We’ve updated the security on the site. An immense crowd had assembled on the ground. Photos by Nancy Thomas . Society and three German societies, all in regalia with banners and two bands, will form at 9:30 a.m. at St Raphael’s and march over the route already given. She was followed by Sister Christina Bartsch. Community: Williamstown. A strong desire to obtain the property immediately west of the church having been manifested in the meeting, and the chair appointed a committee of five to see what could be done in this matter. Governor & Confederate General Paul Octave Hebert - St. Raphael Cemetery. This long and proud history, built on the dedicated service of laity, religious, and clergy, provides a strong foundation upon which St. Raphael can look to the future. The church was remodeled in 1865 and 1866 by adding to the length and otherwise beautifying its various appointments. The exterior is plain but pleasing in appearance, the simple decorations being of cut stone. The members of the congregation, however, were ready and willing to do their part and did it nobly. Let into the wall of the tower in front is a stone tablet with the inscription: “St. Fall was approaching and there was a fear the new St. Joseph Church structure might not be under roof by winter. 225 E. High St., Springfield, OH 45505 | 937-323-7523 | E-mail Us. When he left St. Joseph, he studied at Oxford, England and later at St. Gregory Seminary. To upload a spreadsheet, please use the old site. Rev. Henry Damien Juncker, of Dayton, who celebrated Mass in the residence of William Griblenhoffer. American migration also moved northward. Father Smith never kept office hours. Iberville Cemeteries. Following the directives of the Archbishop, a Parish Council was formed in 1966 with Mr. Donald Rizer, president and Miss Mary Maddus, secretary. The happy and long-awaited event took place on July 17, 1898. D. J. COGAN succeeded Father Howard in the pastorate of St. Raphael’s. They were Rev. In those days, as today, fortunes were made in the community futures market. Father Smith called each person by name and spoke to each visitor after Mass. Most Reverend William H. Elder, D.D., carried out the beautiful ceremony. Mrs. Malinda Lileas began as principal in 1982. The next great necessity was a larger school. About the time the organ was delivered, men of the parish organized a choir. The present site and building cost $19,000. We were unable to submit your feedback at this time. Father Gilmour, afterwards Bishop of Cleveland, preached at the Mass, and Bishop Rosecrans delivered the evening sermon. The question of purchasing the corner lot was put to a vote and lost. Resend Activation Email. He constantly walked in the midst of the stricken people without any thought of himself. Box 44370, Capitol Station, Baton Rouge 70804) : Comité des Archives de la Louisiane, ©1989. "St. Raphael can claim some of the most interesting and ornate tombs in the parish. Chas. The high tower, reaching to a height of 184 feet, commands a perfect view of Springfield and was once very popular with visitors who had the courage to mount the 156 steps which lead to its summit. Monies were also sent to Sister Mary Ellen Mertens, a daughter of St. Joseph working as a Maryknoll nun in Hong Kong. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. It was to be a parish center with four classrooms, two meeting rooms and a general purpose room for gym cafeteria and auditorium. St. Raphael Cemetery (IB51) Point Pleasant. Archbishop Joseph L. Bernardin was the principal celebrant for the Mass of Christian Burial. Special characters are not allowed. If you are a newcomer to our parish, please accept our invitation to introduce yourself to a member of our staff. Father August F. Bernard was born in Cincinnati on January 9, 1892. From the center of the main front rises a high square tower with belfry, surmounted by the cross. After 1974, there were no sisters living at the convent and the house was rented. She played two daily Masses each day for approximately forty years, accompanied choir rehearsals, and directed hundreds of programs for special events. Minnie Welch was the first organist. His Grace was assisted by Monsignor Thorpe, of Cleveland, who preached the sermon. Within ten years of Father Bernard’s arrival, the $10,000 debt left from the new high school on Kenton and East St. was paid. The boilers had been fired for the first time earlier that day; several hours before the crowd would gather for the first Mass celebrated at the new missionary parish. The Reverend Robert Plagge was appointed assistant on January 6, 1944. He served until February 1977. The cars needed two people to start them, one to crank, outside in front and the second to turn the switch inside at the wheel. In the year 1848, ground had been purchased, and the first church of St. Raphael erected by the noble and timely generosity of Michael P. Cassilly. Little was done in the following year, except the placing of the marble wainscoting. An example of his zeal and verbiage is his celebrated public debate on Catholicity with a minister, Alexander Campbell. The first was to observe what was needed; the second was to judge what should be done, and the third was to act. had been decreased by the formation of two complete and well-equipped congregations. The men of the Holy Name, on the first Sunday of the month, sat together at Mass and received Holy Communion. Members of St. Raphael at the time he was pastor spoke lovingly of him, as well as his predecessors. There was a high school department for teaching the higher branches. In 1981, Mrs. Marty Tayloe began serving as director of religious education. On April 18, 1893, due to lay-offs and a poor fiscal environment in the city, work on the structure was halted for a time. A brick and glass enclosed sign stating the sermon topic and Mass schedule was erected in front of the church with labor donated by parishioners. By 1933 Springfield and the United States were in the midst of the Depression. On May 13, 1894 the cornerstone was laid. This cold day, November 4, 1883, marked a special beginning in the hearts and lives of hundreds of Irish immigrants who, for some time, had wanted a parish of their own in this neighborhood. Father W. H. Sidley and escorted to the west entrance where a short address was made to the great congregation. In 1837, he went to Canton, thence to Chillicothe, attending as missions Circleville, Piketon, Delaware, Columbus and Portsmouth. If a cemetery is not listed, we do not have any information available. He labored here until 1863, when he left for Galesburg, Illinois, where he died after an earnest and self-sacrificing life. Saint Raphael Catholic Cemetery, Created by jerrygreer, Owensboro, Daviess, Kentucky, United States Take BillionGraves with you wherever you go. When teachers were needed for the new school at St. Joseph’s, there was no hesitation, for the nuns were already teaching at both St. Raphael’s and St. Bernard’s. Many others were out of work due to businesses relocating to the sunbelt. Very Reverend T. S. Byrne, D. D., Rector of Mt. Russ Maue served as deacon in 1979. Father Sidley, who was superintending personally the work within yet to be done. Francis W. Howard. The rooms will accommodate 400 children in the several grades. The Golden Jubilee of the parish was celebrated on September 9, 1934. Society, Ancient Order of Hibernians, two divisions of the Knights of Saint George, the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick, the Big Six Band and Saint Raphael Band. Two hundred and ninety-one students in grades one through twelve attended. Father Bernard and the parish family sent monies to him for the people of Bolivia. Edward Trahan Supple. This leaves the entire interior clear, giving a vast space 60 x 100 x 75 feet for the inside of the church. The hard times made a halt necessary. Through cycling ages in earth’s fairest lands, Men build great monuments. Springfield industry took a hard blow when the East Street Shops burned down in 1902. He was consecrated Bishop May 3, 1852. With the exception of Bishop Juncker, we have found only the names of two other priests who attended Springfield up to 1849. We look forward to seeing everyone for fish in 2022! It was consecrated and many of the dead were moved from the old cemetery to this new location. When the first Mass was sung in the new St. Raphael’s, happily closed was the year 1893, with a truly happy Christmas for the zealous people of the congregation. At the opening of the new building, Mr. Lehan took charge of the advanced classes of boys, while the Sisters of Charity taught the other seven rooms. Not long after his arrival, the Civil War broke out, and the beginning of cannon mingled with the call of the church bells. It was, however, the will of the congregation to increase the property, and erect a church that should be fit to last forever. Bingo was held every Sunday evening in the school basement, where a previous generation had attended Mass. The solemn Mass of Dedication was sung by the Reverend Dean Sidley. In addition to the frontage, fifty feet had been added by the purchase of the Bretney property, in accordance with the desire of the congregation for a more imposing church. The last payment was made to Mr. Bretney on February 2, 1892. Father Loney was confined to Good Samaritan Hospital in the winter of 1918 and 1919, and Father Walsh was sent to assist Father Wagner. Songs in the play included “Wrap Up Your Troubles” and “Over There.”. We as a community are indebted to Dorothy Zugelder (1926-2018) for composing most of this history of St. Raphael Parish. Within the next five years we find the names of Anthony Hines, Thomas O’Brien, B. Enright, Thomas, Andrews and Michael Gallagher, John Maddigan, Peter Seward, Mr. Werngartner, James Fitzgerald, Mr. Monaghan, Patrick O’Brien, Michael, Patrick and John Bolan, William Regan, Richard Burns, Denis Hagan, Owen Gallagher, Michel Condron, Michael Rule, John McGarr, Francis Daugherty, James Burke, Jeremiah Cronin, Hugh Hart, Peter and Michael Madden, Christopher Kelly, Joseph Gunder, Andrew Haas, John Carr, John Milan, Michael Dargen, John and Michael Hughes, Martin Quaid, Daniel and Patrick Tehan, Thomas Shaw, William Ford, Richard Walsh, Anthony Ra, and some few others whose names we have been unable to locate. Time brings them all, That buried them. Fr. C. Berding and Rev. St Raphael is a town on the Cote d'Azur in the Var department of France. Reuben Copenhafer has had general superintendence of the construction and did the carpenter work. After early mass at St Raphael’s, High street, the city Catholic societies formed under Wm. St. Joseph, in turn, learned of their loving traditions and even how to make egg rolls. J.N. St. Joseph’s, the name of the new church, was not cut off immediately from St. Raphael’s. Maurice Howard purchased three acres of land in the southeast quarter, section 17, Springfield Township on the north side of National Road two miles east of the city. In ruin must they fall--, But the glory of God’s temples all is given. JOHN BAPTIST PURCELL was born in Mallow, Ireland in 1800. It contains both English Catholic and French Catholic graves. Henry Moeller, DD., Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Rev. In this order the room on the lower floor fitted up as a church, was entered and the same ceremonies gone through with, when the place was declared appropriately dedicated to the worship of God and a benediction pronounced. Frescoed by the Card and Percy Company of Columbus, the church’s predominant colors were cream, olive green and gold. In late 1970, the church interiors, roof and tower were destroyed by fire, but the ruins were preserved. In 1882 was begun the erection of the large three-story school house, the first story providing a commodious room suitable for church service. James O’Keefe of Yellow Springs, Rev. On November 3, at a meeting of the committee, Mr. Montanus and Mr. Tehan reported that Mr. Bretney was willing to sell the property for $17,000. W. C. Conway. In his eighteenth year, he immigrated to America. Monument for Thomas Clark by his congregation. People from St. Martin’s were incorporated into the other parishes. John Suce was contractor for stone work, Pete Seward of brick work, M. McHugh of plastering. Three years later, the church was ready for dedication. The first priest who visited Springfield, as far as we can learn, was Rev. In 1873, Mr. D. C. Lehan was added to the corps of teachers, which continued the same for three years. “To the good Sisters of Charity is due much credit for the manner in which the school has developed. This became the only Catholic cemetery in Springfield until St. Bernard Cemetery was established in 1878. The first to fill the position was Reverend J. Always zealous and self-sacrificing, the Sisters gave to the school their most fervent care. Each Friday afternoon during the war, the ladies of the parish sewed for the American Red Cross. Rev J. J. O’Mealy was born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1809. Its boundaries extended from the Ohio River to Lake Erie. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Since his time up through 1899, that office was filled by Reverends John Burns, G. M. Berding, T. A. Conway, Francis Mallon, J. Traditional cemetery symbolism as well as the unusual abound. In 1933, the high school students amalgamated in Catholic Central at St. Raphael. The Di Family with six children, the seventh born here, remained the longest as the other two families moved closer to cousins in California. The class play, “A Call to the Colors”, had a patriotic theme and their colors were red, white and blue. It was originally begun as a short-term mission church, since there were few Catholics among the African-American population, but the Catholic population grew and many new members joined. Bernard’s fatherly love spilled into the young men who soaked up his warmth and wit. Format: Journal Article Language: English Physical: p. 73-78 Add to Print List Remove from Print List Notes. This is one of the oldest churches in what was then the colony of Upper Canada. Wraight & Leggo varnishing and painting. He was made coadjutor Bishop of Cincinnati in 1861. The congregation at that time was $7,000.00 in debt, but had a small frame school building and the church. Deacon Paul Hurst, who later became the pastor of St. Bernard, was at St. Joseph during 1976 and 1977 when the church was being redecorated. Also the increasing pay added to the comfort and satisfaction of the workers. The population of Springfield declined by nearly 10,000 during the next ten years. Notwithstanding the fact that St. Raphael’s, the parent church of Springfield. But in that year the numbers had increased to such an extent that it was necessary to have an assistant pastor. The third story was until 1897, a single room, with a stage and scenery, known as St. Raphael Hall. He was born in Cincinnati on June 17, 1882, and was ordained on June 22, 1906. Home → What's New → Details Search. All of the congregation joined in the singing of the hymns during Mass. Among these Catholic pioneers were Patrick Rocket, Timothy Riordan, William Griblenhoff, N. Spangenberger, Wendelin Pappert, L. Cuymus, Joseph Bauer, John and Francis Creighton, John Doyle, M. Barneat, Michael Kelly, Adam Hyle, Henry Quinn, John Shuette, David Clancy, Francis Shrimp, John Connors, Joseph Lebold, Michael O’Brien, Michael Kennedy, and perhaps a few others. Later an evening Mass on Saturdays and the eve of the Holy Days was added to the Mass schedule. During the late seventies, guitars were introduced as an instrument of musical accompaniment during the Mass. The cornerstone was placed by Most Reverend William Henry Elder, D. D. September 25th. This can also be said of all the other pastors. Please try again later. He was quite a young man and an eloquent preacher as the old members remembered him. Three Catholic Vietnamese sisters and their families eventually settled in St. Joseph Parish. Encouraging members to join as a family, the purpose was threefold. Many of the children from St. Martin’s Parish attended St. Joseph school. The congregation took possession of the property on the 1st of January, 1891. He remained until June 28, when he left to assume the duties of assistant pastor at St. Andrew Church in Cincinnati. Born in August 1809, his early life was spent amid the Catholic surroundings of his home. According to the Catholic Telegraph, the parade included horses, carriages, a group known as the T.A.B. The spreadsheet upload feature is disabled during this preview version of Find a Grave. Thus matters stood during the summer. Besides the elaborate Ricard mausoleum with its sculptured faces and inverted torches, there is the Sigur family tomb with an interesting iron door. The ceiling is 50 feet high and contains three graceful arches, meeting, not in columns, but in beautiful drops. Michael J. Kelly. The cost of the church was $75,000, on which there was a moderate indebtedness when completed. Henry Moeller, D. D.; and Assistant Master of Ceremonies, Rev. When the Whitely Harvester Manufacturing Company was forced into bankruptcy, hundreds were out of employment and many families moved to other sections of town. Notwithstanding the fact that St. Raphael’s, the parent church of Springfield, had been decreased by the formation of two complete and well-equipped congregations[NRR1] , the accommodations were still inadequate for her[NRR2] own people. While located there, Messrs. Coffey and Kelly and Miss Ellen Hennessy were in charge. On August 25, 1885, the foundation for a new church was laid and dedication took place on June 2, 1886, by Bishop Hogan. Please try again later. In 1850, Father Kearney was succeeded by Reverend Maurice Howard. One was no longer considered Irish or Italian, but Americans fighting side by side for freedom. Father Loney manifested the same strong love for his land as he had for his Church. P. Fehlings of Delaware. Robust in body, his mind was equally vigorous. From this a Pre-Cana series for those contemplating marriage was begun with Father Smith as chaplain for the group. Young boys wishing to belong to the boys’ choir auditioned for Sister Basil in the music room on the first floor of the music building, by singing several scales. It was completed and ready for occupancy in September 1877. With Harvester paying $8.00 an hour, Springfield was richer than it had ever been. In 1978, after the Vietnam War, many Vietnamese refugees came to America seeking, as had the Irish and later the Italians, not a land flowing with milk and honey, but a new world of promise and hope. The oldest Catholic Church in Kauai, St. Raphael's was founded in 1841; two years after Catholics were granted religious freedom in Hawaii. When the old school was torn down, the bell was stored in the new school. Please contact Find a Grave at support@findagrave.com if you need help resetting your password. In 1883, a residence was purchased for the Sisters at a cost of $7,500. Again, a suitable place for the education of the children meant the sacrifice of pledges over three years, but with men on the moon, education methods and equipment had to be updated. Among the first to be ordained from the parish was Reverend Michael Stritch of the Society of Jesus, six other young men were also pursuing their studies for the priesthood. Her work and support has made it into a great choir. Please select a county or city to continue. Place the pin on the map to plot a location. In the early years of the nineteenth century, a noble band of priests were wandering through the forests of Ohio. After considerable discussion a standing vote was taken regarding the erection of a new church. He was made first Archbishop of Cincinnati in 1850. It was sixty feet long and thirty-five feet wide,” Frank Collins remembered. Another meeting of the congregation was called October 20, and the purchase of the property was discussed. Hahne of Dayton, Rev. The congregation of St. Raphael deserves praise for many things, but especially for their continued loyalty to the school. Since that time, our church at the corner of Spring and High Streets, has been a symbol of Catholic life for many thousands of Springfield’s residents. With the procession was Most Reverend Archbishop William Henry Elder of Cincinnati, who was to dedicate the building, and Fathers Singleton and William Conway, the latter to become a pastor of the new parish. The following year, he was engaged as presidency of the college and, in 1833, was consecrated Bishop of Cincinnati. It was dedicated to Father Smith for twenty years of service to the people of St. Joseph. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 17, 1916. During his sixty-four years as a priest, he had always been a giver; he gave in return for whatever he received. From this center, he attended Bellefontaine, West Liberty, Xenia, Lebanon and Springfield. A high school was built in 1925 on the corner of Kenton and East Streets to alleviate the overcrowding. Photos larger than 8.0 MB will be reduced. In the ceremonies the assistants were Rev. The city became caught up in the Ku Klux Klan movement. One in particular was Father Thomas Higgins, a son of the parish who became a missionary priest in South America. Their sons and brothers followed, later sending for wives and children to join them. Now that our grand churches and noble schools are spread across the land, doing daily their God given task, it is well to look back at the years that are gone. The servers responded to Father Cusak, “Ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam”, and thus began a long standing tradition of Catholic faithfulness at Saint Joseph Parish that has affected the lives of its parishioners in each succeeding generation for over 132 hundred years. The spiritual good the school accomplished cannot be determined. There were, besides a magnificent stone seminary for theological and philosophical studies, convents, colleges, and several institutions for charitable purposes. Mr. Creager, of Springfield, was chosen as the architect, and authority was given to the pastor and a committee of fifteen to choose the style of architecture. The convent chapel was very beautiful inside and lent itself to devotion. He, along with Pete Rocco and other boys from St. Joseph, died for their country during World War II. It is known, however, that he was a native of Maryland and came west to serve on the Missions. St. Joseph withstood hard times. The guitar group was organized by Father Smith to play for the Sunday noon Mass. Special altars were built to accommodate the liturgy facing the people. Father Smith was well-known in the Springfield community for his active work in promoting a number of ecumenical programs. After the societies are seated in the church the general public will be admitted. Rev. At the first meeting, between twenty-five and thirty persons took the pledge and were given badges to wear attesting to this. During the same time, Springfield was fast losing its prominence in agricultural machinery. In winter and summer, these holy priests travelled forty, fifty, even a hundred miles with chalice and vestments strapped on their old saddle bags, seeking some lonely hamlet, where there might be a few scattered sheep of the flock. In the 1980’s the choir director was Ann Clifford, who gave more than fifty-seven years of service to St. Joseph Parish. The premises and institution will be in general charge of Rev. St Raphael is a town on the Cote d'Azur in the Var department of France. On January 16, 1880, Bishop Elder was appointed coadjutor to the venerable Archbishop Purcell. Work for Father Loney increased to the degree that he petitioned for an assistant. In 1884, the “value of product” in Springfield was eight million dollars and the East Street Shops produced four million dollars of sales alone. based on information from your browser. Saint Raphael Parish. The brickwork began in the early spring of 1883. Enter a valid email address and a feedback message. The properties were converted to a school yard. In 1881, three lots were purchased on the corner of Kenton Street and Central Avenue. Former students of St. Joseph’s recall being dismissed to the sound of a Sousa march being played by two piano students on two pianos at the same time. At that time, it was necessary, due to the number of pupils, to partition it into three large rooms for the High School. He was educated and ordained at All Hallow’s College, Dublin, Ireland, for the American Missions. He was ordained on Passion Sunday, 1834, being the first to receive ordination at the hands of Cincinnati’s new archbishop. Point Pleasant. He first earned a living as a private teacher and, in 1820, entered Mt. St. Mary’s and St. Gregory’s Seminaries: James Fogarty, John Gallagher, William Clark, Thomas Fogarty, John O’Leary, John Gnau, Timothy Bailey, William Welch, and Francis Varley. THE HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH CHURCH - November 4, 1883. Near the close of the World War, he had Father R. Marcellus Wagner as his assistant. Having followed the founding and growth of the parish, Father Loney set the year 1909, the year of the Silver Jubilee, as the goal to complete and beautify the still unfinished church. In 1983, Father Bill Cole of the Society of Mary arrived, to assume the duties of associate pastor. “In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, Amen. Many parishioners participated as speakers. Whitely was called the man who made and broke Springfield. Everyone donated so the children would not be hungry. From the Springfield Daily Republic, Saturday, Nov 3, 1883, copied as originally written. Frank Paul Messina. Father Bernard provided the meal and drinks for the men. Description. Father Hopping was born in Springfield on August 9, 1912, and ordained May 18, 1940. J.N. About this time there was a “boom in railroading.” Iron rails stretched across the country in all directions. The altar is a copy of an altar in one of the chapels of the sisters in Namur, Belgium. The Church committee for the construction of the present church consisted of Thomas Waters, John Dorley, John Sullivan, James Glenn, Ed Garrity, Sr., John Kearns, John O’Connor and Patrick Welch. Father Smith donated the tuition for the children to attend St. Joseph School. Since the enrollment had outgrown the building, something had to be done. Street Address: 19998 County Rd 18. It is 40 x 85 feet and contains 94 pews capable of seating nearly six hundred people. He graduated in June 1837 and entered the Seminary for the fall term. Immigrant men from Italy and Ireland came first, sending word back to their homelands of available jobs. There was no residence for the pastors. Related Searches. Father Bernard stayed on as pastor emeritus and continued in the spiritual care of the parish. He studied in Rome, France, and Cincinnati. There was great sadness when Father Smith left, the parish having lost two beloved pastors in one year. During this time, music was a very important part of St. Joseph. A. Maroney. In 1864, Fr. There will be NO FISH FRY this year at St. Raphael, so we are hosting a raffle instead.See details in next point. This was not enough and Father Berding was forced to resign, unable to complete the masterpiece to which he had set his hand. The wood work and entire interior are finished in quartered oak. St Raphael's RC Cemetery, Glengarry County, ON St Raphael's RC Cemetery. Angelina Messina . One hundred and twenty-five members responded to the call. St. Raphael Cemetery, Lagonda Avenue: In 1864, Fr. The potato famine of 1845 forced a great many Irish to seek new beginnings in America. I thought you might like to see a cemetery for Saint Raphael Cemetery I found on Findagrave.com. It may be asserted with safety that in 1830, there was not a single Catholic family in Clark County. The success of Springfield’s growing manufacturing industries further bolstered the Catholic population of the city. Father Cunningham, of Yellow Springs, and Rev. St. Raphael Cemetery (IB51). On June 10, 1934, he was installed as the fifth resident pastor by Monsignor Buckley. Location information The cemetery is on the mainland at Kowloon on the northern side of Wing Hong Street. However, he was pastor of Emmanuel Church, of Dayton, from 1844 until 1857. The second and third floors have four school rooms each 15 x 35 feet, furnished with single desks of the newest pattern. Between 1900 and 1930, waves of Irish, sprinkled with some Italians, settled in the area surrounding St. Joseph. Only the sounds of rusting crinoline, occasional coughing and the wind blowing through the bare tree limbs outside broke the silence as the Mass of dedication began. St. Raphael Parish was built in 1849, brought into being to meet the needs of a small but growing number of Catholics in a population of about 5000 persons. One was to offer support to the bereaved, the second was visitation to the ill, and the third was social in nature. The trend of the popular mind was toward the erection of a new and larger structure for this purpose. From this humble and gracious man, people learned that gentle wit and humor are just as appropriate in sickness as in health. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Sisters of Charity came to Ohio in October, 1829, and established a motherhouse in Cincinnati. At his death, July 3, 1883, there were thirty splendid church buildings and a Catholic population of 85,000. E-mail addresses: Admin@st-raphael-parish.org Pastor: jday@anselm.edu The Church’s mission is nothing less than the establishment of the Kingdom of God. The building is 43 feet front by 87 in depth, three stories in height, the first or ground floor being a half basement. During the same time the lay apostolate, through the Legion of Mary, was begun, due to the shortage of priests and the duty of the lay people to share in the mission of the church. It was later absorbed by International Harvester.