From the Archives: Memorial Cross for Father John P. Washington, 1960

Archbishop Boland blesses a memorial cross dedicated to Rev. John P. Washington, erected by the people of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Newark, in October 1960. Father Washington was one of the Four Chaplains aboard the USS Dorchester when it was torpedoed by a German U-boat on February 3, 1943. Along with the other chaplains—Rev. George Fox (Methodist), Rev. Clark Poling (Dutch Protestant), and Rabbi Alexander Goode—Father Washington helped evacuate men from the ship. When it became clear there were not enough life jackets, the chaplains removed their own and gave them to others. As the ship went down, they were last seen linked arm in arm, praying and singing hymns.

(Photographer: Archdiocese of Newark Archives, Catholic Advocate 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.