HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART
FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS
The year 1872 will long be recalled as remarkable in the annals of the City of Fall River as a time of rapid growth. Fifteen new mill corporations were formed, and that eleven mills were erected in that single year; that land values doubled and tripled increasing the tax valuation nine millions of dollars; and that in and about that year, the population increased fifteen thousand, causing to develop those sections of the city, popularly known as Flint Village, Border City, and the Globe.
It was also significant in Church history because it marked the beginning of the Providence diocese, which then comprised Fall River and surrounding areas. Shortly after his installation, Right Reverend Thomas F. Hendrickson, Bishop of Providence, chose as one of his first enactments to divide Fall River’s mother parish, St. Mary’s, which had overgrown during the city's progress: and so in the memorable year of 1872, the Sacred Heart parish was formed. On January 1, 1873, Rev. Francis A. Quinn became its first pastor.
A site was purchased on Linden Street and construction of a church got underway. In the meantime, Masses were celebrated in the Grand Army Highway on Second Street. The cornerstone was laid on August 31, 1873. Pope Pius IX was the Sovereign Pontiff for twenty-six years; Ulysses S. Grant was then President of the United States and William B. Washburne was governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Ten years later the church was dedicated. Rev. Mathias McCabe was then pastor, having been appointed on October 10, 1874. "The church is built of pressed brick with handsome granite trimmings and is 154 feet long and 65 feet wide. The church was blessed at 10:15 and at 10:45 a solemn high Mass was celebrated by Rt. Rev. Michael McCabe, Vicar-General of the providence diocese and brother of the pastor. The sermon was preached by Mgr. Capel, the noted convert to Catholicism.".
Simultaneously with the dedication of the church came the opening of the new parish house. It was a part of the Walter Paine mansion, situated on the site formally occupied by the old B.M.C. Durfee High School. In 1886 the new parish school was dedicated. The Madames of the Union of the Sacred Hearts from Douay, France, were chosen to be teachers. They opened their convent on Prospect Street October 17, 1886, and began their academy the following year. on April 1, 1887, they opened the Sacred Heart School.
Thus was completed the material formation of the Sacred Heart parish, fourteen years after its inception. For the next twenty-five years the attention of the pastor was directed almost exclusively to the spiritual needs of his flock. He had worked well for almost thirty-seven years, and on February 9, 1911, Rev Mathias McCabe formally resigned.
May 27, 1911, Rev. John W. McCarthy, marked a new era in the parish history, he came here from North Attleboro, where he was pastor of the Church of St. Mary. Succeeding as he did a pastor whose advanced age had compelled him to refrain from making the repairs necessitated by time, he found the church sadly in need of improvement and renovation. Thirty years after its dedication, the Sacred heart Church was formally re-dedicated November 16, 1913, by the Right Rev. Daniel F. Feehan, D.D. At the end of the Mass, Bishop Feehan congratulated the pastor, Rev. McCarthy and his people as follows: "I feel that there is joy in your hearts today because you know that here you have come into God's house, here to partake of the sacraments and the wonderful graces of the Lord. It is God's home, and no decoration rich enough can be lavished upon it.
It is not merely the home of an earthly man, an earthly king, it is the home of an immortal, an eternal, a heavenly King. As we believe that our Lord went among the people of Judea, so truly do we Catholics believe in His Divinity and that some day we shall see Him; so truly do we believe that He is ever present in this holy sanctuary. We come to this temple to pray to receive from the hands of our Lord the tokens of his love and affection for us. This is why I rejoice with you today. From this, His home, He sends forth His inspirations. Rejoice then well you may; rejoice from your hearts. So today I consecrate this temple, remember that I do it for the greater glory of God. I rejoice with you, and thank God for you. May this, your gift, be acceptable to Him. May it bring blessings to you and to your children, and may it long stand a monument to the faith and devotion of all people of the Sacred Heart parish." The church was solemnly consecrated nine years later on October 12, 1922
The Church of the Sacred Heart is one of the most beautiful church buildings in the city. The original Romanesque lines of the interior have been retained in their beautiful form, but Byzantine lines have been added to it in the remodeling process, which has given it added beauty of line and color. In the character of the interior both Roman and Byzantine lines of architecture and color ornamentation is shown. The effect of beauty, which is revealed instantaneously upon entrance into this imposing edifice, was secured by the use of rich colors, in most cases gold, especially in the sanctuary. The line of the chancel in marked by a vigorous arch, and within distinction and importance have been given the altar. The lighting of the church, both by stained-glass windows and the artificial lighting, have been considered, and it is not, as in most churches, so uniformly distributed, that there results little of no shadow to destroy the effect of mystery . Fourteen exquisite Scagliola marble columns replaced the original pillars. These columns are green in color and have the force and character of Connemara marble. The columns have been given a sturdy character with capitals varying in design of rich symbolic pattern, closely knit in a Byzantine manner. The ceiling is decorated with stenciling in red and gold, the lines running from left to right, which with the general color scheme of red, gold and old ivory forms a beautiful finish and color. The arches are objects of beauty, and in the panel above each in the church main is a mural angel, bearing the prayer "Ave Maria". From the columns to the side walls of the church the ceiling is vaulted and stenciled in red and gold, while the line of each arch is blended into the sidewall with a corbeil. In the space above the corbeil is an angel's head and shield, one to each corbeil. The stained-glass windows, filled with subjects from the life of Christ, are essentially a work of Christian art, and the richness of coloring, their translucency and the character of the subjects, give them a special charm for the art lover and devotee, alike. They are the product of the Locke Decorative Company of Brooklyn, N.Y., and built especially under the direction of Alexander S. Locke, the well known artist, and are considered the very best specimens of their work.
1927 the Rev. Msgr. Edward J. Carr became pastor. Classes increased in number and in 1932, a new school was erected. From 1938 -1945 the Rev. James R. Burns became pastor. In 1945 the Most Rev. James L. Connolly, the coadjutor Bishop with right to succession became pastor of Sacred Heart, and in 1951 took possession of the Diocese of Fall River.
During the administration of Rev. J. Joseph Sullivan [1951 -1960] a letter was sent to the parishioners seeking help in building a parish convent because St.. Helena’s Convent was not the property of the parish, and was overcrowded. On August 23, 1953, Bishop Connolly blessed the new convent, along with the statue of the Blessed Mother located on the church lawn facing Seabury Street. On May 16, 1960, Monsignor Sullivan died following a long illness. Rev. Felix Childs returned as pastor [1960-1965].
The First Friday Club was welcomed at Sacred Heart as well as the Linden Club which continues to this day,. thanks to the dedication of our devoted Eunice Burke. Following the Second Vatican Council, convened by Pope John XXIII, Rev. Lester L. Hull, who later became a Domestic Prelate with the title of Monsignor, was named pastor [1966-1973].
In January of 1968, the Marian medal was created and bestowed on Daniel F. Murphy and Abel C. Marceline. With the installment of Bishop Daniel Cronin in 1970, plans were begun to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the parish.
In 1973, Monsignor Hull was replaced by Rev. William O’Connell, the 10th pastor, [1973-1976] and following his departure, Rev. John R. Folster returned to Sacred Heart as pastor 1976-1978]. During that time many young families moved to the suburbs and with the dearth of vocations to Religious Life, Sacred Heart School closed and the convent became the rectory. The rectory on Winter Street was sold. Rev. James McCarthy was pastor from 1978 -1979. Rev. Barry Wall was pastor from 1979-1986. During his pastorate, on July 10, 1981, came the joyful news that Father Joseph, Delaney, a native son ,was named Bishop of Fort Worth, Texas.
In October of 1982, the decision to repair the church building was made. Restoration work began on the stained-glass windows. The interior of the church was cleaned and painted and the mural restoration project began. Other decisions were made . The school building was sold to private development for housing.
In 1991, Bishop Cronin was named Archbishop of Hartford and we welcomed Sean Patrick O’Malley O.F.M. as the sixth Bishop of the diocese of Fall River.
With the next transfer of power came a former student, Rev. Edward Byington, [1986-1995] a native son, in time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Holy Union Sisters arrival in the United States . It is said that during Rev. Byington's pastorate an invasion took place; an invasion of termites! Rev. Byington not to be outdone by the critters, took to accumulating monetary pledges, in turn he would be running in the Boston Marathon. He finished the race and the termites found another location.
In January of 1994, the blessing of the new organ took place followed by a concert featuring the Gregorian Chant Choir of Providence, Rhode Island.
Rev. John Ozug [1995-1997] pastorate was marked with the destruction of the original boiler for the church. Undaunted and in spite of lacking funds Rev. Ozug not only replaced the church boiler, he repaired the rain gutters and other repairs to church property. History repeated itself when in September 1995, Sister Eugenia Margaret Ready, a Holy Union Sister, joined as Pastoral Assistant.
In 1997, Bishop Delaney returned to Sacred Heart to celebrate Mass for the 125th anniversary of the parish. Continuing the celebration, the noted Irish entertainer, Hal Roach appeared. By the time of the actual date of the 125th anniversary, there was another change of command with Rev, David A.Costa as the 16th pastor, [1997-2000] and host of the Anniversary Mass and banquet held on October 12, 1997.
With the closing and merger of three parishes in the city, Father Raymond Cambra was assigned to Sacred Heart in the year 2000. “ Father Ray” initiated and completed several projects among which was repairing the electrical wiring in the sanctuary, creating a proper space for the Baptismal Font in the rear center naive, making extensive repairs to the church boiler and plumbing, repairing of the church tower, repainting the vestibule and side stairway, restoring the sacristy, repairing the rectory, and initiating the Parish Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry.
Reverend Raymond Cambra [2000 - ] is the current pastor. Sister Eugenia Margaret, a Holy Union Sister, was the pastoral assistant for many years and retired June 30, 2006. Cynthia Gamache is the Director of Religious Education; Janice Rosa, Financial Administrator, Mortimer Barron, the Director of Music, Jason Fazzina, the Youth Coordinator, Lorraine Fernandes, the Parish Nurse Coordinator; and Barbara Hickey, is the Parish Secretary .
In the words of our third pastor, Rev McCarthy; " May God bless and increase the good work of the Sacred Heart Parish...when parishioner and priests join heart and hand in sentiments of joy, of honest pride and thanksgiving." And as is inscribed in marble; "Be mindful of your pastors, who have spoken to you the Word of God."