The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-09-10
Blessing and Opening Of St. AlphonSus' Orphan
Asylum.
FATHER DUFFY's MONUMENT.

Order, spent twenty-four years OF MS sell-
sacrificing life on the mission in this city.
During this time be miuistered to the victims
of three yellow fever epidemics-1o5S, 1898
and 1867. The sad legacy of those fatal years.
was an army of orphans which, added 10 tne
great number always to be found in large
city under ordinary circumstances, gave the
stricken people of our Crescent City large
field for their linitless benevolence.
Father Duffy, like the other priests OF the
city, did his part in providing for the little
waifs often in fulillment of promises made
to their widowed aud dying mothers. Many OF
them had the fever, daring the prevalence OF
the scourse, and were the objects of good Fa-
thor Dufy's particular care; and our physi-
ca, aud the members of the Howard Associa-
tion who met him in most of the hoases they
visited in the upper part of the city, were edl'
fed by his untring devotion to the sick.
Like his Divine Mss5er-iike the most zsal-
Gus Doctor and Founder of his order, 81.
AIphonsus-Father Duffy was very tond OIL
children the little things prostrated by the
fever were bis pets. Like Gerald GTifhns
"Sister of Charity" he was often found
Bending over each plague tainted face.
Hundreds OF these little sufferers owe lhoT
lives to this ham BILE aud holy son of St. AL
phousus, for his friends the physicians, to their
credit be it spoken, literally obeyed his en-
phatic, " Doctor, l want You to do all you pos
sibly can to save this boy" by losing much
needed sleep and rest, in order to visit their
little patients, particularly in the crisis of the
disease.
To provide for the large number of orphans
whose parents were carried off by the epidemic
was heavy burden to Father Duffy and the
priests of the city, owing to the want OF Ca
tholic asylums. None knew the want OF an
other orphan asylum better than this " Father
OF the Orphans" 1t was the aim, object and
ambition of his life since 1858 to build an
orphan asylum in connection with st. Aiphon-
sas Church, some where in the Fourth District
The war, his failing health, and other circum-
stances beyond his control, prevented him from
carrying out his plans. He died, September &,
1874, with the greatest want OF his parish un-
Supplied, the desire of his heart ungratifed.
Tne pressing necessity existing, and every
month increasing, and their esgerness to carry
| out the late Father Duf1y's wishes, compelled
| the Redemptorist Fathers, in spite of resources
| curtailed by the general depression of the
| times, to commence the erection Of an asylum,
by laying the cornerstone on Sunday, Septem
| ber -, 1875. The bnidings are now finished.
They occupy square of ground bounded by
Washington, ST. Patrick, st. David aud Fourth
streets, nice suburban location.
! ST. Alphonsus Orphan Asylum will be blessed
at $50 p. NJ this evening Sunday, September
| 10, 1850 There will be procession, but all
| the Catholics of the city are invited to be
present on the grounds. short 6iscorrse will
| be elivered and collection will be taken up
1t ia not generally known that the Sisters oi
Mercy have maintained seventy orphans al
their Convent, on St. Andrew street, neal
Magazine for years fifty of these children
| will take up their residence in the asy lum to
day, the others Will follow in short time.
q detachment of the Sisters of Mercy viii
have charge of the institution, under the super
vision of the Superioress of st. Alphonsus Con
vent, Rev. Mother Mary Austin.
The good Sisters have worked all the past
week preparing the building for occupation
but they open the asylum with meagre sup
ply of furniture and other articles of prime
necessity Donations can be sent to the asy
lum, on Washington street, opposite the GENE
terry, or vehicles will be sent for them, if th
, donors will leave directions at the Convent o
, Mercy, st. Andrew street, near Magazine.
They want everything-tables, chairs, ben
cues, DoQuluRJ DOlGS Ol CObJUuJ uduueI auS
jeans, with sewing machines to make clothe
for the children. There is also a great lack O
kitchen furniture.
The many friends of Father Duffy are en-
gagged in all branches of trade: if each woul,
give, according to his means, something to
: wards fitting out the asylum in kind, som
articles of his stock-hardwa dry goods
provisions, shoes, feed, ETC., it would soon b
= we'll furnished.
1t is not too much to ask the friends of Fathe
& Duffy to do this, for, as the inscription on th
corner stone reads, In memory of Rev. job
! B Dntfy, c. SS. r, }" the asylum is a monumen
to his memory, and it is the duty of all VIII
knew and loved him in life to make it mont
ment in every respect worthy of him.
t Perhaps Massachusetts people are the bes
b and fAirest after all. One of the most notabI
! features of the campaign is what is oalle
a the "Tilden revival" in Berkshire county @
o that State. This county is the State lin