History of the Catholic Church in Paterson, N.J.: with an Account of the Celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Establishment of St. John's ChurchShriner, Charles A. (Charles Anthony)
History
History of the Catholic Church in Paterson, N.J.: with an Account of the Celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Establishment of St. John's Church
Shriner, Charles A. (Charles Anthony)
Catholic Church -- New Jersey -- Paterson; Paterson (N.J.) -- Church history; St. John's Church (Paterson, N.J.)
The congregation retained the old church property in Oliver street but a
number of important alterations were made. The building was changed into
a hall for lectures, concerts, entertainments and the like and is known
as St. John's Hall. A portion of the building is used for school
purposes to relieve the parochial school which adjoins it.
CHAPTER VI.
SKETCH OF THE PASTOR OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.--A SILVER JUBILEE.--A
LIFE DEVOTED TO THE SERVICE OF THE ALMIGHTY.--THE CHOIR OF THE
CHURCH.--VARIOUS SOCIETIES OF THE CONGREGATION.
No person in Paterson has done harder and more energetic work in the
cause of Catholicism than the reverend pastor of St. John's
congregation, Father William McNulty. His pluck, untiring zeal, kind
disposition and many other laudable characteristics have endeared him to
all. Never was this more plainly shown than at the celebration of the
twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination. On this occasion, August 6th
and 7th, 1882, the clergy, of whom there were nearly half a hundred
present presented Father McNulty with an address giving a short sketch
of his life and paying him tributes which he had so richly deserved. As
this address faithfully depicts the character of the worthy priest and
tells of some of the many worthy and more prominent actions it is here
reproduced in full:
"We are met here to-day to congratulate you on this auspicious occasion,
the twenty-fifth anniversary of your elevation to the sacred priesthood.
Not to many is it given to see your years in the holy ministry, though
years constitute no merit; but to few indeed is it granted to accomplish
works such as you have achieved, for you are fuller of works than of
days.
"Imbued with the missionary spirit of your countrymen, you early left
your native land, 'the island of Saints and Apostles,' bidding 'adieu to
Ballyshannon and the winding banks of Erne.' Arriving in New York in
1850, you entered the celebrated halls of the Jesuits at Fordham, where
you drank deep of classical and philosophical lore; and graduated with
distinction. Thence you repaired to that illustrious seat of learning,
so justly styled 'the nursery of priests and bishops'--Mt. St. Mary's
College, Emmettsburgh, Md., where for four years, guided by the spirit
of the saintly Dubois, and the indomitable Brute; under the tutorship of
the learned McCaffrey and the gentle Elder 'you were nourished up in the
words of faith and good doctrine.' There, under the peaceful shadow of
'the old mountain,' you were taught the chief characteristics of a true
minister of Christ; who, according to the Apostle, should be 'of
blameless life, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, modest, not
quarrelsome, not greedy of filthy lucre, holding the mysteries of the
faith in a pure conscience, an example of the faithful in word, in
conversation, in charity, in faith.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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