Houses of Worship

Happy Birthday, Our Holy Redeemer Church

June 12, 1911

Source: Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 12 June 1911, pg. 5.

 GREAT THRONG PRESENT AT FREEPORT DEDICATION

Ceremony of Consecrating the Church of Our Holy Redeemer Impressive.

Bishop McDonnell in Charge

Father Logue Congratulated Upon His Efficient Work for Parish. Nineteen Years a Priest.

Freeport, L. I., June 12 – Fully 1,100 persons saw the new $75,000 Roman Catholic Church of Our Holy Redeemer dedication yesterday by the Rt. Rev. Charles E. McDonnell, D.D., bishop of Brooklyn assisted by Father Lyon of Boston, Father James J. Flynn and thirty visiting priests from Brooklyn.

The dedicatory service began at 10:30 A.M., when the priests, in robes, followed by altar boys swinging sanctuary torches, marched around the sacred edifice and sprinkled holy water on the walls of the building.  As the solemn procession moved slowly up the aisle of the church a double choir of local singers and soloists from Sts. Peter and Paul Church of Brooklyn, chanted an anthem.  Mrs. Cronin, organist of Sts. Peter and Paul, accompanied the singers on the organ.

Many who witnessed the impressive ceremonies at the new church were from Brooklyn.  A special train which arrived in Freeport shortly before 11 o’clock brought nearly two hundred persons among whom the State Senator Fox.

Within the church the group of priests sprinkled holy water upon the walls and altar.  Nearly every seat was occupied and many stood outside.

Bishop McDonnell delivered the dedicatory address from the pulpit and the Rev. Father Flynn congratulated the congregation and Father Logue upon the excellent management of the affairs of the church.  Father Lyons of Boston celebrated high mass in place of the Right Rev. Monsignor D. O’Callahan of Boston, who was ill.  The Rev. William B. Farrell rector of the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul preached the morning sermon.

Following the service at the church Father Logue entertained about seventy guests and visiting clergy at his home adjoining the church, at a reception and banquet.  At the Catholic Club, directly across the street, numerous others were entertained and dined.

Father Logue will complete nineteen years of priesthood on June 30 of this year.  He was born in Boston forty-three years ago, and came to Freeport from Brooklyn where he was a curate.  It has been largely through his persistent effort that the new building was erected.  A souvenir of the dedication containing a biographical sketch of the rector’s life was presented to the guests at the ceremonies.

The evening sermon was preached by the Rev. John L. Belford, rector of the Church of the Nativity, Brooklyn.  The church was filled at the service.