In 1924, the Brothers moved from Gillette, where they had been conducting retreats for boys at the Twohey-Mills farm in Stirling, NJ. This, the future site of Saint Joseph's Shrine was opened as Holy Ghost Missionary Cenacle on October 24,1924 by Father Judge. He then began a three-day retreat for men. An outer Missionary Cenacle of mended by Dr. Barrett, came from Philadelphia.
Devotion to Saint Joseph sprang from the young men who attended retreats and from the students at the school. Under Brother Augustine's direction, funds were raised to import a marble statue of Saint Joseph from Italy. Dedication of the original Shrine was on April 25,1926. On that Sunday about 400 people attended; Father Felix O'Neill, pastor of Saint Michael's parish Newark, presided with Father Roger McGinley, pastor of Saint Aedan's parish, Jersey City preaching the sermon.
Old Barn that
became the first Chapel
The barn that became the chapel was over 100 years old, when hand-hewed beams were made. These were carefully preserved and used to decorate the first entrance, and the open beam ceiling of the chapel was left intact. The siding was replaced and the interior stained dark. This contrasted with the beautiful white altar, a gift of the parishioners of Saint James Church, Newark. In the niche above the altar was placed the life size marble statue of Saint Joseph, which was donated by the boys from the academy.
Saint Mary's Church in Jersey City donated the pews, and the altar furnishings were the gift of Saint Mary's Church in Dover, New Jersey. The conversion of the barn to a chapel was made possible by donations from Father Michael McGuinnes, Saint Mary's Church in Paterson, and Father John Murphy of Saint James Church in Newark. A set of cast iron Stations of the Cross also came from Saint James. The first Solemn High Mass was sung on the Feast of the Patronage of Saint Joseph, on April 20,1928 by Father Judge; he was assisted by Father Edward Budrawiz, Deacon, and Father Joseph Curie, Sub-deacon. Father Felix O'Neill, from Saint Michael's Church in Newark was Master of Ceremonies. Saint Joseph's Boys formed the choir. The Shrine was blessed by the Right Reverend Monsignor Thomas Lummey, from the church of The Holy Child Jesus, Richmond Hill, New York.
When the Trinity Academy was closed, plans were made to open a much needed treatment center for priests who suffered from alcoholism. Father Fred Lawrence received the request from Monsignor John Duffy of Newark; who later became Bishop of Buffalo. In 1944 priest work was moved from the Shrine of Saint Joseph to the Villa down the road. In 1952 Father Frank Kelly of Brooklyn, New York and Father Albert Koklowski S.T. inaugurated the Alcoholics Anonymous program for the residents of the Clergy Guest House. The validity of this apostolate can be gauged by weight it carried in 1937 when there was a possibility that work at the Shrine, and that of the Missionary Servants, would cease for lack of funds. It was the backing of Bishop Walsh of Newark and his confidence in Brother Joseph Limpert's leadership that was a deciding factor in the continuity of the congregation. Saint Joseph's Clergy Guest House was not closed until 1973.
In 1936, there were 37 students in the senior year of high school at Holy Trinity in Alabama receiving training in classes conducted at the Shrine by Brother Bernard McDonald, S.T. Various other apostolates also came to the Shrine, The magazine, "The Preservation of The Faith," and its staff moved to the Shrine in 1945. The staff members also traveled to Richmond Hill, Rego Park, and Gold Street in New York, and to Philadelphia to Stone Street, the Chinese Cenacle and the Most Blessed Trinity Mother house. Retreats were conducted in all these locations.
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In 1950 an outdoor Shrine to Our Lady of Fatima was completed. Also a steel type building was erected as an auditorium. (Quonset Hut) The summer of 1970 marked the construction of a new residence for the priests and brothers at the Shrine. The target date for completion originally was set for Christmas, but prior to Thanksgiving, a fire of unknown origin destroyed sixteen rooms. This happened on the evening of November 24, and only a swift response of the Stirling and Millington Volunteer Fire Departments prevented a complete disaster. Father Leonard Bachman's (the Custodian) plans to rebuild were quickly implemented. The new building was named in memory of Father Barry Corcoran, who had died in a plane crash coming from South America. The blessing of the new building was performed by the Bishop of Paterson on August 21, 1971. The parents of Father Barry were honored guests at the dedication along with Ray Donovan, Chairman of the Board of Advisors of the Shrine, and Judge Mary Kanane, National Regent of the Catholic Daughters of America. Father Peter Krebs gave the homily, and Father Eric Williams, Brother Howard Pellar, and Nick de Franzo provided the music. In 1973, Father Vincent Fitzpatrick was named Novice Master of the Holy Spirit Novitiate located at the Villa. He remained in that post until 1979 when the Novitiate was transferred to Silver Springs, Maryland. In the spring of 1975, the wooden chapel, more then 150 years old, succumbed to age and the elements. The dedication of the new chapel took place on September 6, 1975. Archbishop Simon Lourdusamy came from Rome to preside. Father Stephen Quinn, Custodian General of the Missionary Servants, and the retired Bishop of Richmond, John Russell, were the Principal Concelebrants. Father Conrad Schmitt, Vicar General of the Missionary Servants gave the homily. |
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