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Summer 1988 New Jersey Catholic Records Newsletter, Vol. 7, No.2 New Jersey Catholic Historical Commission

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Recommended Citation New Jersey Catholic Historical Commission, "New Jersey Catholic Records Newsletter, Vol. 7, No.2" (1988). New Jersey Catholic Historical Commission newsletters. 20. https://scholarship.shu.edu/njchc/20 NEW BSEY fatlu,(icJ(i1/oy;('ol RECORDS COMMISSION

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VOLUME VII NO.2 SUMMER 1988 Paterson celebrates golden jubilee Since December 1987 Catholics of northwestern New-Jersey have celebrated the 15th anniversary of that day in December 1937 when the separated the three counties of Morris, Passaic and Sussex from the diocese of Newark. This separation established a new diocese with its see city at Paterson. At the same time, established the diocese of Camden by separa­ tion of southern counties from the diocese of Trenton, and created the ecclesiastical province of New Jersey with Newark as the metropolitan see. But if the diocese of Paterson is just 50 years old, Catholicism in northwest New Jersey dates back to the 18th century. For 21 years, beginning in 1765, Father Ferdinand Farmer, the Jesuit "apostle of New Jersey" served several groups of Catholics in the area of the later Paterson diocese, mostly around the ironworks of the Ringwood and Mount Hope areas. After the Ameri­ Bishop "1cLaughlin watches the procession for Youth Observance Sunday enter can Revolution, groups of French, St. John s Cathedral in the 1940s. German and Irish Catholics estab- lished themselves in various parts the 125,000 Catholics living there Seminary, was installed as the first of the area which later became the made up only 16 percent of its bishop of Paterson on April 28,1938. Diocese of Paterson. But the princi­ Catholic population. A tall, dignified man of commanding pal growth of New Jersey in the 19th presence, McLaughlin immediately century was urban development, as The- Catholics of the new diocese set to work with his people to organ­ industrialization promoted dense liv­ were served by 91 diocesan and 78 ize the new diocese and extend the ing circumstances and lured immi­ religious priests in 51 parishes and activity of the Church in the area. grants in tens of thousands from all 22 missions. Schools included 31- at During the nine and one-half years the lands of the old world. Despite the elementary level, 10 high schools before his death, 15 of the old mis­ the growth of the cities of Paterson and academies, and the College of sions were raised to status and Passaic, and a few others, ur­ St. Elizabeth at Convent Station. The and 17 new parishes and missions ban development in north Jersey diocese also contained three Catho­ were established. American entry centered in Essex, Hudson and lic hospitals, three orphanages and into World War II postponed the Union counties. By 1937, although several other social service agen­ realization of some of Bishop Morris, Passaic and Sussex counties cies. Bishop Thomas H. McLaughlin, McLaughlin's plans - -such as the comprised 70 percent of the land auxili.ary bishop of Newark and rec­ building of schOOls to serve each area of the Newark diocese, tor ot .nmaculate Conception continued on page 2 Golden jubilee Newark and McNulty to Buffalo­ in an address to the priests of the continued from page 1 guided the Church of Paterson diocese said that the "thinking of the between the end of World War II and Vatican Council should be applied parish - but he did initiate the con­ Vatican Council II. It was a period of at all levels in the diocese, and this cept of regional Catholic high schools apparently immutable stability in will be done gradually, but as soon with the 1939 opening of Pope Pius Church practice, and of unceasing as possible." XII school in Passaic. He also started building to keep up with the burgeon­ In Paterson, as elsewhere, the the St. Peter Claver Institute for relig­ ing population. New parishes were adjustments have not been without ious work among the growing black established, 36 parochial schools, difficulty; some have felt changes population of the diocese. McLaughlin three regional high schools and Don unnecessary, some have thought suffered the first of several heart Bosco Technical High School they came too fast, and some not attacks in ·1941 and never fully re­ opened their doors, and the social fast enough. But liturgical revision has covered his health, but he continued services fabric expanded. But the been implemented, the educational to effectively supervise the diocese diocese looked outward also, and system is adjusting to the changed until his death on March 17, 1947. during McNulty's tenure it hosted the circumstances of religious and lay life, lay missionary movement, A.I.D. and The era after World War II can be and the vigor of its early years is still undertook the support of parishes in called the "years of suburbanization," manifested in the work and thought of Latin America. as rural townships throughout New the Church of Paterson. Jersey saw an upsurge of population In his last year at Paterson, Bishop As the population continues to in­ and older cities suffered a relative McNulty attended the first session of crease, new facilities are built. Modes and then absolute decline. For the Vatican II, but to his successors fell of service change - permanent Diocese of Paterson, explosive the task of implementing in the dio­ deacons, lay ministers, a broader growth was the result and its con­ cese the spirit and the regulations of variety of roles open to religious and comitants challenged the next bishops the Council. Bishops James J. Navagh laity alike - but the task remains the of Paterson, Thomas A. Boland (1963-1965), Lawrence B. Casey same: to bring Christ to the world, and (1947-1952) and James A. McNulty (1965-1977) and Frank J. Rodimer the world to Christ (1953-1963). These two, each of (1977- ) have each approached that whom came from the diocese of task in a somewhat different fashion, Newark and were subsequently but the thrust of each was perhaps transferred elsewhere - Boland to best expressed by Bishop Casey who

Bishop McNulty ordains'new priests at Don Bosco College in Newton, New Jersey Paterson diocesan history published As part of its golden jubilee celebration, the Diocese of Paterson has published Living Stones: A His­ tory of the in the Diocese of Paterson. Father Raymond J. Kupke, a member of the Commis­ sion, takes the story from the 18th century days of isolated Catholics and traveling missionaries like the Jesuits Theodore Schneider and Ferdinand Farmer through 1853 to 1937 when the counties of Morris, Passaic and Sussex formed part of the diocese of Newark, to the rapid development of the Diocese of Paterson over the past 50 years. The profusely illustrated work of 462 pages provides a com­ prehensive story of the life of the Church in northwest New Jersey. Living Stones is available through Communications, Diocese of Pater­ :_- -:j.'. son, P.O. Box 1595, Clifton, NJ 07015. -.":., 1::- This cost is $19.95, plus $3 postage May Crowning at the Cathedral of St. John in the late 1950s. and handling.

Corrigan Journal published To mark the publication of the Journal of Michael Augustine Corri­ gan, Bishop of Newark, 1872-1880, on February 3,1988 the Commis­ sion hosted a press conference and reception in the 's Suite of . About one hundred people gathered to cele­ brate the latest addition to the Com­ mission's publication list. John J. Petillo, chancellor of the University, welcomed the guests to the campus and accepted a copy of the Journal as a token of the Commission's appreciation of the University's support. Dr. Barry Rosen, director of the New Jersey Historical Society, co-publisher of the volume, expressed satisfaction Most Reverend Theodore E. McCarrick, of Newark, and Barry Rosen, at the successful completion of the director of the New Jersey Historical Society, examine a copy of the Journal of project and admiration for the work Michael Augustine Corrigan at the reception announcing its publication. of the Commission. Archbishop Theodore McCarrick and Arch­ accepted a copy of the volume and Michael Augustine Corrigan, Bishop bishop-emeritus , expressed the Committee's satisfac­ of Newark, 1872-1880 may be ob­ who have strongly supported the tion at the successful outcome of the tained from the New Jersey Historical work of the Commission, briefly project Grants from the Committee Society, 230 Broadway, Newark, NJ addressed the group. On behalf of were a principal support of the editorial 07104. The price is $35, plus $1 .50 for the New Jersey Committee for the and publication processes. handling and postage. Humanities, Dr. Ann C. Watts Copies of The Diocesan Journal of 3 Meet the Commission Monsignor Theodore A. Opdenaker, work for his doctorate in clinical psy­ a native of Trenton, New Jersey, chology at Columbia University. A attended parochial grammar and high year later, he obtained the Doctorate schools in the city and then attended in Ministry from Princeton Theological St. Charles College in Catonsville, Seminary. Until his retirement in June . He completed his theology 1988 he served as executive director course at St. Mary's Seminary in of Catholic Charities in Trenton. Baltimore, Maryland and was or­ A licensed marriage counselor and dained for the diocese of Trenton in nursing home administrator, 1943. In that same year he took his Monsignor Opdenaker served as master's degree in theology at St. chairman of the New Jersey State Mary's University in Baltimore. The Advisory Board for Nursing Home following year he completed work for Administrators. And since 1947, he a master's degree in special educa­ has been chairman of the board of tion at Catholic University in the Institute for Management and Washington, D.C. ," Labor Relations at Rutgers University. Monsignor Theodore A. Opdenaker Assigned by his bishop to Catholic The study of American Catholic Charities, the social service agency of history has long been a favorite avo­ the topic in 1976. Recently, he donated the Diocese of Trenton, Monsignor cation of Monsignor Opdenaker. He an extensive collection of materials to Opdenaker then obtained advanced has collected much data for a history the Commission archives. He has degrees in social work ~nd pastoral of Catholicism in the Trenton area been a member of the Commission counseling and in 1974 completed and published a bibliography on since 1976.

Published by the New Jersey Catholic Historical Records Commission, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey 07079-2696. Bernard Bush, Rev. Mark Dobrovolsky, Rev. Msgr. William N. Field, Barbara Geller, Rev. Msgr. Charles J. Giglio, Sr. Mary Ellen Gleason, ~ S.C., Rev. Raymond J. Kupke, Joseph F. Mahoney, Sr. Margherita Marchione, M.P.F., Rev. Msgr. Robert Moneta, Rev. M. Joseph Mokrzycki, Miriam L. Murphy, Rev. Msgr. Theodore A. Opdenaker, Carl E. Prince, George L.A. Reilly, Sr. Thomas Mary Salerno, S.C., Bernhard W. Scholz, Rev. Msgr. Francis R. Seymour, Rev. Edwin V. Sullivan, Newsletter editor: Joseph F. Mahoney

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