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MARY'S FORGET-ME-NOTS

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Part 10. A New St. Matthew's

About the time of the out-break of World War I, and while our country was relatively at peace, our revered pastor, Father Moore, decided that the time had arrived for a new St. Matthew's, which would climax his long pastorate, and be a fitting monument to his memory.

Brown house on the corner of Yates Street in East Syracuse belonging to Michael and Mary Ellen Burke O'Donnell...that's St. Matthew's Church in the background on the left Mary O'Donnell Montague snapped this picture in 1997.

Our father was one of a committee of three to decide on the model, the size and the style of the new edifice and, because we lived within a block of the church, Father Moore often stopped to arrange trips to determine the final model.

I think that St. Mary's in Canandaigua was admired and discussed frequently. The height of the towers, however, became a source of disagreement. Some thought that the cost should be cut by lower towers, but Father Moore argued (1) the towers with their copper summits should be seen at a great distance, and (2) only the high towers would be in proper proportion to the main building --He was right!

Then World War I delayed a shipment from Germany, but after peace was declared, the windows arrived and were put in place finally and all were satisfied.

Our window in front of the church on the right as you face the altar and is part of the miracle of Christ walking on the water. I used to look at it and think of Father LaFarge writing of the miracle at Lourdes, "For those who believe in God, no explanation is needed - For those who do not believe in God, no explanation is possible".

During Father Moore's pastorate, our parents were fortunate enough to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary. We planned to have just a family affair - thirty five of the children, grandchildren, aunts, cousins etc. The embroidered tablecloth which I had bought in Madeira a few years before was on the dining room table with a big bowl of yellow roses, and we had the dinner prepared for thirty five people.

At the last Mass that Sunday, Father Moore announced that a special event was happening in the parish that day, and, (BIG SURPRISE to us) ALL the people of the village were invited to call on the O'Donnells and offer congratulations!

Surprise indeed! -but, I remember Aunt Jo and May hurried out and came back with cookies and ingredients for fruit punch - and friends and neighbors came-and came-and came -- several hundred of them in all.

IT WAS A DAY TO REMEMBER!! (and, we girls were there)

The Wooden Committee (as Ed called them) finally capitulated, and now, in 1965, as thousands travel along the Thruway, the Towers at St. Matthew's "rise gloriously in the distance" just east of the city.

Another debate concerned the stained glass windows. American-made windows could be obtained easily, but Father Moore had his mind set on German windows - to which subject he devoted one of his Sunday sermons. He was convinced that the German windows were far superior - and, he mentioned a certain church in Utica where American-made windows were installed, and, within a couple of years, they had deteriorated to the extent that the whiskers fell off the Saints!!

The new stained-glass windows at St. Matthew's

I was present when this horrendous disclosure was made. It left a lasting impression.

Lastly, we remember Father as the Poet Priest and his quotations from his favorite, Goldsmith's "Deserted Village"

"Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway,

And fools, who came to scoff remained to pray"

He was a good man - and a sound man - and many people said he was a SAINT!!

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