USA > New Jersey > The Catholic Church in New Jersey > Part 52
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
This is the motive which prompts our sacrifice. This is the mainspring of all Catholic action in cathedral and church build- ing, so little understood, so much misunderstood by the non-Cath- olic world. Therefore it is that, like David, "we have vowed a vow to the God of Jacob."
"If I shall enter into the tabernacle of my house, if I shall go up to the bed where I lie; if I shall give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to my eyelids, or rest to my temples, until I find out a place for the Lord, a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob."
Dean Flynn spoke on behalf of the cathedral collecting committee, and told of its work. He report- ed that the three priests had gone among upward of 1,400 families of the diocese and that donations had been received from about 400. The sum of CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION, PAS- SAIC. For Slovak Catholics, $5,000 each had been contrib- uted, he announced, by John F. Shanley and James Smith, Jr., of Newark. William Noonan, of Elizabethport, subscribed $2,000. The sum of $500 each was received from Thomas Ma- loney, of St. Patrick's parish, Jersey City; Patrick Farrelly, of Morristown; and James McGuire, of Elizabeth. The balance of the fund, Dean Flynn explained, was made up of subscriptions principally of $ 100 each.
The banquet was brought to a close by the Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Connor, whose speech is given verbatim :
GENTLEMEN: I thank you one and all for your presence here this evening and for your kind greeting. More than two years have elapsed since I was chosen to assume the burden and respon- sibilities of the bishopric of this diocese. During that time it has been my good fortune to be the recipient of many tokens of esteem, for which I can never be sufficiently grateful. Priests and people have rallied around me with a unanimity and good will which not only was gratifying in itself, but inspired me with zeal to carry on to the best of my ability the projects inaugurated by my predecessors for the welfare of those committed to my pastoral care.
On various occasions I have met the assembled clergy and ex-
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changed views with them as to the means best adapted to advance the cause of religion in this portion of the Lord's vineyard. But not until to-night have I enjoyed the opportunity of coming face to face with the representative laymen of the diocese, though never for a moment did I lose sight of the fact that it was my duty, as I knew it would be a pleasure, to bring them together and to address them, as I have the honor to do this evening. With sentiments, then, of sincere admiration for your steadfast loyalty to your faith and of heartfelt gratitude for the important share you have borne in building up the diocese and making it what it is to-day, I greet you, gentlemen, and beg to express my cordial good wishes toward you all, and through you toward all the laymen of the diocese.
It is peculiarly fitting that we should thus assemble at this time when we are commemorating an event which for fifty years has exercised a profound influence on the history of religion in this State. Half a century ago Catholics in New Jersey were few, poor, and despised. To-day they number nearly 400,000, and are reckoned by friend and foe as among the most virtuous, pros- perous, and highly respected citizens of the community.
When we inquire into the causes of our progress, we may safely conclude that our rapid advance has been due in a great measure to the unity of thought and action produced by the erec- tion of the See of Newark and the organization of our religious
forces and capabilities con- sequent on the formation of the new diocese.
My predecessors were men of more than ordinary ability and learning-Bishops Bayley, Corrigan, and Wig- ger-and they were upheld and assisted in their endeav- ors by as zealous and devoted a band of clergy as ever adorned the history of the Church. But while conscious of their own lofty aims and of the integrity of their mo- tives in advancing the cause of God and religion, they- both prelates and priests- would be the first to declare if they were here to-night ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, PASSAIC, For Polish Catholics. that their labors, heroic and self-sacrificing as they were, would have been futile had it not been for the constant, unremit- ting, and whole-souled cooperation of the loyal and generous lay- men, who in spite of difficulty and discouragement seconded every effort of the clergy, and by their financial aid enabled them to
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bring to a successful issue what otherwise would have remained a sublime but vain ideal.
To the laity it may seem at times that they have not been accorded their full share of credit for the progress of which we are so justly proud and for which we are deeply grateful to God. But you may feel assured that in the heart of every priest and bishop there is a deep and abiding sentiment of appreciation for their efforts, and a keen realization of the fact that without their cooper- ation the success we have achieved would have been impossible. Nor do I wish to imply that it is merely by their generous dona- tions that the laity have fostered the progress of religion. Far more than by such opportune aid, they have advanced the cause of the Church by the nobility and virtue of their lives, affording a practical proof of the power of our faith to influence the lives of men for good, to maintain and uplift the moral standards of society, and thus to promote the true welfare of both Church and state.
It is my fond hope that during the years of my ad- ministration the clergy will continue to receive at your hands the same loyal support you have accorded them in the past. And it is particu- larly gratifying to me person- ally to know that you have re- CHURCH OF MT. CARMEL, ORANGE. For Italian Catholics. sponded so generously to the appeal which I felt obliged to address to you during the present year. The great work which now engrosses our attention is the erection of the new cathedral, which is to serve as a fitting embodiment of our united faith and zeal, and as a centre from which the blessings of episcopal guidance may radiate to every portion of the diocese.
Not until the local needs of the various parishes had been supplied was this undertaking begun. To my predecessor the past was the best guarantee for the future, and it inspired him with the design of completing the equipment of the diocese and supplying one of its essential needs by building a cathedral. He trusted implicitly in the faith and generosity of a people who had never been called upon in vain to sacrifice temporal possessions for the interests of religion. The noble response which you made to my appeal proves the accuracy of his estimate, and it has placed me under a debt of obligation to you all, for which I take advan-
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tage of this opportunity to express my profound gratitude. You have performed a service of permanent value to the Church and you have materially lessened the weight of a heavy burden. In my own name and in the name of the committee who represented me, I thank you from my heart. Our present difficulties have been successfully surmounted and our great diocesan undertaking need not be interrupted. Years may elapse before it is brought to completion, but yours will be the honor of having come to the rescue at a critical moment and of having saved us from the dishonor of discontinuing even for a time an enterprise so impor- tant and so necessary for the diocese.
As we look into the future, our prospects seem radiant with hope. If with the meagre resources of the past we have been able to advance with such rapid strides, what may we not antici- pate when the chief obstacles have been overcome and we enter upon a second half-century with a thoroughly organized diocese and a numerous, devoted, and united clergy and people? In point of material equipment our task has been almost accom- plished. Our churches, schools, and institutions of charity are sufficient to supply our needs for many years to come, and their financial condition is such as to warrant us in the belief that within a brief period they will be comparatively free from debt. The path of our progress in the future will be in the direction of intellectual, moral, and spiritual development. Our growth in numbers is certain to continue, and the constant influx of immi- grants from Catholic lands will augment our ranks if only we can control the education of the rising generation. It is to this end that we must direct our most strenuous exertions. Our Catholic schools must be maintained and defended by every means in our power. They are our most precious treasure, to be preserved, strengthened, and brought to the highest plane of perfection. Even should we continue to be subjected to the necessity of pay- ing for two sets of schools, one of which we cannot conscientiously make use of for our children, we must not rest until every Cath- olic child has an opportunity of receiving the priceless benefits of a thorough Christian education. To support, improve, and ex- tend our Catholic schools, academies, colleges will doubtless be the chief aim of our endeavors during the next fifty years. Of our success no reasonable man can doubt, for if God is with us who will stand against us? But in this as in all other efforts to promote the glory of God and the salvation of souls, your earnest, active cooperation will be required and I am sure it will not be lacking. When the centenary of our diocese will be celebrated, it will be recorded as a matter of just pride and glory that in this all- important work of Christian education the clergy have been loyally upheld and supported, as they have been during the past fifty years, by the generous, zealous, and self-sacrificing laymen of the Diocese of Newark.
Once more I thank you for your presence here this evening, and I assure you that to me one of the most pleasant memories of
37
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our jubilee will be the recollection of your cordial greeting, and the proof you have evinced of the intimate bonds of friendship and good will which unite the laity of the diocese with their clergy and bishop.
Thus were the jubilee exercises brought to a close. It was, indeed, a memorable event, which commemorated the initial strug- gles of a new diocese, with its faithful people, poor in purse but strong in faith, despised and barely tolerated by the inhabitants of the State, without priests, churches, or schools, or religious insti- tutions of any kind whatever; and in the brief span of fifty years an increase of tenfold in the number of churches and ninefold in population, a Catholic population in both dioceses-Newark and Trenton-of 378,000, nearly 50,000 children attending 167 Catho- lic schools and institutions, and 396 priests attending the 416 churches and chapels throughout the State.
And the work still goes on-new churches are in process of erection, young men are filling up the gaps in the ranks of the priesthood, and the flower of the devout female sex is consecrating itself to the service of the Master in his children and in his poor and afflicted. The same spirit of generosity, aye, and a greater spirit, characterizes the children of the early pioneers and con- fessors of the faith, the same self-sacrifice is manifest to-day as fifty years ago, and the fervor and faith of the present generation do not pale before the splendid manifestation of these virtues by their forefathers of yore.
Church of the Holy Trinity, Perth Amboy. Diocese of Trenton.
THIS parish was founded in Perth Amboy for the benefit of the Slovak Catholics on April 22d, 1900. The first pastor was the Rev. Francis Januschek.
The church was built in 1901, and the first Mass celebrated December 15th of the same year.
The dedication services were held by Bishop McFaul on No- vember 27th, 1902.
St. Mary's Church, East Vineland. Diocese of Trenton.
THIS parish was organized in September, 1887, by the Rev. Father Porcile, and until 1897 was attached to the Vineland mis- sion. Bishop McFaul then made it a separate parish and ap-
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pointed the Rev. Luigi Pozzi pastor. Father Pozzi labored with great success and improved the parish both spiritually and mate- rially. On his transfer to another field in the episcopal city he was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. Nicola Coscia, August, 1901. There is no parish school, as the congregation is a farming class and too much scattered to make a school available. Attached to the parish is a well-ordered cemetery of four acres. There is no debt on the parish, and as the members are all poor, hard-working Italians this fact is the best eulogy of their faith.
Until 1902 the mission of Landisville was attended from this parish, when it was detached and together with Minotola formed into an independent parish. In the latter place is a neat stone church, erected by Father Coscia. The present pastor of the new parish is the Rev. Nicola Leone.
St. Anne's Church, Hoboken.
ST. ANNE's Church was founded in May, 1900, for the Italians of Hoboken. The Rev. F. De Persia was the first pastor, assisted by the Rev. Vimoselli.
In March, 1903, the Rev. John Rongetti was appointed rector, with the Rev. Alphonso d'Angelo as assistant. The corner-stone of the new church was laid November 8th, 1903, by the Rev. Father Hofschneider, of the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul.
St. Stephen's Polish Church, Newark.
THE church of St. Stephen proto-martyr was founded for the Slavs of the city of Newark. The first rector of this church was the Rev. Polycarp Scherer, O.S.B., whose assistant, the Rev. Immanuel Zdenck, discharged all the duties of the ministry until August 16th, 1901.
In December, 1901, the Rev. Julius Szabo was appointed rector and labored until October, 1902. His successor for a brief period was the Rev. Paul Viragh, who was succeeded by the present rec- tor, the Rev. Joseph Pospech, on November 3d, 1902.
The church was built in 1902 on Bruce Street, and on the 14th of December of the same year was blessed by the Rt. Rev. John J. O'Connor, D.D. The same year the rectory was also built. Circumstances do not as yet justify the erection of a school.
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Church of St. Anthony of Padua, East Newark.
ON April 7th, 1901, the Rev. Peter Catalano had opened a mission chapel for the Catholic Italians of Harrison, N. J., and nearby. The Italians were very poor and very ignorant, and to educate their children and by this means the better to reach their parents a small school was opened.
Their first chapel and school were in a vacant store on Thir- teenth Street. An opportunity presented itself to purchase a small Protestant chapel on Second Street. This was bought and prepared for divine service and dedicated by Bishop O'Connor on June 24th, 1901.
The Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Newark, N. J.
THE Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Connor appointed the Rev. William J. Richmond to this parish on Christmas Day, 1901, leaving him free to select the site of the new church building; and he succeeded in securing twenty-four lots in all, bounded by Summer and Wood- side avenues on east and west, and north by Heller Parkway, for- merly known as Fredonia Avenue.
At a meeting held in the episcopal residence, South Orange, N. J., January 11th, 1902, the parish was formally incorporated, with Rt. Rev. J. J. O'Connor, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Newark; Rev. W. J. Richmond as pastor and secretary, and P. L. Bryce and Ernest Roloff as lay trustees, who as an incorporat- ing body formally instituted the new parish at Woodside or North Newark under the title of the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel.
This parish was formed from the northern portion of St. Michael's parish and the southern portion of St. Peter's of Belle- ville, extending from the Passaic River to Branch Brook Park.
As there was no suitable hall in Woodside wherein the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass could be offered, an effort was made to lease the old Morton House, 37 Carteret Street. To this the owner would not consent, but offered to sell it, and as the price seemed reasonable it was purchased, with a view of using the first floor and halls as a chapel and the part above as a residence, as it has been used since.
The census showed about seven hundred souls who should be
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Catholics, but owing to many intermarriages with non-Catholics the indifference and neglect of religion were most apparent. Many have shown a very friendly spirit, and the relations with these have been very pleasant.
At first two Masses were said, seven and ten o'clock each Sunday, but it was found necessary to have three Masses and to secure assistance for one Mass. Rev. Luigi Davdeha has been assisting regularly.
Plans were drawn for a two-story utility building, main floor to be used as a temporary church and the lower floor as an enter- tainment hall, with a view of ultimately using it for a school. The structure is of brick, 107 by 45 feet. There will be an organ loft but no gallery, and the sitting capacity will be 580.
The corner-stone was to have been laid on August 29th, but owing to stormy weather it was postponed until the next week, September 6th. The Rt. Rev. J. J. O'Connor, D.D., officiated, and a score or more of the clergy were present. The different societies had been invited and formed at Military Park, marching several hundred strong up Broad Street, Third Avenue, and Sum- mer Avenue to the grounds. The mounted squad of police led the line, followed by Grand Marshall Hugh Gilligan with several aides-de-camp, all mounted. The societies were well represented, especially the Knights of Columbus and the Holy Name societies. At least two thousand people were present. The ceremonies were imposing and the sermon was eloquent. While a school, with the influence of the good sisters over the children, is greatly needed, yet the struggling condition of the parish does not war- rant its establishment at the present time.
Church of the Sacred Heart, Kingsland, N. J.
FOR twenty years the people of Kingsland, Lyndhurst, and vicinity had longed for a church, as they were obliged to travel five miles to Avondale to assist at Mass.
A small store was hired and Mass celebrated on the first Sun- day of February, 1902. Three months later two lots were pur- chased in Kingsland, on which was erected a brick and frame church. Mass is celebrated here every Sunday and the parish is attached to St. Stephen's Church, Arlington, of which the Rev. Samuel Hedges is pastor.
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The Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Newark.
THE organization of the Catholics of Clinton Hill into a sepa- rate parish, to be attended from St. Leo's Church, Irvington, antedates the annexation of that territory to the city of Newark. In April, 1902, Bishop O'Connor permitted the Holy Sacrifice to be offered in the house of Mr. Frank J. Finley for the convenience of the Catholics in this growing locality. Soon the hundred and more families resolved to make an earnest effort to se- cure a site for a future church. Three acres of undeveloped land were purchased from the Schwartz estate at a cost of $12,000, and the corner of Clinton Place and Millington Avenue was chosen for the new church. The corner- stone was laid Sunday after- noon, September 27th, in the CHURCH OF THE BLESSED SACRA- MENT, NEWARK. presence of a multitude of the laity and a considerable number of priests. The dedication took place Thanksgiving Day, November 26th, the Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Connor presiding at the function, and at the Mass, which was sung by Monsignor Stafford, the sermon was preached by the Rev. S. Hedges.
Church of the Madonna Della Libra, West New York.
THE Italians of West New York have been formed into a con- gregation by Father Rongetti, and services were held on October 19th, 1902, in a temporary chapel.
A permanent church and rectory are about to be built on the Hudson Boulevard.
Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Bayonne.
THE Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was built in 1902 for the Poles of Bayonne and dedicated by Bishop O'Connor.
The Catholics of this nationality have unfortunately been divided for the last four or five years, and a portion of them have become schismatics.
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The Rev. Sigismund Swider was appointed to this flock in 1900, and under his active administration those who had strayed away are being gradually brought back to the fold.
Father Swider purchased property and erected the basement of a new church, in which divine service is held and a school taught by four Franciscan Sisters. He has likewise built a rectory.
Church of the Assumption, Bayonne.
THE corner-stone of the Church of the Assumption on West Twenty-third Street, Bayonne, was laid November 16th, 1902, and the church dedicated December, 1902, by Bishop O'Connor.
This church is intended for the Italians. The present rector is the Rev. Michael Mercolino, assisted by the Rev. Vincent Arienzo.
St. Mary's Church, Deal and . Allenhurst. Diocese of Trenton.
THIS congregation owes its origin to the development of this section of the New Jersey coast and to the settlement of many Catholic families of wealth and prominence, especially during the summer months.
Until September, 1902, services were held in a large tent in the meadow by the Rev. R. A. Crean, of West End.
One of the parishioners, Mr. Daniel O'Day, having made an offer of $10,000 on condition that the Catholics of Deal raise an additional $10,000, and this condition having been complied with, a new stone church is in process of erection and will be ready for the season of 1904.
The pastor is the Rev. John W. Norris, J.C.D., Chancellor of the Diocese of Trenton.
St. Mary's Church, Jersey City.
SUNDAY, October 18th, 1903, the Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Connor dedicated the completed portion of St. Mary's Church, Erie and Second streets. Even in its uncompleted state the basement church presented a most cheerful and inviting appearance, and its full seating capacity of sixteen hundred was more than taxed when the Mass commenced. Rev. Father Maher was celebrant, Rev. Father Corcoran deacon, and Rev. John F. Boyle sub-deacon.
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Bishop O'Connor occupied a throne on the Gospel side of the altar.
Rev. Father Burke, C.S.P., preached an eloquent sermon on the subject, "The Church the Teacher of Mankind." The altar was beautifully decorated. Collections were taken up for the new cathedral and St. Mary's parish church building fund.
The congregation will from henceforth until the main church is completed have in the basement church a structure large enough to seat without undue crowding over sixteen hundred per- sons. The fittings, while plain, are of the most substantial kind, and there is an abundance of light and air.
The interior is very cheerful because cosiness is imparted by the neatly wainscoted walls. The pews are of quartered oak and are roomy and very comfortable. The main altar rests in a circu- lar alcove lighted from above by a ground-glass cupola.
The Church of the Holy Rosary, Jersey City.
SUNDAY, October 25th, 1903, the Rt. Rev. Monsignor John A. Sheppard, Vicar-General, presided at the ceremonies incident to the laying of the corner-stone of the new Italian Church of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, on Sixth Street, between Mon- mouth and Brunswick streets. A parade through the lower north- ern portion of the city preceded the exercises. All the Italian societies in the city, as well as large delegations from others in Pas- saic, Paterson, and Newark, took part, and music was provided by three first-class bands. The clergymen invited by Rev. Vin- cent Sciolla, rector of the parish, rode in carriages.
At the church a gathering of between three thousand and four thousand people awaited the return of the paraders. The street for an entire block was crowded from curb to curb, and hundreds viewed the proceedings from the Pennsylvania RR. elevation.
The corner-stone of polished gray marble was laid at the north- west corner of the building after the impressive ritual usual in such cases had been read by Monsignor Sheppard. A sermon in Italian followed, Rev. Ernesto d'Aquila, rector of the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Newark, being the preacher, and a brief sermon in English was afterward given by Rev. Father An- drew, of the Passionist Monastery, West Hoboken.
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St. Joseph's Church, Oradell.
ON Sunday afternoon, November 22d, 1903, the Rt. Rev. J. J. O'Connor, Bishop of the Diocese of Newark, laid the corner-stone of the new Catholic church at Oradell, N. J. The ceremonies were conducted before an assemblage of about five hundred people.
The Rev. J. J. Cunneely worked earnestly to build this church. When completed the church will be one of the most beautiful in that section of the State.
In addition to Trinity Council, K. of C., a number of Knights from Madonna Council, Englewood, Hoboken, and other councils formed in line outside the council chamber, marched in a body to the train, and from the train to the site of the new church, and took part in the musical programme. The choir of Holy Trinity Church, Hackensack, under the direction of Professor Klaas, ren- dered the musical part of the services.
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