Father
Peter
J.
Fitzsimmons

FATHER PETER J. FITZSIMMONS 

Rev. P. J. FITZSIMMONS, of this church, was born in the year 1840, near the town of Virginic, County Cavan, Ireland, and received his early education at a national school in that town. At the age of sixteen he commenced his classical course in Mr. O'Reilly's school, and in 1859 entered All Hallows College, Dublin, and after three years' study there came to America, located in Quebec, Canada, and entered the Grand Seminary, where he was ordained to the priesthood in December, 1853. His first mission was in Kingston, Ontario, where he worked two years and began his useful career. He was then promoted to the parish of Centreville, in that diocese, where he labored with success; but owing to ill health and the severity of the climate, he was forced to seek another field of labor, and coming to New Jersey, entered upon mission work in Mount Holly. After some months he was transferred to St. Joseph's Church, Jersey City, to assist the Rev. A. Venuta, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Bayley. Two years later he was appointed to the parish of Dover, N. J., but ill health soon compelled him to go to Europe, where he remained nearly a year. After his return he went to St. John's Church, Trenton, and upon the death of Rev. John Mackin, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Corrigan appointed Rev. P. Byrne, rector of St. John's, and Father Fitzsimmons was transferred in 1873 to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, where he has since labored zealously and effectively and done much to advance the interests of the parish, spiritually and materially.