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The "Mother Church of Norwalk"
and the Second Oldest Parish in the Diocese of Bridgeport.
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The first Irish came to Connecticut looking for a better life. The English had oppressed the Irish into extreme poverty so that when the famous potato famine hit in 1845, most Irish had come to conclusion that there was little hope of a future in the homeland.
While Connecticut was a hopeful place, it was not exactly welcoming. In 1800 it was still illegal for Catholics to own land in Connecticut. This prohibition was lifted in 1833 but anti-Catholicism was on the rise. The Irish Catholics were portrayed as disloyal and lazy, so they had many prejudices to overcome.
St. Mary Church was founded by the Irish in 1848, and its first church was dedicated in 1851 by Bishop Bernard O'Reilly. It was a modest wooden frame structure, 36 by 40 feet, on the north side of Chapel Street, opposite Academy Street. They were welcomed by many in Norwalk, and even given the right to offer Mass in the Town Hall until the church was built, but the anti-Catholic sentiment was also present. In 1854 the wooden church was set on fire and the cross on top was torn down by unfriendly citizens.
Nonetheless the Irish continued to grow in faith and numbers. To understand how many of these first Catholics were Irish one has only to look at the Baptismal records. From 1854 to 1860 there were 575 baptisms, all but two them born in Ireland or of Irish descent. Furthermore, every Pastor of St. Mary Church was Irish until Msgr. Andrew Hajus was installed in 1964.
They broke ground for the current church in 1867, and the basement chapel was dedicated roughly a year later. Here the growing Irish community could have Mass while they raised money to build the magnificent church up above. It was not until 1871 that the upper church was dedicated.
more to come....
Stained Glass at St. Mary's
These pictures of its beautiful stained glass windows were taken by Robert
Fertitta, a professional stained glass photographer who generously
donated his time and effort. Since the church was built by Irish
immigrants, the windows were added over the years as they were able to
afford them.
North Side
Annunciation
Visitation
Nativity
Simeon acclaims the infant Christ
Child Jesus in the Temple
Crowning with thorns
Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (concealed by subsequent
construction)