Join us for a story of faith and courage in America on this episode of the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast.
Transcript
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Welcome to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Today is October 25th, and our story is The Church on Hill House Avenue. The Catholics are coming! The Catholics are coming! In 1868, a frightened cry went up and down Hill House Avenue in New Haven, Connecticut.
At the time, Hill House was New Haven's most prestigious address, home to Yale University's president, several professors, and numerous millionaires. The only Catholics on the street were the millionaires' maids and gardeners. But then, an inventor in financial straits decided to teach Hill House residents a lesson. The inventor owned the only empty lot on the street. He had bought it years before, intending to build his home there. But after his fortunes changed, he needed to sell. At first, he offered the lot to his neighbors.
When no offers came, he threatened to sell the property to undesirable characters, hoping that would spur someone to action. And when that didn't work, he made good on the threat, selling the lot to St. Mary's Parish, which needed a bigger church for its growing congregation.
As news of the sale spread, panic struck Hill House Avenue. Residents begged the city to stop the sale and convinced it to offer the parish another piece of land elsewhere. St. Mary's almost accepted the city's offer until the mayor substituted a less desirable lot at the last minute. At that point, the parish's frustrated pastor, Father Edward O'Brien, refused the city's offer and made plans to build on Hill House.
The parish laid the cornerstone in 1870. Two years later, on October 25, 1874, they dedicated the new St. Mary's Church. Twelve troubled years followed that initial triumph. The parish struggled with the debt it acquired building the church, and the burden of repayment purportedly sent more than one St. Mary's pastor to an early grave. In 1886, however, the Dominicans took over the parish, where the Knights of Columbus began in 1882, and its troubles ended.
More than 125 years later, most of the street's millionaires have left, but the Dominicans and St. Mary's remain, serving nearby Yale University and the surrounding community. The story of St. Mary's reminds us that faithfulness often involves challenges that require patience, planning, and prayer.
Consider an area where you face opposition or discouragement. Pray for courage and take one step to remain faithful to your convictions. Thank you for listening to the American Catholic Daily Reader Podcast. Join us tomorrow, October 26th, for another story of faith and courage in America.
