Essex County, Massachusetts - Chapter 32: The City of Salem, 1922 (part 2 of 2)

In 1872, the greatly-increased number of French Canadians, and the inability of many of them to speak English, demanded special consideration. The basement of the Immaculate Conception Church Vv^as given over to them, and Father Harkins - now Bishop Harkins of Providence - entrusted with their spiritual welfare. In May, 1873, Father Talbot, a French Canadian priest, was appointed their pastor. He remained, however, but a few months, when Father Harkins again assumed their charge. He secured for their use a Sailors' Bethel on Herbert street. A few months later. Rev. Olivier Boucher took charge of his fellow countrymen in Salem, and remained with them until 1875, when he was transferred to Lawrence. Father Talbot returned for a time, but was finally succeeded, in 1878, by Rev. J. Z. Dumontier, who remained but a few months. In September of that year. Rev. Octave Lepine became pastor; in 1879, he was replaced by Rev. F. X. L. Vezina. Father Vezina purchased, in 1881, an estate on Lafayette street, in South Salem, where most of the French still live. On this site a church was erected, and opened for services in 1884. It was dedicated in 1885, under the title of St. Joseph's. In August, 1885, Rev. J. O. Gadoury came as assistant to Fr. Vezina^ who shortly retired for a time to Canada. During his absence. Father Gadoury purchased and remodeled the parochial residence. Two years later, upon the resignation of Father Vezina, Father Gadoury was made pastor. In 1892 he founded a large school on Harbor street, in the rear of the church. A four-story brick building, having a hall on the ground floor and twelve large class rooms, v/as erected, and near this a wooden convent for the Grey Nuns, who taught the children. A new brick church was erected to replace the original St. Joseph's, a wooden church and separate parish erected in the "Castle Hill" district, and many other improvements made in the parish before his death in 1906.

He v/as succeeded by Rev. George Rainville. During his pastorate the disastrous fire of June, 1914, all but entirely destroyed the entire parish property. Undismayed by the disaster, the people under his direction undertook the work of rebuilding. The basement of the church was fitted up for services ; the auditorium being used for school purposes ; a new convent and parochial residence were built, and plans for a school were under way when he died in March, 1920. His successor is the present pastor. Rev. Pierre H. Grenier, who has been sent to complete the work of restoration and sustain the high spiritual ideals of the people.

In 1877, Father William Hally retired as pastor of the Immaculate Conception parish. He was succeeded by Rev. P. J. Hally, who introduced the practice of holding services for the Catholic prisoners in the county jail and the almshouse. The interior of the church was much improved by him, and the parish school extended by an addition in the rear for boys. He replaced the Sisters of Notre Dame by the Sisters of Char- ity, who continue in charge of the school at present. In 1896 Father Hally resigned his pastorship, to take up missionary work among the negi'oes.

He was succeeded by Rev. John D. Tiemey, formerly of Rockland. Father Tiemey improved the property, especially the parochial residence. He also bought land on Lafayette street, in the then growing southern section, for a chapel ; but the fire of 1914 has much changed the aspect of this district.

As with the French, in the time of Rev. W. J. Hally, so with the Poles, in Father Tiemey's time. Their increasing number necessitated special consideration. The basement was given over to them, and Rev. J. Chmielinski of Boston attended to their spiritual welfare until the assignment of the Rev. Joseph Czubek as their pastor in 1901. Property was purchased on Herbert street, on which a church - St. John the Baptist - was erected, the basement being devoted to school purposes. A convent was erected on Union street. Some years later an old Protestant church on St. Peter street was purchased and renovated to meet the growing demands of the parish. The old church on Herbert street was converted into a school in which today more than six hundred children are educated by the Felician Sisters.

In 1904, Father Tiemey was transferred to St. Catherine's, Charlestown. His successor was the Rev. Timothy J. Murphy of St. Ann's, Neponset. Fr. Murphy died in 1911 ; his pastorate was marked by special interest in the cause of Catholic education, and in the! matter of the temperance and no-license movement in the city.

The present pastor, Rev. John P. Sullivan, came from Middleboro as successor to Fr. Murphy. The years of his pastorate have been marked by many needed and notable improvements in and around the parish property; by an active and public-spirited participation by himself and his people in all civic and religious activities of the community, and under hs leadership and guidance his people today receive the recognition which they have duly merited.