their weary way from Passaic over the county bridge and the Lodi road, through Peck Hook to the Lodi churches every Sunday. The greater loyalty of the Catholics to their church over the Protestants was evidenced by their regularity, which storm, cold nor heat did not affect. The writer often saw them on their long walk, of which they thought nothing.

The Order of Felician Sisters of St. Francis is a benevolent and charitable organization for the purpose of protecting, educating and training orphan children of Polish parents who have settled in this country. The provincial house and office of this organization is located at Buffalo, New York. It was in August, 1909, that the executives of this order decided to establish a branch of the organization in close proximity to the great metropolis of New York City and its surrounding communities, where many families from the kingdom of Poland had settled and established their homes.

After careful investigation by a number of the representatives of the order, it was finally decided to secure a suitable site at Lodi, Bergen county, New Jersey, where representatives of the Buffalo province secured a tract of land, comprising twenty-seven and one-half acres, which formerly constituted the old Vandusen homestead and mill property in the town of Lodi. Soon after acquiring title to this property the farm house and the mill buildings were converted into temporary housing for the convent and orphanage of the Order of Felician Sisters of St. Francis.

It was here that the order first began to provide for and shelter, as well as educate, the orphan boys and girls, who were sent to this institution from New York City and the surrounding communities. The magnitude of this grand and noble work soon became recognized by these people of Polish antecedents, and the number of wards increased so rapidly that it was found necessary to provide more buildings to properly care for the rapidly increasing numbers of children. Accordingly, in September, 1913, the directress, Sister Mary Jerome, secured the services of Mr. John Skvarla, an architect and builder of Passaic, New Jersey, who executed the drawings for the plans of the new buildings. Soon after the plans had been accepted and approved by the provincial province of the Order of Felician Sisters of St. Francis, ground was broken and the cornerstone was laid September 7, 1914, with appropriate ceremonies by the Rt. Rev. C. Kozlowski, bishop of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with the approval and consent of the Rt. Rev. John J. O'Connor, bishop of the Newark Roman Catholic Diocese. The work of construction was rapidly carried forward to completion and on July 22, 1915, the present attractive chapel edifice and dormitories, containing class rooms and executive offices, were dedicated by the Rt. Rev. John J. O'Connor, of Newark, New Jersey.

The entire group of buildings, along with the church edifice, are of an attractive and noble aspect expressive of the great and good work that is being carried forward under their roofs, and not only stand as a specimen of architectural achievement, but furnish a grand example of human sympathy and benevolence. The curriculum of this institution, comprises a course of study in the Academy of the Immaculate Conception, for four years, which qualifies the graduate students for the Catholic University at Washington, D. C. It is of interest to note that at the beginning of his organization at Lodi there were but seven children being cared for; this number rapidly increased and at the present time, 1921, there are over 130 orphan children being provided for, and educated by this organization at Lodi. This institution has provided for, and educated, over 395 destitute children, a number of whom are to-day capable and successful educators, while many have attained success in other pursuits. The Order of Felician Sisters of St. Francis is divided into two sections,

the arch diocese, and the diocese; the former comprises the territorial regions of New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore; the latter of Albany, Brooklyn, Harrisburg, Hartford, Manchester, New Hampshire; Newark and Trenton, New Jersey, and Springfield, Massachusetts.

The afore-mentioned order at present have listed in its parochial schools throughout its entire domain 28,486 scholars, and in its academic department, forty-two students. In connection with the Lodi institution, the Order of Felician Sisters of St. Francis there is also a working girls' house.

Mother Mary Bonaventure was the first provincial general commissary of the order, at the time the convent and orphanage of the Felician Sisters of St. Francis of Lodi was founded. She continued her noble and faithful services with this institution up to 1913, at which time Mother Mary Bendicta succeeded to the position, and faithfully directed and managed the convent and orphanage up to the year 1920. At this time the present superioress, Mother Mary Hortulana, was placed in charge of the convent and orphanage at Lodi, where she had been engaged for seven years preceding. In 1910 the Felician Sisters of St. Francis secured a plot of ground and buildings thereon, directly opposite the convent and orphanage, which they had converted into a chaplain's residence, where the Rev. L. Mscisz now resides and ministers to the spiritual needs of the children and all the adults associated and identified with the convent.

This organization has developed from the $23,000 convent and orphanage to the present mammoth organization with its modern buildings, furnishings and accessory features, with a valuation of over $300,000.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Lodi-The Italian families, who were among the early settlers of their people in the town of Lodi, New Jersey, and the surrounding community, attended worship at St. Francis De Salles, located in the town of Lodi, Bergen county, New Jersey. In 1913 the Rt. Rev. Bishop John J. O'Connor directed the Rev. Father Carlin, then director of St. Francis De Salles, to begin mission services in the town of Lodi for the spiritual help and comfort of the Italian families. Their first place of meeting was at 42 Main street, opposite the Municipal building.

In 1914 the Rev. Father Anthony Falzone, the assistant of St. Francis De Salles, succeeded Father Carlin, and had charge of the mission on Main street, where he served and increased the membership during the ensuing years. In 1916 Father Falzone purchased a tract of land on the corner of spring and summer streets, where the present St. Joseph's Catholic Church now stands. The church was erected during the year 1916, and in May 30, 1917, it was dedicated by Rev. Montelione.

During the years, from 1914 to 1918, Rev. Anthony Falzone had succeeded in building up a membership of over 500 families of Italian settlers and residents of the community, aggregating about 3,000 souls.

Father Falzone was given charge of the congregation of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and he has faithfully ministered to the spiritual needs of all his parishioners, and by his ministrations and sympathy has won the love and affection of his people.

In 1916 Father Anthony Falzone acquired by purchase the building and lot facing Spring street, and at the present time, 1921, the building is the rectory of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

Rev. Father Anthony Falzone was born in the town of St. Caterina Villormosa, Province of Caltanissetta, May 18, 1877. His parents are Giochino and Angelina (Mazzanobile) Falzone. He received his early education in the public and grammar schools of his native town. At the early age of twelve

years he entered upon a course of study in the Catholic Seminary in his native province and continued his studies throughout the seminary classes, and then entered the university classes and remained there with that institution for a period of twelve years. At the age of twenty he entered the military services in he Kingdom of Italy, where he remained for one year, and upon his dismissal from the army, again resumed his studies in the university and was ordained April 6, 1903, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Zuccaro. After his ordination he performed missionary service in his native land during the next seven years. In 1910 he came to the United States and upon his arrival here he became assistant of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Jersey City, and from there he came to St. Francis De Salles Church in Lodi, as assistant to the Rev. Father Carlin.

Having been left an orphan at the early age of six years, his mother having died, Father Falzone was cared for and reared in the home of his aunt, his father's sister, Maria Santa Falzone. She died February 12, 1920.

In June, 1920, Father Falzone visited his home in Italy, and upon his return brought his venerable father with him. During the short time that Father Falzone has ministered to the spiritual needs and comforts of his parishioners, the membership has increased very rapidly, and on May 7, 1921, the last confirmation class numbered over 450 children.

St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church of Lodi is the first and the oldest Catholic congregation in Bergen county. Previous to the organization of St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church the members of the faith in Lodi and the surrounding community in Bergen county, as well as in Passaic on the western bank of the river, were obliged to go to Paterson, in order to hear mass on the Sabbath.

In the month of June, 1854, the Rev. Father Senez, of St. John's Roman Catholic Church in Paterson, Passaic county, New Jersey, began to build a church in what was then the struggling village of Lodi, Bergen county. The building which he had erected at that time required an expenditure of about $2,500, towards which amount the Rev. Father Senez contributed $1,400 of his own funds. The church edifice, after being finally completed, was dedicated on Sunday, December 12, 1854, in the presence of a number of the members of the congregation, with solemn and imposing ceremonies. The Rev. Father Senez continued to administer to the spiritual wants of the members of the parish during the next three years without compensation. The territory comprising the parish at that time covered the entire county of Bergen and the village of Acquackanonk, on the western bank of the Passaic river. In 1857 a Roman Catholic church was built at Fort Lee in Bergen county, New Jersey, and the Rev. Father Annelli became the rector for both the Church of St. Francis De Sales in Lodi, and the members of the congregation at Fort Lee.

On May 19, 1861, the first mass was celebrated in St. Lawrence's Roman Catholic Church in Hackensack. This congregation was also placed under the care and ministration of Father Annelli, who at that time resided at Fort Lee, and made occasional calls at Lodi when important work required his presence. The Rev. Father Annelli later was assigned to other fields of duty and these congregations were looked after and ministered to by the passionist fathers of West Hoboken until February 1, 1863, when they became annexed to St. Bonaface's Roman Catholic parish in Paterson, where the Rev. Father Shandel was at that time the rector.

This arrangement was continued until 1868, when St. Nicholas' Roman Catholic Church of Passaic had been erected, and the remainder of the parish was transferred to the Holy Trinity parish in Hackensack. It was some time