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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOUC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
JANUARY 26. 1946
SEVENTEEN
History of Catholicity in Goldsboro Had Its Beginning When
Cardinal Gibbons [fas Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina
(Special to The Bulletin)
GOLDSBORO. N. C.—The his--
lory of Catholicity in Goldsboro
N. C., as near, as can be ascertain
ed. dates back to the time when
the late James Cardinal Gibboi ■,
the Vicar Apostolic of North Caro
lina. came through town on horse
back. Mass was celebrated in a
private home, that of Mrs. Hannah
E. Freeman, on North William
Street (on the site now occupied
by the U. S. O. Club.) The his
tory of those days is very sketchy,
chiefly because of the fact that the
only available sources of informa
tion are the older members of the
parish.
Some time during the year 1886,
the Rev. Thomas Frederick Price,
the first parish priest to be in
Goldsboro, began collecting funds
for the erection of a future church.
The lot for the church was pur
chased by Father Price in that
year from Mr. J. J. Street, his
wife, Josephine Strauss, and Hen
ry and Solomon Weil, for $1,250.
In order to obtain the finances
necessary for erecting a church,
Father Pric> held a'fair or bazaar.
Mrs. T. F. McCarthy, of New Bern,
N. C., (which was at that time the
residence of the priest in charge
of-Goldsboro), Godmother of the
present Administrator of the par
ish, donated a diamond, which
was raffled at this bazaar. “The
fair,” says Monsignor A. R. Free-'
man, “was in the old Arlington
Hotel, now demolished. Mrs.
Georgia Raine Freeman served as
general manager of the undertak
ing. She procured a contribution
from Grover Cleveland, who was
then finishing his, first term as
President of the United States.
Special assistance to the strug
gling congregation came from the
Jewish community of Goldsboro,
particularly the Weil family, one
member of which jestingly re
marked from the predominance of
Jews in attendance. ‘It seems more
like a Jewish fair than a Catholic
fair.’ ” The amount obtained from
the bazaar . as $1,60.0, a very re
markable figure for those days.
Father Price went North to pro
cure additional funds, but the to
tal amount obtained was insuffi
cient to build the church as he
had planned it. According to his
plans, there was to have been a
large sacristy in the rear and fly
ing buttresses between the win
dows. In some later year, the
iron rods connecting the side walls
were added to the church for the
purpose of tying the walls togeth
er and supporting the roof.
From the funds which he obtain
ed, Father Price began to build
his church. The first spadeful of
dirt was thrown up by Arthur
Raine Freeman, the present Vicar
General of the Diocese, in 1889, and
the cornerstone of St. Mary’s was
laid and the church completed and
dedicated the same year by the
Rt. Rev. Leo Ilaid, O. S. B„ Ab
bot of Belmont and Vicar Aposto
lic of North Carolina. Father
Price donated the 'windows of the
original church. Me received the
offer of a marble altar on the con
dition that the donor might assign
a name for the church, but he was
steadfast in refusing to change the
name of the church from the one
which he had chosen—St. Mary’s.
A wooden altar was accordingly
obtained from a church in Balti
more, and still stands today as a
monument to Father Price's de
votion to Our Lady. Mrs. Emma
Dunkel Traylor gave the holy wa
ter font and made the carpet for
the altar. Some years later she
also donated the statues of St. An
thony. the Sacred Heart and the
Blessed Virgin. Monsignor Wil
liam F. O’Brien (who had supplied
for Father Whearty, then pastor
of St. Mary’s, for four months in
1904 while the latter was ill.
tells this story about the erection
of the Shrine of the Blessed Vir
gin Mary: “St. Mary’s Church i
Goldsboro, at that time, did not
have a Shrine 'of the Blessed Vir
gin. I interested myself in get
ting a Statue of the Blessed Vir
gin for St. Mary’s. Miss Emma
Dunkel, now Mrs. .Traylor, still
living in Goldsboro, donated the
funds for the beautiful Statue.
“Being connected with Nazareth,
I had a goodly number of the
orphans, together with a band of
Sisters of Mercy to come to the
celebration. Father Price preach
ed a beautiful sermon on the
Blessed Vergin. The children of
the Missions, as well at the orphan
children of Nazareth, marched in
and around the church, joyously
singing the praisess cf Mary. The
services ended by Father Irwin,
now Monsignor of New Bern, and
my assisting Father Price in
giving Benediction to the tried
and faithful Catholics of the city
and their many friends." The bap
tismal for.', for the new church
was donated by Miss Sudie Gris-i
wold, of Goldsboro, N. C.
Father Price’s parish comprised
everything east of the Wilming-
ton-Weldon Railroad, including
such towns as Edenton, Elizabeth
City. Washington, Rocky Mount,
Goldsboro, Kinston, Greenville
and New Bern. The present par
ish of St. Mary’s is small com
pared to that of Father Price’s to
day:
It is bounded on the east by a
part of Greene County; on the
south by about one-half of Duplin
County; on the north by the boun
dary lines between Wayne and
Wilson counties, and on the west
by the boundary line between
Wayne and Johnston counties and
by that between Wayne and Samp
son counties.
From an old Baptismal Register
in the archives of St. Mary’s rec
tory we have obtained some rather
meager information about the va
rious priests who attended the
parish. Of these very little infor
mation is available, with the ex
ception of Monsignor Freeman
and the present pastor. After the
entry of a Baptism in June, 1895,
the name of Father Price disap
pears from the Register. He was
succeeded in 1895 by the Rev. N.
P. Scshill, who remained about a
year at St. Mary’s Church, leav
ing in June of 1896. The Rev.
Patrick F. Quinn, the next pastor
(July, 1896-1901, had the present
church windows installed. The
Rev. Michael A. Irwin (now the
Rt. Rev. Msgr.) Pastor of St. Paul’s
Church, New- Bern, N. C.) sup
plied for Father Quinn for three
months in 1901. Upon the depar
ture of Father Quinn, the Rev.
Thomas W. Stapleton t ••came pas
tor of St. Mary’s (October, 1901-
December, 1910). The ■ last non
resident pastors of the parish
were the Rev. Charles S. Harri-
gan (1911-1912) and the Rev.
Francis J. Gallagher (October,
1912-1915). Father Gallagher
built the sacristy and the base
ment of the church. Prior to his
time, two small rooms on either
side of the altar served as sacris
ties.
All the priests, up to the time
of Father Stapleton, stayed at the
home of Mrs. Hannah K. Free
man, on North William Street,
while they were in Goldsboro, for
most of them came from New Bern
each week-end to care for their
congregation in Goldsboro. Mrs.
Freeman was an exemplary Cath
olic and her home was the home
of priests for many years. It was
her hospitality that was enjoyed
by Cardinal Gibbons in the early
days of the Church in North Caro
lina; it was likewise her hospital
ity which was extended to every
Catholic priest who visited Golds
boro up to tlie time of her death.
In June, 1915, a native son of
Goldsboro, his hands fresh with
the holy oils of ordination, Father
Arthur Raine Freeman, became
the first resident pastor. Father
Freeman, during his sixteen years
as paster of St. Mary’s Church,
made many improvements. He
built the rectory, in 1917, buying
the rest of the lot adjacent to the
Church property for this purpose.
The gas heat currently used in
the Church was installed by Fath
er Freeman, as were the present
pews, organ and church bell. Dur
ing Father Freeman’s pastorate
also, the original churches in Wil
son, Kinston and Mount Olive
were built as missions of St.
Mary’s Church. At that time there
were also missions in Scotland’s
Neck, Roanoke Rapids, Halifax,
and Dnplin County; of these, Dup
lin County is the only one new
part of St. dary’s parish. About
this time also the original Stations
of the Cross were replaced by
some imported from Germany, do
nated by the Sunday school class
taught by Miss Allie Freeman.
These Stations were erected by
Father Freeman in 1928.
The first assistant pastors ar
rived in ‘he time of Father Free
man. They were the Rev. John P.
Manley (1922-1927) and the Rev.
Phillip O’Mara (1927-19301. Dur
ing this time, also, the Diocese of
Raleigh was erected. About 1927.
Falher F-eeman began raising
funds for a future school. Toward
this work Mrs. Emma Dunkel
Traylor was a generous contribu
tor. Another donation for the
school was given by the National
Convention of the Catholic Daugh
ters of America. Later, in 1930,
the Catholic Church Extension So
ciety gavea substantial sum to S'..
Marys’ Church.
St. Mary’s School opened in
September, 1927. There were three
Sisters of the Immaculate Heart
of Mary (from Scranton, Pa.,) here
at that’ time: Sister M. Kathleen,
the Superior; Sister M. Maurine
and Sister M. St. Clair. The school
building, which afforded accom
modations for the Sisters on the
, second 'floor, was* a large frame
building, which had once been a
private residence, at one time the
residence of the Weil family.
Father Freeman bought this prop
erty in 19.-6 for $14,750., and
made alterations to the house and
furnishing for the school and con
vent. The building itself is much!
older than the church, since it |
dates back ,to Civil War days. -.In
the first registration, there were j
forty-five pupils. At the present
there are about 160 pupils. The
first year only the elementary de
partment — seven grades — was
taught. One year of high school
was begun in 1929 or 1930; this
was disco-tinued about 1933 or
1934, but was resumed in 1935.
The second year (Academic course)
of high school was added in 1936.
In 1938, Father Denges was ap
pointed pastor of the Church of
St. John the Baptist in Roanoke
Rapids. The Rev. Francis J. Gor
ham, who was at that time pastor
of the latter church, was named
pastor of St. Mary’s by the Most
Rev. Eugene J. McGuinness, D.
I)., Bishop of Raleigh. Father
Gorham's pastorate at St. Mary’s
dates from September 7, 1938.
As pastor here, he had the church
redecorated, a new altar rail and
new carpets put in the cnurch. He
also had the present sto m heating
system (a coal-stoker) installed in
the school.
Under Father Gorham, the Rev.
James J. Noonan came to Golds
boro as assistant pastor and pas
tor of the Missions. Two other
assistant pastors came to St.
Mary’s later; the Rev. Thomas
Curran (1940) and the Rev.
Charles B. McLaughlin (1941).
On November 9, 1939, the Gold
en Jubilee of the founding of St.
Mary’s was celebrated. The Most
Rev. Eugene J. McGuinness, D. D.,
Bishop ^.of Raleigh, offered the
Solemn Pontifical Mass ,the first
one ever sung in the fifty years
of St. Mary's history. His Excel
lency was assisted by priests who
had bee.: associated with St.
MaryT Church during some of the
fifty years of its existence. Mon
signor Freeman, Vicar General of
the diocese, in his sermon at the
Mass .spoke of the glorious his
tory of St. Mary’s Church and
parish and the achievements "of
the early priests who had built
and helped keep up the Goldsboro
church.
About 1939 or 1940, the flag
pole in frent of the school was
erected with the assistance of
Father Curran and Mr. Conrad
Dunkel, brother of Mrs. Traylor,
the benefactress of St. Mary’s. In
April, 1940, a glowing editorial
appea.cd in The Goldsboro Herald
commenting upon patriotism and
the display of our national flag
on public buildings.
On June 19, 1942, the Rev.
Hugh P. Kennedy was appointed
assistant to Father Gorham. Short
ly thereafter, with the opening of
the Army Air Field, now called
Seymour Johnson Field, in July,
1942, the influx of Catholic offi
cers and men, a hew problem
faced St Mary’s pastor. In August
(1942) he and Father Kennedy
were appointed Auxiliary Chap
lains. Until the arrival of the
first Catholic Chaplain—Lt. Bolc-
slaus Karpowicz, Father Gorham
had to call upon the priests from
nearby parishes for assistance in
Older that he could celebrate
Masses at the Field. Even after
the arrival of Father Karpowicz,
he continued to say at least one
Sunday Mass at the camp. Since
the chapels were not built at that
time, the Masses were celebrated
in one of the barracks, which was
filled to capacity.
Father Karpowicz was at the
Field during the month of Sep
tember, 1942. After his departure,
the two priests from St. Mary's
again had complete charge of the
Catholic personnel of the camp as
well as of Goldsboro and its mis
sions. About the end of October,
1942, Chaplain James M. Tainter,
S. J., U. S. A., arrived, and was
appointed Post Chaplain. Shortly
after Father Tainter’s arrival, the
Post Chapels were opened.
In September, 1942, Father Gor
ham opened his rectory to the sol
diers each afternoon. The “open
house” was conducted with the as
sistance of the local chapter of
the Catholic Daughters of Amer
ica, who furnished both entertain
ment and refreshments for the
boys Tom the nearby camp.
From November. 1942, until Jan
uary, 1943, the Rev. Eugene Liv-
elsberger was assistant to Father
Gorham at St. Mary's.
In thd spring of 1943, the Len
ten course of sermons was given
by Fisher Tainter, at St. Marys
Church. In return, St. Mary’s
Assistant Pastor
Oblate Missionary
St. Mary y s, Goldsboro j Assisting Pastor of
Church in Goldsboro
FATHER REGAN
The Rev. John S. Regan, assis
tant pastor of St. Mary’s Church.
Goldsboro, N. C. Father Regan,
a native of Long Island, N. Y.,
was ordained in December, 1943,
after completing his theological
study at Mount St. Mary’s Sem
inary, Emmitsburg, Md. He has
been stationed in Goldsboro sinei
that time.
choir sang the Easter Mass at Sey
mour Johnson Field. About that
time, April, 1943, the third Cath
olic chaplain, Lt. Eugene C. Mc
Guire, U. S. A., arrived to assist
Father Tainter in the spiritual
guidance of the soldiers of the
field.
Early in June, 1943, two new as
sistants arrived—Chaplain Edward
McCormick, and Chaplain Ed
mund G. McGrath. Their arriv
al came only a few days after
Father Gorham bade his flock
farev/ill anu, on June 3, 1943, de
parted for Shenango, Pa., to don
the uniform of the Chaplains
Corps of the U. S. Army.
On June 1, 1943, the Rev. Law
rence C. Newman came from St.
Patrick’s Church, Charlotte, to be
Administrator of ‘St. Mary’s par
ish during the temporary absence
of Father” Gorham. Shortly after
his arrival, on the Feast, of Corp.is
Clnisti, an outdoor procession was
held—perhaps for the first time
in the history of St. Mary’s
Church. After Benediction in the
Church, all the members of the
congregation, carrying lighted
candles in their hands, marched
in procession to the side yard of
the rectory, and after the singing
of “Tantum Ergo” again received
the blessing of their Eucharist
King.
On the last Sunday of October,
1943, the Feast of Christ the King
was solemnly celebrated at Si.
Mai-y’c with a “Missa Cantata” in
the morning, and a Holy Hour in
the afternoon. Following a ser
mon on the Kingship of Christ by i
Father Newman, the Papal and)
American flags, presented by the t
children of St. Mary’s school, were
solemnly blessed by Chaplain
Jamcr N. Tainter, S. J., of Sey
mour John-on Field.
In order to care for '.hp. increas
ed en.ollment at the school and to j
provid: also a place of entertain
ment for service men, the old j
Westmoreland home on North j
William Street, adjacent to the
convent, was bought in October.
1942. The house was redecorated
and renovated, and with the as
sistance of the National Catholic
Community Service opened to the
servicemen on Sunday, November
29, 1943. The ladies of the parish
Guild served breakfast to a num
ber of soldiers and Marines. One
side of the house was used during
the week for the kindergarten
children, but on Sundays the
house was turned over for use by
the military personnel. Enter
tainment and refreshments were j
provided without change by the I
ladies of the Guild.
The Service Center was closed j
November, 1945, having served \
5.000 meals to the men in the ser-'
vice.
Within the past two years the j
school and church have been com-:
pletcly renovated. The school ex-!
torior was painted and the ceil- 1
(Special to The Bulletin)
GOLDSBORO, N. C.—The Rev.
Francis C. McCormack. O. M. 1.,
who is presently serving as one
of the assistant pastors at St
Mary’s Church in Goldsboro, has
seen rather varied service in the
thirteen years of his priestly ca
reer.
After having been stationed at
the Sacred Heart Church, Lowell,
Mass.,. Father McCormack was
sent to Ottawa, Canada, to fill in
for six months as a teacher of Re
ligion and French. From Ottawa
he went to the west coast of Can
ada, where he served as a teach
er, a misisonary, a hospitail chap
lain, and as a parish priest. Re
turning to Twekesburj, Mass., in
his own Province, Father McCor
mack spent several months pre
paring for further missionary
work. He next went to Moxee
City, Wash., where he served for
six years as assistant pastor of
Holy Rosary Church and as a
teacher in the parochial school.
Upon the outbreak of the war,
Father McCormack volunteered as
an Army chaplain, holding a com
mission in the Chaplains Corps tor
two years, after which he was dis
charged due to physical disability.
He was next stationed in Toledo,
O., as a hospital chaplain and mis
sionary. After a year and a half,
he returned to Tewksbury where
he was engaged in missionary
work until he came to the Diocese
of Raleigh.
RECORD ENROLLMENT AT
SCHOOL IN GOLDSBORO
(Special to The Bulletin)
GOLDSBORO, N. C.—St. Mary’s
School, conducted by Sisters of
the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
is now enjoying the largest
enrollment in its seventeen years^,
of existence.
Aiding the teaching staff of four
Sisters to give St. Marys school
one of the highest scholastic rat
ings in North Carolina are the
Rev. Francis McCormack, O. M. I.,
assistant pastor of St. Mary’s
Church, who teaches religion to
pupils of the sixth, seventh and
eighth grades, and Miss Eunice
Freeman, who assists Sister Vir
ginia, I. H. M., in t' ching one
of the finest kindergartens in the
Diocese of Raleigh.
The current enrollment of the
kindergarten is fifty pupils, with
only two of the children being
Catholics.
Extensive improvements have
been made at the school in recent
months, both the interior and ex
terior of the building having been
renovate . A modern library is
available to the students, and a
public health nurse visits the
school regularly to make physical
chbck-ups on all the children. New
equipment has been installed in
the playground.
The School Board of the City of
Goldsboro has provided for teach
ing the Bible in the public high
school, and priests attached to St.
Mary’s Church are conducting reg
ular classes in religion for Cath
olic students.
In addition to the religious in
struction that is giver, the pupils
at the public high school and St.
Mary’s So' ool, there are religious
study clas. s in the evening in
Goldsboro, Mount Olive and Dup
lin County.
CARDINAL-DESIGNATE Fran
cis J. Spellman's contribution to
the cause of racial tolerance arc
underlined in a message sent to
him by Maxwell Cohen national
commander of the Jewish War
Veterans. Expressing rongratular
tion on the New York Arch
bishop's nomination to the College
of Cardinals, Mr. Cohen recalled
“It was ray pleasure in ’940 to
write to you thanking you for
your truly p.Vrlotic and liberal
sentiments expressed on racial
tolerance.”
ings and floors replaced. The
church has been richly adornei
with three new marble altars
SACRED HEART CHURCH, GOLDSBORO—The Rev. Alphonse Noll,
C. SS. R., is pastor of the Sacred Heart Church, which serves the Col
ored parish in Goldsboro, North Carolina.