The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-05


Father Valentine Fielder, born in 1880. was
in August. 1855. His first work was to
appoint a committee of four members of
'the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Vellinger, John
Radel. Joseph Criaui and Herman Plagge
for the purpose of building a new church
as the old one had become too small to
hold the people belonging to the rapidly
growing parish.
In November. 1856, the present new
church was we'll under way, but before
the work was finished Father Fielder was
killed by a horsecar (May Is, 1850, near
Canal street, New York. Father Eber-
hard Gahr, o. S. b, still living, had been
appointed his assistant. The next rector
was the Rev. Rupert ~Seidenbusch, o. S. b.,
a native of Munich, Bavaria, born in 1880,
ordained in 1858. In 1866 he was elected
the first abbot Of st. Johns in Mime
and vicar apostolic OF Northern Minnesota.
He resigned IN 1890. n died In Richmond
Va. June 3. 1895.
This new pastor finished the church and
had It dedicated by Bishop Bayley Decem-
Der 20. 1857. the reason for the present
Jubilee of st. Mary's Church, or properly
speaking, the church of the Immaculate
Ccnception" of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
From September IL, 1858. when Bishop
Bayley decided over to the Benedictines all
the property belonging TO st. Mary's parish
the history of 81. Mary's Church is most
intimately connected with that of the
Benedictine Order in the United States.
Father S~eidenbusch, in 1857. bought the
property in East Orange which Is now
burial ground was in Howard street.
Father Utho Huber. o, s. b., came after
Father Seidenbusch In 1862, and built the
present st. Mary's Parochial School on the
the two upper floors contain the school
rooms. Father Utho died in 1895 at st.
Vineent's. Pa. In November. 1863, Father
Oswald Moosmueller. Q s. B, was ap3;
in his time Brother Cosmos. o., S. B.. OF
st. Vincent's, Pa, built the beautiful high
altar and the two side affairs: The artistic
carving Of the statues aud the csntre-
pieces of the affairs In relief are the work
In October. 1866, Father Oswald was
called to Rome. Father Roman Hell,
o. S. B., became his successor. Both his
died in 1867, P. Casimir Seitz,
July %, and P Isidor Walter. October %.
Owing to sickness Father Roman went
sGSk j. t. i 81 vi"eenf'' in 1871 where he died
The next rector was the ever-jovial and
serene Father Leonard Mayer. o, S. B. He
was in charge OF a parish in Richmond,
and for some months. until he arrived
the South. Father Bernadine Dol
week, Q. $. B.. had charge of the parish;
May is, 1875, Father Leonard died, ana
Father Bernard Manser, o. S. B.. sue.
ceeded him. His health broke down, and
he went to Europe in 1879, after which he
Pa on the evening Of the great iood he
L &As ~ ~ ~ AAA& EA%A1
came to Newark, on his way 10 Europe
He died there, a victim of rheumatism,
April 2, 1899.
ter, o. S. b. He died on June II, 1882,
ather, Gerard Pilz then guided the des-
tinies of ST. Mary's parish. He was born
In 1894 In Bavaria, ordained in 1853, and
died September 20, 1891, in North Carolina.
built the present abbey and had 1t
blessed BY the Rt. Rev. Bishop Wisger
April 16. 1883.
on April "a, 1854. Father Gerard cele-
his silver jubilee, He remained until
The installation of the first abbot, July 22,
1885, when St. Mary's was raised to the
dignity of an abbatial church.
In 1851 services We're held for German
Catholics in the eastern part of the city,
Eberhard Gahr. o. s. B., was the
first pastor. In 1864 this worry was done
by Father Benno Hegele in 1866 by Father
Bernardine Dolweck; then by Father
Lambert Ketther, till 1888; p. Theodosius
Goth, till 1894; p. Leonard Walter. till 1906,
he was succeeded by the present
Father Bernard Gerstl. The orig
nal title Of the church $'Down Neck in
Niagara street. st. Joseph's, was changed
10 st. Renedicts.
ST. Benedicts College dates back 70 1858.
The present building was so4emnly blessed
Bishop Bayley, February &alS72. There
had been a frame house on tn site, occu-
pied by the Sisters Of ST. Eepedict. 10