Fr. Ken McGuire, Director of St. Mary’s on the Lake, the Paulist’s headquarters in Lake George, was kind enough to consent to an interview where he tells us many things about the Paulist islands and chapel that we did not know.
Perhaps we could begin with a little about the Paulists. Who are the Paulists and what is their primary mission?
There’s no better explanation than what it says on our website: The Paulists seek to meet the contemporary culture on its own terms, to present the Gospel message in ways that are compelling but not diluted, so that the fullness of the Catholic faith may lead others to find Christ’s deep peace and “unreachable quietness.” To this end, Paulists use printing presses, movie cameras, and the Internet to give voice to the words of Christ – the Word Himself – to a new generation of Americans.
How did the Paulist Fathers acquire the islands in the first place? Could you give us some history about the islands and tell us what they are named?
Fr. Clarence Walworth was from a prominent family in Albany and was a Redemptorist along with the other founders of the Paulists: Isaac Hecker, Francis Baker, George Deshon and Augustine Hewitt. These men left the Redemptorists and with the encouragement Pope Pius IX founded the Congregation of St. Paul the Apostle in 1858. The Paulists were camping on the property of George O’Connor just north of Sunnyside on the East shore of Lake George. They were visiting also and camping on Harbor Islands from 1868-9 onward.
Upon being informed that the state would sell the Harbor Islands, Fr. Walter Elloiot journeyed to Whitehall by train, then by sleigh to Fort Ticonderoga in December 1871. He brought along $50 for the price. However, he had to borrow another $50 to complete the transaction. We acquired Harbor Islands in December 1871.
The Islands were named for the founders; Hecker the largest, Hewitt, Deshon, Baker and Walworth.
The chapel is very distinctive. Could you tell us about its history and is Mass ever said there? Is there anything else that our readers would find interesting?
Not many people know this but the early Paulists also built and dedicated the Chapel of the Assumption in Huletts. I have a letter in which the Paulist Superior General, Thomas Burke and the seminarian choir were present for that ceremony. Afterward they went to Hewitt Island for a dinner prepared by John J. Burke, the founder of the Catholic War Council in 1917 during the First World War, which is the precursor to the United State Catholic Conference of Bishops.
The chapel is located on a promontory on Hecker Island looking south. The supplies were taken across on the ice and the building constructed in 1909. It was officially dedicated as Corpus Christi Chapel, alluding to the early name of the lake, Lake of the Blessed Sacrament. However, after Isaac Jogues was canonized in 1930 the chapel was renamed the Isaac Jogues Chapel.
Prior to Vatican II when priests were staying on the islands – Hewitt, they would swim, canoe, or row to the chapel for daily mass. The original chapel had only a main altar. However, because each priest wanted to say mass two side altars were added.
After Vatican II, mass can be said either in the chapel or at the table in the main cabin on Hewitt. That cabin was built by students in 1954. In 1996 I remodeled the chapel inside and outside with a new roof and a new paint job. At that time we removed the two side altars so that the interior is returned to the original design.
The students and priests still maintain the chapel with workdays for repainting and repairing. After 9/11 a family from Huletts wanted a memorial for a family member (I believe) who was killed in the twin towers. He was fond of looking out from their place and seeing the chapel. The family provided funds to repair the bell, which had regularly malfunctioned. The bell now rings in memory of him.
I’m sorry and please forgive me but all my records are (at the office) at Lake George. All this is from my memory. I can you give exact facts, names and dates in June when I return to Lake George. (Editor’s Note: Fr. Ken was at his winter home in Ca. during this interview.)
We Paulists use the chapel on special occasions at present. In addition to the main altar there are two large predues and two seats of carved, stained oak. We can accommodate about 15 persons standing in the interior.
I’ve always wondered, because they are islands in Lake George, what Town are they technically located in?
The islands are officially in the town of Bolton although Huletts is the closest place to row to for supplies.
Because the chapel is so distinctive do you ever get requests for weddings?
Several brides have called asking if the chapel could be used for a wedding. The chapel is quite small and only has candles for light. It also doesn’t have any docking facility which makes such use impossible. Our boats can tie up at the shore and we scramble up the rocks, which is inappropriate and dangerous for wedding guests.
Many people have never seen the inside of the chapel. Are there any unique pictures of the inside that you could tell us about?
Dean Photography in Glens Falls sells cards with a view of the chapel looking south down the lake, as well as a card showing the stain glass window on the west side of the building which cannot be seen from the lake. The window is of Sts. Peter and Andrew.
We will continue with part 2 of our interview with Fr. Ken tomorrow.