Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-05
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
Conservation Ceremonies to Be
Begun on Saturday.
bishops Van De vyver. of Richmond, and
Kelley, of Savannah, to 30 Here-The
Church Destroyed in 1868 Rebuilt and
Has a Congregation of 1900 Souls.

l ~ ~N~-"~'
st. Mary's church will be conse-
Grated Sunday. 1t was dedicated in
| 1858, but Catholic church cannot be
consecrated till it shall have been fin
ished and paid for. There must be no
debt on it.
| The growth and history of this
| church are intimately connected with
| the city. They have shared misfor-
tunes and disasters; they are now en-
| joying the influences of the same prog
ress and prosperity The church and
| the city have grown to Importance.
Catholic influence has been strong in
| Norfolk for fifty years or more.
THE OLD CHURCH.
The date and other details of the first
Catholic church established in Norfolk
| are in doubt, but on the grounds occu
| pied by the present editice there stood
| as late as 1850 an old church building
which had been for many years aban-
| doned, the congregation worshpping
| IN church building the walls of which
! are preserved in the Doric structure
In the rear of the present church in
| Holt street, which until it's destruction
| by fire in 1856 was used as a church.
| Since then 1T was for many years used
1
Academy. and since the removal of
that valuable school to it's present
| BUILDING three years ago. has been
| used as a hall for school and church
| fetes.
DEDICATED IN 1858.
The present church ediiice was dedi-
| Gated in 1858. 1t was built under the
supervision and as q result of the la
bors of Rev. Father OEeefe, who sue
1852. Father Mathew O'Keefe was
pastor of the church through the ter
| rible yellow fever Scourge of 1855 re-
naming at his post of duty with a he
| roism that won the hearts of Norfolk
people without reference to denomina-
| tional belief.
DESTROYED BY FIRE.
The destruction of the church by fire
in 1856 was n great misfortune to the
| congregation, but, rallying under
| Father O'Keefe's leadership, with
| splendid determination and self-sacri-
| flee the members of the church aSsum-
ed the task, and the new church build
ing was the result.
The old church was named St Pat
ricks but in 1854 the dogma of the I'm
maculate Conception was promulgated
by the Catholic church. and the new
church was the first OF any prominence.
if not the first. in fact in this coun-
tiS 10 take the name OF st. MaryS OF
the Immaculate Conception.
The walls OF the building alone cost
ing $4,000. and today 1t is valued at
between S125,000 and 100000. 1t is now
free from debt, and may be conse-
Grated.
THE PRESENT PASTOR.
The present pastor. Rev. Father
John j. Doherty. succeeded Rev.
Father O'Keefe in the fall of 1887, over
thirteen years ago, ana under his min
istrations the church has grown in
numbers and influence The present
membership OF st. Marys is about two
thousand souls.
The church is so large that Father
Doherty is assisted by Father Grow,
who has lately come here in place of
Father OTTara, who was sent to Old
Point Comfort
HANDSOME CHURCH.
The present church is one of the
handsomest and most imposing edifices
in the city and was completed at q cost
of $4,000. Since the building of this
church. an elegant pastors residence
adjoining It on the corner OF Chapel
and Virginia streets was erected at n
cost of $4,000. st. Mary's School and
Orphan Asylum, another magnificent
church enterprise. cost $50, 900. The old
church known as St. Patrick's which
stands on Holt street in the rear of St
Mary's and used as n place for the as
semblnS OF various Catholic societies
years ago, and under his ministrations
the total valuation of property is $751;
GOO
IN CARE OF THE CHURCH.
The church has under its care ST.
Marys Male Academy. St. Mary's Fee
male Academy and Orphan Asylum
and st. Vincent de Paul's Hospital.
st. Mary'S Male Academy is under
the direct administration of the Xaver-
ian Brothers 1t is situated in n square
bounded by Holt Reilly. Mariner and
Wake streets, has ample grounds and
now has about 200 names on it's rolls
Another branch of Christian educa-
ton under the charge of st. Mary's
church is the st. Mary's Female Acad-
envy and Orphan Asylum. both under
the care and government of the Sis
ters of Charity. the first of which has
about 200 pupils on its rolls. the latter
caring for some fifty orphans. and to
each giving the loving care and direc-
ton for which the Sisters are noted
THE CONSIDERATION.
Services for the conservation of ST.
Mary's church will begin on Saturday
They will be i'm charge of the bishop of
| this diocese (Richmond), Rev. Father
Van dc Vyver, of Richmond. The
bishop will arrive here later in the
| week. when the program of the cxer-
| ciscs will be published. Now it is
! known that tn services will begin at
| 7:30 o'clock on Saturday morning by
| the class OF children receiving their
| first communion. That will he followed
| by Il feast of the Immaculate Concep-
| ton.
After mass there will he an enroll
| ment of the children in the scepular
| The remainder of the program is not