My Genealogy Hound

REV. B. J. CONWAY. There are few of the citizens of Catasauqua better known throughout Lehigh County than the popular pastor of St. Lawrence’s Catholic Church, who has ministered to its spiritual wants since January, 1885. The history of this congregation covers a period of many years, and contains much of interest to the general reader. The present church property was purchased, conjointly, by Bartly Murtaugh and James Gillen, pioneer Catholics of Catasauqua. In 1858, prior to the erection of St. Lawrence’s Church by Father Lawrence Brennan (named in his honor), the Catholics of Craneville (now Catasauqua) were attended to fromEaston until 1858. After a time a permanent pastorate was established, Father Miller being the first priest to occupy this position. He was succeeded by Father McKee, and the latter after twenty-one years was succeeded by Father McFadden. Januaiy 10, 1885, Father Conway was given charge of the parish by the Ordinary.

Those by whom Father Conway is personally known and esteemed will be interested in a sketch of his life and career. He was. born in County Tyrone, Ireland, December 27, 1856, and is the third in order of birth in a family of nine children, all of whom but one are living. Michael J. is engaged in business in Philadelphia; Sister Winefred presides over St. Joseph’s Home at Wilmington, Del.; Maggie makes her home with Father Conway in Catasauqua. The remaining members of the family still reside in their native land.

The family of which Father Conway is a member has for centuries been prominent in the Catholic Church. Two of his uncles, Fathers Michael and James Conway, both now deceased, were influential and highly respected priests in their native diocese of Londonderry. His parents, John and Maggie Conway, were natives of Ireland, where the father was engaged in farm pursuits. He made several trips to the United States to visit his brother, Francis Conway, a noted soap manufacturer of Philadelphia. His death occurred at his home in Ireland, June 16, 1893, at an advanced age. June 6, 1892, Father Conway received a cablegram stating that his mother was very ill. The next morning found him on board the steamer, “Lord Gaugh,” which reached Queenstown July 4. He reached his native place only to find that his beloved mother had departed this life a few hours before his arrival. After four weeks’ stay in Ireland he returned to the United States and resumed the duties connected with his position of priest of a large parish.

When a lad of five years, Father Conway was brought to America by relatives, located in Philadelphia. For six and one-half years he was a student in St. Charles Seminary at Overbrook, where his superiors accorded him high honors, and after having received a thorough training for the priesthood, he was ordained, June 24, 1880, by Archbishop Wood of Philadelphia. Among his class-mates in the seminary were Revs. Peter Quinn, Hugh MeGovern, William Egan, A. Fritz, Charles Brockmeyer and Fritz Effertz. Of the twenty-six who entered the seminary and were ordained with our subject, Revs. Quinn and Fritz are the only ones beside our subject who survive.

On the day of his ordination, Father Conway was appointed assistant to Dr. Horstmann, of St. Mary’s, Philadelphia, now the Bishop of Cleveland. Soon afterward he was transferred to St. Joachim’s, Frankford, Philadelphia, later to the pastorate of St. Joseph’s, Laurytown, and thence, in January, 1885, he came to Catasauqua. He is highly respected, not only by his congregation, but also by all who know him, irrespective of creed or nationality. He has ever manifested a deep interest in the work in which he is engaged. Since his arrival in Catasauqua he has remodeled the church building, paid off the indebtedness and made a number of valuable improvements. July 3, 1892, the church steeple was struck by lightning, but was soon rebuilt. During the summer of 1893 Calvary Cemetery was enlarged and improved at great expense, and is now the most beautiful burying ground in the valley. It is laid out in drives in the form of a cross, with paved gutters, and is most pleasantly situated. The entire work was done under the personal supervision of the pastor. The parish also owns a desirable property opposite the church, which will be used for school purposes in the near future. It now contains a hall erected by Father Conway for the use of the several parish societies. When the work accomplished by the congregation is taken into consideration, it indicates a praiseworthy spirit among the people, and earnest and persistent efforts on the part of the pastor. The parish includes about one thousand souls. It has two total abstinence societies, the St. Lawrence Cadet Society for young men, the St. Lawrence Drum Corps, the Young People’s Sodality, including also the Emeralds, Hibernians and the lately organized St. Vincent de Paul’s Society. To this work Father Conway has devoted himself most assiduously and unweariedly, and has allowed himself no relaxation from his duties since pastor of St. Lawrence’s, with the exception of two visits to Ireland. Since coming to the United States he has visited his old home several times. He is devotedly attached to the country of his adoption and to the welfare of the borough of Catasauqua, and supports all measures calculated to promote the interests of his fellow-citizens. His earnest efforts to advance the children in religious practices are the daily subjects so much admired by the unbiased.