USA > New Jersey > The Catholic Church in New Jersey > Part 33
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The Rev. Bernard J. Mulligan and the Rev. J. P. Poels were in turn charged with the administration of the flock. Father Poels bought the present rectory, together with three acres of land. Among his successors were the Rev. John Baxter, 1883-90; the Rev. J. F. Duffy, 1890-92; the Rev. Eugene A. Farrell, 1892-95. Father Farrell worked very earnestly and with great success. The number of Catholics had lessened and the debt was a great burden on those who remained. Father Farrell's popu-
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larity in the different parishes in which he had labored aided him greatly in his efforts to diminish the debt. The Rev. Charles H. Mackel served a brief pastorate. The Rev. George H. Müller has discharged the arduous and trying duties of this mission of slen- der resources, among a not very numerous and scattered flock, since October 14th, 1895. Nevertheless, despite the hindrances, many necessary improvements have been made in the church, rectory, and cemetery.
Mendham is becoming better known for its healthfulness, owing to its altitude and the protection its hills afford against the rude blasts of the north. Archbishop Bayley was wont to say that Mendham, in point of picturesque scenery and salubrious climate, was unexcelled. The mighty barons of capital seem to be of the same opinion, for their palatial residences crown every hill, and dominate the landscape with its varied aspect of moun- tain and hill, vale and meadow, forest and glebe. Here the victims of the white plague grow strong, the bloom of health returns to their cheeks, activity and energy to the body. It is a veritable haven of healing for the infirm, the weak, and the brain-weary.
St. Patrick's Church, Elizabeth.
THE Catholics in the Port were at first attended from St. Mary's Church, and in 1860 by the Rev. M. A. M. Wirzfeld. Father Wirz-
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH, ELIZABETH. Catholic Public School on left.
feld made his theological studies at St. Charles's, Philadelphia, where he was ordained by Bishop Kenrick, March 24th, 1859. After a short term of service with Father Madden he was
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sent to Elizabeth in May, 1855. He built the first church and was appointed its first pastor in August, 1861. He was not successful in the financial management of the parish, and was replaced by the Rev. Patrick Hennessy in 1866. Father Hennessy in turn was succeeded by the Rev. Patrick Cody, February Ist, 1870 In January, 1873, the Rev. Martin Gessner was transferred from Millville, and from that day he has labored among the Cath- olics of the Port, in season and out of season. To his zeal and energy the present splendid group of parish buildings is due. A rich field of historic interest is certainly here, but unfortunately it is not available. The reason therefor is to be found in the ex- planation taken from Father Gessner's letter: " It is impossible for" me to give you the history of St. Patrick's parish. I have not the time to do so. . . . If I can get the time I will give you some history of the parish in a few weeks." Alas! the time could not be had; and as our history cannot be delayed, the public must remain disappointed.
St. Mary's Church, Bayonne, N. J.
THE memory of the oldest parishioners goes back to the year 1852, when Mass was celebrated in the home of John Welsh, on Lord Avenue, by the Rev. John Kelly, of St Peter's Church, Jersey City.
He was succeeded in his semi-monthly visitations by the Rev. B. F. Allaire and the Rev. James Callan, of St. James's Church, Newark, the latter erecting the first St. Mary's Church in Ever- green Street in 1860. Short- ly after that date the spiritual interests of the Catholics of Bergen Point were entrusted to the Passionist Fathers ST. MARY'S CHURCH, BAYONNE 1861 to 1880. from the Hoboken Monas- tery, Fathers Vincent Nagler, Timothy and Thomas O'Connor making weekly visitations from January, 1862, till August Ist, 1865, when the growing mission was made a parish by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Bayley, who named Rev. Peter P. Niederhauser its first rector.
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Father Niederhauser had been a Redemptorist, and was ad- mitted into the diocese December 13th, 1862. He assisted Father Rogers in New Brunswick, looking after the Germans, until he was chosen first pastor of Bergen Point, July 17th, 1865 He labored with great fruit among the Catholics of this mission until he was transferred to St. John the Baptist's German Church, New Brunswick, August, 1871.
He was of a bright, sunny nature, and his cheerfulness did not fail him even in his sickness, not even when he lay under the
ST. MARY'S STAR OF THE SEA,
Church, Rectory, and School.
shadow of the angel of death. He passed away August 16th, 1873, and is buried in St. Peter's Cemetery, New Brunswick.
Father Niederhauser was succeeded in August, 1871, by the Rev. Patrick McGovern, who enlarged the church to meet the requirements of his increasing congregation. After five years Father McGovern was assigned to a mission in New York State, where he died about two years ago. Father James Dalton, his successor, lived but a few weeks. Then, in August, 1876, came the Rev. Thomas M. Killeen, who, after a pastorate of twenty years, retired from the active duties of the ministry in July, 1896 In 1880 Father Killeen erected the present church on Fourteenth Street and Avenue C, which is now enlarged to double its original size. He likewise built the sisters' house on Fourteenth Street, as well as the old frame school, which in 1898 was removed to make room for the present commodious brick structure erected by
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his successor, the Rev. Isaac P. Whelan, now rector of St. Mary's -one of the best-equipped and most flourishing parishes in the Diocese of Newark.
The Rev. Isaac P. Whelan, born in Elizabeth, October 18th, 1852, and ordained at Seton Hall, June 10th, 1876, comes from a Catholic stock which has never quailed before persecution, and whose faith has been of aggressive and militant quality. His father, Captain Whelan, was identified with every movement which furthered the interests of religion in Elizabeth, and in his loyalty, service, and devotion to his pastor was without a peer. His mother, bereft of her parents in early childhood and brought up by a descendant of one of the old French families, quiet, gen- tle, and retiring, proved to the hostile rabble which was bent on destroying the church that hers was the heroism of the martyrs. Their children have inherited the noble qualities of the parents, and in both sons and daughters the virtues of both father and mother have been blessed. A daughter, known in religion as Sis- ter Mary Cecilia, was a worthy child of St. Vincent de Paul, and was never so happy as when she found some poor, abandoned sin- ner to be brought back to God, some family plunged in poverty and despair to succor, and, after, to consecrate what remained of her spare time to the service of the sanctuary.
This parish has grown rapidly in numbers, and proportionately in the efforts made to promote and advance religion. When the old school on Evergreen Street was opened in September, 1879, 400 children were enrolled, under 5 Sisters of St. Joseph. This building was abandoned in 1886, and the frame structure on Fourteenth Street opened, with II sisters and 700 children. In the admirably appointed new brick school there are 18 sisters and 1310 children. Moreover, instead of one there are six parishes, with resident priests, laboring among the faithful of different nationalities-Irish, German, Italian, Greek, Polish, and Hun- garian.
St. Philip and St. James's Church, Philipsburg, N. J.
THE Catholics of Philipsburg and the vicinity were attended by Father Reardon, the pastor of Easton, Pa., who journeyed into New Jersey as far as Newton in one direction and as far as Plain- field in another, giving what spiritual aid he could to the laborers who were brought to these parts by the construction of the Cen- tral and Lehigh railroads in New Jersey.
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Prior to 1860 services were held by Rev. Father McKee in the old brick house on Sitgreaves Street, owned by John Smith; also in the houses still standing at 526 and 561 Main Street.
Father McKee was succeeded by Rev. John Smith, who served the congregation but a few months, when he was taken sick and died in a Newark hospital.
In September, 1859, the late Squire Walsh purchased from Hiram Heckman, president of the land company, a tract of land, 100 by 200 feet, upon which was erected a small church at a cost of about $ 5,000.
The corner-stone of this church was laid by Bishop Bayley in 1860, and on De- cember 25th of the same year Mass was celebrated by the late Rev. C. J. O'Reilly, whose life of exceptional piety and devotion to his duties marked him preëmi- nently as a man of God. Fresh indeed is that memor- able Christmas morning in the minds of those who as- REV. CORNELIUS O'REILLY. Pastor of Philipsburg. sisted at Mass, when there was nothing to keep out the bitter cold except the muslin tacked in the window frames to serve as windows.
The pastorate of Father O'Reilly extended over a period of twenty-four years, during which time he was assisted by the Revs. James Hanley, Michael Connolly, James Cusick, William Curtin, J. J. Griffin, and John O'Leary. When he came he found but a handful of Catholics, but when he was called to his reward, in De- cember, 1885, he left a large and well-organized congregation as the fruit of his labors. Previous to the death of Father O'Reilly Father B. J. Mulligan, at present pastor of the Immaculate Con- ception Church at Camden, was sent here by Bishop O'Farrell to look after the welfare of the parish until Father O'Reilly would be restored in health. Until the parochial residence was erected, in 1863, Father O'Reilly made his home among various members of the congregation.
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The land on which the Parochial Hall stands was purchased in 1873, and the structure erected in 1875 at a cost of $22,000.
In 1873 the corner-stone of the new church was laid by the Rt. Rev. M. A. Corrigan. Work progressed until one-third of the church was completed and connected with the old building. It remained in this condition until 1886, when work was resumed by Rev. R. E. Burke, who succeeded Father O'Reilly. Its com- pletion was the work of years of labor and anxiety on the part of Father Burke, and while many aided and encouraged him, to his own zeal and energy more than to any other does the building of this splendid temple of worship belong.
When work was resumed by Father Burke in 1886 the corner- stone was relaid. While the side and front walls of the new church were being built Mass was celebrated in the old church as before, and never during the whole work were the regular Sunday services interfered with.
During the eleven years in which Father Burke labored in Philipsburg great advancement was made. He finished the church, fitted it with all modern improvements, and built an addi- tion to the parochial residence. On Sunday, December Ist, 1889, he had the pleasure of enjoying the reward of his earnest labors in having the present grand edifice formally dedicated by the Rt. Rev. M. J. O'Farrell, D.D., Bishop of Trenton, who was assisted by the Rt. Rev. J. J. Conroy, D.D., Bishop of Albany, who cele- brated Solemn Pontifical Mass. The sermon on that occasion was delivered by Bishop O'Farrell.
In September, 1897, Father Burke was appointed to St. Mary's Church, Bordentown, and on the 22d of the same month Bishop McFaul appointed the Rev. Patrick F. Connolly pastor of St. Philip and St. James's Church.
The first census of the congregation was taken in 1861. There were then 800 souls, in 1867 there were 1,500, in 1889 there were 2,500, and in 1900 there were 3,000 souls in the parish. Other Church property in Philipsburg includes the Parochial Hall build- ing and the Young Men's Catholic Club rooms, which, besides being elegantly fitted up for the purpose intended, contains a library of 500 volumes presented by Bishop O'Farrell.
The cemetery on Fillmore Street was bought by Father O'Reilly in 1861 from Daniel Block for $1,100. Up to the pres- ent time there have been about 3,000 burials.
There is also St. Catherine's Academy, which was built by Patrick O'Gorman in 1876. The building soon afterward became
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the property of Dennis O'Reilly, who sold it in 1887 to the Sisters of Mercy of the Diocese of Trenton. The first superior of the academy was Mother Genevieve, who served at the head of the institution for seven years and was succeeded by Sister M. Agnes. During the years 1876 and 1877 the Sisters of Charity had charge of the education of the children of the parish, and conducted a school in the basement of the old church, and resided in the build- ing now occupied by the Elks. The aggregate value of the prop- erty belonging to the congregation of St. Philip and St. James is placed at $ 1 50,000.
In strong contrast to the modern methods of imparting learn- ing to the young were those of the old days, when our elders drank at the fountain of knowledge then situated in the basement of the old church. Daily was the ancient adage disproved of driving a horse to the trough and failing to make him drink, the most incor- rigible never failing to yield to the gentle persuasiveness of the swishing cat-o'-nine-tails and the redundant raps of the knuckle- reddening ferule with which the master spurred the lagging intel- lects of our respected sires. In those days education was a luxury which could be indulged in at a cost of fifteen cents a week per scholar, except where there were four from a family, in which case the fourth was admitted free of charge.
. Mr. Slowey was the first of the old régime to undertake the task of teaching the young idea how to shoot, and was succeeded in turn by Mr. James Fogarty, who only a few months ago sought his long repose on the hill surrounded by many of his former loving pupils; Messrs. Hogan, Rooney, and Mullen, M. Boyle, Phil. Grawney, and Miss Caffery, who is now a teacher in the public schools. Among the first aspirants to learning were the Rev. Father Bernard T. O'Connell, Messrs. Michael Connlain, Robert O'Hara, Hugh Smith, Mrs. Thomas Newman, and many others.
St. Philip and St. James's parish has contributed to the priest- hood the Rev. Fathers Bernard T. O'Connell, Neal McMeninin, John Gammel, Peter J. Kelly, James Prendergast (deceased), John E. Murray, William Tighe, James Maroney, and Thomas Rudden.
St. Mary's Church, Jersey City.
ST. MARY'S is the second oldest Catholic parish in Jersey City, founded by Father John Kelly. The present limits of the parish, however, are not identical with the old, but a part of it, for which
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Father Senez, when he selected the present site, determined to make provision in what then promised a more rapid growth. The old St. Mary's Church, dismantled and rooted up from its founda- tions, around which clustered the most sacred memories, was com- menced in 1861 and finished in 1863. The touch of that holy pastor, so fruitful in good works in so many sections of the Lord's vineyard in the Diocese of Newark, was felt here, and no flock ever responded more generously to the word and work of their divine guide than the Catholics of St. Mary's. In less than a generation a church, a school, an orphanage, a hos- pital, and a lyceum arose to complement the work of the priest and show forth the beauty, glory, and beneficence of Catholic faith. Nor was their progress confined merely to the material order, for that was only the fruit of a living and active principle which necessarily manifests itself in good works. During the forty years of his ministry Father Senez gave to his flock the example of the disinterested, unselfish shepherd, whose sole aim was the welfare of his flock and their betterment and advancement in the ways of ST. MARY'S CHURCH, JERSEY CITY, Built by Rev. L. D. Senez. righteousness and godliness.
The hearts of many were grieved when, in consequence of the results of a cyclone, August 24th, 1901, it was determined to wreck the old church and the old rectory, to remove utterly the memorials which the piety of their relatives and friends had placed in its windows and on its altars, and to raise in its stead a more substantial edifice. It is safe to say that the new will eclipse the older church in its grandeur and stateliness, but it will never replace old St. Mary's in the love and reverence which those whose fathers and mothers were married in the old church, were buried from it, and in which they themselves were baptized and made their first communion built around it. Reports often
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uttered and as frequently denied as to the unsafe condition of the old church were proven absolutely baseless, for the walls resisted, as if in protest, the vigorous assaults made upon them as the work of destruction progressed. The foundation was built and the corner-stone of the church laid September 21st, 1902. The basement was blessed October 18th, 1903, by Bishop O'Con- nor, and is now used for divine service. The present pastor, the Rev. B. Henry TerWoert, was appointed June Ist, 1900. Father TerWoert was born in Jersey City, April 20th, 1852, and made his preparatory studies in St. Charles's, Maryland, St. Vincent's, Pennsylvania, and his theological studies in Seton Hall, where he was ordained May 22d, 1875. His parents were among the first founders of St. Boniface's Church, Jersey City. The field of his missionary career covers St. John's, Orange, St. Michael's, New- ark, Montclair, Bergen Point, Lambertville, and St. John Baptist, Jersey City, of which he was the first pastor and under whom the church, rectory, and school were built. The following priests have been connected with St. Mary's: Revs. J. O'Brien, J. Coyle, George McMahon, Fr. Raybaudi, P. Byrne, Thomas M. Killeen, Januarius De Concilio, Henry A. Brann, E. O'Keeffe, John Mor- ris, J. F. Vassallo, James P. Smith, S. J. Walsh, J. McKernan, D. McCartie, Robert E. Burke, J. P. Callaghan, P. M. Corr, L. C. M. Carroll, Charles J. Kelly, E. A. Farrell, J. A. Stafford, J. P. Mooney, H. J. Behr, Charles A. Smith, William T. McLaughlin, M. F. McGuinness, James T. Delehanty, M. J. Donnelly, John F. Boyle, P. A. Maher.
St. Mary Magdalen's Church, Millville.
THE oldest baptismal record shows that the Rev. Joseph Wirth, C.S.S.R., was pastor in Millville, June 25th, 1861. Father Wirth built the old church, which is now only a memory. He was suc- ceeded in September, 1863, by the Rev.Joachim Haymann. Father Haymann left the Redemptorists and was received into the Dio- cese of Newark February 5th, 1862. He attended the Germans in New Brunswick and Fort Lee for a short time, and finally was transferred to Millville. His successor, June 16th, 1864, was the Rev. Martin Gessner, now of St. Patrick's, Elizabeth. Father Gessner's missionary field covered all South Jersey-Bridgeton, Malaga, Dennisville, Vineland, Egg Harbor, Cape May, and Mill- ville. He built the old rectory of Millville, now used as a convent, the church at Cape May, and the present combination church and
·
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school of Millville. Work on this last structure was begun in 1869 and finished in 1871.
The first meeting of the trustees was held July Ist, 1865. Father Gessner was succeeded February 9th, 1873, by Rev. Theophilus Degen, who died two years ago as pastor of Cape May. November 9th, 1873, Rev. P. Vivet, a French priest, succeeded Father Degen. During his rectorship he built the church at Vineland. He left for France, where he died (date unknown). Rev. William Ignatius Dwyer, an ex-Paulist, took up the work July 6th, 1879. He built the church at Goshen, now a mission of Sea Isle City, and died in St. Michael's Hospital, Newark, April 5th, 1881, and is buried back of the church in Millville. During his illness and the interregnum the Rev. James J. Durick, now rector of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Brooklyn, was temporarily in charge until the appointment of Charles J. Giese, June, 1881. Father Giese built the church at Sea Isle City, brought the Sis- ters of Charity to Millville, enlarged the convent, and built the new rectory. He was transferred to Gloucester, October 2d, 1901, and was succeeded by the Rev. William J. FitzGerald, J.C.D.
St. Paul's Church, Jersey City (Greenville).
THE date of the establishment of this parish is 1861, and the first priests who ministered to the Catholics were the Passionists from West Hoboken. The first church was built in 1862, and in 1869 Father Niederhauser built the transepts. His successor in 1871 was Father Kempen, a secularized Carmelite, who in turn was succeeded by the Rev. Sebastian B. Smith, D.D., who left for Rahway, October, 1872. The Rev. Joseph F. Mendl was then charged with the government of the parish, and was suc- ceeded in the pastorate, April 12th, 1882, by the Rev. John Joseph Schandel. Father Schandel, born at Williamsburg, L. I., August Ioth, 1849, made his classical studies at St. Vincent's, Pennsyl- vania, and Seton Hall; and his theological studies in the Ameri- can College, Rome, where he was ordained October 30th, 1874. He taught moral theology in the diocesan seminary from 1874 until September, 1881. The old school built by Dr. Smith was replaced by the present building erected by Father Schandel in 1890. Father Schandel also built the present church, which was dedicated in July, 1888. The rectory was built by the Rev. Henry Fehlings in 1870, and extended by Father Schandel. April 21st, 1895, death removed Father Schandel from the parish,
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and his successor was the Rev. John J. Tighe. Father Tighe was a priest of rare ability, gifted with a graceful pen and an elo- quent tongue. He was born in 1852, and studied at St. Charles's and at Seton Hall, from which he was graduated with high honors in the class of '80. He was an assistant in St. Mary's, Hoboken, and pastor of Our Lady's, Boonton. He died August 9th, 1897. The Rev. J. W. McDowell, J.C.D., succeed- ed him, and remained until August 10th, 1900, when the Rev. Alphonsus M. H. Schaeken assumed the re- sponsibilities of the pastoral office. Father Schaeken, born at Weert, Holland, made his preparatory studies in the local college and his theological studies in the American College, Louvain, Belgium, and was ordained in Mechlin, June 10th, 1876. His labors as assistant were in St. John's, Orange, St. Joseph's, Newark, St. Jo- seph's, Jersey City, Keyport, and chaplain of the Protec- tory, Denville, with the duty of attending to St. Cecilia's, Rockaway. He was trans- ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, GREENVILLE. ferred to Our Lady of Lour- des, Paterson, May 25th, 1883, where he labored with great zeal until his appointment to St. Paul's. The following is the list of priests who have been engaged in duties of the ministry in this parish :
PASTORS.
Passionist Fathers, 1861-1865.
Rev. Paul Niederhauser, 1865-1869. Died August 16th, 1873. Rev. H. Fehlings, November, 1869, to October Ist, 1870. Rev. Angelus Kempen, October 2d, 1870, to September Ist, 1871. Rev. S. B. Smith, D.D., September, 1871, to November, 1872.
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Rev. J. F. Mendl, November, 1872, to November, 1878.
Rev. A. Hechinger, November, 1878, to April, 1882.
Rev. J. J. Schandel, April, 1882, to April, 1895. Died April 21st, 1895.
Rev. J. J. Tighe, May, 1895, to August, 1897. Died August 8th, 1897.
Rev. J. W. McDowell, D.C.L., August, 1897, to August, 1900.
Rev. Alph. M. H. Schaeken, August 10th, 1900.
ASSISTANTS.
Rev. Th. Lee, December, 1893, to July, 1894.
Rev. T. E. Reilly, September, 1894, to June, 1900.
Rev. C. Schotthoefer, February, 1895, to April, 1895.
Rev. J. T. Hopkins, August, 1895, to October, 1895.
Rev. Neal McMenamin, October, 1895, to March, 1896.
Rev. J. F. Brown, July, 1896, to July, 1897.
Rev. T. D. Lill, August, 1897, to September, 1897.
Rev. J. B. Hater, September, 1897, to April, 1898.
Rev. J. B. Ferguson, October, 1898, to January, 1901.
Rev. E. F. Schulte, June, 1900.
St. Ann's Church, Hampton Junction.
ST. ANN'S Parish, Junction, N. J., was established by Rt. Rev. Bishop Bayley in January, 1861, and Rev. C. A. Rolland was appointed the first pastor. Prior to that time Rev. Father Kerins, of Plainfield, N. J., had visited Junction occasionally to attend to the spiritual needs of the Catholic families that had settled there. Upon taking charge of the parish Father Rolland immediately set about the work of building a church and rectory, and in two years he completed the task. He himself dedicated the new church, a small frame building, on the 14th of May, 1863, the feast of the Ascension. During Father Rolland's pastorate, as well as during that of his successor, St. Ann's parish included Washington, High Bridge, Oxford, Clinton, and West Portal. Washington, High Bridge, and Oxford later became separate par- ishes, Clinton is at present attached to Flemington, and West Portal is still attended from St. Ann's.
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