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DIOCESE OF NEWARK 137
depot, and there arranged for monthly services. In 1872, when Father Gesner
went to Elizabeth Port, he was succeeded by Father Degan, who left the care
of the Vineland Mission to his curate, Father Vivet. It was the latter who
built the first Catholic church there in 1874, and opened it for services on
Christmas Day.
In 1879 came Rev. William Dwyer, a former Paulist, and his curate,
Father Durrick. Father Dwyer purchased a small Protestant chapel in North
Vineland, and opened it for Catholic service. This venture was a failure, and
the building was later resold. After Father Dwyer’s death in 1881, Rey.
Charles J. Giese succeeded to this Mission, but after two years’ service the
church at Vineland was placed in charge of the Fathers of Mercy, with the
Rey. Father McTeague as pastor.
For nearly eleven years the Fathers of Mercy worked in the Diocese of
Trenton. They began their labors at Vineland, when towards the end of the
year 1883 Rt. Rev. Bishop O’Farrell placed them in charge of the Sacred Heart
Church, which had formerly been attended as a Mission of the Millville
Church, Father Thomas McTeague was appointed first pastor. In the fol-
lowing year, after consultation with the Rt. Rev. Bishop’ O’Farrell, the
Fathers purchased a large building, located on the outskirts of Vineland, and
adapted it for school purposes. The following September, 1884, this institu-
tion was opened under the name of the Sacred Heart College, with Rev.
Edward H. Porcile as its first president.. For ten years the Fathers of Mercy
struggled to make this college successful, and during this time much good was
done for the education of the youth of the Diocese. Bishop O'Farrell also
patronized it by placing his seminarians therein, and using it for the annual
retreats of the clergy. For various reasons the college did not prosper.
Finally, in 1894, it was closed, and the Fathers withdrawn, but the parish
church was left in their charge till the Summer of 1895, when the last Father
of Mercy, the Rev. J. Courvoisier, left Vineland and returned to Brooklyn.
The college building was afterwards disposed of and is now a State
home for old soldiers and their widows.
Among the Fathers of Mercy who labored in the Diocese of Trenton, we
may mention Rey. Edward H. Porcile, Rev.:Thomas McTeague, Rev. I. M.
Wiest, Rev. E. Kelly, C. Elert, Rev. J. E. Sheedy. Rev. J. J. McCullough, and
Rey. J. Conwosier.
Whilst in charge of Vineland the Fathers of Mercy built a church for
the Italians at East Vineland, which they attended till they resigned. Lake-
wood was also one of their Missions and they helped in various parishes.
On October 1, 1895, Bishop McFaul appointed Rev. William Dittrich to
this parish and its Italian Mission of East Vineland, where the Fathers of
Mercy had opened a chapel for the Italians. The next incumbent was Father
Hendricks who’ stayed till May, 1901, when he was replaced by Father Gam-
mel, who in turn was followed by Father Reddan, the present pastor. The
parish has always had good pastors, yet the growth of the church has been
slow,
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