USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. IV > Part 36
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Rev. James J. O'Reilly was born in Provi- dence, Rhode Island. He attended the public schools and LaSalle Academy, then entered St. Joseph's Seminary, at Yonkers, New York, for his theological training, completing his course there with graduation, and was ordained at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City in 1906. His first assignment was to St. Edward's Church at Pawtucket, Rhode Island. There he remained until 1909, when he was assigned to St. Teresa's Church, in Providence, as an assistant. In 1915 he was transferred to the Church of the Sacred Heart. Then came the entrance of the United States into the World War, and Father O'Reilly, who had since 1911 been a member of the 2d Artillery, promptly enlisted for service and was mustered into the regular army. In 1917 he was appointed chaplain in the 66th Coast Artillery, and later he served as chaplain in the 5th Field Artillery. After the signing of the Armistice he went into Germany with the Army of Occupation, where he remained until he was discharged with the rank of captain in 1919. At the present writ- ing (1930) Father O'Reilly is on the Reserve Roll of the 385th Infantry, as chaplain.
Upon his return to civilian life, Father O'Reilly was assigned to the Church of St. Mary's, in Providence, and there he remained until July, 1921, when he came to St. Thomas' Church as pastor. During the nine years of his service here he has accomplished a great work. Soon after taking charge he purchased a near-by estate and built a convent, which is occupied by the four Sisters who teach in the school. He has steadily improved every part of the church property and has greatly stimulated the spiritual life of the parish. St. Thomas' is one of the most attractive small churches in Providence diocese. Built of brick, attractively and conveniently planned, within and without, the body of the church pro- vides seating for about five hundred people, and the choir loft, which is equipped with a very good organ, seats seventy-five singers. The basement is used for recreation and for social gatherings. The beauty of the church building is greatly en- hanced by the extensive, well-kept grounds which are well-landscaped and which are steadily being improved, new plantings being made each year. Both buildings and grounds are kept exquisitely clean and neat, and both church and rectory have the benefit of most generous lawns. Artistic skill of a high order has been used in the planning of the grounds and in the making of improvements, with the result that the buildings are like gems in a beautiful and appropriate setting. The parish, which verges on Olneyville, numbers about one thousand and seven hundred souls, and is steadily growing in membership. Rev. Father James H. Smith assists Father O'Reilly in his work. There is an active and enthusiastic Boys' Club, which has the advantages of a well-equipped gymnasium, with basketball facilities, shower baths, and numerous other provisions for physical develop- ment and recreation. The various parish societies are prosperous and vigorous, and all the activities of St. Thomas' parish are going forward suc- cessfully under the able leadership of Father O'Reilly, whose ability, devotion, and genial per- sonality have endeared him to all his parishioners, and won him the regard of all with whom he has been associated.
REV. MARTIN F. REDDY-The oldest parish in the city of Providence is St. Patrick's, of which Rev. Martin F. Reddy has been pastor since January, 1915, to the present writing (1930).
The parish of St. Patrick's was organized by
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Bishop Fenwick in 1841 to accommodate certain residents of "North Providence" who desired to separate from the parish of Saints Peter and Paul, and from Father Corry, pastor of that church, with whom they disagreed. Bishop Fenwick was very considerate of the parishioners, and on April 19, 1841, recommended the purchase of a lot on "Fletcher Hill." He called on Father Fennelly, in Pawtucket, found him willing to take charge of the two places, and authorized the use of Franklin Hall and Masonic Hall, on North Main Street, for the celebration of the Mass until such time as the church might be completed. The lot was purchased in May, plans were drawn by Major Russell Warren, and on July 13, 1841, the corner-stone was laid, Bishop Fenwick offici- ating. In September, Father Fennelly left Provi- dence, and Rev. Denis Ryan filled his place until the following July. On Christmas Day, 1841, Mass was said, by Father Ryan, in the new church, though it was not yet completed, and on January 13, 1842, Rev. William Wiley was made first pastor of St. Patrick's. Finding that the builders were defrauding the parish, Father Wiley stopped all work until the matter could be adjusted by arbitration, when the parish was awarded about a thousand dollars damages. The bell, which cost $750, half of which was presented by Philip Allen, of Allen's Calico print works, was blessed by Bishop Fenwick, January 26, 1842, an organ costing $1,500 was installed, and in March, fine vestments arrived from France. On July 3, 1842, the church was blessed and dedi- cated by Bishop Fenwick, and the occasion was celebrated by the first Pontifical Mass sung in Providence.
As the "Dorr War" was in progress the State was temporarily under martial law and while the congregation was not large, the people were proud of their new church, which was ninety-three feet long, exclusive of the tower, and fifty-six feet wide, with side walls twenty-five feet above the ground, and a tower twelve feet at the base and sixty-two feet high. It seated eight hundred persons, and the entire cost of the building, land, organ, and furnishings, was $18,217.44.
In January, 1844, a plot of ten acres of land was purchased for a cemetery, though only four and a half acres were then reserved for burial purposes. The first interment there was made April 22, 1844, and that cemetery was the general burying place for Catholics of Providence until the purchase of St. Francis Cemetery of Paw- tucket, about 1871.
A strong "Temperance Society on Catholic Principles" was founded both in Saints Peter and Paul's and in St. Patrick's, while Father Fitton was at the old church. Liquor was absolutely forbidden to members, except as a medicine, and then "only with the permission of one's pastor." To give an idea of the unanimity of good feeling among the parishioners, on July 4, 1844, one thousand five hundred members of the two so- cieties attended a picnic on Smith Hill, and all were perfectly agreed. In 1845 Father Wiley went to Europe to improve his health, and his place was taken by Father Haskins, of Boston. In March of that year he opened an evening school. Meantime, in 1843, the first school for girls had been opened back of the church. In 1845 it was enlarged and removed to a more con- venient place, and in 1849 a school for boys was opened and placed in charge of John Coyle. In September, 1851, the school was placed in charge of the Sisters of Mercy, who then taught only the girls. Altered and enlarged many times, that school stood until 1870, when a new school was erected, also a convent for the Sisters. The church, too, had been enlarged, by putting in new gal- leries and making other changes, until it could seat one thuousand two hundred and fifty persons. In 1851 Father Wiley went to Boston, and for nearly three years the parish had no regular pastor, but in May, 1854, Rev. Patrick Lamb was appointed. Four years later the parish num- bered five thousand seven hundred souls, though in 1857 the parish of the Immaculate Conception had been set off from St. Patrick's. Father Lamb died in 1866, and was succeeded by Rev. Michael McCabe, of Woonsocket, who served for three years. He built the present rectory. In 1869 Rev. Christopher Hughes became pastor, and in 1887 he was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Briscoe. He built a school and convent both of which are now (1930) still in use. The next pastor was Rev. William Pyne. He began the erection of a new church edifice and had it well on toward completion when he died, in January, 1915. He was succeeded by Rev. Martin F. Reddy, the present pastor.
Rev. Martin F. Reddy was born in Coventry, Rhode Island, September 14, 1871, and received his early education in the public schools of his native town. He then went to Montreal, Canada, where he studied under the Sulpician Fathers for eleven years, and was graduated September 24, 1896. He was ordained, however, in the Cathe- dral of Providence, Rhode Island. He continued
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his studies with a two-year post-graduate course in the Catholic University of America at Wash- ington, District of Columbia, where the degree of S. T. L. was conferred upon him. Returning to Providence he was temporarily assigned to St. James' Church in Arctic, Rhode Island, in July, 1898. In April, 1899, he was transferred to New- port as assistant at St. Mary's Church. Twelve years of able service there fully demonstrated his ability, and when the new parish of St. Augustine war formed from St. Mary's of Newport he was made its pastor and actively assisted in its or- ganization and development. He built a church there, which was dedicated in August, 1912, and in September, 1912, opened a school with an en- rollment of three hundred and thirty-seven pupils. While in Newport, Father Reddy served on the public school board for three years and, also, during the World War period, he was chairman of the local war board of Providence. In 1915 Father Reddy was made pastor of St. Patrick's Church in Providence, and here he has rendered distinguished service.
The first task awaiting Father Reddy at St. Patrick's was the completion of the new church. He found the basement finished, the roof on the upper church, and the entire structure well ad- vanced. On March 5, 1916, the church was dedi- cated by Bishop Harkins. The finished structure is a credit to the community. The interior is most beautiful. The roof, rising seventy-five feet over the main aisle, is supported by twelve arches resting upon twenty-four massive pillars. Light is admitted through eight beautiful stained glass windows set in the side walls, and through about twenty smaller windows set under the roof, above the larger windows. On either side and in the rear of the altar, are eight more handsome win- dows, four on each side, and above the smaller ones are two very large ones. Two small stained glass windows light the entrance to the church. In the rear of the exquisitely carved central altar, a wonderful painting, six feet by eight, rep- resenting the Crucifixion, is said to be one of the finest pieces of work of the kind in the country. The altar rail, extending entirely across the church, is of polished oak, hand carved. The pews, which seat one thousand one hundred persons, are also of polished oak, hand carved in rich design. In the front of the church is a beautiful choir loft which seats one hundred singers, fitted with an organ of finest quality, and lighted by a window of exquisite design extending entirely round the loft. Around the walls of the church, in bas-
relief, are the Twelve Stations of the Cross. On the walls, near the door, are the two bronze tablets containing the names of those who donated the windows and furnishings of the church. The basement is fitted with oak pews, seating about nine hundred, and has three altars and a small choir loft.
St. Patrick's Church is, in every detail, one of which the parish may well be proud. Besides finishing the church building, Father Reddy has purchased land on Smith Street and erected a new school building which accommodates six hundred and fifty pupils, a large gymnasium, with showers, and every comfort for the pupils, and an auditorium which seats one thousand people. There are sixteen teachers here, fourteen Sisters and two lay teachers, employed in teaching in all branches including two boy trades. The schools of St. Patrick are said to be among the best parochial schools in the State.
Buildings and grounds are kept in the best pos- sible condition, and the entire church property is a credit to the city of Providence. Father Reddy is much beloved by his parishioners, and is doing a splendid work here.
REV. NORMAN MEUNIER-Though Rev. Norman Meunier has been pastor of St. Aloysius' Church at Woonsocket, Rhode Island, but a com- paratively short time, from November, 1929, to the present time, he has already done much for the parish entrusted to his care.
St. Aloysius parish was organized in 1902 by Father Robnerge, who built the church and placed the new parish securely on the road of progress. Since the close of his term of service three pastors have been assigned to St. Aloysius', the Rev. Prince, Rev. Morin, and the present pastor, Father Meunier.
Rev. Norman Meunier was born in West War- wick, Rhode Island, and after attending the public and parochial schools of his birthplace, entered La Salle Academy, at Providence, from which he was graduated in 1912. He then continued his studies in St. Hyacinthe College, in St. Hyacinthe, Canada, and when his course there was completed he began his philosophical and theological studies in Grand Seminary, at Montreal, Canada, where he remained until he was ordained a priest in 1918. After his ordination he was assigned to the Church of the Precious Blood in Woonsocket, where he served as assistant for one year. At the end of that time he went abroad and entered the Gregorian University
Pr. Normand Meunier
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at Rome, where he took post-graduate courses, win- ning the degrees of Doctor of Canon Law and Doctor of Divinity. Upon his return to this coun- try he was assigned to serve as administrator at St. Cecelia's Church in Pawtucket, during the absence of Father Hebert Sylvester. From Pawtucket he was transferred to St. Ann's Church in Woon- socket, the largest church in the diocese, as assist- ant, and after four years of able and successful service there he was appointed assistant at Central Falls. Three years after going to that church he was made administrator of the parish, in which capacity he served for two years. At the end of that period he was made a pastor and assigned to his present charge, St. Aloysius' Church of Woon- socket, November, 1929. Though his time of serv- ice has been brief, Father Meunier has already won the hearts of his parishioners and is doing a splen- did work among them. The parish numbers about 3,000 souls. The church, which consists of one story and a basement, provides seating capacity for seven hundred persons, and there is a parochial school, built in 1920, which has an enrollment of about seven hundred pupils, who are taught by twenty-three Sisters of the Presentation of Mary. The Sisters have had a school here for a period of twenty-one years and during all that time there has been a Sister Superior in charge. To their devo- tion and their well-trained ability is due the high standing of the school at the present time. Earlier, there were six class rooms in the front end of the present school building, but as time passed and the enrollment steadily increased the building has been greatly enlarged. There are special teachers of art and of music, and the entire curriculum has been kept thoroughly abreast of the most scientific ad- vances in educational principles and methods. There is a junior and a senior high school and in both of these the girls wear uniforms. No effort is spared to give the pupils of St. Aloysius' a thorough equipment for the tasks of life and for ordinary business pursuits. Father Meunier is justly proud of the splendid school and of its fine teaching force, and the pupils of St. Aloysius' School are fortu- nate indeed, in the educational facilities provided for them. The parish will be the richer for this splendid educational service.
Father Meunier is a man of deep piety and of large ability, and there is every prospect of a suc- cessful pastorate for him at St. Aloysius'. He has the earnest cooperation of his parishioners, and as, in other places, he has proved his ability as a leader there is little doubt that fine things will be accomplished in this parish in the near future.
REV. WILLIAM J. KEEFE-In November, 1929, Rev. William J. Keefe, then pastor of St. Mary's Church of Arctic Center, was appointed pastor of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, at Providence, Rhode Island, where he has won the sincere regard and the hearty cooperation of his parishioners.
The parish of the assumption was formed in 1871 out of St. Mary's and St. Michael's parishes. It seemed then that Elmwood would soon become a thickly populated section and the residents of that locality were visited by volunteers who se- cured a long list of signatures to a petition to have Rev. Michael Clune, then curate of St. Mary's, become pastor of the new parish. Father Clune collected money and purchased land on Linwood Avenue, but, in the absence of the Bishop, Vicar General Hughes, of Hartford, re- pudiated Father Clune's purchase by purchasing other land on Potter Avenue, where the present church stands, and when, in May, 1870, Father Clune began taking up monthly collections for the new church, he was removed from St. Michael's to St. Patrick's. When Rt. Rev. Fran- cis P. McFarland, of Hartford Diocese, which at that time included Providence Diocese, returned from Rome, he granted the petition of the people, and in May, 1870, Father Clune took up his resi- dence in a small house on Potter Avenue. In that same month plans were made for the excavating of the cellar by the members of the church, and in September, 1870, the construction of the church was begun under the supervision of Father Clune. During this period the members of the new church attended St. Michael's Church on Oxford Street, where the middle aisle was reserved for them. In June, 1871, Father Clune was appointed pastor of the new parish, and August 20, 1871, the new church was dedicated by Bishop Mc- Farland, who also preached the sermon. The owners of a mill on Daboll Street, J. W. Smith and Mr. Daboll, donated the bell, valued at $1,300, which was formally blessed in 1874, and which now hangs in the present church. It bears the inscription "From morning till night I will sound Thy praise, O Lord. McShane Foundry- 1875."
In the fall of 1873, the rectory was built and Father Clune removed from the little house on the corner of Cranston Street and Potter Avenue to the new parochial residence. Then came the "panic" of 1873, bringing poverty and hard times, and though the wooden church building had cost only $12,000, little reduction of debt was made
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during the remainder of Father Clune's pastorate. The completion of the rectory raised the valua- tion of the church property to $30,000. A choir of one hundred and fifty members was organized, under the direction of Professor Keegan, and the first solo "Kyrie Eleison" was sung by Miss Mollie Dyer. The first funeral service was for James Hart, the first christening recorded was that of Edward Turner, and the first marriage that of Miss Gavigan and James McEarney. Father Clune died in January, 1888, after seven- teen years of service, and at that time the parish numbered about 3,000 souls.
The second pastor was Rev. William Hines. He died a month later, and in March, 1888, Rev. John C. Tennian was made pastor. At that time there was a mortgage of $12,000 on the property and the church was in need of repairs. Father Tennian collected $2,000 and began altering and enlarging the church to form a vestibule extend- ing upward into a belfrey. Later, he had the church painted, new altars installed, the interior redecorated, and a new organ built to order by the noted organ builder, Charles Adams. He also had an addition built to the rear of the rectory, and in the summer of 1894 the church property was curbed and sewered. A number of active so- cieties, including the Rosary and Scapular So- ciety, Children of Mary, Altar Society, Holy Angels, Holy Name Society, St. Aloysius So- ciety, Holy Infant Jesus Society, Church Doc- trine Society, and St. Vincent de Paul Society, carried forward the work, and when, in June, 1899, Father Tennian was assigned to St. Mary's Church, of Pawtucket, he left Assumption parish nearly clear of debt.
Rev. Thomas L. Kelly was the fourth pastor of the parish, but he was in poor health and in April, 1909, he was succeeded by Rev. John F. Haney, who was assisted by Father McGrath and Father Reardon. He began the erection of the new church, for which ground was broken, August 14, 1910, the first earth being removed by Father Haney, followed by older parishioners who had helped to break ground for the old church some forty years earlier. The corner-stone was laid by Bishop Harkins, November 14, 1910, in the pres- ence of more than 5,000 people, about forty priests taking part in the ceremony. A box con- taining the names of the trustees, copies of the local newspapers and of the "Providence Visitor," a catalogue of LaSalle Academy, a badge of the Holy Name Society, and some coins, was lowered into place, Bishop Harkins guiding it. The stone
was donated by Peter Barden. The church was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Matthew Harkins in 1912, with the complete Catholic ritual, followed by a Solemn High Mass. The music was under the direction of Miss Mary O'Connor, organist and director of the choir.
The new church, which fronts on Potter Ave- nue and extends through to Benedict Street, is an exceptionally fine example of Gothic architec- ture, and has a seating capacity of more than one thousand persons. Built of terra cotta and gray brick, one hundred and thirty-five feet long, eighty-seven feet wide, and seventy-three feet high, with towers on either side of the front fa- cade, and the principal tower, which is the belfry, rising to one hundred and twelve feet, the church is not only one of the most handsome structures of its kind in the city, but is a landmark, visible from nearly all portions of Providence. The nave is thirty-seven feet wide, the two side aisles fourteen feet each, and the sanctuary is square, with a sacristy and vestry adjoining. Directly over the front vestibule is the choir loft, and staircases lead from the lower floor to the loft and also down into the basement, where there is a chapel and a Sunday school room. Other stairways lead into the basement from the sacristy and vestry and from the outside. In the main church, four on either side, eight beautiful stained glass win- dows represent the principal events in the life of Christ. Behind and above the delicately carved central altar, of marble, a combination window made up of twelve small windows topped, in cir- cular position, by eighteen smaller ones, give abundant light. The roof is supported by six rugged arches resting upon twelve massive pillars. The choir loft mentioned above, seats about one hundred and fifty singers, and is lighted by a stained glass window similar to the one behind the central altar. The two smaller altars, one on each side of the church, are very beautiful, and around the church are distributed the Twelve Stations of the Cross. During Father Haney's pastorate, the church societies mentioned above were very active, as was also the Tabernacle Society. At the dedication, Father Haney stated that he hoped to clear the church debt in twelve years. The debt was cleared in ten years, 1922, and in September, 1923, Father Haney died.
Rev. Patrick J. Sullivan was the next pastor, com- ing from St. Mark's Church, Jamestown, Rhode Island, of which he was the founder. He erected the Assumption school and convent at the corner of Dexter Street and Potter Avenue. In 1925
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ground was broken for the school, the corner- stone was laid by Rt. Rev. William A. Hickey, and the school was opened February 1, 1926, with an enrollment of two hundred pupils in the four lower grades. In September of the same year the fifth grade was organized, and one grade was added each year until the first graduation from Grammar School took place in 1929. Four Sisters of the Holy Cross and Passion came from Eng- land in March, 1924, and made their home in the Smith Estate on Elmwood Avenue. Others came a year later, making fifteen in all, and in October, 1926, they moved to the new convent on Dexter Street. There are now five hundred pupils en- rolled in the school. Father Sullivan died in September, 1929, and was succeeded by the pres- ent pastor, Rev. William J. Keefe.
Rev. William J. Keefe was born in St. Michael's parish, Providence, Rhode Island, and received his early education in the Providence Public Schools. He then matriculated in St. Charles College, Baltimore, Maryland, and com- pleting his course there, he went to the Grand Seminary of Montreal, and took a three years' course in philosophy and one year in theology; he then took a further course in St. Mary's of Baltimore, Maryland, of two and one-half years, and was ordained on December 21, 1901. His first appointment was to the Church of the Sacred Heart at East Providence, where he served ably for four years. He was then made curate of St. James' parish, in Arctic Center, Rhode Island. After twelve years of service there as curate he was made pastor, and continued there, where he had won in a very high degree the confidence and love of the people. From February 7, 1918, to November, 1929, he labored as pastor at St. James' making many improvements and greatly enriching the spiritual life of his parish. During the twelve years of his curateship and the nearly twelve years of his pastorate at St. James' Church, Father Keefe had become a vital part of the church life of his people and the trusted friend of young and old, and it was with deep regret on the part of both pastor and people that a change was made.
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