The Republican journal., 1916-12-21
the Very Rev. Michael G. o'Brien. .

the ldCC tudC lie Illtie DulIuluR ON rim
rose Street was much too small for the
large number of Catholics then in Belfast.
Sufficient funds to justify the undertaking
pie would have been realized had not
come to a close, and exigencies of the
times necesstated his returning to the
subscribers whatever funds that had been
collected for this worthy purpose.
On the erection of the parish at Win
ter port in 1877, and the appointment of
| the present Rector of St. Mary's, Ban
gor, The Rev. Jeremiah Mccarthy, as
the first resident pastor, the mission at
Belfast was transferred from the care of
the parish at Rockland to that of the
new parish at Winterport. Father Nc
Carthy and his successors IN the pasto-
rate at Winterport continued to respond
to the needs of the Belfast Catholics un-
til the erection of separate parish at
Belfast in the spring of 1894. when the
Rev. Maurice O'Brien was appointed first
resident pastor.
Sunday, October Z, 1877, while Father
Mccarthy was in charge of the mission,
the first recorded Confirmation took
place. Under date of Thursday, Oct.
IL, 1877, we read in The Progressive
age: "Bishop Healy, Catholic of Port
land, assisted by Father Murphy of Ban
gor, and Father Mccarthy, administered
the rite of Confirmation of that Church,
at Hayford's Hall, Sunday morning. Be
tween thirty and forty were confirmed
Catholic services had been regularly held
in Johnson's hall on High street since
the temporary chapel on Primrose street
had been closed, but as larger quarters
were deemed necessary for this occasion
when many of the towns people might
wish to attend, the Opera House was
secured, a move which was amply Justl-
fed by the numerous audience. which was
much edited by the eloquent sermon
preached by Bishop Healy, who was then
at his best.
The good body of Catholics then In
Belfast encouraged Father Mccarthy
to take up the matter OF building
church, which as stated above had al
ready been preached while the late Very
Rev. Michael c. O'Brien was in charge
of the little congregation. A year fol-
lowing Bishop Healy's visit, the ques-
ton was taken up with the result that
the site of the present church was pur-
chased by Mr.. Brannagan from Mary A.
Hail, November 22nd, the consideration
five dollars. In The Republican Journal
under date, Thursday, November %,
1878. we read: THE Catholics of this
city, who have become quite a large
body, are making quite strong effort
for building in which to conduct their
worship. and one which bids fair to sue
coed. They last week purchased of Mr..
Joseph F. Hall, lot on Court street. adj
joining that of Thomas Limeburner. The
lot contains one-eighth of an acre and is
we'll adapted for the purpose. The IN
tention is to erect, at a cost of about
$40, 900, building that shall be credit
to the society, and an ornament to the
location. A large sum has already zen
pledged for the purpose, portion by
wealthy Catholics of other places. Tie
land is the donation OF Mr.. w. S. Bran
nagan, for many years prominent Cath
Ole citizen of Belfast. If like liberal
spirit shall be exhibited, the editice may
be completed the coming year - That
these promising plans mlscarried was no
fault of Father Mccarthy, who had given
his best efforts to the great undertaking
of providing a Church edifice for the
good Catholic people Of Belfast. The
opportune moment had not yet arrived,
when their fondest hopes would be real
lied.
In the fall of 1879, Father Mccarthy
was transferred to Gardiner. and the
Rev. John buddy, assistant priest at st.
Johns church, Bangor. was named to
succeed him in the Winterport parish.
Beginning his labors in Belfast on the
third Sunday of October, 1879, Father
buddy continued in the performance of
his parochial duties until his transfer in
November, 1882, to Great Falls, N. H.,
| his successor at Winterport being the
Rev. Richard w. Phelan, who had for
some time been assistant to that we'll
known pioneer priest of the church In
New Hampshire. the Rev. John Melon
aid. Taking up his work in Belfast on
the third Sunday of November, 1882,
Father Phelan Continued to celebrate
mass in Johnson's Hall until July, 1885,
when the place of worship was changed
as we note from The Republican Journal
under date of Thursday, July 16, 1885:
Catholic Church, over High School
building, Church Street supplied by Rev.
Father Phelan, Winterport. Service
the fourth Sunday in every month. "
In the early summer of 1888 Father
Phelsn was appointed to st. Bernard s
parish at Rockland, which had recently
been left vacant by the retirement of a
former Belfast pastor, the Rev. James
Peterson, who borne down by the infrm-
tiles of years and the labors of the MIN
istry returned to Ireland, where he died
a few years later, June II, 1888. The
Rev. Patrick J. Clarity, present pastor
of St. Johns Church, Bangor, was given
charge of the parish at Winterport, to-
gether with it's missions at Frank fort,
Bucksport and Belfast. Father CARR.
TVS unassuming ways, his earnest and
tlreless attentions to the spiritual well
fare Of his people, won their confidence
at the very beginning of his long pastor
ate of twenty years at Wlnterport, thus
enabling him to accomplish great dea
more than their number and means
would justify. Outside routine affairs
of his widely scattered parish, his first
notable work was the erection in 1880 Of
St. Vincent de Paui's church at Bucks
port. Seeing what the small number OF
Catholics in this town were able to &C
compIish when their best energies were
directed to the work, Father Garrlty
turned mis- attention to Belfast, where
the leading Catholic citizen, Mr.. William
S. Brannagan, had never ceased to look
forward TO the day when he might assist
at Divine services in an editice dedicated
to the honor and glory of God. The op
perfume moment had now arrived; the
erection and dedication of the new
| l.. nIl A.,