Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-09

residence, and fused the scattered ele-
| ments into united and revercnt con-
| grcgation. Before proceeding to erect
a worthy church edif1ce he returned
to Europe and gathered aid from many
friends, and then entered upon his
great work with redoubled energy and
enthusiasm. The wooden structure
was soon replaced by a substantial
brick structure with trimmings of light
gray granite.
| The interior was very fine, fitted up
| WIKI much care and taste. The altar
| was a gem of art, adorred with angels
wrought in Munich, of the highest or
der of art, Ideally and beauty. Above
| and back of the altar were three
stained glass windows. The semi
dome cverarchlng the altar was di-
| yided into five panels, colored in deep
| blue and studded with gold stars; in
| each was the representation o1 an
adoling angel, each carrying an en-
! blein of che passion Of our Lord The
| first carried the crown of thorns; the
secund the cross; the third the palm
| of victory the fourth the chalice: the
fifth carrying wheat significant Of the
| Eucharist. Pulpit and organ were in
| keeping.
Church consecrated.
| This beautiful structure. capable of
seating fifteen hundred people, was
| formally consecratcd as St Mary's
| church by Right Rev. Bishop McFar-
| land Nov. 24tk. 1879, and for nearly
| five years had served the purpose of
| its construction, receiving thousands
| of joyful worshippers. when, almost in
a moment, it was reduced to ashes. So
\ rapid was the fire that not one of its
! valued treasures was rescued-l;brary,
altar, organ, chaiice were all con-
| sumed. The building with it's con-
| tents was valued at $S5, 900. With his
! accustomed energy and his unda,rnted
| spirit in the face Of cbsta cIes, Father
! Vygen at once commenced the erection
| of Il chapel, celebrating mass mean
while in Quinebaug hall Nov list.
| 1876. st. Jeseph's hall was dedicated
| by Right Rev. Bishop Ga1berry-a neat
and tasteful building in the rear of
, the blackened ruins. furnishing eeats
| for eight hundred people. The erec-
| ton of Catholic church edifces in
| nearby town.; somewhat diminished the
| number Of the congregation at Put
| nam so TINT this hah continued to
| accommodate the attendants.
Assistant Appointed.
! In 1873 Rev H. Martial. afterward
the much beloved and respected pas
| tor of the Grcsvenordale parish. vas
| appointed assistant TO Father Eygen
| Revs, Thomas P. Iny'1t, Alphnnse: Van
| Open and Edward .ithardelafner also
! ser%ed as curates. Father Y! ger Nses
much beloved by his parishioners and
| was respected and admired by all citi-
! zens for mis- consistent Christian char
| Rcter and faithful lahors IN behalf of
! temperance, morality and all salutary
| enterprises. Father Vygen died in
| October, 1889.
Mourned by Many.
The funeral of the beloved priest was
| one of the largest ever held in the
city. Rich ard poor, Catholic and
| Protestant alike attended to show
| their respect and esteem for the man
| and the priest. The services were
most impressive as the body was laid
| to rest. in st. Mary's cemetery Mills
and all places of business in Putnam
the day.
Father Van den Mort Appointed.
| Following Father Vygen in 1889.
came Rev. John Van den MORT. He
took up the work where Father Vygen
left off and directed his energies to the
| building of Il new church.
| Father Van den MORT was born in
| Holland in 1912. He studied in the
| diocese Of Breda. where he was or
dalned in 1857 at the age of Is. After
serving in that diocese for five wears
| an appeal was received from Bishon
| Mcfarland of the Hartford diocese for
priests who could speak different Ian
guageS to work among the mixed con-
gregations in the Hartford diocese
| to respond and arrived in 1872 and was
| appointed curate in Danielson After
four years in DanieiSon he was ap-
poi-lted pastor in Baltic. When Father
Vygen died Father Van den MORT was
appointed to fill the vacancy in Put
nam
Memorial to Founder.
The new church remains n monu-
i mept to Father Van den Mort He
took up the work of building as soon
as he arrived. He travelled in Europe
examining some Of the noted Catholic
churches. that he might have a build
ing against which no architect should
find occasion to criticize. Nov. both
1902, the cornerstone of the new
church was laid by Right Rev. Mi
chael Tierney of Hartford with all OF
the pomp and elaborate ceremony OF
the Roman Catholic ritual. 1t was a
big event for the Catholics of Putnam
and an epoch making Cay in the an
nal, Of st. Mary's parish All OF the
Cateesfc societies in the town partici-
pated and vast concoufse of people
Catholic and aon-Catholic, were pres
cnt from this and the surroundine
towns to witness the impressive cere-
mony.
Procession and Ceremonial
Shortly before two o'clock the pro.
cession formed headed by the City
band. From the convent yard it NOV.
ed to the front of the church. pre-.
coded by Bishop Tierney, in full epis.
copal robes. From two pillars in from
of the building hung an American flag
fifteen feet long. On the left a plat.
form was erected around the corner
stone and seats were provided on the
floor of the ediffce for the band and
guests. The societies massed them
selves in the street below while the
bishop and clergy proceeded to 8
spot. marked by a large cross. WHERE
the altar was TO be erected. After
a preliminary service here the party
| returned to the platform where the
stone was blessed and set in place
The procession moved about the out.
! side of the church. the bishop blessins
the ground work on all its four sides.
4 Contents Of Corner Stone.
Within the cornerstone was placed
a small copper box. containing thu
, document, local papers and various
coins. This document written il
Latin, was read in French and Eng
lish to the congregation.