The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-11-14
By JAMES M. MOORE

memorial buildings, public struc- lures and others similar, stand out n the subconscious minds of resi- dents of a community because of particular aspect of their struc- ture or because of the use made of them by these residents. They be- come landmarks of place or distance or convenience and we accept them almost as casually as the street on which we live. The street that is there when we retire at night and is not a source of surprise when we awaken in the morning. It is just there in the right order of things.
 St. Francis Xavier Church, Bald win street, Waterbury, is an edifice which transcends such categories. This is because it is so close to the hearts of the people of Washington Hill and the lower South End dis trict and all those within the area it's domain encompasses. It is not just an edifice landmarking space or distance or just handy in its use. Something close to your heart cannot be so recognized; there is too much there of life and hu- manity and warmth and intimacy.
 Place of Security
 Perhaps that is why the 50th anniversary of St. Francis Xavier parish to be held next Sunday, Nov 18th, will not be just a prosaic oc- cassion to its parishioners to be celebrated with commonplace testi- monials of everyday phrases and customs.
 Instead it will be a day of thanks giving filled with meaning. or the 50 years gone-bye during which time the parish and it's church have served as magnetic source of hope and faith and comfort; and, for the many years to come of a. new world when the pagan fury of atomic power and planetary speeds will. so much, make for the need of such unshatterable symbols of hope and faith and comfort.
 Next Sundays Golden Jubilee ceremony will De a day of rejoicing and of warm remembrances and, too of pride for the many parish toners who have grown-up under the protective security of St. Fran cis Xavier Church and its clergy and have gone into the world as honored men and women serving God and country, or as distinguish cd citizens and stable, substantial family leaders.
 The People of The Parish
 Fifty years is the measure of time: yet fifty years times tens Of thousands of moments within the lives Of these parishioners would be the best way to count-off and mark of the clements of that time so significant to St. Francis Xavier parish and it's affairs. Into the homes Of its parishioners would be the best place to go to sum up the meaning of that time, if we are to think of it in more than just calendar days. The homes with their hopes and despairs, their marriages and births and deaths, their sick nesses and tragedies, their joyful successes and their bad fortunes; all those things which are to be found in most homes and which are sifted and made clearer and are unburdened and given clarity of meaning by the friendly welcome which this church on Baldwin street holds out at all times to the people of those homes.
 Today the Rev. James A. Brod- erick. pastor, serves with deep sense Of responsibility those attri- butes and assets which have marked this parish since it's inception on December 3rd, 1895. Today he serves as fifth in line of a sue cession of pastors since the late Rev. Jeremiah J. Curtin assumed such responsibilities as the first of thess accredited leaders,
 Small Beginning
 It was a cold December day 50 years ago when Father Curtin came to Waterbury to shape the nucleus of a parish which marked the fourth separation, as an indiyidul entity, from the mother parish of the Church of the Immaculate Con- ception. Waterbury was growing and expending with the industrial age and like all good mothers the downtown parish recognized the need for a closer. more convenient center of worship and community life for those parishioners whose homes were a distance away, mark ed by miles in some instances.
 Father Curtin counted his parish oners then and found them to num- Der 565 families totaling about D. 800 persons, No church existed then but the spiritual needs of the parlshoners were immediate. Ar arrangements were made and the filst Mass of the parish was cele- brated December 8tA, 1895 in the old Auditorium on South Main street. On January l2, 1896 socie- ties of the Children of Mary and Holy Name were established. Un- til April of 1896 daily Mass and administration of the Saeraments NNlN NVlSpf aked IT ~ FSSAH Nt N4N original reetory, house still stand ing in use behind Dunphy Drug Go, Sunday services, at that time, continued to be celebrated in the Auditorium,
 The First Church
 Meanwhile construction of a temporary wooden church was un- derWay and on . warm spring day