The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-06-06
o.. vincsnrs Church, Mobile, Ala.
MOBILE, May Both, 1875.

This morning, 8t o'ciocAS 1oo SAso>
than the ordinary number of Communions' IN
Guiding the First Communions OF those 20 DO
confirmed, the Sacrament Of Confirmation was
conferred upon ffty-fve children-tnirty-four
boys and twentY-one girls--six of whom were
converts to the Church, by the Right RevsJonn
Quinlap, d. d. After the Communion Of the
Mass, Very Rev. C. r. o'CallagharssV. g., the
pastor of st. vincent's, explained briefly the
necessity and effect of the Sacrament, and
dwelt at some length on the graces which it
impsrts. When the ceremony was over, the
Right Rev. Bishop spoke few words to the
children in that kind strain which is always
eloquent because always natural, and natural
because it comes from his great good heart.
NAV say, q. passant, that no parish In Mobile
or in the State is better provided with good
Catholic schools than ST. Yinceut's, and If
goddess schools are pstronised by the parents
of Catholic children, the sin is entirely their
own ST. Vinoent's Academy for boys averages
On q nual attendance of 1e0 boys, and st. Vim
cents Select School for girls averages an an
nual attendance of $50 girls. a
Athalf past ten this morning the Rev. Father
Kirwan, of Tuscaloosa, sang the Mass. The
choir, composed of pupils from the Sisters
school, and trained by Miss Agnes Beroujon,
sang Battmanfs Mass with fine effect. Brother
Feliciap, Director of st. Yincent's Academy,
presided at the organ for the occasion. At the
Communion the Very Rev. Pastor announced
that in few days he would go North, in COM
pany with the Right Rev. Bishop, to collect
Father O'Callaghan is very much beloved by
his congregation and, may add, justly so. He
has just covered in q new church which, when
mpleted, will be the largest as well as the
most beautiful church in the Diocese of Mobile,
excepting the Cathedral of the Immaculate
Conception. 1t is plain Gothic, built of brick,
trimmed with Alabama limestone-length 120
feet, breadth so feet.
The Mass over, Father Kirwan' preached
sermon on "the love of God in the Blessed
Eucharist" taking his text from the 9Th chap
ter of st. Marks Gospel, 10 verses. He was
listened to attentively by vast audience, for
| that subject is one which is dear to every
Catholic heart.
| The vespers were announced to begin at Eve
o'clock P. M. The charming little brass band
from the Brothers Academy, directed by Pro-
fessor c. Herwig, was promptly on time, and
played "The Harp that once through Tara's
Hall" as the congregation assembled. Every
available space in the church was occupied.
After the singing of the chapter for the day
by the Very. Rev. Pastor, the ceremony of the
renewal of Baptismal vows and the reception
of new members into the Sodality of the Chill
dren of Mary commenced. 1t was edifying to
hear how accurately and distinctly the little
| girls pronounced each one of those beautiful
prayers. Such prayers are indeed protestations
of love and devotion to Mary immaculate.
| The boys who made their first communion in
the morning renewed their Baptismal vows,
and then followed the striking ceremony of
| browning the statue of the Blessed Virgin.
Twelve little girls presented twelve crowns to
the Very Rev. Pastor, one of which he placed
on the statue and the rest on the altar then
some fifty girls presented bouquets aud roses
After the crowning, the Very Rev. Pastor ad
dressed few words of encouragement to his
spiritual children, directing them to persevere
in their devotion to Mary, and pointing out
the benefits to be derived tberefrom.
The procession of the Blessed Sacrament was
very impressive. The Very Rev. Pastor bore
the Blessed Sacrament around the church, and
Father Kirwan acted Master of Ceremonies
Brother Sylvester, ross-besror, followed
by the Children of Mary's society, Numbering
ninety, with their beautiful banner came first
then the girls that m ade their First Communion
in the morning numbering twenty one these
were followed by the ST. Aloysius' society, will
their rich banner, numbering in all seventy
then the boys who had made their First Com
munion in the morning, numbering thirty -four
, these again were followed by six or eight littl
girls, carrying silver plated baskets laden will
f rare flowers, which were strewn by them be
, fore the Blessed Sacrament, as they proceeded
slowly around the church. The members o
j the Children of Msrys Society sang the Tan
: tuus Ergo during the procession. The tru
character of ecclesiastical chant is " musi
: for words, not words for music" This wa
/; strikipgly proven by the young ladies of tn
, Children of Mary's Society this evening
I Every syllable of that sublime hymn rang on
|. with precision and rhythm which mOder
. art eould not give it.
After the procession, Benediction was give
It by the Very Rev. Pastor, and the vast congr'