Newark

Famine in Ireland and political and economic unrest in the German states, led many to immigrate to the United States. Many Irish and Germans settled in Newark, New Jersey, which was beginning to show signs of its future growth into a manufacturing giant. 

As the German immigrant population of Newark grew to some five hundred German-speaking families, Father Nicholas Balleis belatedly recognized both his own need for help and the potential for a Benedictine community in the growing city. In a letter dated 31 January 1848 he petitioned his Benedictine confrere at St. Vincent, Fr. Boniface Wimmer, for assistance.

While Fr. Boniface was not blind to the advantages that a monastery in Newark would afford because of its proximity to the ports of New York and Philadelphia, he nonetheless remained reluctant. Repeated requests from Fr. Nicholas, however, finally brought the desired result.

In 1849 Wimmer sent Father Placidus Doettl, OSB and, after his recall in November 1849, Father Charles Geyerstanger, OSB, who remained until 1855. These had been members of that original band of pioneers who acocmpanied Fr. Boniface from Bavaria. Despite Fr. Nicholas’ best efforts, however, Fr. Boniface declined to assume full responsibility for St. Mary’s Parish or to establish a priory as he had already done in several locations in Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Kansas.

Moreover, all was not peaceful within the parish community of St. Mary’s. A movement opposing Fr. Nicholas arose. The chief complaints were that the deed for the property was in Fr. Nicholas’ name, and in the event of his death the property might go to his relatives in Germany or to the City of Newark; that of the income of $1,550 from the church and St. Mary’s Cemetery on Grand Street, nothing was being spent on improving either while the pastor continually preached about money; finally, that only German was spoken in the parish school.

The solution proposed by the opposition party was that a board of trustees be chosen from among themselves. Both Bishops John Hughes of New York and later, Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley of the new Diocese of Newark (1853), investigated but determined that no changes would be made. Bishop Bayley, however, did give the group permission to establish a separate parish with the proviso that the deed be in his name. This is the origin of St. Peter’s (German) Church on nearby Belmont Avenue. Both parishes were to share the use of the cemetery, however. The ensuing peace, however, would be threatened from another quarter.