The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-22
ST. ALOYSIUS GROWTH
New Parish Building on
West Side Avenue Near
ing Completion.
THE APPROACHING DEDICATION
Sketch or the Pastor, Rev. John
A. Sullivan - Among
the Churches.

~ Z Itluitn dIiQ SCiipQi pdiidiAio "
st. Aloysius' parish. at West Side and
Belmont avenues, is rapidly nearing COM
pletion. 1t will be thrown open for wor-
ship in February, the exact Sunday the
Rev. John sAloysius Sullivan, the pastor,
cannot yet definitely state. Arrange
ments for the dedication are not yet COM
plete, but the event will be one of more
than ordinary interest.
1t is a stately building and is pictur-
esquely located. The design is Roman
esque. 1t is constructed of pressed brick,
blue stone and granite. The front is very
handsomely trimmed with stone, much of
which is carved. A statue of st. Alloy
sius will occupy a niche IN the top pedi-
ment above the main entrance and be-
meath an imposing arch. The doors of the
main entrance, which are elaborate speci-
ments of wood carving, are fianked with
red marble columns. The foundation of
the structure is of rrock-faced granite.
The plasterers have begun their work,
and the interior is beginning now to take
on a finished aspect. The vestibule is fin
ished in quartered oak and has a tile
flooring. Almost the entire first floor will
pO QSNOtCd l CAiQlNi Pdi PoSCo. 49,
porary frame structure accommodates
the affairs and serves as a sacristy. The
choir gallery is at the east end. The
seating accommodation is five hundred.
A five-foot stairway leads to the second
floor, on which is located a hall, forty by
seventy-fve feet. 1t is finished in uar
tered oak and has a stage, which will be
equipped with a complete set of scenery
and all modern stage appliances. All the
roof timbers will be exposed and finished
in an artistic manner. On the same floor
are a lavatory and cloak room accommo-
dations. The building throughout is
heated by hot air.
The building is not only a monument
to the zeal of Father Sullivan, but a
splendid testimonial of the esteem and
love in which he is held by his parish
toner's.
The cornerstone was laid on Sunday
afternoon, October II, of last year, with
imposing ceremonies. On that occasion,
in the presence of five thousand people,
Rev. Father Sheehan, the orator of the
day, in closing his Grafton, said:-"You
will dispense to your homes with hearts
uplifted in gratitude to God. The mother
church on the hill (aIluding to St. Pa
tricks Church. of which ST. A1oysius' is
one of two offshoots) has two children
now, and this one promises to be as
sturdy and vigorous as the one a year
old in Lafayette. Out of every heart in
this parish will be rendered an act of
gratitude toward our Right Reverend
Bishop for his selection of a pastor for
you. In this diocese W. cannot boast of
a more talented, more Jealous and more
efficient pastor than Father Sullivan. You
know him already, and my words find a
responsive echo in the breasts of all of
you. Thank him in the pulpit, thank him
on the altar, thank him in the parish
work, and you will every day more and
more appreciate his sterling worth,
The first mass celebrated in the parish
on May 80 of last year. in West
Side Hail.. Since then the attendance at
mass has increased until three masses are
required. at which an average of 300 wor-
shippers at each mass are accommodated.
Father Sullivan is ~thirty-eight years
old. He entered college in 1873 and grad
uated from st. Francis avier's in June,
1879. and was admitted to Seton Hall Sem
mary the following September. After a
four-year course of theology he was or
dame a priest on May 10, 1888. He served
as assistant in st. Joseph's and st. Mi
ehae1's churches. this city; st. Column
bias Church. Newark. and ST. Johns
Church, Paterson. In February, 1892, he
was made pastor of Our Lady of Mount
Carmel, at Ridgewood, N. j., where he
served five years. He received his APP
pointment to the charge of the st. Alloy
sius parish On May "a of last year.
IN - q.