The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-01-21
ST. ALOYSIUS
RECT0RY
Rev. John A. Sullivan's New
Home to Be Ready for
Occupancy May |.
DESCRIPTION OF THE HOUSE
A New Church the Object of
the Rector's Ambition.
Among the Churches.

1t may be safely said, that in the his
tory of the Catholic Church in this State,
no parish has sprung into prominence in
so short a time as ST. Aloysius, on the
growth, and one can hardly conceive of
west SIDE. Phenomenal has been its
its being but a small branch of st. Pat
rick's parish a little over two years g
1t seems as though that portion of the
city was anything but a prosperous field
for a church, but when the growth Of the
west side is taken into consideration, it is
easily explained how the new parish has
risen SO rapidly.
What pleases the parishioners most is
the fact that q. new rectory is being
erected for the pastor, the Rev. Father
John A. Sullivan, and this too adjoining
the handsome parrish hall on West Side
Avenue. Father Sullivan has long needed
a more suitable home from which to con
duct the affairs of the parish, as the one
now occupied on Gautier avenu is far
too small for a rectory, although the pas
tor has resided there for more than two
years without ever a murmur. He thought
OF building a suitable parish residence
some time ago, but wisely refrained from
loading any more expense upon the par
ish until the financial condition warranted
it, or rather until a large portion of the
cost of the hall had been betrayed. This
has been done, and about three months
ago Father Sullivan acceded to the wishes
of his faithful flock ard gave instructions
to an architect regarding plans for a new
rectory. The plans were submitted and
the result now graces the large plot adj
joining the church.
Nban Eafhar Sullivan cod tho
property on the west side, bounded by
Kensington, Belmont, and West Side
Avenues, he knew tina in time st. Alloy
sius parish would rank among the. most
prosperous, so he bought enough property
for the accommodation of several build
ings. The object he had in view was only
known to the bishop, and not until lately
did his parishioners become acquainted
with his plans. The parish hall, erected
about a year ago, was the first step to-
word building up this parish, anw now the
addition of a rectory fully bears out the
statements made by the pastor some time
ago, to the effect tina tseveral new build
ings would grace the parish sites before
many years had passed, SO rapid is the
growth of that portion of the city. Matters
are shaping themseies precisely as the
pastor anticipated and, although the
west side is sparsely settled now, there
are fifteen hundred souls to be looked
after in st. Aloysius' Parish.
Some day in the near future, a nand-
some church will also grace the site at
Kensington and West Side avenues, and
the present house of worship, known as
the Parish Hall, will be used for school
purposes. The rise of the parish and the
building of the new hall has all been
told in "sThe News" but a description of
the new home of the pastor, it is hoped
will not be out of place here. 1t was
about the first of September when the
matter regarding the building of a new
rectory was finally settled. A garden
party, for the benefit of the project was
held, and a neat sum raised. The
architect, Robert Smith, who drew the
plans for the Parish Hall, also furnished
those for the pastors new house. After
the bids were awarded about the middle
of October, no time was lost in getting
the work under way. Since then the
work has been going along in a smooth
manner, but it is thought that the new
house cannot be completec and ready for
occupancy before the first of May.
1t is situated about fifty feet of north
of the hall and about seventy-fve feet
from Kensington avenue. The building
conforms to the school hall, being of red
pressed brick with granite trimmings. 1t
is of the Romanesque style. The ground
used, is forty-two feet. The structure
faces on West Side avenue and IS three
stories high with a basement, on the
first floor, the following rooms are
situated:-Reception room, office and
library, parlor reception hall, dining
room, kitchen n pantry. On the
second floor there are the pastors room
and chamber, guest room, spare room,
main and pastors halls, bath room, as
sistant pastors room ana chamber. The
staircase leading from the main floor too
the second floor is four feet wide. Thing
is to be used On the second floor
and the plumbing work will be of
heavy nickel. A rear stairway
leads from the kitchen to the at
tic, where there are two rooms for
the servants. There will be a path on the
north side and also in the rear of the
house. A. large path will lead to the rear
porch. Over the entrance a large arch
has been erected. The exact cost of the
building is not known as yet.
The same architect has been instruct
ed by Father Sullivan to draw several
sketches of churches, SO that he can
decide without an ytrouble, in what style
to build a achurch in that parish. The new
church project, Is of course out OIL the
question, just at present, but Father
Sullivan wishes to have a set of plans
ready so that no time will be lost when
he decides to build. The church will
occupy the remaining corner at Kensing-
ton avenue, facing on West Side avenue.
1t will be of the same style as the two
buildings now resting on that plot. When
the church becomes a reality, then a
convent will be erected in the rear, as
there are a hundred feet of property to
be utilized. When all these imposing
structures have been erected, st.
Augustus Parish will hold an enviable
position among the Catholic congrega-
lions of this city. Thus from these plans,
it may be seen that Father Sullivan's
views are excellent and that he is to
be commended for his brilliant work in
that comparatively new field of labor.
This parish, now in such a prosperous
condition, was brought to its present
enviable position, by the indefatigable eff
forts of the pastor, who has been ably
assisted by his devoted congregation.