St. Joseph’s Church: Rest in Peace

In the summer of 2004, the Archdiocese of Boston closed the doors on this 131-year old parish. Like anyone raised in a French-Canadian family in South Salem, St Joseph Parish was where the kids went to school, the family went to worship and was a symbol of our culture.

I have my own feelings on why the Archdiocese needed to go through what they termed “reconfiguration” and how the need to close parishes was related to the sex abuse scandal of 2002. That aside, the building still meant a lot to a lot of people and was a monument to the contributions of French-Canadians in Salem.

I also come to appreciate the architecture of the building.  Boston architect James J. O’Shaunessey  submitted plans to the Archdiocese in 1948. Built in the International Style, the church was completed in 1950.

Many thanks to Betty Richard and Father Rondeau for giving me complete access to the church the week prior to its final Mass. I was able to revisit areas of the church I hadn’t seen since I was in the choir and some areas likely visited only by the custodian.

Final few photos were taken in November 2012 and January 2013 while crews were on site preparing for demolition.

View down the main aisle, taken just days before the final Mass

Ceiling directly above the altar

Crucifix above the altar

Hallway adjacent to confessionals

Confessional

in small room adjacent to choir loft

old files in small room near choir loft

Welcome

Photo taken 20 November 2012

Photo taken 20 November 2012

Former church organist turned protestor, 10 January 2013