New article by Karen!
The Govern Priests
By Karen Cuccinello
The Govern family had a presence in Stamford starting in the 1860s, before Stamford became an incorporated village in 1870. James and Katherine (Barnes) Govern emigrated from the parish of Moynalty, county of Meath, Ireland in 1854 with six children: Hugh, Matthew B., Michael, Margaret (Mrs. John O’Neil), Mary (Mrs. Thomas Dooley) and another. They first settled in South Gilboa. Matthew B. Govern married Margaret/Margarette Martin and they had 10 children: Susan, Matthew A., Emma, Edward J., Mary A. (1870-1876), Eugene, Ida, Leo Joseph, William H.S. and Leonard Augustus. Matthew’s son William Henry Stevenson Govern married Sarah Johnson on November 4, 1903 and they had three sons who all became priests.
William Henry was born March 25,1908, Raymond J. December 9, 1909 and Alfred Joseph Govern February 19, 1912. There was a Frances M., one month old, in the 1905 Stamford census who must not have survived into adulthood. The boys grew up in Stamford.
May 1934 Stamford Mirror-Recorder (SMR)- An event evoking much local interest will take place on May 27th, in Sacred Heart Church. Rev. Father William H. Govern will sing his first Solemn High Mass.
Officiating during the service were Rev. Father Archambault, well-beloved former pastor of Stamford parish, as deacon; Rev. Frater Alfred Govern, O. F. M., a brother, preparing for the Priesthood with the Franciscan Fathers at Butler, N. J., as Sub-Deacon. Rev. Frater Raymond Govern, C. SS. R., another brother, now a student for the priesthood with the Redemptionist Fathers at Esopus, N. Y., will be Master of Ceremonies.
Father Govern made his elementary and high school studies in the Stamford Seminary from which he graduated. He went to St. Jerome’s College, Kitchener, Ont., for one year’s special work, afterwards entering the college department of Niagara University at Niagara Falls, N. Y Finishing his college work, he was adopted as a student for the priesthood by the Bishop of Brooklyn and sent to the diocesan seminary at Huntington, Long Island, in September, 1928. He made both his philosophical and theological studies in that institution.
October 1939 Knickerbocker News, Albany, NY- The Rev. Raymond P. Govern has sailed to join the mission field in the Virgin Islands. Father Govern, who has been stationed at the Redemptionist mission house, Annapolis, Md„ is the brother of the Rev. Raymond Govern, OPM, professor of mathematics at Siena College, Loudonville.
June 1948 (SMR)- Contractor W. S. Govern is spending a month in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, taking his men with him where they are building a church for his son, the Rev. Raymond F. Govern, C. S. S. R. Missioner in Georgia.
November 1948 Otsego Farmer- The Sacred Heart Church of Stamford was the scene of a most impressive ceremony November 5th, when the three sons of Mr. and Mrs. William S. Govern took part in the Solemn High Mass on the occasion of their parents’ 45th wedding anniversary. The Rev. Raymond S. Govern C.S.S.R. Missionary of Georgia was the celebrant. Rev. Raymond A. Govern O.F.M., registrar and professor of Mathematics at Siena College was Deacon and the Rev. William H. Govern, assistant pastor of St. Bridgets Church, Westbury, Long Island, was the Sub Deacon.
From William S. Govern’s February 10, 1967 obituary his sons’ locations were: Rev. William H. Govern of St. Mary’s church, East Islip; the Rev. Raymond F. Govern, CSSR of Sacred Heart church, Griffin, Ga. and the Rev. Raymond F. (Alfred) Govern, OFM of St. Francis Hospital, Jersey City, N.J.
I only found one of the Govern priests’ final resting ground. Rev. Raymond E. Govern died October 22, 1992, burial Saint Peters Cemetery Saratoga Spring, NY. Does anyone happen to know what happened to the other two? If you do please contact me at karenc@midtel.net.
Photo and newspaper clippings housed at the Stamford Village Library.