From the Archives: Field Mass during the 1918 influenza epidemic

In the midst of the 1918 influenza epidemic, Rev. John J. Murphy of Our Lady of All Souls Church in East Orange arranged a field Mass for his congregation. The city of East Orange had required the closure of churches to slow the spread of the virus, so Fr. Murphy held the Mass just across the city line in Newark, where parishioner J.T. Donnelly allowed him to set up an altar on the porch of his home. More than 500 people attended the Mass.

(Photographer: Archdiocese of Newark Archives, photograph collection)

Editor’s note: All published archival photos can be found under the “From the Archives” tab in the top menu. For more information on the archdiocesan archives, visit rcan.org/archives.