CHURCH OF THE HOLY ROSARY

The following Florida Times-Union article was published on March 4, 1923

The cornerstone of the Church of the Holy Rosary will be laid with appropriate services this afternoon at 3:00 o'clock.

This new edifice will be erected on the corner of Laura Street and Cottage avenue.

The impressive ceremony will be performed by Rt. Rev. Patrick Barry, bishop of the diocese of St. Augustine, assisted by the priests belonging to the different parishes of Jacksonville. Rev. Michael Maher, DD, pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, his assistance, Father R. Roche and Father James Meehan,; Rev. William Barry, pastor of the Church of Our Lady of the Angels, and the newly organized parish of St. Paul's; Rev. P.J. Bres-nahan, pastor of the Church of the Assumption, South Jacksonville, and his assistant, Father Dennis O'Keefe, and Rev. J. Gumbleton, pastor of the Church of St. Pius.

The procession, which will leave the rectory will be in the following order: the Knights of Columbus and the Boy Scouts of America, Troops 5 and 28 forming a bodyguard. Crossbear Jack Carter Jackson. Thurifers Temple Frierson and Herman Fillian. Acolytes Charles Smith, Ernest Goff, Leo Adeeb and Emile Fisher. Mitre bearer, Lester Mickler. Altar boys, James Moran, Ralph Ghiotte, William Sahbag, Bobby Tracy, Jack Maloney, and G. Ghiotte.

The bishop will be attended by two priests, and the priests will follow. They will proceed to the corner where the stone will be blessed and a box inserted, and with the assistance of a mason, the bishop will set the stone in place. The procession then proceeds to the place indicated by a cross which has been erected to show where the main altar will stand and this spot is then blessed. Then the procession proceeds to the northwest corner where the last blessing is given. During this choir will sing the following hymns:

My Country 'Tis of Thee.

Mother Dearest, Mother Fairest.

Holy God We Praise Thy Name.

Come Holy Ghost.

Ave Maria: soloist, Mr. Frank Cunningham.

After the blessing of the cornerstone and the foundation, the sermon will be preached by Rt. Rev. Bishop Barry, and will be an able effort as the bishop is a scholar of ability.

The choir of the Church of the Immaculate Conception will assist the choir of the Holy Rosary church on this occasion. At the conclusion of this ceremony, both choirs and the congregation will sing the Star Spangled banner.

Box contents

The box to be deposited in the cornerstone will contain the following articles: A copy of the Times-Union of Sunday, March 4th, the date of the celebration. A short history of the parish. Coins of the United States of the different denominations, namely one silver dollar, one dollar bill, one half dollar, one quarter dollar, one dime, one nickel, one cent. The names of the president of the United States, Warren G. Harding; governor of Florida, Cary A. Hardee, mayor of Jacksonville, John W. Martin; city commissioners Frank H. Owen, St. Elmo Acosta, M.B. Herlong, T. C. Imeson, and W. A. Evans. Names of the parishioners, name of Pope Pius XII. Bishop of St. Augustine, Rt. Rev. Patrick Barry, pastor of the church of the Holy Rosary, Rev. Dennis J. Lyons, names of the architect and builder, James Walsh and W. T. Hardlow.

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a small chapel to supply the needs of the Catholics above Eighth street.

According to the request, a small frame building was erected at the corner of Sixteenth and Boulevard, which was attended by the priests attached to the Church of the Immacu-late Conception. This building was completed in the fall of 1915, and the first priests to attend this mission were Father John Conoley, Father Peter Doyle and Father Hennessy.

During October 1917, the missions of the Holy Rosary and Our Lady of the Angels were incorporated into a parish, and Rev. William Berry was appointed pastor.

In March 1919, the chapel was moved to its present location, Laura and Cottage avenue. During the summer of that year, the building was enlarged to accommodate the rapidly growing congregation. In October of that year, the Holy Rosary was made a separate parish, and Rev. D. J. Lyons was appointed pastor by Bishop M. J. Curley. In January 1923, on the 29th day, ground was broken for the new edifice, which will be completed in August, hopes being maintained that the dedication will take place on the 15th of that month, 1923. The congregation now numbers 600.

Romanesque architecture

The church which is built is of the Romanesque style of architecture. And will be be built of solid brick with the exterior finish in Arnold White limestone and will be one of the handsomest edifices in the city. The windows which have been ordered will be of stained glass made in Munich, and will be in keeping with the rest of the church. The pews will be of oak as will the other furnishings. The altars will be of white marble. The church when completed will cost in the neighborhood of $80,000.

Organisations

The different organisations attached to the churches are as follows:

Choir: Organist Mrs. James Morran, Mrs. J. P. Shlenkle, Mrs. Charles Smith, Mrs. W. H. Marzyck, Mrs. L. M. Register, Mrs. J. McManus, Mrs. LeRoy Mickler, Mrs. J. A. de Caradeue, Miss Margaret Smith, Miss M. McManus, Miss Eugenia Yonko, P.J.D. Larmoyuex, J.C. McMullen, J.A. de Caradeue, W.B. Stephens, Mr. Counts, Russell Morris, J.C. Morton, Violinist.

Holy Name Society: Le Roy Mickler, president, Charles Saunders, vice president; C. Deech, treasurer and secretary.

Children of Mary: Monserrat Carlos, president; Lena Stark, vice president: Irene Khoten, secretary, Mercedes McManus, treasurer.

Ladies of Charity: Mrs. J. McManus, acting president, Mrs. Thomas Raley, president Mrs. B.C. Dorsey, secretary; Mrs. I. Witle, treasurer.

Altar Society: Mrs. Hugh H. Jackson, president, Mrs. H. Register, vice president; Mrs. William Carrier, treasurer, Mrs. M. T. Murphy, secretary,

Troop 28 B. S. A. William Singleton, scoutmaster.

Sketch of Pastor

Rev. D. J. Lyons, pastor of the Church of the Holy Rosary was born in Chicago, Ill. the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Lyons. He was educated for the priesthood at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, MD and at the Catholic University, Washington. He was ordained to the Diocese of Florida in June 1918 and immediately took up his _ at the Cathedral of St. Augustine. He was appointed chancellor of the diocese and secretary to Bishop M. J. Curley and

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was appointed pastor of the new parish of the Holy Rosary by Bishop Curley, now the present archbishop of Baltimore, and since coming to Jacksonville, has endeared himself to all with whom he has come in contact.

It has been just a year ago since Rt. Rev. Bishop Barry recieved his appointment to the bishopric of St. Augustine. Since that time numerous building activities have engaged his attention. Bishop Barry has just been on a round of duties connected with the laying of corner stones and the dedications of new buildings.

Building Activities

Bishop Barry recently dedicated the Newman club erected under the supervision of Father John Conoley at the University of Florida, Gainesville. The church of the Holy Name erected at Miami to cost when completed a half million dollars. A new church at Fort Lauderdale has just been complete and another at Ft. Myers. The Community Club at Tampa is in course of erection. Around Jacksonville, considerable activity has been noted. The new school and church to be erected at the corner of Park and Acosta streets in Riverside, was started last week. This newly organized parish known as St. Paul's has already shown splendid growth under the guidance of Rev. William Larry.

At Pablo Beach the Church of St. Paul's-by-the-Sea has been improved and enlarged and will be all ready for the summer colony when it makes its exodus to that resort. This is in charge of Rev. P.J. Bresnahan.

Plans are also being made to build a substantial building as a community center, to be attached to the Church of the Assumption at South Jacksonville, Rev. P. J. Bresnahan, pastor.