The narrative which follows was drawn from the booklet “History of the Church of St. Rose of Lima, Newark, New Jersey- Silver Jubilee, 1888-1913” published to celebrate the twenty fifth anniversary of the church. While the content of the booklet has been condensed for the purposes of this blog, I believe that I have captured its essence. The growth and rise of this Roseville institution, currently in its 128th year bears telling.
On the occasion of its 25th anniversary, the history of the St. Rose of Lima Parish was written at the request of the Rector Fr. James J. McKeever. Fr. McKeever who had founded this parish in 1888 with less than 30 people had seen it grow to a membership of over four thousand by 1913.
On December 6, 1888, the Rev. James J. McKeever, who had spent the first seven and a half years of his priesthood at the now demolished St. James Church in the Ironbound, was to be given his own parish. He had three choices “to establish a new Catholic Church in Kearny, in Newark’s eighth ward, or in Roseville. Fr. McKeever consulted with the very Rev. Dean Patrick Cody, rector of St. James’ who advised that Roseville be selected. There was a hint of growth and progress in this community which impressed both Fr. McKeever and Dean Cody and the hint was not lost”.
Roseville in 1888 was much smaller and there were many vacant lots and areas where the houses were scattered far apart. In addition, in 1888 there were not more than twenty-seven persons who were known as active Catholics – who could be depended on to support the new church.
Undeterred, Fr. McKeever consulted with some of his friends regarding a place for worship and was told of a small room above the Roseville skating rink, that could be rented for a reasonable sum.
The rink stood at the corner of Orange and North Sixth Streets and was built in 1885 during a craze for indoor roller skating. It was crowded most nights.
Fr. McKeever’s intentions were to have Roseville’s first Catholic service on Christmas Day 1888. He had no time to waste. With vestments provided by the Little Sisters of the Poor, and an altar provided by the Rev. Patrick Leonard of St. Michael’s Church, all that was needed was pews for the congregation that was as yet uncertain. Fr. McKeever located some second hand pews in a junk yard but the price was higher than the young priest thought he could pay. He shared his trouble with his old school chum, Newark Police Captain Cosgrove and the Captain, being a very persuasive man, was able to secure the pews for a much lower price.
The new parish was yet to be named. Fr. McKeever was determined to honor an American, and as there had been none canonized for North America, he selected St. Rose of Lima, Peru, South America. The Bishop approved the name and it became permanent – “I thought”, said Fr. McKeever, “that there was a singular appropriateness in having a St. Rose in Roseville”, and so it came to pass, on Christmas Day 1888 that the little room above the skating rink, was dedicated to its new purpose.
Fr. McKeever said three masses that Christmas Day. The collection totaled $167 dollars. Thus the Catholic Church was started in Roseville.
The following outline, which appeared in the booklet, is reproduced here exactly as it was written. It touches upon all the significant milestones:
“Facts and figures are, for the most part, uninteresting, yet they serve a purpose. In order to enable the history of the parish of St. Rose of Lima to be seen at a glance the following has been prepared. It is not, by any means complete, only the most important dates being set down. The body of the history contains many others.
| December 6, 1888 | Father McKeever established parish. |
| December 25, 1888 | First mass celebrated in upper room of skating rink. |
| February, 1889 | First piece of property purchased at Orange and Humboldt Streets. |
| March, 1889 | First rectory located at 22 Bathgate Place. |
| July, 1889 | Second piece of property purchased at Orange and Gray Streets. |
| October 14, 1891 | Present church building bought. |
| September 11, 1892 | School opened in present church building. |
| September 12, 1897 | First Mass celebrated in present church building, which was dedicated. |
| April 12, 1908 | Corner stone of present school building laid. |
| January 6, 1909 | School opened in new building. |
| June, 1907 | Rev. Michael P. Corcoran made assistant. |
| June, 1912 | Rev. Thomas J. Martin made assistant. |
| June 7, 1906 | Father McKeever celebrated his silver jubilee of ordination by saying mass over the Tomb of Apostles in the Holy City, Rome Italy. |
| December 6, 1913 | Silver jubilee of the parish of St. Rose of Lima. |
| January 8, 1889 | First Baptism. |
| June 16, 1889 | First Marriage. |
| February 1, 1889 | First Death. |
Number of priests…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1
Number of sisters………………………………………………………………………………………………………….12
Number of parishioners…………………………………………………………………………………………….4,000
Number of school children……………………………………………………………………………………………. 600
Number of baptisms…………………………………………………………………………………………………2,145
Number of marriages……………………………………………………………………………………………………592
Value of church property………………………………………………………………………………………. $300,000
Value of new church to be…………………………………………………………………………………….. $300,000
As I was writing I paused to reflect how much historical detail gets lost through the passage of time. There are few living persons who would be able to recall the dates , names and faces contained in the Jubilee booklet. Indeed , it is probable that if copies of this booklet had not survived most of the early history of St. Rose would have been lost.
Newark's Attic 
This really beautiful, thank you for doing this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is great John! I was so excited to find your blog. We met a few years ago at the Bodholdt’s re-union in Cryan’s. I lived not far from you – on Second Street, and St. Rose was our parish.
LikeLike
I’m glad you enjoyed the blog. I am always trying to add more Roseville items to my collection. The history of the neighborhood deserves to be told. I was sorry that the Bodholt’s party has been moved to the Shore as I would like to have attended more. There are many things in my collection that I don’t post so if there anything you would like to see let me know.
LikeLike
Sorry John, just saw this. I’ve been a bit neglectful of this site lately. I haven’t been to the party since it moved to the shore either. I’d considered going this year but now my uncle (who always goes with me, and lives on 2nd Street) is ill and things have been a bit hectic. Hope all is well!
LikeLike
Sorry to hear that Andy is ill. I hope he feels better soon. I’m happy that you still take a look at the site when the opportunity presents itself. I have wanted to attend another Roseville Christmas party, but It’s a long trip to go alone. Please stay in touch and let me know how your uncle is doing and if I can assist in some way.
LikeLike
Hi John, I believe the Christmas party has been cancelled – thought I saw something posted on facebook but haven’t had a chance to go back and read it. Andy is doing ok, in a rehab place in Kearny for now, going for chemo and radiation. I will keep you posted, either on here (I don’t get on here as often as I should) or if you prefer and wish to give me your email address or if you’re on facebook, a friend request. My email is ukspectre5367@gmail.com, and facebook I’m under Susan Hamilton Helber.
LikeLike
I am researching family history and have discovered that in 1904 my grandparents were married by Fr. McKeever. I enjoyed reading about the history of this church. I grew up in Newark during the 1940’s and 50’s not far from your church, but I never knew it existed. I was a member of St. Lucy’s at that time . I an hoping to obtain a copy of their Certificate of Marriage from you.
LikeLike
Hi John.
Steve here. We spoke this past June (2019) and I was just getting around to putting together a little visual about our Church and our neighborhood.
Fantastic work. Please keep it moving.
LikeLike
Thanks, Steve. I remember you well. I hope you are feeling well in these troubling times. My best to you.
John Lipari
LikeLike
I live in Dallas, Texas and was born in San Antonio, Texas, My daughter went to the University of Texas in Austin, Texas and then to law school up in NYU. She met and married a fellow from New Jersey. They had their wedding in Houston, Texas where I was living in 2010. Now they are living in Newark and I have visited them last October 2019. I am a researcher and a Catholic myself, Not sure how I stumbled across your blog ,but it is Holy Thursday and am so glad I did. I will look at this with much attention. God bless and thank you for your blog and history notes. Professor Pat Gerecci in Dallas, Texas
LikeLike
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. As fate would have it, I live across the street from St. Rose. The churches here in the Archdiocese of Newark have been shut for a while now. Strange days indeed! Does your daughter and her husband like it here? I hope they do. Hoping next year is better for us all !
John Lipari
LikeLike
Greetings from the Kane Family from Humboldt Street. We have an avid interest in Roseville, St. Rose of Lima and local history. In the old 11th Ward of Newark Humboldt Street was called Rose Street. Then, the street was renamed in honor of the polymath, scientist and traveller Alexander von Humboldt. The red brick row homes on the east side of Humboldt Street were constructed in 1896.
Thank you for quoting from the 25th Silver Jubilee booklet. That document was written and edited by prolific author Howard R, Garis, creator of the Uncle Wiggily tales serialized in the Newark Evening News. Many editors of the News lived in McEvoy Ct. 140 Roseville Ave. (a/k/a “doctors’ and undertakers’ row.” ) Among local notables was Moe Berg, who enjoyed heaping sundaes in Gruning’s between Ewald Tillmes and Fidelity Union. See: “The Catcher was a Spy.’
LikeLike
Thank you, Bill. You’ll be happy to know your old home is doing great.
LikeLike
Significantly, 14 North 9th St is birthplace of Chief Justice Arthur T Vanderbilt (not from the wealthy Vanderbilts) was a block down Bathgate Place and just a few doors in from Seventh Avenue. He attended the newly constructed Roseville Ave School, and walked to Barringer.
After working his way through college and law school Arthur Vanderbilt became the foremost
leader in court reform. He was largely responsible for our NJ Constitution of 1947.
In addition, his colleague, United States Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan was born, also of humble circumstances, on New Street. Associate Justice Brennan and NJ Supreme Court Justice Joseph Weintraub were classmates in Barringer Class of 1924.
LikeLike
Thank you for all your comments. They add volumes to the value of this blog.
John
LikeLike
Careful and attentive readers of Philip Roth (1933-2018) will detect his many references to Newark localities. Novella, “Goodbye Columbus” depicts and describes details of working in the main Newark Library on Washington Street. Although one would have to take the #6 Crosstown bus run by Public Service Coordinated Transport to reach Roth’s Weequahic neighborhood he included lots of local color. In American Pastoral, Roth’s glove factory setting is at the curious joinder of West Market Street and Central Avenue. Numerous references elsewhere.
LikeLike
Hi Bill,
I believe I met you at a Bodholt’s Christmas party. I currently live on Humboldt Street. I would be interested in having a further conversation. johnlipari@aol.com
LikeLike
Thank you for this interesting history. I find the history of Newark fascinating. I was reading Lenten Meditations by Reverend Peter Stravinskas in it he speaks about how his decision to become a priest began with his profound experience at Saint Rose’s in Newark. I grew up in North Newark in the fifties and sixties and I had never heard of Saint Rose of Lima. We lived closer to Saint Michaels and Saint Lucy. I have read the two books mentioned above by Philip Roth and thought they were interesting. He wrote very passionately about Newark, especially in American Pastoral. I did not read the book he wrote about his father which I think is also reminiscent. I have been attending more of the Latin Masses and I think the change in the sixties was not for the best. Thank you for this fascinating blog. Catherine
LikeLike