Chapter 6 Fr. Jeremiah Riordan

Bishop O’Leary looked far to the west and nearly into the state of New York to find a leader for the largest parish at the easternmost end of his diocese.  Fr. Jeremiah J. Riordan had been the founding pastor of St Mary Morning Star Parish in Pittsfield to be the next pastor in Milford in January of 1925.  His tenure in Pittsfield had built a new church and school and placed the new community on firm footing for its future.  He would bring these same skills and zeal for administration and devotion to the flock now under his care at Saint Mary of the Assumption.

The weekend of January 25 he spoke at all of the parish Masses to introduce himself and familiarize the parish with his abilities, his vision and expectations.  He made note of the beautiful parish buildings, and the size of the parish and its importance to the life of the diocese.  He spoke warmly of his predecessors who had served at this altar, reminiscing of having heard Fr. Cuddihy speak once at Holy Cross College when he was a student there. 

“His address at each mass was earnest, quite informal and filled with humor, an address that did much to cement cordial feelings immediately and assured the new pastor of the hearty co-operation of the parishioners for promotion of all that meant the success of St. Mary’s.  He expressed his entire confidence that he would receive the cordial and unstinted support of the parish in his work for it, that was characteristic of it in the years gone by.  After jokingly referring to the curiosity of the parishioners to see what their new pastor looked like, and in a humorous manner denying a report that he was 60 years old, Fr. Riordan said in part:

‘I am honored in being selected from among all the priests of the diocese to succeed the late and lamented Fr. Grace as the pastor of St. Mary’s parish.  I was well acquainted with your former pastors, from Fr. Cuddihy, Fr. Canavan, who, like myself, was a Worcester boy; Fr. McGrath who did such wonderful work here, and Fr. Grace one of the finest men of the diocese, under whom I served as a curate 22 years ago.  I feel it is an honor to preside over the spiritual destiny of such a parish as yours, and I want to assure you that you will always find me standing four-square.   Your sorrows will be my sorrows; your joys will be my joys.  I believe I am going to be very happy here, and promise you not only my best work for the parish, but for Milford and all her people.  For 10 years I labored in Pittsfield, and feel that the people there were sorry to see me leave.  I hope to soon become well acquainted with my flock, and promise you all my very best efforts to help you in every possible way.’”

His time as pastor would bring many improvements:  the completion of the new high school building, numerous renovations and improvements to the upper and lower churches, and establishing a new parish in Hopedale, all while leading his flock through the Great Depression and to the threshold of World War II.

The arrival of Fr. Riordan with the transfer of both Fr. Rock and Fr. Fitzgibbons made him a busy man from the moment he reached Milford in January of 1925.  Coming from the western end of the state, his responsibilities here in Milford shifted immediately to the effort to complete the parish school that Fr. Grace had begun.  To complete the school was undoubtedly an enormous effort, there were those who felt that it was the cause of the unexpected death of Fr. Grace, coming days before the blessing on the cornerstone that previous June.
The great day was scheduled for Sunday, September 6, 1925, the day before the observance of Labor Day and the weekend before classes would open for the new academic year.  The day’s events were planned to begin with a celebration of Vespers in the church at 3 PM, with Bishop Thomas O’Leary in attendance.  Following the service, the procession of ministers would leave the church and head down the street to the new school.  Going first around the exterior, the bishop would bless the building, then enter and bless each room or space of the interior individually. 
A century ago, the new Saint Mary’s Academy was a marvel for the parish and the town.  Built at a cost of over $275,000, it would house the academics of the parish high school students for nearly a half a century, missing that golden mark by just one year when the high school was shuttered by the Diocese of Worcester with the final graduating Class of 1974.  The building in its pristine state is described in detail in The Milford Journal of September 5, 1925.  There was a ‘commodious basement, extending under the entire building, with central corridor.’  The structure of this lower level was predominantly cement, with ‘sanitary quarters for girls’ at the Winter Street end and another for boys at Sumner Street.  There were also ‘quarters for athletics or gym work’ along with heating and electrical facilities and a physical laboratory for science.  The right side of the building, toward Sumner Street with the boys’ room also held storage space and a chemical laboratory with equipment that was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Bristow Draper.
On the main floor, to the west of the main corridor was an assembly room which could hold 300 students.  The east side of this hall had a rostrum over which was a portrait of Bishop O’Leary.  On the opposite wall was a portrait of Fr. Grace, who began the construction of the school, but died unexpectedly the week before the laying of the cornerstone.  On either side of the hall were classrooms, each equipped with a carved crucifix.  To the right of the entrance was the administration office for the Sister Superior of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, to the left a recitation room and then two classrooms. 
 

On the second floor a corridor ran down the center of the building.  To the east of this were three classrooms and a large reference library that had space for 1,500 volumes.  On the opposite side were two more classrooms “and a large roof plaza that might afford space for school drills, etc.”  Each classroom was equipped with oak desks and chairs, ranging from 24 to 48 students.
  The school was outfitted with a master clock that would regulate the clocks in individual classrooms to maintain all rooms on the same time schedule.  These clocks were a donation from the Notre Dame Alumnae Association, formed among the original graduates of Saint Mary’s Academy when it was an all girls school founded by Fr. Cuddihy and staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.  This order was succeeded by the Sisters of Saint Joseph who staffed the school until it closed in 1974.  They began their effort in September of 1904 at the invitation of Fr. McGrath or Fr. Phelan when the school welcomed young boys as students for the first time.  Another gift to the school was through the generosity of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (A.O.H.) was a monetary donation in memory of Catherine O’Keefe Mahoney.  Fr. Riordan used this donation to supply an oak desk for the administration office.
The interior of the school had hard wood finishing; the flooring, wainscot, doors and trim.  The plumbing was considered “modern and extensive.  The lighting is equally adequate.”  The school had been designed by Architect Donahue of Springfield and constructed by J.P. Keating of Westboro.  Without including the grading and landscaping, it was built at a cost of $275,000.  Fr. Riordan had requested friends of the school to donate any book to the library of “standard approved value for reference use.”
Sunday, September 6, 1925 was a glorious day in the history of Saint Mary’s Parish.  Crowds gathered that taxed the capacity of both the church and the school.  Mid-afternoon the procession formed at the rectory on Pearl Street, led by Fr. Leo Rock as the crossbearer.  The procession headed to the church where solemn vespers were prayed, led by Fr. J. J. Fitzgibbons, formerly of Milford.  Bishop O’ Leary was in attendance on his episcopal throne and Fr. Doyle preached on Matthew 6, “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God and His Justice.” 
At the end, the bishop imparted his blessing, commending the pastor and priests, the Sisters of Saint Joseph, and the parish on its achievement of one of the finest school buildings in the diocese.  The procession regrouped and leaving the church proceeded to the school where beginning outside and then into each of the rooms, Bishop O’ Leary blessed the building and invoked God’s blessing on the learning to be done there.  Following the blessing, Fr. Riordan hosted the bishop and visiting clergy at a luncheon in the rectory.  Meanwhile, hundreds inspected the school and more the following day, the Labor Day holiday.  On Tuesday, September 8^th, the first students filed through the door for the first day of their academic year as they would each September for nearly half a century.  It was a proud day, the beginning of a proud legacy that would be Saint Mary’s High School.

Miss Grace Walker left a bequest to the parish upon her death at the early age of 30.  As a result, four exquisite Carrara marble statues were commissioned and installed in the parish sanctuary.  Follow this link to the article on the statues. 

this article was first published in the weekly bulletin of November 29 and December 5, 2020

On Sunday, September 24, 1933, thousands of Milfordians turned out for an unusual and historic moment for the town and especially for Saint Mary’s Parish.  While dozens of her sons had been elevated to the altar to serve the Church as a priest, this day one of her sons returned to sing his first public Mass as a bishop.  The Most Rev. Gerald Shaughnessy, C. M. son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Shaughnessy of Sumner Street, returned to his home parish following his consecration as a bishop at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.  These proud parents were blessed to have been present at the ordination of their son as a priest and now, nearing their eighties were both present to celebrate his elevation to the episcopacy in the Roman Catholic Church.  The turnout in Milford was described as one that “taxed the seating capacity of the edifice, while scores stood in the vestibule.”

The escort for the new bishop gathered at Saint Mary’s School hall at 10:15 am and then made its way to the rectory on Pearl Street where the procession for the Solemn Pontifical Mass organized.  The parish’s curate, Fr. John P. Donahue was the cross bearer and the procession formed behind him to make its way to the church.  Fr. Donahue was followed by the escort for the bishop who were followed by, then came visiting priests, the officers of the Mass vested, followed by 32 altar boys and finally Bishop Shaughnessy who was accompanied by Fr. Cyr Parent, CM and Fr. Arthur Boissoneault, both of Medford, who served as deacon and sub-deacon of the Mass respectively.  With them was the Very Rev. William Lonergan, S. M., rector of the Marist College in Washington where the new bishop had served on the faculty, who had accompanied the bishop from Washington and served as high priest during the Mass. Fittingly, the new bishop was vested for the Mass in the same alb that his mother had sewn for him when he was ordained the priesthood just thirteen years earlier in 1920. 

 When the procession reached the church, Bishop Shaughnessy was escorted to his throne by Fr. Donohue and the altar boys.  The honorary escort took their reserved seats in the front of the church.  The escort was comprised of members of Saint Mary’s Alumni Association and members of the Saint Mary’s school corporation.  The list of those given this distinction reads of the prominent Catholic families of the parish at that time. 

Assisting Bishop Shaughnessy were Fr. Parent, C.M., of Medford as Deacon, Fr. Boissoneault of Medford as sub-deacon, the deacons of honor were Fr. Richard Murphy of Uxbridge and Fr. Julius Valentinelli of Sacred Heart, Milford, and the Very Rev. William Longeran, rector of the Marist College in Washington, DC, served as the high priest.  The preacher for the Mass as the Rt. Rev. John Phelan (former curate at Saint Mary’s) of Worcester. 

Msgr. Phelan preached eloquently and fittingly for the occasion although the news reports give no indication of the theme or topic.  During the Mass, the bishop spoke briefly, expressing his gratitude to Fr. Riordan for his many courtesies and the hospitality afforded to the bishop in being able to have his first public Mass in his home church with his parents attending.  Following the Mass, all were invited to the parish school for a luncheon and reception to greet the new bishop that was organized by the Saint Mary’s High Alumni Association.  Fr. Riordan served as toastmaster and remarks were offered by Judge John Swift, Supreme Director of the Knights of Columbus, and a Milford native, Dr. Thomas Nugent, and the visiting clergy. 

From Milford, Bishop Shaughnessy would travel by rail across the country to arrive for his installation as the fourth Bishop of Seattle on October 10, 1933.  Once his train entered the state of Washington, he was greeted at every stop by members of his new flock to welcome him.  When he arrived at King Street Station in the city, he taken directly to the Cathedral of Saint James which had been packed with children from across the diocese of joyfully welcome him and receive his first blessing.  A professor before entering the seminary just before he turned thirty, he had expected to spend his life in Washington, DC, as an academician until Pope Pius XI tapped him on July 3, 1933 to travel across the country to lead in a place he had never been.  He chose as his episcopal motto a single word, that of Our Lady, Fiat, her answer to the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation.

The task ahead of his was fierce.  He knew no one in Seattle, he was unfamiliar with the area, and he followed Bishop O’Dea who had led the church in Seattle for 37 years and was deeply loved.  Bishop Shaughnessy endeared himself as well as he would lead the diocese through the depression and make it financially stable for decades, through a world war when he condemned the discrimination against Japanese Americans and opposed the war.  He supported the formation of Serra International and served as its first chaplain.  In a 1941 Easter sermon, he sharply criticized Wendell Willkie, the presidential candidate.  Willkie demanded an apology.  Bishop Shaughnessy responded that Willkie was not “the man he used to be, and in fact he never was … And speaking of ‘apology,’ Mr. Willkie, I believe that you owe one to your party, to those who voted for you, and to the whole nation.”

A year later, the bishop would return to Milford celebrate with his parents their golden wedding anniversary on August 2, 1934 with a Mass at Saint Mary's Church.  A year later, and he would be present for the dedication of Sacred Heart Church in Hopedale on November 10, 1935.  In 1945, while returning from the bishops' conference, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage from which he never fully recovered.  On May 18, 1950, a day before his 63^rd birthday, he entered his eternal reward.

This article appeared in the weekly bulletin on March 28th and April 4, 2021

 In the 1930s, the United States living through a time of great transition.  The prosperity of the 1920s had brought about the crash of the stock market in 1929 and ushered in a period that history would refer to as the Great Depression in the 1930s.  The uncertain times in the USA were matched by similar unsettledness in Europe as Hitler rose to power in Germany and Mussolini in Italy.  Their insatiable desire for power would plunge the world into war for the second time in a score of years.  Before then, life was returning to a normal rhythm in Milford as it flourished under the pastoral leadership of Fr. Jeremiah Riordan.

That winter the school was basking in the success of its debating team.  On February 20, 1940, The Milford Daily News reported on the victory from the previous night of the team from Saint Mary’s High School over the team from Saint Joseph’s in North Adams in the final round for the Diocese of Springfield’s competition.  That night had a severe snow storm, but the Town Hall was crowded with supporters nonetheless. 

The debate was on the question “Resolved, that the Federal Government Should Own and Operate the Railroads.”  The Saint Mary’s Team had argued in the affirmative and received a vote of 2-1 from the neutral board of judges.  Both teams scored well, but the one from Milford was given a slight edge in their rebuttal which won them the argument.  This victory gave Saint Mary’s not only the diocesan championship, but permanent ownership of the Bishop O’Leary Trophy.  The team was coached by Fr. John Donahue, headmaster of the school and pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Hopedale.  Atty. William Byrne of Milford served as the moderator for the debate.

The debate team and its success were soon the topic of conversation in the area, given their arguments and their success in securing the O’Leary Trophy.  On behalf of the team, Fr. Donahue accepted an invitation from Worcester radio station WORC for the two championship debating teams to present their arguments at a broadcast on March 29^th.  The hour long broadcast would be a first for a high school debating team.   The station had hosted collegiate debates but this would be a first for the station and any high school in the Worcester area.  That both teams entered the debate undefeated added to the interest of their arguments and the success of Saint Mary’s team.  The team was comprised of students at Saint Mary’s High School, Thomas Creighton, Paul Lally and Mary Shaughnessy, with William Murphy as alternate. days the new owners of the former Saint Mary’s Academy are razing the addition built in the late 1950s, leaving the original building that faces East Main Street.  It saddens many of our parishioners to see this go, and so a final nod to the wonderful memories that were made within its walls as it is given a new purpose for the 21^st century.

On March 29^th of that same year, the Junior Class of Saint Mary’s High School held its first ever Junior Prom.  Over a hundred couples gathered in the school auditorium “handsomely decorated in blue and white, the school’s color (sic) and served as an appropriate background for the beautiful formal gowns of the young ladies.”  Music for the evening was provided by Jacques Lenard’s orchestra.
On April 8^th, almost 250 people from the student body, alumni association and other guests gathered in Saint Mary’s school hall for a banquet and reception for the members of both teams.  The evening’s program was under the direction of Fred J. Luby with Atty. Daniel Carney acting as toastmaster, and featured an address by Clement Norton of Boston, a noted traveler and lecturer.  Norton shared his impressions from his travels noting the “pitiful condition of Russia after 20 years of Communism.”  He had traveled through Germany and seen first hand Hitler’s impact, had a personal audience with Pope Pius XII and his words gave his listeners a vivid image of the beauty of Ireland.  Following that, Fr. Riordan presented the team from his parish with gold medals for their championship success while the Bishop O’Leary Trophy won by the team was displayed on the head table.  Fr. Donahue, school principal and debating coach, responded with brief remarks followed by the presentation to him of a pen and pencil set by William Baron on behalf of the debaters.  Following the banquet, a musical program provided by the Saint Mary’s High School orchestra entertained those in attendance.

In 1940, there were eighty young children who received their First Communion from the hand of Fr. Riordan.  Among the names are familiar families in Milford: Barlow, Byron, Glennon, Jionzo, Larkin, MacDonald, Ostrosky, Shahnamian, Callahan, Cenedella, Dillon, Kellett, and Visconti.  Since the law of the Church required no food after midnight of the previous night, they received at the 8:15 am Mass and were hosted by the pastor at a breakfast in the high school assembly hall that immediately followed.

That June, the largest class of graduates to date, a total of 71, gathered in the Milford Town Hall for their graduation on June, 1940.  The class salutatorian was Miss Katherine Mary Cullinan who spoke on “Gratitude for the Truth.”  She was followed by the class singing “Our Heritage.”  Then John James Malai spoke on “Man in the Modern World.”  His words three-quarters of a century ago are still poignant at the beginning decades of the 21^st century, “Hence the Stalins and the Hitlers, the gunmen and racketeers, the Margaret Sangers and the masters of white slave traffic, the merchants of death and the atheistic university professors, and perverters of youth own the world.  Their tyranny will last until the world catches up on them and goes back to the days before the rebellion against reason.  That means justice and charity and peace will come to man only on condition that he recover his reason and goes back to God.”

Malai was followed by Margaret Katherine Arsenault who spoke on “Man as God Made Him.”  The combined chorus then gave splendid rendition of ‘Nightfall’ and was followed by Marguerite Katherine Consoletti whose address was on “Education Worthy of Man.”  The class motto, “Quae Sursum Sunt Sapite” (Mind the Higher Things) was the subject of the presentation of Olivine Ann Leheney.  Next was John Joseph Norton who spoke on “The Family—The Original Cell of Society.”  He was followed by Walter Richard Moynihan who addressed “The State - Man Organized in Society.”  The speakers were completed by the class valedictorian, Mary Geraldine Shaughnessy who spoke on “The Last Defenses of Man’s Freedom.”  Miss Shaughnessy identified the ills of that time as the consequence of a lack of morality in society.  She reasoned that from this lack of morality have grown the poisonous fruits of racism and statism.  More than three quarters of a century later, her words are a reminder that much has not changed about our society and attitudes toward each other.

Then, Fr. Donahue as principal presented the diplomas and awards, assisted by Fr. Riordan.  Fr. Donahue then addressed those present, identifying that Catholic education is more than informed minds, it is about Christ in the souls of them as the source of their human perfection.  With this, he reminded them of Fr. Riordan’s commitment, “It tells you why Father Riordan has the courage and priestly self-sacrifice to overcome every obstacle to provide the best in education for St. Mary’s. … The present enviable position of St. Mary’s schools is due to the great priestly faith of Father Riordan.”

The pastorate of Fr. Jeremiah Riordan was a momentous one in the history of Saint Mary’s Parish.  While he did not build from scratch as Fr. Cuddihy did, or make the decorative improvements and landscaping that Fr. McGrath did, he inherited this grand foundation of a parish and built upon it accordingly.  His service in Milford would come from an impressive time at Saint Mary Morning Star Parish in Pittsfield.  He arrived six months after the unexpected and tragic death of Fr. Grace, who passed the week before the blessing of the cornerstone of the new Saint Mary’s Academy.  Fr. Riordan would complete the project and oversee its dedication within just eight months of taking charge here.   His reputation would be for his eloquence in the pulpit and his zeal to improve and promote the devotion of the faithful parishioners.  His love of children and his concern for them would inspire him to make large improvements not only in the completion of the high school building, but in the programs and activities that would fill the halls of learning as well as the time and interest of his charges.  At his death, The Milford Daily News would recognize that “No group will mourn Father Riordan’s passing more than the little tots of his congregation, for children had an especially warm place in his heart.  For them there was always a pat on the head and a friendly word.”

Arriving in Milford, though the school needed to be finished, Fr. Riordan saw other needs to which he also dedicated his energies and which he managed with great success.  As he sought to eliminate the parish debt, he began an era of parish improvements that would touch most of the buildings of the parish.  He applied a stucco finish to the convent, the rectory and the Catholic Women’s Club.  He improved the roadways at the cemetery by installing a hard paved surface.  And all of these during a time of economic hardship that would be named the Great Depression.  But more important than any of these were his works of charity, most of which are still unknown; and that was as he wished it, keeping most of his generous kindness unknown even to the priests who served with him. 

With these projects completed, he turned his attention to completely renovate the interior of the upper church.  This work had his personal attention and was his final administrative act.  He redecorated the interior of the upper church with a light interior, beautified the sanctuary, installing a marble communion rail, new floor coverings throughout most of the church, including the terrazo tile floor in the foyer of the tower.  At the side altar near Winter Street, he had the original painting of the Crucifixion that Fr. Cuddihy had purchased in Italy mounted in a triptych that was installed over the new marble altar.  Some of these improvements are still part of our parish church, four score after his service while others have been improved or modified over time by the changes in liturgy or modern building codes.

This 1940 photo depicts the triptych that Fr. Riordan installed.  To the right, on the column is the pulpit used before electronic microphones.  The marble communion rail and brass gate here are still in place.  These original pews were changed in 1980, notice the clip on the back of the pew to hold men's hats which would have been removed while in church.  The stand for the sanctuary lamp to the left of the altar is also still in use, almost in the same location now.  The step at the first pew is now the first step to the sanctuary; the pews that are located to the altar rail are no longer in place since this area is now an emergency exit to Winter Street, installed in the 1950s. The marble altar here is now installed vertically as the tabernacle pedestal, moved further back since where the altar is depicted here is now an open arch to the area behind it.  The stencil border above the wainscot and the lighter paint on the walls would have been among the other improvements that Fr. Riordan oversaw during this renovation.