The History of St. Virgilīs Parish: Part 2
From the arrival of Monsignor Tracy in 1938, including the Monsignor Fallon years, to the Fr. Winston era, click here.

The History of St. Virgilīs School
In September, 1910, St. Virgilīs School opened with fewer than 100 students. Click here to read about the history of Catholic education in the Morris Plains area.

Biography of Monsignor James Fallon
Monsignor James Fallon came to St. Virgilīs in January of 1968, serving as pastor until his retirement in 1993. He chose to stay with the people of St. Virgilīs, and remains a mainstay of our parish community as pastor emeritus. Read about the inspiring life of this man of God by clicking here.

The Story of St. Virgil and the Virgilīs Relic
For the story of the Irish monk, abbot and bishop who is our patron saint and the story of the St. Virgilīs relic, link to our St. Virgilius web site.

The Story of the St. Patrick Bell
Follow the journey of the bell named St. Patrick from the original church to Mendham and back to its current place of honor, click here.

St. Virgilīs Roll of Honor
An honor roll of those who have served St. virgilīs since 1881, click here.

The Story of the St. Virgilīs Relic
The St. Virgil relic reposes in a public religuary in the Church of St. Virgil’s, Morris Plains. There have been claims that devotion to this relic has produced remarkable results.

About St. Virgil:
Virgil was a Benedictine Abbot from Ireland, Irish Scholar and Bishop of Salzburg Who Taught That The World Was Round

A short history of St. Virgilius Parish since 1881

The dirt roads of Speedwell and Hanover avenues intersect at Five corners in this circa 1890 photo of the original St. Virgilius Church, which had been moved down Hanover Avenue to the new location in 1888.

Shown to the right is one of the historic pictures of St. Virgilīs Parish which appeared in our centennial book, The Story of a People, published in 1981. Below is a very brief history the parish. We will be adding a full parish history, more historic information, and additional historic photos. Please watch these pages. There are still copies of A Story of a People: St. Virgilīs Parish Centennial available. Contact the parish office at 973-538-1418.

See St. Virgilīs School Since 1910 for the history of our parish school.

Also, visit the Morris Plains Museum housed in the Morris Plains Library for pictures and memorabilia about the history of St. Virgilīs Parish.

Capsule history of St. Virgilīs Parish
A growing number of Catholics in the Morris Plains area in the 1870s created a need for St. Virgilīs Parish. Rev. Joseph M. Flynnīs November 14 1881 letter to the Rev. Winard Wigger, Bishop of Newark, resulted in founding of a new parish in Morris Plains.

The first Mass was celebrated at the home of Andrew Murphy on Christmas Day, and the first church was a tent at 48 West Hanover Avenue. Rev. James J. Brennan was appointed pastor and October 11, 1882, Bishop Wigger laid the cornerstone for the new church to be built. Fr. Brennan placed the new parish under the protection of St. Virgilius, an Irish monk who became the Archbishop of Salzburg. The church was moved to its present location in 1888.

Again, population expansion demanded changes. The four room school, founded in 1910, was replaced in 1949, and the little church was razed to make room for the present building in 1955. St. Virgilīs enjoys a wonderful past, but the words printed for the 25th anniversary should be remembered: May the brightness of the Present be Eclipsed only by the Luster of the Future.
(Written and researched by Daniel Myers, Morris Plains Historian)