"A CITY BUILT ON A HILLTOP"

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "You are the light of the world.  A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp stand where it shines for everyone in the house."

BEAUTIFUL ST PATRICK'S CHURCH

Just as the city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden, neither can a church built on a hilltop be hidden.  For one hundred and forty-one years, through good times and bad, St Patrick's Church stood sentinel on Patrick Street.  Through that one hundred and forty-one years, St Patrick's let its light shine for everyone in the West End.  Sadly, St Patrick's Parish is no more.

What about its light though?  Does it still shine?  Of course it does!  It shines in the heart of every one of us who loved St Patrick's. We will carry its light in our memories and in our hearts wherever we are and as long as we live. 

OUR PATRON SAINT, ST PATRICK

On this, our first St Patrick's Day bereft of our beloved Church, we give thanks for all the good and faithful Pastors and parishioners of St Patrick's Parish.  May God bless them all and may St Patrick's light continue to shine through them.

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY, EVERYONE

OUR ROOTS ARE SHOWING!

Before you read another word, I must tell you that this post has absolutely nothing to do with St Patrick! However, it does have much to do with our roots, our Newfoundland heritage, and our way of speaking.  

A couple of days ago I was reading a book and I came across an amusing little anecdote that really delighted me.  As St Catherine of Alexandria is the Saint involved perhaps I should wait until 25th November, St Catherine's Day,  to post it.  No, I can't wait.  I think it is so cute I want to share it with you right away.  

Among other things, St Catherine is the Patron Saint of unmarried girls.  This little anecdote that I came across told of the young girls of Milton Abbas in Dorset who used to chant this little prayer to St Catherine.

"St Catherine, St Catherine, O lend me thine aid, 

and grant that I never may die an old maid.

A husband, St Catherine, a good one, 

St Catherine,

But arn-a-one better than narn-a-one, 

St Catherine.

Sweet St Catherine, a husband St Catherine,

Handsome St Catherine, rich, St Catherine,

Soon, St Catherine."

I don't suppose this verse would be considered politically correct today but it was the 'arn' and 'narn' that jumped out at me when I read it. We all learned in school that Newfoundland's first settlers were mainly people from Ireland and the West Country of England.  The West Country includes Dorset. I was just pleased to find such an unexpected confirmation of our Dorset roots and, if you haven't already heard this verse, I hope you will enjoy it now.

Dorset, where some of our forebears hailed from

ST PATRICK'S DEANERY

This post has been prompted by an email and a photograph which we received several months ago from Enid O’Brien.  The photo is of St Patrick’s Deanery.  Enid thought that it might be of interest to former students and parishioners who are living away from home.  I quite agree with Enid!  Enid’s sister worked at the Deanery around 1955, operating the switchboard.  Her sister was still attending school and worked there after school and on weekends.  Enid observed that it is hard to believe that they would have been busy enough to need a switchboard operator.  Good point Enid!

 



Historic St Patrick's Deanery

It was the dream and the firm intention of Bishop John Thomas Mullock to establish at Riverhead in the west end of St John’s a fine Church to minister to the spiritual needs of the people of that area.  His Lordship determined that this Church would be dedicated to St Patrick, the Apostle of their “ancestral land”.  The Bishop recorded in his diary for 23^rd March 1852 that he had “Paid Mr Little £341 for land at Riverhead for church, schools, and a convent”.  On a rainy 17th September 1855, as part of the celebrations for the consecration of the Cathedral, the foundation stone for the new church was laid by Archbishop John Hughes of New York.

 

For various reasons, it was quite a few years before the actual construction of the church could begin.  So, in 1860, Bishop Mullock decided to build a temporary church until the more fitting edifice could be erected.  No time was lost in building the wooden church that would serve the Catholics of Riverhead for more than twenty years.  On Sunday, 9^th September 1860, the first St Patrick’s Church was dedicated to the glory of God.  This time the ceremonies were carried out in brilliant sunshine! 
 

This ‘temporary’ Church stood where St Patrick’s Deanery stands today and it served the people well until our beautiful and long awaited St Patrick’s Church was dedicated in August 1881.   St Patrick’s Deanery was erected in 1884. It is a Registered Heritage Structure.  To learn more about the  designation of St Patrick's Deanery, click here.

 

Our thanks go to Enid for once again providing us with material for an informative post about our St Patrick’s Parish.