USA > New Jersey > The Catholic Church in New Jersey > Part 47
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The Rev. Anton H. Stein was Father Schaeken's successor. Father Stein, born in Elizabeth, made his classical studies at Seton Hall and was a graduate of the class of '88. He was or- dained priest before the completion of his theology, owing to his delicate condition of health. The fields of his labors as assistant were at Union Hill, Morristown, South Orange, St. Michael's, Newark, and St. Vincent's, Madison. The parish is most cosmo- politan, for it probably has almost every nationality represented. Its growth has been characteristic. The census shows the num
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ber of parishioners at present to be 3,996. The following children of the parish have been elevated to the dignity of the priesthood : Fathers D. E. Laad, Lill, Bohl, and Van Zele. The following priests have been the curates: the Rev. Felix O'Neill, S.T.L., and the Rev. Theo. Peters; the present assistant is the Rev. Father Kurtz.
St. Joseph's Church, Trenton.
IN 1882 the Very Rev. Anthony Smith, V.G., the rector of St. Mary's Cathedral, Trenton, erected a brick building on Sher- man Avenue, to be used as a school and church by the residents of the eastern section.
In 1891 the Rev. James McFaul, now bishop of the diocese, . converted this building into a sisters' house and erected a three- story brick building adjoining it to be used as a school and a chapel. It serves this purpose up to the present time, but the parish hopes to erect a new church in the near future.
In April, 1893, the parish was separated from the cathedral, and the Rev. John H. Fox appointed its first pastor.
February Ist, 1895, Father Fox became rector of St. Mary's Cathedral and was succeeded by the Rev. Bernard T. O'Connell, who resigned the pastorate after a month.
His successor was the Rev. Michael O'Reilley, who remained until September 8th, 1898, when he was transferred to Metuchen, where he died one year later.
On September 8th, 1898, the Rev. Henry Ward, the present pastor, was installed. In 1899 Father Ward purchased a new house for the Sisters of Mercy, and converted the old convent into a rectory. About four hundred pupils attend the school and the population of the parish is twenty-five hundred. The assistant priests of the parish are the Fathers Russi, O'Farrell, John Sweeney, James Morrison, and John A. Carroll, who is the assistant at the present time.
Our Lady Help of Christians, East Orange.
THE parish of Our Lady Help of Christians was founded in the spring of 1882 by Rt. Rev. W. M. Wigger. Its first rector was Rev. M. P. O'Connor, at present rector of the Holy Cross Church, Harrison. After a short administration he was succeeded by Rev. Pierce McCarthy and Rev. Michael J. Kerwin. Both of these labored zealously in building up and placing the parish on a
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firm footing. Father Kerwin was stricken with paralysis on Sep- tember 15th, 1893, and it resulted in his death on May 10th, 1894. The present incumbent, Rev. J. P. Callaghan, was appointed ad- ministrator during his illness, and upon his demise was regularly appointed rector. It is through his energy and efforts that the new church has been erected.
The church is situated on the corner of North Clinton and Main streets, and is joined to the handsome brick rectory which was completed some years ago by the late Father Kerwin.
In design the edifice is Gothic of the latest French type, some- what decorative in treatment as compared with Gothic architecture
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CHURCH OF OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS, EAST ORANGE.
in this country. The principal feature of the Main Street front is the pointed spire, rising to a height of 160 feet. The main door- way, at the centre of the front, has a width of twelve feet and is enclosed within a subordinate gable on the face of the vestibule wall. This doorway is flanked by clustered columns and is sur- mounted by a large pointed arch, deeply moulded, enclosing a tympanum of marble.
The Rev. John P. Callaghan, born in Newark, February 7th, 1855, made his preparatory studies in St. Charles's, Maryland, and at Seton Hall, and his theology in the American College, Louvain,
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Belgium. He was ordained in the Cathedral of Mechlin, Decem- ber 22d, 1877. He labored in St. Mary's, Jersey City, and locum tenens at Mendham and Plainfield, rector of Hibernia, and pro- moted to East Orange in 1894.
St. Joseph's Church, North Plainfield.
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, North Plainfield, was established by Bishop O'Farrell in 1882. The Rev. Thomas J: O'Hanlon was appointed the first pastor. The Sisters of Mercy established a sanitarium and home for working girls, on August 31st, 1897, on Manning Avenue, and the same order opened St. Gabriel's Acad- emy as a select school for young ladies and boys up to the age of thirteen years, on Jackson Avenue, in September, 1892. Father O'Hanlon was succeeded by the Rev. Michael Freeman on Sep- tember 12th, 1888, who remained in the parish until March Ist, 1891, when he was succeeded by the Rev. James McKernan.
Father McKernan was in turn succeeded by the Rev. William Miller, the present rector, in April, 1893.
The Sacred Heart Church, New Brunswick.
THE parish of the Sacred Heart Church embraces the first and second wards of the city of New Brunswick. It was regu- larly incorporated according to the laws of New Jersey in 1883. The selection of the site was entrusted to the Very Rev. J. A. O'Grady, under the supervision of the Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Farrell. Rev. B. J. Mulligan was appointed first pastor.
The first parochial meeting was held in the basement of St. Peter's Church on August 15th, 1883. Bishop O'Farrell presided, and seventy heads of families in the newly erected parochial limits answered to their names. At this meeting it was decided to build a church and name it "the Church of the Sacred Heart."
Plans for the new church were prepared by Mr. C. P. Keeley, of Brooklyn, the dimensions to be 122 by 60 feet, the material brick, with brownstone trimming. The work was pushed forward with much energy. The corner-stone was laid by Bishop O'Far- rell on October 14th, 1883. A temporary roof was built over the basement, and Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day of the same year.
The high altar is the gift of the people of the parish, in mem - ory of the fiftieth year of the ordination of the Rev. Father Rogers.
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It was solemnly consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Farrell on May 26th, 1886, a few weeks after the dedication of the church.
In July, 1886, the frame building on Throop Avenue was re- moved to Suydam Street, where it was enlarged and fitted up for the sisters. The rectory on Throop Avenue was built in the fall of 1886, and it was occupied in 1887.
In 1889 it was felt that the basement of the church was ill adapted for school purposes, and that a new school was a neces- sity. To provide for this want the old cemetery was purchased from St. Peter's Church, and a portion of it set apart for a school building. The corner-stone of the school was laid on October 6th, 1889. It was finished early in the following year. In September it opened with two hundred and twenty children. At present the number is two hundred and eighty-eight.
In October, 1893, Father Mulligan was promoted to a more important charge, the parish of the Immaculate Conception, Cam- den, N. J. Regret was general among the parishioners of the Sacred Heart Church at his departure. In twelve years he ac- complished a great work, to which the church and school and rec- tory bear testimony. He watched over the interests of his flock and guarded them well, and although the people grieved, their sorrow was somewhat assuaged by the knowledge of the fact that he was invited to "go up higher."
The unfinished state of the tower had been a matter of concern for priest and people for some years Both felt that something should be done during this first year of the new century. Toward this end a meeting of the Board of Trustees was held, when it was resolved to complete the tower and erect the spire.
At present a convent is being built, costing almost $7,000.
Church of the Holy Cross, Seabright.
THIS parish was founded in May, 1883, by the Rev. John H. Fox, who was sent to Seabright by Bishop O'Farrell to provide for the large contingent of visitors to the seaside. The church and house were built in 1885 and the parish hall in 1893.
The young men of the parish were formed into an association under the name of Young Men's Institute (Y. M. I.), in 1893, and is in a flourishing condition. The parish continues to prosper, and its finances are in a sound condition.
Father Fox was succeeded by the Rev. Edw. J. Egan, the pres- ent pastor of the church.
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The Church of St. John the Baptist, Jersey City.
ON November 20th, 1894, the Rev. Father Ter Woert was appointed by Bishop Wigger to found a new parish in Jersey City. The territory was to be taken from St. Joseph's and St. Paul's, Jersey City, as these parishes at that time were very extensive.
Father Ter Woert started in at once, and in two weeks' time had bought four lots on the corner of Huron and Van Winkle
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CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, JERSEY CITY.
avenues, and erected a small frame church which would accom- modate six hundred people. The first Mass was celebrated in the church on December 7th, 1884.
At the time of the establishment of the parish there were about nine hundred parishioners.
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In March, 1886, eight lots adjoining the church were purchased, and immediately the erection of a fine brick school was begun. The building was completed and opened for the children in Sep- tember, 1887, and five Dominican Sisters were placed in charge.
The legal title of the parish is "St. John's Roman Catholic Church, Jersey City, N. J."
The same year, 1887, was begun the erection of a handsome parochial residence, which was completed and ready for occupancy in 1888. In 1891 several new lots were bought, and on Novem ber 24th, 1892, the corner-stone of the new church was laid by Rt. Rev. Bishop Wigger. On November 14th, 1897, the magnificent granite building was dedicated by the same bishop; Mgr. De Concilio, now deceased, being the preacher on the oc- casion.
In 1895 were purchased four more lots and a small frame building to be used as a convent. The parish now owned the entire square, bounded by the Boulevard, St. Paul's and Van Win- kle avenues.
Father Ter Woert had as assistants, in order of appointment, Revs. M. F. Downes, Edward Kelly, J. M. McCormac, M. J. Donnelly, and James T. Delehanty.
On June Ist, 1900, Father Ter Woert was promoted to the irre- movable rectorship of St. Mary's Church, Jersey City, and was succeeded by Rev. P. M. Smith, who had been pastor of St. Mary Magdalen's Church, Newark; and formerly an assistant for ten years at St. Joseph's Church, Jersey City. Father Smith has as assistants Fathers Preston and Kane.
The small frame building which was bought in 1895, and occu- pied by the sisters ever since, is now too small to accommodate the large number of sisters required for school work; and, in con- sequence, a large and magnificent brick convent is to be built in 1904; also a new hall and an addition to the school, all costing about $ 50,000.
When all improvements are made the parish will be worth about $250,000.
St. Anthony's Church, Jersey City.
THE Catholic Poles of Jersey City were formed into a parish by the Rev. Ignatius Barzoz in 1884, and a small frame church, 40 by 90 feet, built on Monmouth Street near Sixth.
The next rector of the parish was the Rev. A. Mischnowski,
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and on his resignation in 1891 Bishop Wigger appointed the Rev. V. Kukowski. Under his pastorate the new stone church was erected on the old site.
On October 18th, 1895, the Rev. B. Kwiatkowski, who was appointed rector, built the parochial school and placed it in charge of the Felician Sisters of Detroit, Mich. Father Kwiatkowski also built the rectory and con- vent at the corner of Sixth and Brunswick streets. The school has an attendance of six hundred and thirty-five pupils.
St. Lucy's Catholic Church, Jersey City.
AFTER serving several years as a "chapel of ease " to St. Michael's Catholic Church, under the Rev. Jan- uarius De Concilio, rector, St. Lucy's Catholic Church was formally established as a separate parish, under the above legal title, June 22d, 1884. The Rev. A. M. Kam- mer was the first rector, and under his care the old frame church building was renovat- ed and fitted for divine wor- ship. In 1885 a rectory was built, at a cost of $5,000, on the westerly side of Grove CHURCH OF ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA, JERSEY CITY. Street. In the year 1886 he built a one-story frame build- ing, to serve as a school, on the southerly side of Sixteenth Street, and in 1887 purchased at $6,500 the four lots facing on Grove Street, for a future school. In September, 1888, Rev. Charles P. Gillen succeeded Rev. A. M. Kammer, who was
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called by Bishop Wigger to found and to build St. Anne's Ger- man Church in Newark. In March, 1889, an opportunity was offered to complete the entire block of Church property by secur-
ST. LUCY'S CHURCH, JERSEY CITY.
ing the two remaining lots facing on Grove Street, and Rev. C. P. Gillen purchased them at a cost of $3,600. A lover of Catholic education, Father Gillen began the erection of a modern brick school-house in August, 1899, on the southwesterly corner of
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Grove and Sixteenth streets, and completed it at a cost of $26,000. The old frame church building, that had served in the past as a public school and house of divine worship, now began to show the decay of years Father Gillen's energy was therefore directed to a new church on the northwesterly corner of Grove and Fifteenth streets In September, 1894, he began the work, piling and set- ting the concrete foundation. To enable him to raise funds, the work on the building rested for one year. The completion of the work, however, fell to the portion of his successor. In March, 1895, Rev. C. P Gillen was appointed rector of St. Joseph's Church, Paterson, in place of the Rev. S. B. Smith, D.D., de- ceased, and was succeeded in St. Lucy's by Rev. John J. Boylan. The new rector took up the work his predecessor had laid down. In July, 1895, the corner-stone of the new church was laid by Rt. Rev. W. M Wigger, D.D. The work progressed rapidly, and in the following year the church was completed from spire to altar at a cost of $60,000, and dedicated May 17th, 1896.
The rapid increase in the parochial school necessitated a larger staff of teachers. But the convent was too small, and in June, 1897, Rev John J. Boylan built a new and commodious convent for the sisters on the northerly side of Fifteenth Street at a cost of $10,000 In 1898, through the generosity of parishioners a bell was placed in the belfry of the church and school, and marble altars were placed in the church. In 1899 the parish limits were extended to the northerly side of Thirteenth Street, giving an in- creased population of fifteen hundred souls. In consequence new rooms were opened in the school, the cellar was arranged into courts for the children, the unfinished hall was completed, and the building was comfortably heated by steam.
In 1901 a marked increase in the school necessitated the reno- vation of the old frame school building into a school annex at a cost of $3,700. The rectory built by Father Kammer was con- sidered inadequate as a home for three priests. In June, 1903, Rev. John J. Boylan moved the old rectory from its site to the rear of the school, so as to clear the ground for a suitable rectory.
The parish has a population of thirty-five hundred, and its buildings are finished and permanent. The assistants have been Rev. E. A. Kelly, Rev. W. T. McLoughlin, Rev. J. A. Brown, Rev. Thomas McEnery, and the present, Rev. H. J. Watterson.
The Rev. John J. Boylan, born in Jersey City December 27th, 1858, made his classical studies at St. Charles's, Maryland, and Seton Hall, where he was graduated with the class of '80.
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Having completed his theology he was ordained in the cathe- dral, Newark, June 7th, 1884. He was an assistant in St. Mi- chael's, Jersey City, until his appointment to the pastorate of St. Leo's parish, Irvington, June 9th, 1892, from which he was transferred to St. Lucy's, Jersey City.
St. Andrew's Church, Westwood, N. J.
THIS church was built June 17th, 1888, by the Rev. George W. Corrigan, pastor of St. Luke's, Hohokus. The following priests have ministered to the wants of this little parish : the Rev. Fathers M. Nevin, Dr. Muhl, John A. Sullivan, and James P. Corrigan.
An offshoot of St. Andrew's is St. Mary's Church, Park Ridge, the corner-stone of which was laid July 12th, 1903, and dedicated on November 22d of the same year.
St. Nicholas's Church, Jersey City.
ST. NICHOLAS's Church was founded on March, 1886, by the Rev. J. N. Grieff, pastor of the Holy Family Church at Union Hill. The first resident pastor is the Rev. J. Weyland, who came to this country in June, 1886, from the diocese of Grant, Duchy of Luxembourg, and was appointed rector of the new parish by Bishop Wigger.
The first Mass was cele- brated in Leitz's Hall on Beacon Avenue on March 2Ist, 1886.
The present frame church was opened and dedicated August 29th, 1886. The par- ish school was opened in Sep- ST. NICHOLAS'S CHURCH, JERSEY CITY. tember, 1886, in the basement of the church, and placed in charge of the Sisters of Christian Charity, whose first residence was the basement of the church building.
The present convent was built in 1887, and the rectory in the same year. Four lots were purchased in 1890 and five others
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in 1894, to make provision for a more commodious school and recreation ground for the children and a new sisters' convent
The present imposing school building was erected at a cost of $40,000, and was opened in 1895.
There is no debt on the church, but, nevertheless, the congre- gation is struggling bravely to acquire funds to build a new church and rectory, which are now an absolute necessity.
The assistants of the parish were the Rev. Fathers George Neidermeyr, Rupert Muller, H. Stennesbeck, and Louis Gabriel.
Church of the Holy Rosary, Jersey City.
THE Italians of Jersey City were, it is said, first brought together and a church was erected for them by the Rt. Rev. Mgr. De Concilio some time before 1886 Different priests have min- istered in the little chapel, and among them are Fathers Joseph Chuiso, Shaunessy, Mazziotta, Mooney, and Marangella.
In 1886 the Rev. Leonard A. Mazziotta was appointed rector by Bishop Wigger; and, as the chapel was insufficient to accom- modate the increasing number of the congregation, an addition was built and the rectory enlarged at the same time.
The Rev. Father Schoenan succeeded Father Mazziotta and remained three years. The Rev. George Issa, a native of Jeru salem, then took charge of the parish and remained until 1901, when his health compelled him to return to his native land.
His successor in 1901 was the Rev. Vincent Sciolla. A new brick church is now in course of construction since the congre- gation has outgrown the original frame structure, which is in a dilapidated condition and beyond repair. If possible, it will be renovated and used for school purposes.
St. Aloysius's Church, Caldwell.
THE Catholics of Caldwell were attended once a month from Montclair, and Mass was celebrated in private houses.
The county of Essex built a penitentiary in Caldwell, and the city of Newark established a reformatory and an insane asylum in the neighborhood. The Catholic inmates of these institutions required the attention of a priest.
Later on the Sisters of St. Dominic purchased a tract of land and established a convent and an academy.
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To provide for these different Catholic wants Bishop Wigger arranged between the nuns and the few Catholics scattered about the hills, that the laity provide a church and rectory, and that all three parties interested should contribute to the support of the priest.
The resident population did provide the church and rectory, yet not without incurring a heavy debt.
The following priests have been connected with the parish : the Rev. Fathers J. J. Shaunessy, J. F. Nolan, John F. Boylan, and Henry Kruse.
In 1895 the Rev. Patrick Byrne took charge of the parish and is the present incumbent.
St. Lawrence's Church, Weehawken.
ST. LAWRENCE's parish, Weehawken, was founded in the year 1886. On the 27th day of October of that year the act of in- corporation was signed by the Rt. Rev. W. M. Wigger, bishop, the Very Rev. William P. Salt, vicar-general, the Rev. Constan- tine Colclough, C.P., rector, and by Simon Kelly and Michael Hannon, lay trus- tees. They chose the cor- porate title, "St. Lawrence's Catholic Church, Weehaw- ken, N. J." Rev. John J. Murphy was appointed rector on the Ist day of December, 1886, and celebrated the first Mass in Weehawken on De- ST. LAWRENCE'S CHURCH, WEE- HAWKEN. cember 19th, 1886, in Bed- ford's Hall, which, through the courtesy of the owner, was used as a temporary chapel. Liv- ing in rented apartments, Father Murphy immediately set to work to build a composite structure which would serve as church, school, and rectory.
The corner-stone of the church was laid by Rt. Rev. Bishop Wigger on March 20th, 1887, and the church was dedicated by him on August 21st, 1887. Encountering and overcoming many difficulties, Father Murphy labored faithfully in this parish until August, 1893, when he was transferred to St. Peter's Church, Belleville, where he died on June 6th, 1895.
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Rev. Matthew Callan succeeded Father Murphy in August, 1893. The number of pupils in the school had increased so that there was urgent need of more room and better accommodations. Father Callan saw the want and supplied it by building a new school in the year 1894. The spiritual work, inaugurated by his heroic predecessor, progressed under Father Callan's wise super- vision during the five years of his incumbency. He was made rec- tor of St. Mary's Church, Paterson, in March, 1898.
Rev. John A. Dooley came after Father Callan. A youth in the priesthood, Father Dooley possessed a rarely sensitive nature upon which care preyed noticeably. Anxiety meant for him rest- less nights begetting nervousness. He struggled, but he lost in strength. His courage bore him up while his health rapidly failed. His brief period of administration brought to an end a short and useful career in the priesthood. He died in St. Lawrence's rec- tory on August 29th, 1899.
On September 9th of the same year Rev, William A. Brothers was appointed pastor. Two years later he bought property on which to build a sisters' house, and St. Lawrence's convent was added to the parish buildings in the year 1901. Father Brothers was educated at St. Charles's, Md., and Seton Hall, where he was ordained January 29th, 1893.
St. Augustine's Church, Union Hill.
ST. AUGUSTINE's parish, Union Hill, was organized on Febru- ary 2d, 1886, by Rev. Augustine M. Brady, who was appointed its first rector by Rt. Rev. W. M. Wigger, D.D.
The corner-stone of the church was laid on Easter Sunday, 1886, and a few months afterward the church was dedicated. Father Brady worked zealously to build up the parish, and secured a rectory and convent and built a fine brick school.
He was forced on account of ill health to lay down the burden of parish work in 1897. On June 26th of that same year the Rt. Rev. Mgr. Stafford was appointed to succeed him.
Mgr. Stafford labored successfully as rector until May, 1897. On the 31st of May, 1899, Rev. William T. McLoughlin, the pres- ent rector, was appointed his successor.
The parish is in a flourishing condition. The parochial school under the care of the Sisters of Charity gives instruction, at pres- ent, to four hundred and seventy-five children.
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The assistants who labored here are Revs. James Lundy, Roger McGinley, and James Hangley.
Father Miskella followed and labored in the parish until June, 1903, when he was succeeded by the present assistant, the Rev. M. J. Farrelly.
Father McLoughlin was born in Paterson, February 15th, 1861, and was educated in St. Francis's College, Wisconsin, and
ST, AUGUSTINE'S CHURCH, RECTORY AND SCHOOL, UNION HILL.
Seton Hall, and is a member of the class of '87. He studied the- ology in the diocesan seminary, and received holy orders in the cathedral May 23d, 1891.
He was an assistant in St. Lucy's, Jersey City, and in the cathedral, and also in St. Mary's, Jersey City. His first appoint- ment as rector was October 2d, 1897, to St. Patrick's, Chatham, whence he was promoted to Union Hill.
St. Bridgit's Church, New Durham.
ST. BRIDGIT'S Roman Catholic Church, New Durham, North Bergen township, was founded by the Rev. William Mc- Laughlin in 1900. The corner-stone was laid by Rt. Rev. W. M. Wigger on June 3d of that year.
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