Our Saviour Has Arrived Pdf Download
Joao Charlesbois
In the nineteenth century, the reality of the United States of America presented a unique dilemma for those entrusted with the pastoral care of Catholics in this country. It must be kept in mind that within the British Empire, the practice of the Catholic religion was forbidden and Catholics throughout that Empire were unable to vote or hold public office. This would have been the condition of the few Catholics living in the original thirteen colonies, with the interesting exception of Pennsylvania!
When immigrants began to arrive in the mid-nineteenth century, the number of Catholics in the United States quickly increased because many of these immigrants, especially those from Ireland, were Catholics. This did not present a great language or cultural dilemma, because most of the missionaries sent to the young country were Irish themselves and the Irish spoke the language of their new country. When Catholics began to arrive in great numbers later in the century, they were from varying countries and cultural backgrounds. Their faith was the same, but the customs they associated with their Catholic religion and the language they spoke, were different from what they found in their new country. The Bishops of the United States, acknowledging that the Catholic faith is indeed universal, but possessing customs and practices according to the culture and traditions of a people, sought to preserve these among the immigrants and their descendants, since these customs were associated so much with their faith. The Bishops showed great zeal in obtaining priests who spoke the language of the newly arrived immigrants and understood their outlook on life. In this way, they could go to Confession, hear sermons, and seek the counsel of the priest, who would not only understand and speak their language, but also understand their culture and manner of thinking. In many cases, priests had to be obtained from the native countries of the immigrants and these priests acted as missionaries, leaving their own homes to come and serve their countrymen in the United States.
It is remarkable to note that almost every family name in this list of founding members of the Parish is still represented among the present-day parishioners of Holy Saviour! In the case of the one or two exceptions where we do not still hear the family name, their descendants are present through different lines and they are very aware of the work of their ancestors.
The cornerstone for the Church of San Salvatore was laid on September 20, 1903, on the very spot where the present Church stands. After three years, Father Maggio was transferred and replaced by Father Lambert Travi. Father Travi was the Pastor of Holy Saviour for 29 years. In the Rectory, we still marvel at his beautiful handwriting in which he entered hundreds and hundreds of Baptisms and Weddings into the Registers, in impeccable Latin. Father Travi zealously worked for the spiritual welfare of the people and he enlarged the Church and founded the first Holy Saviour School at Marshall and Walnut Streets. As he became older and worn out with work, he was transferred to a smaller Parish in Marcus Hook. The present Pastor of Holy Saviour recalls that during his time as an Assistant at Holy Saviour, a dedicated parishioner, Joseph Melle, used to relate to him that he had maintained a friendship with Father Travi. He would pick him up from time to time and drive him back to Holy Saviour in later years. He recalled that Father Travi would marvel at the many stately buildings that were now a part of the parish, because he well remembered the early years of struggle and poverty.
When Holy Saviour School was founded, the Parish was fortunate in receiving the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to teach in the School. These Sisters were a magnificent influence on the children of the Parish and, eventually, upon the Parish itself. Many of you reading this website may recall with gratitude and affection one or many of the Sisters who taught you in Holy Saviour School. Thousands of Parish children passed through the very capable care of the Sisters and a bond between the Parish and the Sisters was formed which can never be effaced.
About 20 years ago, what has happened in many Parishes throughout the country happened in our beloved Parish when the Sisters had to withdraw from serving Holy Saviour School, because of the lack of Religious vocations to their Congregation. A wonderful thank-you celebration took place to thank the Sisters for their many years of service. Likewise, at the Parish Centennial many Sisters formerly stationed at Holy Savoir School returned for the celebration, and wrote wonderful notes to the Pastor afterwards praising the people of Holy Saviour, and expressing their fond memories. The late Sister Michael Francis (Chinchilli), herself a vocation from the Parish, used to relate how proud she was over the years when she would hear Sisters stationed at Holy Saviour speak with such admiration about the people and the Parish.
The priests also remember the Sisters with gratitude and affection. At the Funeral of one of the Sisters stationed at Holy Saviour for a number of years, Mother Mary Stephen (Ford), Father James Joseph Kelly, himself an assistant at Holy Saviour many years ago, paid a wonderful tribute to the goodness of the Sisters to the priests in the Parishes in which they were stationed. He lovingly related their many kindnesses, especially to young priests in need of encouragement and support.
Unfortunately, Monsignor Delia did not live very long to enjoy his new honor. He died at the early age of 56 on April 28, 1962. His dear friend, Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, Apostolic Delegate to the United States, celebrated the Solemn Pontifical Requiem Mass for Monsignor Delia in the presence of Archbishop Krol, the Archbishop of Philadelphia.
In June of 1981, Monsignor Cavallucci was required to submit his resignation as Pastor, since he would soon be 75 years old. According to the policy in force at that time, retired pastors were permitted to remain in residence at the Parish where they had been the Pastor, and so Monsignor Cavallucci continued to reside at Holy Saviour and assist with Masses, Confessions and the visitation of his beloved sick. After a comparatively short illness, Monsignor Cavallucci died at Villa St. Joseph on November 30, 1987.
Arriving in June of 1981, Monsignor Busco immediately addressed the finances of the Parish and conducted a very successful increased offertory effort. With his usual prowess in the maintenance of the parish buildings, he undertook many projects for the repair and maintenance of the many parish properties. Monsignor Busco has also been engaged in many extra-parochial activities over the years, primarily those, which aided the Italian community in the United States. As a recognition for these efforts, Monsignor Busco was named a Cavaliere by the government of Italy, a very prestigious and rare award for someone who has labored for the welfare of Italians in all parts of the world.
In 1990, Monsignor Busco was required to submit his resignation, as Monsignor Cavallucci did before him, upon reaching the mandatory age. He continued to live at Holy Saviour Rectory and assist with Masses, Confessions and the Spiritual Direction of the Padre Pio Prayer Group and Holy Name Society. He enjoyed remarkable good health for many years but, as he approached 90, he went to reside at Villa St. Joseph, the excellent facility for our retired priests in Darby. Monsignor Busco died on November 11, 2011, having lived 71 years as a faithful priest!
Among the things that have been accomplished since 2002, because of the fine support of the people, have been the following physical projects: replacement of the school roof; replacement of the Church roof; renovation of Msgr Delia Hall (now Savior Hall); renovation of Holy Saviour Church Hall; replacement of the entire concrete sidewalk in front of the Church properties; repaving of the parking lot at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Mission Church; air-conditioning of the Church Hall; restoration of the Sanctuary at the Mission Church; replacement of the bathrooms in the Church Hall and other smaller projects. During these years, we have also had the joy of celebrating our Parish Centennial and we were blessed in reaching over 100% of our parish goal for the Archdiocesan Campaign: Heritage of Faith: Vision of Hope.
The first mass in Jacksonville was celebrated in 1851 by Father Gifford of Springfield, in a private residence with five or six families in attendance. The Honorable Murray McConnel donated the land on North Sandy and the Wabash R.R. and the congregation raised enough money to build a small brick church.
A mission at first, a Father Quigley of Springfield visited the church at intervals. One Christmas, the weather being bad, after saying two masses in Springfield, he hired a handcar and traversed the thirty odd miles to say mass. Rev. P.T. McElhern, our first pastor was followed by Fathers Brennan, Mangan, O'Hallooran and Clifford, followed in 1866 by Fr Costa who in 1868 completed our former church, completed a rectory (later to be a convent) and started a school (St Patrick's), all on Court Street. His successor Fr. Mackin secured the Dominican sisters of St. Catherine's convent in Kentucky. They moved into a small inadequate cottage only six feet from the school. Two years later Fr. Mackin moved them into the rectory. He moved into a small house on Court and Brown Streets. Fr. Makin was followed by Father Hickey who built Liberty Hall next to the grade school and in 1877 was instrumental in securing the former Yates residence as a Motherhouse for the sisters; where they remained until they moved into their new motherhouse in Springfield, Illinois in 1893. Fr. Crowe arrived in 1883 and by 1895 had completely remodeled the church and built a new rectory, which was just closed in 1995. In 1896 he secured the seven Sisters of Charity from Washington D.C. to ready the new hospital which was located in the remodeled Motherhouse. He bought a home for the Routt Club and in 1902 built Routt High School on East State street, where it stood until destroyed by fire in 1966. Msgr. Formaz followed this great man and built our new grade school, which still serves.
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