Parish History

CORNERSTONE OPENING

The cornerstone of St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church, laid November 29, 1885, was opened March 28, 1976, and was found to contain newspapers of the time, including The Connecticut Catholic, predecessor of the Catholic Transcript; ten English coins, undoubtedly brought from Ireland by immigrants who founded the parish; three United States coins, an 1859 Indian Head penny, an 1865 two-cent piece, and an 1874 five-cent piece; an 1864 French coin (cinq centimes); a coin with Chinese characters, possibly a 200 year old coin used by the British in trade with the Orient; a medal with the inscription "Saint Ann Pray For Us," and a small statue of Saint Joseph.

The cornerstone also contained the following description of the ceremony in both English and Latin:

In the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty five, on the twenty- ninth day of November, His Holiness Pope Leo the Thirteenth happily reigning, His Excellency Grover Cleveland being President of the United States of North America, and His Excellency Henry B. Harrison being Governor of Connecticut, and Martin B. Parsons First Selectman of the Town of Unionville, His Lordship Lawrence Stephen McMahon D.D. Bishop of this Diocese (sic) of Hartford in the presence of the Rector Rev. Patrick Fox, the speaker Rev. WA. Harty, and of the lay trustees, lanies Connelly and Paul Hayes, and of the architect Charles Keeley and of the builders, the McKone Brothers, and, a large con course of clergy and people joyfully laid the cornerstone of this Church under the invocation of Saint Mary Star of the Sea to the greater glory of God.

In the sequence above the stone is removed by Antheim Masse and Gerald Masse, the contents are removed and examined by the Reverend James Noonan, Pastor, among the assembled congregation, and finally the newspapers and account are read to those assembled by Centennial Chairman, William A. LaPointe.