September 29, 1979

A gala three day celebration was held for the centennial anniversary, spanning spiritual, social and cultural events.

The jubilee year of the Diocese of Norwich come to a glorious climax on the weekend of September 28th to 30th, 1979, with the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of St. Patrick's Cathedral as a parish church. On Friday, September 28th, the actual anniversary date, there was a celebration in the morning for the schoolchildren.

Monsignor O'Brien celebrated a special Mass for the children at 11:00 a.m. After Mass, everybody went downstairs to the auditorium for a McDonald's luncheon of hamburgers, French fries and a soft drink, provided by the Home School Association. The children sat on the floor and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. After lunch, there was a Disneyland movie, and then it was time to go home from school. It was a memorable day for the children.

At 7:00 on Friday evening, there was a special Mass of Thanksgiving. Most Reverend Daniel P. Reilly, D.D., the third Bishop of Norwich, was the principal celebrant and also the homilist.

The principal concelebrants were the Most Reverend Bernard J. Flanagan, D.D., the first Bishop of Norwich and now the Bishop of Worcester, Massachusetts; The Most Reverend Vincent J. Hines, D.D.; Reverend Monsignor Joseph V. King; and Reverend Monsignor James J. O'Brien.

More than fifty priests also concelebrated the Mass, Including native sons and former associates at St. Patrick's. Among them were Reverend Monsignor Terence P. Finnegan, former Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Air Force and a two star general, and Reverend Monsignor Raymond G. LaFontaine, former president of St. Thomas Seminary In Bloomfield, Connecticut, both native sons. About 500 or 600 people also took part In the Mass. Music was provided by the Cathedral Choir under the direction of Douglas Green. After Mass there was an informal reception in the cathedral auditorium.

On Saturday evening, September 29th, at 5:30 another Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated. Bishop Reilly presided. Monsignor O'Brien was the principal celebrant and homilist. Reverend Sylva P. LeCours and Reverend Anthony S. Rosaforte, associate pastors of the Cathedral, were concelebrants of the Mass. After Mass there was a social hour in the auditorium, followed by a catered dinner.

About 400 people were in attendance, and many others had to be turned away. The main speaker after the dinner was Monsignor King, who gave a most interesting and humorous account of the first one hundred years of St. Patrick's. The toastmaster was Judge Edward G. Moran, former mayor of Norwich and Probate Court Judge. Others who spoke briefly were Bishop Reilly, Monsignor O'Brien, and Mr. Richard H. O'Neil, president of the Parish Council. It was a memorable evening.

The Masses on Sunday, September 30th, were at the usual times, but after the last two morning Masses, coffee hours were held in connection with the anniversary.

The weekend celebration of the one hundredth anniversary come to a happy ending with a concert in the cathedral in the evening. The "One Hundredth Anniversary Orchestra," under the direction of Kenneth Nott with Douglas Green at the organ, delighted some 200 listeners with selections from Bach, Mozart, and Rheinberger.

And so the first century of a stately cathedral ended, and the second began with the confidence that God will be with us as we try our best to do God's work for God's people.