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| Little did Father John O'Brien realize when
he arrived in Lowell in 1848, the impact that he and those that would follow
him would have on the mill city of Lowell, Massachusetts. Father
John was a man of vision. It was the time of massive Irish immigration
with each newcomer seeking employment and a new life. The good pastor
understood the balance that was needed for these people who were caught
between two worlds, the need to retain their own identity as Irish men
and women, and that of identifying themselves as Americans. It was
during his pastorship that the Irish became an active and prominent factor
in Lowell's population.
The Fathers O'Brien Father John O'Brien was born in Ballina, County, Tipperary, along the River Shannon. He was trained for the priesthood at Maynooth and came to America after his ordination. He served in Virginia and Newburyport, MA before coming to Lowell. His assignment to Lowell was a rather strategic
move on the part of Archbishop Fitzpatrick. Lowell had already proven itself
a dilemma for the Archbishop. There had been outbursts of anti-Catholic
and anti-Irish demonstrations in the past. The Irish also fought
among themselves within the city which had not helped matters. A
few years previous the Irish population splintered into a second group
that founded St. Peter's Church. To make matters worse the group
which remained at St. Patrick's split again over the leadership of the
current pastor, Father McDermott. It seemed Father McDermott had
let some personal issues get in the way of his leadership. Trying
to take matters into his own hands he caused the breakup of a school agreement
that had been made with the City Council.
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