The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-06-25
ST. AOVSIUS' FESTIVAL.
Garden Party to Be Given
by the West Side Parish
July 4
COMMITTEES In CHARGE
Possibility That a Rectory
May ResultFrom the Fete
--Among the Churches.
COMMITTEES In CHARGE

0CGA ottt ttN III liAio ~ ny Z -
roll. of ST. Patrickss Catholic Church,
the other parishes in the city will also
hold similar festivals. st. Augustus par
ish. that of the west side. and which has
risen SO rapidly in such a short space of
time, will be the next to hold a party.
This event. which is of much Importance
to the young people Of the parish, will
be given on the church property, at Ken
| sington and West Side avenues, on July
4
Father John A Sullivan, who has the
| event in his hand, has selected a number
of committees to help him in the work,
and like last summer many have volun-
teered their services, in order to make
the party a decided success. Last sum
mer 81, 400 was the amount of the receipts,
and those who are working on the COM
mittees hope even to eclipse the success
this year.
As a rule garden parties are very much
alike, having almost the same attractions,
and St. Aloysius' party will be no exeep-
ttion to the rule. There will, of course,
be numerous booths where refreshments
can be had, and booths where many other
| articles will be found on sale. Attractions
without limit are being arranged, and if
the entertainment is not successful it
will not be the fault of those in charge.
Father Sullivan, a week ago said, that if
the garden party terminated successfully,
a rectory adjoining the the new parish
hall would be erected this fall.
There are no definite plans" he said to
a News" reporter, ssas I am not sure
how much of a success the party will be.
Upon the success of the party depends
the rectory. The Bishop has not been
consulted as yet, about the ACCESSIBILITY
of beginning such a building, but I have
no doubt that he will willingly give his
consent. Just what style and how large
the house will be if erected / cannot tell,
but if such a structure is to grace the
parish Of ST Aloysius, it will be built on
Kensington and West Side avenues"
Father Sullivan continuing said, that he
was nNiou for the building of a rectory,
but there was already a heavy-debt on the
church, and this would have to be great
ly reduced before any more expense was
added.
Probably not in this State is there an
other parish which has grown with such
rapidity as that prosperous parish on the
west side. 1t is little more than a year
ago that the offspring of St. Patricks
| Catholic Church became known, and it
has, indeed, proved itself a healthy child.
1t was on April 30. 1897, that the Rev.
Father John A. Sullivan purchased the
property where the new church now
stands. But not until a month later, on
May 80, was the first mass said in the
new field. This was in Donohue's Hall,
on West Side avenue, near Montgomery
street. Notwithstanding the small space
of time, Father Sullivan has accomplish
ed the feat of raising sufficient funds to
build a parochia1 school of imposing di-
mensions and much architectural beauty.
When the new parish was formed
Father Sullivan realized the task he had
before him, and he visited every Catholic
family in the parish, and, succeeded in in
ducing many non-church goers. to once
more attend to their church duties. The
attendance at each mass grew. and IN ar
average SOC souls were present. Now there
are more than twice thai number affili-
ated with the church, and nearly 1000
souls in that parish. A large Sunday
School has also been built up through the
persevering efforts of the pastor, and the
interest of the young people of the parish
has been enlisted in the church work.
Little more can be said OF this flourish
ing parish, except of the house of wor-
ship and the pastor.
The church has been described many
times in THE News" but since then a
few additions have been made. In design
it is pure Romanesaue, and is of pressed
brick with blue stone and granite trim
mings. A niche in the top pediment above
the main entrance contains a statue of
ST. Aloysius, and above that a handsome
arch. The first floor is used as a church,
and a temporary frame extension accom-
modates the affairs and also serves as a
sacristy. a gallery at the east end of
the hall accommodates the choir and or
gan. The corner stone was laid on Sun
day afternoon. October II, of last year,
by the Rev. J. J. O'Connor, of Newark.
Father James Sheehan, late of ST. Pat
riek's. but now of Newark, was the orator
of the day.
The Rev. John A. Sullivan. st. Alloy
sius' rector, was born January II, 1860.
He was baptized, made his first Commun-
ion, and was confirmed in st. Peters
Church, on Barclay street. New York
City. He entered college in 1878. and was
graduated from ST. Francis Xavier's. in
June, 1879. The following September he
was admitted to Seton Hall Seminary,
and after a four years course of theol-
ogy was ordained a priest, on May 10,
1883. He served as assistant in st. Joseph's
and ST. Miehaers, in this city, and in st.
Columbia,s, Newark. and st. Johns, in
Paterson. He was made pastor of the
Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel,
Ridgewood, N. j.. on February 8, 1892.
This last charge lasted a little more than
five years. 1t was on May "a, 1897, that
he received his appointment to the parish
he now occupies, and four days later he
said the first mass. The breath of the
meadows, and the song of the mosquito
reminded him WILDLY, if not too delicately
of the early days of his ministry. and
made him feel at home at once.
The following committees will take
charge Of he garden party
Floor Commitee-Messrs. James Flynn,
Joseph colford, Thomas Kelly, Edward
Jackson George Jackson and Joseph
Ryan.
Programme Committee-Messrs. Ste
pllen Wyse, Phillip Gruhb. Charles J. Dom
onhue, Adam Wirth and William Merrity'
Grounds Committee-Rev. J. A. Sullivan,
Messrs. James Ellington j. Donohue