schneider's love for the par- ish was so great that in the centre of the cemetery he erected a large cedar cross and made known his wish to be buried there. His wish was fulfilled and a monument was erected on his grave by his former pupils.
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In 1873 Rev. Thomas J. Toomey was appointed to take charge of the parish.
Father Toomey was succeeded in February, 1874, by Rt. Rev. W. M. Wigger, Bishop of Newark, then pastor of St. Theresa's Church at Summit. In September, 1874, Bishop Wigger was superseded by Rev. L. S. Dagnault, who was the first resident priest. He remained until October, 1876. During his term he also attended Cranford and Westfield. In 1876 the parish had gained sufficiently in population to necessitate the saying of two Masses on Sunday. On October 8th, 1876, Father Dagnault exchanged parishes with the Rev. Joseph Rolando, of Hacken- sack.
In September, 1879, the present sisters' residence was erected, and a community of the Sisters of Notre Dame assumed control of the school. They were succeeded by the Sisters of Charity in 1881.
The church was removed from Springfield to its present loca- tion in 1880. The distance was only about one-third of a mile, yet the church was six weeks on the road. During that time Mass was said in the school-house. Father Rolando was transferred to Madison to succeed Bishop Wigger as pastor there on September 12th, 1881. The first appointment made by Bishop Wigger was that of the Rev. George W. Corrigan to succeed Father Rolando at Milburn in September, 1881. He was a great favorite with all his congregation. His charities and his exceeding kindness of heart are still traditional in the parish. He often went to Union- ville and said Mass at the residence of Matthew Quilligan, and thus saved the Catholics of Unionville a walk of four miles. Dur- ing his pastorate the Forty Hours' devotion was first held in the church, and the first mission took place. It was conducted by the Redemptorist Fathers.
Father Corrigan was transferred to St. Agnes's, Paterson. He was succeeded by Rev. Daniel F. McCarthy, the present pas- tor. Father McCarthy has worked unceasingly since he assumed charge. The parish is at present in good standing and entirely free from debt. Under his administration a fine school has been erected .- Newark Evening News.
St. Boniface's Church, Paterson.
BEFORE the erection of the present church of St. Boniface, the Germans of the city of Paterson assembled in the basement of old St. John's Church for divine worship. They were visited occa- sionally by Rev. Nagel, C.SS.R., and more frequently by Rev. P. Hartlaub, who from the 9th of October, 1853, till April 24th, 1858, zealously responded to their spiritual wants.
Rev. L. Fink succeeded him in the pastoral work July 18th, 1858, and remained till July 3d, 1859. He became Bishop of Wichita, Kan.
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He was succeeded by Rev. John J. Schandel, August 11th, 1859, at the same time assistant of St. John's. He bought the church property of ten lots on the corner of Main and Slater streets.
The corner-stone was laid on July Ist, 1860, by Bishop Bay- ley, and after completion the church was blessed December Ist, 1861, by Rev. J. J. Schandel. St. Boniface's Church in its pres- ent structure has the honor of being the oldest church in the city of Paterson.
At a meeting, 29th of September, 1864, the church was incor- porated under the legal title "Saint Boniface's Catholic Church, Paterson."
Rev. Nicholas Hens was appointed as the first assistant Sep- tember, 1869.
Rev. John J. Schandel leaving December, 1871, was succeeded by Rev. Nicholas Hens in January, 1872, as pastor. He brought the Sisters of St. Dominic to his parish September 9th, 1872, and having procured two lots, the school was built in 1875.
Rev. Aug. J. Geisler came as assistant August, 1879, and re- mained in that position till October, 1881.
Rev. J. N. Grieff followed him October, 1881, and continued in the parish until February, 1884.
Father Hens leaving October, 1884, was followed by Rev. Eugene Dikovich, November, 1884, as pastor. Having no assist- ant, he was helped by the Rev. Franciscan Fathers, Paterson, till Ist of May, 1901, when Rev. Adalbert Frey was appointed assistant.
St. Michael's Catholic Church, Elizabeth.
IN the city of Elizabeth, N. J., there was only one Catholic church until the beginning of the "fifties," St. Mary's, where all the different nationalities worshipped. The few German Catho- lics who every Sunday heard Mass in St. Mary's, unable most of them to understand the English language, desired most anxiously to hear the Word of God in their native tongue. When their num- ber increased, the head of the diocese sent a priest now and then to preach the Gospel to them. Some time later a Redemptorist Father came once a month from New York to preach and hear confessions in the German language. Among these Rev. Redemp- torist Fathers who came in the years 1849-52 to Elizabeth may be mentioned Fathers J. Nagel, M. Leimgruber, Felix Ed. Brecka.
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In the year 1852 the German Catholics, then numbering twenty-five families, resolved to found a new Catholic parish. This certainly was a great undertaking for so small a number, especially as their means were slender, and as most of them were · laborers who had to work hard for their daily bread. Still their love for God, and their desire to have a church of their own, filled their hearts with zeal for the great sacrifice.
Among the founders were John Engel, J. L. Lutz, Francis Stein, George Streis- sel, John Eich, John Kelber, Leonard Sauer, Anton Stein, John Daubner, John H. Gei- ger. They first obtained lots on High Street on condition that they should build a stone church; but they had not the resources sufficient, and hence had to return the gift to the donor. They then bought lots on Smith Street, and under their pastor's guid- ance, the Rev. Father Hart- laub, the foundation was laid in 1853. The first rector was Rev. Augustine Dautner, O.S.F., who came August 8th, 1852. He remained one year; then he was succeeded for two months by Father Carro; and then by the above- mentioned Father Hartlaub, ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH, ELIZABETH. who built the frame church on Smith Street. His successor was Rev. Adolph Etthofer, from February 5th, 1854, to February 11th, 1855. His successor was Rev. Nicholas Balleis, who was succeeded in the same year, July 29th, 1855, by Rev. Michael Würzfeld. He enlarged the frame church in 1858. In the year 1860 the Rev. Henry Lemke, O.S.B., became rector of the parish. Father Henry, as he was always called, organized in 1861 the school, which was held at first in the church itself, a wooden partition separating the chil-
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dren from the altar. On Sundays and holidays this partition was removed. The Benedictine Sisters taught in the school. Father Henry retired from St. Michael's Church in 1870. He organized the Sacred Heart congregation in Elizabeth, and died in Carrollton, Pa., November 28th, 1882, in the eighty-seventh year of his age.
In the year 1870 the Rev. Albert von Schilgen became the rector, and he at once began the erection of a new church on the. corner of Smith and East Jersey streets. This new church, built of brick in real Gothic style, is 110 feet long and 55 feet wide, exclusive of the tower, which was not added till 1899 and is 29 feet square and 179 feet high ; it was dedicated on St. Michael's Day, September 29th, 1 872. The number of school- children in 1870 was 52. On September 2d, 1875, the Sisters of Christian Charity took charge of the school, there being 165 schol- ars. As the congre- gation increased so did REV. ALBERT VON SCHILGEN. the number of school- children, so that a new school became necessary. This school, together with the sisters' house, was built in 1885. The sisters' house is 70 feet long and 52 feet wide. The east wing, 90 by 30 feet, and the south wing, 118 by 33 feet, contain the school-rooms, and now (1903) the number of children is 510. Rev. Albert von Schilgen sacri- ficed every comfort for the benefit of the school and sisters, giving up even his own house to them and living in two hired rooms. The congregation without his knowledge collected $4,000 to build a new rectory in 1882. So that Rev. Albert von Schilgen built the present church on Smith and East Jersey streets, the sisters' house, the school and hall, the rectory, and bought prop- erty for the erection of a club-house for the young men. After living for his parish and for it sacrificing himself from March, 1870, till June 2, 1901, he died, mourned and loved by his whole congregation.
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Father von Schilgen, born of a noble and distinguished family, in Arensberg, Westphalia, October 12th, 1833, made his studies in Münster, Paderborn, and Louvain, and was ordained priest March 20th, 1858. He served three years as assistant at Dortmund, Germany, and eight years as missionary pastor of Feudenberg. He was received into this diocese, and sent as assistant to Father Lemke, March 22d, 1870. He was singularly disinterested, modest, and discreet, a highly gifted scholar, and by nature as well as by birth a noble man.
To continue the work of Father Albert von Schilgen has been the aim of the present rector, Rev. Hubert J. Behr, D.D., who succeeded him June 21st, 1901. When in June, 1902, the- golden jubilee of St. Michael's parish was celebrated, the church had been renovated outside and decorated inside in an artistic way. There were present also at the golden jubilee five of the original founders of the parish.
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