USA > New Jersey > The Catholic Church in New Jersey > Part 41
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October 29th, 1895, the parish sustained a loss by a fire. The insurance companies offered $1,793 as compensation for the losses sustained, which Father Callan declined to accept. He preferred to have recourse to arbitration. His wisdom in the
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matter appeared when the insurance companies increased their award to $2,700, and this was accepted. On the death of Father Callan the Rev. Thomas A. Wallace succeeded to the pastorate. Father Wallace was born in New York City, July 17th, 1857, and made his preparatory studies in St. Francis Xavier's and St. Charles's, Maryland, and was graduated from Seton Hall in the class of '80. Having completed his theology in the diocesan seminary, he was ordained in the cathedral, Newark, June 7th, 1884. His service as assistant was confined to the cathedral, from 1884 to February 7th, 1893. He held the offices of chan- cellor, master of ceremonies, and bishop's secretary under Bishop Wigger, and has been honored with the same dignities and re- sponsibilities by Bishop O'Connor. He resigned the parish to resume his official duties February Ist, 1903. During his pastor- ate Father Wallace built and equipped the lyceum for the young men of the parish. His successor is the present rector, the Rev. John F. Boylan, who was promoted from Franklin Furnace. Father Boylan read theology in Seton Hall, and was ordained in the cathedral, Newark, June 7th, 1884. He was assistant in St. Mary's, Hoboken, from June 21st, 1884, to the date of his ap- pointment to Franklin Furnace, March 16th, 1894. By his apos- tolic work in the extreme northern mission of the State, amid trials and difficulties silently and cheerfully borne, he endeared himself to his flock. Before his promotion he had the satisfac- tion of witnessing the dedication of the new church of the Im- maculate Conception, Franklin Furnace, which he built. The Rev. George Doane O'Neill, later diocesan chancellor and secre- tary, who died in Denver, Col., November, 1902, rendered effi- cient services as assistant in the "Valley." His successors are the Rev. Owen W. Clarke and the Rev. M. Donnelly. The par- ish school, with an enrollment of six hundred pupils, is taught by twelve Sisters of St. Joseph.
Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Long Branch.
THE Catholics of this seaside resort were attended from the church at Red Bank. The first efforts to erect a church were made by the Rev. John Salaun, pastor of Red Bank, who took up his residence in Long Branch July Ist, 1876, and built the church.
Upon his resignation of the parish to return to France he was succeeded by the Rev. James A. Walsh, a Capuchin, who was received into the Diocese of Newark on September 7th,
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1874, and was made pastor of Long Branch in the spring of 1877.
Father Walsh built the pastoral residence and also the Church of the Holy Spirit at Asbury Park. His successor was the Rev. James Augustine McFaul, now Bishop of Trenton.
Bishop McFaul was born June 6th, 1850, in the parish of Larne, Diocese of Connor, Ireland, and made his preparatory studies at St. Vincent's, Pennsylvania, and St. Francis Xavier's, New York, and his theological studies at Seton Hall, where he was ordained priest May 26th, 1877. His first services were ren- dered to St. Patrick's Parish, Jersey City; later to the cathedral in Newark, St. Peter's, New Brunswick, and St. Mary's, Trenton.
Bishop McFaul built St. Michael's Church, West End, and on his appointment to the pastorate of St. Mary's Cathedral, Tren- ton, and vicar-general of the diocese, he was succeeded by the Rev. William P. Cantwell.
Father Cantwell made his preparatory studies at St. Charles's, Maryland, and at Seton Hall, where he was graduated with the class of '79. His theological studies were made at Seton Hall Seminary, where he was ordained priest. Father Cantwell has built a very fine stone school, hall, and lyceum in the central sec- tion of Long Branch.
Church of the Immaculate Conception, Trenton.
IMMIGRATION brought to Trenton a number of Catholics from Italy and Germany, who made their home principally in Cham- bersburg. It was to afford these an opportunity of practising their religion that Father Jachetti, in 1874, purchased a plot of ground on Chestnut Avenue and erected a frame church, which was dedicated the following year by Bishop Corrigan and called Our Lady of Lourdes. In the same year he built a college for the education of young men who wished to join the Franciscan Order. Owing to the increase of immigration the congregation soon outgrew the capacity of the church. Therefore, in the fall of 1887, Father Jachetti laid the foundation of a new church just to the north of the old one. The work of building went on rather slowly, but was finally completed and the church solemnly dedi- cated by Bishop O'Farrell on October 5th, 1890, under the title of the Immaculate Conception. Solemn Pontifical Mass was celebrated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Wigger, of Newark, assisted by many priests, and the sermon was preached by Bishop O'Farrell. The church is a Gothic stone building, capable of seating twelve
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hundred people. In 1875 a school was opened in the basement of the convent, and continued there till 1880, when a new school was built. In 1892 Father Jachetti was transferred to Albany and was succeeded by Rev. Francis Lehner. He was in charge till nearly the end of 1895, and was followed by the Rev. Bona- venture Zoller, who, finding the school too small to accommodate all the children, built in 1897 an addition to it. It has room now for over six hundred pupils.
In June, 1898, the corner-stone of a new college was laid. The work on the building was advanced so rapidly that it was blessed by Bishop McFaul and opened for students on September 28th of the same year. The college is a three-story brick building, hav- ing a frontage of 110 feet, and has all the equipments of a first -- class institution. It is intended only for students who wish to become members of the Franciscan Order. One of the Francis- can Fathers is the Catholic chaplain to the State Prison. He de- votes a great deal of time and care to the inmates, instructing them in their faith and preparing them for the Sacraments. Mass is said every Sunday and instruction given twice a week. Be- sides their labors in Trenton, the Franciscan Fathers did consid- erable missionary work in different parts of the diocese and built churches in Camden, Riverton, Riverside, Beverly, Toms River, New Egypt, and Point Pleasant. The population of the Immacu- late Conception Parish is somewhat over three thousand. There are five hundred and fifteen children in the parochial school.
St. Augustine's Church, Newark, N. J.
IN the year 1874 it was decided to organize a congregation for the German Catholics in the northern part of Newark. This great work was entrusted to the zeal of the Rev. Carl A. Vogel, who, aided by the Rev. G. Prieth, of St. Peter's Church, entered into the spirit of the work with great enthusiasm, trusting to the help of the Almighty and to the ready assistance of the faithful German Catholics. As a true shepherd of his new fold, Father Vogel sought to gather the parishioners. One of the first to help the rev. Father in the great enterprise was Officer H. Schmidt, who contributed generously to the necessary funds. Encouraged by such good will, Father Vogel was soon able to call a number of Catholic men to a meeting, at which John J. Bien and Albert Feller were elected first trustees of the church. By permission of the Rt. Rev. M. A. Corrigan, the new congregation was incor-
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porated on October 21st, 1874, under the title of St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church. The rector resided temporarily at 302 Sussex Avenue, later removed to 145 First Street
Rev. Carl A. Vogel received Holy Orders July 25th, 1858, at St. Poelten in Austria, came to America in 1868, and
after a few weeks' stay with the Redemptorist Fathers, became assistant priest at the Church of the Holy Trin- ity, Williamsburgh, Brook- lyn. The following year he was invited by the Rt. Rev. Bishop McQuaid, of Roches- ter, to the rectorate of St. Alphonsus's Church, Au- burn, N. Y. After five years of labor at this place he ac- ST. AUGUSTINE'S CHURCH, NEWARK, Destroyed by fire. cepted the invitation of Rt. Rev. M. A. Corrigan to or- ganize the new German Catholic congregation in Newark. During the erection of the church and school, Father Vogel adminis. tered partly at St. Peter's and partly at St. Columba's Church, also visiting at times the Poor House. On October 24th, 1874, four lots, corner Sussex Avenue and Jay Street, were bought from Col. Edward H. Wright for $7,100 as a site for the church and school. December 8th, 1874, the corner-stone was laid by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Corrigan, assisted by the vicar-general, Mon- signor G. D. Doane, and a number of priests. The parish counted 75 members at its beginning, with a fund of $1,056.90, which sum had been raised partially by subscriptions, and also by donations from members of St. Peter's and St. Mary's churches. The church was finished and dedicated on May 23d, 1875, to which happy event the parishioners were summoned by the ringing of a new bell called St. Augustine. The building of the parish house was begun June 15th and finished November, 1875. In September of the same year the school opened with about 100 children and was placed in care of four Sisters of Christian Charity from Wilkesbarre, Pa., Sister Isabella superior.
A valuable gift was received by the church in a relic of the Holy Cross and one of the patron saint, St. Augustine, which were donated by the Superior-General of the Redemptorist Fa- thers, Rt. Rev. N. Mauron, in Rome.
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In 1884 the parish owned ten lots which were valued at $ 12,900.
Space does not permit the recital of the heroic exertions of the zealous priest, Father Vogel, and it is not astonishing that at last his health and strength gave out, and an administrator was ap- pointed him in the person of Rev. Ruppert Mueller. Father Vogel obtained a leave of absence to seek recovery at his home in Gratz, Austria, but his condition grew worse and at last God relieved his sufferings and called home the faithful worker to his eternal reward.
Rev. Ruppert Mueller followed in the footsteps of Father Vogel.
In September, 1890, a new rector was appointed in the person of Rev. G. Niedermayer, while Rev. R. Mueller was transferred" to St. Nicholas's Church, Jersey City, where after a severe and long illness he died in the year 1891.
Rev. G. Niedermayer thought it advisable to build a hall for exhibitions and entertainments. Lots on Norfolk and Jay streets were bought as a site for a new school building. On Christmas morning, 1892, the little church and school-house were totally ruined by a fire, the loss being estimated at about $20,000. The true cause of the dreadful accident has never been discovered. Were it not for the newly erected hall the congregation would have been dissolved. September 3d, 1893, the corner-stone of the new school building was laid by Rt. Rev. Bishop Wigger.
Rev. Rudolf Huelsebusch, successor to Rev. G. Niedermayer, was born December 6th, 1 868, in Steele, Prussia. He was ordained in Tyrol July 26th, 1893. September 1 1th, 1893, he came to America; for two years and three months he was assistant priest at the Church of the Holy Family in Union Hill. November 19th, 1895, he took charge of St. Augus- tine's Parish in Newark, ST. AUGUSTINE'S CHURCH, NEWARK. N. J. At present the congregation is in a flourishing condition.
Honorable mention must be made of the venerable Sister Wenzeslas, who was superioress for nearly twenty-three years and was really a mother to St. Augustine's congregation.
Eventful as the past has been to St. Augustine's Parish,
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nevertheless the congregation flourishes, with the blessing of the Almighty, and its members trust once again to have an edifice worthy of the service of God for the sanctification of souls and a source of pride for the German Catholics in the city of Newark.
The present debt on the St. Augustine's Church property is $25,750.
St. Antoninus's Church, Newark, N. J.
THE parish of St. Antoninus was founded by the Dominican Fathers in the year 1875. The first pastor to assume charge was the Rev. Stephen Byrne, O.P. For a short time Mass was cele- brated in a dwelling-house on Bank Street, near Eighth. The property on South Orange Avenue between Eighth and Ninth streets was purchased and the Holy Sacrifice was of- fered in a small frame struc- ture on Ninth Street until 1882. In 1878 Father Byrne was succeeded by Rev. H. D. Hoban, O.P., S.T.L. After a term of three years Rev. J. P. Turner, O.P., was appoint- ed pastor in 1881. During the pastorate of Father Turn- er the present church on ST. ANTONINUS'S CHURCH, NEWARK. South Orange Avenue was erected. The dedicatory cer- emonies of the new church took place on Sunday, May 14th, 1882. Shortly after the opening of the new church the old edifice was converted into a school and the Sisters of Charity were en- gaged for teaching.
After a six-year term of office Father Turner retired, and Rev. J. A. Rochford, O.P., was appointed for three years from 1887 to 1890. Father Rochford was succeeded by Rev. E. V. Flood, O.P. In 1893 Rev. J. F. Colbert, O.P., took charge of the parish and served two terms. During the second term of Father Col- bert the new parochial school was built to take the place of the small wooden structure. The present pastor of the church is Rev. J. R. Meagher, O.P., S.T.L., and has entered upon his second term of office, having been appointed in October, 1899. Fathers Byrne, Turner, and Rochford have long ago passed to their reward.
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St. Leo's Church, Irvington.
THE venerable Father John F. Salaun was formally commis- sioned by Rt. Rev. Michael A. Corrigan, to look after the wants of the Catholics in Irvington and nearby, who were, however, to continue to attend divine worship in the beautiful College Chapel of Seton Hall.
Many indeed are the stories the students of those days could tell of the "over-the-hill" journeys of the faithful from "Camp- town " and Hilton. In vehicles, various in kind and style and size (and many more on foot), the "contingent " could be seen, Sunday after Sunday, with commendable regularity, enter the gate and reverently wend their way through "the maple-shaded lane," to kneel before the common altar and listen to the eloquent words that fell from the lips of the sainted pastor, Father Salaun.
Like most of the growing suburban settlements, Irvington in turn came in for its measure of care for more perfect organization from the ever-zealous bishop.
In the work of "starting a parish " bishops are wont to choose men of energy and sacrifice. Such a one was Rev. Walter M. Fleming. He was appointed to the task on June 23d, 1878.
It is almost incredible what the handful of Catholics accom- plished in the five months that followed, led on by this young and fearless priest, who purchased the property on Myrtle Avenue, built the church, and removed and improved the old "mansion " for the purposes of a rectory.
On December 15th, 1878, Rt. Rev. Bishop Corrigan, with the impressive ceremony of the Catholic ritual, dedicated the edifice to the service of God, under the patronage of the intrepid St. Leo I.
The work thus begun was continued under other pastors, among them the accomplished Dr. Messmer who labored but two and a half years. Father Messmer's name will be held in bene- diction by old and young.
His mantle fell upon another professor of Seton Hall, no less worthy of their esteem, and one, too, who has left a lasting impres- sion. The Rt. Rev. John J. O'Connor, now burdened with the onerous duties of bishop of the diocese, was appointed by Bishop Wigger in July, 1882. His relations with St. Leo's were severed in the fall of 1883, reluctantly, owing to labors at the college.
The Rev. Benedictine Fathers from St. Mary's Abbey, High
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Street, Newark, ruled the people for over four years with the same zeal and tact that have always characterized their lives.
The secular priests, under the guidance of our late and lamented Bishop Wigger, resumed charge in the person of Rev. W. J. Murphy, whose career was cut short by death from hemor-
ST. LEO'S CHURCH, IRVINGTON.
rhages. Father J. E. McEvoy enjoyed the longest term, of four years and three months. He succumbed to a disease that at- tacked him while a student in Seton Hall. The labors of Rev. J. J. Boylan, his successor, during two years and ten months, re- sulted in a general rejuvenescence in every department of pas- toral work. The church was beautified, parochial visitations be- came more frequent, the income became a marvel. It was indeed
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a sad day that witnessed his departure, March 10th, 1895, to his field of labor in Jersey City. It was through the energy and perseverance of Father Boylan that the school (erected by his predecessor and in debt) was opened to the children of the parish.
Notwithstanding the difficulties and opposition that such new works enlist, these pastors realized how needful is the Catholic school to unfold the minds of our children and at the same time mould the character and the conscience.
The rectory was next looked after, and with the church was heated by steam, etc .; and, above all, the debt reduced consid- erably.
The eloquent and venerable Father Byrne next succeeded to the rectorship. Although at a patriarchal age, yet for two years his parishioners had the advantage of his eloquence as well as his care.
In the mean while the school continued doing its work, equally successful both under the Sisters of Charity and under the Sisters of Notre Dame. Imbued with the same spirit of prayer and sac- rifice, these have accomplished much to bring success to the growing years.
The present incumbent of the parish, the Rev. J. C. Dunn, assumed the office September 24th, 1897, and with his predeces- sors pays tribute to the faithful cooperation of St. Leo's people.
When we look back over a quarter of a century, we are astounded that so much has been accomplished.
Not only has the regular work of school and church been stead- ily continued, but, notwithstanding almost insuperable difficulties, the financial side has much to encourage us.
To meet the requirements from the beginning the use of com- mercial paper was necessary. The labor of procuring revenue for interest and improvements and repairs has often taxed the ingenuity of pastor, trustees, and willing hands, of which there were not a few. Even from without the parish limits generous friends have not been wanting.
At the outset an outlay of $7,000 was needed to erect and furnish the church and rectory. The purchase of additional land on Irvington Place at $409.75, subsequent repairs, and additions to the rectory brings the outlay to about $4,000 more. In 1892, by consent of the bishop, land was purchased for the school site at a cost of $1,200, of which amount the bishop contributed a gener- ous donation of $500, Father McEvoy and a relative $500. The school building was erected at a cost of $5,452.68. There were
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many alterations besides furnishings for this and the following year that caused an expenditure of $1,445.83. Although in earlier years the income was merely nominal, yet an investigation re- cently made shows that an average annual income of $2,400 has carried on the work successfully.
The silver jubilee of the church was celebrated appropriately November 13th, 1903, in the presence of the Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Connor and many priests of the diocese. The celebrant of the Mass was a former rector, the Rev. J. J. Boylan. The pres- ent active and efficient pastor, the Rev. Joseph C. Dunn, was born in Newark, N. J., June 2d, 1862, and made his classical studies in St. Benedict's, Newark, and Seton Hall, where he was graduated in the class of '82. He was ordained in the cathedral, June 19th, 1886. He has rendered services as assistant in Sum- mit, St. Joseph's, Jersey City, and St. James's, Newark. He was appointed rector of St. Patrick's, Chatham, September 21st, 1889, and of St. Leo's, Irvington, October 2d, 1897.
Church of Our Lady of Grace, Avondale.
THE mission of Avondale had been attached to Belleville until the Rev. Hubert de Burgh undertook to build a church for the settlement of Catholics in that parish. Father de Burgh, formerly of the Established Church, chaplain of the British army in the Crimea, an advanced Ritualist, became a Catholic and was ordained for the Diocese of Westminster, England.
On the death of Father Hogan, October 18th, 1867, he be- came pastor of St. Peter's, Belleville. He resigned this charge to take up his residence and become the first pastor of Avondale in August, 1877.
The church of Avondale is one of the prettiest specimens of Gothic architecture in the diocese. Father de Burgh was trans- ferred to the charge of St. Mary's, Plainfield, in 1882, but resigned his parish and returned to England.
His successor is the Rev. John P. Morris. Father Morris, born in Paterson, N. J., on July 14th, 1841, made his preparatory studies at Seton Hall and his theological studies in the American College, Rome, where he was ordained June 15th, 1867. Father Morris, as assistant, served at St. Peter's, Jersey City, St. Mary's, Jersey City, St. Patrick's, Elizabethport, and in 1870 he was appointed to assist the Rev. John J. Connolly, pastor of Plainfield, then in very delicate health.
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After his death he succeeded as pastor and built the new church and rectory. The church was blessed on September 8th, 1880. He also built the church of St. John the Evangelist, Dunellen. It was dedicated on October 24th, 1880. This parish
CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF GRACE, AVONDALE.
is one of the very few in the Diocese of Newark which has no parochial school The land on which the church was built was the gift of Mrs. William Joyce.
St. Joseph's Church, Keyport.
THE first resident pastor of Keyport was the Rev. P. McGov- ern. Father McGovern was succeeded by the Rev. G. A. Spier- ings, a Capuchin who came to the Diocese of Newark from Cleve- land, Ohio, and was appointed pastor of Fort Lee. On October Ist, 1876, he resigned that parish to the Capuchin Fathers and went to Europe for a visit. There he became secularized and on his return was appointed assistant to Father de Concilio, with whom he remained until his appointment to Keyport, June, 1877.
Father Spierings built the fine brick church which was dedi- cated October 31st, 1880, and also the brick rectory. His suc- cessor is the Rev. Michael C. O'Donnell. Father O'Donnell was born in Lambertville, N. J., and studied at St. Charles's and Seton Hall, where he was graduated in the class of '81.
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St. Bonaventure, Paterson, N. J.
THE infamous May Laws of Prussia drove the religious orders from their fatherland, many of whom came to the United States. Among them the Franciscan Fathers of the Province of St. Eliza- beth of Thuringia, whose mother house was in Fulda. On their arrival in New York September 5th, 1875, they were most cor- dially received by the Capuchin Fathers of that city, with whom they remained several months, until they were received into the Diocese of Ogdensburg, N. Y., by Bishop Wadhams and assigned to St. Stephen's Church, Croghan. Here they still labor for the glory and honor of God.
Other fathers arrived later and were received into the diocese by Bishop Corrigan in 1876. The bishop expressed the wish that they would establish a parish in the neighboring section of the
ST. BONAVENTURE'S CHURCH, PATERSON.
city of Paterson. This little party of Franciscans arrived in Pat- erson August 26th, 1876, and took possession of the convent which had been built two years before by the Carmelites, who had come hither from Regensburg, Bavaria.
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Their efforts did not meet with the success they had hoped for and they returned to their mother house.
The Sunday following the arrival of the Franciscans, August 27th, 1876, Mass was cele- brated for the first time in the little chapel of the con- vent by the Rev. Ferdinand Miller, O.F.M., the superior- general of the community, which position he retained until 1885, when he was re- called to Germany.
The community consisted of two priests and three cler- ics, preparing for the priest- hood, and three lay brothers. As the fathers were unable to speak English, it was not ST. ANTHONY'S CHURCH, BUTLER. Attended from St. Bonaventure's. until February, 1877, that they obtained permission from the ordinary to establish a parish under the title of St. Bonaventure.
Previous to this the Catholics living in this section of Pater- son were attended from St. John's Church
Father Miller was the first rector of the new parish and re- mained in charge until December, 1881. His assistant was the Rev. A Frobele.
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