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The
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was first celebrated in the city of
Rocky Mount in 1892 by Father Thomas W. Stapleton, pastor of Saint
Mary's Church in Goldsboro, in a small chapel or room off the home
of Mr. Dunkel. The congregation consisted of the Dunkel
family who were of German origin and who were converts to the
faith and the family of Mr. William J. Tracy. Mr. Tracy was
a native of Ireland.
Father Thomas
Frederick Price established the mission of Our Lady of Perpetual
Help from 1892-1896. The little flock of Catholics
steadfastly persevered in their faith, congregating on Sundays,
now at one home, then another to recite the rosary and to teach
the children when it was not possible, due to the few in number,
for a priest to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Father P.J.
Quinn served from 1896 until 1901. Father Stapelton returned to
Rocky Mount from 1901-1905. The first appointed pastor was Father
William T. Whearty who served from 1905-1910. About the year
1909, the Catholic population increased by natural growth and the
arrival of other Catholics who were associated with the Atlantic
Coastline Railroad Shops.
With the help of
kind benefactors from the North, a white frame church and rectory
were built in 1910 at the corner of Franklin and Chester Streets.
Mrs. Rebecca Epstein, a devotee of Judaism, volunteered her
services as organist nearly every Sunday for three or four years.
Father Thomas
Harrigan succeeded Father Wheartly from 1911-1912 and Father P.
Francis J. Gallagher in 1912-1919. Father Gallagher was an
admired hero of the flu epidemic during September and October of
1918. His brother Joseph A. Gallagher followed him as pastor from
1919-1927.
In December of
1921, four Sisters of the Humility of Mary from Gold Field
California came to Rocky Mount, purchased the Rocky Mount
Sanatorium, and renamed it Saint Mary's Hospital. The Hospital
remained open for two years. Their history was short lived for
financial reasons and caused them to fold up and they returned
West.
Reverend Edward
A. Rigney followed Father Gallagher as pastor in 1927-1930, Father
F.J. McCourt in 1930-1932, Father Bernard J. McDevitt 1932-1935,
Father E. P. Carroll 1935-1936, and Father James J. Gallagher from
1936-1937.
During the
pastorate of Monsignor Peter J. McNerney 1937-1946, the parish
purchased the Brewer home in 1939 to serve as a school and
convent. The
school opened
on September 5, 1939 with the enrollment of 35 children under the
guidance of the Sister, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
from Scranton, Pennsylvania. The Sister, Servants of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary served this parish for 59 years.
Father J. A.
Cowan served as pastor from 1946-1947 with a congregation of 92
and was succeeded by Father Charles B. McLaughlin from 1947-1963.
During this time, the small wooden church was just large enough
for its parishioners. Every Sunday, tourists who started
traveling after WWII, on their way to Florida, stopped for Mass
and many found the church so filled that it was necessary for many
of the travelers to stand in the yard and assist at Mass through
the windows.
On November 12,
1952, a new red Roman brick church was dedicated. Several
thousands of dollars were donated by non-Catholic neighbors
creating a true ecumenical spirit.
A new
school building next to the
church was completed and opened in September of 1957. The sisters
were welcomed to a new convent in 1972. A new parish hall which
included two class rooms and a cafeteria was built in 1979.
Father Thomas F.
Kerin succeeded Father McLaughlin in 1963-1967 followed by Father
Francis M. Smith 1967-1969, Father John A. Weidinger 1969-1975,
Father Robert T. Lawson 1975-1986, Father Tim O'Connor 1986-1989,
Father James F. Butler 1989-1995, Father Joseph M. Laforge
1995-1997, and Father Javan Saxon (Pastor) / Father Richard Turner
(Parochial Vicar) 1997 - 2006.
History and Significance of the
Icon
For many centuries
throughout the world, this picture has been revered as an icon of
hope and inspiration.
The original picture of Our
Mother of Perpetual Help is a product of Byzantine art. It is
known to be at least 500 years old in its present form. Painted
in tempura on hard nutwood and only 17" X 21", the picture may
date back another 1000 years to the ancient Madonnas of
Constantinople. Some church legends even date the picture to the
first century and the hand and brush of St. Luke the Evangelist.
It is only in the past 125
years that devotion to our Mother of Perpetual Help has increased
dramatically. In 1866, Pope Pius IX entrusted the miraculous
icon to the Redemptorists and told them to "Make her Known
Throughout the World." Countless miracles, healings and
conversions are attributed to Mary's intercession to Her Son by
those who pray to her as Our Mother of Perpetual Help. In fact,
it is somewhat miraculous how the Redemptorists received the
picture in the first place.
Historical records indicate
that around the year 1490, the picture was located in St. Matthew
the Apostle Church in Rome. For 300 years, the picture hung over
the main altar. In 1798, the picture was taken into hiding by the
monks who fled the city of Rome to avoid being captured by
Napoleon's invading armies. The picture resurfaced some years
later in an Augustinian monastery chapel.
Meanwhile, the Redemptorists
had built the new church of San Alfonso near the site of St.
Matthew the Apostle, which had been destroyed by Napoleon's
invasion force. In time, Redemptorists learned about the
miraculous picture of Our Mother of Perpetual Help that had been
enshrined on that site for several centuries. They requested that
the picture be placed there once again. The Holy Father Pope Pius
IX agreed and on April 26, 1866, the original icon of Our Mother
of Perpetual Help was placed above the high altar in the Church of
San Alfonso. To this day, the miraculous picture is still there
for all to see.
This Byzantine icon is
replete with numerous symbols.
Look at the picture.
Frightened by the vision of two angels showing him the instruments
of Passion, the Christ Child has run to His Mother, almost losing,
in His haste, one of the tiny sandals. Mary holds Him in her arms
reassuringly, lovingly. But notice her eyes. They look not at
Jesus but at us. How better could the artist express Our Lady's
interest in our lives and spiritual growth?
Christ's little hands are
pressed into Mary's as a reminder to us that just as on earth He
placed Himself entirely in her hands for protection, so now in
heaven He places each of us in her tender loving care.
There are also the following
Greek initials: for "Jesus Christ", for "Mother of God", for "St.
Gabriel the Arch Angel" who is depicted holding the cross and
nails, and for "St. Michael the Arch Angel" who is depicted
holding the lance and gall-sop of Christ's Passion.
There is a star on Our
Lady's veil symbolizing that she is the Star of the Sea who leads
us to the safe port of heaven. Mary's left hand is supporting
Christ possessively. She is His Mother. It is a comforting hand
for everyone who asks for her intercession. Her mouth is small
for silent recollection. She speaks little. She wears a red
tunic, the color worn by virgins at the time of Christ, and a dark
blue mantle, the colors worn by mothers in Palestine.
The entire background is
golden, symbolic of heaven. Christ's Hands, palms turned down
into His Mother's, indicate that He has chosen for the graces of
redemption to be in her keeping.
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Bienvenidos from the
Hispanic Community of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rocky Mount. We
have mass every Sunday at 12:30 p.m. with a cry room and
facilities for children. As a Roman Catholic community, we try to
preserve the diverse traditions of the Latinos that are a part of
our community. We celebrate important Latino feast days to
include Our Lady of Guadalupe, Las Posadas, Our Lady of San Juan
de los Lagos, Candle Mass, and, of course, Holy Week and Christmas
with a Hispanic flair. We also often have small socials and
fiestas where we can also celebrate different traditions.
In the season of Lent, we are
convening "reflection suppers" every Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m.
where persons can come to the basement of our church to have
something light to eat and can also listen to a talk on a
different aspect of Lent.
For Holy Week, we celebrate these
important feast days in conjunction with the community of Wilson,
N.C. Holy Thursday will be celebrated at 8:45 p.m. in Wilson at
the church of St. Therese. There will be the traditional washing
of the feet. The mass will be followed by a holy hour in front of
the blessed sacrament with the rosary and songs. Good Friday will
be celebrated at 6:00 p.m. in Rocky Mount and will begin with a
procession outside of the church with the stations of the cross,
reflecting on the passion of Christ. Afterward, there will be the
traditional Good Friday communion service. Easter masses will be
celebrated at the traditional Sunday time at 12:30 p.m. in Rocky
Mount and at 5:00 p.m. in Wilson.
Bienvenidos a la Comunidad Latina de
Nuestra Senora del Perpetuo Socorro, Rocky Mount. Tenemos misa
cada domingo a las 12:30 de la tarde. Hay un salon para ninos.
Como una comunidad Catolica tratamos de conservar las tradiciones
diversas de los Latinos de nuestra comunidad. Celebramos todas
las ocaciones importantes de nuestra comunidad como la fiesta de
Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, las Posadas, Nuestra Senora de San
Juan de los Lagos, la Candelaria, y por supuesto la Semana Santa y
la Navidad en el estilo Latino. A menudo tenemos convivos donde
podemos celebrar otras tradiciones.
Durante la estación de la Cuaresma,
tenemos "cenas de reflexión" cada Martes a las 7 de la tarde
donde personas pueden ventir al sótano de la iglesia para comer
algo ligero y escuchar una platica de un aspecto de la Cuaresma.
Para la Semana Santa celebramos estos
días importantes con la Comunidad Latina de Wilson. El Jueves
Santo, 17 de Abril, se celebrará en Wilson a las 8:45 de la noche
en la iglesia de Santa Teresita en Wilson. Habrí un lavatorio de
los pies y una hora santa con oraciones y canciones. El Viernes
Santo, 18 de Abril, se celebrará a las 6 de la tarde en Rocky
Mount. Empezaremos esta celebración con una procesión a fuera
de la iglesia. Tendremos la tradicional celebración de la
palabra después. Celebraremos las misas del Domingo de
Resurrección, el 20 de Abril, a las 12:30 de la tarde en Rocky
Mount y a las 5 de la tarde en Wilson.
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