The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-04-05
lContinued.l

A new charch was then an absolute necss-
sity yet as the erection of Building capable
greRation would entail the expenditure Of o
| large amount Ct money, the Fathers deemed
1t prudent to prepare themselves slowly and
silently for the work. This they did for moro
than year and half after having purchased
the ground. At length the urgent u seepsity Of
the case rrecludipg cry further delay they. on
dations. A few days later the brick work was
commenced, and on the 10th of June, 1856,
the corner-stone was laid by the Most Rev.
Archbishop Blanc.
To obtain the funds necessary to pay for the
erection of the church, Father Duffy went on
| o collecting tour through the parish: As oil
can judge from their own experience. he found
it very huxiliating and laborious work,
| although the great majority of the parishion-
ers responded generously to his appeals. This
| labor he per formed without neglectinR any Of
his other n numerous duties, and he had the con-
| ISOLATION of seeing the work Of erecting the
management of Brother Thomas.
| On The I'd of August, 1857, he wrote as fol-
lows: This was o joyful festival for us all.
On this occasion our hesrte were gladdensd
not only Ey the recurrence Of the feest Of our
holy Father and Founder, st. AlphoIsns, but
| also by the opening of the new church dedi-
GATED to him. We had been engaged on the
building over two years, and 1t had now ap.
preached 80 far towards completion that the
holy Sacrifice of the Mass oo0ld be offered up
in it with all proper respect and decorum. The
to bless the church on this day. he oheeTfnlly
consented. The ceremony Of blessing the
church was strictly according to the Roman
Ritual with all possible pomp and splend0r.
Alphoneus' Churches accompanied the Arch.
bishop in procession from the old church to the
splendid new building, which was surrounded
by an immense conoourse of people assembled
to witness the ceremonies"
Under date of April 25tb, 1858, Father Du6y
wrote: This was great and glorious day for
day st. Alphonsns' Church was solemnly con-
secrated, and the corner. stone of the new St.
Msry's Church was laid. The ceremony Of
copsecratinE st. AlphonsuS' G hurch commenced
at O'clock in the morning. All the ceremonies
prescribed by the Roman Pontifcal were
strictly observed. The church and high altar
were conscrated by the Most Rev. Arch bishop
Blanc, the interior walls by Right Rev. w. II.
Elder Bishop of Natchez. and the affairs of the
Blessed Virgin and st. Joseph by the Right.
Rev. J. NJ. Odin, Bishop of Galveston the
solemn Pontifcal Macs was celebrated by the
Right Rev. NJ. PORTER, Bishop of Mobile. The
sermon was preached by Bishop Elder"
Father Duffy then eHumeEates the clergy
meE present, the various relics of martyrs
placed in each Of the affairs, and says that the
ceremonies were not concluded until O'Clock
2 N. THIS day was indeed happy and glori-
Que one for Father Duffy especially, who he'd
labored SO hard and 70 unremittiDgly to collect
funds for the building of the church.
This year the yellow fever broke cut as An
endemic, but it was not 80 terrible as that of -
1851. Father Duffy and the other Fathers
again labored among the sick with the greatest
Zeal aud self sacrifice a. long as the epidemic
lasted Father Gerard, who had built the
Church of EOtre Dame de Bon Secours for the
French Congregation, fell q victim to his zeal.
When attacked with the yellow fever, caught
while attending to the sick, il was with the
greatest diff Guilty that he was induced to lie
DOWN, SO great was bis zeal and love for labor.
He died September 10Th, universally regretted
by all who knew him. Father VOgien, who
assisted Father Gerard in attending to the
t:ench Congregation, was taken down with
she yellow fever on the 18th of October. His
attack was but slight; DO one considered IL
dangerous; bat he had a pTesentiment that he
would not recover, 30 he Immediately prepared
himself for death. Contrary TO ala expec6a-
ions, after short illness, be died October
I'D, deeply regretted by all.
Nothing remarkable happened in the life OF
Gather Dolly from this time until September,
$50, when he received orders to leave New
orleans and repair To Annapolis, Nd.
Tnis was hard blow to him for, without
lis being at all conscious of IL, he had formed
deep attachment for st. Alpbonsus' cODgTe.
alton. He found IL far more dihtcult to sever
10 connection with them than he had found il
Il previous occasion TO leave his parents and
slRtlves to enter the Congregation Of the
lost Holy Redeener. What sffi ieted him most
( all was the fact that be must leave his dear
: beloved school children, for whom BIO ever
ntertained great prediIectiOn. Bat by him
he voice Of his euperiOTs was always regarded
5 the voice Of God, 90 he ohcyed without
lsklug the least cbieotion. He left New Or.
ana for Ann0p1lie StpaentaE 23th. TIE oGr@