The early beginnings of our present church go back almost 100 years. It began as a very small mission built on the corner of Neck and Lovell streets. This was on the property where the Rev. Charles A. O'Brien, Knights of Columbus Hall is now located. The small church was built for only 100 parishioners. The first chapel was built in 1880 by Rev. Hugh P. Smyth who was then the pastor of Weymouth and the whole district of the South Shore as far down as Plymouth.
Rev. Smyth found the work of attending to so many Catholics in such a large area most difficult. Consequently, East and North Weymouth were made separate parishes and Rev. Jeremiah E. Millerick was appointed the first pastor in 1882.

This first church building, the chapel, was a small wooden structure. The parish grew rapidly and many visitors came to North Weymouth for the summers.

The small chapel could not hold all those who wished to attend the services. Early residents remembered when the church was so crowded many people gathered outside listening to the Mass through the open windows because there was just not enough room inside.

The old St. Jerome's Church was not opened until Saturday evening. This was to warm the church for Sunday services. A fire was lit on Saturday evening in an old furnace. During the night the building caught on fire and was entirely destroyed. The fire was on Palm Sunday, 1914.

After the chapel burned Saint Jerome's parishioners attended the Immaculate Conception Church until the opening of the new church in North Weymouth.

The second Saint Jerome's Church was blessed, August 29, 1915. At the time of the dedication Rev. Cornelius Riordan was then pastor of both the Immaculate Conception parish and the Saint Jerome's Mission. However, Rev. James Allison was the priest who had planned and almost completed the new Saint Jerome's Church. He died a short time before it was dedicated.

In 1928, Saint Jerome's was established as a separate parish. Before this it was a mission of the Immaculate Conception Church, East Weymouth. On the death of Rev. Cornelius Riordan in 1928, who was then pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church and of the Saint Jerome's mission, the parish was set apart and Rev. Charles A. O'Brien was appointed the first pastor of Saint Jerome's Church.

Fr. O'Brien came from Lynn, Mass., where he had been an assistant at Saint Mary's. It was not a new section for Fr. O'Brien, in his early years as a priest he had been an assistant to Rev. John B. Holland of the Sacred Heart Church, Weymouth Landing.

When Fr. O'Brien arrived at Saint Jerome's he found a beautiful church exterior but some work had to be done to finish the interior. He also needed a rectory so he purchased a large house on Pearl Street and made that the rectory until he was able to erect the large beautiful white rectory many parishioners remember located on Bridge Street. This rectory was built in March 1935. Later it was sold and moved down Neck Street where it still stands.

The inside of the church was completely decorated and new electrical fixtures were installed. New Stations of The Cross were hung on the walls; a pipe organ was purchased and by Christmas of his first year Fr. O'Brien celebrated Midnight Mass in Saint Jerome's Church.

Then Fr. O'Brien built the Saint Jerome's Community House on Lovell Street, the site of the burned down Saint Jerome's Chapel.

Father O'Brien died suddenly Christmas night in 1942. He was succeeded at Saint Jerome's by Rev. Edward M. Hartigan.

The parish grew and soon there were five Masses on each Sunday.

St. Jerome's started an outstanding band and it became well known throughout the diocese.

Fr. Hartigan also purchased the former John Tower estate next to the church. This property runs through from Bridge Street to Lovell Street and was eventually used for the needs of a rapidly growing parish.

In 1951 a campaign to raise money among 2500 members of St. Jerome's Church with which to build a new parochial school was organized and details were announced by Father Hartigan. The parish was growing considerably. Many new homes were being built.

Then Fr. Hartigan was appointed pastor of the Immaculate Conception parish in Everett.

In 1954 Rev. Francis A. Barry became pastor of St. Jerome's Church. He was faced with a flourishing parish. During his time as pastor Fr. Barry was instrumental in building a new church, a new school and a new rectory. The school, staffed by the illustrious Sisters of Notre Dame, became an important part of the spiritual development of the parish. There are now hundreds of graduates of this school.

The ground-breaking ceremonies for the new church were held in September, 1964. This, the present church, of tan brick was built on the site of the former rectory at the corner of Bridge and Neck streets. The new church is two stories, the main church seats 860 and the lower hall has a seating capacity of 900.

In the sanctuary the altar is free standing. Mass is said by the priest facing the congregation.

The old church was razed. The altar of the old Saint Jerome's Church, the tabernacle, vestment cases, some pews, the large window over the altar, the crucifix in the baptistry were all donated to the new Carmelite Monastery established in the Fall River diocese.

The history of saint Jerome's Church is a large tapestry, woven with good deeds by many, many people. Devoted, dedicated priests, selfless, generous nuns and thoughtful, kind parishioners. Each in their own way contributing to the parish to make it better, more spiritually vibrant.

The fabric of the parish is interesting to look at, colorful, bright and nice to be a part of.

AD MULTOS ANNOS....

Excerpted from the 50th anniversary book of
Saint Jerome Parish © 1978