St.
Rose of Lima History
On December 6th, 1888, Rev. James J. Mc Keever received
his appointment to establish a new catholic parish in Newark. Because there
was a hint of growth going on in the area, Rev. McKeever selected Roseville
to be the location of his new parish.
He found a small room available above the Roseville Skating Rink, on the
corner of Orange and Sixth Streets. When naming his hew parish Rev. McKeever
wanted to honor a saint from North America. But, since none were yet
canonized in North America, he selected St. Rose, of Lima Peru. Rev. McKeever
celebrated his first mass in that upper room, much like that of the last
supper, on Christmas Day 1888.
Rev. McKeever was now looking for a chance to establish a
catholic school. In 1891, the parish purchased an old wooden church on West
Market Street. Work began to make the building suitable for a school.
In September,1892, St. Rose of Lima Grammar School opened with one hundred
students and three Sisters of Charity. For five years, till 1897, the school
remained in the former Methodist Church. With the enrollment growing
a new building was Rev. McKeever’s next endeavor. The corner stone of the
new school building was laid on Palm Sunday, April 12,1908. Students began
to attend classes in their new home on the corner of Orange and Gray Streets,
on Wednesday, January 6th,1909. As you can see, Rev. Mckeever’s dream
of a new school became a reality and it is this school which stands today,
with some modifications.
This may be the last
class to graduate from St. Rose of Lima Grammar School, but the echoes of
one hundred years of students walking her halls and singing in the auditorium,
will remain forever embedded into the bricks themselves.
Dear students, never take for granted the education you received here or
the sacrifices made by so many over the years to keep Rev. McKeever’s dream
alive for over a century.
May God Bless you and guide you.
Your St Rose of Lima Newark, N J Alumni
Association
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