St. Patrick Celebrates 90th Anniversary

The 90th anniversary of is not just a celebration of the beautiful stone building that’s housed the weddings, christenings, and lives of hundreds of Farmington families, but of the faith community that’s supported those families within that building.

The anniversary is being celebrated today at 11:45 a.m. with a Mass that will be attended by Archbishop Henry J. Mansell.

“The 90th anniversary of Saint Patrick Church is a momentous occasion that stirs up gratitude for God’s gifts in the past, and summons prayer for God’s blessings in the future,” the archbishop said. “Originally established as a small mission church, it has evolved into a vital and vibrant church community.  My hope is that it will continue be a powerful beacon of faith for generations to come.”

The parish, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2011, and was originally registered with the dioceses in 1961, and organized under the name of St. Patrick Society of Farmington, with Fr. Christopher Duggett appointed pastor in 1868.

Masses were originally held in homes, and then in an old clock shop, purchased from the Cowles family, located on Route 4 near Garden Street, according to a short history of the church.

The new church’s cornerstone was laid in 1921 and the building dedicated on June 11, 1922.

“Men of the parish prepared the land, built the foundation and basement, and hauled the fieldstone from farms and dry stone walls in the West District area of town,” the history reads. “The church is the only Arts & Crafts building in the Archdiocese of Hartford, and includes exposed chestnut beams and 14 beautiful stained-glass windows that were made in Germany.”

A front pew in the church bears a plaque with Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis’ name, donated while a student at Miss Porter’s School.

“In 1976, Pastor James J. Conefrey modernized and refurbished the church and the church hall to be in keeping with the liturgical reforms mandated by Vatican Council II. Much of the marble from the beautiful old altar was used in the sanctuary, the baptistry and the pulpit,” according to the history.

Since then, Fr. Thomas Quinn, Fr. James Pilon,  Fr. Mark Flynn and the current pastor, Fr. Thomas J. Barry have pastured the church.

Barry arrived only 14 months ago but has settled into the church and is overseeing initiatives to encourage more youth participation and to revive the music program by adding a guitarist to Masses and developing a youth choir.

“The anniversary is an opportunity for us to celebrate the Catholic community of St. Patrick and its presence in the town,” Barry said. “It has a strong traditional presence in the town and I think that it will continue to grow with things going on in the town like the UConn Medical Center expansion.”

Barry has seen St. Patrick grow recently with the addition of young families. The parish has grown to include more than 1570 families, with 4,642 active members. Of those, Father Barry said, 115 were added in the past year.

“The role of the church in the town is to nourish the faith of many community members and encourage them to be actively participating in the life, not only of the parish community but in community at large,” Barry said.

Members of the larger faith community, including Father Golas of St. Mary Star of the Sea in Unionville and two Episcopal priests from St. James Episcopal Church will join today’s Mass.

Celebration of the anniversary will continue with a picnic in September and a golf tournament in the fall. To find out more about St. Patrick Church, visit http://www.stpatsfarm.com.