The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-14
ALL SAINTS CHURCH
First Mass To Be Celebrated
Tomorrow in the New
Lafayette Parish.
REV. b. NJ. MEEHAE IN CHARGE
The Rector an Old Resident Of This
cny-His Active Career
In Elizabeth.

1t was quite some time ago that the idea
of organizing a Catholic church in LAT
ayette originated. The idea was one of
the late Father Hennessy's and is now
being carried out. The Ri. Rev. w. M.
Wigger. Bishop of the Diocese of New
ark, recently issued an order in which
Lafayette was cut of from the parish of
St. Patrick's Church and a separate
parish was formed.
The new parish takes in all Lafayette
and extends north as far as Harmon
street. Lafayette folks will therefore be
spared the fatigue and exertion conse-
quent upon their being compelled to travel
such a distance in order to attend mass.
When the order organizing the new
parish was issued by Father Carroll.
pastor of st. Patrickss Church, he imme-
diately began to look about for a proper
place in which to hold divine services.
The most likely appeared the hall of the
Lafayette Battery, at. No. lag Wilton
street, and this was Immediately engaged.
Father Carroll having secured a temple
set about to make it ready to receive the
Rev. Father Joseph NJ. Meehan. who had
been notified to take hold of the new
parish, as pastor. Father Meehan is most
hopeful of the new parish. Father Meehan
is an old resident of Jersey City, having
been born here in 1860, in what was then
known as st. MichaePs parish, in the
lower section of the city. His parents
were Irish. After a short preparation he
entered the school of the Christian
Brothers on Third street, from which he
graduated with the highest honors In his
class. Leaving the school of the Brothers
he entered the commercial class of st.
Franc xavierss College, New York. He
did not graduate from this institute, but
left to attend the De La Sale Institute.
1t was about this time that Father
Meehan's holy resolve to serve his God
as one of His priests prompted him to
leave the De La Sale Institute and enter
the college of Seton Hall, South Orange.
Here his record Is of the best and he was
noted through his entire course for his
zeal and heartfelt interest in his studies.
On June Is, 1881, he graduated from Seton
Hail. At the time of his graduation
Father Meehan was but twenty-one years
old and the rules of the Catholic Church
are such that forbid ordination to the.
priesthood of candidates under the age of
twenty-five years. Hence a wait of four
years before his ordination awaited him.
At last the day for his ordination ar
rlveu, dHusoa Mafcn 3, 1889, the Rev.
Father Meehan walked from the chapel
CT Seton Hall. His hopes had at last
peen realized, andehe was a regularly or
GAINED priest. His first work was as
port, and he has held that position for
the past eleven years. Father Meehan
was instrumental in procuring for the
parishioners of st. Patrick's the new
church which Is now nearing completion.
and which will, when finished, cost $780,
600. The National Union, a religious So
ciety, in which only young men of Cath
Ole faith are received. selected Father
Meehan as its President, which office he
held for some time.
The first mass viii be- said In the new
church tomorrow morning at $50 o'clock.
There will be high mass at 1890.
n appointment of Father Meehan
was made out on the eve of All Saints,
Day, and in honor of that the new parish
has been named All Saints Parish. The
Inhabitants of Lafayette, whose religion
is Catholic, hail with delight the new
church. There are in all about two thou
sand Catholics in Lafayette, and hereto
fore have been compelled to travel in all
kinds of weather to st. Patrick's Church
to attend mass. The trustees of the new
church have been appointed. They are
Timothy Sullivan and Andrew Sullivan.
The official church body includes the two
trustees, the Chancellor of the Diocese.
the Rev. Thomas Wallace, and Bishop
Wigger.
Father Meehan takes hold of his parish
with all the enthusiasm youth and am
bition can call. and being so earnest in
his endeavors, his superiors nave every
hopei for the result.
Father Meehan has taken up his resi-
dence at No. 1856 Pacific avenue, and this
will be known as the church rectory. He
will be at the new church every Saturday
afternoon and evening to hear the con-
fessions of those desiring to receive Com
munion on Sunday morning.