On a glorious fall day, parishioners of St. Raphael Parish in West Medford filled their lovely stone church for a Mass of Thanksgiving last Sunday morning with an archbishop and two bishops present in the sanctuary.
Archbishop Daniel Cronin, pastor from 1968-1971, served as principal celebrant. The homily was delivered by regional auxiliary bishop, Francis Irwin. Bishop Dan Reilly, retired bishop of the Worcester diocese and previously in-residence concelebrated the Mass.
The Mass began with an outdoor procession led by parishioners, altar servers and many former parochial vicars and three previous pastors.
St. Raphael Parish was established in January, 1905 to serve a growing Catholic population in the West Medford section. Eager to get the parish going, founding pastor, the Rev. Nathaniel Merritt organized a springtime bazaar to raise funds for a rectory and purchase land for a church.
The first St. Raphael Church, a Spanish-mission style structure was dedicated on Oct. 29, 1905. In August 1909, Merritt transferred to Winchester.
In the course of 100, St. Raphael Parish has been led by 14 pastors. During the pastorate of the Rev. John J. Powers, (1931-1937), the church was enlarged with wings added on. The Rev. Dennis A. O'Brien (1938-1949) erected the parish hall.
In the 1950's, Medford's school age population flourished. Msgr. Joseph W. Murphy, pastor from 1954-1968, saw the need for a school. The cornerstone was laid in 1960.
The convent followed in 1964. On Oct. 1, 1968, a young newly consecrated auxiliary bishop became the 11th pastor. Bishop Daniel A. Cronin's pastorate lasted only two years. On Oct. 30, 1970, he was named bishop of the Fall River Diocese.
The late the Rev. Martin J. Dolphin, pastor from 1971-1981, oversaw implementing Vatican II reforms and more improvements to the parish property. The Rev. Dennis Burns served as pastor from 1981-1990.
Prior to leaving for a new pastorate in Marblehead, Burns established a renovation committee to explore ideas for renovating the church. Late in the evening of Dec. 7, 1990, a fire of suspicious origin destroyed the church. Thereafter, the school chapel began to be used for weekend Masses.
It fell to the next pastor, the Rev. Dennis T. Nason to organize the parish to build a new church. The new St. Raphael Church on the site of the old is a replica of the sixth century Church of St. Euphemia in Grado, Italy and built of rugged, multi-hued fieldstone. Stained glass windows, the tabernacle and other artifacts from the old were incorporated into the new church.
The love and devotion parishioners have for St. Raphael Parish was evident in their generous support to finance the new church without leaving the parish in any debt. Cardinal Bernard Law came to dedicate the new church on Dec. 19, 1993.
With heavy hearts, parishioners bid farewell to Nason as the summer of 1998 came to an end. He was honored a grand reception in the parish hall. On Sept. 1, 1998, he became founding pastor of a new parish in Haverhill formed out of four parishes and named All Saints.
The Rev. Kevin Toomey became the current pastor on Sept. 29, 1998.
In his closing remarks, Toomey thanked his devoted parishioners for all their assistance in planning the Centennial Mass. He also paid tribute to Rose Giovino, oldest parishioner who was born on April 10, 1905 and has attended daily Mass faithfully for many years and to the Sisters of St. Joseph who have staffed the school since it opening in 1960.
Prior to the final blessing, the children's choir performed a tune on the steps of the sanctuary. Outside the church, parishioners greeted three former pastors, Cronin, Burns and Nason and some former parochial vicars that included the Rev. Tom Keyes, the Rev. Paul Rouse and current senior priest in-residence, the Rev. Charlie Duggan.
A luncheon followed in the parish hall.
The centennial year will come to a close with a banquet at the World Trade Center on Sunday evening, Nov. 19. Tickets are still available by calling the rectory at 781-483-1139. Transportation arrangements are available for senior citizens.