Bristol County, Massachusetts - Chapter 9: The Catholic Church in Fall River, 1924

Again in our modern day, yet in a new order of exemplification, have religion and industry come hand in hand in Fall River, for with the inrush of immigrant toilers, almost immediate recognition of the needs of a multitude has been made, and, as a result, every colony and every neighborhood has its Catholic shrine. The church, the school, the hospital, the home welfare, have accorded that ministry that could be provided so completely from no other source, and the great Catholic population has the daily satisfaction of the presence and direction of the church and faith of their fathers.

Diocesan. - The diocese of Fall River was erected by His Holiness Pius X, March 12, 1904, and the Right Rev. William Stang, D. D., was consecrated as its first bishop on May 1, 1904. 'The diocese itself comprises Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties, and the towns of Marion, Mattapoisett and Wareham, in Plymouth county, in the southeastern part of this State, an area of 1194 square miles.

The Right Rev. William Stang, D.D., the first bishop of Fall River, was born in Langenbriicken, Germany, in 1854. After completion of his primary work in the schools of his native land, he enrolled in the American College at Louvain in October, 1875. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1878. In September of that year he came to the United States to labor in the diocese of Providence, where he held the office of rector of the Cathedral until 1895. 'Three years later he accepted an appointment as professor of moral theology at Louvain, a position that he held until the following year, when he returned to Providence to become superior of the diocesan mission band. When appointed first bishop of Fall River, he was acting as pastor of Saint Edward's Church, in Providence. He was consecrated May 1, 1904. He died February 2, 1907, at Rochester, Minnesota.

The Right Rev. Daniel F. Feehan, D.D., the second bishop of the diocese of Fall River, was born September 24, 1855, at Athol, this State. He received his classical and philosophical training at St. Mary's College, Montreal, graduating in 1876. The next three years were spent at the Seminary of Troy, New York, and he was ordained to the priesthood December 29, 1879. His priestly activities were exercised in the diocese of Springfield, where he labored until July 2, 1907, when he was appointed second bishop of Fall River. He was consecrated September 19, 1907, by the Right Reverend Bishop Thomas Daniel Beaven, D.D., of Springfield.

The Vicar General of the diocese is Right Rev. Monsignor James E. Cassidy, D. D. The Chancellor is Rev. Father Edmund J. Ward. The Bishop's Council consists of Right Rev. Monsignor James E. Cassidy, D.D., V.G., Right Rev. Monsignor Jean A. Prevost, P.A., P.R., Right Rev. Monsignor James Coyle, LL.D., P.R., Rev. Fathers Bernard Boylan, Louis A. Marchand, Manuel C. Terra. The Defensor Vinculi is Rev. Father James H. Looby; the diocesan attorney, Rev. Father Omer Valois; examiners of the clergy, and for administrative removal: Rev. Father John W. McCarthy, P.R., chairman; Rev. Fathers James M. Coffey, secretary; J. E. Th. Giguere, Manuel A. Silva, Very Rev. Stanislaus Bernard, CSS. CC., Rev. Francis J. Bradley, D. D.; Council of Vigilance, Right Rev. Monsignor James Coyle, LL.D., P.R., Rev. Father P. A. Granger, O. P.; Board of Parish Priest Consultors, Rev. Fathers Patrick E. McGee, Jovite Chagnon, Thomas A. Kelly, Henry J. Noon; Diocesan School Visitors, Rev. Fathers Edward J. Carr, L. Damase Robert; Diocesan Director of Priests' Eucharistic League, Right Rev. Monsignor James Coyle, LL.D., P.R.; Supervisor of Catholic Charities, Rev. Father Charles J. A. Donovan; Diocesan Director of the Holy Childhood, Rev. Father Charles R. Smith; Diocesan Director of the Apostleship of Prayer, Rev. Father Edmund J. Ward.

This section continued to remain in the Boston See until the erection of the Diocese of Providence in 1872, with the Right Rev. Thomas F. Hendricken, D.D., as the bishop. We have referred to the formation of the Fall River diocese on March 12, 1904, with the Right Rev. William Stang, D.D., as its episcopal head. His residence was at the northeast corner of Winter and Cherry streets. In 1905 the bishop's residence was removed to the Job Leonard mansion on Highland avenue.

Father Corry and St. Mary's. - Rev. Father John Corry, first of the Catholic clergy here, was a priest of aggressive missionary calibre, and both his faith and his energy were boundless and dauntless. Like his bishop, he was prophetic of the coming of numbers of his people here, as in Taunton, since the immediate institution of new mills and factories would be sure cause of immigration from neighboring cities, from the Old World, and from Canada. The quality of preparedness on the part of Rev. Father Corry was peerless, and hence it is that Catholics in this section have special reason to exult over the beginning of their story here, which includes the fact that in 1830, at the humble home of Patrick Kennedy, Rev. Father Corry celebrated the first in Fall River's long series of masses. There were but twenty souls gathered in the church that was organized forthwith. A sufficiency of encouragement to proceed with the actual organization of a parish was now assured; so that the far-sighted priest, with the small company rallying to his support, lay the foundation of St. Mary's Church, the institution that today is known as the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, by the purchase of its site.

The provision that has been made by the Mother Church for her children in Fall River for a period of fully ninety-four years has few fields of labor and reward in the New World that have in any way equalled it. It may well be called omniscient in its progress and its comprehensiveness, no portion of its flock having been overlooked in a city whose industries have excelled through the skill and handiwork of her toilers. The story of the Catholic Church in Fall River, whose membership today is eighty per cent. of the entire population, is a completely illuminating chapter of the new age here, and far beyond the precinct of the old historical writers who could not prophesy any portion of the accumulating events, whether religious or social, of our times. There went forth the call of the industrial foundations of the Border City, yet long before the incorporation of the city itself; and the call was answered by scores of Irish and French millfolk, who came here to make their permanent homes. Then came Rev. Father John Corry, evangel to those increasing colonies, and so, little by little, the need of their church home was fulfilled, room was made for. the church, and a succession of parishes was formed. 'Those were the pioneer days of the Catholic church and the Catholic population in Fall River, while the Right Rev. Bishop Benedict Joseph Fenwick, D. D., was a shep- - herd who at all times gave close attention to the comings and goings of groups of Catholic people even in these then distant parts of his diocese. For at that time, all this Bristol county section was a part of the Boston diocese, and Bishop Fenwick had oversight of a very extensive territory, though parishes hereabouts were few and far between.

We have the actual date of the transaction that may well be considered as epoch-making religiously, in Fall River, for on February 18, 1835, a little over thirty-eight rods of land on Spring street were purchased of Peter McLarin for the sum of $659.67. Thus were substantial beginnings made, the very year after the town received its present name, Fall River, Two years later, in 1837, the nucleus of the present church began to see its way clear to building a house of worship, and it was then that the St: John the Baptist chapel was constructed, a building small in its proportions compared with any of the Catholic churches of today, but sufficient for the time being. From then onwards the success of the parish was an assured thing, as Rev. Father Corry came here as resident priest in 1838, and erected the first altar in the chapel and added in many ways to the means of worship. Then Rev. Father Richard Hardy was his successor until April 6, 1840, the parish constantly becoming strengthened with the increasing population. Rev. Father Edward Murphy, an apostle to the Penobscot Indians in Maine, removed to Fall River in 1840, and, himself endowed with the pioneer spirit that had the beautification of the church in view, as well as the addition to its membership, at once set about increasing the church edifice. Father Murphy at this time had the basement of the church enlarged and the rear of the building extended, though these improvements brought the altar and part of the front of the church within the old Rhode Island bounds.

In view of the great parish of today, it is an inspiration to visualize the redoubled priestly efforts of Rev. Father Murphy, as he also assumed the duties of the New Bedford parish in conjunction with his own here. The first assistant priest or curate of whom we have record at St. Mary's came here in 1847, in the person of Rev. Father Thomas B. McNulty, at about which time also a cottage was secured as a rectory, on Spring street, and a day school was started, with Michael Hanrahan as its teacher. Even better things were in store, now, with the prospects of a new and larger church building, and when Right Rev. Bishop John Bernard: Fitzpatrick, D.D., came here on August 8, 1850, for the purpose of consecrating the cornerstone of the present St. Mary's, it was a day of great rejoicing and thanks to the fathers and mothers of this present generation of Catholics. The old St. John the Baptist chapel meantime was removed to Second street, on the site of the present rectory, and there, until the new St. Mary's was completed, services were held and the mass celebrated. At two o'clock in the morning, June 1, 1856, the chapel was totally destroyed by fire. In December, 1855, Bishop Fitzpatrick dedicated St. Mary's, though at that time no steeple had been raised upon the building. It was not long after the fire that the chapel was rebuilt. The first of the parochial schools in the city was opened in 1874 by the Sisters of Mercy, at Rodman and Fourth streets, and later in the rebuilt chapel. The building was removed to a location across the street, still to be used as a school, in 1875, in which year the convent for the sisters was purchased. The cornerstone for the new school building was laid in the spring of 1906. Rev. Father Murphy, who had thus secured the foundations laid by Rev. Father Corry, died while on a visit to Ireland, July 19, 1887, but his remains now lie in the vault at St. Mary's.

In September, 1887, Rev. Father Christopher Hughes, of Providence, was assigned to the pastorate of St. Mary's by Right Rev. Bishop Thomas Hendricken, D. D., and it was while that priest was here that the present church building was consecrated, in September, 1901; a high altar, side altars and statuary were added; the debt upon the church property was extinguished; and the real estate holdings of this parish were increased. Dr. Hughes was made a Monsignor by His Holiness, Pope Leo XIII. He was one of the board of trustees of the public library. The church is designated as Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption. The present rector is Rev. Father James M. Quinn. The school connected with the parish is directed by fourteen Sisters of Mercy.

Branches of St. Mary's. - With Catholics now coming here by the score to find work in the mills, and setting up their homes in various sections of the city, what more certain than that this mother church should provide for her children elsewhere throughout the city? And so, the first offspring of St. Mary's, St. Patrick's Church, was begun in 1873, and while Rev. Father Murphy was pastor of the old church. The "broom factory,' a central place for meeting, was the first gathering-place where mass was said by Rey. Father John Kelly. Shortly afterwards a wooden church building was provided to answer the call of the expanding parish, to so continue until the present edifice was constructed. The cornerstone of the latter was laid September 18, 1881, the result of years of devotion of the pastor, who died in January, 1885. But four years afterwards, in 1889, St. Patrick's was completed, Rev. Father Thomas P. Grace: having succeeded Rev. Father Kelly and continuing the work of the parish. The first year that Rev. Father Grace was here, in 1886, the parochial school attached to the new parish was opened; and the year following, 1887, the convent for the Sisters of Mercy was established. The parochial school was rebuilt and the church property improved by Rev. Father Michael J. Cooke, who, in 1890, was the pastor succeeding Rev. Father Grace. - The present rector is Right Rev. Msgr. James E. Cassidy, D.D., V.G. The

The Providence diocese had been raised but a short time in 1872, when the tireless Father Murphy bought land for the Sacred Heart parish, the second church to be formed from St. Mary's. Here Rev. Father Francis Quinn was appointed pastor in January, 1873, and it was not long after that that the present church building was constructed. Late in 1874, Rev. Father Mathias McCabe was appointed to this pastorate, and among his arduous duties were included the completion of the church edifice, and the extinguishment of its debt of eighty thousand dollars. But these were successful undertakings on the part of: Father McCabe, and he had the pleasure of seeing the church dedicated in September, 1883. The Sisters of the Union of the Sacred Hearts were called to take charge of the parochial school in 1886, the brick schoolhouse being completed in 1893. Rev. Father John W. McCarthy is the permanent rector. 'The school connected with the parish is directed by thirteen Religious of the Holy Union of Sacred Hearts; their convent and academy having been established in 1886.

Another of the churches of the early seventies was St. Joseph's at Bowenville, whose parish, formed in May, 1873, had for its first pastor Rey. Father William Bric. For the space of about six years masses were said in a temporary wooden church building, and with the continued increase of Catholic population at this centre, the cornerstone of the present church building was laid August 15, 1880. Rev. Father Bric, who organized the mission at Somerset, and who had toiled faithfully to the attainment of this triumph, did not live to witness the event of the laying of the cornerstone, he having died but eight days previously. Neither did his successor, Rev. Father Andrew Brady, live to witness the dedication of the church itself; that occurred May 30, 1885. Rev. Father Bernard Boylan has been the pastor of the church. Connected with the parish is the school directed by eight Sisters of Mercy.

In the same month (May, 1885) of the dedication of St. Joseph's, the parish of St. Louis was formed - an outcome, again, of St. Mary's far-reaching activities. At the corner of Mulberry and Division streets stood a former thread mill, and there as the central gathering-place, mass was first said, May 24, 1885, by Rev. Father Louis Deady. Concentrated effort on the part of pastor and people so forwarded the interests of church construction that in October of the same year the cornerstone of the edifice was laid. The basement of the church building was occupied for service during 1886, and the dedication of the completed church was on May 11, 1890. Within five years thereafter, the Holy Name Institute and the parochial residence were built, the entire cost of the property being $80,000. Connected with this parish is the parochial school on Division street. Rev. Father James H. Fogarty succeeded Rev. Father Deady. as pastor in 1896. The present rector is Rev. Father Timothy P. Sweeney. :

St. William's parish was organized in May, 1905, and the first pastor was Rey. Father Patrick McGee. The parish was named in memory and in honor of the Right Rev. Bishop William Stang, D.D. Rev. John P. Doyle is the rector.

1896, and the church was dedicated March 25, 1900. This parish was formed in April, 1882, with Rev. Father Patrick Doyle as pastor, and the first mass was said in the humble circumstances of a store, though soon afterwards a temporary wooden church structure was built. Rey. Father Doyle did not live to see the church erected, Rev. Father Bernard F. McCahill succeeding him at his death in 1893. Rey. Father Thomas A. Kelly is the present rector. The cornerstone of the new parochial school on Snell street was laid in 1923, by Right Rev. Monsignor James E. Cassidy, D.D., V.G.

Another of the churches of the early eighties was that of the Immaculate Conception, the formation of whose parish in Flint Village was secured in April, 1882. Rev. Father Owen Kiernan, the first pastor, worked faithfully upon the church project, and on April 14, 1883, the cornerstone of the church was laid. The church was dedicated September 14, 1883. Rey. Father Kiernan was succeeded by Rey. Father Cornelius McSweeney. Very Rev. Edward J. Carr was appointed rector March 22, 1919, and is the present rector.

Larger French Churches. - The promptness with which the Mother Church has never failed to meet the religious requirements of her children is a source of great interest to all. The first of the increasing colony of French residents had not been here two years before they had a church of their own. The main facts for this résumé of the story of St. Anne's parish are gleaned from a paper that was contributed to Henry M. Fenners "History of Fall River,' by Rev. Father Paul V. Charland, O. P. Father Charland states that there are no baptismal records of French names at St. Mary's Church previous to 1862, but from that time onwards French names frequently appear; and it is stated that in 1869 there were about three thousand French-speaking people here. Rev. Father A. J. Derbuel, says Father Charland, formerly pastor at West Boylston, and appointed curate at St. Mary's church in 1868, was the first French priest for that people here, his name appearing on St. Mary's records September 1 to October 21, that year. Rev. Father Olivier Verdier, also a French missionary, continued his work, but he died in 1869. That year came L'Abbé Paul Romain-Louis-Adrien Montaubric, honorary canon of Bordeaux, and descendant of a noble family of France. His name appears in St. Mary's records from August 2 to October 23, 1869. It was he who built the first Church of St. Anne in 1870, which church was afterwards enlarged to meet the needs of the congregation. Then in 1879 came Rev. Father Briscoe, who remained until 1887; then Rev. Father John P. Clarke, and afterwards a succession of French Dominicans - Fathers Mothon, Esteva, Sauval, Therien, Cormevais, Grolleau. St. Anne's Church was dedicated July 4, 1906. The present rector is Rev. Father P. A. Granger, O.P. Two brothers of the Christian schools and twenty-six sisters of St. Dominic have charge of the schools connected with the parish.

During the month of July each year, thousands of pilgrims from all parts of New England and many from Canada pay a visit to the shrine here for the veneration of the relics of St. Anne. The Dominican Fathers connected with the parish have daily receptions for the sick and infirm who appear at the church to pray for relief. Many miraculous cures have been claimed and the shrine has country-wide fame.

The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, with its comparatively brief history dating only from 1874, has a wonderful record of growth and usefulness among the French parishes, not only of this city but throughout the entire country. The first pastor, Rev. Father J. B. Bédard, one of the most energetic priests of his time, took charge of the parish and directed the work of location and the purchase of land, that was consummated October 9, 1874. Father Bédard immediately directed the construction of the wooden church, whose cornerstone was laid December 1 of that year. Here had come and built their homes hundreds of French people, whose church home was not long in forthcoming. The parish was an outgrowth of St. Anne parish, the mother church of the French colony here, and Notre Dame De Lourdes Church became the centre of that colony in which it was erected. The church had been organized but two years when the parochial schoel was opened in 1876, and on May 21, 1877, the Sisters of Jésu-Marie came to the parish. Rev. Father Bédard died in 1884, and in 1888 he was succeeded by Rev. Father J. M. LaFlamme. Rev. Father (now Right Rev. Msgr.) Jean A. Prevost, P.A.P.R., came here in 1888. The cornerstone of the church was laid May 30, 1891, the wooden church having been destroyed by fire in November, 1893. The new church, of granite, and of imposing architecture, was erected at a total cost of $300,000. The style of the church was Corinthian, pillarless, and with unobstructed view of the altar. The ceiling was adorned with a painting of the Last Judgment, by Cremonini, whose work is also seen in the allegory of the Holy Rosary for the rotunda, of the Immaculate Conception for the arch between the sanctuary and the nave, and other decorative subjects. The rectory on Eastern avenue and Bassett street was completed in 1897, at a cost of $30,000.

Various Parishes - - -Formerly a mission of St. Anne's, St. Dominic's, now the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, was founded by members of the Dominican Order. It is in the district known as "Townsend Hill." The first pastor was Rev. P. Gillant, O. P., and he was succeeded in 1892 by Rev. Father L. O. Massicotte. The cornerstone of the present church was laid July 4, 1902, and the rector is Rev. Father Désiré Delamarre. The school connected with the parish is directed by eleven Sisters of St. Joseph.

St. John the Baptist parish on Stafford road. Rev. Father H. J. Musselly was the first pastor. The present rector is Rev. Father Joseph E.' Potvin. The school is directed by six Sisters of Mercy.

St. Anthony of Padua (Portuguese). The administrator of the parish is Rev. Father Antonio P. B. Carmo. Connected with this parish is St. John the Baptist mission, at Central Village. St. Anthony of the Desert (Maronite); pastor, Rev. Father Caesar Phares. St. Elizabeth's (Portuguese); the rector, Rev. Father Emmanuel S. De Mello. St. Michael's (Portuguese); the rector, Rev. Father John F. Ferraz. Santo Christo (Portuguese) was organized for the Portuguese people in 1891. That year Rey. Father Neves, of New Bedford, bought for them the little church on the corner of Columbia and Canal streets. Rev. Father C. A. Martens became the pastor in July, 1892. Rev. Father F. S. Mesquita took charge of the parish in June, 1898. Rev. Father Manuel A. Silva is the present rector.

Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. Our Lady of the Angels (Portuguese) parish has been administered by Rev. Father Dario A. Raposo. Holy Cross (Polish) parish, Peter Hajna, O. M. C., administrator. The school connected with the parish is directed by four Sisters of St. Francis. St. Stanislaus (Polish) parish, Rev. Father Hugo Dylla, present rector. The school connected with the parish is directed by seven Felicien Sisters.

St. Matthew's (French) parish was formed in the fall of 1886, with Rev. Father J. A. Payan as the first pastor. Land was bought for the present church in October, 1887, and while Father Payan was in charge, the basement of the church was completed. Rev. Father L. A. Casgrain was appointed pastor in 1888, and it was during his pastorate that the cornerstone of the church was laid September 3, 1893, and the church was dedicated September 20, 1896. Rev. Father J. G. Lovalle succeeded Father Casgrain in February, 1895. The present pastor is Rev. Father Napoleon A. Messier. The school connected with the parish is directed by thirteen Sisters of Mercy.

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (Italian) parish, present administrator, Rev. Father George O'Callahan, P.S.M. St. Roch (French) parish, founded in May, 1899, by Rev. Father J. E. Th. Giguerre. The present pastor is Rev. Father L. Damase Robert. The school connected with the parish is directed by nine Sisters of St. Joseph.

Miscellaneous. - While Fall River was yet a part of the Providence diocese, St. Vincent's Home, or St. Vincent's Orphanage, as it is sometimes called, was founded, in 1885, under the episcopate of Right Rev. Thomas F. Hendricken, D.D. On October 7, 1889, the St. Vincent's Home Corporation was granted its charter by the Commonwealth "for the purpose of caring for, maintaining and educating indigent children." The orphanage, located on North Main street, opposite Baldwin street, at Steep Brook, consists of several acres, formerly known as "Forest Hill" and as "Ashley's Grove." Until 1894 the buildings already there were made use of for the orphanage, but that year the present fine structure was completed at a cost of $75,000. It is due to Rev. Father Cornelius Kelly and the pastors and people of the diocese that the debt upon the property was removed. Close to three hundred children are cared for here by the Sisters of Mercy. The first manager and superintendent was Sister Magdalen; her successor was Sister Mechtilde. The Right Rev. Matthew Harkins, D. D., was the corporation's first president; Rev. Father Bernard Boylan was treasurer; Gilbert P: Cuttle, clerk; Cornelius S. Greene,. vice-president. Right Rev. William Stang, D.D., was the second president and treasurer of the corporation; 'Rev. Father Bernard F. Mc- Cahill, clerk; Rev. Father Mortimer Downing resident chaplain. The present chaplain is Rev. Father Charles J. A. Donovan.

The Dominican Priory, for French Missions, with five lay brothers and sixteen priests; prior, Very Rev. Reginald Duprat, O.P. St. Ann's Commercial school, 790 South Main street; there are sixty-two pupils, in charge of three Brothers of the Christian brothers Schools, Brother B. Lewis, director. 'The Convent, Motherhouse and Academy of St. Catherine of Sienna; there are seventy-eight Dominican Sisters, and the pupils, boys and girls number more than two hundred. The Convent and Academy of

St. Francis' Guild, 182 Whipple street, a home for working girls; there are twenty-six boarders, and the Sisters in charge are Franciscan Sisters of Mary. St. Joseph's Orphanage, in charge of thirty-four Sisters of Charity, Gray Nuns from Quebec, cares for four hundred and thirty children. There are eight lay teachers. The building was constructed in 1893. The Provincial House and Convent of the Religious of the Holy Union of the Sacred Hearts, 466 Prospect street; there are fifty-eight Sisters and a number of novices and postulants. There are one hundred and sixty-five pupils in the academy. The Motherhouse of Sisters of Mercy, "Mt. St. Mary's"; there are sixty-two Sisters resident, and a number of novices and postulants.

The Convent of the Holy Ghost, at 194 Second street; there are ten White Sisters for nursing poor in their homes, their order being that of Daughters of the Holy Ghost. The Convent of the Holy Ghost, 24 Tuttle street; five Sisters resident. The Convent of Franciscan Sisters of Mary, 621 Second street; there are nineteen Sisters resident. St. Teresa's Convent, the Provincial House and Novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph, 2501 South Main street; there are sixty Sisters. St. Anthony's Convent, 621 Second street, residence of eighteen Sisters, Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.