The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-11-23

PROSPEROUS PARISH
St. Johns Soon to Dedicate
Its Handsome New
Church.
H CHURCH NEWS
Rev. Father sheehy Succeeds
Father Mclaughlin, of
st. Lucy's.

w / SltOnl II 1OOtAty L~S N-
church made more progress than on the
Hill. particularly in the parish known
as ST. Joseph's and St. Johns. When
Father venuta organized the parish of
St. JosepE's n had as his only church
structure a small wooden building on
Summit avenue, the future seemed any
thing but bright. To the right and
left were a few small buildings while
il front lay thai dreary stretch of
meadow land that has to this day re-
sisted the march of progress. But in time
the population of hat section increased,
and Father Venuta secured a plot of
ground at Baldwin and Payoria avenues,
where. a brick church was erected. In
a few years the brick church was
found too small to accommodate the
parishioners, who had nearly double in
numbers. n the present fine stone
edifice was erected.
ST. JOHNS CREATED
In 1854 the parish had grown remark
ably strong. and Bishop Wigger decided
to divide it. After due deliberation he
mapped out the parish which is now
known as st. Johns. To find a priest
who. like Father Venuta, could build
a thriving parrish in a sparsely populated
section was no easy matter. The Bisnop
finally decided pom Rev. Father Ter
Woert. This was an excellent cholce'
as subsequent events have proven.
When Father Ter Woert first surveyed
the section from which he was to carve
out a s-elf-supporting parish, the pros
pect was anything but encouraging. one
morning in November, 1884, he assembled
with a few of the faithful in a room OF
the old St James Hotel in Marion and
--.1 - G-1k AE41r Sn tho noriSh nf Sr
Johns. 1t was a small beginning, but
Father Ter Woert was not discouraged.
He realized that a suitable ediice would
have to be provided and a few days later
the parishioners were surprised when it
was announced tbs plot of ground at
Van Wrinkle street and Nelson avenue
(now the Boulevard) had been purchased
and that on Christmas morning Mass
would be said in st. Johns Church. This
much accomplished Father Ter Woert
set to work to provide a parochial school
fer the children of the parish. In an
nouncing that he had contracted for the
erection of a school Father Ter Woert
said:-"The future pillars of the church
are the children, n 1 do not propose to
allow them to grow up in ignorance OF
their duties to the church and State.
The school cost $4,000. and is one of
the finest structures of the kind in the
State.
RESULT OF THE MISSIONS.
In the meantime missions had been
given and retreats followed the missions,
with the result that many of the way
ward Catholics who thought St.Joseph's
''too far away came Jack into the
fold. To provide accommodations for
the missionaries was a matter that
Father Ter Woert found impossible ow-
dng to his limited quarters. The mis-
sionaries after their hard days work,
lasting very often until neal midnight.
were compelled to journey to New York,
returning again the next morning. This
opened Father Ter woert's eyes to the
need of a suitable rectory where visit
ing clergymen could remain over might,
and in due time work on the present
commodious rectory was begun. Father
Ter Woert. not knowing what the next
ings might be. negotiated for the pur-
chase of more property, and succeeded
Huron avenue. ST. Paurs avenue and
the Boulevard, with the exception of
Paul's avenue and the Boulevard. For
certain reasons Father Ter Woert de-
cided not to purchase that corner a the
property was. put up at auction he
bought 1t in for 5000.
The rectory was barely completed
when the parishioners were again fur
nished with an agreeable surprise in the
announcement that a new church would
ter the announcement was n1ad The
foundations were soon laid. the only
drawback to the work being the blasting
necessary to insure a solid foundation.
mcoRNER STONE LAID;
49, On t bea Risst Rey. pas Bishop m0y WIgssr la ID
sllio' eo Vicar asasrs 49, ). Z Z o SEE q
c~lergymen. It was on this occasion that
Rev. Father Tighe. then of Boonton, but
new OF G%rsenyfls, made the memorable
things:-"The church has been perse-
cuted. but all in vain, for the works Of
Will viii remain when State and government
are no more. Christianity has not fall
len. The thunder of opposition may
and reproach may rail and rage against
it, but the.. church will never fell. that
hsaven-built ~ek-kound hell-defying
The work on the new church was de-
layed considerably. by the .embsrrass-
is now almost completed. The original
~fstfrrated cost of the edifice was $780,
600. but this amount will not pay for
church is Of the R~omanesque order. The
walls and tower are of granite. The
building covers "a piOI b3 IeeL Woe ana
running from the building line on the
The pillars which support the main
roof are of polished Aberdeen granite.
There will be three affairs. two of which
have already been donated. The. third
will be built by popular subscription.
The affairs will be works of art and
among the finest in the State. The
Sanctuary will be marble tiled and the
The small chapel which is located to
the right of the main altar, will be used
for the minor services. There is g double
entrance. connecting the church and
chapel with the Fectorv.
BEAUTIFUL WINDOWS.
overdue. are being made in Munich, Ger
many. They will be handsome speoi-
mems of the art of the famous glass
makers of Munich. When they are in
position st. John' will be the only
church in the State which can boast of
an entire set of Munich windows. The
work on the interior has been suspended
pendine the arrival OF the windows.
When they are in position the decorators
work. and it is expected that the edifice
will be completed IN time for the Eas-
ter services.
The church win be lighted by both gas
ard electricity.
Standing on one of the highest points
in The city. the church commands an
exces:ent view of thesurrounding country.
When Monsignor Satolli made his first
visit to tbis city he secured a fine view
of the structure from the window of
the Pennsylvania Railroad train as it.
crossed tile meadows. and he resolved
10 pay 1t a visit. Unexpectedly. be called
anon Father Ter Woert and heartily
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