Parish collects its past

Since there weren't parish bulletins, the pastor would read Sunday announcements to inform parishioners about upcoming events and activities.

And if you wanted to find out which parishioners were married and which ones were single, the local newspaper published those records.

Into the past

The collection includes numerous documents, photographs, artifacts, paintings and etchings detailing the history of the parish from 1830 to the present (St. Mary/St. Paul's formed when two parishes merged in 1992).

Mrs. Congdon began her work earlier this year at the request of Rev. Barry Lonergan, pastor. The records of both parishes had been in disarray for many years, with items randomly stored in boxes in the basement of the parish center. She sifted through the memorabilia and catalogued items according to the pastorates of the priests responsible for each parish. Although most of the items are now on display in the parish center, the records of Baptisms, marriages and burials are kept handy by the parish staff for quick reference.

Historic churches

Even after St. Paul's Church was destroyed by a fire caused by lightning in 1974, St. Paul's parishioners had their own Masses and religious services at St. Mary's until the two parishes formally merged.

One of the oldest items included in the archives is a letter from 1775 that refers to a relic of St. Paul that the parish reportedly received. The letter, written in Latin, appears to have been received much later, during the pastorate of Rev. C. Henri Tessier in 1952, but the relic itself is missing.

Images through time

A black-and-white photograph of Rev. Eugene Rey, who served as pastor of St. Paul's from 1897 to 1917, hangs on the wall in a frame that Father Lonergan refurbished. On a bookcase underneath the photograph sits a sterling silver Communion kit that Father Rey used when he visited ill parishioners; the kit includes two patens, a candle holder, and a brush and a container for sprinkling holy water.

There's also a portrait of Msgr. Arthur Kiffen, who served as pastor of St. Mary's from 1929 to 1969, along with sacramentals he used in distributing the Holy Eucharist. The manuscript read during the blessing and laying of the cornerstone of the current St. Mary's Church building on June 24, 1934, is part of the archives, as well.

Not everything in the archives is necessarily religious; for example, Rev. James McManus, whose pastorate lasted from 1969 to 1990, was a Civil War buff, and his collection of figurines depicting Union and Confederate soldiers is on display.

Visiting the past

Some of the writings have sexist overtones and discuss how women should dress and conduct themselves; other records simply include collection totals and financial figures.

Mrs. Congdon, who spends about eight hours per week putting the archives in order, finds her work satisfying because it reminds her of how her parents would reminisce about growing up in Ireland and tell stories about their family history. Through her work as parish archivist, she has acquired a great deal of knowledge of her parish family.

"This is very meaningful to me because I feel these people who started this church were so devoted to the Lord," she said.

Eventually, the archives will be available for public viewing, and Mrs. Congdon looks forward to showing parishioners a slice of their history. "This is theirs. All this belongs to them," she said.

(04-23-98) [[In-content Ad]]