HAVERHILL — In this year of church anniversaries in Haverhill, yesterday's celebration had the deepest historical roots.
For a century and a half, the landmark St. James Church has overlooked the Acre neighborhood. The imposing red-brick building at the corner of Primrose and Winter streets is where generations of families have worshipped, baptized their children and said goodbye to their dead.
It is the oldest Catholic church in Haverhill, and yesterday its people celebrated all that has happened at St. James since 1858.
To mark the 150th anniversary, the church had a special Mass followed by a dinner where elders shared stories of St. James' rich history and younger members further established their growing roots in the parish.
Among Haverhill's other Catholic churches celebrating anniversaries this year are Sacred Hearts, which turned 100, and All Saints, which marked the 10th year since four churches merged into one.
St. James was founded by Irish immigrants, many of whom lived in the Acre neighborhood. While many descendants of those Irish immigrants still attend St. James, two newer groups have become big parts of the parish community.
St. James Pastor Robert Murray said Hispanic Catholics make up more than a third of the church's congregation. There are also many Vietnamese Catholics.
Murray, who has led St. James for about a year and a half, celebrates Mass in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. He attained fluency in Spanish by studying the language in seminary, then going to Guatemala for four months. He has also learned enough Vietnamese to celebrate Mass in that language.
There's no secret to learning a language, he said.
"You just have to work hard at it," he explained.
Murray noted the Catholic faith has a long history in Haverhill.
"That tradition continues," he said. "We will continue to be here for another 150 years, with the help of God."
Susan Harrington, administrative assistant at St. James, is a third-generation parishioner. Her grandfather received his First Communion there and her parents were married there.
"It's a welcoming church," she said, crediting Murray with working hard at making everyone feel included.
Murray urges parishioners to consider volunteering to be Eucharistic ministers, religious education teachers or to work in other areas where they have talent.
"He wants them to know it's their parish," Harrington said.
Recently, the roof and windows at the church were repaired. The brick walls were also reappointed.
"It looks beautiful," Harrington said.
The Most Rev. Emilio Allue, bishop of the Merrimack Valley Region of the Archdiocese of Boston, was the principal celebrant at the Mass yesterday to mark the 150th anniversary. Concelebrating with him were: Murray; the Revs. Frederick McGowan and Francis Mawn, former pastors of St. James; and other Haverhill pastors including Dennis Nason of All Saints Church, Robert Conole of Sacred Hearts and Keith LeBlanc of St. John the Baptist. Other priests who were born and brought up in St. James Parish were also expected to be at the Mass.
Following the Mass, parishioners attended a sold-out dinner at the Atkinson Country Club.
