<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <html><head><title>St. Josephs Catholic Church. Boston, MA</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=unicode"><!-- Created with the CoffeeCup HTML Editor 2006 --><!-- http://www.coffeecup.com/ --><!-- Brewed on 09/12/2006 11:28:37 PM --> <meta name="GENERATOR" content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1528"> <meta name="description" content=""> <meta name="keywords" content=""></head> <body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#800080" alink="#ff0000" background="img/bckgrnd12.gif"> <p align="center"><font color="#000080"><strong><strong><font size="6"><strong><font size="5">Welcome to</font><br></strong>St. Joseph Parish<br></font></strong></strong><font size="4">Proudly Serving Boston's Historic West End and Beacon Hill Neighborhoods Since 1862</font></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <HR style="WIDTH: 869px; HEIGHT: 6px" align=center color=#0000a0 SIZE=6> <FONT color=#000080 size=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; | </FONT><STRONG><A onmouseover="window.status='St. Josephs Boston. Home Page'; return true" title="Back to St.Josephs Home Page" onMouseOut="window.status=' '" href="index.htm"><STRONG><FONT color=#000080 size=2>HOME</FONT></STRONG></A><FONT color=#000080 size=2> |&nbsp;</FONT><A onmouseover="window.status='St. Josephs Boston. Parish Staff'; return true" title="Parish Staff" onMouseOut="window.status=' '" href="staff.htm"><FONT color=#000080 size=2>PARISH STAFF</FONT></A><FONT color=#000080 size=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;| </FONT><A onmouseover="window.status='St. Josephs Boston. Weekly Bulletin'; return true" title="Weekly Bulletin" onMouseOut="window.status=' '" href="bulletin.htm"><FONT color=#000080 size=2>WEEKLY BULLETIN</FONT></A><FONT color=#000080 size=2> | </FONT><A onmouseover="window.status='St. Josephs Boston. Parish Info'; return true" title="Parish Information" onMouseOut="window.status=' '" href="info.htm"><FONT color=#000080 size=2>PARISH INFO</FONT></A><FONT color=#000080 size=2> | </FONT><A onmouseover="window.status='St. Josephs Boston. Liturgical Services'; return true" title="Religious and Mass Schedules" onMouseOut="window.status=' '" href="liturgical.htm"><FONT color=#000080 size=2>LITURGICAL SERVICES</FONT></A><FONT color=#000080 size=2> | </FONT><A onmouseover="window.status='St. Josephs Boston. Directions'; return true" title="Directions to Parish" onMouseOut="window.status=' '" href="directions.htm"><FONT color=#000080 size=2>DIRECTIONS</FONT></A><FONT color=#000080 size=2> | </FONT><A onmouseover="window.status='St. Josephs Boston. Prayers and Links'; return true" title="Prayers and Links to Other Site" onMouseOut="window.status=' '" href="links.htm"><FONT color=#000080 size=2>PRAYER LINKS</FONT></A><FONT color=#000080 size=2> | </FONT> <HR style="WIDTH: 869px; HEIGHT: 6px" align=center color=#0000a0 SIZE=6> </STRONG> <P align=center><STRONG><U><FONT color=#999900 > <FONT size=2><FONT face=Georgia><FONT color=#800000 >ST. JOSEPHS CHURCH&nbsp;HISTORICAL FACTS:</FONT>&nbsp;</FONT></FONT></FONT></U></STRONG>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <TABLE height=80 width=832 border=0> <TR height=122><!-- Row 1 --> <TD><FONT size=2 ><FONT color=#000080><STRONG> <DIV align=center><BR> <TABLE height=112 width=651 border=0> <TR><!-- Row 1 --> <TD width=30><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2>1.</FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2 >Alexander Parris was the Architect of St. Joseph's Church.</FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 2 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2 >2.</FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2 >St. Joseph's Church was erected in 1834 for the Twelfth Congregational Society.&nbsp;</FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 3 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2 >3.</FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT size=2><FONT face=Georgia><FONT color=#000080>St. Joseph's Church was purchased by the Boston Roman Catholic Diocese in 1862.</FONT> </FONT></FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR></TABLE></STRONG></FONT></DIV></FONT> <TABLE cellSpacing=5 width="811" border=0 height=194> <TR height=32> <TD width="38"> <DIV align=center><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2 ><STRONG>1824&nbsp;</STRONG>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></DIV></TD> <TD width="91%"> <P><FONT size=2><FONT face=Georgia><FONT color=#000080 >The Twelfth Congregational Society (Unitarian) retained the renowned architect ALEXANDER PARIS to erect a Church for a cost of $34,000. It was called upon completion "the most elegant Church in Boston". Some other of Alexander Paris' buildings still standing today.</FONT> </FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2>St. Paul's Cathedral, (Episcopal) Tremont Street; Faneuil Hall District: <BR></FONT><FONT face=Verdana color=#000080><FONT face=Georgia size=2>The Great hall (White building) with its two red brick flanking buildings. <BR></FONT><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2 >Church of the Presidents in Quincy Square containing the Burial Crypts of Presidents; John Adams and John Quincy Adams.</FONT> </P></FONT></TD></TR></TABLE></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TR><!-- Row 2 --> <TD><FONT color=#800000 size=5><U><STRONG> <P align=center> <TABLE width="815" border=0 height=797> <TR><!-- Row 1 --> <TD> <DIV align=left><STRONG><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2>1758</FONT></STRONG></DIV></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD> <P><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2>November 2, Fr. L' Abbe de la PORTERIE&nbsp; said the First Mass on Green Street in the West End.</FONT></P></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 2 --> <TD> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2>1847</FONT></STRONG></DIV></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2>Fr. Ambrose MANAHAN of the Cathedral Staff rented a small house over a store at Garden and Phillips Street in the West End.</FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 3 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia> <P align=center><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2><FONT color=#800000><STRONG>OUR BEGINNING</STRONG></FONT> </FONT></P></FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 4 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2>1849</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia> <P><FONT color=#000080><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size=2>Fr. MANAHAN rented a hayloft owned by Charles Parkman of Bridge Street (formerly North Anderson Street) to accommodate 300 children for Religious Instruction.</FONT> </FONT></P></FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 5 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2>1851</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD> <P><FONT color=#000080><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" size=2>First PUBLIC MASS said in the Hayloft on Bridge Street in the West End.</FONT> </FONT></P></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 6 --> <TD> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2>1854</FONT></STRONG></DIV></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2>The Congregation moved to the first floor of the Organ factory at North Grove and Cambridge Street.</FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 7 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2>1862</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia><FONT color=#000080 size=2>Under Bishop FITZPATRICK, Fr. Williams, the Administrator, purchased this building with organ for $27,000. The Unitarian Congregation contested this sale. The Courts upheld the sale.</FONT></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT color=#000080> <BR></FONT> <P><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2><EM>This was one of the four churches puchased that year. St. Stephen's in the North End was another one.</EM></FONT></P></FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 8 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2>1862</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2>November 9, Archbishop John J. Williams Dedicated our St. Joseph's Church. The Reverend Patrick T. O'Reilly was named its first Pastor. He was later appointed Bishop of Springfield, MA.</FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 9 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2>1868</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia><FONT color=#000080 size=2>Number 2 and 4 Allen Street was purchased to enlarge the Church to its present size. Number 6 Allen Street was purchased to build the Rectory.</FONT></FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 10 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2>1884</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT color=#000080><FONT face=Georgia><FONT size=2>A "Hook Hastings" Organ was purchased and is still in use at St. Joseph's Church.</FONT></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 11 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2>1886</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2>The future Cardinal O'Connell was assigned to St. Joseph's as a Curate for 7 years.</FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 12 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2>1900</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT color=#000080><FONT face=Georgia><FONT size=2>At the turn of the Century St. Joseph's was serving 12,000 Parishioners.</FONT></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 13 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2><STRONG>1950</STRONG></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2>Urban flight increased. Parts of the West End were taken for a Viaduct, widening of Cambridge Street, and expansion of Mass General Hospital. Finally the City of Boston took the entire West End for Urban Renewal.</FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 14 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia><STRONG><FONT color=#000080><FONT size=2>1960</FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></FONT></STRONG></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT color=#000080><FONT face=Georgia><FONT size=2>In 1960 St. Joseph's Church and Rectory stood alone amid the rubble of decimated Old West End.</FONT></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 15 --> <TD> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2>1962</FONT></STRONG></DIV></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2>St. Joseph Church celebrates its Centennial.</FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 16 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2>1968</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia color=#000080 size=2>Fr. Gerald Bucke arrives to a decimated parish and gives 31 years to rejuvenate St. Joseph's Parish.</FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 17 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2>1974</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT color=#000080><FONT face=Georgia><FONT size=2>The Upper Church was decorated with funds from the McCrossen Family. Cardinal MEDERIOS celebrates the reopening of the Upper Church.</FONT></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 18 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2>1987</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT color=#000080><FONT face=Georgia><FONT size=2>The Parish Celebrates its 125th anniversary. Cardinal LAW celebrates Mass with over thousand WEST ENDERS who returned.</FONT></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 19 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2>1999</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT color=#000080><FONT face=Georgia><FONT size=2>April 15, 1999 <STRONG>Father Gerald&nbsp;BUCKE </STRONG>died after dedicating 31 years to the leadership of the St. Joseph's Parish Community.</FONT></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 20 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2>1999</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD> <P><FONT face=Georgia><FONT color=#000080 size=2>October 19, 1999 <STRONG>Father Gabriel TROY, </STRONG>Missionary and Director of the Society of St. James the Apostle was installed as Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in the West End of Boston.</FONT> </FONT></P></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 21 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#ff0000 size=2> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2>2006</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia size=2><FONT color=#000080><STRONG>Father Gabriel TROY&nbsp;&nbsp; </STRONG>was re-assigned to St. Mary's Parish in Cambridge in June, 2006</FONT></FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 22 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia> <DIV align=center><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#ff0000 size=2><FONT color=#000000 size=3> <DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" color=#000080 size=2>2006</FONT></STRONG></DIV></FONT></FONT></DIV></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT size=2><FONT color=#000080><FONT face=Arial> <STRONG><FONT face=Georgia>Father&nbsp;Daniel C. O'Connell&nbsp; </FONT></STRONG>From the office of Spiritual Development &amp; Boston Catholic Television is named new Pastor.</FONT></FONT></FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 23 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia></FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR> <TR><!-- Row 24 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD><FONT face=Georgia></FONT></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR></TABLE></P></STRONG></U></FONT></TD><!-- Col 1 --> <TD></TD><!-- Col 2 --></TR></TABLE><BR><FONT size=4> <HR style="WIDTH: 869px; HEIGHT: 6px" align=center color=#0000a0 SIZE=6> <P></P> <P></P> <P align=center><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#000080 size=2><STRONG>68&nbsp;William Cardinal O'Connell Way<BR>Boston, Massachusetts 02114<BR>Tel: 617 523 4342<BR>Fax: 617 523 8459<BR> </STRONG><BR>email: </FONT><FONT size=4><FONT color=#000080 size=2><A href="mailto:st.josephs01@verizon.net">st.josephs01@verizon.net</A></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000080 size=2><A href="mailto:st.josephs@stjosephsboston.com"></A> <br> </FONT><BR></P></FONT></FONT> </body> </html>