St Marys High School - Blue Mantle Yearbook (Milford, MA)

Page 17 text:

In St. Mary ’ s High School- Library we have a Bible which be¬ longed to the Rev. Patrick Cuddihy, the fourth pastor of St. Mary’s Parish. On one of the record pages of the book there is penned in Father Cuddihy’s own handwriting a brief summary of his life and labors which we reprint here to perpetuate his memory and to re¬ mind us of the great ' work he did in building St. Mary’s Church, and laying the foundation for one of the greatest parishes in the Springfield diocese. ”1, Patrick Cuddihy wish to leave this record after mo. I was born on St. Patrick’s Day, 1809, of James Cuddihy and Mary Mulcahy both from near Clonmel Tipperary, county.” I went to Rome in 1827 to study for the Church; was pro¬ fessed in the Order of St. Francis on Oct. 8, 1828 - was ordained at Mass 1831. Lived in Clonmel ten years - and in Waterford ten years more - was secularized in 1852 by the Delegate Apostolic Most Rev. Paul Cullen then a bishop of Armagh. Came to America in October 1852. I was immediately after appointed pastor of Pittsfield where I lived till 1857. Built a Church at Lee, an¬ other at Great Barrington another at Adams, enlarged the one at Pittfield, and laid out the finest Catholic cemetery of these days. I then came to Milford in Sept. 1857, where I have been till now this 12th day of Sept. 1886-98. I built the Church here laying the cornerstone May 1866. Furnished with organ, bells- the best in the country around. In 1890 built the tower. In 1896 built the Irish Round Tower in the cemetery and peers - and laid out and donated the cemetery. In 1897 built the school house and bestowed it and the Convent to the Bishop for the Catholics of Milford. In 1882 intro¬ duced the Sisters who have been teaching since. In Futinam Deo Memoriam, St. Patrick’s Day 1894.

Page 16 text:

We added a new name to our friendship list this eohool year in the person of Father Dunn, curate for Father Timothy Gleason of Medway. This zealous curate,working with ' hi3 Pastor co-operation, sent three girls from his Parish. It is worthy of note that these students are the most remote from St. Mary f s and have had to endure really difficult transportation problems in order to get a Catholic education. Father Dunn s ' transfer to Medford Hillside interrupted his work for St. Mary’s, but Father Gleason’s interest and support still continues. Rev. John J. Foran, St. Patrick’s Parish, Whitinsville is the counterpart in education and piety of our own dear Pas tor,for he is his nephew,. He is a diligent worker in furthering the cause of Catholic education,and because of his influence,many more Whi¬ tinsville boys and girls have been added to our list of pupils in the past few years Good Shepherd ' Parish, Linwood, holds another Champion for Christ. He is Rev. Alvin N. Gagnon, a pious and consbiohtious Priest of God, who, in his short timo as Pastor of the Good Shep¬ herd Parish, has sent some excellent and diligent pupils to the School, among them, Claire Dion, our illustrious Salutatorian. Father Mulry, of St. Thomas Parish, Millis, was one of the first of the Priests of the surrounding Parishes to rally to the cause of Catholic education and to interest the boys and girls :f his Parish in going to St. Mary’s. His efforts met with great- success, and while, at presont, we have only a very few of the children of his Parish attending St. Mary’s, Father Mulry still shows himself willing‘to aid in any way that he can in any pro¬ ject undertaken at St. Mary’s. Other Priests outstanding in the cause of Catholic edu¬ cation are Rev. Frederick J. Dcasy,S t. John’s Parish, Hopkington, Rev,’ Daniel O’Keefe, St. Mary’s Parish, Hollis ton. Rev. Francis Shea, Medfield To these pious and conscientious Servants of Christ wo offer our sincere gratitude for any help they may have given to St. Mary’s in the way of now pupils or in aid ' or parti¬ cipation in any project which we have ' undertaken. Again,the Class of 1944 offers you our warmest thanks. Frances Flaherty ’44

Page 18 text:

This day Deo gratias - I have celebrated my eighty- eighth birthday - sang Mass with Father Canavan deacon and Fr. Griffin, sub-deacon - being in perfect health - preached the panegyrick of St, Patrick last Sunday - and had the happiness to entertain my former curates and friends on Thursday 18th at dinner. t Laus Deo Semper Patrick Cuddihy Pastor Rev, George A. Hamilton — 1850 Rev. Michael Carohcr - 1853 Rev. Edward Farreley - 1854 Rev. Patrick Cuddihy - 1857 Rev, James Canavan - 1898 Rev, David F. Me Grath - 1899 Rev. William F. Grace - 1922 Rev. Jeremiah A. Riordan - 1925 Rev. James P, Curran - 1941 Rev. William J. Foran 1942