New Chapter in Diocesan: History

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COAT OF ARMS COAT OF ARMS Bishop Sheen stands with bis newly-named auxiliary bishops, Bishop McCafferty (left) and Bishop Hickey, on the day their OF _ - - OF appointments were announced (fan. 10). HIS EXCELLENCY HIS EXCELLENCY The Most Reverend Dennis Walter Hickey, D.D. The Most Reverend John Edgar-McCafferty, D.D. TITULAR BISHOP OF RUSUCCURU TITULAR BISHOP OF TANUDAIA Development of the Catholic faith governed by church authorities in New die Rev. Patrick^JMcCprmick^ adminis­ tor Gejieral-of-the-Gongregation of Mis­ AUXILIARY TO THE BISHOP OF ROCHESTER AUXILIARY TO THE^BISHOPtJF ROCHESTER in WesterS New Yorlr — of which York City — placecT diere by~theMost tering to die Catholics of Rochester. sions, was consecrated as die first Bish­ founding the Diocese of Rochester was Rev. John Carroll, first Bishop of Bal­ op of Buffalo. I a monumental incident was one of the timore, which was die Mother See of St. Patrick's Church great events in the making of America. the entire United States. During his pastorate in Rochester, It is a noteworthy fact diat he pon­ The motto, "Robur Meum Dominus" (God is my The motto, "Sub Tutela Matris Ecclesiae" (Under die first — St. Pat­ tificated at his first Mass at St. Patrick's Priests who came to — strength), reflects the principal charge on the arms of the the protection of the Mother of the Church), is derived Looking through the shadows of the rick's — was built in diis city. Church in Rochester on Oct 22, 1847. Hickey family of , since.the lion is the symbol of from the title, "Mother of the Church," given to the past out of which this diocese emerged, most of them from foreign countries — strength. The motto is taken from Exodus, the second Blessed Virgin by His Holiness Pope Paul VI in his we see Most Rev. Bernard J. McQuaid, were sent throughout die state, to cele­ Ahhough mere were only fifteen Not only did Bishop Timon perform Book of JVIoses: "The Lord is my strength and my praise, speech delivered at the closing of the third session of first Bishop and architect of the diocese brate Mass in isolated communities, to Catholics in Rochester in 1808, die valiant service in development of uie and he is become salvation to me: fie is my God and I will Vatican Council II. A motto briefly expresses an ideal, a — builder of churches, colleges, semi­ provide for die spiritual needs of fami­ number had increased to 1,500 by 1820 -Diocese of Buffalo, but he gave ma­ glorify him: the God of my father, and I will exalt him" program of life, and the spirit of the one who bears it on naries, schools, cemeteries in -a pano­ lies and individuals. — a great influx of setders which had terial aid in the formation of die Dio­ (15:2). A motto briefly expresses an ideal, a program of his coat of arms. rama of forty years. been due to the construction of a high­ cese of Rochester. One of his first of­ life, and the spirit of the one who bears it on his coat of New-Diocese Formed ficial acts was die appointment of die arms. — / way diat was opened the year before, Beyond the colossal figure of the running across the state. Rev. Bernard O'Relly as pastor of St great administrator, appears Bishop When, in 1808, the progress of the Patrick's Church in Rochester. Catholic Church in die United States When Bishop Du Bois, who had AIR, John Timon of Buffalo, his predecessor in this region when it was a part of the warranted division of the Diocese of escaped to America during die French There was a discouraging scarcity of priests. Diocese of Buffalo. Baltimore, New York was one of die Revolution, was named successor of dioceses created, widi die Most Rev. Bishop Connelly upon die deadi of die The Catholic population was grow­ Hearts of the diocese swell with pride at the elevation of Monsignor Richard Luke Concanen, an Irish Work Begun latter, diere were 150,000 Catholics, ing speedily because of the waves of im­ Hickey and Monsignor McCafferty to the episcopacy. Boththese new auxil­ Dominican, the first Bishop. eight priests and twelve churches in But long before Bishop McQuaid migration sweeping into the land of op­ iary Bishops are revered, respected and loved by the priests, sisters and peo­ the Diocese of die whole state. began his notable work of extending But he died soon afterward. portunity and religious liberty. ple of the diocese. We pledge them our prayers and our support in their a spiritual empire and providing the The Most Rev. John Connolly, who The Rev. of Philadel­ This was not only true of Rochester future responsibilities as successors to the Apostles. -physical properties for it — long before was named as his successor, made an phia was named to succeed him — and Buffalo, but also in remote com­ Bishop Timon fell upon his knees to inspection of die whole diocese as early and in 1850 was raised to die dignity munities, where Catholic families, who of die first Archbishop of New York. ask for die extension of the Catholic as possible. had worshipped devoutly while in their rfTlCHRISTOPHER PRESS, INC. Ghurch over the territory in which he During 1842 a census showed 200,- former homes, but were here denied _W3_J 35 SClb" STREET • ROCHESTER, N. Y. • 325-6390 was spiritual administrator —the foun­ Rochester had only a few hundred 000 Catholics in die state of-New York, the ministrations of priests because dation had Been laid for the Diocese of families at the time, and there wese widi only forty priests and fifty there were not enough to serve diem. Rochester, only four priests in his charge, which included all of die state of New. York churches. ^^ New Diocese Expansion of the Catholic faith in and a part of . On April 23, 1847, Archbishop this region goes back 283 years—to the Formation of die Diocese of Roches- Hughes erected Buffalo into an Episco­ year 1656 when Jesuit missionaries rais­ Before die time of railroads — widi ter took place on January 24, 1868, pal See, which included all of the re­ ed the Cross in. Ontario County as the only die slowest means of transporta­ through its separation from the See of _ gion now widiin die Diocese of Roches­ emblem of the Christian faith. ~ tion <"=» the inspection was itself a tedi­ ter — nearly one diird of die state of Buffalo. ous, slow job. : Occasionally an altar was erected in New York in alL The Most Rev. Bernard J. McQuaid Priests were sent by Bishop Connol­ a Catholic home, and Mass ^vas cele­ Bishop of Buffalo was consecrated as its first Bishop by brated. Up to 1808 the XSatholic ly to Rochester and Buffalo during -Churches in New York State were 1818 and 1819.The first to arrive was The VeryJRev^ John -Timon, a Visi- (Continued on Page 3B) March 15, 1968 Catholic Courier Journal IB