Morning journal and courier., 1892-12-12
CHURCH CONsEcRATED.


Ceremonies in Norwalk-l
st. Maryss Church-Bishop McMa-
hon Omciates-Rev. John Russell of |
This City and Many other Roman
Catholic Clersynen Present.
NoRwALK, Dec. list. Mary's Roman
Catholic church, on West avenue, this
city, was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Law
renee Stephen McMahon, bishop of the d.
Geese of Hartford to-day, assisted by dea-
con of conservation, Rev. John Russell of
New Haven; eub,deacon, Rev. Hugh
Treanor of Waterbury; deacon of door and
custodian of the holy oils, Rev. F. NJ. Rig
ney of Cornwall Bridge; cross bearer,
Rev. Frank Murray of Bristol; CROSS
bearer, Rev. Joseph Rigney of Tren-
ton, N. j.; custodians of holy relics,
Rev. J. O. O'Brien of Bridgeport, Rev. J.
J. Curtin of New Milford, Rev. P. F. Nc
Allenney of Meriden and Rev. B. OR.
Sheriden of Middletowp; rector of chant,
Rev. Walter j. Stanley of Hartford;
chanters, Rev. J. J. Quinn of Collinsville,
Rev. Henry T. Walsh of Plainville and
Rev. Charles E McElroy of Birmingham;
master of ceremonies, Rev. T. NJ. O'Brien
of Norwalk and Rev. T. III. Crowley of
Thomaston. The other insignia bearers
were selected from the altar boys.
Promptly at $50 O'Clock this morning
the conservation services commenced and
lasted three hours. No ono was admitted
except the officiating priests. Bishop Nc
Mahon blessed the church, both outside
and in. the procession Of priests passing
around the church several times, and at
the time the main altar was oonsecrated
fh4ra Haf,noitod in ha a1far rfona hi
rectly in front of the tabernacle small sill
yer box containing the relics of two mar
tyrs of past ages, together with a parch-
ment upon which ia the record of conse.
Grafton, signed by the bishop. When this
cavity had been closed Bishop MoMahon
celebrated mass.
At 1880 o'clock the high ponti6cal mass
was celebrated, with RI. Rev. Matthew
Harkins, D D, bishop of the diocese of
Providence. as celebrant; assistant priests,
Very Rev. James Hughes, v. g., L. l..
Rev. Leo da Saracena, o. S. F., of Win
sted, and Rev. J. J. Hamel of Oleon, N.
Y deacon of mass, Rev. M. Tierney of
New Britain; sub deacon, Rev. J. J. Quinn
of Collinsvilie; censor bearer, Rev. Frank
Murray of Bristol; masters of ceremonies,
| Rev. T. NJ O'Brien of Norwalk and Rev.
T. M. Crowley of Thomas;on. Rt. Rev.
| Bishop Mcmahon assisted at the mass
seated on his throne and attended by two
| chaplains. RI Rev, Thomas Beavins, D.
| D., bishop OF the diocese of Springfield, de
livered the sermon.
| The poptifcal vsspers were celebrated al
7 o'clock this evening, with RI Rev Law
renee s. Mcmahon, bishop of the diocese
| Very Rev. LEO de Saracena, O. S. F., OF
Winsted; deacons of honor. Rev. P. NJ
Kennedy of Norwich and J. OR. Sherider
Of Windsor Locks; deacon of vespers
Rev J. G. O'Brien of Bridgeport; sub
deacon, Rev. J. J Curtin of New Milford
census bearer, Rev. Frank Murray of Bris
toll; master of ceremonies, Rsv. T. M
O'Brier Of Norwslk ard Rev. T. NJ. Crow
lev of Thomaston. The sermon was de
livered by that eloquent priest, Rev. Will
lam O'Brien PArdow, S. j., of st. Franci
Was 1.-THE Catholic Church and the Hol,
Scriptures" controversial subject Tw,
thrones, for the use Of Bishop McMahol
and Hark;ns, were erected within thu
sanctuary, Bishop Beavins taking no of
| fetal part in the mass of vespers, dit
not need one. About 100 priests wer
present from this and other states
There are $50 churches in this diocese
and st. Mary's is the seventh to be conse
Grated. The others are: ST. Patrick's. Ne,
Haven; St. PAtrick'a, Hartford; St. Fran
and St. Joseph's cathedral, Hartford. 81
Mary's church is built entirely of stone
and it is probably one of the handsomes
church edifces in the country. Groun
| was broken for it's construction under tn
passionate of Rev. P. A. Smith in February
1857, The corner stone was laid by Bisho
Mcfarland in July of the same year Th
l
in February, 1870, the upper portion wa
} opened for divine service by Vicar Ger
, eral Hugher, who acted in the absenc
of Bishop Mcfarland, who wa
at that time in Rome. In June
1871, the church was formally dedicate'
by Bishop Mcfarland. In 1886, the etee
pie, bell and clock were added; in i88
the great organ was placed in position; AM
in 1912 the three handsome marble al
tars we're erected and the church hand
somely frescoed. The contract price O
bell and clock cost So, 0O0 the organ repre-
sents about $500; the marble affairs COS
$4,000, and the fresooing So, 500. Ne,
heating apparatus has also been put in
thus making the cost Of the church consid
ersbly over 100000. In addition to al
this a handsome parochial school has bee
erected at an expense of about $1S, 900; th
cemetery has been greatly enlarged by pul
chasss of land; land adj sining tn
church has been secured; new paroohia
residence has been erected; and the cor
vent has been remodeled and enlarged
The pastors, since the formation of tn
parish have been: Rev. E. G.. Cooney, 1854
Rev. Hugh J. O'Riley, 1864; Rev. John Null
gan, D. D., 1858; Rev. Peter A. Smith
1862; Rev P. j. O'Dwyer, 1876; Rev. job
Russell, 1878; Rev. William J. Slocun
1888 OF this number three died Will
pastors of the church, Rev. Fathers MI
ligan, Smith and ODwyer. A brother {
| Father Smith, who was here temporarily
also died and is buried in St. Mary's Cen
= terry. Rev. Mr.. Slocum was formerly a
sistsnt at st Patrick's, Nsw Haven, Tt
= Catholic population Of Norwalk Is abot
) 4 OG0, and another church to cost 500, 0(
is soon to be built in the lower end of tt
: town.