Chapter 4:  The Parish Enhanced  - 

the McGrath Era

this article originally appeared in the weekly bulletin of April 26, 2020

At the 10:45 AM Mass on Sunday, November 13, 1904, Fr. John Phelan answered the question that had been on the minds and hearts of most parishioners of Saint Mary’s since the death of their former pastor, Fr. James Canavan.  Bishop Beaven had appointed Fr. David F. McGrath to be the new pastor of the parish.  No stranger to Milford, Fr. McGrath had arrived here from Ireland with his parents Edward and Mary at the age of two.  Having been raised in Milford, Saint Mary’s was his home where he celebrated his First Communion and Confirmation.  An alumnus of Milford High School, the Class of 1865, he was only the second Catholic boy to graduate until then.  (The first was Mark D. Shea who also entered the priesthood and was appointed by President Grover Cleveland as a chaplain for the US Navy).  His ordination to the priesthood by Bishop Patrick O’Reilly on August 15, 1872 would be an important date to the people of Milford, since ordained with him were the late Fr. James Canavan (his immediate predecessor in Milford) and the future Bishop Thomas Beaven, who had also been his college roommate at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester.

The announcement of Fr. McGrath was well received by the whole parish, the November 14, 1904 edition The Milford Daily News referred to his appointment as “the return of a friend rather than the coming of a stranger, and is highly pleasing to the whole parish, especially to the older generation, who knew him as a boy and have followed his career with interest and pleasure.”  Townspeople recalled that his family had settled in the Plains district of town, that his father was “exceedingly industrious and with his frugal wife reared a family of several children, all of whom were given the advantages of a good education, which at that time was an uncommon thing for the sons and daughters of the Irish immigrant.”  They recalled about their new pastor that “he displayed at an early age great piety and a love for the church and this bent became so strong during the latter days of his common school education that his parents readily yielded to his desire to go the Holy Cross College in Worcester.”  The local paper acknowledged two living relatives.  His sister, born in Milford and known in secular life as Mary, had gone to Ireland to care for an ailing uncle and never returned; having entered a cloistered Carmelite convent there.  An adopted sister, who was unnamed in the article, also entered religious life and was a Notre Dame sister living in a convent in East Boston.

His appointment was seen as a sign of favor from his college roommate since Saint Mary’s in Milford “is considered the second best in the Springfield diocese, St. John’s of Worcester, of which Monsignor Griffin is the rector, being the most desirable.”  This was because the local paper says, “Fr. McGrath is known as one of the sold, hardheaded and shrewdest priests in the Springfield diocese.  He is not a grand pulpit orator, making no pretense in that direction, but bears the reputation of being a forceful, matter-of-fact preacher.  As a financier he has been a conspicuous success, building and paying for a new church and rectory during his Leicester pastorate and clearing the debt of the Holy parish in a few years, besides greatly augmenting the parish property.  It is thought by many of St. Mary’s parishioners that his ability along that line had much to do with his assignment here, St. Mary’s parish having been in debt since the present magnificent edifice was built.  Two years ago Rev. Fr. Canavan stated that the obligations of the parish were $52,000, although much of that debt is counterbalanced by a real estate holding of the parish in Wellesley, which is aid to have a value of $30,000.”

The news of Fr. McGrath’s assignment was greeted as loss by the papers in both Holyoke and Springfield, acknowledging that he is considered “a broadminded man, who has always commanded the greatest respect from the Protestant portion of the community and a priest who is intensely zealous of his people’s interests, temporal as well as spiritual.  “During the 12 years with which Rev. Fr. McGrath has been associated with the Rosary parish the most perfect accord has existed between him and his people, as the great amount of good, sold parish work accomplished in that short time bears testimony.”  It further went on to recognize his aversion to attention identifying, “McGrath has a well known aversion to sentiment and show, and it is characteristic of the man that he positively refused to allow any public demonstration in his honor, such as his parishioners would have been most eager to give and in which the Holyoke public would have been glad to have a part.”

The Springfield Republican acknowledged, “His removal is a distinct loss to Holyoke’s best citizenship, for he is not only a priest, but a man and a citizen, and has in fitting times and on the right occasion made his influence felt for the right.”  Indeed, Holyoke’s loss would be a huge gain to Milford.  The legacy of Fr. Cuddihy would be embellished and enhanced to new levels of beauty because of the careful and artistic eye and financial ability of Fr McGrath; a glory that Fr. Cuddihy could not have imagined awaited his buildings and their beloved Saint Mary’s Parish in Milford.

this article was originally published in the weekly bulletins of May 3 & 10, 2020

The news of Fr. McGrath’s assignment was greeted as loss by the papers in both Holyoke and Springfield, acknowledging that he is considered “a broadminded man, who has always commanded the greatest respect from the Protestant portion of the community and a priest who is intensely zealous of his people’s interests, temporal as well as spiritual.  “During the 12 years with which Rev. Fr. McGrath has been associated with the Rosary parish the most perfect accord has existed between him and his people, as the great amount of good, sold parish work accomplished in that short time bears testimony.”  It further went on to recognize his aversion to attention identifying, “McGrath has a well known aversion to sentiment and show, and it is characteristic of the man that he positively refused to allow any public demonstration in his honor, such as his parishioners would have been most eager to give and in which the Holyoke public would have been glad to have a part.”

The Springfield Republican acknowledged, “His removal is a distinct loss to Holyoke’s best citizenship, for he is not only a priest, but a man and a citizen, and has in fitting times and on the right occasion made his influence felt for the right.”  Indeed, Holyoke’s loss would be a huge gain to Milford.  Indeed, the legacy of Fr. Cuddihy would be embellished and enhanced to new levels of beauty because of the careful and artistic eye and financial ability of Fr McGrath; a glory that Fr. Cuddihy could not have imagined now awaited his buildings and the parishioners of their beloved Saint Mary’s Parish in Milford.

The Milford Daily News of Tuesday, November 17^th, shared that The Springfield Union noted his leaving the people of Holyoke with the following article, “In the religious and public life of this community Rev. Fr. McGrath has been recognized as a strong figure and since his advent among the people of the Rosary parish he has met with perfectly harmonious cooperation.  In the pulpit he has from time to time taken occasion to admonish and counsel political aspirants and others whose course he felt required public attention.  This has been one of the chief points of his strength and his remarks have always been widely quoted in consequence.”  During his tenure in Holyoke, he consistently donated the Christmas and Easter collections, which were rightly the property of the pastor, back to the parish as well as any other gifts that he received.  As a result, he expressly refused any public display at his departure, from a collection, to a brass band for his departure, stating that “I want to leave you as silently as I came among you.”

On Monday, November 14^th, Fr. McGrath arrived from Holyoke to meet with the other priests of the parish and to have a first look as the new pastor of Saint Mary’s Parish in Milford.  He returned to Holyoke to arrange for the packing and transfer of his personal affects when he would return permanently that Friday.  The Milford Daily News on Tuesday, November 15^th announced the return of another Milfordian, Miss Katie Burke, who had been his housekeeper for years would be returning to Milford to take up her position in his new assignment with her former pastor.

That Sunday, November 20, 1904, at the 10:45 morning Mass, Fr. McGrath outlined his plans for his new congregation and shared “his hope that they regarding the help they should extend to him at having been selected to minister unto them, the people of his native town.  ‘Coming to Milford is to me like coming home,’” he said. His sermon was plain and ‘untarnished.  He made no pretense of oratorical effect, but there was not one of the vast congregation heard him that could not for a moment doubt the sincerity of the man or his ability to carry out any of the reforms that he suggested.”  His statement was quoted in the Milford Daily News of Monday, November 21^st, “My dear people – Through the grace of God and the pleasure of our good bishop I have been appointed your pastor.  It was hard for me to leave Holyoke, where I was stationed for 19 years, and where I had expected to spend the remainder of my life.  I had in Holyoke a magnificent church, good schools, two convents, and all paid for, except one school building erected a year ago.  I had a good, honest, loyal and generous parish, and it was hard for me to leave it all to come here, but the regret I felt at leaving is more than equaled by the joy and gladness that fill my heart at being again in your midst.”

He honored the memory of his predecessor, Fr. Patrick Cuddihy, in his efforts to establish the parish in the center of the town and secure nearly the entire Winter Street block for parish use.  He reminisced of one day when he was admiring the magnificent parish church with Fr. Cuddihy and complimented the venerable priest for the credit due him for such a stately building.  “Whereupon Fr. Cuddihy replied, characteristically, ‘I’ll be dead and gone in a little while and some chap will come along and paint the front doors of the church and claim all the glory for the building.’  The coincidence that he should be the one to ‘Paint the front door’ was jocularly commented upon by Fr. McGrath.”  He referenced his immediate predecessor, Fr. James Canavan, reminding the congregation that they had been ordained together 31 years ago the previous August and “told of the sacrifices that Fr. Canavan had made to remain in Milford and of his great love for the people of the parish.”

“Every word of the sermon was absorbed by the large congregation and all were pleased with the attitude of their new spiritual director on questions that have interested the people of St. Mary’s for many years.”  Seated in the front row were Mrs. Charles Dewey, Mrs. John Luby and N. F. Blake in support of of their former classmate.  Finally, he surprised the congregation by explaining that he arrived with a personal worth of less than $100.  That he had no love for money for his personal use and only asked that he be supported as a gentleman, which he treatment he was positive he would receive from the Catholics of Milford, “than whom there is none more generous in the diocese.”

Fr. McGrath spent a great deal of his time working and improving the cemetery where his parents already rested and where he knew he would join them.  The details of his extensive efforts:  the stone wall that still exists, the main entrance and its iron gates, the burial tomb, the second lake, and most importantly the Crucifixion sculpture for the Priests' Memorial can be found in the cemetery section of our website.

this article was originally published in the weekly bulletin of July 19, 2020
Though Fr. David McGrath was born in Ireland, he emigrated with his family to Milford when he was only four years old.  And so Milford was a home to him that Ireland never really was.  To be returned to his home parish as its pastor must have been a great honor and privilege to him since he spent most of his energy and interest in improving and beautifying what he had been placed in charge of.  It seemed that his imagination and vision was always in motion to improve and enrich the parish and its property. 

In April of 1911, Fr. McGrath purchased the former Gustavus B. Williams residence at 27 Pearl Street.  This house had been built in 1848 by Sullivan Sumner, the Town Treasurer and later purchased by Judge Williams.  Fr. McGrath converted it into a residence for the priests hiring Robert Allen Cook, a local architect who was a graduate of Milford High in 1892 and who designed the addition to the nearby Town Hall in 1900.  Now, over a century later, this residence is still used by the priests of the parish as their domicile.  The former rectory at 17 Winter Street was converted into a convent and the Sisters of Saint Joseph who staffed Saint Mary’s Schools moved in. 

Regarding the church, we have already discussed the magnificent Munich Mayer windows depicting the Life of Our Lady that Fr. McGrath installed.  He made several other changes to make the church more elegant.  He removed the first two pews for the congregation and extended the sanctuary by this distance.  Receiving a gift from the Neville family, he installed the beautiful Carrara marble holy water font in the base of the bell tower that was moved to the sanctuary to serve as a baptismal font in 1980.  He installed a vestibule inside the main entrance with stained glass windows to separate the nave and new gothic frames for the Stations of the Cross.  In the base of the bell tower he installed stained glass windows as memorials to each of his predecessors, landscaped the property and installed new walkways.  For the lower church, Fr. McGrath rearranged the lower chapel in moving the entrances to the sides, placing the altar in its current location and providing sacristies at that level also. 

Mention of Fr. McGrath’s legacy would not be complete with a reference to his love of education.  During his pastorate the Sisters of Saint Joseph arrived to teach at Saint Mary’s School, and boys were admitted for the first time.  The former Academy which taught secretarial skills to young girls was transformed into a high school for both boys and girls.  The first graduating class of the new school, under the direction of the Sisters of Saint Joseph was in 1909 with Bishop Beaven, Fr. McGrath’s college roommate, presenting the diplomas to the nine graduates.  In addition, Fr. McGrath established scholarships at his own expense for parishioners to attend the College of the Holy Cross, his alma mater in Worcester. These scholarships are still active as financial aid to students from our parish who attend these schools over a century later!

this article originally appeared in the weekly bulletin of August 9, 2020
On December 12, 1920, Fr. McGrath preached the anniversary Mass for his predecessor, Fr. Patrick Cuddihy, enjoining his listeners, ‘that the good works of a priest be not forgotten, so soon after he is gone.’  Not ten days later, on December 21st, as he prepared to retire for the day, he suffered a shock.  Dr. George F. Curley was called by the other priests who found the pastor on a couch to which he had been lifted by Fr James Dunphy and Fr. J. Fitzgibbons.  In a matter of moments, his life slipped quietly before them to his eternal reward.  The next day, once again, as parishioners made their way to work and daily chores, the bells of Saint Mary’s tolled and told of their loss.  At the age of 75, having been ordained for 43 years, 16 of them as pastor of Saint Mary’s in Milford, Fr. McGrath laid down his labors for the Lord.

The loss was unexpected and therefore the resulting sorrow even greater.  To those who had seen him earlier in the day, he seemed in fine health.  Many made note that just a few weeks earlier his college roommate and close friend at both Holy Cross College and Grand Seminary ire in Montreal, Bishop Thomas Beavan, had died a similar unexpected death.  The loss of his close friend seemed to weigh heavy on his heart as the Christmas holiday approached.  The Milford Daily Journal made note the following day, on December 22nd, “Milford will miss his quiet but potent interest in its material and spiritual welfare, and his parish will be a heavy loser by his entrance into his reward.”

His accomplishments in the years when he returned to the town of his youth were detailed in that same article.  “Since his advent here, he paid off the then large debt through the cordial aid of his parish.  Through his efforts the church interior was remodeled and renovated, and important repairs and improvements were made therein; the present rectory was bought; the cemeteries adorned and enlarged, and improved and an imposing entrance erected; preparations were begun for the division of the parish when that shall occur, by the purchase of the Roper and Patrick properties on Freedom Street in Hopedale; by him was renovated the church organ, he acquired the Jesse A. Taft property on Claflin hill, now known as the Fr. McGrath Industrial Home; he renovated the parochial schools, had the former convent building used as a high school and turned over the rectory building on Winter Street to the Sisters of St. Joseph as their residence.  These are but a few of the business and permanent improvements he administered on the parish property.  He was one of the best administrators in the diocese; of acute mentality; a devoted churchman and kind and charitable by temperament and training. He gave his parish his earnest love and devotion.”

At 3 pm on Thursday, December 23rd, the remains of Fr. McGrath were conveyed from the rectory on Pearl Street to the church in a solemn procession.  Fr. Erminio Lona, pastor of the neighboring Sacred Heart Parish was the cross bearer, joined by Joseph Edwards, James Mahar and Michael Hannigan as acolytes.  John Sweeney was the thurifer followed by a delegation of Fourth Degree Knights from the local Valencia Council.  These were followed by the priests from the area and the altar boys.  As the procession left the house, the priests chanted ‘De Profundis,’ Psalm 129, followed by ‘Miserere,’ Psalm 51.  At the entrance to the church, the ‘Subvenite’ with responses and antiphonals were given.  The body of pastor was placed in front of the altar where the priest had offered his first and last Mass as a priest nearly fifty years apart.  Following the prayers, the ladies’ organizations stood guard by their fallen pastor until 9 pm, when the men’s organizations took over alternating hours through the night until the first Mass the following day at 8 am on Christmas Eve.
 

this article originally appeared in the bulletin of August 16, 2020
Like the man they honored, the rituals of the Church early on Christmas Eve of 1920 were simple, somewhat understated, but elegant and grand in their own right, just like the man the town turned out to honor and remember as they commended him to the Master he had served so well.  Saint Mary’s Church was draped in black beginning with the high altar, and then along the walls and the front of the gallery, the columns hung with both black and white draperies.  There were no flowers, in keeping with the long-known wishes of the former pastor for this occasion.  In attendance were the former classmates of Fr. McGrath from the Class of 1865 at Milford High School and most of the Protestant clergy of the town.  

The day began at 7:30 am with Fr. J. J. Fitzgibbons of the parish celebrating the first high mass.  At 8 am, a high Mass of Requiem was sung by Fr. James Dunphy of the parish.  At this Mass the older parishioners and children of the parish were encouraged to attend.  At this and the Solemn High Mass at 10 am, the choir, under the direction of William Moore, accompanied by the parish organist, Mary Callahan, assisted.  At 9:30 am, the priests of the diocese in attendance chanted the Office for the Dead.  In attendance was Msgr. J. T Madden, administrator of the Diocese of Springfield (given the recent death of Bishop Beaven), Chancellor James F. Ahern, Fr. James Carlin, SJ, president of Holy Cross College, Fr. J. N. Dinand, SJ, assistant provincial and Msgr. P. J. Supple of Boston.

For the Solemn High Mass, the church was filled to capacity, overflowing with grateful and grieving parishioners, many townspeople and among them many of the Protestant faithful as well.  The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Ahern, chancellor of the diocese and a native son of Saint Mary’s Parish, the deacon was Fr. Michael Carroll of Palmer with Fr. M. Delaney of Natick serving as sub-deacon.  Fr. John Phelan of Whitinsville served as Master of Ceremonies.  Fr. John Griffin of Worcester gave the eulogy, referring with eloquence to the fine qualities of the deceased and the enduring character of his labors, both material and spiritual.  His simple testimony seems most affecting to those in attendance.  Milford merchants ‘drew their curtains during the funeral hour’ schools were closed, and virtually all of the town officials were in attendance for the services.

The procession from the church to the cemetery was impressive, given its numbers of clergy and of the faithful; among them 30 Fourth Degree Knights under the direction of John E. Swift, the Faithful Navigator, who would one day become Supreme Knight of the Order.  Once there, Fr. Dunphy led the prayers of committal as the body of the beloved pastor was laid to rest next to his parents on the side of the hill of the Old Saint Mary’s Cemetery.  This final resting place was known to be his desire, Fr. McGrath having made mention of it on numerous occasions.  There, marked by a granite Celtic cross with the only reference to him being his name inscribed as having erected the monument in honor of his parents.  Following the burial, a meal for the visiting clergy was provided in the school building.

As a final testimony to Fr. McGrath, his impact and legacy to Saint Mary’s Parish is the remembrance of him in the Golden Jubilee book for Saint Mary’s Church.  There on page 40, it is written, “What has been said of Father McGrath in every parish wherever he labored throughout the Springfield Diocese, may be said of his work in Milford even with greater truth and well merited praises.  ‘He left the place nearly perfect in every detail.’”  And indeed a century later, we can echo that sentiment as the inheritors of his good taste, responsible stewardship, and faithful service to God, the Church and the people of Saint Mary’s Parish.