The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-12-13
TROUBLE IN ST. J0SEPH'S
A Question of Nationality in HO-
boken Church Affairs.

ADOuJ Two months ago tatner OOn-
mick resigned as pastor of st. .Joseph's
Roman Catholic Church in Hoboken to
take charge of an Italian church in the
same city. At the time of Father DOM
inick's resignation Father Francis Lehner
was his assistant, and according to the
generally recognized rule amongst the
Catholic clergy the assistant, Father
Lehner became pastor.
Father Dominick's resignation was
precipitated by the grumblings of the
Irish and American portion of the
congregation. He was an Italian and
tried to make st. Joseph's Church an
Italian church they said, but as the Ital-
ian quarter of the city was located further
uptown the church was patroniZed
chiefly by Irish and Irish-Americans
At high mass on Sundays the sermon
would be at first delivered in Italian and
then in English. As there was usually
only a handful of Italians present at
these services, the rest of the congrega-
tion would be compelled to sit and listen
to a language they could not understand.
The Italians who did attend this ser
vice did not contribute as literally to
church support as they might have done,
as Father Dominick thought, and he had
occasion to admonish them from the altar
on several occasions.
Finally, Father Dominick, in order to
centralize the Italians, asked and OBJ
tanned permission from Bishop Wigger to
build a church for the exclusive use of
the Italians
FATHER coRRIGAN OBJECTED
The granting of this privilege to Father
Dominick raised an objection from
Father Corrigan, pastor of the Church of
Our Lady of Grace He said that the
OF his congregation and he tried to have
Bishop Wigger rescind the privilege.
Bishop Wigger refused.
Father Corrigan thereupon announced
from the altar that the building of the
new church was a scheme to get part of
his congregation. He said that he did
not care for the loss of the Italian COM
munity, as what they contributed to the
support of the church did not amount to
anything; but he was satisfied, he said
that the object was TO secure the Irish
and American part OF his congregation
who lived near the new church. This
was denied by Father Dominick, and for
while the pastors were not on speaking
terms.
At the laying of the corner stone of the
new church Father Corrigan was invited
to be present. He declined the invita-
tion, and refused TO allow the st. Mary's
cadets and drum and fife corps to parade
at the time.
A PROTEST FROM ST. JosEPH's.
Well. the church was built and dedi-
Gated. and Father Dominick assumed
charge. Now comes a protest from the
Irish and American portion of ST.
Joseph's Church against the appointment
of Father Lehner
Father Lehner is young German, and
| it is said has not very full command of
| the English language The Irish and
Americans outnumber the Germans two
to one, and think they ought to have an
Irish or American priest. They claim that
Father Lehner's appointment was secured
by Councilman Harry Snyder, but Mr.
Snyder denies it.
interviewed several of the malcontents
and they said that Bishop WiGger would
preach onnext Sunday at the church. and
tnat they would lay their case before him.
1t is said that the Bishop has not full
power to ask for Father Lehner's resig
nation if he so desires, as Father Lehner
is a member of on order and is only su b.
ject to Provincial.
THE CHURCH'S HISTORY.
The history OF St. Joseph's Church is q
peculiar one. 1t was built originally as
German church about fifteen years ago
by the Rev: Father Alphonso.
At that time the sermons were deliv-
cred in the German language, although
the Irish contributed largely to the sup
port of the church. After Father AL
phonso had been there five years, he died
aud was succeeded by Father Francis, au
Italian Father Francis tried to make
the church an Italian church, and pro-
ceedcd to deliver sermons in Italian.
This was objected to by the Irish and
German part of the congregation
Now the church, it seems, will be pre-
sided over by German pastor, and the
Irish and sh-Americans think that
either an Irish or an American should be
appointed.