1844-Present St. Mary's Catholic Church ~ Greeneville
This article is under construction
St. Mary’s
Acknowledgements
“Diverse, historic, spiritual: Norwich centers of worship reflect changing city,” (12/23/2007), by John-Manual Andriote
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “St. Mark’s” in the SEARCH box.
1879-Present: St. Patrick's Catholic Church ~ Norwich
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held on March 17, 1601 in St. Augustine Florida on St. Patrick’s Day. And, 244 years later, on March 17, 1845 Reverend Daniel Kelly of the St. Mary’s Church in Greeeneville planted a cross at site of today’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Twenty-three years later, in 1868, a former Civil War chaplin, Reverend Daniel Mullin arrived in Norwich and followed in Reverend Kelley’s footsteps as the the new leader of St. Mary’s Church. Reverand Mullin was the creative spark that ignited efforts to design and build St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
During the next several years Rev. Mullin purchased tracts of land on Broadway that would later be used as a convent and school.
On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1870, Rev. Mullin and Dr. Patrick Cassidy left the St. Mary’s Church in Greeneville and marched with 1,547 parishioners to consecrate the land for the future Patrick’s Cathedral
*Click on the two small >> arrows at the upper right corner to reveal the complete 75th Anniversary of St. Patrick’s Cathedral pamphlet
On Good Friday April 7, 1871, the ground work on St. Patrick’s Church began. The Irish of Greeneville marched 1,700 strong, to the present site. Horses and carts filled with picks and shovels, arrived with the workers, and from Good Friday morning until Easter Sunday the volunteer army dug the complete foundation by hand.
As it has been said of the place of Father Mullin’s birth, “A land without sorrow is a land without memories.” So too, Saint Partick’s without sorrow would be a church without memories. It was not given to Father Mullin to behold his dream come true. On March 3, 1878 he was called before the Great High Priest Whom he had held before him as model; his life-work, materlally speaking, unfinished. At the time of Father Mullin’s death, the church walls and the roof to the ridgepole had been completed, and this had satisfied Him to Whom he was called to render an account of his stewardship.
Saint Patrick’s Parish was incorported on March 26, 1878 by Reverend Patrick P. Shahan, the pastor of St. Mary’s Church.
July 13, 1878 must have been a memorable day in Norwich, for on that day the cornerstone of Saint Patrick’s was laid. James Murphy of Providence, RI was the architect of this magnificent gothic church. As the construction progressed, it was soon revealed that it was to be no ordinary church. The measurements of the church were 200 feet in length and 100 feet across the transept.
On September 28, 1879, St. Patrick’s Cathedral was officially opened and dedicated. the Most Reverend Lawrence McMahon presided, his first official
act in the Diocese of Hartford. Cardinal Gibbons preached in the morning; Bishop Shanahan of Harrisburg and Father Fitton, the famous missionary, in the
evening.
The “75th Annivesary of St. Patrick’s Cathedral,” booklet presented above, gives a much more detailed history of the cathedral, congregation, and parish.
Acknowledgements
“75 Anniversary ~ St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Norwich 1879-1954”
“St. Patrick’s Cathedral,” 1909, by Porteous & Mithchell Co.
1886-Present St. Joseph's Catholic Church ~ Occum
This article is under construction
St. Joseph’s Catholic parish in Occum was first organized in 1886. Today’s church, located at 11 Baltic Road in Occum, CT.
Acknowledgements
“Diverse, historic, spiritual: Norwich centers of worship reflect changing city,” (12/23/2007), by John-Manual Andriote
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “St. Mark’s” in the SEARCH box.
1900-Present Sacred Heart Catholic Church ~ Taftville
This article is under construction
Sacred Heart
Acknowledgements
“Diverse, historic, spiritual: Norwich centers of worship reflect changing city,” (12/23/2007), by John-Manual Andriote
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “St. Mark’s” in the SEARCH box.