Chapter 7 Closing in on a Century

Though the parish had lost her longtime and beloved pastor, she was still in capable hands in the leadership of Fr. Riordan’s senior curate, Fr. John F. Sullivan.  Caring for the parish in the final months of Fr. Riordan’s term as his health failed before it claimed him in death, Fr. Sullivan kept the parish moving and growing by his priestly zeal and commitment to the people of Saint Mary’s Parish.  A dedication in The Blue Mantle for the Class of ’40 comments on his contributions to the school as its athletic director, citing “his own spirit of enthusiasm and the indefatigable energy which he has endeavored to infuse into the student body.”   The tribute continues, “His dynamic personality, keen sense of humor and a natural gift for conversation are a few of the characteristics which have made him a friend to all.  We students, especially, look to him as a sympathetic friend and advisor.  Above all, his true priestly spirit emanating from his every thought, word and action brought us closer to the God he serves so well.”

 

During Fr. Sullivan’s leadership, most likely the Golden Jubilee of Sr. Mary Jerome, SSJ, was a joyous one.  Sr. Mary Jerome entered the Sisters of Saint Joseph on March 12, 1891 at the motherhouse in Holyoke, taking her religious name from her home parish, Saint Jerome in Holyoke.  Fifty years of dedicated service to the Church, with more than half, 28 in all, lived in Milford, was the occasion of a special celebration at Saint Mary’s Parish on the feast of Saint Joseph, March 19, 1941.  While the celebration was muted by the earlier death of Fr. Riordan, it was still a special celebration for a special friend and dedicated servant of the parish.  The celebration opened with a High Mass celebrated by Fr. Thomas P. Kelly which was followed by a reception in the convent.  There, amid many floral bouquets given to commemorate the event, Sr. Mary Jerome greeted her well-wishers.  Among her gifts was a gold crucifix, suitably inscribed, that was presented in gratitude from the parish by Fr. Sullivan.  There were congratulatory messages, among them an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Pius XII.  Again, the Blue Mantle, Class of ’40 noted the event and Sister Mary Jerome’s contributions with the acknowledgement, “she has endeared herself to all who have come in contact with her, and has carved herself a niche in the life of Saint Mary’s parish, impossible for another to fill.”

While there were many demands for his time and attention in the schools, the parish was no less demanding.  Fr. Riordan’s death came somewhat unexpectedly and he had been very involved in the updating and renovating of the main church. Fr. Sullivan took over the reins of the project, encouraging the generosity of parishioners so that new appointments could complete the makeover that Fr. Riordan had envisioned and began.  Many beautiful furnishings completed this renewal which had everything in place when a new pastor was named and Fr. Sullivan was transferred to Saint Stephen’s Parish in the city of Worcester.

The wait for a new pastor ended in July, 1941, when Fr. James P. Curran was appointed as the new pastor for Saint Mary’s Parish, to follow Fr. Riordan who had died the previous January.  At the Masses on July 13^th, Fr. Curran celebrated the first of the day at 6:30 am while Fr. Thomas F. Delehanty, the newly appointed curate, celebrated the 10:30 am and welcomed the pastor.  In speaking at all the Masses, Fr. Curran shared that “he had heard glowing reports of the good people of St. Mary’s, that he looked for and expected their co-operation.  He mentioned the esteem in which he held the late, pastor, Fr. Riordan, who attended college with Fr. Curran.”  He reportedly ended his presentation with the reminder, “I assure you, my good people, that you will find me a kind pastor.”

Fr. Curran was born in Worcester in 1874 and was a student at the College of the Holy Cross where he graduated in 1895 and then entered seminary in Montreal, Canada.  Ordained to the priesthood in 1899, he served in Fall River for five years before returning to the Diocese of Springfield, where he was assigned to the cathedral.  Appointed as a pastor to Saint Ann’s Church in Southboro, he was transferred from there to Saint Mary, Morning Star in Pittsfield when Fr. Riordan was named as pastor in Milford.  Once again, he followed Fr. Riordan, this time to Milford.  The centennial book for the parish in 1948 remembers his “piety, zeal and fatherly interest in all won for him the admiration and love of his people.”

Fr. Curran had the distinction of being pastor in Milford during one of the most difficult times in modern experience, the expansion of Nazi Germany, the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the entrance of the USA into what would be known as World War II.

The following March, Fr. Curran acknowledged the generous gift of a statue of Saint Francis Xavier that was placed in the sanctuary of the upper church on a pedestal.  This statue was a gift from Miss Florentia Sennott, the daughter of George and Mary Sennott.  The statue was given by Florentia in memory of her parents and by their grandson, Richard O’Brien also in memory of his mother, Mrs. Mary (Sennott) O’Brien.

Only a year later, in July of 1942, Fr. Curran was transferred to Saint Leo’s Parish in Leominster, “where his duties would be less arduous and more suited to the condition of his health.”  In less than three years, on February 23, 1945, he would pass to his eternal reward and his body buried in Saint John’s Cemetery in Worcester.  He was succeeded by Fr. William J. Foran who came from serving as pastor of Saint Louis Parish in Webster.

Fr. Foran, like Fr. Curran, was also born in Worcester in 1874 and a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross from where he entered his seminary studies at the North American College in Rome.  He was ordained at the Basilica of John Lateran on June 1, 1902 by Cardinal Respighi, the Cardinal Vicar of Rome, and his first assignment was at Holy Name Church in New York City.  Upon his return to the Diocese of Springfield, Fr. Foran served in a half dozen parishes before being named pastor of Saint Patrick’s Parish in West Stockbridge.  From there he was the founding pastor of the Little Flower Church in Pittsfield before being moved to Gardner.  There, at Sacred Heart Parish, he worked tirelessly to improve the church and its grounds, leaving it unmatched in beauty in the diocese at the time with his assignment to Milford.

this article originally appeared in the parish bulletin the weekends of May 30, June 6 and 13, 2021 
The further time marches away from that global conflict known as the World War II and claims the lives and memories of those who lived through it, the less horrific the experience is for those who did not endure it.  History tells us that no attack took place during the war on American soil, but the threat of that was real to those who lived here during that time.  The details become clear in an article from The Milford Daily News on February 24 1942, that explains the preparations that the Sisters of Saint Joseph had undertaken for their students in the event of an air raid.  Written permission was secured from the parents of those students who lived near the school who could return to their home by walking within a ten-minute time span.  All other students would be evacuated to the basement of each school which had been equipped for this emergency procedure. 

The windows had been outfitted with wooden shutters to contain any glass shattering in the event of a bombing.  Sand bags had been installed on the ground directly outside the windows.  Folding chairs were placed in secure area so that students would not need to stand or sit on the floor until an all clear signal was given.  Pails of sand and shovels had been placed on each floor and volunteers secured to provide a fire watch during the air raid.  These fire precautions were also available in all other parish facilities.  The Sisters saw that they provided daily instruction on what to do in the event of an air raid and had practice drills.  On Thursday nights, they schooled their students on some of the basics of first aid, in the event it would be needed.  The article also remarks that Defense cards had been installed in each classroom.  Encouraged by Fr. Curran, their pastor for these efforts, the local Chief Air Raid Warden, Michael Hachey, remarked that the cooperation of the Sisters ‘was an outstanding example of patriotism and judgment and showed a remarkable sense of responsibility for the hundreds of children entrusted to their care.’

Though the threat of war never materialized on the mainland of American soil, the effort was a national project.  It touched and influenced the most mundane as well as the momentous.  Saint Mary’s High School’s 56^th Commencement Exercises on June 6, 1942, were no exception.  The theme for the graduation was prominently displayed in Latin over the graduates’ heads, ‘Dona Nobis Pacem,’ in English, ‘Grant Us Peace.’  The speeches featured the theme in one capacity or another: “Peace in the Catholic Church,” “Peace and the Papacy,” “Peace Through Sacrifice,” Peace in Education,” and “Peace in the Future World.”  Father Curran, pastor of Saint Mary’s, gave “a most inspiring address to the graduating class which was of a patriotic nature and at its conclusion he was roundly applauded. 

These concerns and efforts were not limited to the school and its students.  A front-page article in The Milford Daily News on March 6, 1942, identified that an air raid would take place the following Sunday at 9:30 pm.  Town officials would gather at the Hoboken Club on Upper Central Street to view the proceedings.  There would three blasts from the fire siren when people would have ten minutes to get home or off the streets.  The main roads from neighboring towns would be closed to traffic at the same time.

 An article the next day, March 7^th, explained that there were 200 air raid wardens serving in Milford and that 40 auxiliary police officers had been hired.  It explained to people that all lights were to be extinguished when the sirens sounded.  Restaurants, clubs and hotels that had lobbies whose lights could be blocked from being seen outside could remain open, but any of those facilities that couldn’t block their light to the outside would need to close and lock their doors.  People were to remain in their homes and if they were not equipped to block light from emanating outside, they were to darken all of their house.  No one was allowed to carry a flashlight or to smoke outside during the drill.  It explained that “officials said no plans (sic) has been made to divert traffic from the town just before the blackout on the theory that it should be staged under conditions as normal as possible.”

It detailed the length that town officials had gone to in stressing the importance of everyone’s cooperation, emphasizing that leaders would not tolerate any ‘funny business.’  The wardens were expected to provide a written report of their general observations and the names of anyone who violated the rules of the blackout.  On March 10^th, it was reported that there were 16 violations in Milford, though none were deemed deliberate, except the firing of a small rocket during the specified time frame.  Another blackout was planned for the following Thursday from 9 to 9:30 pm and would be done simultaneously with 55 other communities in the state.  By then, there each precinct in town had a local reporting station and telephone operators were set up at the American Legion hall to provide information phone calls to all residents of the town. 

By April 9^th, the town felt comfortable in its ability to respond and in the efforts of its Civil Air Defense that a ‘surprise’ blackout was scheduled for that night, with no time specified.  The time frame would include until Midnight of the following day.  It explained that when the siren sounded, the wardens, police and auxiliary officers would need to be at their posts.  Residents would receive a phone call to darken their homes and businesses would do likewise.  Anyone on the streets would be given ten minutes to reach indoors or to stop and turn off their car lights.  The complete blackout would be signaled by the fire alarm sirens, factory whistles, and church bells being rung.  How long it would last was unknown.  No vehicular traffic was allowed.  Buses would pull to the side of the road and only emergency calls were permitted, passed through the police station. Once the all clear was sounded, all would be as it was before.

Saint Mary’s High School Graduating Class of 1942 assembled on the stage of the Milford Town Hall.  Their class motto, “Grant Us Peace’ is placed above them in Latin, ‘Dona Nobis Pacem.’  Take note of the size of the class in the number of graduates and the number of stars on the flag hanging behind them. (A total of 48 in six rows of eight each).

 The Class of ’42 had 61 members who graduated.  There were 25 special prizes awarded to them, most of them defense stamps.  Among them was Michael Read, class valedictorian, and those with the highest average in each subject: Michael Nolan in French, John Smith in English, and John Dewing in math, all would enlist and serve their country in the armed forces during World War II.  Joining them in serving their country was another graduate, Raymond Cross, who received a gold medal for having the highest average among athletes, playing both football and baseball for three years.  The Centennial book issued in 1948 lists nearly 600 names covering four pages in the book of those who responded from Saint Mary’s Parish to the call to take up arms in defense of freedom and were part of the war effort known as World War II.  It changed the world, without its success, we would live in a far different world nearly a century later.

Three weeks later, The Milford Daily News would report that census figures for the Diocese of Springfield would report that there were now 501,216 Catholics living in the diocese, an increase since the last report in 1938 of 489,300.  Enrollment in Catholic schools had dropped to 39,140 from a previous high of 42,164, with the establishment of four new schools, so that there was a total of 100 schools in the diocese.  The number of priests had also increased to a new total of 687 compared to 654 in the previous census.  The devotion and faith of Catholics was continuing to grow throughout the Diocese of Worcester.

At the Masses on Sunday, June 28, 1942, Fr. Curran announced that Bishop O’Leary had reassigned him to Saint Leo’s Parish in Leominster.  It would be effective the following Sunday, July 5th.  He shared his regret at leaving the parish and The Milford Daily News commented on the hundreds of friends he made during his stay in Milford, that he ‘liked the town very much and was happy in his new surroundings.’ It mentioned that he had ‘supervised the renovation of parish properties and was active in civic movements of the community.’  He shared that his successor, Fr. William Foran ‘was his classmate and best friend.’  

Fr. Foran, a native of Worcester born on October 21, 1874, was an alumnus of the College of the Holy Cross (Class of ’96) and had studied at the North American College in Rome, was ordained at the Lateran basilica on June 1, 1901.  Having served initially at Holy Name Parish in New York City, he had served as a curate in several parishes upon his return to the diocese and then as pastor at West Stockbridge, Pittsfield and Gardner before being named the pastor of Saint Louis Parish in Webster, from which he came to Milford.  

One of the first tasks of the new pastor was to finish the renovations of the lower church already begun by Fr. Curran. With a war on, supplies and finances limited, Fr. Curran had undertaken a renewal of the lower church to be able to use it during the week for daily Mass to save on fuel expenses.  Fr. Foran completed the work with the newly renovated space used for Mass on Monday, January 3, 1943.  The Milford Daily News reported that it would be used weekends for the 7 am Mass and a 9 am children’s Mass, after which religious education classes would take place.  The renovations, a year in the works, included enlarging the sanctuary, installing a new granolothic flooring throughout, four new confessionals, a carved quartered oak altar and communion rail, and special lighting fixtures” that resulted in a ‘complete transformation of the interior.’  The parish Centennial book in 1948 adds that his improvements included devotional Stations of the Cross, valuable Oriental rugs for the upper and lower church, new vestment and the installation of shrines to Our Lady of Love, Our Lady of Fatima, the Miraculous Medal and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  All personal gifts from Fr. Foran to the parish.  The Oriental rugs were stolen from the church in the 1970s and never recovered, (and the confessionals were converted to storage areas in the late 20th century) but most other improvements are still appreciated by those who use the lower church for worship until today.

Not satisfied with those accomplishments, Fr. Foran turned his energy to redecorating and improving both the grammar and high schools as well as making improvements to the rectory and the convent.  In the church, he electrified the ringing of the bells in the tower, so that the ‘Bells of Saint Mary’s’ ran out consistently and clearly every day.  Most impressive of all was that he reduced the parish debt as he endeared himself to his flock by his eloquence, erudition and priestly manner receiving their respect, loyalty and devotion in turn as did his predecessors for the previous century.