Another Catholic Parish

this article originally appeared in the weekly bulletin the weekends of July 26 and August 3, 2020

One of the most significant events in the history of the Catholics of Milford occurred during the term of Fr. David McGrath as Pastor.  It had begun while Fr. Cuddihy was still living, but took several years for its efforts to bear fruit.  The oral tradition in Milford preserves the story that many of the Italians who came to this area for masonry work in the abundant quarries and even for Saint Mary’ Church were not always accepted or made welcome by others who had arrived previously.  Perhaps it was the difference of their language, or the customs of their piety, or the different foods that they ate, or simply that they were different in any manner that others ridiculed and belittled them and tried to get them to leave the community.  These attitudes and actions were not only from the natives in a strident Puritan New England town, but even among fellow Catholics and as the story is told, from their priests who were themselves immigrants or the sons of immigrants.  The blemish of this ignorance and racism in the history of Saint Mary’s Parish would impel those from Italy to create a path that would found their own parish.  Thus, this rough stone of sin would be transformed into a shining jewel as the legacy of the Italian immigrants who settled here and founded Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish.

It began in 1890 when a Franciscan priest came from Boston’s North End and Saint Leonard’s Monastery there to celebrate a Mass at the Stone Castle which still stands at 13 Reade Street and minister to those whose native tongue was Italian.  He is quoted as prophetically saying that day, “In the heart of an Italian the Catholic religion will never die.  Keep up your good work and pray that some day you may have a monument in this town of which the Italians will be most proud.”  On October 21, 1894, with the sanction of Fr. Cuddihy, the leaders of the Italian community met at the Town Hall.  In attendance were names that would be leaders not only in their eventual parish, but also in the larger community:  Cenedella, Marino, Castiglione, Aspesi, Cristani, Toselli, Zorzi, Donizoni, Perini and and Riva.  Mr. Raphael Marino called the meeting to order, and Giacomo Cenedella was chosen as the leader of the group with Marino as the secretary.

The community continued to organize its efforts and held Masses for its congregation in the lower church of Saint Mary’s Church.  In 1905, Fr. Rocco Petrarca arrived as the first pastor for the growing parish.  On June 10, 1905, land was deeded to the trustees for the construction of a church.  Known formerly as the John Miller property on East Main Street, it was remodeled and the first church was blessed by Fr. Petrarca on August 13, 1905.  The community was growing and a bell tower and stone façade were added by 1910 when it was again blessed.  On November 7, 1913, Fr. Petrarca was transferred to Columbus, Ohio and succeeded by Fr. Ermino Lona, a priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata, a missionary order of priests founded by Saint Gaspar Bertoni in Verona, Italy.  Since there was no rectory, Fr. Lona, like Fr Petrarca before him, lived in a room on the second floor of the church, over the sanctuary.  During his tenure, Fr. Lona acquired from Frank Consoletti the land between the Supple property and that of Zurlo.  It was deeded to the Bishop of Springfield in 1919. 
The former Consoletti residence was renovated to house the sisters of the Congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy who arrived on Christmas Eve 1919. They dedicated themselves to the religious instruction of the youth and holding classes in religion, Italian and sewing.  The work of the Sisters eventually became the efforts of Sacred Heart Parish School which opened on September 6, 1927.  Ground was broken for the new school on December 9, 1950, it opened on September 5, 1951, and merged with Saint Mary’s Grammar School in 1974 to be the site of Milford Catholic Elementary School which eventually closed in June of 2017.

The community flourished under the leadership of Fr. Lona and a new church was envisioned.  The Roaring Twenties were a time of affluence and extravagance, but the community was frugal and careful.  So, on November 3, 1922, Fr. Lona purchased the former home of William F. Clancy for $3,600.  The parish kept the land, but sold the house to Evangelista Riccio for $750 on December 1^st.  On the land, it built the foundation and basement level of a new church.  On December 18, 1927, Bishop Thomas O’Leary came as the Bishop of Springfield to bless this new structure. 

The community continued to hold onto its dream, raising funds and anticipating earnestly a new church.  When Black Friday hit in October of 1929, the community’s efforts were delayed but undimmed.  When World War II broke out and the United States entered the war in 1941, the community waited, earned and saved still.  In 1946, on March 18, under the leadership of Fr. Raymond Dalla Porta, CPS, as pastor, the work finally began on their dream, a dignified upper church for their parish.  On July 27, 1947, Bishop O’Leary returned to Milford to dedicate the upper church of Sacred Heart Parish for the glory of God and the service of the people of the parish.  The intervening global conflict would exact a heavy toll from the parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish. Seven of their young men would be killed in action, each of them memorialized in five of the windows of the new church, the promise of their lives cut short by the violence of war but never forgotten by their families and fellow parishioners.