St. Emery’s Church becomes An Historic Place

August 7, 2013

On August 7, 2013, the Church of St. Emery attained the distinctive honor of being officially registered as An Historic Place in the State of Connecticut.

Upon review by a 12 member Connecticut Historic Preservation Council (HPC), Department of Economic and Cultural Development (DECD), consisting of distinguished architects and historians appointed by the Governor of Connecticut, it was determined that St. Emery’s Church is fully qualified to be designated An Historic Place

Qualifications were based on the Church’s Romanesque Revival architectural form with a classic bell tower and an exterior enhanced by façade mosaics, arcaded corbel table décor, a rose window and abundant belt-course decorative brick motif. Qualifications were also based on the Church’s interior with large arched cannon-dome architecture, intricate wall gold leaf décor, the prominent sanctuary frescoes, beautiful nave paintings of religious figures, century old stained glass windows, imported European sculptures, marble altars, handcrafted religious bronze wall plaques, rare tapestries and most importantly, the history of the American/Hungarian community as it relates to St. Emery’s Church

During St. Emery’s 70th anniversary celebration in 2002, the Church compiled a detailed account of the rich history of St. Emery’s parish beginning in the 20th Century starting with the Great Depression of the late 1920’s and early 1930’s.

It is a wonderful story of the Roman Catholic Hungarian people who had emigrated from Hungary and settled in Connecticut USA determined to build a church, a parish, and a community of the Roman Catholic faith.  This history is chronologically documented below, History of St. Emery’s Church.

This Historic Place designation is an outstanding tribute and honor to all the parishioners and Franciscan clergy who founded and faithfully supported this cherished Roman Catholic Parish over 85 years.

The Great Depression Era

It was shortly after the First World War and during the Great Depression of the late 1920’s and 1930’s that Hungarian Catholics who settled initially in the West End of the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut began an exodus from the City to the nearby suburbs of Fairfield.  It was in the West End that Hungarian Catholics and other Christan denominations nurtured their spiritual lives and maintained their Magyar (Hungarian) language, customs and cultural ties with their homeland.

It was Saint Stephen of Hungary Parish (1887 – 1971) – Bridgeport that was the spiritual home for Hungarians embracing the Catholic faith.

The Beginning of St. Emery’s Parish in 1930-1932

The City of Bridgeport at this time was part of the Catholic Diocese of Hartford that embraced the entire State Of Connecticut.  It was the pastoral concern and sensitivity of the Most Reverend John Nilan, Bishop of Hartford and the Reverend Stephen Czernitzky that the spiritual needs and well being of the Hungarian Diaspora that moved to the town of Fairfield be cared for.  It was on New Years Day that 547 persons gathered for the celebration of the Eucharist at a temporary chapel on Hibiscus Street in Fairfield.  This sacred gathering was the beginning of the Parish Community of Saint Emery Roman Catholic Church.  Bishop John Nilan, the founding pastor, Reverend Benedict Biro (1932 – 1952) and a small group of founding fathers/mothers chose to place the newly formed Parish under the patronage of Saint Emeric (Emery) of Hungary.

The Founding of St. Emery’s Church in 1932

The year 1932 was certainly a banner year for our Parish Community.  The groundbreaking for the present church took place on Easter Sunday, the blessing and laying of the cornerstone by Bishop Maurice M. McAuliffe Bishop of Hartford and on.

November 5th (the Feast day of St. Emery) the dedicate and consecration of both church and alter.  Soon after the brick and motor aspect of the founding of our Parish Community, Friar Biro and other Franciscan Friars worked un-tiredly to establish various societies and groups that would gather the people under a common cause or purpose.  Such groups were – St. Margaret of Hungary Altar Society, St. Emery Rosary Society, St.Emery Ladies Guild, Father Biro Men’s League, Holy Name Society, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Children of Mary Sodality and of recent vintage, St. Emery Seniors.

Rapid Growth – Addition of Convent (1952) and Parochial School (1956)

As the Parish Community grew in numbers, especially young parents starting families, Friar Biro and the founding fathers/mothers, especially members of the Ladies Guild, initiated the building of a Cathetical Center in 1951.  The mission of Religious Education (CCD as it was referred to then) was entrusted to the women religious of the Congregation of the Daughters of the Divine Charity.  This group of Sisters founded in Bavaria, Germany but coming from Hungarian speaking areas of Eastern Europe came to the United States to minister both in teaching and working with young women in the Hungarian language.  Initially, the Sisters staffed the Parochial School at St. Stephen of Hungary Parish – West End of Bridgeport.  A convent was established on the grounds for the Sisters in 1952 and a more modern facility built in 1961.  This Cathetical School, which opened in 1954, ministered to thirty-four students and with the passing of time became too small and inadequate for the growing number of children in the parish.  With the grace of the Almighty God, the approval of the newly created Diocese of Bridgeport and the dedication support of the parishioners, Most Reverend Lawrence J,. Sheehan, the First Ordinary of the Diocese of Bridgeport and later Cardinal of Baltimore, blessed and broke ground for the school addition on August 29th, 1955 and returned a year later on October 7th, 1956 to bless and dedicate our school.

Parochial School (1956 – 1987) – Thirty-One Successful Years

Our Parish Parochial School over the thirty-one years became both the present and future of our Parish Community.  Nearly Two generations of our young families both past and present received their religious and academic formation/education.  It was certainly a gift from Almighty God and the Church to have had the Daughters of the Divine Charity (Staten Island) who through their deep faith, hard work and labor of love to have taught ‘as Jesus taught’ and formed thousands of young women and men in the truths and Mysteries of our Catholic-Christen faith.  Due to a lack of parish-family students, changing neighborhoods and demographics, our Parish parochial School was closed in June 1987.  With the grace of God, the Daughters of Divine Charity, after the school closed remained ministering in our parish and directing our Religious Education Program.  It was due to a lack of vocations and the changing needs of the Church that the Daughters of Divine Charity – the St. Joseph province withdrew from our Parish June 1995.  Our Parish School is presently dedicated itself to educating young people due to the establishment of the Brooklawn Acedemy, (a state sponsored charter school), in September, 1998.  Other portions of the school serve as the home of Our Lady of the Assumption Regional Catholic School Pre-Kindergarden Program, Regional Business Office and ministry to Alcoholics Anonymous.

Friar Benedict Biro, O.F.M.  First Friar for 20 Years (1932-1952)

After the Birth into Eternal Life of Friar Biro, the Franciscan Friars faithfully and lovingly continued the pastoral care and spiritual growth of our parish – all Pastors/Parochial Vicars to the present have either been born in Transylvania (Hungary) or of parents with Hungarian parentage.  Vocations have come from our own people to serve our Hungarian faithful.  These Friars have been:

Friar Hippolyt Dessy, O.F.M. (1952-1961),

Friar Dennis A. Szocs, O.F.M. (1961-1976),

Friar George Meszaros, O.F.M. (1976-1977),

Friar Robert D. Nemeth, O.F.M. (1977-1998)

Friar Louis M. Pintye, O.F.M. (1998-2011)

Our Parish was served by two Friars – Friar Louis and Friar Szlezak, O.F.M., Senior Friars in Residence (Holy Name Province New York City).  In 2011,  St. Emery became a diocesan parish with Father Guido G. Montanaro as Parish Administrator.

Close of the Franciscan Order Worldwide

It was on Deceember 31st, 1992 that the Order of Friars Minor (Rome) suppressed the Custody of St. Stephen King as a Franciscan entity.  Due to the lack of vocations and the Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe, the restructuring of the Francisan Order worldwide had brought to glorious close the life and ministry of group of friars who served the People of God here at St. Emery’s, Ohio and Pennsylvania for well over sixty years.

On January 1st, 1993, the pastoral care of our parish was entrusted to the Franciscan Friars of the Order of Friars Minor – province of the Immaculate Conception (New York City).  Our parish community celebrated their Silver Anniversary on November 17th, 1957, our Golden Anniversary on November 7th, 1982, our Seventieth Anniversary on November 3rd, 2002 and our Seventy Fifth Anniversary on November 4th, 2007.

The Closing of St. Stephen’s Church of Hungary

It was on October 10th, 1971, that the Diocese of Bridgeport in consultation with the Parish Communities of St. Stephen of Hungary (Bridgeport) and St. Emery (Fairfield) decided that due to changing demographics in the West End of Bridgeport, and the lack of the number of parishioners, that the Last Mass would be celebrated at St. Stephen’s.  In short, two Hungarian parishes merged to make one strong Hungarian Community in Fairfield, CT.  There is another Hungarian Parish, St. Ladislaus in South Norwalk, CT who also ministers to Hungarian Catholics.  The story of this merger is quite impressive due to the fact that in 1932, St. Stephen’s Parish gave birth to their child (St. Emery’s).  St. Stephen allowed the birth of his son, St. Emeric.  As St. Stephen’s weathered many storms and transistions over the years, St. Emery’s came to the rescue in her advanced years to bring needed support and a ‘spiritual renewal’.  When time and need allowed to become two unique and distinct Parish Communities had united through our common Catholic-Christian tradition and a common Hungarian heritage for the past thirty-one years has become one parish again, St. Emery’s.

Changing Demographics

Changing times and demographics, the high cost of living in Fairfield County, the greatest exodus of young couples to live in more affordable section of the state, the inter-marriage between Hungarians and non-Hungarians have allowed to make-up of our Parish Community to not only change but begin to dwindle in numbers.  Once again, we are becoming a neighborhood parish ministering to not only Hungarians but to whom ever wishes to embrace our Catholic-Christian faith and to celebrate the sacramental and liturgical tradition of the Church.

As a means to provide for the younger families and to celebrate the Millennium in 2001, our Parish Community under took the first full-restoration of the interior of our parish church and sanctuary.  The Sanctuary was changed to be in compliance with the restoration of the Liturgy as envisioned by the Second Vatican Council – a new altar, ambo, baptismal fount were imported and installed from Italy.  The reredoes (old altar) on which the Blessed Sacrament is reserved remains the focal point of our worship as it has for the past seventy years.  New lighting, heating and air-conditioning were installed.

Three Shrines in the Church bespeaks of the various heritages we envision to maintain.  One dedicated to the Holy Family – Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  One dedicated to our Franciscan Family – St. Francis, St. Clare, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. John of Capistrano and Blessed Padre Pio.  The third dedicated to our Hungarian Saints – St. Stephen, Our Lady of Hungary and St. Emery.

Blessing of the Restored Church

Our Parish celebrates four Masses each weekend.  The Sunday Mass at 11:30 am is celebrated in the Hungarian Language.  Our newly restored church was blessed and our new altar was dedicated by the Most Reverend Edward Michael Egan, J.C.D., on Sunday, May 7th, 2000.  It was only days after this dedication that he received appointment as the cardinal-Archbishop of the archdiocese of New York.  Bishop (now cardinal) Egan spoke quite eloquently of our need to preserve both our spiritual heritage as Catholic-Christians as well as our heritage and customs as Hungarians.  Since our restorations, which was a challenge for most and rather painful for some, our Parish Church has become known as “the Cathedral of Fairfield”.  We are proud of this recognition but its accomplishment was certainly that of the Lord alone.

In 1981, St. Emery’s obtained six priceless antique stained glass windows from the Franciscan Order of the Province of the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Troy, New York. The Seminary was being turned into a hospital and thanks to Father Robert Nemeth, received permission from the Franciscans to remove and install the windows in St. Emery’s Church.

These windows were crafted in Europe (German artists) and are more than 130 years old. The window inscriptions relate to the Franciscans and St. Francis of Assisi.

Thanks to the efforts of Father Charles Allen S. J. of Fairfield University in 2012, an exact, elegant, and inspiring translation of these very old Latin inscriptions has been provided for 6 Seminary windows and for 2 original St. Emery windows. Translations are next to each window photographs.