WITH AN Account of the Celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH "Press" Print....

WITH An Account of the Celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Establishment of St. John's Church . By CHARLES A. SHRINER. "Sanctuarium tuum, Domine, quod firmaverunt manus tuæ; Dominus regnabit in æternum et ultra."— Exod. xv. PATERSON, N. J. Press Printing and Publishing Company, 269 Main Street. 1883....

HE records of the early Catholic Churches in this part of the country are very meagre and to the historian most of them are almost useless. There are, however, still living in this and other cities a number of old people of intelligence and good memory and to these the author is indebted for most of the facts narrated in this sketch of the growth of the Catholic Church in Paterson. In many instances it was found that the memories of these old people were at fault and it was only after repeated c

Early Persecutions on Manhattan Island.—Missionaries from New York.—The Freedom of the Country and of the Church Established.—The First Missionaries in New Jersey. "History repeats itself" is an old adage and one which has stood the test ever since the sage first uttered it. The first chapter of the history of the Catholic Church, take it as a whole, or in whatever country or nation you like, is written in blood, the precious blood of the martyrs who died for their God and their faith. The secon

The First Mass said in Paterson.—Interesting Anecdotes Concerning Father Bulger.—Prejudice against the Catholics. The Old Church on Congress and Mill streets.—Origin of St. John's Congregation. The first priest who placed his foot within what are at present the corporate limits of the City of Paterson was Father Philip Larrissy, a Franciscan monk who came here from New York. Just what year he came here is not positively known but it seems to be tolerably well established that he was here for som

Early Catholic Families in Paterson.—Men and Women of Prominence who Assisted in Establishing the Church in this City. To give a complete list of the Catholics who assisted in the propagation of the faith in Paterson and give each one his or her share of praise for the noble work done in the Lord's vineyard would be a difficult task. Most of the pioneers have passed away to reap in another world the reward for their faithfulness and energy; others removed their families to other States, where th

The Erection of the Oliver Street Church.—Doubling Its Size.—Sketches Of the Lives of Its Pastors, Fathers Duffy, O'Reilly, James Quin, Thomas Quin, Senez, Beaudevin and Callan.—A Priest's Heroic Death. The arrangements for the building of a new church in Oliver street were made in 1828, the year in which the trustees of St. John's Church obtained the grant of the land from Mr. Colt. Rt. Rev. Bishop Du Bois, who had so generously interested himself in the welfare of the congregation, solicited s

The Edifice on Grand and Main Streets.—The Erection of the Present Church of the Congregation.—The Corner Stone Laying and The Dedication.—A Description of the Church. In 1863 Father William McNulty, the present pastor of St. John's congregation, came to Paterson and took charge of the fortunes and spiritual welfare of the constantly increasing congregation. The Oliver street church had become too small and could no longer hold the large numbers which crowded to it every Sunday for the purpose o

Sketch of the Pastor of St. John's Church.—A Silver Jubilee.—A Life Devoted to the Service of the Almighty.—The Choir of the Church.—Various Societies of the Congregation. No person in Paterson has done harder and more energetic work in the cause of Catholicism than the reverend pastor of St. John's congregation, Father William McNulty. His pluck, untiring zeal, kind disposition and many other laudable characteristics have endeared him to all. Never was this more plainly shown than at the celebr

Without doubt the most impressive religious ceremonies ever held in Paterson were those in commemoration of the semi-centennial anniversary of the dedication of the first building erected by Roman Catholics for church purposes in Paterson—the old St. John's church in Oliver street. The commemorative ceremonies began on Sunday morning, the 18th of November, in the present large and splendid church of St. John Baptist at Main and Grand streets, and ended on Monday morning with a requiem mass for t

Delivered in St. John's Church, Paterson, N. J., SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1883, Being The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Building of the First Stone Church in 1833. ECCLESIASTICUS, CHAP. XLIV., 1-15v. The why and the obligation of this celebration are found in the verses of Ecclesiasticus just read. The latter half of this century may, with some propriety, be called an epoch of celebrations, commemorations and jubilees. Many of these are trivial in character and restricted in territory; others are full