By now you are all aware that our beautiful, historic, St Patrick's Church is under threat and (too horrible to contemplate) might have to be sold! To save this beautiful Parish Church which has been the spiritual home of so many of us, much help and inspiration is needed. What can we do?
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| ST PATRICK'S CHURCH |
On 8 February 1864, it was reported in 'The Newfoundlander' "The people of the city had made a beginning to the vast amount of work necessary by hauling the stone needed for the foundations of the church."
"During the last week the Catholic people of this place have been employed every day in large numbers bringing stone from various neighboring quarries for the new stone church about to be erected at St Patrick's, Riverhead. Some of the blocks of stone were of colossal size, weighing many tons each, hundreds of men being engaged in drawing them to their destination. The people, as usual, were full of zeal and energy and a work so begun cannot fail of being successfully carried out in a short period."
Bishop Mullock was impressed, finding the enthusiasm of the people "most extraordinary".
"A portion of the large amount of money required for the construction was raised in a Grand Bazaar in aid of St Patrick's held in the upper room of Fishermen's Hall on Queen Street." Having paid their admission of 15 pence, patrons were treated to music provided by various bands of the day, a sale of work, and a Grand Lottery. The Bazaar was quite a success and raised the sum of £1354, a staggering amount in those days.
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| FORMER FISHERMEN'S HALL |
The following year, 1865, the good Bishop once again announced that the day's fishery for the church on 15 August, both in St John's and on the Labrador, would be applied to St Patrick's. He also announced that he intended to introduce a penny a week collection as a means of support. We certainly owe Bishop John Thomas Mullock our thanks. He was indeed a determined champion of St Patrick's Church.
I have no proof of it, but I feel sure that while all this activity was going on, there was also much prayer being sent up to heaven for the success of the venture. If we can do nothing else, maybe we too could do a spot of praying. St Joseph is a wonderful Saint to turn to in any situation but, since he is the Patron of the Universal Church, he would be the ideal saint to come to our help now.
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| STATUE OF ST JOSEPH IN ST PATRICK'S CHURCH |
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