Gate of Heaven Parish History
1816-1850: Through Depression and World Wars
Following the death of Father Johnson in 1916 the helm of the Gate of Heaven Parish passed into the hands of Rev. George Lyons. Father Lyons was a native of South Boston. His keen intellect was noticeable from an early age. He graduated from Boston College in the class of 1885. He entered the seminary and was sent to the North American College for further studies in theology. He was ordained in Rome in 1889. Upon his return to the United States, Archbishop Williams appointed him supervisor of Boston Diocesan schools. After serving as an assistant at the Church of the Most Precious Blood, Hyde Park and Our Lady of Lourdes in Jamaica Plain, he was appointed pastor of the Gate of Heaven Parish in 1916. Father Lyons set out to build the spacious Gate of Heaven School. His ambition was realized with the erection of a twenty-four-room structure on the site of St. Michael’s Hall in 1922. His untiring efforts were devoted to the children of the parish and he was a great champion of parochial schools.Few parishes could equal our school teaching system, in those early days, in the pace and standards set by Father Lyons. He died on the first of June, 1932. Cardinal O’Connell presided at his funeral and pronounced the absolution over the great pioneering priest of our diocesan school system.
Late in June of 1932 came the dynamic Father Mortimer E. Twomey. He was a native of Chelsea, and at an early age had aspirations for the priesthood. These aspirations were realized when he was ordained in Montreal on December 22nd, 1883. Among his parish assignments was St. Eulalia, now St. Brigid, South Boston.
His ambition was to build a high school in the parish. In 1934 his dearest wish was realized when one hundred and twenty five boys and girls were enrolled. However, it was God’s will that Father Twomey not live to see the first class graduate. On May 5th, 1937, returning from May devotions at the church, he collapsed and died. His years as a zealous priest at St. Eulalia’s and Gate of Heaven endeared him to the hearts of all the people of South Boston.
Next to follow, as pastor was Rev. Denis F. Murphy, born in Lowell, Massachusetts on October 6th, 1876. He studied for the priesthood at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton and was ordained by Archbishop Williams on December 20th, 1901. he had two assignments as a curate before assuming the pastorate at St. Joseph’s in Medford. He was then appointed pastor of Gate of Heaven Parish on June 23rd, 1937. One of his favorite devotions was the Apostleship of Prayer often known as the League of the Sacred Heart. During his eighteen years as shepherd of this flock, he endeared himself to the young as well as the old. He will always be remembered for his famous quote as he presented the children with their report cards. “I dreamt I dwelt in marble halls.” Early in 1950, Pope Pius XII had named him Domestic Prelate. Due to illness, he resigned his pastorate on October 1st, 1955. However, he remained in residence at the Gate of Heaven Rectory and was kindly cared for by the newly appointed pastor, Rev. John T. Powers and his assistants. Monsignor Murphy died in November, 1960 at the age of eighty-four, after giving many fruitful years to this archdiocese. He was buried in his native Lowell in St. Patrick’s Cemetery.
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