USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Woonsocket > History of the Catholic church in Woonsocket and vicinity, from the celebration of the first mass in 1828, to the present time, with a condensed account of the early history of the church in the United States > Part 12
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many were moved to tears. One of the saddest occurrences of the week took place the Monday following, when the be- loved pastor addressed the Young Ladies' Sodality for the last time. The girls have worked hard and conscien- tiously with Rev. Father McCarthy for the advancement of the parish, and the reverend father felt this parting more than any other.
Part of what Rev. Father McCarthy said at the 10:30 Mass follows : "The words of St. Paul asking you not to set one man above another apply to me to-day. You have all heard the announcement which interests both of us, and I announce authoritatively to you that to-day I sever my connection with you as a priest." He then read the letter from Right Rev. Matthew Harkins, in which the latter said that the zeal and energy displayed by Rev. Father McCarthy made him confident that he would accomplish much in his new field for the greater glory of God. The letter concluded with the blessing of the Bishop on the new work.
Continuing, Rev. Father McCarthy said : "To-day I find myself placed in a position far from my liking, and not of my own selection. I am about to say good-bye. There are particular circumstances which make it particularly sad to say good-bye. My heart is almost too full to say even a word, and yet I must say a few words in farewell to my beloved people. Looking back it is only a little over five years ago that I arrived in this parisli. There were special circumstances then which make it, sad for me to leave to- day. One of these circumstances was the work of organ- izing a new parish. Coming here we had nothing. You belonged to a good old Church which the Vicar General and the generosity of the people had rendered free from debt. Almighty God wished it, and we here succeeded greatly. Not by my individual efforts. Every family in the parish
1
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THE SACRED HEART PARISH.
has done well. I testify to it here publicly. I always called you a generous people, and you have been generous. By the blessing of Almighty God, and through your loyalty to me, we have succeeded. In leaving a people of this class who could help feeling sad? I have my feelings. I am proud that you are a loyal people, and like all Irishmen and children of Irishmen, are a happy people.
" Without forcing, without persuasion, you have re- sponded to my instructions. What parish priest could say more for his people ? In financial matters you have not been found wanting. I am proud to-day that I leave you a church as well equipped as any for divine worship, all due to your co-operation and labors. I always felt that I could count on every family in the parish. I cannot praise you too much for what you have done. During those five years there was always business depression here ; the Alice mill or some other industry would be shut down, and you were barely able to meet your own expenses. I am proud to-day of the financial standing of the parish. Many old parishes are still heavily in debt. Thank God that with His blessing we have ever been a progressive parish.
" In relation to spiritual matters, I feel that I have done my best. I have called the father, son and mother and the daughter to the altar, and if they have failed to respond, what more could I do ? I can say that our parish is in a good spiritual condition. I want to compliment the young ladies of the parish. As members of the Sodality they have worked, materially and spiritually, for the parish success.
" I don't want to be set up for more than I am. We never get as high as we aim. I know I am not perfect and that the people have pardoned my weaknesses I feel that I am indebted to the people of the parish for sympathy. There have been two deaths in my family during my pas-
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torate here, and I knew that I had the silent and well-mean- ing sympathy of the people.
" Now, my dear parishioners, I am about to say that word which is hard to say-Farewell ! I have done my best, I must say that I have had a pleasant sojourn here, I feel like a man on a pleasant visit, who feels that his time to go has arrived. I came as a stranger. My every thought, energy, and effort have been for the people of the parish. I think I have been faithful to my trust. I thought I might liave been with you longer. I am happy in leaving you well equipped. My successor is a young man, full of energy, and, as he himself says, a happy man to be made pastor of this parish. I speak for him a loyalty from you. I am sure I am wanting in a great many things ; you overlooked everything; you will forget the past and commence work again with a new pastor.
" My heart goes out to you this morning. I go with a divided heart. I am going in compliance with duty, com- plying with vows taken eighteen years ago at ordination. I trust that you will not forget me, that you will say a prayer for me, that to-day you will pray for me as I shall not cease to pray for the good, loyal people of the Sacred Heart. May we meet in the great hereafter, may we all-"
Here Father McCarthy's emotion overpowered him, and with a scarcely audible sob, Rev. Father McCarthy turned and continued with the Mass. His voice was still broken, the altar boys were crying, the congregation were in sobs, while the singing of the choir was imbued with so much sympathy that the entire scene was one that would make a stranger pause and ask, " Wherefore this love of people for pastor?" To set forth Rev. Father McCarthy's work, his manhood, his disposition, if adequately it could be done, is the best answer to this question.
It was truly a heart-to-heart talk, and no stage picture
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has ever revealed the depth of genuine pathos shown in the farewell of Rev. Father McCarthy to his flock.
Rev. John W. McCarthy was born in New Bedford, Mass., in 1858, but while he was still young his parents re- moved to North Easton, Mass. He attended the public schools at North Easton and graduated from the High school. He graduated from Boston College and entered the Grand Seminary at Montreal, where he studied theology. He was ordained to the priesthood in December, 1882.
He was appointed assistant pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church in Providence, where he labored assidu- ously for thirteen years. September 10, 1895, he received his appointment as first pastor of the new parish of the Sacred Heart of Woonsocket. He celebrated his first Mass as rector of that parish on Sept. 22 in Harris Hall.
Rev. Father McCarthy soon afterwards purchased the land on Second avenue, now owned by the parish, and on October 20 the foundation of a new Church was commenced. Just three months after the celebration of his first Mass in this city, Dec. 22, Rev. Father McCarthy sang his first Mass in the new Church.
In his last annual financial report Father McCarthy, to the surprise of most of his flock, made the announcement that the parish was entirely free from debt.
These facts go to show the kind of a clergyman the Sacred Heart parish lost in the removal of Rev. Father McCarthy. The fact that the parishioners adored their spiritual father has been shown on many occasions. Dur- ing the summer of 1900 Father McCarthy took his first vaca- tion in eighteen years. On his return in August the peo- ple of the parish, in meeting assembled, presented him a purse of gold to the amount of $500. Rev. Father Mc- Carthy accepted it as a gift to the parish rather than to himself. The same year also the people of the parish con-
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tributed half a thousand dollars for a new bell, and this was placed on the church and blessed with appropriate ex- ercises.
The amount of work performed by Rev. Father Mc- Carthy in the interests of his parish and people cannot be overestimated. Their interests were always his, and pas- tor and people worked in perfect harmony and concord for the greater glory of God.
Rev. Father McCarthy's new appointment is in the na- ture of a promotion. He has a much larger parish, and is assisted by Rev. J. Edwin Cassidy of Woonsocket as curate. While all must join in congratulations for the ad- vancement of Rev. Father McCarthy, the sympathy of the people goes out to him on his removal from a parish where he was beloved and admired by all, to an entirely new field, where he will be obliged to begin work anew.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE NEW PASTOR-REV. FATHER T. J. LOUGHRAN PREACHES HIS FIRST SERMON IN SACRED HEART CHURCH-PAYS A TRIBUTE TO REV. FATHER MCCARTHY-ASKS FOR THE PRAYERS. OF HIS PEOPLE.
Rev. Thomas J. Loughran succeeded Rev. Father McCarthy as pastor of the Sacred Heart Church. He delivered his introductory address on Sunday, Feb. 17, 1901, at the 10 :30 o'clock Mass. His delivery of speech is forceful and impressive and he has the faculty of holding the strict attention of the congregation. His address was brief but to the point and he at once won the good will of his parishioners. The new pastor was received with the reverence, love and respect that every true Catholic mani- fests toward a priest. Father Loughran's address was sub- stantially as follows :
REV. THOMAS J. LOUGHRAN, Second Pastor of the Sacred Heart Parish.
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"MY DEAR PEOPLE-In the strange vicissitudes of life there is none which appears more incongruous to us than the fact that the 'Divinity that shapes our ends' sometimes makes what is an occasion of sorrow to one per- son an event in the life of some other person that brings with it such unalloyed happiness that he cannot refrain from rejoicing with an exceeding great joy.
"That your former good pastor should be called upon, in deference to duty, to sever the ties which bound him so closely to his beloved flock, was indeed an occasion of sor- row both to himself and to you ; but I will frankly say that it was to me an occasion of unbounded joy. If he were called away by death-or were degraded from his position to make room for me, I certainly would consider it to be very bad taste to rejoice in becoming his successor.
" If I am honest, then, in telling you plainly that I re- joice in the good fortune which has attended me in becom- ing Father McCarthy's successor, when he has been in- vited to step up higher, you will credit me with the same honesty when I declare that I would reluctantly succeed to his place if he were made my stepping-stone to fame.
" I believe with Pope, that ' An honest man is the noblest work of God,' and whatever faults I may have com- mitted in my lifetime, dishonesty has never been one of them. Since I have mentioned the name of the immortal bard and quoted from his incomparable ' Essay on Man ' to give au- thority and emphasis to the point I wish to impress upon you, I will ask no apology to quote him again in making it plain that I am not without some ambition to secure for myself an honest fame. In speaking of the desire for . fame, which is natural to man, he beautifully enshrines in immortal verse the sentiments I would express :
"Nor fame I slight nor her favors call ;
She comes unlooked for; if she comes at all.
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But if no other basis serve to raise my name But the fallen ruins of another's fame,
Then teach me, Heaven, to scorn the guilty bays ! Drive from my breast that wretched lust of praise ! Undistinguished let me live, or die unknown :
Oh ! grant an honest fame, or grant me none.
" You understand, then, I hope, my dear people, that what may have appeared to you a heartless performance, on my part, in coming before you singing alleluias where so recently the sobs from breaking hearts bore testimony to the grief which overwhelmed you, is, after all, but the plain, undisguised and fearless announcement of an honest man.
" Father McCarthy is a very dear friend of mine. I have always considered him to be a man of God and a trustworthy friend whose advice could be safely followed. In leaving this progressive parish to devote himself to the upbuilding of a larger -- but I will not say a finer-parish, there undoubtedly must have taken place in his breast no small struggling between preference and duty. It is to his credit that duty triumphed. His untiring efforts to advance your interests in the material line as well evidenced in the beautiful Church property which he leaves to his successor -practically free from debt.
"Of his zeal for the promotion of your spiritual wel- . fare, I will not presume to speak. It would be like tread- ing on holy ground. Let it suffice to say that never was he known to hesitate, when duty called him, to administer to the sick and dying at any hour of the day or night. And never did he consider any effort too great or any means too trivial to win back to Christ some precious soul for whom Jesus died, who had, perhaps, wandered into 'the broad ยท
way that leads to perdition.'
"I enter upon my duties, then, as your pastor, with a desire to keep up the good work so well begun by Father
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McCarthy. May God's blessing always attend us. And I ask through the Sacred Heart of Jesus, that, if it be God's will, I may live long amongst you and be able to leave to my successor-unencumbered by debt-an ideal parish, with a Church built on everlasting material, a school in which your children and your children's children to the third and fourth generation may be enabled to drink of the fount of knowledge purified by the eternal sunshine of God's abiding presence ; where the little ones may learn to know their God and love Him and where they may be taught to recognize that He alone is the giver of all good gifts.
" I salute you, then, one and all, and ask your prayers that I may faithfully, fruitfully and faultlessly spend my life in your service."
Rev. Thomas J. Loughran was born in Warren, R. I., where he attended the public schools, and later entered the Grand Seminary, Montreal, where he studied theology. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1886, by the Right Rev. Archbishop Fabre. His first appointment was at St. Mary's Church, Taunton, Mass., where he remained three years as assistant pastor. He was then transferred to the Sacred Heart Church in East Providence. He was again trans- ferred to St. Theresa's Church at Olneville, where he re- mained some years, when he was sent to the Sacred Heart Church in Taunton, Mass., where he remained until he re- ceived his appointment as pastor of the Sacred Heart in Woonsocket.
REV. MEDERIC ROBERGE Pastor of St. Louis de Gonzague Parish
The Parish of St. Louis de Gonzague.
CHAPTER XXII.
TWO NEW FRENCH PARISHES-LAYING OF CORNER STONE OF ST. LOUIS DE GONZAGUE CHURCH-IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY WIT- NESSED BY THOUSANDS-RIGHT REV. BISHOP HARKINS OFFI- CIATED-ELOQUENT SERMON BY REV. FATHER MAILLOUX.
In the year 1902 Right Rev. Matthew Harkins, Bishop of Providence diocese, created two new parishes in Woon- socket, taking a portion of the parishioners of St. Ann for a new parish in the Social district, and a portion of the Precious Blood congregation for the second parish, locating in the Globe district.
Rev. Mederic Roberge, senior assistant pastor of St. Ann's Church, was appointed pastor of the new parish in the Social district and Rev. Father Fortin was appointed for the new parish in the Globe district. These reverend gentlemen at once set about to select a suitable location to erect churches.
Father Roberge secured a lot of land at the corner of Rathbun, Privilege and Social streets, and the plans for the new Church were drawn and on Sunday, October 26, 1902, the corner-stone of the new St. Louis de Gonzague Roman Catholic Church was laid with great pomp and cere- mony. The afternoon was perfect and thousands of peo- ple assisted by their attendance at the solemn service. The large crowd on Rathbun and Privilege streets formed an immense cross, symbolic and so appropriate to the occasion.
Right Rev. Bishop Harkins of Providence diocese offi- ciated, and was assisted by a score or more of priests who, robed in the cassocks and albs, added to the impressive- ness of the occasion as they marched about the building chanting their prayers of supplication and glorification,
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The multitude, for such it was, seemed possessed of the spirit of the occasion. There was unusual quiet and the low chanting and the murmuring of the officiating Bishop could be heard a block away. It was an ideal day for such a ceremony. It was just cool enough to make marching very comfortable, so that the paraders were not fatigued at the end of their march. The sky was clear and the sun warm, and in fact, nature provided everything for the comfort of those participating and witnessing the ceremonies.
There was a parade in which 1,200 members of Catholic societies marched, the benediction of the stone by Right Rev. Bishop Harkins, the actual laying of the same, prayers asking for blessing upon the Church and the people of the new parish, music by the consolidated choirs of St. Ann and St. Louis' churches and the St. Ann's Band, and an eloquent address by Rev. Father Mailloux, curate of the new parish, tended to make the occasion one long to be re- membered.
In the evening there was a banquet at the St. Ann's parish rectory in honor of Bishop Harkins.
The paraders, which included representaties from every Catholic organization in the city, under the marshalship of Maj. Paul St. Jacques, marched through Cumberland and Rathbun streets to Diamond Hill road to Garden street, then countermarched to Social street, through Social and Privil- ege streets to the Church. As the parade halted in front of the Church the Woonsocket Cornet Band played a med- ley of religious and patriotic airs, and the clergymen, headed by Right Rev. Bishop Harkins, marched up the steps and onto the platform. The Bishop was attended by Rev. Na- poleon Leclerc, pastor of St. Ann's Church of this city, as Deacon, and Rev. Father Graton of Woodlawn as Sub- Deacon. The other priests who followed and took part in
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the ceremonies were : Rev. J. S. Fortin, pastor of the Holy Family Church of this city; Rev. J. N. Sevigny, curate of the Holy Family Church; Rev. J. A. Laliberte of St. Ann's Church, who acted as Master of Ceremonies ; Rev. P. A. McLoughlin of Slatersville, Rev. Mederic Ro- berge, pastor of the new Church; Rev. L. Giroux of St. Ann's Church, this city; Rev. N. A. Messier of Arctic Center, Rev. H. Sylvestre of Manville, Rev. E. Caron of the Precious Blood Church, Rev. H. O. Mongenais of Central Falls, Rev. Thomas E. Ryan of St. Charles' Church of this city, Rev. P. Darche of Waterloo, Que. ; Rev. J. R. Bourgeois of Arctic Center, formerly of St. Ann's, this city, and Rev. M. H. Kittredge of St. Paul's Church, Blackstone, Mass.
The platform. which was the temporary roof over the basement of the church, was very prettily decorated. Over the corner-stone was a likeness of President Roosevelt, draped in the national colors, while the derrick which was used to lower the stone into place was covered with bunt- ing, and the guy ropes were strung with flags of different nations.
The priests passed to the rear of the structure and carried out the rites of the benediction of the corner-stone. After this the priests, with Rev. Father Bourgeois as chan- ter, and the choir sang the Litany of the Saints and the psalm, "Nisi Dominus Aedificavit." Then followed the solemn rites of the laying of the corner-stone. It was lowered by four men on the derrick, Achilles Lessard, Al- bert Brunelle, Nazaire Tancrelle and Philip Deragon, while contractor John F. Fleurant and architect Walter F. Fon- taine, assisted by John B. Lagasse, Harvey Lagasse and Evariste Dufresne, laid the stone. Bishop Harkins placed the first trowel full of mortar on the bed where the stone was to lie, using a silver trowel made for the purpose.
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The stone was gradually lowered to its resting place, while the vast concourse of people, with heads bared in reverence, made a most imposing spectacle.
The stone bore the inscription, under a cross, the simple words : " St. Louis de Gonzague, 1902." In the lower portion of it had been inserted a copper box containing the following articles : Portraits of Right Rev. Bishop Harkins, Rev. Mederic Roberge, pastor of the Church, Rev. Napoleon Leclerc, pastor of St. Ann's Church, Rev. J. A. Laliberte of St. Ann's Church, a picture of the Church, the portraits of the trustees of the Church, Messrs. Arthur C. Milot and Norbert Decelles, of the contractor, John F. Fleurant, of the architect, Walter F. Fontaine, the names of the building committee, the names of the commit- tee in charge of the day, Dosithe Beaudet and Paul St. Jacques, copies of the Evening Reporter, La Tribune and Evening Call for Saturday, Oct. 25, and several pieces of money.
As soon as the stone had been placed in position the " Miserere Mei Deus " was chanted by the priests, and the procession around the Church was begun by them. The choir, composed of both the choirs of the St. Louis Church and St. Ann's Church, sang " Veni Creator," and after the sermon by Rev. Father Mailloux they sang "Cantate Domi- nus."
When the procession had been completed the priests took seats at the front of the platform, and the curate of the Church, Rev. H. Mailloux, stepped to the front and de- livered the occasional sermon. His subject was, "The Church as the House of God, and the Gateway of Heaven." In speaking to the vast multitude of people, Father Mail- loux congratulated the parish on having done so much in so short a time. " A few months ago," he said, "this spot where we now stand was a mound of earth, almost a
.
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wilderness, and now, through the magic power of a servant of God, we see here the raising of a temple to the honor of the Almighty. The Catholic Church, all through its past history, has erected these monuments, proving in stone the strength of the Faith. All through the centuries we have seen gatherings of people uniting in one place, giving their alms for the benefit of those houses of God.
"Churches we have seen in different forms in the wilderness, having for their dome the blue sky and for car- pets the velvety green grass. There we have seen the peo- ple of their own countries, almost in a state of nudity, kneel down. We have seen them in ancient Rome in the catacombs, those underground Churches, and later, after the hard trials that the Catholic Church had to undergo at the hands of the heretics, we have seen, we may say, grow in one day, those magnificent Cathedrals that are yet the wonder of the world.
" The Church is the gateway to Heaven. Man has the means to Heaven in the Church, and also a temple where he can commune with God and hear the great dis- ciples of God telling His truth and giving us all the means necessary to easily follow the path laid out by Christ to the great future.
" We have a vast multitude of people here to-day, proving their Faith and their good will by their assistance at this ceremony."
At the conclusion of the sermon Right Rev. Bishop Harkins gave the bishop's benediction, which closed the services.
REV. JOSEPH S. FORTIN, Pastor of the Church of the Holy Family.
REV. JOSEPH S. FORTIN,
Pastor of the Church of the Holy Family. 1
The Parish of the Holy Family.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY-THE NEW PARISH INCLUDES OVER FIVE HUNDRED FRENCH FAMILIES-TWENTY-SIX HUN- DRED POPULATION-REV. J. S. FORTIN THE FIRST PASTOR.
The new parish, recently formed by the division of the Precious Blood parish, is situated in the Globe district, and according to the census taken by the pastor, Rev. Joseph S. Fortin, upon assuming charge in March, 1902, had 520 families and a Catholic population of 2,660. Rev. Father Fortin celebrated Mass for the first time March 16, 1902, in the basement of the Precious Blood Church. He ad- dressed his people and informed them that he had been ap- pointed their pastor, and he desired their support in estab- lishing a new parish and in erecting a new Church.
The trials that come to priest and people in the up- building of a new parish were treated at length, and after having explained the difficulties that are to be expected, the pastor asked the assistance and co-operation of all in the new district. The congregation were urged to be cour- ageous and to remain steadfast and unflinching in their en- deavors to construct a sightly house of worship and to es- tablish a parish that would be a credit to the diocese. The first Mass, at 7:30, was celebrated by Rev. Father Laganiere, and the second, at 10 o'clock, by Rev. Father Fortin, who announced these would be the hours for hold- ing services until further notice. The pastor said that marriage ceremonies, funeral masses and high masses would be celebrated in the basement of the Precious Blood Church until other arrangements could be made.
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In May, 1902, the corporation purchased of W. H. Whitman a large lot of land (41,500 square feet) situated at 414 South Main street. On the front of this lot is a dwelling which has been remodeled and made into a beau- tiful parochial residence.
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