The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-06-14
First Communion at IS. Peter and Paurs.

be remembered by the congregation of IS.
Peter and Paul. From early morning until
seven o'clock-the hour at which the pro-
cession started from the schoolhouse, on
Marigny street-an unusual stir was OBJ
served in our usually quiet District.
10 person unaccustomed to the beauti-
fui and soul-stirring scene Of a first COM
munion ceremony, the scene must have
appeared quite novel, from the fact that,
even against his will, be could not helm
inhaling, with the balmy breese of that
beautiful morning, the sweet aroma of
Catholic piety. From all parts of the
district could be seen converting, Just as
rays to their centres the young boys and
girls of the parish, who were - receive
their first communicate their, centre-SS.
Peter and Paul's school. t.e fal9r
Having assembled at the appointed hour,
seven o'clock, the procession was formed,
and started in silent and solemn order to
the church, which they reached at half-past
seven o'clock.
The order of the procession was as fol-
lows: first, tho cross; Immediately after,
the young girls who were to receive their
first communion; then, the young ladies'
who made their first communion last year
all dressed in the most tasteful manner.
with wreathes, white wells, and white
dresses-so beautifully emblematic of the
interior purity of soul with which they
were clothed; then came the young boys
who were to receive their first communion,
followed by those who made it Last year;
thor, Gonna tho c1,i1lroy, of tho ocI,<o1 ,,ur>1
bering about six hundred, each class headed
by it's respective teacher.
To say that a more interesting or beauti-
full sight could seldom be witnessed, would
be to say little. Certainly, it could be wit
messed nowhere except in those parishes
where are established Catholic schools.
Having arrived at the church, they occu-
pied the middle aisle, or nave, which was
expressly set apart for themselves on that
solemn occasion-the boys occupying the
Epistle, whilst the girls occupied the Gospel
side.
The holy sacrifice of the mass was offered
up by the good pastor, the Rev. @. Moyni.
han, assisted by his worthy colleague, Rev.
j. Fitzgibbon. Just before communion,
Father Moynihan made short but touching
address, telling them that on account of the
great heat of the morning, as well as the
dense crowd that thronged the church, he
did not wish to keep them too long, but
promised them that at the ten o'clock mass
Father Jeremiah Moynihan, Of st. Johns
Church, would address them at length
which he did, in his usually felicitous and
impressive manner, in which he depicted,
in the most enthusiastic and eloquent
language, the great blessings of Catholic
schools and Catholic education.
In the evening, if the ceremony was less
solemn and imposing, it was none the less
interesting. At five o'clock in the afternoon.
the procession moved in the same order as
in the morning, preceded by the cross, Il
fine band of music, and n beautiful banner.
which had been procured for the occasion
by the untiring principal of the school, Mr..
Jovian, than whom it would be difficult to
find one more Jealous OF better calculated
to promote the interest and success of the
school.
Tho procession moved down Marigny
street to Love, down Love to Vaudeville,
up Vaudeville to Craps, and thence to the
church.
The head of the procession having arrived
at the church, and having succeeded, with
difficulty, in gaining an entrance, owing to
the dense and enthusiastic, as well as piOus
members who thronged the streets, took
their seats.in the aisles, chairs having been
provided for the occasion. vespers were
sung by the choir, and after the Mugnifcat,
three of the young girls advanced to the
altar rail, and there, in clear and beau
tifully modulated angelic voices, read
aloud the renewal of their baptismal vows,
as well as an act of conservation to the
Il L