Fall River diocese. marks its centennial The following are the next in a series of historical sketches of the parishes comprising the Diocese of Fall River, founded in 1904. The series will run in chronological order from oldest to newest parish, according to diocesan archives, concluding in March, 2004, t~e centennial anniversary of the diocese. Please note that AU parish histories will run in the order they were founded路 including parishes that have been suppressed or merged. Histories ofmergedparishes will run according to the time-line.
St. Joseph's Parish, North Dighton NORTH DIGHTON Around 1900, the Mount Hope Finishing Company was established in North Dighton, attracting many workers, including Catholics, to settle in that area. The first Catholics were part of a mission of Sacred Heart Parish, Taunton, but by 1913 their numbers grew to the point that they needed their own parish. A house on Lincoln Avenue,
ever since known as "the Church ebrated on weekdays and holy ther Simon A. O'Rourke, also left house," was used for services un- days in a house on Spring Street, for the same reason, after a couple til 1913. . which was purchased as a rectory. . of months. .' Under the guidance of Father The Odd Fellows Hall at Spring:.:.. The next pastor; Fat;her John Emmanuel Sousa de Mello, who Street路and Warner Boulevard was.' Doyle, served untiU921. FolIowinitially also served the people of used for Sunday Mass. ing -him an'd remaining at St. South Dighton, the "Church In 1915, a new church was Joseph's for!tO years was Father house" was sold and preparations dedicated. Two years later, Father Thomas Trainor. He路laid plans for made for the building of a new John E. de Valles succeeded Fa- a permanent church and directed church. He became the first pas- . ther de Mello as pastor, but left a fund-raising projec( Despite the tor of St. Joseph's. after a few months to serve in the Great Depressiorl, Which began in In the interim, Mass was cel- armed forces. His successor, Fa- 1929, he was successful, and his , successor, Fathei')ohn J. Shea, cpmpleted the building of the new . . church. He left i~ 1949. ST. JOSEPH'S CH,l;JRCH, Because the church was NORTH:DIGHTON " erected in trying tiines, it was Father William Dolan, who was pastor until 1954, who had the church painted for the first time. Tile flooring and new pews were added during the pastorate of Father Thomas F. Walsh, who was replaced by Father Francis A. McCarthy in 1956. Father McCarthy oversaw a 1957 renovation of the old parish hall. . About the same time, the Mount Hope Finishing Company moved away, taking with it many parishioners who followed their jobs to the South. But new parishioners arrived and the parish flourished during its golden anniversary celebrations in 1963, arranged by Father Leo Curry, who arrived a year earlier. Before Father Curry left in 1967,
he had purchased land to be used for a parking lot, guided the painting ofthe interior ofthe church, and added new statuary including a set of Stations of the Cross. Msgr. Bernard Fenton, a much-decorated U.S. Army chaplain, became pastor. He' brought about the changes mandated by Vatican II. The church hall basement was converted into religious education classrooms and in 1971 Sister Judith Costa, SSD, became the fulltilne coordinator. Father William E. O'Connell, the first priest ordained from St. Joseph's, succeeded Father Fenton in 1976. In August, 1981, a fire consumed the 70-year-old parish hall. On Oct. 28, 1984, a new, $683,000 parish center was dedicated. Father Roland Boule arrived in 1982 to replace Father O'Connell. He left in 1989 and was followed as pastor by Fathers Robert C. Donovan, Father John P. Cronin, and Father Richard R. Gendreau. Father James R. McLellan arrived in 1994 and is the current pastor. Sister Judith Costa is the coordinator ofreligious education. The rectory is located at 499 Spring Street, North Dighton, MA 02764-0564. It can be reached by telephone at 508-822-1425; and by FAX at 508-822-3886.
St. George's Parish, Westport WESTPORT - Until 1914 Catholics in the Westport Factory area were tended as a mission parish by priests from Notre Dame and St. Anne's parishes in Fall River. The growing number of Catholics there prompted Bishop Daniel L. Feehan to found St. George's and he named Father Charles Clerk the first pastor. Father Alfred Coulombe became pastor in 1917 and sparked the parish to erect its first church. The ,cornerstone was laid in 1923. But before he could enjoy the church he help build, Father Coulombe was kiiled in an auto accident on Route 6. Although without pews and incomplete, the church held its first Mass - the funeral of Father Coulombe. Father Philias Jalbert succeeded as pastor and saw the completion the church which was dedicated on Sept. 17, 1924. Under his leadership a
rectory was acquired and a parish hall constructed. The next 17 years were a period of cultivating parish life under the direction of the next two pastors, Father Albert Masse and Father Alphonse Gauthier. Father Joseph Bourke arrived in 1949 and after burning the mortgage at a gala parish event at Lincoln Park, collaborated with Mrs. Irene Rodgers to restore the interior of the church. The next pastor was Father Lorenzo Morais. He founded the Women's Guild and the St. Vincent de Paul Society in the parish; and purchased the former Esther Louise Restaurant and renovated it into a convent for the Sisters of the Holy Cross who staffed the school in classrooms in the pari sh hall. In 1961 a new school was built. After a short period with Father Lucien Jusseaume as pastor, Father Rene Levesque be-
came the ninth pastor. He oversaw the second refurbishing of the church. Illness forced his retirement and Father Maurice Jeffrey arrived as pastor in 1982. But within a year he was replaced by Father Clement Dufour. He added on to the school, reduced the parish debt and instituted the summer festival. Father Roger D. Leduc arrived in June, 1988 in time to renew the church and make spiritual renewal in parish life as well, as the parish celebrated its 75 th anniversary in 1989. In June 1996, Father Gerard A. Hebert took over the reins at St. George's and he is the current pastor. Stephen Davis is coordinator of religious education. The rectory is located at 12 Highland Avenue, Westport, MA 02790. It can be reached by telephone at 508636-4965; and by FAX at 508636-4188.
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ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH, WESTPORT