THE DAUGHTERS OF ST. JOHN.--CHURCHES WHICH TOOK THEIR ORIGIN IN ST.
JOHN'S CHURCH.--YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN FROM PATERSON WHO HAVE
DEVOTED THEIR LIVES TO THE SERVICE OF GOD.
It has often been stated that the church at Madison--which in the early
part of the century was called Bottle Hill--was an offspring from St.
John's Church of Paterson; this statement has also been frequently
contradicted, and it is certainly safe to say that it is doubtful
whether Paterson can lay claim to establishing Catholicism in Madison.
St. John's has, however, sufficient glory, for it is the undoubted
source of the origin of a number of churches in this vicinity. There is
no doubt that the same missionary priests who labored in Paterson also
visited other places; thus it has been ascertained that Father Larissy,
who according to well authenticated statements was the first priest to
read mass in Paterson, subsequently attended the churches in Staten
Island and a number along the Hudson places; still St. John's could
hardly lay claim to the parentage of these churches, no more than St.
John's could be called a child of the church in Newburg because Father
Langton paid periodical visits to Paterson from Newburg.[A]
It will suffice for the purposes of writing a history of Catholicism in
this county to take a glance at the churches whose origin was
undoubtedly in St. John's congregation. As has been stated on a previous
page, missionaries visited Macopin before they came to Paterson, but
there is no doubt that a church was erected in Paterson long before the
erection of the church in Macopin. It was not until 1830 that the
Catholics of Macopin proceeded to erect a building to be devoted
exclusively to the service of God. This church, under the patronage of
St. Joseph, was dedicated in 1830 by Rev. Dr. French, from New York, and
Rev. Mr. O'Donoghue, from St. John's Church, this city. For many years
this church was attended by priests from St. John's Church and
subsequently from St. Boniface's Church. Even to this day it has no
stated pastor and is attended by priests having charge of churches in
the vicinity.
The German Catholics of this vicinity did a great deal towards
establishing the Catholic Church on the firm footing it has found in
this county and too much praise cannot be bestowed on the work of the
early German Catholics and their priests. The most prominent figure in
the work among the German Catholics is Father Nicholas Hens, the
respected and zealous pastor of St. Boniface's Church in this city. This
gentleman has spent the best days of an active and useful life among the
German Catholics and his labors in the Lord's vineyard have borne
excellent fruit. Rt. Rev. Bishop Bayley kept a journal of the more
important actions of his life and from this journal the following
extract is made:
"On Sunday, July 1st, 1860, at half past five, I laid the corner stone
of the new German Catholic Church of St. Boniface, which Father Schandel
is endeavoring to build. We went in procession to the spot--the cross
before, with acolytes, children--Erin's Society as a guard--banners
flying--the big missionary cross borne before my carriage by the
Germans. There must have been from 8,000 to 10,000 persons present--hot
and dusty, but no disturbance. I pitched into Martin Luther for the
edification of the multitude."
The following is another extract from the same journal:
"December 1st, 1861, on Sunday, I blessed the new German church at
Paterson."
Before this time, however, the few German families gathered once a month
or once a fortnight in the basement of St. John's church in Oliver
street to have special German services. Among those who attended were
John Ratzer, Martin Bauman, Christian Geissler, Leander Kranz, Michael
Thalhammer, Joseph Merklin, Joseph Durgeth, Philip Brendel, Mr. Zentner,
Mr. Yost, Mr. Schnell and a few others. The services were conducted by
Father Hartlaub as early as 1854. On April 18th of that year Father
Hartlaub baptized in this church Joseph August Geissler, at present
parish priest in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and on December 18th following
Emma Mitch, who subsequently attained considerable renown as a singer,
was baptized there. Father Hartlaub attended for four years to the
spiritual wants of the German Catholics and was succeeded on July 18th,
1858, by Father Louis Fink, at present Bishop of Leavenworth, Kansas.
About the first of August, 1859, Father J. J. Schandel succeeded Father
Fink and was appointed permanent priest for the Germans. His first
baptism was performed on August 11th, and the first marriage at which he
assisted was on the 30th of the same month, the contracting parties
being Michael Courtade and Miss Anne Mary Brotchie. Father Schandel was
very popular amongst all classes of people and his name is still
frequently mentioned with reverence and affection. He worked very hard
among his countrymen and it was he who conceived the idea and furthered
the project of building a church for German Catholics. He purchased the
ground on the corner of Main and Slater streets where St. Boniface's
Church now stands, and erected that structure which has a seating
capacity of 900. The German Catholics in Paterson were few in number and
not blessed with worldly riches and Father Schandel was obliged to work
for his support in outside missions, a labor to which he devoted himself
with assiduity. For a long time he visited regularly every month St.
Joseph's Church at Macopin; he also visited occasionally the Catholics
in Ringwood and attended to the spiritual needs of the Catholics at St.
Francis Church, Lodi.
In 1869 he visited Passaic regularly and secured ground for and erected
St. Nicholas' Church. Before that time the Catholics of Passaic had
worshipped in a room in one of the factories. The interest awakened in
the Catholic Church by Father Schandel and the immigration of a number
of German Catholics soon gave the worthy priest more to do than he could
attend to. He accordingly asked Bishop Bayley for an assistant priest.
His prayer was granted and on August 5th, 1869, Father Nicholas Hens,
who had just been ordained, came to Paterson. This worthy priest
followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, and Fathers Schandel and
Hens worked together energetically and in the greatest harmony. The silk
mills at this time attracted large numbers of persons to Paterson and
Father Schandel concluded that it would be well to erect the Catholics
in Passaic into a separate congregation. Bishop Bayley thought well of
the plan and on July 21st, 1871, Father Schandel was transferred to
Passaic and Father Hens was appointed pastor of St. Boniface's in this
city. Father Schandel remained in Passaic until 1873 when he was
succeeded by Father Schneider, the present efficient and well-beloved
priest of the church. At present there are about 250 families in the
congregation in Passaic, and the parochial school, in charge of the
Sisters of Charity, is attended by nearly 300 children.
Being already in possession of a good and commodious church Father Hens
devoted a great deal of time and energy to the establishment of a
parochial school, that almost indispensable adjunct to every church. In
October, 1871, he opened the parochial school in Main street with 35
children, the teacher being the organist of the church. The number of
children continued to increase during the winter and in the following
spring there was an attendance of over 80. An additional teacher was
employed but during the summer of 1872 the Sisters of St. Dominic were
engaged to take charge of the school. Father Hens at once provided a
residence for the Sisters, purchasing the house and lot adjoining the
church for $4,600. The parish grew rapidly under the able care of Father
Hens. The modest church was improved and embellished both outside and
inside; the school was enlarged several times and another story added to
it. In 1874 the residence of the Sisters was rebuilt and in 1877 a
chapel, 65×25 feet in size, was added to it. In 1879 the boys'
department of the school was placed under the care of some Brothers of
Mary who came to Paterson from Nazareth, near Dayton, Ohio. In the same
year the present rectory, in the rear of the church, and a residence for
the Brothers was erected. About this time the congregation sustained a
serious loss in its membership, twenty families leaving it to attend St.
Mary's Church on Totowa for greater convenience and the thirty-five
families residing in the Stony Road district allying themselves to St.
Bonaventure's Church.
Despite this defection the congregation of St. Boniface continued to
grow, and soon the church was not able to hold all that wished to
worship within its walls. On March 19th, 1882, the feast of St. Joseph,
the patron of the Catholic Church, Father Hens bought a plot of ground
on River street, near the crossing of the New York, Lake Erie and
Western Railroad. Here the corner-stone of a new church was laid on
September 4th, 1882, and on May 14th in the following year the new
church was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Wigger. The church was placed
under the protection of Our Lady of Lourdes. The erection of this church
cut off from St. Boniface's congregation over one hundred German and
Holland families, but their places were soon filled, so that at the
present day, six months after the dedication of the new church, St.
Boniface's congregation is as large as it ever was. Three masses are
said every Sunday and the church is crowded every time. The number of
families belonging to the church is about 400, and its parochial schools
have an attendance of 350.
In addition to his many other duties Father Hens has since 1879 had
charge of St. Luke's in Hohokus. The ground for this church was given in
1864 by John Jacob Zabriskie, and the erection of the church was the
work of Father McNulty. A cemetery adjoins the church.
Father Hens's first assistant was Father Kars, who is now the pastor of
St Mary's Church in Gloucester, N. J. Then came Father Dernis, at
present pastor of the Catholic church in Salem, N. J. Father Dernis was
succeeded by Father Geissler, who was the first person baptized in
Paterson by Father Hartlaub. After Father Geissler came Father J. W.
Grieff, who by his eloquence, affability and energy has made himself
beloved and respected by all. Father Hens also derives material
assistance from the Franciscan Fathers in this city. Complete baptismal
and marriage records of St. Boniface's Church from 1854 are still in
existence, and from these the following statistics were collected:--
Name of the Priest. Baptisms. Marriages.
Father Hartlaub 88 ---
" Fink, O. S. B. 24 8
" Schandel 775 187
" Hens 1,120 221
" Dernis ----- 1
" Geissler 109 13
" Dyonisius, O. S. F. 10 ---
" Fidelis, O. S. F. 5 ---
" Grieff 186 26
" Kars 29 7
----- ---
Total 2,346 463
Bishop Bayley from 1869 to 1871 confirmed 109 persons of St. Boniface's
congregation; Bishop Corrigan from 1871 to 1882 confirmed 448 persons,
and Bishop Wigger from 1882 to 1883 confirmed 183 persons, making a
total of 740 confirmations.
The following are the societies attached to St. Boniface's Church:
St Boniface's Benevolent Society was organized by Father Schandel in
1867 and has a membership of 70.
The Rosary Society was established by Father Hens in 1873 for the
purpose of providing decorations for the altar. It has 115 members.
St. Aloysius' Boys' Sodality numbers 57 members and was established by
Father Grieff in 1882.
The Children of Mary numbers 87 members and was established by Father
Hens in 1874.
The Confraternity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was established by Father
Hens in 1878.
The Confraternity of the Poor Souls in Purgatory was established in 1877
by Father Hens and numbers 107 members.
In 1867 Father McNulty bought a piece of property on Broadway near East
Eighteenth street, running back as far as Fair street. In the front part
of this property he erected St. Agnes' Institute which was very popular
for a number of years. In the rear of the Institute Father McNulty
erected a large frame building which was used as a church by the
Catholics who had settled in the eastern portion of Paterson. In a very
short time there was a large attendance and regular services were held
every Sunday. In 1875 St. Joseph's parish was created and Father
Nicholas Molloy assigned to it as regular pastor. Finding that there
were more Catholics in a more southerly direction Father Molloy bought a
tract of land on Market and Carroll streets and erected thereon the
present St. Joseph's church. It is a frame building having a seating
capacity of about 600. The lower floor is used for school purposes and
the upper as a church. In 1880 Father Molloy left Paterson on account of
ill health; he died shortly afterwards in New York city. Rev. Dr. Smith,
one of the best scholars and most learned theologians of the country, is
the present pastor of this church and he is greatly assisted in his many
labors by the Franciscan Fathers.
In 1872 Father McNulty bought eight lots on Sherman avenue, near Union
avenue, for the purpose of erecting there another Catholic Church. A
substantial brick chapel was built, 40×90 feet in size, and two stories
high, one floor being used as a chapel and the other for school
purposes. The attendance was large from the first, and in 1880 the
portion of the city near it was erected into a separate parish under the
patronage of St. Mary. The first priest was Father Curran, who did a
great deal of energetic work in Paterson, including the establishment of
a Catholic weekly paper. In 1883 Father Curran was removed to Arlington,
N. J., where he continues to edit _The Catholic Times_. He was succeeded
in Paterson by Father Samuel Welsh, who has still charge of the church
and who by devotion and ability is rapidly building up a large
congregation.
Three Carmelite Fathers came to Paterson in 1873 and established
themselves on Stony road, where they had purchased a frame dwelling.
They erected a neat two-story brick house, the lower floor being used as
a chapel and the upper as a residence for the friars. They were recalled
to Europe, but on the 26th of August, 1876, two priests, three students,
and four lay brothers of the Order of St. Francis came to Paterson and
obtained possession of the property vacated by the Carmelites. The
Franciscans came from Fulda, in Germany, from which place they had been
driven by the German government. In February of the following year Rt.
Rev. Bishop Corrigan gave them charge of the Catholics in the vicinity
with authority to form a parish under the patronage of St. Bonaventura.
On November 24th, 1878, Bishop Corrigan laid the corner-stone of a new
church in the presence of a large concourse of people. The Franciscan
Fathers went to work with a will and when the new church was completed
the property was not encumbered by any mortgage or other claim, as the
small debt that remained was in the shape of a note. The Catholic Church
provides for the dedication of churches that are not paid for, but no
church can be consecrated to the service of God as long as there is a
claim on it the prosecution of which might result in the sale of the
property and its conversion to other uses. St. Bonaventure's Church, a
large and handsome structure, was consecrated on July 4th, 1880, by
Bishop Corrigan. Fathers McNulty and Hens, who by their influence had
done a great deal towards securing the success of the new project, acted
as deacons of honor; Very Rev. Aloysius Laur, Provincial Superior of the
Order of St. Francis, as assistant priest; Fathers Muller and Trumper as
deacons, and Father Burk, from St. Mary's Church, Hoboken, as master of
ceremonies. The cost of the new church was about $30,000. The
congregation increased steadily and more priests and students arrived at
the monastery, and to-day the order as well as the congregation is in a
flourishing condition.
For a long time the French and Italian residents of Paterson worshipped
in the churches which were most convenient to them, and no attempt was
made to provide for them opportunities to attend services in their own
language. In 1882 Father Hens induced some of the Fathers of Mercy from
New York to come to Paterson occasionally, and services were for some
time held in French and Italian in St. Boniface's Church. The numbers of
attendants at these services increased, and in 1883 they rented a room
in the Smith and Jackson building in Market street. Here religious
services are held every Sunday, Father Porcille, one of the Fathers of
Mercy in New York, coming to Paterson every Saturday and returning to
New York on Monday.
The oldest Catholic church in Bergen county, and one of the few Catholic
churches out of debt, is St. Francis de Sales' Church in Lodi. It was
erected in 1855 and dedicated by Bishop Bayley. It has been attended
ever since its organization by priests from Paterson and Hackensack.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church at Carlstadt is another daughter of St.
John, and was organized in 1872, January 1st, and in the same year the
church was built at a cost of $11,000. It has a flourishing congregation
and a numerously attended parochial school.
The Catholics of Hackensack at one time formed a part of the
congregation of St. John's, but in 1861 Father Annellie erected a small
church. There were then only 25 Catholic families in Hackensack. In 1866
the corner-stone of the present church was laid, and the building was
completed under the pastorate of Father P. Cody. The congregation is
steadily increasing.
A few months ago Mr. Robert Beattie, of Little Falls, donated enough
land to the Catholics in that village on which to erect a church. The
corner-stone was laid by Right Rev. Bishop Wigger, and the church is now
nearing completion.
Catholic priests and religious fraternities have undoubtedly done a
great deal for Paterson, but the city has not been ungrateful, and a
number of young men and young women from this city have devoted
themselves to the service of the Almighty. The following are the priests
who grew up in St. John's congregation:--
Father John P. Morris was educated at the American College at Rome and
is at present pastor of the Catholic Church at Avondale, N. J.
Father M. A. McManus was educated at Seton Hall and is parish priest in
Newton, N. J.
Father Robert E. Burke was educated at Seton Hall and is parish priest
in Mt. Holly, N. J.
Father John Sheppard, also educated at Seton Hall, is parish priest in
Dover, N. J.
Father Alphonsus Rossiter was educated in the convent of the Passionist
Fathers at Pittsburgh, Pa., and is at present Superior of that
institution.
The following young men from the congregation have joined the Christian
Brothers in New York:
Hugh J. Gallagher--Brother Joseph, 1877.
Robert J. Foley--Brother Charles, 1877.
Joseph Fitzpatrick--Brother Daniel, 1878.
John S. Thornton--Brother Clement, 1879.
Arthur McKenna--Brother Felix, 1879.
Jeremiah A. Maher--Brother Andrew, 1880.
Patrick Lawlor--Brother B. Joseph, 1880.
Thomas Hone--Brother B. Edward, 1881.
The following are the names of Sisters of Charity at Madison, N. J., who
were born in Paterson:
Sister Mary Agnes O'Neill, entered the community, Nov. 26, 1858.
" " died, Nov. 9, 1877
Sister Mary Ambrose Sweeney, entered, May 24, 1862.
" " died, Feb. 19, 1868.
Sister Mary Rosina Flynn, entered, July 21, 1862.
Sister Adele Murray, entered, Sept. 27, 1862.
" " died, April 14, 1871.
Sister M. Angela O'Brien, entered, Feb. 19, 1863.
Sister M. Genevieve Gillespie, entered, July 18, 1863.
Sister M. Regina Powers, entered, Nov. 26, 1863.
" " died, June 26, 1873.
Sister Teresa Angela O'Neill, entered, Sept. 24, 1866.
Sister Margaret Clark, entered, Feb. 12, 1869.
" " died, Aug. 23, 1874.
Sister Mercedes Sweeney, entered, July 17, 1879.
The following are the names of other Sisters of Charity in the same
institution who were not born in Paterson but who came from St. John's
congregation:
Sister Mary Peter Daly, entered, July 19, 1863.
Sister M. Lucy Blake, entered, July 20, 1868.
Sister Frances Dougherty, entered May 6, 1869.
Sister M. Christina O'Neill, entered, Nov. 8, 1869.
" " died, Dec. 5, 1875.
Sister M. Pelagia Mackel, entered, June 15, 1871.
" " died, Oct. 30, 1876.
Sister M. Adele Sheehan, entered, Aug. 15, 1871.
Sister Marie Vincent Mitchell, entered, April 20, 1872.
Sister Borgia Hanley, entered, August 15, 1873.
Sister M. Clandine Van Nort, entered, July 19, 1876.
Sister M. Placida Hunt, entered, April 30, 1878.
Sister M. Francis Lewis, entered, August 1, 1879.
Sister M. Barbara Bushill, entered, Feb. 27. 1879.
Sister M. Fidelia McEvoy, entered, July 17, 1880.
Sister M. Clotilda Kehoe, entered, July 19, 1880.
The following is a list of the names of the young ladies from St. John's
congregation who joined the Sisters of St. Dominic:
Entered, 1874, Sister Bridget Margaret Mahoney.
Entered, 1876, Sister Angela Julia Phelan.
Entered, 1877, Sister Emmanuel Mary Phelan.
Entered, 1877, Sister Eustochium Katie Phelan.
Entered, 1879, Sister Baptista Nora Phelan.
Entered, 1870, Sister Innocence Bridget Duffy.
Entered, 1880, Sister Evangelista Mary Meaghar.
Entered, 1880, Sister Sylvester Katie Meaghar.
FOOTNOTE:
[A] It may be proper to state that there are grave doubts as to the
spelling of the name of the second priest in Paterson. In some of the
earlier prints he is referred to as Father Langam, Father Langham, and
Father Langrey. Mrs. Connolly, in whose father's house the first mass
was said in Paterson, calls him Father Langdale, and the fact that a
priest named Langdale travelled through the western part of New York
State in the early part of the century, after Father Langton had
disappeared from the missions in this part of the country seems to
corroborate Mrs. Connolly. The late Barney McNamee, who was personally
acquainted with Father Langton, in a conversation had some time before
his death with Mr. William Nelson assured that gentleman that the name
of the first priest he remembered was Father Langton; Mr. McNamee was
positive on this point. Mr. Nelson made some researches, and these
convinced him of the accuracy of Mr. McNamee's memory. It is for these
reasons that the author of this work adopted the spelling Lang-t-o-n in
preference to others.