Transfer Of Father Bradley's "Jubilee Bell"

This week, a bit of history was made when the "Jubilee Bell" was removed from the present church tower, and was placed in the new church tower. It is called the "Jubilee Bell" because it was presented to the Reverend James Bradley on the occasion of his "Golden Jubilee," his fiftieth anniversary of Priesthood. Father Bradley was the second resident pastor of Saint Patrick's Church in Newry. He was born in Ireland and came to this country as a young student. He completed his studies at Mount Saint Mary's, Emmitsburg, Maryland and was ordained a priest in Sacred Heart Church, Conewago, Pennsylvania, September 26, 1830. He was ordained by Bishop Francis Kenrick. Years later, Father Bradley wrote: "I offered my first Holy Mass in the mission at Bedford and drove the same day thirty miles to Newry, where I said my second Mass. I then drove to Loretto, and after spending a few days with the Rev. Dr. Gallitzin, (now the Servant of God) I took charge of the Ebensburg congregation." He remained there two years. During that time, he built the first church in Johnstown, Saint John Gaulbert's. Father Bradley came to Newry in 1832. Although Father Bradley took up residence in Newry, he was able to say Mass there at the beginning of his tenure only one Sunday of the month. He was called to serve Saint Mary's, Hollidaysburg, where he built the present church; Saint Luke's , Sinking Valley (only a cemetery remains there), Holy Trinity, Huntingdon, and Saint Mary's, Shade Gap. For a brief time, he had care of the Bedford church, when the resident priest was assigned to Saint Paul's, Pittsburgh. The first task was to complete the unfinished church. Bishop Kenrick blessed the church August 11, 1833. This is the present church that is still in use. The Newry pastor had an eye on the spiritual needs of the entire area. When the railroad was carved out of the Blair county hills in the 1840's and 1850's, the construction crews were composed in the main of young Irishmen, who had fled a country scourged by famine. To provide for their spiritual comfort, Father Bradley built the first church in Altoona in 1851-1852. The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament now occupies the site. It was a simple building, 65 feet in length by 35 feet in width. He said Mass there occasionally, until the Reverend John Tuigg was appointed resident pastor in 1853. Father Bradley registered his first Baptism December 15, 1832, John, son of John and Elizabeth Gowan. The last baptismal record over his name is April 14, 1879. By that time his sight was failing and he relinquished the work to others. Across the years of 47 years of active duty, he had baptized 1,805 persons. The parish records show 456 Marriages officiated by Father Bradley. When it became evident that Father Bradley was permanently incapacitated, the Reverend Richard Browne was assigned as Administrator. In the History of the Dioceses of Pittsburgh and Allegheny, published in 1880 this account of the Newry parish is given. "When Bishop O'Conner visited the parish in 1847, it numbered, as he states in his notes, about 400 souls. The congregation has continued for many years, as it will in the future, gradually to increase. The people are mostly Irish, or of Irish parentage. They have grown up around their common father, who has Baptized nearly all, and has watched over them and guided them with a father's care; and they, in turn, as it is but right, entertain for him sentiments of filial affection." Father Bradley died April 13, 1883. He is buried in the nearby cemetery with the grave marked by an imposing monument.

The Reason For This Blog...

Saint Patrick Parish, in Newry, Pennsylvania is the oldest established Roman Catholic Church in Blair County. Established in 1816, this year we are celebrating our 190th Anniversary. By the Grace of God, in marking this anniversary, we are building a new parish church (the Architect's design for the building is the image to your left) for the 455 families and 1,072 members of the parish. A number, again, thank God, that continues to increase. We had hoped to have renovated and enlarged our present church, but, building codes and engineering studies proved this would be impossible. We are building a new church due to the fact we have no handicap accessible bathrooms, preventing several parishioners from participating at Mass. Or seating capacity is not sufficient to accommodate our growing Catholic community. To help with expenses, we are retaining, and moving everything possible (pipe organ, windows, statues, pews) for use in the new church. Our estimate for this project is more than a million dollars. With the permission of our Ordinary, we will be able to borrow money when it becomes necessary to complete the project. To date, our parish has paid nearly $200,000.00 in construction costs, but, it is going to become necessary to begin borrowing. Something I would rather delay, as much as possible. I am appealing to all parishes named under the patronage of Saint Patrick, as well as all the Catholic Churches in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If you can find the resources to assist us, please know that we will deeply appreciate any assistance, regardless of the amount. Even $50.00 or $100.00 will help us immeasurably, if you, or your parishioners cannot afford more. All donations will be remembered with memorial plaques or paving stones (made from the old church) in front of the new church as a way of saying "Thank you." Please visit our website at www.saintpatricknewry.org to see the plans of our new church. Whether or not you are able to contribute to our cause at this time, kindly keep us in your prayers as we will keep you in ours. And keep coming back to this blog for information how to make contributions over the internet.

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HISTORY OF SAINT PATRICK PARISH - NEWRY, PENNSYLVANIA

The Servant of God, Demetrius A. Gallitzin, the pioneer missionary of the Alleghenies, said Mass in Newry as early as 1789. After Father Gallitzin established his base of operation at Loretto, PA., he attended Newry at regular intervals. Loretto, joined with Bedford and Newry, formed the triangular base for Catholicity in this region. The first settlers of Newry were Patrick Cassidy and Henry McConnell, who migrated from Newry, County Down, Ireland, and laid out the town and called it Newry, after their native place, about the same time Father Gallitzin began his laborious mission at Loretto. It is a matter of public record that Patrick Cassidy in 1801 deeded property for a Catholic Church and for a Lutheran Church in Newry. THE FIRST CHURCH: In 1816, a little stone church was built in Newry and Father Gallitzin dedicated it under the title of Saint Patrick. He continued his personal care of this mission until 1821. Afterward, Father Gallitzin relinquished the eastern portion of his vast mission, including Newry, to his protégé, the Reverend Thomas Heyden, who worked out of Bedford.Bishop Henry Conwell, who came to Philadelphia in 1820, as Bishop of Philadelphia, came to Newry in 1826 for the official visitation and Confirmation. He was accompanied by a young Deacon, John Hughes, the future Archbishop of New York. In 1828, Father John Hughes, served for a brief period as pastor of Bedford with a care for the Newry mission.

Bishop Francis P. Kenrick, the third Bishop of Philadelphia wrote about his first visit to Newry, under the date of October 21, 1830: "A church was built here long ago through the care and generosity of Patrick Cassidy. But the building is very old and hardly fit for divine worship." It was on this 1830 visit that Father Heyden sought permission to build a new church in Newry. He was chagrined when Episcopal approval was denied. The reason for the denial became evident August 7, 1831, when Bishop Kenrick assigned the Reverend John O'Reilly to Newry as the first resident pastor. Bishop Kenrick wrote: "The people of Newry are rejoicing because they are to have a priest, in charge, living in the town." When Father O'Reilly came to live in Newry, he immediately began the construction of the present church. The oldest Newry parish records are dated 1828 and are signed by Father O'Reilly. The first Baptism recorded took place February 28, 1828, Mary Jane, child of Joseph and Eva (Dopp) Nightwine. The total number of Baptisms celebrated by Father O'Reilly stands at 460 (40 of them Adult Converts). He also witnessed 66 Marriages from August 10, 1928 to September 9, 1832. Father O'Reilly was transferred to Pittsburgh before the church building was completed. The Reverend James Bradley served more than 51 years as Saint Patrick's Pastor. His first task was the completion of the parish church. Bishop Kenrick blessed the church on August 11, 1833. This is the church that is still in use today.