St. Mary Church (Bridgeport, Connecticut)
| St. Mary Church | |
|---|---|
| Location |
25 Sherman Street Bridgeport, Connecticut |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Antinozzi Associates |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Bridgeport |
| Province | Hartford |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) | Most Rev. William E. Lori |
St. Mary Parish is a Roman Catholic church in Bridgeport, Connecticut, part of the Diocese of Bridgeport.
History
Before April 1857 the East of Bridgeport Catholics were attended by the priests of St. James Church, first parish in the city and predecessor of St. Augustine’s. St. James was located at Washington Avenue and Arch Street and had been dedicated July 24, 1843 – 13 years after a missionary priest had first celebrated Mass in Bridgeport and several months before the Diocese of Hartford was created. At this time St. James had parish boundary lines including an area greater than today's Diocese of Bridgeport.
Rev. Thomas J. Synott, third priest to serve St. James and second pastor, soon found the church was too small to accommodate the growing number of parishioners and the east of the Pequonnock River was too remote from the church and in 1854 decides to build the first St. Mary Church on Crescent and Church Streets where St. Cyril’s now stands. It was a white wooden frame church. Their first parishioners were from Ireland.
In April 1857 St. Mary receives official status of parish and is assigned its first pastor, Rev. Peter A. Smith, who builds a rectory and serves the community for five years. St. Mary thus became—a priest-historian said in later years—“the eldest daughter of St. Augustine and the first granddaughter of St. James.” The next eleven years the young parish was under the direction of Revs. Francis J. Lenihan (1862), Richard O’Gorman, Thomas Drea (1867).
In 1869 the first church of Bridgeport, St. James, (established in 1842, one year before the establishment of the Dioceses of Hartford) is replaced with San Augustine Church. On July 6, 1873, Rev. John F. Rogers takes Rev. Drea place as pastor for the next 29 years. During his tenure as spiritual director, the parish grew into one of the most important parishes of the Hartford Diocese. In June 1874 Rev. Rogers noticing that the small church sandwich in the triangle between the railroad tracks and the former Father Panik Village, begins to build the red brick, Romanesque-style church, which for many years was one of the ecclesiastical showpieces of New England. On May 16, 1875, the first cornerstone is placed and on October 14, 1877, Bishop Thomas Galberry, 4th Bishop of the Dioceses of Hartford, dedicates the new St. Mary.
After the construction of the church Rev. Rogers converts the old little white wooden frame church into a St. Mary Private School with more than 200 children at a cost of $3 per month. It was the first catholic school in the city and served as a model for future catholic schools. Rev. Rogers brings the first order of nuns “Sisters of Mercy” to teach and they stayed until the last days of our school existence.
The cost of the construction was approximately $100,000 and attracted wide attention with its beauty. There were a lot of writings over the beautiful St. Mary Church and its redbricks and 187 feet peak that soar into the air was for more than 50 years a beacon of Bridgeport. But, Rev. Rogers was not finished, in 1881 he built the rectory next to the church, before the end of the century he renovated the interior of the church and purchases land for the building of a school and convent.
Rev. Rogers, not in good health, turn over the projects to his administrator. In 1901 the cornerstone for the school, opposite the church, was laid. In the same year Rev. Rogers’ health worsened and he died in May 1902. Rev. William H. Lynch, as administrator, completed the school and convent and later opens a new church, St. Charles, and becomes its first pastor. In the early 1900s immigrants from Italy start coming in and the church became primarily an Italian parish.
Rev. John F. Murphy, who was Rev. Rogers’s associate, returns as pastor in November 1902, and in April 19, 1917, Rev. Matthew J. Traynor is appointed pastor. These two pastors brought to completion the work of building up a fully equipped parish plant. Once everything was completed they dedicated their time to the spiritual and educational life of the parish.
Another priest that arrived at St. Mary on September 18, 1924, was Rev. M. Ernest Wilson who founded the Holy Name teams of Basketball and Baseball, which flourished until WW II. He was also well known for his involvement in the community and is remembered for being a pioneer, along with Waltersville School principal, for the early dismissal of catholic students to attend religious classes. In the early 20s Rev. Traynor had renewed the interior of the church and in October 1927, Rev. Wilson and his assistants started plans for the Golden Jubilee of the parish. In the eve of the celebration, the church caught fire and destroyed everything. In rebuilding the church, Rev. Wilson introduced many changes, fireproof features were installed and the sanctuary enlarged. The magnificent spire was a casualty of the fire, but altars of choice Italian marble replaced the wooden altar of the old burned church. It was re-dedicated on June 24, 1928 by the Bishops John J. Nilan and Maurice McAuliff, 7th and 8th bishops of Hartford. During the depression, Rev. Wilson provided food and shelter for many families, many times providing from his personal means. The next pastor, Rev. Paul F. Keating, was to serve St. Mary during the Depression years 1930 34. He was succeeded by the Rev. Leo M. Finn who, shortly after arriving was to become Monsignor and capelin of the Knights of Columbus.
In June 1939, one of the city’s best-loved priests, then serving in Long Hill, was to become the 11th pastor of St. Mary. Rev. James H. Killian who died unexpectedly after two years on a trip to Florida in February 1941. Rev. Michael J. Kearney came to St. Mary on March 28, 1941, as pastor and in his 13 years finishes the renovations and plans that Rev. Killian started and with his ability is able to balance the records and safe enough money to later celebrate the Centennial. At this time a new flock of immigrants from Puerto Rico came to the city looking for jobs and start to assist the church of their beloved Mother, St. Mary.
1953 The Diocese of Bridgeport is established and the Most Reverend Monsignor Lawrence Shehan from Baltimore is named Bishop.
Rev. Richard F. Dunn is assigned on May 20, 1954, as successor of Rev. Killian who starts to make plans for the renovation but in October is transferred to Fairfield.
With Rev. Dunn assignment to Fairfield, Rev. Bartholomew J. O’Shea brings the plan to fruition and added further innovation as well. The marvelous stained glass windows of rare beauty add their rich tints to the wholly renovated interior. An artistic and novel system of lighting sheds a genuine splendor upon the unadorned finish of the walls and pillars. Rev. Bartholomew J. O’Shea was born in the parish, received the sacraments of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist there and four decades later returned as the spiritual shepherd of St. Mary.
In 1956 Bishop Shehan assigns Revs. Francis Campagnone and Victor Torres Frías to start a Hispanic Apostolate in the Diocese.
In celebration of the 100th Anniversary (1957) as part of one of the events highlights ordinations take place at St. Mary and among them are the Rev. Victor Torres-Friás, the first Hispanic priest in the Diocese and one of the first pioneers in the Hispanic Apostolate and Rev. Holbrook who would later be assigned to the Parish.
In 1973 Rev. Torres- Friás is named secretary to Cardinal Aponte of Puerto Rico and Rev. J. Peter Cullen assumes the position of pastor.
Due to economic reasons and after realizing the most of the students in the schools were non-catholic, in March 1973-74 the Diocese comes to a conclusion that it is best consolidate the schools of St. Mary, St. Cyril and Blessed Sacrament. After evaluation of the three buildings it is decided that Blessed Sacrament School building is in the best conditions and needs less renovation. St. Cyril drops out and does not join St. Mary and Blessed Sacrament. The student cost at the time was approximately $100.
In October 1975 news reach our ears that our beloved, Spanish priest, Rev. Torres- Friás is honor with the Prelate Papal title of Monsignor. Everyone in community is please that Rev. Torres is honor with this title since he was a strong figure in the Spanish community.
In June 1977 the Rev. Mr. Frank Wissel is assigned to St. Mary to work as a deacon and in September 10, 1977, is ordain priest.
The Diocese realizing that the burden of Catholic Schools on parishes that are straggling, decides in September 1977 to take over the schools of Blessed Sacrament and St. Cyril and combines them together with tuition of approximately $175 per student. Another change (November 19, 1997) was having the choice to receive communion by mouth or hand.
Rev. Cullen after discussing with the Parish Council came to the conclusion June 1975 that the Church has to be closed during the day because of security. During this year Rev. Holbrook is assigned to the parish as Rev. Cullen assistant. Over the years the church roof is deteriorating and contracts are signed to have the roof of the church redone and the financial stability of the parish is not in good shape. In order to pay off the debts in 1979 the school building is sold to the city of Bridgeport for $155,970.12 and before the end of the year Rev. J. Peter Cullen accepts the appointment to St. Peter Church in Bridgeport. Before the end of this century, the Church is primary totally Hispanic with most of the parishioners coming from Puerto Rico.
On Sunday, January 6, 1980, Rev. Matthew Bernelli is installed as pastor of St. Mary. Rev. Bernelli fluent in Spanish is a native of Mondavi, Cuneo, Italy. He was ordained in Rome in 1964. He has spent nine years working in Guatemala, Panama, El Salvador and Mexico before coming to the United States. A Somascan Priest he is accepted into the Diocese on June 5, 1974 and incardinated into Diocese, therefore relieving him of his Somacan duties on August 31, 1979. Before arriving at St. Mary he was assistant pastor at St. Raphael in Bridgeport, St. Joseph in South Norwalk and St. Ambrose in Bridgeport. He arrives at a church at a time with its economic and financial problems. One of the biggest problems he faced was the church’s deterioration due to lack of maintenance over the years. After evaluation and consultation with the Parish Council it is less costly to build a new Church instead of renovating. Plans are put into action.
So that services will not be interrupted, the Parish Hall is converted to a temporary Church and Masses are started on November 16, 1980 while plans are made to tear down the old church and carry out the plans for a new church. The old rectory, which is large, in need of repairs and new heating system, is decided that it too must be rebuilt. In February 1981 Rev. Bernelli and his associate, Rev. Francis Torras move in to their new residence, 25 Sherman St.
In April 1981 the first procession as the Stations of the Cross are done thru the street of the city of Bridgeport with parishioners dressed in customs portraying the Roman soldiers and Jesus carrying the cross, which is still done today. In March 28, 1982 Bishop Walter Curtis gives permission for the demolition of the old brick church and gives as a stipulation for building the new church to have half the cost of building in cash before permission is granted to build. Rev. Bernelli takes on the responsibility of preserving the stone of the church to later build the surrounding wall around the church. He and other parishioners carefully take down the beautiful stained glass windows to be placed in the new church. Every detail of the demolish and construction is closely supervised by the Rev. Bernelli and whatever cannot be used in the new church he is sure to sell at a good price. Nothing of value goes unprotected nor is it taken by the demolish contractors.
In August 1982 Rev. Francis Torras who has been in the parish long before Rev. Bernelli arrived retires and returns to his Jesuit Community. In the same year (8/27/1982) we are assigned a resident priest, Rev. James Breen who stays with us till July 15, 1983. Also during this year the Spanish Apostolate celebrates its 25 Anniversary.
In order to raise funds for the construction Rev. Bernelli and his new Building Committee (established in December 1982) has many ideas and various festivals, dances, concerts, and raffles are implemented. In 1984 he gets permission from the Norwalk Oyster Festival committee to join then and we are approved to sell Zeppoles at their fair (9/7-9/1984) at which we participated for five years. It is important to note that for a number of years the parishioners of St. Mary work in nine consecutive festivals during the summer.
1984 was a very busy year, in March Rev. Bernelli 20th Anniversary of Priesthood was celebrated, in May the corner lot Sherman and Pembroke is re-purchase and paved for parking and festivals, in August he travels to Italy to learn more about the arts of mosaic, marble and painting which will be use in our church in order to keep cost down.
The Rev. Paul F. Merry is appointed associate on April 26, 1985.
August 1987 installation of risen Christ mosaic
May 1988 artists from Italy paint the interior of the church
Our Diocese in a bittersweet year says goodbye to the retired Bishop Curtis and welcomes the newly appointed (12/8/1988) Bishop Edward Egan who presently is the Cardinal of New York.
June 17, 1989, Rev. Merry is appointed pastor of Blessed Sacrament in Bridgeport and a newly ordained Colombian priest, Rev. J. Bruce Lincon, is appoint (6/23/1989) associate of St. Mary and stays with us till March 9, 1990. A Missionary Colombian priest, Rev. Rodrigo Velazquez who stays with us still April 27, 1991, replaces him.
On June 7, 1991, Rev. Joseph "Skip" Karcsinski joined the parish. Fr. Skip immediately becomes active in the parish especially with the youth. A hard workingman as Fr. Bernelli they both work hard side-by-side for the good of the parish.
Besides raising money the spirits of our parishioners were also lifted and St. Mary becomes a sample of unity throughout the diocese. The pastor sot out ways to enhanced our parish and came upon the Stewardship Program. Sonia Rodriguez, secretary since June 16, 1980, becomes involve in the Stewardship Program and together with Rev. Bernelli attend workshops on how to implement it the parish. Throughout the years various parishioners accompany them to the different workshops and a better understanding of Stewardship is evolved in the parish.
Construction of the New St. Mary Church is completed and dedication is held on July 17, 1988. Rev. Bernelli has been on top of every detail. Making sure it keeps some of its previous generation cultures the windows and other memorial pieces from the church were clean and placed in the new church. Contractors from Italy are brought over to do the Carrera marble and Venetian mosaic. Being that our parish consists of mainly Latin America parishioners, it was decided that the facade of the church would represent Latin America by portraying the patron saint of Latin America, Our Lady of Guadalupe. To the left of our lady, the birth of our baby Jesus is displayed representing one of two major events in Latin American culture, Three Kings Day. On the right, represents the second event, Good Friday, the crucifixion of our Lord. When you walk in you are welcome with open arms by our Risen Lord a reminder that He still lives.
This modern church dates from 1982 and was designed by Antinozzi Associates of Stamford, CT. The exterior of the church is decorated with mosaics that reflect the Spanish culture and tradition of the parishioners.
References
External links
Coordinates: 41°10′52.22″N 73°10′41.88″W / 41.1811722°N 73.1783000°W