St. Aedan’s Marks Centennial

When the apostles sent out their nets at the shore of Lake Tiberias, according to the Book of John -– ultimately a metaphor to become ​“fishers of men” –- there were no real ichthyological prey to be caught. When they came to believe and to give witness, then they filled their nets. And, thanks to God, there was a big catch.

That was the apt homily for how to keep rebuilding the Catholic community in Westville and the heart of the message of Archbishop Leonard Blair as he celebrated mass in front of 200 of the faithful on the occasion of Westville’s St. Aedan’s and St. Brendan Parish’s main building’s 100th anniversary.

The celebration took place Sunday morning at the church on Fountain Street.

The parish had previously occupied buildings on lower Fountain and Emerson Streets before the current building was erected in 1922 under the supervision of Father John McGivney (brother of Knights of Columbus Founder Father Michael McGivney), to serve a growing Catholic population in Westville.

In what is a national trend, Catholic church attendance has declined in Westville, and citywide, in the last decades. The result has been mergers: St. Brendan’s on Whalley merged with St. Aedan’s a decade ago. The convent building on the southern end of the campus was sold in 2021 to developers.

That change, and the challenge of revitalization, were on the mind Sunday of Judy Rodican, who was arriving early for the mass’s choir practice.

“I grew up in this parish,” she said. Her mom taught at the St. Aedan’s school for 30 years.

“We’ve seen lots of changes. Back then, a hundred years ago, families supported the church. Now families are smaller, and younger people don’t go to church. It used to be at Christmas the church was filled and the overflow was in the school. We don’t have that anymore.”

Yet, Rodican added, ​“Church is church, and I am dedicated to this place.”

In addition to Archbishop Blair, St. Aedan’s local pastor. Rev. Robert Morgewicz, presided at Sunday’s service. Having arrived five years ago, he helped oversee a major interior renovation including the repair of ten years of water damage.

“We are building on the sacrifices of others,” he said.

“We’ve only been here 43 years,” said Ken Maltese. He and his wife Diane were among those helping to organize the centennial reception after services and other anniversary-related events.

“We’re starting to see new families,” said Maltese, citing the decline in attendance due to Covid that has been characteristic of all houses of worship. ​“Some older folks are still leery of Covid, but each week a few more attend. One of our goals is to speak with those a little ambivalent about coming to church and introduce them so they come on a regular basis.”

On Ash Wednesday, he reported nearly 186 attendees. The church, which seats about 700 people, continues to have three masses, at 9:30, 11:30, and 4:30, which derives from the past when the neighborhood was thronged with church-goers, he said. ​“The more convenient we make it, the more people will come.”

Georgianna Zimmerman raised her kids at Sacred Heart in the Hill. When that building was sold in 2009 by the archdiocese, she moved her regular worship to St. Aedan’s.

“I enjoy services in both places,” she said, ​“but my kids were christened and baptized” at Sacred Heart on Liberty Street, she said.

Why in general does she go to church? ​“I don’t think about it. I was raised in the church. It’s something you do. You need church in your life. Church, God, spirit.”

In the homily, Archbishop Blair concluded: ​“With the passing of time many things have come and gone. Many challenges. So many do not practice the faith. … Maybe the fish don’t seem to be biting, but we are still challenged to be fishers of men, to draw people to church through your witness. Don’t be discouraged to leave the comfort of the shore. If you listen to Jesus, your nets will be filled through him.”